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Willow turned over in her sleep and promptly encountered an obstacle. Sleepily she wondered what she had run into. She managed to pull one eye open and looked at what she was lying next to. Or rather whom. It took her a moment to process the information that she was curled up next to Drusilla, but when she did both eyes flew open. She tried inching away, only to be stopped by something else pressing into her back. Turning her head slightly she closed her eyes when she saw who was on the other side. Angel. ::How on earth did the three of us fit in this bed together all night…er..day? And why are we all in my bed?::

Her first question was answered when the two vampires wrapped their arms around the girl, cuddling into her warmth, which somehow let them all be comfortable on the double bed. Willow sighed knowing that she couldn’t move even if she wanted to. She looked at the clock and saw that it was only 3:30. That meant she didn’t have to be up for another hour or so before she had to get up to shower before the others got there. She smiled sleepily as she slipped back into sleep.

“AAHHHHHHHH!” Willow woke with a start at the scream. She tried to sit up, but was prevented by two strong arms holding her down. She craned her neck looking over Angel, finally seeing the source of the scream standing in her doorway.

“Xander? What’s wrong?” she asked, her eyes still looking tired.

He looked at her in disbelief. “Wills, you’re in bed with…with…DEADBOY,” Xander squeaked out. It was then that Drusilla moved, sitting up and stretching like a cat and looking over at Xander. Xander gasped. “Wills! You’re in bed with TWO vampires!”

Willow closed her eyes, wishing that when she opened her eyes Xander would be gone so she could go back to sleep. Unfortunately for her, the scene was the same when she opened them again. She looked at the clock.

5:00! ::Goddess, I’m running late! I need to shower and get dressed and go get Spike and reassure Xander that I’m not sleeping with Dru and Angel. Well, I slept with them but I didn’t SLEEP with them. Focus, Rosenberg. Xander is still standing in the doorway looking like he’s been smacked with something blunt.::

Willow fought a smile as Xander continued to stare wide-eyed at her. “Xander, this isn’t like that. Now go downstairs. I’ll be down in a few minutes. I need to shower and you need…well, you need to relax.”

“Relax? I come here and find my best friend in bed with TWO vampires, one of them a woman and you expect me to…well. Come to think of it, that isn’t so bad. Well, the Deadboy part is, but the Drusilla aspect has possibilities!” Xander mused before Willow’s glare cut him off. She pointed to the stairs sternly.

“Go downstairs. Now,” she ordered.

Xander frowned but turned away, heading downstairs.

“When I try that, he doesn’t listen,” Angel observed wistfully, looking up at the redhead, noticing the way her hair looked after sleeping. ::It doesn’t look like she’s been sleeping. It looks like someone spent all night ravishing her:: he noted absently. Then he realized what he thought and swallowed. ::Fuck. Don’t think those thoughts about Willow. She’s Spike’s. Or she will be.:: He turned his thoughts back to the conversation and said, “Couldn’t you tell him to go away more often?”

Willow rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Ha ha, Angel. Very funny. Now move ‘cause I gotta shower.”

Angel moved off the bed, noticing that Willow’s hair was not the only thing tousled by sleep. He frowned at the wrinkles that had formed on his shirt.

“Willow? Do you have an iron?”

“Top of the hall closet. Ironing board’s there, too!” she said as she headed for the bathroom.
Drusilla followed her while Angel headed for the iron. Willow reached the bathroom, turned and faced Drusilla. “Dru, what are you doing?”

Drusilla smiled at her. “Miss Edith told me that I should be with you today. I always do what Miss Edith tells me to do. I am a good girl, just like mummy always said I should be.”

Willow raised an eyebrow, questioningly. “All the time? I mean, you don’t have to come into the bathroom with me, right?” she asked hopefully. Her hopes were crushed when Dru shook her head no. She took a deep breath, trying to get think of a way out of having Dru follow her like a puppy dog all day. She frowned as she glanced at Drusilla’s face. She had seen that particular expression on Dru’s face last night at Willie’s. At the time, she had likened the expression to her “resolve face” and had been pleased that the vampire’s wishes coincided with her own. Now, she was face to face with it and knew it was a losing battle.

She stepped into the bathroom and turned on the faucet, adjusting the taps to get comfortably hot water. She turned and saw Dru still standing in the doorway. “Dru? Aren’t you coming in?”

Drusilla smiled broadly and stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

From the hallway, Xander’s eyes widened as he heard Willow’s comment and saw Dru enter the bathroom with the redhead. He swallowed and blinked, adjusting to the new information. He had come upstairs to ask Willow if she would mind if he had some of her Count Chocula while he watched Cartoon Network. He wouldn’t usually ask, but last time he had finished off the box and she hadn’t been happy with him. The one time he decided to ask and where did it get him? Imagining two beautiful and unattainable women, naked in the shower. It wasn’t the worst situation he could think of. In fact, it was pretty damn good, in theory at least. But it was his best friend and a vampire who had murdered thousands. He swallowed again, trying to control his hardening erection which didn’t care who it was in the shower. He turned stiffly and headed back downstairs, hoping that Scooby Doo would take his mind off the upstairs bathroom.

