Sorry for the wait. Here's the next chapter. As you all know I own nothing of the Buffy universe. Please review!

…

Spike held Willow in his arms. "Seduction is far more than a shag and a bite to eat." His hand pulled her towards him. He kissed her gently and slowly pulled away from her.

Willow was confused by the look in his eyes. People were far harder to read than books and Spike showed more depth than the books written about him gave him credit for. "Like I don't know that?"

"But you don't. I know you don't. Bloody hell I could seduce Buffy well enough confuse the hell out of her. I'll never shag her. Her pride simply won't allow it. Plus the fact Angel will tear my throat out."

The mention of Buffy made her feel uncomfortable. "Like you could seduce her."

"Like I told you it isn't always about sex, love. Take a look at the book on the table the green one. Look up the bit about Angelus." Spike watched as Willow opened the book and read the passage.

"He raped and killed five women in a village just outside Paris. What does that have to do with seduction? It's rape."

Spike knew that she would make the connection with a little guidance. "Read it again."

Willow read it again and noticed that all the women could have escaped. Each one was in a room with an unlocked door. "Why didn't they run? They must have heard what he was doing to the other women."

"That's the question isn't it?"

"They wanted to stay?" She shook her head. There was no way she was going to be convinced that women would stay out of their own free will and be killed by that monster.

"They did and they knew they were going to die." Spike sat down with his legs crossed. "I was there love and told one of the chits what he was going to do and she didn't believe a word I said."

Willow started to think logically about it. "He threatened them in some way."

Now she was trying his patience. "Pet, this is Angelus not some run of the mill rapist. Think beyond the TV drama profiling for a moment."

"They must have had families. He killed them and gave them no other options but to stay."

"Not even close. I thought you were the smart one in the group."

She looked at the passage again. The women lived in the same house then read where the house was. "It was a nunnery. They broke their vows…" Then it came to her. "They wanted to break their vows."

Spike smiled. "Very good, continue."

"He gave them what they wanted or at least what they thought they wanted." Willow felt sick. "Why would they want such a thing? I thought nuns were supposed to be…"

"Innocent? Holy and without sin? Every nun that has ever existed was human. Do you have any idea how women were treated as nuns in the past?"

"Well they were respected and they prayed a lot."

Spike scoffed. "Nuns were usually easy pickings in the past for vampires. Well the young ones anyway. Not like today where the majority of women chose to be nuns after getting a fine education and taught that being a woman doesn't make you less than a man. Different back then. Many young women were forced to become nuns because of family reputation or to be punished. The poorer you were the worst treatment you received. This nunnery had a horrible reputation. They were beat, starved and worked almost to death. When Angelus arrived offering them pleasures of the flesh and food fit for a king they would have done anything for him. The young women were abused by those that wore the robes of holy men and women that acted out a demon's dance."

Willow sat on the chair holding on to every word he said.

"He killed them off one by one, only drinking from two."

"The women were starved for more than food." She looked at the passage again over and over again to find anything that stated anything but the obvious. Willow looked at Spike and realized he just gave her a very cleaver insight into vampire thinking.

"You don't hunt randomly do you? I mean vampires."

Spike remained quiet knowing Willow was working something out in her head and simply needed to voice things out loud.

"Are you hunting me?"

"Always have been, pet."

That sent a shiver down Willow's spine and wasn't repulsed or scared by his words but felt proud. The idea of something so powerful targeting her made her proud. "Why not Buffy?"

"Where were you last year? I did nothing but hunt that bitch down and what did it get me?"

"No, she was a challenge not a hunt."

Spike stood and walked towards her. "Cleaver girl."

"I now know you're hunting me. All I have to do is tell everyone and you'll lose your protection."

She found herself in his arms. "The trick is pet; to make sure that your prey doesn't want to escape. Those women could have fled any time they wanted but he offered those women something no one could. He gave them an escape on their terms, not his."

His lips were at her ear while speaking. She had to repress a shiver upon hearing the words. "You have nothing I want."

He spun her around to face him. "Keep telling yourself that. All I need to do is send a few bread crumbs your way and you'll follow the trail. You know what is at the end of the path and yet you'll follow that well worn path."

"Let me go."

Willow fell out of his arms onto the couch with him following her, pressing her into the seat cushions. A knee pressed between her legs that earned him a groan from her lips. "The other trick, is knowing what your prey wants more than they do. Once you know that there is little need for planning."

Spike got up off the sofa. Two minutes later the gang arrived leaving Willow only seconds to tidy herself up. She was upset for allowing herself to become so vulnerable. After getting herself sorted out she looked into his human eyes and only saw the vampire. The chip was still in place but the vampire was always in play.

