Mayor Wilkins had always been a sucker for punctuality and details. They were as important to him as cleanliness. Right now, he was focusing on his ascension and wanted everything to be perfect and run like clockwork. This was an event he had been planning for decades. Everything needed to be perfect and worthy of all the time he had spent building towards this. So, when the school principal missed a meeting, he went to investigate. He had been informed by his sources that the principal was located at his young charge Faith's apartment. He frowned a bit disapproving of their relationship, but she was free to make her own choices.

He arrived to Faith's apartment keen to hear about how the girl had handled the loose end in Mr Worth. Honestly the odds that the same man who found the remains Olvikan, the same demon that Mayor Richard Wilkins planned on becoming during his Ascension and lived in a small apartment where uncanny. Still this little town he had called home for so many years had a knack for drawing random events and odds. The mayor knocked on Faith's door holding a new pink/white dress which he had bought for her and was holding she would agree to wear once he had finished speaking to the principal. He heard some muttering and groaning from behind the door. He knocked again getting a little impatient and curious as to what was happening behind the wooden door. The sounds of footsteps came towards the door, and it opened.

The mayor raised an eyebrow at principal Synder who had appeared in a Hugh Helfer looking robe. "Mr Mayor!" The shorter man gulped at seeing the town's mayor in front of him. He straightened up his robe and tied it tighter to his body. "I didn't know you would be coming here! Not that I am not grateful to see you!" The man babbled knowing full well what an imposing and powerful man stood before him despite Mayor Wilkins's sunny and pleasant demeanour.

Ignoring the man Wilkins glanced behind the principal and saw his young charge Faith there on the bed. Naked and chained to it with some heavy looking chains. With nipple clamps on, a red gag ball stuffed in her mouth and various sexual toys laid out around her she looked very displeased at the interruption. "I was just coming to pass on this to the lovely Faith, but I think I will take it back to the store," The mayor motioned to the dress he had in his hand. "I trust you have found time to go over the final plans for the graduation ceremony?" he asked turning to the school principal.

"I have sir," Synder replied urgently. "Confirmed the band myself. They'll play the processional, and you'll give the address sir!"

"That's wonderful!" Wilkins beamed with a seemingly permanent smile on his face. "It should be quite the ceremony this year."

"As long as nobody makes any trouble," Synder muttered. Sunnydale high was known for falling apart when something special was held.

"Oh, stop worrying!" the mayor told him. "You just make sure the kids show up. Anybody who doesn't feel like coming to graduation, well, they'll just have to live without a diploma."

"They'll be here, sir," Synder confirmed.

"Call me Richard," Wilkins instructed to the bald man. "You've done a great job there. I know things are, well, different here in Sunnydale. We've both seen all sorts of things. What's important is that we keep it under control, and that's what you've done." Credit where credit was one the mayor's mottos and the principal had done well under difficult circumstances

"I believe in order," Synder stated and behind him the chained Faith let out a whimper reminding both men she was there.

"Well Sunnydale owes you a debt and I best be off," mayor Wilkins said before turning as Synder was about to close the door. "And Mr Synder… Make sure to wash your hands when you see me," he instructed before he departed. He was also a sucker for cleanliness.

The principal closed the door letting out a deep breath before he looked back at the captive girl on the bed. She was dripping so much sex appeal, the principal forgot about his dedication to order. The horny man's only thought was to make this gorgeous girl moan his name in unadulterated bliss. Faith herself lay back bound on the bed unable to move, her sex-starved flesh moaning for more. Her whole body was primed with electricity after hours of being chained up and at the older man's mercy. Never did she expect to be in this position in her life she was hot, sweaty, and moaning freely as he wandered over her ready to feel an explosion of release shrugging off his robe. She couldn't help but let out a deep moan as he selected and held up a 7-inch blue jelly dildo from her toys.

