Title: Chapter 19 Destined By Fate – Elucidation

Disclaimer: Sad to break my heart but it's not mine.

Notes: Last proper chapter as there will only be an epilogue after this, I think… Sorry it took such a long time!

"I think, sisters, that it is time we paid a visit to the Powers That Be," Urdr put down her ball of thread.

Skuld set aside her scissors,

"I thought you said we were above gloating?"

"We are," Verdandi looked up from the Tapestry. "But even if we weren't we couldn't this time and you well know it."

The three sisters stood, formed their triangle and vanished. They reappeared amidst the Powers That Be who were expecting a visit from them. The recent events surrounding their champions had drawn them together and created conflict. Conflict hurt others that were not truly connected to them and the world fell into chaos, the one thing they were both trying to avoid.

"It has been a long time since the Loom Maidens have graced this hallowed place with their presence," a female corporeal body formed in the mist.

"But we all know why they are here," a male appeared.

"They claimed that their Champion could bring back the Slayer," another materialized.

"They were right," more emerged from the surrounding mist.

"Yet somehow their Champion required our help to survive."

"What does that mean for them?"

"Does it mean they turn to us in their hour of need?"

"Require a lesser being's help?"

"Stop this," Urdr ordered. "This time must be constructive."

"We know what you did for her," Skuld began. "Why did you do it?"

"No thanks or gratitude?" one asked.

"Why?" Skuld repeated.

A collective sigh ran around the room before a male stepped forward to speak.

"We did not interfere. Part of us is missing and she was the one that paused time when it stood still. We still do not know why she has done this and it…" the male stopped speaking, weighing up his options.

"A part of the whole is missing and it hurts you," Verdandi finished quietly.

The male nodded,

"It is troubling that she hid her plans from us."

"Time will reveal all," Urdr stated.

"True enough," the male nodded before drawing the conversation back to where it should be. "The path wasn't meant to run the way it has."

"The person walking the new road isn't meant to be in this life," Skuld agreed.

"We could change it all," he continued. "We've done it before."

"Unravelling and reweaving the Tapestry is dangerous, you know that," Urdr stated.

"You've done it before," the male stood firm.

"And if we did this, took time back, how far would we go?" Verdandi raised an eyebrow. "To the time when they met in the club? When her ship came to America? When she was born? Are you going to step in and stop it all?"

The Powers That Be remained silent.

"The Order of Aurelius has always been important, always will be," Urdr began.

"William the Bloody had an important future ahead of him," Skuld ran her cool gaze over the gathering. "He still does."

"But now events have been set into motion," Verdandi smiled. "The future has changed and we are not changing it back."

"You are asking us to change the plans for the future. William the Bloody was meant to close the Hellmouth with his sacrifice of death, thwarting The First. Now what is he to do?"

"Be… content about the way the path has turned," Urdr laced her hands in front of her.

"For turned it has," Skuld stepped in closer to her sister. "But how do you really know that is not the way it is meant to be?"

"You said it yourselves," Verdandi took up her position on Urdr's left. "Lesser beings."

Before the Powers That Be could even process the thought the Sisters had vanished back to their home. Silence reigned as the Powers That Be contemplated what had been said. No taking it back. What would do for their plans?

"Spike can I talk to you for a moment?" Angel asked quietly from the doorway he was standing in.

Spike looked up from watching his children playing a game, Asara suffering as she was the target practice and considered Angel. Without disturbing anyone he followed Angel into the next room and plonked himself down into another chair. Sitting opposite Angel regarded Spike until Spike raised an eyebrow at him with an expression of 'oh get on with it' on his face.

"You've changed," Angel said without presumption.

"That I have," Spike didn't argue. "What of it?"

"It suits you. I didn't think it would, when I thought about you with a family. You were always too restless, over-active even."

Spike waited for Angel to take the conversation where he wanted it to go. He wanted to talk, he could do all the leg work.

"It's Asara. I look at her and see a woman whose seen too much but she's hidden it," Angel paused thoughtfully. "Hidden it behind you. Anyone who can read her can see it."

"What did you first think when you met her? And don't give me any of the crap you just did," Spike waved his hand dismissively.

"Honestly?" Angel had a small smile on his lips. "Beautiful, strong, passionate and extremely happy."

Spike half smiled before it dropped and he became serious,

"Do you… Have you noticed a difference?"