…

The weekend was always a time for Willow to catch up on old work that she had to get done in advance. This weekend would be no exception to that rule. Two essays and three assignments were completed by the end of the day. She'll now have time to look over the essays next week to make sure that she didn't miss any notes that she wanted to add.

Buffy used this time to catch up on her studies. She wasn't that far behind but she was far from the academic. This was not her world and wondered how she had survived this long. It felt repressive but the idea of getting a degree was a goal that she wanted to reach.

She looked over at Willow who felt at home with her nose in a book and wondered how it was so easy to live in a book. It was then she realized that there was something different about Willow but couldn't quite place it.

"Hey Will, do you want to head to the Bronze tonight? I am in need of music and something other than papers, pens and study."

Willow looked up from her text book half surprised Buffy was there. "Oh, sorry Buff I need to get some research done on history. Professor Drummand is rather demanding."

"All the professors are rather demanding."

"Yeah, isn't it great? I ask questions and I get answers or a direction to get answers. No bullies and…what is it Buff?"

Buffy pulled herself inside out again trying to understand the fascination Willow had about education. It was important and all but she didn't see the need to almost worship the place.

"Oh, just happy that you are at home here. Do you regret not going to well Harvard or Berkley. They would have gotten a full scholarship." Buffy couldn't help but fell slightly responsible for Willow remaining in Sunnydale.

Willow heard the voice of guilt in her friend's voice. "Buffy I chose to be here because I am needed here." There was a lot she wanted to say but never felt comfortable saying anything before now. "I can transfer to another university easily if I wanted to. Buffy this is my world and can move easily in this environment. This is a temporary place for you and I can't imagine how difficult it is for you. You're all action girl with the fighting and the heaviness of the world upon you."

Buffy tried not to take Willow's words as an insult but found it hard to do. "I am not moron Willow."

"I never said that."

"I can handle this place like any student."

"I know you can."

Buffy grew angry thinking Willow was being condescending. "I am not stupid!"

"Buffy I just said…"

She didn't listen to Willow and simply left the room with a few books in hand. Willow was left behind wondering how to fix the situation. She knew that Buffy was sensitive about studies. But it was a fact that Buffy wasn't college material. The world of thinking, books and the love of knowledge was simply not where Buffy belonged. Giles knew this for years and trained her to be a fighter not an academic.

Now Willow grew upset with Buffy's reaction. Willow gave up a life at some of the finest universities in the country to stay and help Buffy with the burden of being the slayer and she was punished for it. Her honesty caused a fight and it upset her that she had to always be quiet and never have an opinion about things.

Quiet little Willow. So nice and kind and used and it hurt her. Buffy had a hard time with things and been through more than hell but the world wasn't about her all the time.

Willow's thoughts went back to her studies. Books were her comfort zone and that's where she stayed for the next three hours until her stomach reminded her that food was going to be needed very soon.

….

Willow's desk was littered with research. Buffy was used to Willow's desk being a dumping ground for organized chaos but there was something that grabbed her attention just as she arrived from an evening of patrol. There was a smell in the room that was familiar but couldn't quite place it. She breathed in and found that Willow's bed was the source.

Feeling a little guilty for snooping but wanting to find the source of the smell she lifted the pillow and saw a familiar shirt and instantly realized who it belonged to. The next question was why Willow had Spike's shirt under the pillow. A thousand ideas popped into her head and none of them were good.

She went to Willow's desk and found the journal she's been writing in since…since Spike arrived at Giles' place. The need to find out what was written in it overcame her guilt for invading Willow's privacy and began to read the journal. The latest passage still had wet ink on the page. Willow must have just left the room a short while ago.

March 19th

The research on Vampire psychology leads me to believe they are not without motive. Just like human society there are social levels and ranking among vampires. Minions are followers and survive by following those that are able to control their base desires.

Master vampires earn their positions through bloodlines or by understanding how to manipulate their environment to suit not just their needs but desires. Their very nature is rooted in…

The journal ends there. There were other entries that described how Willow felt about vampires and began to worry when she realized she was talking about Spike.

February 15th

Monsters have always been a part of our history. No other monster is more dangerous or attractive as the vampire. Their very nature is seductive, deadly and the strongest of people can be drawn in by them. Getting too close will always lead to a destructive result leaving a person drained even if they are never bitten.

"Buffy what are you doing?"

Buffy almost dropped the journal when Willow entered the dorm room. "I just…why do you have Spike's shirt?"