Her bare sex glistened with moisture, and she could feel Synder's eyes glued on her. She felt him move closer running the head of the dildo up and down her wet sex, coating it with her essence. Gently, he tipped it inside, holding her labia open and pressing it in. She was so wet it slid in without resistance and she pressed it in until just the last inch was peeking out making Faith moan deep from her taut stomach. Synder's mouth watered as he pushed the dildo in and out of her slowly, repeatedly noting she arched her hips at his thrusts. She was panting and perspiration coated her tan skin as he pushed the dildo into harder and harder pumping it in and out of her electrifying the bundle of pleasure nerves.

Faith was in a state of bliss. Her moans were ragged now, coming in short breaths against the gag ball. Her chest heaved as the principal fucked herself faster, using both hands now to drive the toy deeper inside her pussy. Her lips were red and protruding, wet and sticky. Her clit was hard and visible, peeking out from under its hood. Her legs were twitching and nipples rock hard due to the unbearable pleasure from the nipple clamps. With her moaning was sweeter. Synder took pity on her and he finally sent the gorgeous girl over the edge. Waves of pulsing pleasure rolled through her and she cried out as she succumbed to the contractions of her womb gripping the chains with her fingers while spasming hard.

A few moments later Faith went limp and softened her movements, her body still convulsing from the powerful orgasm it had just experienced. The older man pulled the toy out and laid it on the side of the bed. His hands moved to her mouth where he unfastened the gag ball removing it. Faith moved her aching jaw around finally free of the giant red ball. "Goddamn!" she huffed out.

"And the girl said she couldn't be tame," Synder taunted her smugly glazing adoringly at the naked beauty laid out before him.

"Seems all I did need was some order and discipline," she moaned adorningly back up to him. She leaned up as he moved down, and the lovers kissed savouring the taste of each other. The girl then hissed and panted as he ran his hands over her bound body. She was still recovering from her previous orgasm but didn't protest as the man positioned his raging erection against her dripping sex. He covered her with his body as he impaled her tight pussy with his man-meat. Faith moaned loudly, cranking her neck to the side allowing him access to kiss and suck her flesh as her pussy widened to accept his eager cock into her. The pair moaned and groaned as they drove each other to pleasure out of this world.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sometimes I feel guilty, usually after feeling thankful for what the lust spell did to everyone that night. Generally, I try not to think too much about it. Buffy always tells me not to worry about it. It was amazing that night at the Bronze post prom. Buffy told me it was better than the time under the lust spell as people weren't really themselves and certainly didn't have control of themselves. But that night at the club we were ourselves, knowing and fully consenting to what we were doing.

Which was just as well, some of the stuff we got up to that night would still get you the electric chair in Texas. And you know what? I reckon that I'd still have a great big smile on my face even as they threw the switch for old sparky.

It's funny that after the lust spell it seemed that the school was a much lighter and more open place. People were far more interested in exploring their feelings and exploring new possibilities. Gone were the days were jocks and wannabes like Harmony would try and make life hell for us lesser beings… Well not every day at least. It would nothing major, but you could tell there everyone was happy for each other by the occasional respectful nod as people passed each other in the hallways. Sunnydale may be the denial capital of the world but deep down everyone at school knew it wasn't the nice place it looked so it was best to make the best of it.

When Buffy won her class protector award at the prom, I wasn't massively surprised. I guess deep down all the students around us also knew that somehow, we were the reason why things in Sunnydale weren't much worse.

Buffy being my girlfriend was still a concept I was getting around so the idea that Buffy as my girlfriend feels that we should expand our sexual boundaries aka invite others to our sex life was almost unbelievable! Seeing her kiss Amber and undress the other girl was… well a nice visual. It was fun to see the blonde cut loose. There has always been a reenforced restraint with Buffy. A clear view of right and wrong that while tested with the arrival and influence of a more reckless Faith has remained true and steady. It was one of the things that I love about her. So, to see her begin to push me into entertaining new sexual ideas was well enlightening and somewhat terrifying. Am I truly enough for Buffy? There were times when I'm not truly enough for myself truth be told. But then Buffy would give me a look, a look I only ever saw her look at Angel with and… all those thoughts would go away.

