Title: Waking
Series: Changed 4/?
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"Sire, you can't have her. I love her, and I won't let you take her. Never will I let you take her from me." Spike's voice was icy. Most people think of anger and hatred as something hot, fiery, but from Spike the greatest anger was always cold. Spike's posture and facial expressions were defiant, challenging. But underneath the challenge, was pain, and Angel recognized that pain. Knew that he had caused most of it. Still he was surprised to learn that his wayward childe's affections had been captured by the diminutive red head. Spike had always seemed to be attracted to darker women, not necessarily evil, but dark. Willow was anything but. She was everything bright and good.
Angel was silent for a moment trying to decide how to respond, when he spoke it was with slow even tones meant to soothe, "Spike, Willow belongs to no one, but I would never try to take anyone away from you. The demon spent decades doing it, but I would never hurt you that way."
As soon as the words were out, Angel knew that he had taken the wrong approach. Spike responded immediately his anger bubbling to the surface, irritation in his voice, "Don't give me that. I don't believe for a second that the soul has changed you that much. And I know you, you're in love with her too. You'll tell yourself that you are only protecting her from me, but really you'll just be saving her for yourself. You can't have her, Angel. I will, I don't deserve her, but I'll have her anyway. You won't win this time. I won't allow it." Rarely did Spike speak so eloquently. He had greatly enjoyed destroying the speech of his human self. Spike was really quite well-educated, and while William had written abominable poetry, he was able to speak quite well. Spike only let the accent and street language drop when he was speaking about something vitally important to him.
"Spike, I'm not in love with Willow. I don't think you'd be good for her, and would try to discourage any relationship, but she's a big girl. Willow can take care of herself. I think she's smart enough to stay away from you, without any of my influence. This conversation is going nowhere. I won't argue this with you. I don't believe you have any chance with Willow, but, you somehow capture her heart, I won't try to take her away from you. End of Discussion." Angel's voice had started out even and controlled, but quickly took on an edge of anger and irritation. He truly didn't understand why Spike believed that he was in love with Willow. It was true that he found the girl attractive, but who wouldn't she was lovely. Willow was his friend, maybe his best friend. He loved Buffy, he would always love Buffy. Even if they could never be together had never really been happy together, well except that once, he would always love her. Nothing would ever change that, would it? His thoughts were still racing but he turned quickly and went back downstairs.
Spike lingered, watching Willow sleep for a moment, before following Angel down the stairs.
"Is demon girl awake yet?" Spike asked his tone back to normal, showing no trace of his earlier conversation with Angel.
"That's ex-demon girl, and yes, I'm awake." Anya sounded surprisingly upbeat. Happy.even. "What did you want Spike?"
"Just seeing if you were up and about, after that spell. Red's still asleep."
Anya was a little surprised at the obvious concern in Spike's voice, "I'm fine Spike. The spell went well. Willow will be alright." Her own tone was reassuring.
Buffy walked in at that moment, she was exhausted. It had taken her until dawn to track the demon and kill it. She was also afraid, afraid of what she'd find when she came back to this house. Did the spell work? Just what exactly would she find. She walked into the living room to find at least 2 faces she did not expect, Angel and Cordelia. "Angel, what are you doing here?" She ignored Cordelia.
"Spike called, he asked me to come. Adjusting to the soul is a difficult process. It will be easier for Xander, because he will have always had it, but just because he has a soul, doesn't mean he won't have to fight the demon. He'll have to fight it everyday. I can help him learn to do that." This was a neatly prepared speech. Angel had been practicing what to say to Buffy ever since Spike had called.
"I thought the soul made that easy." In Buffy's mind the soul made all of those bad urges, like ripping out throats, just go away. She didn't understand that they were sometimes a physical compulsion.
"The soul doesn't make the demon easier to control, it makes us want to control it. It's different. Every time the demon in my body hears a heartbeat, it wants blood. Every time I actually touch a warm human body, the demon wants to rip out it's throat, drain it. Some days it's hard, not to give in. The soul didn't make that go away. The soul made me want to fight, made it worth it to fight. I had hoped you understood that." Angel was disappointed in Buffy. It seemed lately he was always disappointed in her. He didn't know what had changed, if she had, or if it was him, but he didn't like it. He didn't like it at all.
Buffy, looked horrified, all of the implications of Angel's words, sinking in. "I, I never knew that. I just assumed, I'm sorry. I hope you can help Xander, look, I'm exhausted. Giles, I'm going home, I need some rest. Call if you need me, and call me when Willow wakes up." This was all delivered in a cool monotone. She didn't wait for a response. She just turned around and walked back out the door.
For a moment no one moved or spoke, they just stared at the door. Anya spoke, "What the hell was her problem?" She used her typically blunt manner and expected an answer.
Cordelia almost laughed aloud. The rest of the group had always taken great pains, to talk about Buffy as if she was perfect. Cordelia had a feeling that she may have found a kindred spirit. She liked this girl. "I think Angel just took her by surprise. Both of them become an enormous pain in the ass, when they are together. Not nearly as hard to put up with separately." Cordelia responded with her own customary sarcasm. "Hey want to go shopping? Kill some time."
"Sure, sounds good. Giles can page if he needs us. Besides it'll keep my mind occupied while we are waiting." Anya and Cordelia collected their things and left for a day of bonding at the mall, leaving Giles alone in the room with two vampires.
They sat in uncomfortable silence for a few moments. Giles finally broke the silence, stammering, "I, I think perhaps, I should go out also. With three vampires in the house, I doubt we have enough blood. I'll be back in an hour." With that he to walked out the door leaving Spike and Angel alone.
After a moment, Spike spoke. "I should go and check on my childe." He walked quickly up the stairs and into Willow's room, taking what had become his chair by the bed.
Angel followed, and much as Willow had done the previous night simply watched Spike with Xander for a time. Spike's features had softened. The harshness created by anger, pain and bitterness, had faded from his face. His touch on Xander's hair was gentle and protective, but there was also an element of possessiveness to it. Turning his attention to Xander, Angel began to notice the effects of the change on the young man. Xander was perfect. Any injury he had was completely healed. His skin was smooth and flawless, having paled to the purest of ivories. It almost seemed to glow. His dark hair had taken on a richer sheen than it had ever seen in life. He appeared perfect. Surprised, Angel turned his full attention back to his own childe. The worst of Spike's injuries could still be seen as angry bruises. His own healing was not complete. Angel walked into the room and took the chair across from Spike, again echoing Willow's earlier actions. "Spike, how much blood did you give him?" Spike couldn't understand the emotions he heard in Angel's voice. There was admiration there, wonder, and underlying it all a touch of concern.