Willow looked at Dru, unsure of how to go about taking a shower with the woman in the bathroom with her. It wasn’t that she had never been naked with someone before—there was the one time she and Oz had made love. But that was in the dark. With lots of blankets. Okay, so she had never been seen naked by someone else before.

“The little tree is nervous. Do you not like water, little tree? I like it, it feels so nice and hot against my skin. Almost like bathing in blood, but not so deliciously red and gooey,” Dru told her, sitting down on the toilet.

Willow blanched at the vampire’s metaphor. “That’s just…gross, Dru,” she told the vampire. “And no, I’m not afraid of water, it’s just that…I’ve never…I mean…”

“You are shy,” the woman supplied. Willow was taken aback by the vampire’s straightforwardness. She nodded. Dru put her hand over her eyes primly, her long elegant fingers. “I won’t look then, little tree.”

Willow smiled slightly and began undressing as the vampire began to hum. It was vaguely recognizable as something from the eighties. She frowned, surprised that Drusilla knew a song from the eighties. Well, the vampire was full of surprises. She tried to place the song as she stepped into the stream of running water. She sighed audibly as the hot water soothed and caressed her, taking her mind momentarily off of everything else. She continued to shower as Dru hummed the song louder. The vampire had taken her hand off her eyes when Willow pulled the shower curtain closed and was now entranced by the clouds of steam.

As Willow finished her shower, she began singing softly the words to the song Dru was humming, smiling as she finally figured it out. “Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break, every step you take, I’ll be watching you.” She shut the shower off, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around herself.

She looked at Dru. “Ready, Dru?”

“He was, you know. I felt him all day,” Drusilla answered dreamily, standing up, heading for the door.

Willow stopped, confused. “Who’s doing what, Dru?”

“The Voice. He was watching us,” the vampire answered simply, watching the steam fade away.

“WHAT?” Willow shrieked, at once embarrassed and infuriated. ::How dare that darn voice watch me while I slept? That’s just…sick and icky and…gaaaah.:: Willow shuddered in revulsion, an expression of horror crossing her face. She clutched the towel around her tighter, looking around.

“Do not worry, little tree. He is gone now,” Drusilla said soothingly, noticing that Willow was upset by her revelation.

Willow yanked the door open and rushed to her room, intending to get dressed as quickly as possible. She was stopped by the sight of Angel standing in her room, ironing. This wouldn’t have been a big deal, usually. But usually the ironer isn’t ironing his only shirt. Willow drank in the view of his naked torso. His chest and ab muscles shifted as his arm moved the iron up and down on the board. Willow’s mouth went dry at the sight, her eyes traveling over his well-defined muscles, up to his face. His tongue was sticking out of his mouth slightly, concentrating on getting out every last wrinkle. She swallowed as he licked his lips. She stared entranced at the gorgeous vampire as he finally smiled in satisfaction and looked up at the door.

He smiled when he saw the two women standing there. “Have a good shower, Willow?”

She tried to remember, but all her mind could get out was ::Thank God for wrinkles.::

Willow just stared at Angel, her mouth and mind not compatible enough to speak. She was too distracted by his luscious body to actually form words. Behind her, Drusilla giggled. Angel looked to Dru as he pulled his shirt one, buttoning it up.

“The pussy has got the little tree’s tongue,” Dru said, beginning to sway. It was that statement that brought Willow back from ogle-land. She stared at Dru in shock as Angel’s turned to Willow and smiled.

“It most certainly has not, Drusilla,” Willow snapped, mortified that Drusilla would imply that she and Dru had…well, it just wasn’t right for Dru to imply that when it hadn’t happened. Dru looked at her questioningly, wondering what she had done to offend the girl.

“Well, until a second ago, you were certainly acting like a cat got your tongue, Will,” Angel observed. He was pretty sure he knew what Willow had thought Dru meant, and fought to keep from smiling. He had never seen Willow so preoccupied with sex before. First the riding crop and the leather outfit and now mistaking Dru’s use of the word pussy.

Willow’s eyes widened as she recognized that her mistake. She blushed furiously as she realized how Anya-like her mind was getting, always taking everything sexually. She tried to find a way to repair the situation without actually explaining herself when Angel spoke up.

“Willow? Why did the cat get your tongue?” Angel asked, concerned. The color drained from Willow’s face as her mind tried to come up with a plausible answer for that question.

Dru stepped forward, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She looked at Willow and put on an innocent expression. Willow turned to look at Dru in horror as the vampire began to speak. “Why the little tree was in shock from—”

“From Dru telling me that the Voice watched us as we slept,” Willow interrupted, giving Drusilla a look that promised revenge at a later date. Drusilla pouted childishly, but the look in her eyes told Willow that she was in one of her saner moments. ::Why she was actually in control there! And she was really going to tell Angel that I think he’s a hottie! Oh, revenge will be sweet!:: Willow promised herself.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me before, Drusilla? When did this happen?” Angel asked, his eyes going from Willow to Dru and back again. His gaze stopped on Willow, looking her up and down absently as he tried to remember if he sensed the Voice.

It was then that Willow realized she was still in a towel. She blushed again, as she clutched the towel to her, not realizing that doing so made it inch further up her legs. “Angel. Why don’t you and Dru go downstairs and see Xander while I get dressed? Oh, and Dru, you should probably wear your leather tonight, too,” Willow said, shooing the two toward the door.