Maybe I should try trusting her more.

Anyways after the prom we then had to focus on the mayor and his plans. Long hours of research told us that his plan was to turn into a giant snake like demon that would devour us all. So how do you fight that?! I doubt a stake in the heart from Buffy would do much. However, we had a lucky break days before as some Professor who Faith murdered led us… well Giles and Wesley to believe that the mayor could be killed in demon form… suddenly a stake in the heart from Buffy was back on! Only as Giles warned us the mayor would be bigger than the shark in Jaws, so we need more than just one stake.

Faith really threw down the gauntlet to us by arming herself with a gun and shooting Giles. The librarian made it hospital looking like death was about to take him. I had never seen so much blood and Buff looking so panicked. She was looking frantic, scared and so small that made me just want to hold her forever. It's strange sometimes I think of Buffy as someone who will always be this incredible hero with unstoppable willpower but then I remember the fact that I have seen so many versions of Buffy but seeing her vulnerable reminds me of seeing her in the Master's cave on the floor defeated and well dead. It stops me cold every time. Giles was stabilised thank God and Wesley stated the obvious in that taking down Giles was clearly a move by Faith and the Mayor to distract Buffy.

But as ever when everything looked bleak with no hope of changing things Buffy suddenly kicked into gear. You don't mess with Buffy when she is in slayer mode. You take your orders and don't mess around. She took on Faith in a duel to the death. Willow and I warned her that it was dangerous, and she might be walking into a trap. But for Buffy, Faith had crossed the line and had to be stopped. Still there was no way in hell we were letting Buffy go alone so we followed her to Faith's apartment where Buffy had already started a fight to death. Between Willow and me covering the exits Faith had no where to go and it was done. Faith was out of commission and no longer a danger to anyone.

On hearing the news, the mayor had tried his own assassination attempt on Giles at the hospital trying to smoulder the man with a pillow only to be stopped by Wesley. There was little time to think but only plan for the battle which involved raising an army. Buffy placed a great deal of the work of strategy upon me thanks to my soldier memories I was seemingly best qualified, and I knew I couldn't let her down. I couldn't be clueless or jokey I had to get this right as it was all our lives on the line. I've called Buffy inspirational… well in private moments between us I have called her several things but yeah inspirational is a good word for it. She inspires us all to do better and well I try my best under the circumstances.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Her leg bounced up and down nervously, and Willow craned his neck slightly, looking over the crowd. A dozen faces seemed to mirror his worry. This could go so horribly wrong. What if the mayor transformed into something un-blowable? What if the mayor couldn't be herded into the library? What if the mayor just shot them all with eye-lasers or something? There was no guarantee he wouldn't have eye lasers!

"Calm down," Buffy reassured her friend beside her filled with an almost painful amount of caring for the girl. Willow swallowed and settled down almost at once. They had planned for this and now was the moment they had been building towards. Explosives had been acquired; students had been armed – all was in readiness. Now all they had to do was put on their gowns, gather for the ceremony… and wait for the mayor to ascend. "Man just ascend already," the blonde slayer muttered glaring at the mayor behind his podium. A soft breeze wafted through the gathered crowd, and Willow sighed as she stared up at the sun. It was hard to believe that in a few minutes, it was going to be blotted out from the mystical energy of the Mayor's Ascension.

Buffy fought back a shocked giggle at Willow's remark. "Evil." She had to admit, though, that Willow had a point. Snyder's speech had been, like the man himself, long on short and short on sentiment and inspiration. The Mayor's speech? Bo-ring. Well, except for the pointed remark he was making right now about people who should be there and weren't and the glare directed straight at her. Guess she was getting the blame for Faith's death. That was fine she would give the mayor all the gory details about Faith's death if it meant throwing the man off his game. Her hand went to the place in the sleeve of her gown where Faith's knife was concealed.