"As much as I bloody well could. Every ounce I could spare. I wanted the boy to be a childe, a true childe. Not a minion." Spike's own answer was matter of fact, no emotion revealed.
"You have my boy. He's perfect. He'll be as strong as you when he wakes. You've made him more than a childe. You've made an equal, a master from the start. Between his strength and his soul, he'll be difficult to control. I hope you don't have any plans to become a dominant sire." Again Angel's voice, and this time even his words confused Spike. He couldn't even remember how long ago it had been that his sire had called him, "my boy." There was respect and a little bit of awe in his voice. Those things confused Spike.
Angel himself was a little confused by his reaction. He was proud of Spike. Instinctively he had created an extremely powerful vampire, a companion. It was something Angelus had never managed. He had sired Penn and expected and trained a submissive childe. When he turned Dru, he made her strong just as Spike had done with Xander, but he had broken her first. His truest companion and favorite childe had always been Spike, who was not really his. Drusilla had made him strong, Angelus had made him ruthless. His entire being was still divided over how to feel about Spike. A part of him regretted the turning, Spike had killed so many, and would again given the chance. Indirectly Angel had brought that evil into the world. But another part of him craved the companionship they had offered each other when the women in their family had been away. He needed that.
While, Angel's own thoughts were still turning in his head, Spike responded. "He is perfect. I never expected us to have a traditional Sire/Childe relationship, the soul and chip would have prevented that, but I am still his sire. We'll figure something out. Being a sire gives me certain rights and responsibilities. They aren't cancelled out by his soul or my chip." Spike was determined. He wanted to be a good sire. They both fell into their thoughts. Each unknown to the other was remembering the same incident. The night William swore he would never sire a childe.
Less than a month after he had been turned, Spike already had almost full control over the demon. He had far more control than Angelus would ever develop. Drusilla barely had enough sense to take care of herself, so Angelus had taken it upon himself to train the young vampire. Looking back Angel knew that he had treated Spike much more harshly than he had any of his own childer. Spike was his favorite, nearly his equal. He wanted him to be the best vampire in history. The most cruel. So he was very cruel with Spike. He was also a little afraid of that. Afraid that William could be his favorite even though he had not turned him. Afraid of the fact that William was nearly as strong as he was, and already better at controlling the demon. And most of all afraid of the nearly physical need he had to spend time with William, to simply enjoy his presence. His fear made him even more cruel. Now after all of this time Angel regretted that cruelty. Regretted the pain he had caused. It was one of the things that he felt guilt for every day of his existence.
Spike had always known he was different from most vampires. He could control the demon inside him. It was the only reason he could survive with this damned chip in his head. He wasn't ruled by the urges of the demon. Sure he enjoyed chaos and violence, but he could control it. He didn't need it like most of them did. He had heard that some of the older vamps were like that, but he'd never met one. That night he'd been a vampire for one month and 12 days. His own sire Dru, had practically ignored him for all of that time. Angelus, Drusilla's sire, had decided that William needed to be trained as a vampire. At times there interaction was fun, enjoyable. William believed that this new sire liked him, and was proud of him. No one had ever really made him feel like that before. But then there were the other times. Times when Angelus would turn mean, he would hurt William, but the physical pain was the least of it. Angelus would tell William how he was useless, and a poor excuse for a vampire. There was no way to tell what would make Angelus the friend, become Angelus the disciplinarian, no rules William could live by to assure that he didn't come. The uncertainty was it's own special kind of torture. Spike didn't mind being submissive to his sire, he expected it, was comfortable with it. But the shift from loving companion to brutal punisher was more than he could handle. He had hated it, and was afraid it would break him. It didn't; he survived, became Spike. Most of the time, Spike didn't mourn the loss of William. In many ways William was weak, living in a fantasy world. Spike was strong, and firmly rooted in reality. But a part of Spike missed William, would like to have kept that fantasy. Something, perhaps a look, or his tone of voice had set Angelus off this night. It had been a particularly brutal beating. Something in William snapped that night, it was the first step in his conversion to Spike. Instead of crawling off to sleep and heal, when Angelus was through with him, he spoke. "Why do you do this." Angelus had answered him coldly, dispassionately, "It's the nature of the bond." This sent Spike into a fury of his own, it was probably very lucky for Angelus that there wasn't a stake nearby, William would have killed him. Instead after fighting for a moment he simply stopped and said in a quiet voice that held an edge of steel to it, a new strength. "If it is truly the nature of the bond, then I will never create a childe. I would never condemn another creature to this. I can't." He'd turned and left before Angelus could beat him again. Spike had remained faithful to that promise. He never created childer, minions, but never children. He promised himself, he would not treat Xander as he had been treated.
Angel could remember telling Spike that his actions were the natural result of their bond, but watching his childe with Xander, he knew that was not true. He'd believed it when he said it. It was more or less the way his own sire, Darla had trained him. But now he knew that it was the only way. He also knew that Spike would not give in to it. Spike would train his childe with the same care and gentleness he was showing now. Angel was scared again, in some ways he realized his childe, even without a soul was a better person than he was. He had no reason to control the demon, no reason to fight it, no guilt for giving in to it. But he fought it anyway, because it was right. Not that he was good and virtuous, he wasn't. If he did not have that chip in his head, he would be killing innocent people every night, but they were his food, he refused to look at them as anything else. Whenever he did, he was unable to kill them. Angel was secure that even without the chip Spike would never actually kill Buffy, or Willow, because he saw them as something more than dinner, he couldn't eat a person. He could only eat a meal.
Angel and Spike had been sitting quiet with their thoughts for about 20 minutes when they heard a noise. Spike immediately got up and went to see what it was. He made it about halfway down the hall, Angel right behind him, when Willow stuck her head out the door to the guest room. She looked tired, and a little rumpled, but healthy. Her voice came out strong and clear, "Give me a second to get changed Spike." She saw Angel behind him. "Angel you're here. I'll be out in a minute, we'll talk. Then I'm sure you guys need some sleep. What is it like noon?"
"12:15 pet. We'll be downstairs, in the kitchen. We are going to fix you breakfast luv." Spike's voice and words were tender, concerned, but mostly relieved. It seemed Willow really was alright. Spike and Angel went downstairs to the kitchen.
"Okay, what are we going to fix for breakfast." Angel looked a little perplexed.
"Eggs, eggs are easy, and toast." Spike started working, getting breakfast ready for the girl he was completely and totally in love with.
