Series: For better and for Worse

Title: Painting Europe Red Part A: London

Author: Mosquito

Date:01-03-05

Disclaimer: Casey and Ronan are mine! The rest belongs to Joss Weadon

Category: romance, drama, angst

Rating: PG-13

Summery: Part 1 of 3. Spike and Willow go to Europe for the Christmas vacation. This is the 6th chapter in the series following: 1. Paralysed

2. Coming back

3. Red's Birthday

4. Trust and Understanding

5. Loving the Grandsire

Interlude: Guy Talk

Note: Poem: "XVIII. The voice" from The flowers of Evil by Charles Baudelaire. Songs: "Early one Morning" and English Folk song, "Truly, Madly, Deeply" by Savage Garden.

Dedication: Dedicated to Danielle… who loves Europe almost as much as I do.

"Spike!" Willow shrieked when he snuck up on her, scaring her. She laughed and turned around throwing her arms around his neck. Jumping up she rapped her legs around him and gave him a kiss. Enjoying the feeling of his hands around her, Willow hugged Spike close to her. "Where'd you go?"

"Ronan wanted to go and see his family, so I dropped him and Casey off at the train station." Spike answered kissing her gently.

"So, we're all alone?" Her tone was cheeky.

"Not yet." A voice said from the doorway of the room.

Willow looked over and saw Angel leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, with a smirk on his face. "Angel!" Willow felt herself being lowered to the floor. "I thought you'd already left."

"Was on my way out when I felt Spike come in."

"Where are you going?" Spike asked.

"I thought I'd catch a play at the reconstructed Globe Theatre. Tonight they have 'Much Ado About Nothing.'"

Willow looked at Spike and saw how much he really wanted to go. "You can go if you want." She told him.

"No," his reply was half-hearted. "Tonight was gonna be just the two of us."

"I know you want to go, though."

"I would rather be with you." Then turning to Angel he said, "I'm staying with Willow. You'll be home by morning I take it?"

"No, actually, after the show I'll head over to the mansion in South Hampton. I'll see the two of you at the airport in two weeks." Angels smiled. "Have a great vacation, and happy holidays, Willow."

"You're not coming for Christmas?" She asked.

"I didn't think you were celebrating."

"Well, considering that there are more people here that do celebrate it than don't, we decided to combine Hanukkah and Christmas. Come on Christmas though. It'll be fun."

"Alright." Angel said. "I'll see you for Christmas."

Willow let go of Spike to hug Angel and then watched him leave. Afterwards, taking a seat next to Spike on the love seat, his arm around her, she stared into the fire with her head laying on his chest. They sat there quietly for several minuets, just enjoying each others presence. Eventually it was Willow that spoke up saying: "What are we doing tonight?"

"Well, it depends on if we're staying inside tonight or going out. Your meeting at Oxford is at noon, and our boat leaves at seven-thirty, so…"

"I wanna see something of London before we leave." Willow countered.

"We will be back for Christmas." Spike said.

"True, but…."

"Out it is then." Spike said standing up and pulling Willow with him. Handing her coat and gloves at the front door and grabbing his duster, Spike locked the house and escorted Willow to the car they'd hired.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"First some household things. I want to show you some things about me. Our family house in London, where I went to school, where I taught, where I'm supposedly buried… how does that sound, mi'lady?" Spike brought back his Queen's English.

"Sounds absolutely divine, my lord." Willow played along. She allowed Spike to take her hand and kiss it, his face smiling.

Until they reached London there wasn't much to see. The darkness outside seemed enveloping in it's entirety. Willow imagined what beauty lay in that darkness hid from her incompetent eyes. In her mind she was fields of green, farms, cows, and plants. Willow knew in reality it would probably be different, but she allowed herself a moment of pleasure creating the landscape in her head. However, all of a sudden it began to change. Larger structures started to appear and before she knew it Willow was in London surrounded by history, lights and beauty.