The waiting was almost becoming physically painful as the mayor himself spoke making his speech seemingly last forever. Outwardly, he was a well-dressed, middle-aged man with a cheerful smile and sunny disposition. He wore a light tan suit and carried a few index cards that contained his speech. Smiling genially, he was talking about a bright future or something. Inwardly he was rotten to the cure about to change into some Godzilla like monster and devour them all. Somewhere, deep in that core, Willow could see the pulsing sickness that was the birth of a demon. A true demon, and the very opposite of the natural order. It was the most nauseating thing she'd ever witnessed, far worse than even the true face of the creature that had emerged from the Hellmouth.

Buffy tightened her fist as she saw the mayor changed. There was no time to think of it, as the Mayor's suit split in half and he surged upwards, his body twisting into the form of a giant snake. "Now!" she cried out and around her the students removed their gowns and revealed their weapons. No giant snake was going to keep her from fulfilling the dream she'd had since kindergarten – finishing school.

"Flame units!" Buffy called, and Larry and a few of the bigger members of the football team rushed to her side, heavy homemade flamethrowers on their backs. Grim expressions lined their faces as they let loose their flames, causing the mayor to rear back.

"First wave!" she heard Xander her boyfriend cry near her, voice filled with the commanding tone of a seasoned general. Those behind him wasted no time in aiming their crossbows at the mayor. "Fire!" The snake roared a screamed, swaying to dodge most of the bolts. Those that connected bounced off a thick hide, although one or two managed to pierce through.

Well, it was a start. Students all around her began fighting with fervour if not skill as vampires all came from the streets attacking any parents and students who tried to flee. Jonathon had managed to jump on one vampire's back and was attempting to knock him down the steps as they struggled while his girlfriend Harmony repeated stabbed the vampire in the chest searching for his heart. It was impossible to fall back from the mayor with the vampires holding them inside the courtyard area. As a result, casualties were mounting up as the entire graduating class was now fighting for their lives. Oz fired arrows from the sidelines proving to be a good shot as he took down vampires, Wesley had been injured and was lying painfully on the ground while both Willow and Cordelia staked vampires who had been attacking them.

Buffy knew she had to draw the mayor's attention and did so by using the old taunt and bait technique. Moving back to standing proud in front of the mayor displaying the knife she had used to kill Faith. "Hey!" she held up Faith's knife in her right hand. "You remember this? I took it from Faith. Stuck it in her gut." She looked at the knife then back up at the mayor. "Just slid in her like she was butter." The mayor gnashed his teeth and growling at the blonde. "You want to get it back from me dick?"

Her taunts and jibes seemed to do the trick as the mayor fumed for a moment, and then let out an ear-piercing roar that caused the battle that raged all around them to pause from the deafening nature of it. The mayor moved to strike, and Buffy pushed back, spinning in midair as she began to race towards the school. The huge snake moved with sickening quickness after her, sliding along the ground as several students jumped back to avoid being lashed by its tail. Buffy ran into the school, and a moment later the mayor crashed into the doors, sending chunks of metal and plaster flying in every direction. She raced for the library, Mayor McDemon in hot pursuit. Her lungs burned as she ran faster than she ever had in her whole life. Looked like even her Slayer gifts had their limits, not that she was letting those limits limit her at all. Nosiree. If loving a vampire had taught her anything, it was that breathing was so overrated. Besides, she'd have time to be winded later, after the mayor was in bite-sized pieces all over campus.

The vampires' numbers were dwindling, and many of the students were panting and beginning to take stock of their surroundings. Those vampires still remaining were attempting to flee, but were being cut down by the sword-wielding, arrow-firing class of 1999. Making it to the library, Buffy didn't even turn around. The hot, demon breath told her he was right where he needed to be – surrounded by explosives. She kept running until she got to the window. Then she leapt through it and rolled straight to Xander. He pushed the plunger… and now Sunnydale was going to need to hold a special election.