"I'm not one to judge," Angel noticed the small frown between Spike's eyes.

"Judge or not. I know you've been watching her," Spike growled slightly.

Angel knew the growl was purely part of the demon possessive streak,

"She seems… less able to hid her feelings."

Spike slumped back into his chair.

"Spike what is this about?" Angel wondered if their sudden, silent agreement would let him push this.

Spike looked up from where he was picking the table cloth,

"I'd normally speak to Xander, god help me, about stuff like this."

Angel understood from Xander that Spike and he were friends now but hearing it from Spike's lips was a treat but he caught something in what Spike had said,

"Why not the pack?"

"An Alpha can't be weak, Asara would hate it if I talked to one of them," Spike sighed. "Xander knows her well enough to understand but sometimes he doesn't get the pack intricacies."

"So talk to me then," Angel said.

"The day that happens I'll…" Spike glared at him, defeated by his own need. "I shouldn't tell you."

"I won't say a thing to anyone," Angel promised.

Spike accepted it and started talking,

"The portal dumped us at her old home and her original pack caught us, tied us up. I think they were confused why we smelled so much like each other."

Angel nodded but kept quiet.

"I met her parents, brother," the muscle on Spike's cheek was twitching. "Got a history lesson about what her childhood was like." He met Angel's gaze and Angel could see the hatred written in his eyes.

"Spike…" Angel prodded.

"They abused her Angel," Spike's fist clenched, drawing the table cloth up. "Ignored her, beat her, blamed her, raped her, touched her."

Angel heard the hiss and knew Spike well enough to know that an explosion was due but the information was sinking in.

"How many people know?"

"In the pack… Juidon… maybe Yimila and Esster'd. Definitely not the rest," Spike shook his head. "She once told me that everyone in the pack had a dark secret, something that made them hide from other packs. I asked her what hers was and you know what she said to me?"

Angel shook his head.

"She said it was in the past and she didn't relive it so in the past it stayed," Spike slammed his hand down on the table, making the vase wobble. "I should have pushed, got her to tell me."

"Spike it wouldn't have been right and you know it. There was a reason you didn't 'push'."

"Too bloody selfish, didn't want to ruin anything," Spike muttered.

"No," Angel lent forward. "You love her."

"Did you know she got captured and made a slave last year?" Spike tilted his head.

"I heard about that from Juidon," Angel nodded.

"Did you hear she was raped then too?" Spike asked.

Angel blinked before softly saying,

"She's been through hell."

"She had nightmares for months after that," Spike ran his fingers over the table top. "Nothing I did made them stay away. I could hold her and keep her safe for the night but the next night they were back. They only went away when the collar came off."

"That's the perfectly normal reaction Spike," Angel reassured.

Spike continued like he hadn't heard Angel,

"I thought it was just the rape that she dreamed about but now I know there was something else. The rape nightmare was full of no's and screams to leave her alone but the other was different, worse. She begged, tears on her face, begged for someone… her father… not to do it before she begged for it not to hurt… not to hurt too much," Spike pushed into Angel's face suddenly. "She doesn't beg."

Angel's hands clamped down on Spike's shoulders,

"You going to run Spike?"

"No!" Spike denied vehemently.

"Then stop hurting yourself with all this," Angel forced him down into his chair. "Make the future yours, make it happy, help her forget."

Spike pushed his hands away and dug out his lighter from his pocket. Angel watched him flick it open, light it, close it before repeating the sequence, again and again.

"You not going to smoke?" Angel asked, curious.

"Gave it up for the kids," Spike answered absently.

Suddenly said kids came running by, screaming and laughing, Sasha out in front being chased by the others.

"Kids!" Spike yelled and Angel thought he was going to complain about the running. "No running with claws out!"

The clatter of claws on wooden floors stopped but the children carried on, disappearing into another room. Asara appeared in the doorway, leaning on the frame.

"You two ok?" she glanced between the pair.

"Just talking," Angel answered.

"What about?"

"You luv," Spike stood and crossed to her.

"Anything good?" Asara grinned.

Spike didn't smile as he clasped her face between his hands and her face lost the smile.

"I love you," Spike whispered.

"I love you too," Asara said in the same hushed tones. "What brought this on?"

"I'll always be here for you, no matter what. Nothing matters more," Spike ignored the question.

Asara's hands came up to clasp around his. His words made her inside bubble with happiness but she knew something was off.