Dru nodded and bent to pick up the outfit from the chair she had put it on the night before. She looked toward Angel. “Daddy? I will put on the skin of the cow and then we will go down the stairs. Miss Edith says the rest will be here soon and I want a snack!”

“I’ll be done in a few minutes!” Willow called to them as they walked out. Fixing a stern look at the female vampire she added, “Dru there will be NO eating of my friends!”

Drusilla continued into the hallway as if she hadn’t heard. Angel turned back and gave her a comforting look, letting her know that he wouldn’t allow Drusilla “snacking” on her friends. He shut the door behind him. From the hallway, she could hear Angel telling Dru that her snack would consist of bagged blood, and not, as she put it “little sips from the tweedy man.”

Drusilla did not seem overly happy about this, but after a moment Willow couldn’t hear her complaining anymore. Of course, that could be because she didn’t have vampiric hearing and just couldn’t hear the vampire plead with Angel.

“Angel,” Willow sighed. ::I love Spike. I really do. But why is Angel looking so darn yummy? He’s always been yummy, but why do I have to notice now? Couldn’t it have happened a few years ago? Why now when Spike is gone and can’t keep me occupied? Goddess I miss Spike. I never knew how much time I spent with him until he was gone.:: Willow wiped her eyes from the moisture that threatened to spill onto her cheeks. She shook her head, determined not to cry—at least not until Spike was back safely.

She reached for her leather pants, debating on whether to put them on or not. After a few moments of pondering she pulled them on. ::Intimidation is the key tonight, right? I have to be intimidating. And this is the only remotely threatening stuff I own:: she reassured herself as she shimmied into the tight leather pants. But the bodice was out for rescuing Spike. It wasn’t quite the impression she wanted to make on Spike after not seeing him for over a week. She did have a nice emerald green tank top. It wasn’t too loose so it would be okay to fight in too. She smiled as she walked to the closet, pulling out the top and slipping it on. It fit perfect and looked just right with the black leather pants. Sexy, but not sluttish. She finished getting ready, drying her hair a little with a towel and putting on a little makeup. After one last look in the mirror she smiled and headed downstairs.

The Voice smiled to himself as he took in the blond vampire’s tossing form. Giving the vampire the ability to sense his grandsire’s feelings had been a brilliant as it allowed the vampire’s own imagination to come up with reasons for the feelings. But sending him dreams of the redhead was pure genius. Some of the dreams consisted of the redhead expressing her revulsion for him; in others he was forced to watch as his grandsire and the witch had loud, passionate sex. But the best was when the vampire dreamt it was himself and the witch together. Those dreams, though starting out happily enough, would always end up with the witch calling out his grandsire’s name as she climaxed or leaving him for his grandsire. They seemed to cause the blond the most emotional anguish.

The Voice grinned in delight as the vampire whimpered. This was working out so much better than he hoped. Everything was going according to plan plus he got to mentally torture the blond. Tonight, the two vampires and the witch would try to rescue the vampire and fail. True, the vampires hadn’t been a part of his original plan, but when it became obvious that the witch wouldn’t look for the blond by herself, he had felt it was necessary to call in the Sire. A calculated risk, but one that he felt he could overcome. The vampires would perish and the redhead would finally be his. Yes, everything would turn out perfectly.

He smirked as another idea on how to torture the vampire came to him. After all, if the truth, somewhat modified, would work just as well, why should he work to make up situations? With a mental prod he woke the vampire before fading into the background.

Spike woke up with a cry. He wiped a shaking hand across his face, feeling his hand come away wet. His brow furrowed as he tried to figure out what the substance was. Even with his vampiric sight, it was hard to make it out in the dark. He licked his hand tentatively. Blood-tears. He’d been dreaming that Willow left him for his grandsire. ::Bloody hell! Why the fuck do I have these dreams? Why can’t they just go away?::

Spike stood up and began pacing, trying to work off some of his excess energy. He paused for a moment as a feeling of intense lust come over his bond with his grandsire. He growled as images also accompanied the feelings. Willow just waking up. Willow in a towel. ::Bloody Ponce shouldn’t be seeing MY Willow in a towel! And why the hell is she looking at him like he’s a fucking dessert? Doesn’t she know she’s mine? And why isn’t she wearing clothes?::

Spike put his hands to his forehead as the images kept repeating themselves over and over. The two ogling each other, stealing glances, sleeping curled up around each other. ::Fuck! Now I’m getting the bloody dreams when I’m awake too?:: He groaned as he unsuccessfully tried to block out the images.

As Willow walked down the stairs to the first floor, she realized that Dru had let her alone to get dressed. ::What is that vampire trying to do? I can’t shower by myself, but getting dressed is okay?:: she asked herself, rolling her eyes. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she surveyed the scene in the room. Angel and Drusilla were facing off against Buffy, Giles, and Xander. Anya looked on in amusement from a spot on the couch. Sighing, she cleared her throat. All six sets of eyes turned to her as she simply raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Xander jumped when he saw her, his jaw dropping. He raised an arm, pointing at his best friend. “See?
She’s a vampire! She’s wearing leather! I TOLD you!” he shouted triumphantly.