All fighting stopped as the school erupted with a bang that was more than deafening. The sound of it seemed to slam into them, and everyone there let out an involuntary cry of surprise that went unheard against the staggering concussive force of the explosion. The top of the school erupted upwards, a black and orange fireball spewing into the artificial night.

Xander smiled as he heard the explosion. One more bad guy had bitten the dust. Buffy was holding him. It might have been protectively, as he had no clothing to help guard against the burning debris that threatened to rain down upon them, or it might have been her mild fright at the incredible loudness of the blast. It might have been that she just wanted to hold him. Xander let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. They were all safe. She hugged him tightly around his chest as he rested his chin atop Buffy's head and stroked her hair gently. The touch was important. The Scooby Gang, their family had won. They'd all won, but it was Buffy's victory, really. She was their leader, the force they all rallied behind. "You did it," he whispered, not sure she could hear him over the ringing in all their ears.

"We did it," she told him and gave him a deep kiss. He was pretty sure that Buffy did it so it might take some convincing. And Buffy, Xander knew, could be very, very convincing.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In the days that followed things settled down and the fires were put out. Ambulances took the wounded, and a gas leek was blamed for the explosion. Yeah, a classic Sunnydale excuse. What would an apocalypse be without one? For the group known as the Scooby gang went their separate ways finally after a year of threatening to do so. The separation process begun. Firstly, was Oz and Cordelia who decided to trade Sunnydale for the city of Los Angeles. She could follow her dreams of being an actress while he could perform with his band in a wider range of venues. It made sense and was what they both wanted. The group said their goodbyes with both Willow and Oz sharing a hug and Xander and Cordelia trading a few insults that held affection and caring. Then Oz's van was disappearing down the street and the group was lessened.

Willow was the next to go on a plane ride to England to study. Buffy and Xander hugged the redhead choking back tears as they watched their best friend leave. Willow could still feel Giles's arms around her as she stood in the airport. She had said her goodbyes at Englishman's apartment after he had just been released from hospital. Giles's words echoed in her head like mockery, 'You're still the finest of us all.' How could he say something like that? He couldn't possibly have meant it after making so many mistakes in the past year with the lust spell and then the wish. "Thanks, Giles," she said, trying to act as if she wasn't torn up inside. She missed Giles already, missed them all already… and yet somehow, she was ever surer that she couldn't leave Sunnydale soon enough. She could have stayed for the summer, but she wanted to get settled in England and be ready for classes in the fall. Besides She had to have a change of pace and follow her heart.

So there the three of them were at the airport with Willow about to go through security and away from them. Around them people made their way past, families, couples, businessmen all justling while the three teenagers stayed to the side. "This is it then," Xander said stating the obvious. Both Willow and Buffy looked as miserable as he felt but as ever, he tried to make light of proceedings. "Look at you Mrs Rosenberg going to learn witchcraft in jolly old England surrounded by mini-Giles's… did not see this from the little girl who I met at kindergarten!"

Willow smiled at that. "Me neither!" she smiled before embracing her oldest friend in a hug for about the hundredth time in the last hour. "Stay safe and stay out of trouble, okay?" she pleaded with him.

"You too!" he instructed her. Willow's big heart would no doubt lead her to help someone in need. It was part of her always had been and always will be. Just he hoped it would be the right person and she would not get taken advantage of. Part of him wanted to beg her to stay, hope she would cave and not go, to stay by his side but then that wouldn't be fair to her. She was brilliant, stunning and super smart in all the ways he was not. She had her own life to lead, and he had his. The blonde by his side reminded him of his own choices. He would be attending Sunnydale university with Buffy during the day and aid her in fighting the forces of darkness by the night. That was his promise to her and nothing not even Willow could get him to change his mind.