Spike what is this about? What's wrong?

Asara got a intense mix of love, hope, sadness, anger and hatred through their link and she blinked.

My family. This is about them isn't it?

Not your family anymore. Everything you need is here.

Spike continued speaking out loud,

"They are not worth bothering with, not worth you luv."

"They will always be there," Asara answered sadly.

"Not if I drop a nuclear weapon on them."

"Spike!" Asara gasped. "You can't! Wouldn't!"

"You standing up for them?" Spike snapped, not understanding how she could.

Asara laughed, a carefree sound,

"No love no. I meant you can't blow up the countryside I love so much."

"Oh," Spike opened his mouth to continue but he couldn't think of a suitable answer.

"What brought this around?" Asara shot a look at Angel.

"Nightmares," Spike suddenly said, knocking Asara off the conversation track.

"What?"

"Can you promise you aren't going to have nightmares again?" Spike asked. "Like before. I know it wasn't just the… capture."

Asara swallowed, knowing she should have told him, but she mustered her courage,

"Spike since we've come home I've realised something. Home is where the heart is, truly. This home I've made, given it life, literally, and I've come to the conclusion that, yes, I went through a rough patch to get here but it made me who I am and without that I wouldn't have you. Think of that," Asara shuddered. "It hurts inside to think of my life without you. I want this life."

"You're saying I'm worth all that pain?" Spike sounded doubtful.

"Yes. God yes," Asara whispered.

They moved as one and were kissing hard. Reassurance given and taken in one fell swoop. Spike pressed Asara back against the doorframe, hands still on her face, whilst he fought to make her forget everything except his love, need, desire for her. Asara's hands were on Spike's shoulders, arms under his, locking his body against hers. She let him lead the encounter but gave him the comfort he needed, letting him know that she was safe, happy and truly very deeply in love.

Eventually Asara broke away gasping as her body fought to remember how to breath. She tilted her head back to rest on the wood behind her but refused to let Spike go. Spike gladly stayed where he was, face buried in the crook of her neck, lips on her claim mark, kissing lightly. Asara shuddered every time he did that and the full body movement translated into Spike. He ground his hips into hers, tongue flicking over the mark.

Angel shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He had intended to leave when they'd started talking but he was intrigued about what they would say and they didn't seem the least put off by his presence. Then they had been kissing and Angel had been floored by the overwhelming pheromones pouring off them. His shift in his seat went unnoticed by the couple and he realised they were well on their way to having sex right where they were. Angel was saved by Esster'd.

"Guys," her voice came from the next room.

Nothing.

"Yo!" she said louder. "We're choking on the smell here."

Spike raised his head and growled at her.

"Don't you growl at me mister," Esster'd came round to where Angel could see her. "Take it out of the doorway and somewhere more private."

Spike growled louder.

"Be Alpha all you want Spike," Esster'd folded her arms. "But Angel's about to get a show."

Spikes head snapped back to Angel as if he was just noticing him for the first time. Angel saw that he was completely vamped out and the scent of Asara's blood hit him, trails of it just visible on her neck. Asara looked half asleep with her hair messed, lips swollen, head tilted to one side giving Spike better access. Spike sniffed at Angel and growled at him.

"Well what do you expect?" Esster'd shook her head. "Any self respecting person's going to get turned on by you two going at it like horny spring bunnies."

Spike snapped his teeth at her and she glared at him,

"Take Asara upstairs to bed and screw her into the mattress. Get whatever this is out of your system."

Spike seemed to consider this before picking Asara up and carrying her off like a marauding Viking. Esster'd watched them go before she snorted and parked herself in the chair Spike had vacated.

"Are they like that a lot?" Angel asked.

"What? Spike animalistic and Asara out of it?" Esster'd grinned. "Sometimes. Tends to be Spike showing his dominance times. It's the other way round too when Asara gets going."

Angel frowned at her phrase.

Esster'd laughed,

"Once Spike was winding another vamp up by flirting with his date. Asara caught him and I think she actually fucked him unconscious."

"Hard thing to do," Angel commented. "Master vampire with Spike's energy and getting shifter blood."

"Asara's just like him really," Esster'd was still smiling. "Want a little relax?"

Angel did a double take at her,

"Come again?"

"More than once?" Esster'd flashed him a flirty smile. "I like your style."