“Yes, Xander. Because only vampires wear leather, right?” Anya spoke up from the couch. Xander nodded
emphatically. “So you were a vampire the other nightI made you wear leather?”

Xander began to nod, but then realized exactly what Anya was saying. He looked at her imploringly. “An,
honey, I saw Willow and Dru go into the bathroom together! Wills is the most modest person I know! And now she’s wearing…leather,” he explained. “So she MUST be a vampire!”

Giles winced at the gaping holes in Xander’s logic and took a step back. He sighed before speaking.
“Erm…I really must agree with Anya. Your logic in that particular deduction leaves a great deal to be desired,” he commented wryly. Xander blushed andlooked at his feet.

“But Giles! Willow looks…vampire-y. I mean, have you ever seen her wear leather and…and that top! I
mean, it looks…sexy! Wills doesn’t do sexy!” Buffy spoke up. Willow looked at her in shock. Buffy saw her expression and winced, but stood her ground. “Wills, sorry, but you don’t! I don’t mean that youaren’t sexy, but you never…”

“Never what, Buffy? Never wear short skirts and skimpy tops to attract boys? Never wear tons of makeup to hide one little imperfection? Just ‘cause I’m not blond and beautiful doesn’t mean that I can’t try to be sexy!” Willow retorted angrily. Dru clapped her hands in happiness as she watched her childe’s mate square off with the Slayer.

Willow turned her eyes onto Xander. “And Xander, if you had bothered to ask why Dru was going into the bathroom with me or why I am wearing leather, you would know that I am NOT a vampire!”

“Then why did she go into the shower with you? Are you two having orgasms? Is that why you’re both
wearing leather?” Anya asked curiously from the couch.

“No! Dru and I are most definitely NOT having orgasms! And the leather is to look intimidating!
Leather-wearing people look more threatening. Well, unless it’s those leather penny loafers. Nobody is scared of somebody wearing them. Or a cowboy hat. Those aren’t too scary either. They’re more like a “howdy ma’am” type of thing. But other than that, leather is intimidating!” Willow babbled. The others just stared at her for a moment.

Finally Angel spoke up. “Well, we should probably come up with a plan since we have to rescue Spike.
He’s being held at a mansion outside of town—”

“Wait a minute, Angel. We should make sure the Voice isn’t listening in,” Willow suggested, looking at Dru.

Dru cocked her head slightly and started swaying, closing her eyes. A moment later, she opened them, looking at Willow. “That mean old Voice is not listening to us, little tree,” Dru assured Willow.

“Wait, what is this Voice? And how do you know where Spike is? Didn’t you say you were going to talk to
Willie tonight?” Buffy asked. Angel and Willow looked at each other, trying to decide how to start explaining everything to the Slayer.

“The bird sang his song last night. The Voice watches us. Watches, watches with eyes everywhere.
He wants the mouth opened on the night the moon is bright and the stars sing loudest. But Miss Edith says it is not to be so,” Dru said dreamily, still swaying. Abruptly, she stood up and picked up the doll, crooning to her and rocking her back and forth.

The group, with the exception of Willow and Angel, looked completely baffled at the vampire’s speech. “Okay, now in English?” Xander asked, looking at Angel and Willow.

Willow smiled at her best friend before explaining. “We went to see Willie last night and he told us where Spike is. After we got back, there was a…I guess presence is a good term. And with the presence there was a Voice. He left us a note after threatening us. He wants us to open the Hellmouth on the Full Moon tomorrow night. And since we don’t want to do that, we’re going to rescue Spike tonight,” Willow told the group. She let it sink in for a few moments before continuing. “So, are you going to help?”

“Of course we are!” Xander said, knowing that was the only possible answer he could give. The others nodded in agreement.

“So this Voice is the Molrak demon?” Giles asked. Willow shrugged and looked at Angel.

“I’m not sure. Since no one I’ve talked to has ever heard of a Molrak demon, and Will can’t find anything about one on the computer, I’m beginning to wonder if Molrak is the Voice’s name,” Angel said. Giles looked thoughtful while Xander and Buffy both looked at Angel with cold eyes. Angel’s use of the shortened form of Willow’s name had not gone unnoticed to Xander and Buffy. Neither was particularly pleased with this revelation, although for different reasons.

Xander’s eyes narrowed as he studied the two vampires and his best friend. Willow seemed completely at ease with the two of them, almost as if she had been heyclose with them for years. ::Does Deadboy want Wills? Isn’t it bad enough that she is in love with Spike? And I’m still not convinced something else isn’t going on between her and Looneytunes over there! Okay, maybe they’re not getting down and dirty, but they’re acting like they have a secret!:: Xander mused watching the interactions between the three as they explained what had happened the night before and that morning.

Buffy fumed silently as she watched Angel and Willow interact. She wasn’t jealous. Nope, not at all. ::Well, maybe a little. Why isn’t he paying attention to ME? Aren’t I the love of his life? And when did they get so close? I’ve never heard him call her Will before! He never calls me by a pet name anymore!:: Buffy whined to herself. She sighed as Giles motioned for her to pay attention. She pushed her jealousy aside for the moment and turned her focus on what Angel and Willow were saying about their day.