What she'd previously only seen in books came to life, as Willow drove by the sights. Spike pointed things out to her as they went: Buckingham Palace, London Bridge, the Globe Theatre, and much more. It was only after the brief tour that Spike stopped the car and got out opening the door for Willow.

The building they stood in front of was large and brown. The style was mid-eighteen hundreds, with a cemented courtyard in front. "This is where I taught got a number of years. Saint Jude's Boys School." Spike took her hand and went to the entrance."

"Spike, we can't just break in." Willow said.

"'Course we can. As a former member of the teaching staff I feel the need to revisit my classroom." He said with a smirk. Willow them watched him reach for the doorknob and after hitting his shoulder against it once broke it. Willow took his hand again and let him lead her up the stairs and to a classroom on the left.

At the door Spike stopped. Willow, who almost ran into him wondered why he's stopped. She stepped around him and into the classroom, which was obviously still an English classroom with pictures of writers and poets on the wall. The tables and chairs were relatively new, but with a little imagination and the help of what she remembered from the Goddess Athena had shown her, Willow could picture what it was like. She could see William with his light brown locks standing in the front with a book open. He would read through his small glasses, the words leaving his mouth as if in prayers.

So caught up was she, that Willow hadn't noticed Spike walk to the front of the classroom. Only when he began reciting did her attention draw back to him.

Willow listened as the words flowed graciously from his mouth, catching each one as she beheld the man she loved so dear running his hands over the chalkboard lightly.

"My cradle rocked below the stacks of books-

That Babel of instructions, novels, verse

Where Roman rubbish mixed with Grecian dust.

I was no taller than a folio,

But heard two voices. One beguiling, bold

Proclaimed, 'The world is just a sweetened cake!

And I, to give you endless joy, offer

You appetite to take it in a bite!'

But then the other: 'Come, dream-voyager,

Beyond the possible, beyond the known!'

And that one chanted like the seaside wind,

A wailing phantom out of God knows where,

Caressing, yet still frightening the ear.

I answered, 'Yes, sweet voice!' and from that time.

That date, my wound was named, and my fate was sealed

Behind the scenery of this immense

Existence, through abysmal blackness, I

Distinctly see the wonder of new worlds,

And, fervid victim of my clairvoyance,

I walk with serpents striking at my shoes.

And it is since that time that, prophet-like,

I love so tenderly the desert wastes;

I laugh in pain and cry on holidays

And tempt my palate with the sourest wine;

I take for truth what others call a lie

And, eyes to heaven, trip into a ditch.

But then my voice says, 'Madman, keep your dreams;

The wise have nothing beautiful as they!'

Tears fell down Willow's cheeks as she heard Spike recite the poem. Spike's collection of books had grown considerably since he'd come to live with her. Poetry, prose, plays; there seemed to be no end. Every time he bought a new one, he would read or recite his favourite, all of them bringing her to tears. They all told her more about him: William, the man he had been almost two hundred years ago.

Willow walked over to Spike who was staring off into the room.

"You know," he said reaching out to pull her to him, "of the four years I taught English here, I can still remember each student, their names, faces, where they sat, and if they were s good student or not.

"Really," Willow said looking up at him, and then in a mischievous smile said: "Second year last row on the far right."

"Mister Taylor." Spike sighed. "That boy was brilliant, but so incredibly lazy. I suppose he just enjoyed the attention he got when he was in trouble."

Willow giggled. "Some things don't change- First year, first row, right in the centre." She left his arms to go and sit on the desk, crossing her legs.

"Mister Giles."

"Giles!" Willow said.

Spike smiled. "Not Rupert, but his grandfather: Richard Giles. Very good boy, very studious."

"Wow. You taught Giles' grandfather. Does Giles know?"

"Yeah. Hr and I talked about it a couple months ago. Apparently his grandfather spike of me fondly to Giles." Spike smiled shyly. "It's a great School, isn't it?"

"It's wonderful." Willow said.

"Come on, let's get out of here."