They cooked in silence, both still a little shook up by their thoughts of a few moments ago. Willow came into the room a moment later, her hair damp from a shower. "Food, thanks guys." Willow sat down and ate. She was hungry. She ate in silence the two vampires watching her. When she finished, she asked, "Who cooked?"
Angel answered her, "Spike. He did it all. I just watched."
Willow turned to Spike, "Spike, Thank you, for breakfast, for everything." She spoke softly, and it was clear she was speaking of much more than the food.
Spike smiled at her and said in such a low tone he was sure, only Angel would here, "Anything, I'd do anything for you." Willow's hearing must have been better than Spike thought, because Willow blushed, and turned away.
Angel had watched their interaction carefully. Willow was at ease with Spike, and it was obvious that she did care about him, but Angel didn't believe she was in love with him. He was distracted and a little surprised when Willow's next words were directed at him "Angel, you came. I'm glad. I know you and Xander didn't always get along, he hated you with a passion, might be more accurate, but I think he'll need your help now."
"Of course I came Willow. Xander may not have liked me, and I have to say, I wasn't overly fond of him, but he was important to me. He's important to me because he is important to you and Buffy. I care for him because you do. I'll help him anyway I can. I'll stay as long as it takes. It will be hard for him. Learning to control the demon is difficult all by itself, but the emotional stress the soul will cause is worse. Just the fact that he has the urge to do things will make him feel guilt. He'll adjust, but it will take some time. Until he does, I'll be here for him, and the rest of you." Angel had spoken quietly, in the most reassuring tone he could find.
Willow went to Angel and wrapped her arms around him hugging him tightly, her tears dampening his shirt. "Thank you Angel, thank you so much."
Angel hugged Willow back and whispered into her hair, "It's alright little one. I do it for you. Anything for you." unconsciously echoing Spike's earlier words. Hearing Spike's low rumbling growl, Angel let go of Willow and took a step back, putting some distance between them. "Are you sure you're okay Willow. Giles was concerned that you channeled to much energy last night."
Willow was a little puzzled at why Angel had pulled away from her, but he was concerned so she answered him, "I'm fine Angel. In fact I feel kinda glowy from all of the power. It was good. I was good. I think I'm getting better at this stuff." Willow was self-assured and confident. Last night had proven to her that she could be a powerful witch, and that she could take control of a situation. Both of those things were new to her, but they were already wiping out the insecurities that had plagued her for so long.
Just then they heard the front door open. Giles was back. He walked into the kitchen. He could barely see where he was going, looking only at a small bit of floor, because the blood bags were piled to high in the box. "Spike, Angel, could you put this in the refrigerator please." Angel reached out and took the box from Giles. He looked around and noticed Willow. "Willow, you're awake. Are you quite alright? I was concerned, that was a great deal of power you were manipulating last night. Do you feel at all drained?"
"Yes, I'm up, Yes, I'm alright, No I don't feel drained. I was just telling Angel, I feel kinda glowy from the power, warm, tingly. It's a good feeling. Did Buffy get the demon? Where is everyone anyway?" Willow, was already growing tired of telling people she was fine, but didn't let her impatience shine through. Giles was worried about her, she thought it was rather sweet. "Actually before, we get into a long conversation, I think the vampires in the room need to go get some sleep. I figure Xander will be awake shortly after sunset and that's only about 6 hours away. Go sleep." She put just a trace of the command she had used last night in her voice.
"We do need sleep, but where do you want us to go." Angel asked. He really didn't know Willow's house that well, and certainly didn't know where she would feel comfortable with him sleeping.
"It's only a 3 bedroom house. You guys are so, not sleeping in my parents' room. I guess the two of you can take the guest room. It's where I was. You'll have to share the bed, but hey, It's a Queen, should be big enough, and it only has the one window, thoroughly vampire-proofed." It was really the only place Willow could think of. It didn't even occur to her, that Angel and Spike might not be comfortable sharing a bed. Giles on the other hand nearly choked on his coffee, when he heard her suggestion.
For a moment the two vampires just stared at her. Finally Spike broke the silence, "Alright pet, the guest room. I'm sure it will be fine. It's just for this one day anyway. We'll all figure out better sleeping arrangements later. Come on Angel, let's get some sleep." He turned and walked out of the room. Angel stared at his retreating figure for a moment before following him.
"Willow, I'm not sure, if that was a good idea." Giles sounds decidedly worried. In truth he's afraid they'll hurt one another before the night is through.
"They'll be fine Giles, Let's go sit, and you can tell me where everyone is and how Buffy did with the demon." Willow still doesn't see what the big deal is. It's not like the two of them never shared a bed in their lives. They'd survive. Giles shook his head at her naivete, but walked back out into the living room, and sat down on the couch. Willow followed and sat in a chair across from him.
"Buffy killed the demon. She was out all night. She was tired, so she went home to sleep. She'll be back before sunset. Cordelia came with Angel. She and Anya seem to get along rather well. They went shopping I believe. I of course went to get a bigger blood supply. You're sure you're alright." Giles really didn't want to get into the details about what happened before Buffy went home. He was hoping Willow wouldn't ask. She didn't. Instead she let the conversation lapse, and they sat in an oddly comforting, and comfortable silence.
Meanwhile upstairs, their was a much less civil exchange taking place. "What are we going to do, Spike. I know you don't want to share a bed with me." Angel asked, truly not knowing what Spike's answer would be. Angel almost wanted to offer to sleep on the floor, but he wouldn't. He was Spike's sire, and that did still mean something. He wouldn't give up the bed."
"I don't know about you, you bloody wanker, but I'm going to do exactly what I said, sleep. Red's right, it's a bloody queen-size bed, surely we can stay on our own sides. Now, I'm going to sleep." Spike was sarcastic. He was also exhausted, which was the only reason he hadn't pressed for some alternate, sleeping arrangement. He slid under the blankets and lay down on one side of the bed. As soon as he did, he realized another problem with sleeping here, it smelled of Willow. Well, he would enjoy it. Hopefully, it would make his dreams pleasant.
Angel simply stared at Spike in shock for a moment. He then shrugged, slid under the blankets on his own side of the bed, and closed his eyes, trying to sleep. He couldn't. The events of the last hours were still chasing around inside of his head. A boy that at one time he could not stand, but who he had grown to respect had died, been turned, and given his soul. The childe, he was so sure he knew, had changed, maybe it was the chip, or maybe he had really changed after all of this time. That childe was in love with a human girl. A girl that he felt unreasonably protective of, and who's scent hung in the sheets around him, causing tantalizing sensations that Angel could not quite place. He had called his own relationship with and feelings for Buffy into question several times in just the last several hours. His world was turning upside down, and he didn't know what to do about it. There was no way he could sleep.