As the two friends separated Buffy suddenly felt all the breath leave her body. Oh God. Willow was leaving. She was really and truly leaving. Grabbing her friend again, she held her tighter than she ever had. "I love you," she said through a sudden onslaught of tears.

Willow could hardly breathe, but she didn't complain. She was going to miss Buffy very much. "I love you too," she choked out. This was it. This was goodbye. Buffy's hold finally loosened, and she could take in enough air to add, "I'll call you guys the minute I have a phone, okay?"

"You better!" Xander said looking sad.

God if he was going to cry Willow was going to lose it. Silently pleading at him to hold it together for a little longer she turned to Buffy and hugged her again but whispered. "Please don't hurt him."

"I won't," Buffy promised. And then just like that the redhead was heading past security and onto a new phase of her life. The couple of Buffy Summers and Xander Harris held each other knowing that they had lost a good part of themselves with her. They both internally vowed to be there for the other more than ever.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Oz drove cautiously, never going over the speed limit – much to the seeming annoyance of a few of his fellow drivers – and so the trip hadn't been as short as the online guide had suggested, but now… here they were. He stared at all the tall buildings. He took in the towering structures and gleaming lights plus the smog and the graffiti. A place like Sunnydale hid it's demons and darkness pretending to be a quaint little pitstop of a town but LA was a huge, spawling mega city which was as dazzling as it was fake. Still the music scene was wider, more diverse and stronger than Sunnydale could ever hope. Plus, it was the acting entertainment of the world so Cordelia would be able to audition and pursue her dreams.

He looked over at the seat next to him, which was reclined far back, allowing Cordy some much needed and blessedly dreamless sleep. Honestly, he didn't want to wake her up, but here they were, at the hotel where they'd be staying until the apartment was ready, so he had no choice. A hand gently nudging her shoulder woke Cordelia from a sleep so sound that it took her a few seconds to realize where she was. "Waah," she said incoherently as she struggled to sit, before realizing that she needed to adjust her seat. "We're here?" she asked as she stared out the window. She was really here! She Cordelia Chase was here in LA ready to add to the glamour of Beverly Hills and shine among the bright lights of Hollywood. It was the stuff she had always dreamed.

She looked back at Oz ever relaxed and stoic. "So, once we check in, I figure we can grab some dinner than sleep," he stated. "Then what do you want to do for the next couple of days?" He was ever cool and calm with any ideas she might present him.

She took a deep breath before she turned to him and smiled a full Cordelia Chase smile. "Let's get lost." He gave her a slight smile and they leaned in and kissed each other.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I miss her already," Buffy almost commented as she sat with Xander in his car in the parking lot. Willow's flight had just left. They stood and watched a couple of hundred other people go past security almost hoping for Willow to come running back but alas it didn't happen. In his she was grateful to have his arms around her.

"I know. Me too." He held her close and didn't try to say anything to comfort her; she appreciated that. Not like anything anybody could say would help and Xander for once got it. He smelled good, she noticed. Some kind of spicy body wash and something else that was just him. She liked it. It was… comforting. And human. There was something to be said for a boyfriend who didn't trip her Slayer senses in a bad way. She could live with that. Along with his eyes. Those brown pools of kindness.

"I guess we have to get back home," she finally stated. It would be dark in a few hours, and she was certain whatever vampire she ran into during patrol would be beaten into a bloody pulp tonight. Slaying was always good for taking out one's frustration.

"I know," Xander repeated before giving her a kiss on her forehead and pulling away from her to start the car. He might shout at her and upset her, but he loved her. Really loved her. Of everything in the world, that was the only thing he was pretty much sure of. So if needed some space or deal with recent events in her own way he would give her that. Still, he had to ask. "How are you holding up?"

A shrug was her initial reply. "No better than you. Still shell-shocked, but now having to face reality. Willow is gone. And we're still here." She was emotionally tired and would be for days. "Can you just wake me when it's time to go to college?"