Willow allowed herself to be pulled out.

Spike hadn't expected his return to the school to be so emotional. It made him wonder if he really wanted to go back to the house his family had stayed in when in London during the season. He wanted Willow to see it though, and he hadn't had a bad reaction to the summerhouse even though he'd grown up there. She'd be the second person he'd ever brought, Dru being the first, and just after she'd turned him. Since then he'd never even stepped foot in Harley Street.

As they drove through London, the short distance to the house, he peeked every now and then over at Willow watching her look in wonder at the streets of London. He reached over and took her hand in his.

"Thank you for bringing me here, Spike."

"Luv, I'm going to take you to see the world." He said looking into her eyes, seeing the way she looked at him.

His immediate destiny was closing in, another two streets and they'd reach the house. Spike took a deep unneeded breath and began looking for a place to park the car.

To his luck, or maybe just the opposite, a spot was open right in front of the house. He parked the car with the practice of decades and got out. He was about to go to the other side to get Willow, but she was already out of the car, eager to see what he had to show her. Taking her hand he led her to the front door of the building, and then digging for a key in his pocket he opened the door.

Nothing had changed. Years of dust had accumulated and created a grey/white blanket over everything. As if to confirm it, Willow sneezed as she entered the parlour.

Once again, Spike was taken over by the memories he had. All of a sudden it was as if he'd never left, he'd walk in and greet his mother who was sitting and doing her needlepoint, while he would tell her of his day, his students, and what he'd written. He remembered one of his last encounters with his mother. He'd recited a poem he'd written about his beloved Cicely. Then, she'd begun coughing blood; her illness was too far-gone. However, just as always, she brushed it off, saying she was fine and continuing with her needlepoint as she sang for him.

Early one morning,

Just as the sun was rising,
I heard a maid sing,

In the valley below:
"Oh don't deceive me, Oh never leave me,
How could you use, A poor maiden so?"

Remember the vows,
That you made to your Mary.
Remember the bower,
Where you vowed to be true.

"Oh don't deceive me, Oh never leave me,
How could you use, a poor maiden so?"

Thus sang the poor maiden,
Her sorrow bewailing.
Thus sang the poor maid,
In the valley below.

"Oh don't deceive me, Oh never leave me,
How could you use, a poor maiden so?"

Gay are the garlands and
Fresh are the roses.
I culled for the poor maid
In the valley below.

"Oh don't deceive me, Oh never leave me,
How could you use, a poor maiden so?"

Afterwards they'd been told dinner was ready. Mother had barely eaten and as a result had been to weak to walk to bed by herself. Spike remembered carrying her up to bed. That had been a particularly bad spell. Luckily that had been the last one she'd ever had, because he didn't think he'd have been able to take anymore.

"Spike, I've been here before." Willow drew him back. "Athena brought me here."

"Luv?"

"When Athena was showing me about you, this was one of the places she took me to. I saw you reciting a poem for your mother. She was sitting right there," Willow pointed to the loveseat, "and you talked about a girl. Your mother asked what your students would think."

Spike's stoic face turned into a shocked one. Not knowing how to reply, he let it drop, took her hand, and led her into the various rooms.

Eventually, after seeing every room, Willow asked Spike: If we can get this place cleaned," she sneezed, "could we celebrate Christmas here?"

Hesitantly Spike agreed. He'd never be able to say no to her, and so, taking extra care to guard his thoughts and emotions from her, he nodded. Pulling out a cellphone he called his contact and ordered the townhouse to be cleaned in his absence. Then escorting Willow back to his car, he drove her to the final stop for the night.

For some reason the cemetery where he'd been buried seemed to be even more scary that the one in Sunnydale. Or so Willow said. To Spike though, one cemetery was just like the next. Well, almost, considering that in that particular cemetery William Thropford was buried, along with his father; James Thropford, his mother; Evelyn Arbuthnought-thropford, and his two sisters; Victoria and Beatrice.