Spike on the other hand was to exhausted to dwell on the events of the past night. He fell to sleep immediately. Unfortunately said events effected him in other ways. Instead of the pleasant dreams of Willow he had been hoping for, he was being tormented by nightmares. Mostly they were memories, every dream ended with the memory of that night. The night he had sworn to never make a childe. He shook, and cried out in his sleep.
Angel noticed, and wanted to comfort him, but was not sure quite how. In the old days he would have held him, probably more, but now, he was afraid that would anger Spike. He couldn't touch his childe anymore, his child hated him. So instead he sat there, wondering what to do, watching Spike suffer. Somehow, he knew what the dreams were. He knew that Spike was dreaming all of the times Angelus had hurt him, and especially that night, when he had broken William forever. He watched, and finally couldn't stand to watch any more, he slowly, carefully, reached across the bed and pulled Spike's body in close to his own. Just holding him, brushing his hair, willing him to be calm. And it worked, within minutes Spike had calmed, he no longer shook with fear and pain. He no longer cried out in his sleep. Angel signed and finally fell asleep, Spike still wrapped in his arms.
About 5:00 pm Buffy returned to the Rosenberg house arriving at almost the same moment as Anya and Cordelia. They walked through the front door. Things were very quiet, almost too quiet. Buffy called out, "Giles, we're back. Are you here?" tension was evident in her voice and posture. When she didn't receive a response she began to walk through the house. When she reached the living room she stopped, the other two girls directly behind her. Willow was sleeping in a chair, and across from her Giles was sprawled on the couch also sound asleep. Buffy's expression softened as she saw her watcher and her best friend both peacefully sleeping.
"Buffy we should wake them. The sun will be down within the hour, and we all should b awake when Xander wakes up." Cordelia spoke calmly. She had dealt with things in her own way. Mostly it was simply by knowing Anya. The girl was completely unruffled by the fact that Xander was now a vampire. She accepted that things would change, it would be different. Because she could, Cordelia would as well.
Anya went to Willow, and gently shook her awake, while Buffy went to Giles and woke him. "Hey guys, we're back, it's getting late." Buffy spoke softly not wanting to startle the barely awake watcher.
"I'm awake. Really I am." Willow, was giggling as Anya continued to shake her, and poke at her.
"Good, now if we could just get the watcher man up and running things would be great." Anya was exasperated.
Willow giggled, "I think he needs caffeine. He hasn't had much sleep you know."
"Caffeine right, I'll make coffee." Cordelia just wanted to be useful. She still wasn't sure why Angel had brought her along on this trip, though she had to confess, she was grateful for it.
Upstairs Spike was just beginning to pull away from sleep. He had never woken up easily, it was always a long slow process. First he became aware of the scents around him, he smelled Willow, and his sire. Next he began to be aware of touch. He realized he was being held against another man's chest, cradled like a child. He woke quickly from there, realizing the implications. He leaped out of bed and yelled angrily at Angel, "Can't follow even the simplest instruction, can you. I only asked for one thing, and you agreed, that you stay on your side. What the fuck were you doing anyway." Spike wasn't really sure what he was angry about, but he was. He'd think about it later.
Angel had been soundly sleeping when the bundle in his arms suddenly moved, jolting him awake. He caught the general tone of Spike's words, but not the actual words. He had known that Spike would be angry with him. He'd hoped it would be different, but he had expected this. When he answered Spike, it was in cool, soothing tones. "You were dreaming Spike. Nightmares. I couldn't watch you suffer. You said earlier that being a sire gave you certain responsibilities, I have those too. It was my responsibility to comfort you. I did, the only way I know how. Come on, let's go downstairs." Angel didn't wait for a response. He just got up and walked away.
Spike sat back down on the edge of the bed. He was shaking. He wasn't really sure why anymore, whether it was out of anger or fear, or something else. He took a few minutes to get himself calmed down, before getting back up, and following Angel down the stairs.
When Angel reached the living room, he immediately began speaking again. "I'm glad you are all here. Xander will need everyone of you in the weeks to come. Tonight though, Xander will be dangerous. The Blood lust, the Hunger will hit him for the first time when he wakes. Even with the soul, he won't be able to stop himself from attacking a human. When Xander wakes up, it has to be just Spike and I in that room. Do you all understand." Angel's voice was commanding. Everyone listened, but there was a history here, and he would not get blind obedience.
"It is true, the Watcher diaries say that is what a new fledgling is like, still I'd say at least some of us are more than capable of defending ourselves against a fledgling vampire, no matter who's childe he is." Giles sounded confident. He truly wanted more people to be present when Xander woke.
"Yeah, I'm the slayer, I think I can handle one fledgling." Buffy was back in her defensive bitchiness mode.
"I'm sure you could, but when that fledgling had Xander's face, could you. I doubt it, and I know Willow couldn't. They are really the only two humans in this room, I think could handle Xander. He may be a fledgling, but he's not a typical one. Spike gave him more blood than is normal, even for making a childe. Xander will be physically as strong as Spike, but uncontrolled. The demon will have complete dominion over his actions. Buffy is a slayer and as she says can handle herself. Willow's magic could be used to restrain him, but neither would willfully hurt Xander. No, it has to be just the two of us." Angel, spoke calmly. He had decided the best way to proceed was to simply lay out the facts. He was surprised when Spike was the next to speak.
"Bloody Pouf's right. You couldn't stake him, even if he didn't have his soul, but he does. There's no way you'd be able to stake him, and as little control as he'll have, you'd have to if you wanted to stay alive. The two of us, no one else." Spike echoed Angel's tone.
"Okay, just let us know what happens. We are going to stay here." Willow spoke for the group, and falling into the pattern that had become familiar to them in the last 24 hours, the rest of the group simply followed her lead. They nodded, and some of them vocalized their agreement, but all of them followed . Willow's lead.
"We'll go on up then. Sunset isn't that far away. We'll take some blood with us. We'll let you know how things go." Spike didn't pause for a response. He walked into the kitchen and pulled out several blood bags. He then began the climb up the stairs to Willow's room yet again. And again, Angel simply followed him.
They sat in the chairs on either side of the bed, waiting for Xander to wake. Neither said anything, but it wasn't the uncomfortable silence they usually shared, it was just waiting quietly. They didn't have to wait long. In less than 15 minutes Xander began to wake. Soon he was sitting in the bed in full vamp face. He looked back and forth between Spike and Angel. His eyes finally settled on Spike's. "Sire." He waited for Spike's approval, which was given with a nod, "I'm hungry."