Angel wondered what world he'd fallen into as Juidon walked through the room. She paused, sniffing the air.

"Send them upstairs?" she questioned Esster'd.

"Yep," Esster'd nodded. "Trying to get there myself."

Juidon rolled her eyes before studying Angel,

"You look confused."

"I am," Angel agreed wholeheartedly.

"Alpha pheromones tend to make the rest of the pack horny," Juidon explained. "Some of us are monogamous so we refrain from jumping the nearest body. Some of us aren't." And with that she left.

"Let me guess," Angel turned to Esster'd. "You fall into the second category."

"Willingly," Esster'd wiggled her eyebrows at him. "What'd'ya say?"

"I can't sleep with anyone in case I lose my soul," Angel told her bluntly.

"What's that got to do with it?" Esster'd frowned.

"One moment of perfect happiness and I turn evil," Angel explained.

"I think you're giving me too much credit there," Esster'd smiled. "I'm… well I'm aiming for perfect but it won't be. Most times aren't. Completely rule Spike and Asara out of that equation."

"I don't know…" Angel considered his options.

"Oh come on!" Esster'd pleaded. "I'm a horny woman saying to you can we have sex now! What else do you want? Do you at least find me attractive?"

Angel looked at her closely. Esster'd was about Buffy's height with medium length light brown hair, big brown eyes and a mocha skin complexion. He did find her attractive even though he normally went for blondes.

"Are you asking for a one night stand here?"

"If you want that sure," Esster'd shrugged. "But if you want to make a go of it properly I'd like that too, just as long as I get sex now."

"Why don't you find some guy out there if you're not bothered?" Angel was curious.

"Humans can't keep up, most demons don't do it for me," Esster'd answered. "For a horny woman I'm picky."

Angel smiled at that and thought about the offer.

"You can visit anytime, any of you," Asara told the Angel Investigations team.

"Thanks," Angel nodded. "It was really nice being here."

"Makes you forget we came here to kill you," Cordelia remarked.

Spike rumbled in his chest but a prod from Asara shut him up. The pack and team said their farewells before the team climbed in the car. Angel hesitated and Esster'd smiled at him, reassuring him.

"I've got your number, you've got mine," she called.

"Angel you get anything else?" Gunn grinned at his boss.

Angel glared at him.

"That'd be a yes," Cordelia nodded knowingly.

"Nice one!" Gunn gave him the thumbs up.

Spike eyed Esster'd,

"You slept with him?"

"Yeah so?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Have fun?" Spike asked cheekily.

"All four of you are overly noisy," Yimila commented, making everyone laugh except the four in question.

Asara unconsciously touched her bitten neck and Spike ran his fingers over another one, hidden by her clothes. Esster'd exchanged a heated gaze with Angel before he climbed into the car.

"Safe trip," Asara waved at the car as Angel started the engine.

"Bye!" most of the pack chorused as the car pulled away.

"See you guys later," Juidon broke off from the group and followed the car down the drive.

"Where you off to?" Asara asked.

"Rupert had a rare text on mystical medical combinations. I'm going to check it out," Juidon called over her shoulder.

Esster'd and Asara shared a look before racing after her. Juidon stopped when they caught her and both women grinned at her.

"Happy huntings," they gave a traditional farewell.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Juidon feigned ignorance.

"You spend so much time in his company," Asara smiled at her friend. "You look good together."

"Go for girl!" Esster'd gave her a cheeky grin.

Juidon glanced between them,

"I wasn't sure I should. He's a mortal."

"Enjoy life whilst you can," Asara shrugged. "Met anyone else recently?"

"No," Juidon admitted.

"We're here for you," Esster'd hugged her prior to pushing her down the drive.

Juidon laughed at that and ran off. Esster'd and Asara slapped hands gleefully as they walked back up the drive. Spike caught Asara up in a hug, spinning her round,

"What was that about?"

"Juidon likes Rupert Giles," Asara grinned.

Spike blinked setting Asara down,

"A bit bloody unexpected that. You mean the Watcher's going to get laid?"

Asara laughed,

"Everything working out perfectly!"

Spike grinned at the woman he loved,

"C'mon pet. The kids want us to cook 'em dinner."

"Oh god!" Asara groaned. "Please don't make me! You know I can't cook!"

Spike wrapped an arm around her shoulders and steered her inside. Soon the house was full of laughter and music again, just as Asara had said it should be: Perfect.