Spike, though, didn't actually remember where exactly he was buried. After walking around for an hour he finally gave up and called the only person who'd know. "I can't find it, Peaches." He said through clenched teeth.

"It hasn't moved, Spike." Angel called. "Saw it last year. Only thing is that the trees and such have changed."

"Huh?"

"Well, the reason you probably wont find it, is because a Willow tree grew right over your headstone covering it. Talk about irony."

"Which way, Peaches?" He persisted.

"If you're at the main entrance, take the left path, all the way back. You'll wee a dead oak, take a sharp right, and eventually you'll see the willow tree. Under the drooping branches you'll find it."

"Why were you here anyway?"

"I go every few years." Angel said as if it explained everything, and maybe it did, in some obscure mannor.

"Thanks Angel."

"You're welcome, Spike. I'll see you on Christmas."

Spike hung up the phone, and then taking Willow's hand, followed the directions his grandsire had given him. Fair enough it was true. His while family hid under the protection of the willow tree. Walking right up to them and squatting, he ran a hand over the gravestone that held all four of his family's names. The stone next to it was his; an empty grave that to this point, Spike thought, had absolutely no meaning.

"Hi Dad, Vicky, Beatrice. It's been a very long time. I know that you are all probably very disappointed in me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I didn't turn out the way you wanted me to, that mum isn't there with you, and that I didn't take care of her better, I killed for hundreds of years: rampaging across Europe, Asia and the Untied States." Spike felt Willow's hand on her shoulder and covered it with one of his. "I've changed though. I'm not like that anymore. I've stopped killing, and I have a proper family again. My grandsire, Angelus, has changed too. He has a soul now, and he's back in my life the way that you were father. He's taught me that there's so much more to existence than killing, hurting and deceiving. But the person that has taught me to the man I always wanted to be is the woman behind me, Willow. Vicky, you'd love her, and Beatrice, you'd worship her. She's nothing like anyone I've ever known. She makes me whole. I love her."

He felt Willow remove her hand, and out of the corner of his eye he saw her kneel down next to him, bringing her arms around his waist. Spike pulled her close.

"You have a wonderful son," Willow's soft voice soothed Spike. He smelled salt and knew that she was crying. "You'd be so proud of him, mister Thropford. He takes good care of me, and I love him with everything that I am. He's so kind and caring, his heart seems so big. He's everything to me."

Spike stood up and helped Willow up. Then taking one last look headed out of the cemetery. The worst was over. Not seeing Willow fallow him he looked back and saw her with her hand against the Willow tree. Her fingers running through the leaves. "Goddess," his vampire hearing picked up. "Please allow this tree to protect those that lye under her. Thank you goddess. " She opened her eyes and then to the tree said; "Stay strong, namesake. Protect the family of the man I love. Thank you."

Then looking up, Spike saw her smile. She beamed brightly and her beauty hit him. Like cupid's arrow, his heart had been hit, and the symbolic palpitations in his dead heart made him feel even more human than before. Because she was the woman that made him feel like a man. She treated him like one and made him strive to be better for her. To her. She was his Venus. Her beauty and love striking him every move, glance, and word. He was hers. No other woman would or could compare. And daily he would thank the goddess his love worshipped that she was his.

They'd returned to the summer mansion, and taking Spike's hand, Willow had led them to bed. After making love, Spike held the redhead in his arms. Her head resting on his shoulder and her arm around his waist. She was asleep and probably would be until the alarm clock went off at nine-thirty. Humming he closed his eyes and just enjoyed the feel of her against him.

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need.
I love you more with every breath
Truly madly deeply do..
I will be strong I will be faithful
'Cos I'm counting on a new beginning.
A reason for living.
A deeper meaning.

I want to stand with you on a mountain.
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever.
Until the sky falls down on me...