Series: Changed 4/?
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"Sire, you can't have her. I love her, and I won't let you take her. Never will I let you take her from me." Spike's voice was icy. Most people think of anger and hatred as something hot, fiery, but from Spike the greatest anger was always cold. Spike's posture and facial expressions were defiant, challenging. But underneath the challenge, was pain, and Angel recognized that pain. Knew that he had caused most of it. Still he was surprised to learn that his wayward childe's affections had been captured by the diminutive red head. Spike had always seemed to be attracted to darker women, not necessarily evil, but dark. Willow was anything but. She was everything bright and good.
Angel was silent for a moment trying to decide how to respond, when he spoke it was with slow even tones meant to soothe, "Spike, Willow belongs to no one, but I would never try to take anyone away from you. The demon spent decades doing it, but I would never hurt you that way."
As soon as the words were out, Angel knew that he had taken the wrong approach. Spike responded immediately his anger bubbling to the surface, irritation in his voice, "Don't give me that. I don't believe for a second that the soul has changed you that much. And I know you, you're in love with her too. You'll tell yourself that you are only protecting her from me, but really you'll just be saving her for yourself. You can't have her, Angel. I will, I don't deserve her, but I'll have her anyway. You won't win this time. I won't allow it." Rarely did Spike speak so eloquently. He had greatly enjoyed destroying the speech of his human self. Spike was really quite well-educated, and while William had written abominable poetry, he was able to speak quite well. Spike only let the accent and street language drop when he was speaking about something vitally important to him.
"Spike, I'm not in love with Willow. I don't think you'd be good for her, and would try to discourage any relationship, but she's a big girl. Willow can take care of herself. I think she's smart enough to stay away from you, without any of my influence. This conversation is going nowhere. I won't argue this with you. I don't believe you have any chance with Willow, but, you somehow capture her heart, I won't try to take her away from you. End of Discussion." Angel's voice had started out even and controlled, but quickly took on an edge of anger and irritation. He truly didn't understand why Spike believed that he was in love with Willow. It was true that he found the girl attractive, but who wouldn't she was lovely. Willow was his friend, maybe his best friend. He loved Buffy, he would always love Buffy. Even if they could never be together had never really been happy together, well except that once, he would always love her. Nothing would ever change that, would it? His thoughts were still racing but he turned quickly and went back downstairs.
Spike lingered, watching Willow sleep for a moment, before following Angel down the stairs.
"Is demon girl awake yet?" Spike asked his tone back to normal, showing no trace of his earlier conversation with Angel.
"That's ex-demon girl, and yes, I'm awake." Anya sounded surprisingly upbeat. Happy.even. "What did you want Spike?"
"Just seeing if you were up and about, after that spell. Red's still asleep."
Anya was a little surprised at the obvious concern in Spike's voice, "I'm fine Spike. The spell went well. Willow will be alright." Her own tone was reassuring.
Buffy walked in at that moment, she was exhausted. It had taken her until dawn to track the demon and kill it. She was also afraid, afraid of what she'd find when she came back to this house. Did the spell work? Just what exactly would she find. She walked into the living room to find at least 2 faces she did not expect, Angel and Cordelia. "Angel, what are you doing here?" She ignored Cordelia.
"Spike called, he asked me to come. Adjusting to the soul is a difficult process. It will be easier for Xander, because he will have always had it, but just because he has a soul, doesn't mean he won't have to fight the demon. He'll have to fight it everyday. I can help him learn to do that." This was a neatly prepared speech. Angel had been practicing what to say to Buffy ever since Spike had called.
"I thought the soul made that easy." In Buffy's mind the soul made all of those bad urges, like ripping out throats, just go away. She didn't understand that they were sometimes a physical compulsion.
"The soul doesn't make the demon easier to control, it makes us want to control it. It's different. Every time the demon in my body hears a heartbeat, it wants blood. Every time I actually touch a warm human body, the demon wants to rip out it's throat, drain it. Some days it's hard, not to give in. The soul didn't make that go away. The soul made me want to fight, made it worth it to fight. I had hoped you understood that." Angel was disappointed in Buffy. It seemed lately he was always disappointed in her. He didn't know what had changed, if she had, or if it was him, but he didn't like it. He didn't like it at all.
Buffy, looked horrified, all of the implications of Angel's words, sinking in. "I, I never knew that. I just assumed, I'm sorry. I hope you can help Xander, look, I'm exhausted. Giles, I'm going home, I need some rest. Call if you need me, and call me when Willow wakes up." This was all delivered in a cool monotone. She didn't wait for a response. She just turned around and walked back out the door.
For a moment no one moved or spoke, they just stared at the door. Anya spoke, "What the hell was her problem?" She used her typically blunt manner and expected an answer.
Cordelia almost laughed aloud. The rest of the group had always taken great pains, to talk about Buffy as if she was perfect. Cordelia had a feeling that she may have found a kindred spirit. She liked this girl. "I think Angel just took her by surprise. Both of them become an enormous pain in the ass, when they are together. Not nearly as hard to put up with separately." Cordelia responded with her own customary sarcasm. "Hey want to go shopping? Kill some time."
"Sure, sounds good. Giles can page if he needs us. Besides it'll keep my mind occupied while we are waiting." Anya and Cordelia collected their things and left for a day of bonding at the mall, leaving Giles alone in the room with two vampires.
They sat in uncomfortable silence for a few moments. Giles finally broke the silence, stammering, "I, I think perhaps, I should go out also. With three vampires in the house, I doubt we have enough blood. I'll be back in an hour." With that he to walked out the door leaving Spike and Angel alone.
After a moment, Spike spoke. "I should go and check on my childe." He walked quickly up the stairs and into Willow's room, taking what had become his chair by the bed.
Angel followed, and much as Willow had done the previous night simply watched Spike with Xander for a time. Spike's features had softened. The harshness created by anger, pain and bitterness, had faded from his face. His touch on Xander's hair was gentle and protective, but there was also an element of possessiveness to it. Turning his attention to Xander, Angel began to notice the effects of the change on the young man. Xander was perfect. Any injury he had was completely healed. His skin was smooth and flawless, having paled to the purest of ivories. It almost seemed to glow. His dark hair had taken on a richer sheen than it had ever seen in life. He appeared perfect. Surprised, Angel turned his full attention back to his own childe. The worst of Spike's injuries could still be seen as angry bruises. His own healing was not complete. Angel walked into the room and took the chair across from Spike, again echoing Willow's earlier actions. "Spike, how much blood did you give him?" Spike couldn't understand the emotions he heard in Angel's voice. There was admiration there, wonder, and underlying it all a touch of concern.