"I think that was my line!" he protested. He Xander Harris would be attending college with his girlfriend Buffy Summers. It was dreamlike and almost a fantasy, but it was now reality plus another example of how things were different.

"Come on," Buffy said motioning for him to drive. "Let's get back home so I can go out on patrol."

"You in a rush to slay things?" Xander asked pulling out of their parking space.

"I'm in a rush to get back home to spend time with you… and just you," Buffy said seductively. She had convinced her mother to leave town for the graduation and she had phoned that morning say she had found some cool new artist and would extending her stay for a few more days… leaving Buffy and Xander without parental supervision. Something they had both taken advantage of.

You know, it was amazing how they always seemed to be on the same wavelength. There were much better ways to spend her time than getting all thinky and mopey… at least for a little while. Xander stepped on the gas and speeded up. "Have to stop at the drugstore," Xander told her. At her confusion he added. "We used up the last condom and are out."

Oh no. She was so not interested in waiting – especially since they didn't have to. Those other superpowers she had? Snooping was one of them. Smirking a sexy amoral grin at him she said, "No you don't. I know where my mom keeps her stash." She'd worry about explaining the depleted box of condoms later. Now? She had better things to do.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A week or so later the evening hadn't started out to be much fun. She had been sitting home alone, feeling sorry for herself. She had just gone over the bank statements and had figured out how to pay for Buffy's college tuition and how to meet the due date for the loan she had taken out to fix up the house after the last time it had been invaded by hostile demons. Xander, Buffy's boyfriend had been a rather good handyman which had kept the costs down but still a loan was required. He had joked that with Buffy moving to university the demons would likely track her down there rather than aim for here leaving Joyce free from destruction. The three of them had slowly adjusted to Xander moving in once Joyce had learned of his home life. Part of that was because Joyce wasn't fully comfortable with the idea of her daughter bringing her boyfriend to move in with them but after hearing details about Xander's home and the abuse she welcomed him in. She had naturally imposed strict house rules about the couple's bedroom and what happened in there but at the same time she had been rather enthusiastic about Buffy having a living and breathing boyfriend. Still, she was in a way glad the pair were leaving for college even if it meant losing Buffy to adult life. She had a few times caught the pair… having fun which was a strict no!

And yet she had never seen Buffy happier. Between them teasing each other, him sharping her stakes or even sometimes during dinner, she would catch Buffy gazing at Xander, and Joyce would feel a pang of envy at just how strongly Buffy obviously cared for him and vice versa. She missed feeling that in her own life. One, long ago, she had felt that way about Hank…

Getting back to finances it would seem that there would be no vacation for Joyce again this year, but she was used to that. It wasn't as if she had a social life anyway. She could go stay with her sister for a few days for free and at least pretend she was having a vacation. That, of course, would mean endless treks to outlet malls and listening to snide comments about how she didn't have a man. She heard the doorbell and was startled. Buffy was on patrol with Xander and Giles was still recovering from being shot a month ago and wasn't mobile so he was unlikely so who could it be. She opened the cautiously staying inside her house and peered into the darkness.

Angel.

Still as handsome as ever, still no doubt making the girl's swoon with a brooding glance and still fighting the good fight to earn some form of redemption. He was here emerging from the shadows standing before her. Last time he was here was in her dreams just the other week. The time before that he was physically here was during the lust spell where he had ravished her to the point were she could barely recall her own social security number.

She was before him just as he imagined and hoped. He knew he shouldn't be here. Should be rather fighting the good fight somewhere else praying that time and many battles would lessen the craving, blur the memory of her voice, her face, her body and her blood. Alas he's still starving for her, he wants to bury himself in her, wants to pound into her as he did before, to brand his essence into her inside and out, to feel the correction they shared.