When they finished, the group sat down to work. As they came up with a plan, Willow almost forgot this was anything other than a normal researching and demon-hunting session. Then, someone would mention Spike, or Dru would hum louder than normal and reality would hit. Willow knew that their plan was a good one: herself, Dru and Angel through the front door, the Scooby gang through the back, trying to catch the Voice offguard. They had walkie-talkies to communicate and everyone was clear on the plan. But they didn’t know how to kill the
Voice. ::This is strictly a rescue operation, not a kill-the-damn-demon-that-stole-my-Spike operation. But what if he’s not…what if the Voice hears us and kills him? What if Spike isn’t there?:: Willow wondered to herself.

Willow jumped when she felt a hand begin combing her hair. She looked up into Dru’s face quizzical face. “Little tree, you must not think those nasty thoughts. Our Spike will be back with us soon. The stars have promised me and they never lie,” the vampire said. Willow smiled softly, leaning back into Dru’s fingers which massaged her scalp.

“Now that’s just disturbing,” Buffy commented from the sofa, watching the two women. Both turned their eyes upon the Slayer who flinched slightly when the two gazes landed on her.

“Why, Slayer? We work for the same goal, there is no reason for the little tree to be so nervous. We will succeed and the bad Voice will go away,” Dru replied sternly. Buffy sighed, but did not comment further.

Angel looked around. “So, we have a plan. Are we ready?” he asked. Heads nodded almost in unison as the group stood up and began to move toward the door. Before they left, Willow put her hand on Dru’s arm. Drusilla stopped and looked at her questioningly.

“You’re already a good mom, Dru,” Willow said softly. With those simple words Drusilla’s face lit up with delight as she squealed and hugged the girl. At hearing the squeal, the others rushed back inside, hoping that nothing had happened.

Angel cleared his throat as the two girls broke apart, both grinning. “So what was that all about?” he asked. The two women looked at him with exaggerated innocence as they ignored his question, took each other’s hands and danced out the doorway, past the bewildered Scooby gang.

"Uh, Deadboy? What was that all about?” Xander asked as he watched his friend and the vampire spin in
circles in the yard. They began moving back toward the door.

“I don’t know. But after we rescue Spike, I intend to find out!” Angel said in an uncompromising voice as they filed out of the Rosenberg house,shutting the door behind them.

The group stalked silently up to the abandoned farm house on the outskirts of Sunnydale. Angel motioned for the Scooby gang to go around back while he, Dru and Willow entered the front door. Although they were trying to be silent, the door creaked as they pushed it open. The three froze, waiting to see if they would be discovered. When no-one came, they walked stealthily into the house, closing the door behind them.

Willow squinted into the darkness, the lack of light becoming worse when the door was shut. Both vampires morphed into their demon faces, allowing them to make out what was around them. Willow felt a hand grab her arm and gasped. She let out a deep breath when she realized it was Drusilla. Wiping a shaky hand over her face, she allowed herself to be pulled along. They tread down what Willow assumed was a hallway, stopping every few feet to listen for the telltale signs of someone else’s presence. So far, none had been found. Gradually Willow’s eyes adjusted to the darkness and she could make out vague shapes of doorways and staircases. ::This house is huge! How on earth are we going to find Spike?:: she asked herself in despair.

Drusilla stopped suddenly, cocking her head. She smiled slightly and nudged Angel, pointing to stairs that seemingly went to the basement. Angel looked at her questioningly and she nodded. They turned toward the staircase and made their way down, Willow following slowly, not wanting to trip and fall. At the bottom of the staircase they paused and looked around. A single light bulb dimly illuminated the hallway. There were three doors in front of them. The vampires looked at Willow and motioned that she should take the right hand door. She nodded and headed off, noticing Dru went to the left and Angel to the center.

Willow felt around for the door handle. She grasped it in her hand and turned, wincing at the loud clicking noise it made as it opened. She peered into the darkness, trying to make out if Spike was there. “Spike?” she whispered softly into the black space in front her.

“Not Spike,” a voice said as the light was flipped on.

Willow took a step back, her eyes squinting at the sudden blast of brightness. She heard the door slam shut behind her and gasped. She was trapped.

Drusilla rushed from the room she had entered when she heard the door slam shut. Meeting Angel in the hallway, they ran to the door Willow had disappeared into and pulled futilely on the handle. Angel began running and ramming into the door, hoping to break it down. He looked at Drusilla in horror as she shrieked. “Little tree!” Drusilla screamed in anger and fear as Miss Edith told her exactly who was in the room with her childe’s mate. She began to bang with both fists on the door.

“Uh…did everyone hear that?” Xander asked, his heart in his throat as Drusilla’s scream faded away. He looked around and could barely make out nods of affirmation from the rest of the Scoobies. “It sounded like it came from downstairs!”

“C’mon, we have to find them!” Buffy cried, her stomach churning. ::Why was I so mean today? Oh God. What if I lose Willow forever and some of the last words she heard me was that she wasn’t sexy? If…no, when I get her back, I will be so understanding. I swear I will.:: Buffy promised herself, her fear for her best friend finally overcoming her irrationality of earlier that morning. She could feel herself shaking as she ran down the hallway, giving up trying to be quiet. “Willow!” she screamed, hoping the redhead would answer her.

