The next morning, Elizabeth didn't seem to notice the tension between her son and their guest as they sat at the table. "Willow, dear, did you sleep well?" the woman inquired and Willow blushed scarlet.

"Um, yeah," she mumbled, stealing a meaningful look at Spike in William's body.

The elder woman arched a graceful brow in a look reminescent of Spike. "William, luv, are you going to show our guest around?" she asked.

"Yes, Mum," Spike answered. Elizabeth seemed put off by her son calling her "Mum" but simply shook her head.

"I'll be at Mrs. Gregory Worthington's garden party today, so you'll have the entire day to yourselves," Elizabeth answered, smiling mischieviously at her son and hopeful daughter-in-law. "I must be off, wouldn't want to be late."

"You wouldn't," Spike replied. "Willow, might I escort you?"

Willow gave him an evil glare but stood up anyway, the skirts swishing about her legs. God, how could women wear these things? she wondered. She had worn an emerald-green dress that brought out her eyes, the paleness of her skin and the red hair with an emerald-green lace choker. Not only had she worn the dress but all the silk petticoats and the hoop skirt but the redhead had absolutely refused to wear the corset or the proffered underthings, much preferring her own. Spike crooked his arm and she reluctantly wrapped her arm around his, he led her outside and Willow gasped at the cobblestone street William and Elizabeth lived on. Trees lined both sides of the street and horses, carriages and people walking filled the streets. "Wait," she whispered, ducking back into the house, quickly she cast a glamour on herself that made her short hair fall halfway down her back in romantic curls. "That's better."

Spike grinned at her. "Looks good on you, Red," he whispered and she blushed before she remembered that she was mad at him. Spike took her arm in his and led her around town before a few people about William's age walked up to them.

"If it isn't William the Bloody Awful Poet," a man taunted and the woman hanging onto his arm smirked at him.

"Cecily," Spike muttered.

"And who's this enchanting woman?" another man stated.

"Willow," the witch answered, glaring at them. She felt sorry for Spike at that moment, what he had to put up with.

"Well, sweet Willow, has William read you any of his poetry?" the man taunted.

"Oh, yes, one he wrote for me," Willow replied and Spike arched an eyebrow. "Want me to tell you, it's quite beautiful."

Cecily snickered and Willow scowled at the woman. "William and beautiful poetry?" Cecily replied.

Willow looked at Spike and grinned. "I've been searching for you, I've heard a cry within my soul, I never had a yearning quite like this before. There you are, walking right through my door..." Willow spoke the lines to a song and Spike grinned.

"All of my life, where have you been? I wonder if I'll ever see you again and if that day comes, I know we could win, I wonder if I'll ever see you again," Spike continued.

"A sacred gift of Heaven, for better, worse, wherever and I would never let somebody break you down into the ground, never," Willow finished and Cecily's jaw dropped.

"William, that is beautiful!" Cecily chirped, leaving her suitor's arm.

"Back off, wench, he's mine," Willow stated, looking at Spike.

"Of course it's beautiful," the man scowled. "Anything is better than 'My heart expands, 'tis grown a bulge in it, inspired by your beauty effulgent."

Willow bit back her giggles as Spike led her off. Once they were away from the mean rich people, Willow laughed outright. "Why didn't you just do that 'Love's Bitch' thing?" she asked.

Spike shrugged. "You know about that 'Love's Bitch' thing?" Spike asked.

"Buffy told me about it," she answered, frowning at the memory of her dead best friend and Spike joined in her moping. "Maybe if we get you turned, you can save her?"

Spike nodded. "I will, I'll protect her and Dawn at any cost," he answered. Satisfied at his response, Willow nodded. "Let's go to One-Eyed Jack's Tavern, that's where Darla and Angelus were staying. Trying once for a low profile."

"I'm afraid to ask what that means..." Willow replied.

"He was attacked by a pirate and lost an eye," Spike explained and Willow sighed with relief that was until Spike led her to One-Eyed Jack's Tavern.

The place reaked of body odor and stale alcohol and Willow nearly choked at the stench. "You owe me big," she growled at him.

"Yeah, whatever," Spike stated, sitting at a table. A buxom brunette that resembled Cordelia, made her way to their table and gave Spike a sexy grin.

"What can I get ye?" she asked.

"Whiskey...Red, you want anything?" Spike asked and the woman frowned as she realized Spike had company.

"I don't drink," Willow said, wrinkling her nose.

Spike shrugged. "Have it your way. So, princess, have you seen a brunette bloke with an overhanging brow and a blonde woman here together go by the names of Angelus and Darla?"

"There's a Liam and Darla Angelus 'ere, 'is sister Drusilla disappeared a few days ago, they've been searchin' all over for 'er," the woman stated. Blood flooded Willow's face and Spike scowled at her.

"Exactly," Spike answered, smiling. "Thank you."

At dusk, Darla and Angelus made their way into the bar and Willow had no doubts in her mind as to what they'd been up to. Spike smiled at Willow and brushed a kiss over her lips before she could protest. He made his way to the two vampires and Angelus seemed interesting in him. For about two hours, Willow watched Spike with Angelus and Darla until Angelus motioned that they move into the alley. The witch carefully followed them and felt her heart sink as she watched Angelus bite Spike on his neck.

The vampire drank until Spike was on the edge of unconsciousness, with a smooth motion he unbuttoned his shirt revealing his chest and Darla ran a nail over Angelus's chest causing the blood to flow over his heart. Angelus pulled the man to his chest and Spike drank greedily. Willow gasped, the two men together, one dark, one light, was the most erotic sight she'd ever beheld in her twenty years. She shook her head and whispered the spell to go back to her time.