"As much as I bloody well could. Every ounce I could spare. I wanted the boy to be a childe, a true childe. Not a minion." Spike's own answer was matter of fact, no emotion revealed.
"You have my boy. He's perfect. He'll be as strong as you when he wakes. You've made him more than a childe. You've made an equal, a master from the start. Between his strength and his soul, he'll be difficult to control. I hope you don't have any plans to become a dominant sire." Again Angel's voice, and this time even his words confused Spike. He couldn't even remember how long ago it had been that his sire had called him, "my boy." There was respect and a little bit of awe in his voice. Those things confused Spike.
Angel himself was a little confused by his reaction. He was proud of Spike. Instinctively he had created an extremely powerful vampire, a companion. It was something Angelus had never managed. He had sired Penn and expected and trained a submissive childe. When he turned Dru, he made her strong just as Spike had done with Xander, but he had broken her first. His truest companion and favorite childe had always been Spike, who was not really his. Drusilla had made him strong, Angelus had made him ruthless. His entire being was still divided over how to feel about Spike. A part of him regretted the turning, Spike had killed so many, and would again given the chance. Indirectly Angel had brought that evil into the world. But another part of him craved the companionship they had offered each other when the women in their family had been away. He needed that.
While, Angel's own thoughts were still turning in his head, Spike responded. "He is perfect. I never expected us to have a traditional Sire/Childe relationship, the soul and chip would have prevented that, but I am still his sire. We'll figure something out. Being a sire gives me certain rights and responsibilities. They aren't cancelled out by his soul or my chip." Spike was determined. He wanted to be a good sire. They both fell into their thoughts. Each unknown to the other was remembering the same incident. The night William swore he would never sire a childe.
Less than a month after he had been turned, Spike already had almost full control over the demon. He had far more control than Angelus would ever develop. Drusilla barely had enough sense to take care of herself, so Angelus had taken it upon himself to train the young vampire. Looking back Angel knew that he had treated Spike much more harshly than he had any of his own childer. Spike was his favorite, nearly his equal. He wanted him to be the best vampire in history. The most cruel. So he was very cruel with Spike. He was also a little afraid of that. Afraid that William could be his favorite even though he had not turned him. Afraid of the fact that William was nearly as strong as he was, and already better at controlling the demon. And most of all afraid of the nearly physical need he had to spend time with William, to simply enjoy his presence. His fear made him even more cruel. Now after all of this time Angel regretted that cruelty. Regretted the pain he had caused. It was one of the things that he felt guilt for every day of his existence.
Spike had always known he was different from most vampires. He could control the demon inside him. It was the only reason he could survive with this damned chip in his head. He wasn't ruled by the urges of the demon. Sure he enjoyed chaos and violence, but he could control it. He didn't need it like most of them did. He had heard that some of the older vamps were like that, but he'd never met one. That night he'd been a vampire for one month and 12 days. His own sire Dru, had practically ignored him for all of that time. Angelus, Drusilla's sire, had decided that William needed to be trained as a vampire. At times there interaction was fun, enjoyable. William believed that this new sire liked him, and was proud of him. No one had ever really made him feel like that before. But then there were the other times. Times when Angelus would turn mean, he would hurt William, but the physical pain was the least of it. Angelus would tell William how he was useless, and a poor excuse for a vampire. There was no way to tell what would make Angelus the friend, become Angelus the disciplinarian, no rules William could live by to assure that he didn't come. The uncertainty was it's own special kind of torture. Spike didn't mind being submissive to his sire, he expected it, was comfortable with it. But the shift from loving companion to brutal punisher was more than he could handle. He had hated it, and was afraid it would break him. It didn't; he survived, became Spike. Most of the time, Spike didn't mourn the loss of William. In many ways William was weak, living in a fantasy world. Spike was strong, and firmly rooted in reality. But a part of Spike missed William, would like to have kept that fantasy. Something, perhaps a look, or his tone of voice had set Angelus off this night. It had been a particularly brutal beating. Something in William snapped that night, it was the first step in his conversion to Spike. Instead of crawling off to sleep and heal, when Angelus was through with him, he spoke. "Why do you do this." Angelus had answered him coldly, dispassionately, "It's the nature of the bond." This sent Spike into a fury of his own, it was probably very lucky for Angelus that there wasn't a stake nearby, William would have killed him. Instead after fighting for a moment he simply stopped and said in a quiet voice that held an edge of steel to it, a new strength. "If it is truly the nature of the bond, then I will never create a childe. I would never condemn another creature to this. I can't." He'd turned and left before Angelus could beat him again. Spike had remained faithful to that promise. He never created childer, minions, but never children. He promised himself, he would not treat Xander as he had been treated.
Angel could remember telling Spike that his actions were the natural result of their bond, but watching his childe with Xander, he knew that was not true. He'd believed it when he said it. It was more or less the way his own sire, Darla had trained him. But now he knew that it was the only way. He also knew that Spike would not give in to it. Spike would train his childe with the same care and gentleness he was showing now. Angel was scared again, in some ways he realized his childe, even without a soul was a better person than he was. He had no reason to control the demon, no reason to fight it, no guilt for giving in to it. But he fought it anyway, because it was right. Not that he was good and virtuous, he wasn't. If he did not have that chip in his head, he would be killing innocent people every night, but they were his food, he refused to look at them as anything else. Whenever he did, he was unable to kill them. Angel was secure that even without the chip Spike would never actually kill Buffy, or Willow, because he saw them as something more than dinner, he couldn't eat a person. He could only eat a meal.
Angel and Spike had been sitting quiet with their thoughts for about 20 minutes when they heard a noise. Spike immediately got up and went to see what it was. He made it about halfway down the hall, Angel right behind him, when Willow stuck her head out the door to the guest room. She looked tired, and a little rumpled, but healthy. Her voice came out strong and clear, "Give me a second to get changed Spike." She saw Angel behind him. "Angel you're here. I'll be out in a minute, we'll talk. Then I'm sure you guys need some sleep. What is it like noon?"
"12:15 pet. We'll be downstairs, in the kitchen. We are going to fix you breakfast luv." Spike's voice and words were tender, concerned, but mostly relieved. It seemed Willow really was alright. Spike and Angel went downstairs to the kitchen.
"Okay, what are we going to fix for breakfast." Angel looked a little perplexed.
"Eggs, eggs are easy, and toast." Spike started working, getting breakfast ready for the girl he was completely and totally in love with.
