Part 7

Angelus, Willow and Spike stood in the alley and watched the Scoobies as they walked by on their way to the Bronze. Angel's lips quirked as he noticed Buffy had no clue that they were standing so close.

If it hadn't been for her support systems she would have been dead long ago. Imagine a Slayer less than two feet away from two Master Vampires and a Childe and having no clue.

They slipped out of the alley and started down the street towards Buffy's house. The first step in Angelus' plan was to get Joyce to unknowingly invite Willow and Spike into the house. He doubted Buffy would have told her mom anything about Willow or Angel and he would use that to his advantage.

As they approached the house Angel moved to the shadows. Willow slipped her hand into Spike's and together they went to the front door. Willow rang the bell and waited.

Joyce answered, "Willow! Weren't you supposed to meet Buffy at the Bronze?"

"I thought so then I got a message to meet her here. My friend William was nice enough to walk me back."

"Come on in, you two. She'll probably be here in a little bit."

They followed Joyce into the house and both Willow and Spike turned to Angel and smiled as they shut the door.

~~~~

Giles had informed Buffy that it should be a slow night patrolling and he felt they should have some "fun" time. So he had suggested skipping patrol and going to the Bronze. They had all jumped at the chance to dull the pain of what happened to Willow.

Buffy just wanted one night to forget. Just one night without having to deal with the pain of Angel or Willow. She had beaten up Willy to get the information regarding Angel and Spike mourning Dru's death. She had feared a blood bath and when nothing happened she wanted to know why. Willy had told her that they were in seclusion and he hadn't even heard any gossip regarding them.

Willy feared what Angelus, Spike and the new vampire, Willow would do to him more than he feared what the Slayer would do. She might threaten and do physical violence but she wouldn't torture and kill. So he didn't tell her about the mansion. She would find out sooner or later anyway.

Buffy glanced around the Bronze as she danced. Her mind was not really on her partner. The scene kept playing over and over in her mind where Angelus taunted that Willow had been feet away when she was in the warehouse with Xander and she hadn't known.

Giles had told her that it was just Angelus' way of putting off his opponent. Mind games were what he was good at but she was the Slayer and her job was to protect the innocent.  She had failed her best friend.

Glancing over the shoulder of her dance partner she saw the clock. Great, she was so busted. Now on top of everything else she'd have to endure a lecture from her mother. God, she wished she could just come clean about everything.

~~~~

Willow and Spike stayed with Joyce for a while and then used the excuse that she must have been wrong about where to meet Buffy. Willow smiled at the memory of Spike asking for the little marshmallows to put in his hot chocolate. Too bad she couldn't take a picture of one of the most feared vampires sipping hot chocolate with marshmallows and sitting on the couch talking to the Slayer's mother. It would be great blackmail material.

As they walked outside to Angel Willow teased, "Little marshmallows? The big bad vampire likes little marshmallows?"

"What? They make the chocolate taste better?" Spike poked her in the ribs.

Willow started giggling.

"Someone's ticklish."  Spike sing-songed and chased after Willow as she tried to escape his touch.

Angelus shook his head over their antics. Angelus looked up and saw that Joyce had turned out all the lights.

"Why don't you go hunt while I leave a present for Buffy."

The next step in mentally terrorizing Buffy was to show her how vulnerable her mother was. He was going to sketch her mom while she slept. Bending down he picked up his sketchpad and climbed in through Buffy's window. Turning to look back outside, he watched as Spike chased Willow down the street.

Walking around Buffy's room he waited until he heard the even sound of Joyce's breathing. He quietly slipped into her room and sat at the end of the bed. Flipping the pad past the pictures he had drawn of Willow he found a blank page. Soon only the sound of Joyce's breathing and the scratching of the pencil on the paper was the only sound heard in the room.

~~~~

Willow laughed as Spike chased her down the street. This vampiric speed was pretty cool. As she entered an ally she turned her head over her shoulder to see how far behind her Spike was when she ran head long into a solid object.

With a surprised "oof" she looked up to see Spike smirking down at her.

"Hey! How'd you get in front of me?"

He raised his scarred eyebrow, "One of the many talents of a Master Vampire that you will have to learn."

Willow rolled her eyes. "You took a shortcut while I wasn't looking didn't you?"

"Not tellin', pet." Spike held out his hand to help her up.

Willow looked at it with suspicion.  She knew that Spike had given up too easily in her torment.

Spike shook his hand, "You want help up or not?"

Willow mentally shrugged and grabbed his hand.

With a smile, Spike pulled her to her feet and gave her hand a tug. He had only meant to bring her close so he could begin to tickle her again but he must have tugged harder than he thought for she collided with him. They went down in a tangle of arms and legs.

Spike let out a yelp when Willow's elbow hit him in the stomach. Willow laughed down into Spike's face, "Is that another trick of a Master Vampire that I'll have to learn?"

Spike looked up into her twinkling eyes and then his gaze flicked down to her lips. Willow's laughter died when she noticed Spike looking at her lips. She whimpered when she felt him harden against her.

Spike raised his lips just a little and nipped at her lower lip. Willow moved her hands from his shoulders and tangled her fingers in his hair. Spike softly kissed her on either side of her mouth. With a frustrated growl, Willow held Spike's head still and swooped down on his lips.

Spike chuckled as he lowered his hands down her back to squeeze her bum. He raised his hips up just enough to grind himself against her. Willow moaned and deepened their kiss.

Spike gripped her skirt and bunched it up around her waist. He caressed her thighs and parted them so Willow was now straddling him. Willow gave a soft cry of pleasure as they came in contact. Only the denim of his jeans and her silk were separating them. She pushed her pelvis against him trying to get friction.

Spike felt the tension build in both of them and fought against the temptation to mark her.  Angelus would forgive this but he definitely wouldn't forgive Spike marking Willow without his permission. Their movements became faster and with their mouths still joined they gave a cry of release.

"Looks as if someone started the party without me."

Willow's eyes shot open at the sound of Angelus' voice. She quickly scrambled off of Spike and was glad that she wore a skirt. Spike just looked at Angelus and slowly got up.

Angel breathed in the scent of their arousal and Willow's fear. It was intoxicating. Angel tsked, "Spike, Spike, Spike. Seems as if some discipline is in order. Did I give you permission?"

"But it wasn't all Spike's fault."

"Oh you'll be disciplined, too little one."

Spike felt a shiver of pleasure and anticipation. It had been a long time since Angelus disciplined him.  Willow looked confused as she sensed both Angel and Spike's arousal.

Seeing her confusion Spike leaned down to whisper in Willow's ear, "It's not so bad, pet. Angelus is a master of walking the fine line of pleasure and pain."

Angel reached over to Spike and roughly kissed him. He then turned his attention to Willow. Pulling back out of Willow's kiss he said, "Come on let's go hunt. I'm starving."

"Leave your present for the Slayer?"

"Yep, left it out in the open where even she could find it."