Respectfully, he is keeping his distance standing just at the steps of her front porch. But she can feel what his hopes are in the way his stare drank in the sight of her. He longed to reach for her, or for her to come to him. She should send him away. She wasn't her daughter who believed in some fantasy that he was her forbidden love. She wasn't the light in the end of his dark tunnel or his path to restoring his humanity. She was a mixed up, a wrong order, an error, a jinx and nothing more. Without the love spell they would never had paired up or even considered doing so.

"Why are you here?" Joyce asked, speaking at last.

Angel peered at the woman before him. "You know why."

The edge to his voice was unmistakable. "Do better than that," she said knowing that her voice held her own wavering stance.

"I just had to see you," he told her. "I can't stop thinking about you," he finally confessed. Something warm stirred behind her lovely eyes. Something he so desperately needed to see again.

"It's the spell," Joyce told him and herself. "It was nothing more spell." He had to look so noble, so handsome and so unattainable. His name suited him perfectly, because he had the face of an angel. What he was here for, his purpose being on her doorstep and all the rest couldn't happen. It wasn't right. It was artifact. Magic pure and simple. What they shared, what they felt wasn't real and most importantly could never be.

But that didn't stop either of them from rushing towards each other embracing the other. Joyce grabbed his face and pressed her mouth to his, kissing Angel voraciously as if to prove to herself that this would happen. As her plush lips covered his, Angel could only respond with equal veracity. He wanted her kisses, and he was not about to stop anything she initiated of her own free will. Their mouths clashed against each other with hunger and need as they pressed themselves against each other. The contact made them both groan and they broke off the kiss as they eyed each other with passion. Stepping back from him was torture but she had to do it to back into her house. He looked disappointed even heart broken but she assured him with a few words. "I invite you Angel," she said removing the curse that Buffy had Willow install after the lust spell. Free of the barrier Angel stalked inside the house once again pulling Joyce into his arms.

Something about Angel's kisses tasted oddly intoxicating. Maybe it was just the way his mouth slid over hers creating the addictive need for more, or a previously undiscovered supernatural vampire attribute designed to make her head spin. It might just be him sensing just how she wanted to be kissed and touched. God, it wasn't just his mouth driving her crazy. The things he did to her with his capable hands made her itch to do the same to him. His caresses made her tingle. The simple sweep of his fingertips across the fabric of her blouse made her arch forward pressing her breasts into his chest. Her mouth sought his out desperately as if his lips were her salvation. Kissing him wildly as delirium took hold, she channelled her need to be closer into a sensual plea. Their lips crushed together in a feverish kiss neither one at the helm and carried by a stormy sea across the house bumping into furniture along their wayward route. Clothes were tossed aside as they moved into her living the scene of their first encounter.

Falling back onto the rug in front of her fireplace and clutching him closer, Joyce arched into his touch. Those strong hands seemed to know her needs before she did spreading wildfire wherever they roamed and making her ache and tingle in places that remained untouched. She spread her legs for him, and he moved between them thrusting deep inside her. Despite the powerful need spiralling inside her Joyce felt her body resist that initial entry as his thick sex stretched her open. Resistance gave way to need however as he penetrated slowly rocking deeper until fully sheathed, all of him gloriously hard and inside her. She groaned open mouthed arching into his thrust grinding her pussy to his member. Closer again, Angel kissed her deeply as he held himself steady above her giving her a moment to adjust to his girth, and himself time to control the base urge to make her his by every means possible.

Joyce let out a coo of pleasure and groans of pleasure as he began fucking her. She clasped him with both arms and legs squeezing him as if that would hold him where she wanted him most. He was too strong, too determined, hips in constant motion pulling out and thrusting deep setting a rhythm that she matched. He couldn't resist the temptations of her beautiful body, he caressed her with his hands and mouth, making Joyce writhe and whimper beneath him. She moved her hands and nails over his skin keen to feel him, to overpower him and consume him. They moved together gasping and desperate each trying to get the other off and both making the same decision.

They would blame that stupid lust spell if they were caught.