They cooked in silence, both still a little shook up by their thoughts of a few moments ago. Willow came into the room a moment later, her hair damp from a shower. "Food, thanks guys." Willow sat down and ate. She was hungry. She ate in silence the two vampires watching her. When she finished, she asked, "Who cooked?"
Angel answered her, "Spike. He did it all. I just watched."
Willow turned to Spike, "Spike, Thank you, for breakfast, for everything." She spoke softly, and it was clear she was speaking of much more than the food.
Spike smiled at her and said in such a low tone he was sure, only Angel would here, "Anything, I'd do anything for you." Willow's hearing must have been better than Spike thought, because Willow blushed, and turned away.
Angel had watched their interaction carefully. Willow was at ease with Spike, and it was obvious that she did care about him, but Angel didn't believe she was in love with him. He was distracted and a little surprised when Willow's next words were directed at him "Angel, you came. I'm glad. I know you and Xander didn't always get along, he hated you with a passion, might be more accurate, but I think he'll need your help now."
"Of course I came Willow. Xander may not have liked me, and I have to say, I wasn't overly fond of him, but he was important to me. He's important to me because he is important to you and Buffy. I care for him because you do. I'll help him anyway I can. I'll stay as long as it takes. It will be hard for him. Learning to control the demon is difficult all by itself, but the emotional stress the soul will cause is worse. Just the fact that he has the urge to do things will make him feel guilt. He'll adjust, but it will take some time. Until he does, I'll be here for him, and the rest of you." Angel had spoken quietly, in the most reassuring tone he could find.
Willow went to Angel and wrapped her arms around him hugging him tightly, her tears dampening his shirt. "Thank you Angel, thank you so much."
Angel hugged Willow back and whispered into her hair, "It's alright little one. I do it for you. Anything for you." unconsciously echoing Spike's earlier words. Hearing Spike's low rumbling growl, Angel let go of Willow and took a step back, putting some distance between them. "Are you sure you're okay Willow. Giles was concerned that you channeled to much energy last night."
Willow was a little puzzled at why Angel had pulled away from her, but he was concerned so she answered him, "I'm fine Angel. In fact I feel kinda glowy from all of the power. It was good. I was good. I think I'm getting better at this stuff." Willow was self-assured and confident. Last night had proven to her that she could be a powerful witch, and that she could take control of a situation. Both of those things were new to her, but they were already wiping out the insecurities that had plagued her for so long.
Just then they heard the front door open. Giles was back. He walked into the kitchen. He could barely see where he was going, looking only at a small bit of floor, because the blood bags were piled to high in the box. "Spike, Angel, could you put this in the refrigerator please." Angel reached out and took the box from Giles. He looked around and noticed Willow. "Willow, you're awake. Are you quite alright? I was concerned, that was a great deal of power you were manipulating last night. Do you feel at all drained?"
"Yes, I'm up, Yes, I'm alright, No I don't feel drained. I was just telling Angel, I feel kinda glowy from the power, warm, tingly. It's a good feeling. Did Buffy get the demon? Where is everyone anyway?" Willow, was already growing tired of telling people she was fine, but didn't let her impatience shine through. Giles was worried about her, she thought it was rather sweet. "Actually before, we get into a long conversation, I think the vampires in the room need to go get some sleep. I figure Xander will be awake shortly after sunset and that's only about 6 hours away. Go sleep." She put just a trace of the command she had used last night in her voice.
"We do need sleep, but where do you want us to go." Angel asked. He really didn't know Willow's house that well, and certainly didn't know where she would feel comfortable with him sleeping.
"It's only a 3 bedroom house. You guys are so, not sleeping in my parents' room. I guess the two of you can take the guest room. It's where I was. You'll have to share the bed, but hey, It's a Queen, should be big enough, and it only has the one window, thoroughly vampire-proofed." It was really the only place Willow could think of. It didn't even occur to her, that Angel and Spike might not be comfortable sharing a bed. Giles on the other hand nearly choked on his coffee, when he heard her suggestion.
For a moment the two vampires just stared at her. Finally Spike broke the silence, "Alright pet, the guest room. I'm sure it will be fine. It's just for this one day anyway. We'll all figure out better sleeping arrangements later. Come on Angel, let's get some sleep." He turned and walked out of the room. Angel stared at his retreating figure for a moment before following him.
"Willow, I'm not sure, if that was a good idea." Giles sounds decidedly worried. In truth he's afraid they'll hurt one another before the night is through.
"They'll be fine Giles, Let's go sit, and you can tell me where everyone is and how Buffy did with the demon." Willow still doesn't see what the big deal is. It's not like the two of them never shared a bed in their lives. They'd survive. Giles shook his head at her naivete, but walked back out into the living room, and sat down on the couch. Willow followed and sat in a chair across from him.
"Buffy killed the demon. She was out all night. She was tired, so she went home to sleep. She'll be back before sunset. Cordelia came with Angel. She and Anya seem to get along rather well. They went shopping I believe. I of course went to get a bigger blood supply. You're sure you're alright." Giles really didn't want to get into the details about what happened before Buffy went home. He was hoping Willow wouldn't ask. She didn't. Instead she let the conversation lapse, and they sat in an oddly comforting, and comfortable silence.
Meanwhile upstairs, their was a much less civil exchange taking place. "What are we going to do, Spike. I know you don't want to share a bed with me." Angel asked, truly not knowing what Spike's answer would be. Angel almost wanted to offer to sleep on the floor, but he wouldn't. He was Spike's sire, and that did still mean something. He wouldn't give up the bed."
"I don't know about you, you bloody wanker, but I'm going to do exactly what I said, sleep. Red's right, it's a bloody queen-size bed, surely we can stay on our own sides. Now, I'm going to sleep." Spike was sarcastic. He was also exhausted, which was the only reason he hadn't pressed for some alternate, sleeping arrangement. He slid under the blankets and lay down on one side of the bed. As soon as he did, he realized another problem with sleeping here, it smelled of Willow. Well, he would enjoy it. Hopefully, it would make his dreams pleasant.
Angel simply stared at Spike in shock for a moment. He then shrugged, slid under the blankets on his own side of the bed, and closed his eyes, trying to sleep. He couldn't. The events of the last hours were still chasing around inside of his head. A boy that at one time he could not stand, but who he had grown to respect had died, been turned, and given his soul. The childe, he was so sure he knew, had changed, maybe it was the chip, or maybe he had really changed after all of this time. That childe was in love with a human girl. A girl that he felt unreasonably protective of, and who's scent hung in the sheets around him, causing tantalizing sensations that Angel could not quite place. He had called his own relationship with and feelings for Buffy into question several times in just the last several hours. His world was turning upside down, and he didn't know what to do about it. There was no way he could sleep.