"Don't change the subject! Why are you reading my journal?"

"I wanted to know why you had Spike's shirt under your pillow. I could smell it."

Willow forgot that Buffy has a heightened sense of smell. "It's none of your business, that's why. Now give me the journal!"

"Not until you explain the shirt."

"I am researching, learning stuff that can't be found in books."

Buffy grew even more worried. "Did Spike do anything to you?"

"No, he…you don't understand."

"Then explain it to me."

Willow realized that she was caught and that what she was doing was no longer a secret. "Spike and I, we had sex."

Buffy couldn't believe her ears. "How could you do that? He's really dangerous chip or no chip. What were you thinking Willow?"

The tone hurt Willow far more than the words. "I am not a child. It's not like you didn't make any mistakes in the sex department."

Now it was Buffy's turn to get hurt. "How could you say that?"

"How could you accuse me? And yes it was accusation in your voice."

They remained quiet for a few minutes, neither one knowing what to say. Willow took the journal from Buffy's hands and sat down on the bed. Buffy sat across from Willow on her own bed. "He tried to kill us before Willow. I just don't see why you…with him."

"He was the only one that didn't treat me like a child. I needed that." Willow really needed someone to understand how she felt but as simply too ashamed to voice her needs. She wasn't used to it. Even now she didn't feel comfortable speaking her mind.

Buffy could almost feel that her best friend wanted to speak. It was true that she never spoke about her feelings unless she was hurt and even then she would think about the needs of others first. "Willow, please I want to hear what you are feeling. Please continue."

It took a bit but Willow finally raised the courage to speak. "I wanted to feel desired. That's all I wanted. It really is that simple Buffy. There's a difference between being needed and desired."

"But he's dangerous Will."

"Don't you think I know that? I know and I honestly don't care. I was always good Buffy and what did it ever get me. Xander rejected me, Oz left me and the only other person that showed interest in me other than my research skills was, is a vampire." Tears went down her face. "He made me feel sexy. I like that feeling."

Buffy sat next to Willow and guilt flooded her. "I am so sorry for not being there for you. I never truly appreciated everything you've done or tried to understand who you are now. I haven't been a good friend to you."

"You had your own issues."

"But you have to stop seeing Spike. Please Willow he'll hurt you even with the chip."

Willow knew Buffy was only speaking out of concern but it angered her that Buffy didn't get it. "Fine, I'll just do what makes everyone comfortable. I'm used to doing that now anyway." She stood and stormed out of the room.

Buffy took the journal and wondered what she should do. The thought of ignoring everything came to her mind but Willow was in very serious danger from Spike. He was far too crafty to ignore as his past spoke volumes as to his character.

She placed the journal under her arm and made her way to Giles' place to show him the 'research' that Willow had been conducting. Giles was rather surprised but not as upset like Buffy.

"Giles, she's in danger."

"No, Buffy she is not in any apparent danger. She's a lot stronger than you or her friends have ever given her credit for."

"This is insane."

Giles was growing impatient with Buffy. "You do understand that you are not the only one that I have been training."

"What are you talking about?" Buffy couldn't help but feel a pang of jealously at his words. "You're my watcher."

Giles knew that this conversation was going to come up sooner rather than later. "Buffy, Willow is a genius and needs constant stimulation but she's a young woman who is rather inexperienced when not in the world of books. She'll do her 'research' as you put it behind our backs or at the very least from you. I'm more worried about her draw to magic than to a vampire."

"She can't handle…"

"She's not a child Buffy! I have known about her interests for some time now and was going to approach her in a few days time to offer some guidance."

Buffy was hurt. "I am only doing this because I care about her."

"Really or does it have to do with the fact that this isn't about you? Slayers are used to attention Buffy. It comes with the territory. This is about Willow not you."

"Dammit Giles I know that! I am not a child either and came here for your advice and all I get from you is apathy over the situation."

"Then stake Spike and manage the fall out because you believe that you knew better." Giles took off his glasses to clean them in order to calm down.

Buffy realized that Giles was looking out for Willow far better than she was. "How long have you known about Willow and Spike?"

"I've known for about a week."

"Why didn't you say anything to…?"

"You? It's not about you." Giles spoke no further on the subject and handed the journal back to Buffy. "I think you need to return this to its owner."

Buffy took it and realized the mistake she had just made. She didn't rust Willow and broke her trust by taking what should be very private. "I'll give this back to her."

Willow didn't wait for Buffy to get back before heading off to sleep. Her journal was taken and in all honesty didn't want to deal with Buffy or the fallout that would be waiting her with her friends tomorrow.

…..