She lead the group down a set of stairs in the middle of the hallway, thundering down the steps. She came to a stop when she saw three sets of doors, but no Drusilla, Angel, or Willow. She headed for the right hand door, while Giles went for the middle door. Anya and Xander strode for the door on the left.

Xander cursed when he discovered his door was locked. “Fuck!” he swore softly. He looked to his right and saw that Giles and Buffy had both disappeared, evidently having more luck. His brow furrowed when they quickly appeared, Angel and Drusilla close behind them.

“The doors lead to hallways that lead to other doors. Angel says that Willow went into that room and then they heard the door slam shut. They can’t get it open from their side, any luck with yours?” Buffy asked hopefully.

Xander shot her a look. “If there was, do you think I’d be standing out here?” he snapped, his worry for Willow overcoming his usual good humor. “And shouldn’t somebody be on the other side in case Willow gets out or something?”

Angel swore and turned, running back through the hallway. “This one’s still locked” they heard him call. Drusilla watched him go and began to whimper. “She hurts,” she said, softly. She put her hands over her ears and began rocking back and forth. “Her pain is so loud in my head. Make it stop! Oh, no no no no no!” Her voice increased in tone and pitch with each word.

The Scoobies looked at Drusilla in horror as her movements become more erratic. Anya went up to the vampire and put a comforting hand on her arm. It didn’t seem to help much. Buffy turned her attention to the door that separated her from her best friend. As she began pounding on it, she could hear Angel doing the same on the other side.

Dru continued to wail, wrenching herself from Anya’s grasp and pushing past the Slayer. Buffy looked ready to protest until she felt a restraining hand on her shoulder. She looked into Xander’s eyes.

“Maybe she can do something, Buff,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. They both turned their attention on the vampire.

Drusilla took an unncessary breath. “You can’t have her! She is mine!” she screamed before beginning to chant in Latin. She held out her hands, palms facing the door. Her body seemingly glowed as she gathered the power around her. With a final word, she released the floor of energy at the door, barraging it with the fear, anger, and growing pain she was feeling. Her voice increased in volume as she felt herself nearing her goal. With a flash of white hot light, the door burst open.

Willow rubbed her eyes, trying to get them to adjust quickly to the sudden light. When they finally focused, she stared at the being standing in front of her. He looked normal enough. Well, for a demon that is. He was tall, taller than Angel, with light blue skin and green hair. Other than that, he looked identical to any human. He stared at her, an odd statement in his eyes. She swallowed and stepped back, feeling the door press against her back.

“You are afraid,” he said.

“No…I’m not afraid! I just don’t trust you,” Willow said firmly.

“You are wise,” he replied.

She rolled her eyes. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere,” she warned, feeling some of her confidence come back. She glanced surreptitiously around the room, searching for something she could use to her advantage. In the shadows of a corner, she saw a door.

“Looking for the vampire?” he asked, suddenly right in front of her. He was so close she could feel his breath on her face. She shuddered in loathing. She returned her gaze to him, mentally berating herself for not keeping an eye on him. She swallowed before answering. “What do you think, Molrak?”

He chuckled. “Ahh. I see you discovered my name. Well, one of them anyway. Most incredible! Very few ever discover my name,” he admitted serenely, not phased by the knowledge.

“You’ve done this before I take it?” Willow asked, her temper flaring at his tone.

Molrak nodded. “Yes.”

“Why? Do you get off on kidnapping vamires and opening Hellmouths?” Willow snapped.

Molrak simply raised an eyebrow. “Who said it was the Hellmouth I was after?”

Willow looked at him warily. “What do you mean? You kidnapped Spike, left a ransom note for Dru and me, instructing us to open the damn thing. What else could you be after?” She asked.

Molrak looked at her a moment before replying, “You.”

Willow swallowed, her mind in turmoil over the knowledge that it was her fault that Spike had been kidnapped. She gathered herself together as she looked him straight in the eye. “Why?” She asked in a steely voice.

“Your beauty. Your intelligence. Your vivacity. Your power. Who wouldn’t want you? I want you to be mine forever. I’ve been watching you. No one here appreciates you. They have their own lives. They didn’t even care enough to look for the vampire. No one here loves you. With me, you would be the center of my world,” Molrak answered her.

“I don’t want to be the center of your world. My friends do appreciate me! And I am loved!” Willow retorted angrily, her face flaming with her fury. Willow pushed down her feelings of hurt and insecurity that had resurfaced during the past week. She knew her friends cared for her. Trying to overcome her feelings, she latched onto her anger at the demon in front of her. ::How dare this…thing watch me? How dare he pass judgment on my life and my friends?:: She screamed in her head.

“Really? By whom?” Molrak inquired.

“My friends love me! And Giles loves me. And Angel loves me. Even Drusilla loves me, I think!” Willow informed him, her eyes flashing.

“Of course they do. That’s why they wanted to help so much when I kidnapped the vampire,” Molrak said, condescension thick in his voice. “But do you really think the vampire’s Sire cares for you? She’s only here to get her childe back. And what of the vampire? You didn’t mention him. Does he love you?”