Spike on the other hand was to exhausted to dwell on the events of the past night. He fell to sleep immediately. Unfortunately said events effected him in other ways. Instead of the pleasant dreams of Willow he had been hoping for, he was being tormented by nightmares. Mostly they were memories, every dream ended with the memory of that night. The night he had sworn to never make a childe. He shook, and cried out in his sleep.
Angel noticed, and wanted to comfort him, but was not sure quite how. In the old days he would have held him, probably more, but now, he was afraid that would anger Spike. He couldn't touch his childe anymore, his child hated him. So instead he sat there, wondering what to do, watching Spike suffer. Somehow, he knew what the dreams were. He knew that Spike was dreaming all of the times Angelus had hurt him, and especially that night, when he had broken William forever. He watched, and finally couldn't stand to watch any more, he slowly, carefully, reached across the bed and pulled Spike's body in close to his own. Just holding him, brushing his hair, willing him to be calm. And it worked, within minutes Spike had calmed, he no longer shook with fear and pain. He no longer cried out in his sleep. Angel signed and finally fell asleep, Spike still wrapped in his arms.
About 5:00 pm Buffy returned to the Rosenberg house arriving at almost the same moment as Anya and Cordelia. They walked through the front door. Things were very quiet, almost too quiet. Buffy called out, "Giles, we're back. Are you here?" tension was evident in her voice and posture. When she didn't receive a response she began to walk through the house. When she reached the living room she stopped, the other two girls directly behind her. Willow was sleeping in a chair, and across from her Giles was sprawled on the couch also sound asleep. Buffy's expression softened as she saw her watcher and her best friend both peacefully sleeping.
"Buffy we should wake them. The sun will be down within the hour, and we all should b awake when Xander wakes up." Cordelia spoke calmly. She had dealt with things in her own way. Mostly it was simply by knowing Anya. The girl was completely unruffled by the fact that Xander was now a vampire. She accepted that things would change, it would be different. Because she could, Cordelia would as well.
Anya went to Willow, and gently shook her awake, while Buffy went to Giles and woke him. "Hey guys, we're back, it's getting late." Buffy spoke softly not wanting to startle the barely awake watcher.
"I'm awake. Really I am." Willow, was giggling as Anya continued to shake her, and poke at her.
"Good, now if we could just get the watcher man up and running things would be great." Anya was exasperated.
Willow giggled, "I think he needs caffeine. He hasn't had much sleep you know."
"Caffeine right, I'll make coffee." Cordelia just wanted to be useful. She still wasn't sure why Angel had brought her along on this trip, though she had to confess, she was grateful for it.
Upstairs Spike was just beginning to pull away from sleep. He had never woken up easily, it was always a long slow process. First he became aware of the scents around him, he smelled Willow, and his sire. Next he began to be aware of touch. He realized he was being held against another man's chest, cradled like a child. He woke quickly from there, realizing the implications. He leaped out of bed and yelled angrily at Angel, "Can't follow even the simplest instruction, can you. I only asked for one thing, and you agreed, that you stay on your side. What the fuck were you doing anyway." Spike wasn't really sure what he was angry about, but he was. He'd think about it later.
Angel had been soundly sleeping when the bundle in his arms suddenly moved, jolting him awake. He caught the general tone of Spike's words, but not the actual words. He had known that Spike would be angry with him. He'd hoped it would be different, but he had expected this. When he answered Spike, it was in cool, soothing tones. "You were dreaming Spike. Nightmares. I couldn't watch you suffer. You said earlier that being a sire gave you certain responsibilities, I have those too. It was my responsibility to comfort you. I did, the only way I know how. Come on, let's go downstairs." Angel didn't wait for a response. He just got up and walked away.
Spike sat back down on the edge of the bed. He was shaking. He wasn't really sure why anymore, whether it was out of anger or fear, or something else. He took a few minutes to get himself calmed down, before getting back up, and following Angel down the stairs.
When Angel reached the living room, he immediately began speaking again. "I'm glad you are all here. Xander will need everyone of you in the weeks to come. Tonight though, Xander will be dangerous. The Blood lust, the Hunger will hit him for the first time when he wakes. Even with the soul, he won't be able to stop himself from attacking a human. When Xander wakes up, it has to be just Spike and I in that room. Do you all understand." Angel's voice was commanding. Everyone listened, but there was a history here, and he would not get blind obedience.
"It is true, the Watcher diaries say that is what a new fledgling is like, still I'd say at least some of us are more than capable of defending ourselves against a fledgling vampire, no matter who's childe he is." Giles sounded confident. He truly wanted more people to be present when Xander woke.
"Yeah, I'm the slayer, I think I can handle one fledgling." Buffy was back in her defensive bitchiness mode.
"I'm sure you could, but when that fledgling had Xander's face, could you. I doubt it, and I know Willow couldn't. They are really the only two humans in this room, I think could handle Xander. He may be a fledgling, but he's not a typical one. Spike gave him more blood than is normal, even for making a childe. Xander will be physically as strong as Spike, but uncontrolled. The demon will have complete dominion over his actions. Buffy is a slayer and as she says can handle herself. Willow's magic could be used to restrain him, but neither would willfully hurt Xander. No, it has to be just the two of us." Angel, spoke calmly. He had decided the best way to proceed was to simply lay out the facts. He was surprised when Spike was the next to speak.
"Bloody Pouf's right. You couldn't stake him, even if he didn't have his soul, but he does. There's no way you'd be able to stake him, and as little control as he'll have, you'd have to if you wanted to stay alive. The two of us, no one else." Spike echoed Angel's tone.
"Okay, just let us know what happens. We are going to stay here." Willow spoke for the group, and falling into the pattern that had become familiar to them in the last 24 hours, the rest of the group simply followed her lead. They nodded, and some of them vocalized their agreement, but all of them followed . Willow's lead.
"We'll go on up then. Sunset isn't that far away. We'll take some blood with us. We'll let you know how things go." Spike didn't pause for a response. He walked into the kitchen and pulled out several blood bags. He then began the climb up the stairs to Willow's room yet again. And again, Angel simply followed him.
They sat in the chairs on either side of the bed, waiting for Xander to wake. Neither said anything, but it wasn't the uncomfortable silence they usually shared, it was just waiting quietly. They didn't have to wait long. In less than 15 minutes Xander began to wake. Soon he was sitting in the bed in full vamp face. He looked back and forth between Spike and Angel. His eyes finally settled on Spike's. "Sire." He waited for Spike's approval, which was given with a nod, "I'm hungry."