And when the stars are shining brightly
In the velvet sky,
I'll make a wish
Send it to heaven
Then make you want to cry..
The tears of joy
For all the pleasure and the certainty.
That we're surrounded
By the comfort and protection of..
The highest power.
In lonely hours.
The tears devour you..
I want to stand with you on a mountain,
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever,
Until the sky falls down on me...
Bridge

Oh can't you see it baby?
You don't have to close your eyes
'Cos it's standing right before you.
All that you need will surely come...

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need.
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly madly deeply do...

I want to stand with you on a mountain.
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever.
Until the sky falls down on me...

Willow was in awe. It was exactly how she'd thought it would be. Hell, it was so much more than that. It was almost overwhelming. Years of wanting to visit the university and months of waiting for acceptance had build up, that Willow's heart was beating miles a minute. She washed that Spike or Ronan were here to calm her down, but the sun wouldn't allow it. She'd therefore left the confines of the mansion in a cab and then taken a train to Oxford, where a representative of the university had picked her up. Willow had gotten a grand tour, sat in a couple classes, seen the possible living arrangements and had dinner with some of the administration. Not long after she found herself back on a train to London with blank eyes that conveyed her thoughts: wow.

When Spike had picked her up to immediately catch their boat she'd still been mute. Nodding when appropriate but lost in thought. It wasn't until they were settled in their cabin that Spike had managed to conjure out a word from her and then she couldn't shut up. Looking back it wouldn't even surprise her if she'd fallen asleep mid-sentence. But Spike listened patiently adding an anecdote occasionally from when he studied at the university.

When Willow was woken up in the early morning by Spike, all thoughts of Oxford were gone as she followed him off the boat into the night. At five in morning the sun had yet to rise. The quietness that enveloped them as they drove towards the capital was not to be seen, so Willow fell asleep quickly allowing Spike to drive them to their destination.

Willow lay on the bed in her and Spike's room in the mansion. Next to her -and partially under her- lay Spike asleep, his naked pale torso still slightly glistening from her sweat from their last session of lovemaking. She'd slept for a while sated, but her appetite stirred when she'd awoke and Willow contemplated waking him for another round.

She let her eyes wander, taking in the beauty that was her lover: lean toned muscles, pale smooth skin that tasted slightly salty in her mouth, and very well endowed.

So taken was she at exploring him with her eyes, that she hadn't noticed him wake up. It wasn't until she felt him kneed her breast that her attention was drawn back to his face, where she noticed his piercing blue eyes looking back at her. Willow moaned. Within seconds their position had changed, with Willow on her back and Spike hovering above her. "Evenin', luv." He said while beginning the torturous build-up she craved.

Willow was too lost in the feeling of his hands and lips on her body to reply with anything more than a moan. Animalistic communication is how she'd referred to it. Grunts, moans and sighs would communicate what she felt when he touched, loved, her.

Every now and then he'd be rough with her. It wasn't that he'd hurt her, just a little rougher than usual and she'd begun enjoying it. He'd taught her of the fine line between pleasure and pain and how to give back as good as she got. This time though he was being gentle. Gentle wasn't all though, because he'd draw out her pleasure, bringing her to the brink of orgasm and then staring al over again, Torturous pleasure. Sweet torture. Painful pleasure.

When he finally gave her release it seemed like a never-ending fall. It left her once again sated and exhausted. Spike began rolling off her, but Willow held him there. Every now and then she'd hold him just to feel close, keeping him warm and stroking his hair and back, just to show how much she loved and appreciated him. Spike in turn would purr in pleasure. He loved it when she showed him affection. Such attention and feeling, Willow thought, was new to him. Drusilla had been far too crazy and unstable as well as weak to give him exactly what he needed. Something that Willow ha enormous amounts of- love. Being deprived as a child she understood Spike, because when he spent extra time and effort on her, she would revel in it as well.

Willow woke up when Spike opened her side of the door and lifted her out of the car. "Spike?" She called still half asleep.

"Yeah luv, we reached the hotel, I'm taking you to our hotel suite. Go back to sleep luv. Willow nodded and fell back asleep.

End Part A