“I…I don’t know,” Willow answered angrily.

She flinched when he reached out to take her hand, pulling her toward the door. She struggled against him until he squeezed her arm hard enough to cause bruises. “Look and listen,” he instructed, waving his hand at the door, which became transparent.

Willow wanted to protest, but her words stilled as she looked through door. Her heart broke at what she saw. Spike was on a cot, looking like he hadn’t eaten in weeks. His cheekbones were even more prominent than usual and for the first time ever, he looked like he didn’t know what to do. She reached out a hand to him only to have it held back by Molrak. She snatched it from his grip.

“He can’t hear or see you and you can’t get to him,” she was told. She scowled, but continued watching. Tears were streaming down his face, leaving red trails. Her own eyes filled with moisture as she looked at him. She could hear him murmuring something but couldn’t quite make it out. She leaned closer, straining to catch what he was saying. Only one word reached her ears. A word that shattered her heart. “Dru.”

Then a blinding white light erupted through the room, causing both Willow and Molrak to be thrown to the ground.

Spike pressed his ear to the door. He had heard Drusilla’s scream earlier and had tried once again to get out of his prison. His heart was in his throat when he finally heard his captor speaking to Willow. He blinked his eyes, as he heard bits and pieces of the conversation, trying to make sense of it. He let out a gasp as he one phrase floated to his ears clearly.

“Angel loves me,” he heard Willow say. His eyes filled with blood tears and began streaming down his face. His heart was breaking into millions of little pieces. ::Why does he always have to go for the women I love? Why can’t that wanker just go away? I know I can never live up to him, never compare with him, so why won’t he just go away?:: Spike wailed to himself. “This is just like Dru,” he murmured to himself. He heard a thunderous explosion and raced to the door, hoping that Willow was okay.

Xander blinked, clearing his eyes from the flash. Upon seeing the door to the room in pieces, he rushedin, looking for Willow. A cry of rage escaped his lips when he saw red hair splayed on the floor under a large body. He rushed over, and tried to push the body off his friend. A moment later a dark haired blur helped him push the body over. He looked over into Drusilla’s demon face and smiled in thanks. Buffy and Angel knelt by the demon, checking for signs of life. “He’s dead,” Angel said, seeming very unconcerned about that, saving his passion for the next question. “How’s Willow doing?”

“Ohhhh,” Willow moaned just as he reached her prone body. Her hands quickly raised to her head. She smiled weakly into the worried faces of her friends, bringing her hand to her aching head. She opened her eyes and stared up into the worried faces of her friends. She smiled tremulously as the barrage of voices hit her at once.

“Willow, we were so scared when the door wouldn’t open!”

“Yeah, Will, don’t do that again, ok?”

“Little tree, are you alright? Miss Edith said should not let you leave me, and I did. Miss Edith will be so angry!”

“Dear lord Willow. Are you quite alright? We were most concerned I assure you.”

“Where is he?” Willow asked, trying to sit up.

“Who Wills?”

“Molrak, the demon,” Willow replied, looking around. Her friends looked at her confused.

“What do you mean where is he? He’s—“ Xander turned to point to where the body of the demon lay and was met by an upsetting sight. No demon body. “Well, he was there.”

“Stupid gits, wasn’t here you would have had a very angry demon on your hands! Well, another one that is. What the bloody hell took you so long?” a voice from the corner asked, exasperated. They looked over and saw a certain blonde vampire standing over the headless corpse of Molrak.

“Spike!” Drusilla cried rushing over to him. She stopped before she got to him and looked over to Willow, who was staring at the blond vampire with pain in her eyes. “Little tree? We rescued our Spike, why are you not happy?”

Willow swallowed before forcing a smile. “I am happy Dru. Welcome back, Spike.”

The onlookers watched in confusion as Willow stood and stared at Spike before turning toward the door. The others started to follow but were stopped by Spike’s outburst. “Bloody hell Dru! You’re wearing leather!” Spike said incredulously, staring at his Sire.

Dru turned to him and smiled slightly. “It worked on the bird, so little tree said it would work on the demon,” she replied as if that explained it all. Used to her ramblings Spike simply nodded and took her hand to lead her to the door. Willow glanced back, swallowing hard when she saw their interlocked fingers. She strode off quickly, not wanting to see anymore of them than she had to.

As the group left the building, Willow turned in on herself, struggling to hide her feelings from everyone. Her face became a mask, showing only happiness, while inside her heart cried. She flinched when she felt a cool hand touch her shoulder. She turned an impassive face to look Drusilla squarely in the eye. Dru took a step back in surprise at the coldness of the redhead’s gaze. Little tree?” She asked in confusion.

Willow stared at her for a moment before replying. “You didn’t have to lie to me Dru. I would havehelped anyway.”

Drusilla’s face changed abruptly, letting her demon out. “I did not lie, little tree,” she growled.

“Then what do you call it?” Willow asked, folding her arms and taking a step toward the vampire.

The group looked on in awe as quiet, demure Willow faced off against Drusilla. Angel took a step forward to separate the two women when a growl from Spike stopped him.

