Title: Balance of Power

Author: RogueWitch

Summary: Sequel to Hard Road, Willow and Faith are settling in Charming, but with new relationships forming, and the complications that come with the Sons, how will the two warriors for the Powers come to terms with business as usual in Charming?

Disclaimer: I own neither Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Sons of Anarchy; I'm just borrowing them for a little while.

AN: Please enjoy, and don't forget to tip your writer on the way out.

Last time: Opie looked up to where his daughter was pointing, a pair of bright orange boy shorts dangled from the lampshade. He covered his eyes with one hand and waved Ellie out with the other. "Just tell him we'll be out in a minute."

A few minutes later a very embarrassed Willow and a mildly annoyed Opie stepped out of the guest bedroom. Opie swung his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder, pulling her closer. "It could have been worse," Opie said, kissing her on the top of her head.

"We promised to keep this stuff away from the kids," Willow said, looking up at her biker. "I felt like a naughty kid when she walked in."

"Like I said, it could have been worse," Opie squeezed the witch before letting her go and taking her hand. "She asked if you were moving into my room, said that it would be good, since she thinks your friend needs a place to stay."

"That girl is too smart for her own good," Willow said. "Or mine."

"Is that a yes?" Opie asked hopefully, stopping the witch in the hallway, hands on her shoulders.

"This is not snail pace, this is more like rabbit," Willow said, putting her hands on the giant's arms, feeling the deep throbbing connection.

"It feels like tortious to me," Opie said, leaning down, bringing his face to her level. "Is that a yes?"

"It's a maybe," Willow replied. "It's a, let's see who my friend in the living room is."

In the living room two blond heads were bent over the coffee table watching a pencil steadily turn in circles in midair. "Billy Idol is in my living room," Opie whispered to Willow. "And he doesn't look a day over thirty."

Spike looked up at Willow and winked before turning back to Ellie, who slowly lowered the pencil to the coffee table letting it rest with a small click. "Very impressive, bit." Spike stoop up, whipping an invisible bit of dust off of his black jeans.

"Spike," Willow said quietly, having not seen the vampire in years. "What brings you to Charming?"

"Old Rups thought you could use some help with your vampire problem," Spike said, grinning. "And who better than the Big Bad himself?"

"It's good to see you," Willow embraced the bleached Brit, breathing in the familiar scent of cigarettes and leather that she had come to be surrounded by every day, Spike would like it here. "Spike, this is my boyfriend, Opie Wilson." Opie held out his hand to the Billy Idol look alike. "Opie, this is Spike, aka William the Bloody or William Pratt." The boys shook hands.

"So, the Witch is driving stick again," Spike leered, tussling Willow's already well tussled hair. "Goon on ya, Mate. Recently shagged looks good on you, Red."

"I thought only Faith called you Red," Ellie said. "What's shagged?" She asked, looking pointedly at her father.

"I'll tell you when you're older," Opie said, covering his eyes again and pointing toward the kitchen. "Why don't you go order something for all of us for dinner and let the grown-ups talk." Ellie just shrugged her shoulders and wondered off into the kitchen.

"She's like a mini Tara," Spike smiled fondly at Willow. "You're teaching her right."

"I'm trying," Willow said, threading her fingers with Opie's and leading them over to the couch. "So, what brings you here to Charming, Spike? The real reason."

"Like I said," Spike took up a seat on the chair opposite the couch, flopping back like he owned the place. "Old Ripper thought you could use a hand with this vampire problem. I hear you got a bunch of fledges but haven't seen hide nor hair of a master."

"And the other reason?" Willow lifted her eyebrow and leaned forward on the couch.

"You've known me for too long, Red," Spike said, Willow made a continue gesture and Spike sighed. "Buffy's got some wild hair up her ass about being almost thirty, said soon she'd look too old for me." Spike shook his head. "I told her I stayed with Dru for a hundred years and that bitch was madder than a hatter, what difference was a few grey hairs going to make? Apparently that was the wrong thing to say, cause I found myself on the sidewalk with my blanket in the middle of the afternoon. Giles suggested I come out here and help until Buffy becomes sane again." Spike chuckled humorlessly. "It could be a while."

"I guess that means we need a guest room," Willow said with mock reluctance.

"Really?" Opie said, his smile resembling that of a kid in a candy store. "I'll move your stuff." He was off the couch and out of the room before Willow could say anything else.

Spike raised his eyebrows, but Willow just shook her head very slowly. "It's a long story."

"You're living in the guest room, kind of a short story," Kenny said, coming in from his workout with Faith. He made as if to plop down on the couch, but Willow stopped him.

"Not until you shower," Willow told the boy, who pouted. "No stinky, sweaty boys on the couch."

"But girls are okay?" Kenny asked.

"Just shower," Willow said, not missing Spike's amused expression, and she pointed her finger at him, giving him a warning look.

"Don't I get an introduction?" Kenny asked, eyeing the blond stranger in his living room.

"After you shower," Willow said, turning her finger towards the hallway. "For the record," Willow said once the boy had left the room. "I showered before I came out here." The vampire just nodded sagely.