“Don’t touch her,” Spike warned, his eyes glinting.

Angel raised an eyebrow and took another step forward, which elicited another warning growl from the blond vampire.

“Well, Dru? Are you going to tell me why you lied about how he feels or not?” Willow snapped at the vampire, her eyes flashing in hurt and anger. Dru looked at Willow for a moment before bursting into laughter. Willow’s eyes narrowed and hands began to shake. “I don’t find it funny Dru. Not at all,” she managed to get out, valiantly fighting the tears that threatened to overflow from her eyes.

Dru began to sway, her eyes taking a faraway look. “Not all is as it seems, little tree. The demon made everything look so different. It changed. It all changed until nothing was left that was true,” the vampire said.

The Scoobies continued to look on in confusion as Willow looked sharply at Dru, hope showing blatantly on her face.

“Dru, what the bloody hell are you talking about, princess?” Spike asked, also befuddled by the two women’s argument. He stepped closer to them, hoping to reach them before his grandsire, who was also inching forward.

The women ignored everyone. Willow smiled slightly at Dru. “You mean …” she trailed off, glancing at Spike briefly before returning her gaze to Dru. Dru nodded and smiled, her eyes clear. She held out her arms for the witch who hugged her back gleefully. “Sorry Dru. I just, I guess I overreacted.”

“'Tis alright, Willow,” the vampiress replied, as they turned to look at the rest of the group.

“Okay, what was that all about?” Angel asked, curious,stepping beside Willow.

“Oh, just girl-talk, Angel,” Willow replied, grinning at him. He reached over and tapped her on the nose,raising an eyebrow. Whatever Willow was about to say was interrupted by Angel being knocked to the ground. Willow gaped open-mouthed at Spike, who stood over his grandsire.

“I told you not to touch her,” Spike said to his shocked grandsire. Angel’s and Spike’s eyes locked and communicated without words for a few moments. Finally Angel nodded and sat up. Spike’s eyes showed surprise but also happiness. He turned to look at Willow whowas watching him, shocked.

“See, little tree?” Drusilla asked, giggling before beginning to twirl.

“Spike? Why on earth did you hit Angel? And why didn’t you want him to touch me?” Willow asked, hoping beyond all reason that it was somehow because of her. She usually didn’t like it when people got possessive of her, but for some reason, with Spike it just felt right. ::If that’s what he was doing, Rosenberg. Don’t get your hopes up!:: she chided herself.

Spike looked at her for a moment before replying “Because you’re mine, pet.” He grabbed her arms and pulled her into a searing kiss. As his lips covered hers, her mouth opened, licking his lips, begging for entrance. The two continued to kiss passionately until a clearing of a throat interrupted them.

“Um, Will? Spike? Can you two do this later? It’s been a long night,” Xander suggested, bemused at his best friend’s exhibitionism. ::Willow is usually pretty reserved. Maybe Spike will actually be good for her:: he thought to himself.

The two pulled away from each other with identical stunned, but happy, looks gracing their faces. They turned to the group, who were watching the pair with smiles on their faces.

Drusilla stopped twirling and cocked her head. “Come. Miss Edith says we must go now,” she said, gesturing for them to follow her as she grabbed Angel’s hand and strode off to the Rosenberg’s house.

“Who ever thought I’d be listening to a doll?” Buffy asked rhetorically as the group trudged back to Willow’s.

“Do you really have to leave Dru?” Willow asked, looking forlornly at the vampire who had somehow become her friend over the course of a few days. ::Who would ever have guessed that I would be sad to see Dru go?:: Willow thought to herself.

The dark-haired beauty nodded. “Yes, little tree. But I will be back to visit. We do have a date in a few years, do we not?” Drusilla answered.

Willow broke out into a grin as she hugged the womantightly. “Yes we do, Dru.”

Spike and Angel looked at each other and then back at the two women. “Why does this worry me, peaches?” Spike asked.

“For the same reason it worries me,” Angel replied, racking his brain to figure out what the two were talking about. Finally he gave up. “Ready to go Dru?” Dru nodded, finally releasing Willow. She pulled Spike into an embrace, whispering to him “Take care of her, childe.”

Spike nodded, surprised that Dru had acknowledged their bond in such a way, but pleased as well. He nodded and turned to Angel, giving his grandsire a look before smiling slightly.

Angel smiled back and pulled Willow into a hug. “Be safe, Willow. If he gives you any problems let me know, okay?” Angel said, walking with Drusilla out the door.

Willow nodded, giggling. “I will. Bye Angel. Have a safe trip. Dru keep in touch!” She called, waving as they got in Angel’s car and pulled out of the driveway.

As she closed the door she heard Angel begin to laugh. She looked at Spike with a question in her eyes. “What did he find so funny?”

“Something about a bird and how he finally got it?”

Spike replied bewildered. Willow burst into laughter. “You going to share the joke, pet?”

Willow continued to giggle, managing to nod. She looked up into his eyes and was blown away by the love and devotion she saw staring back at her. She swallowed and reached out to touch his face softly. “Later, though okay?” She asked. Spike nodded and swept her into his arms and up the stairs, intending to keep her in bed for the next fewdays.

THE END

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