Title: Wherever I May Roam
Author: Kylia
Email: kylia_bug@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Nobody belongs to me, unfortunately. They belong to Joss & Mutant Enemy, and a few other people I don't know.
Rating: R
Spoilers: Doomed
Category: Willow/Spike/Angel
Summary: After Listening to Spike, Willow decides to leave Sunnydale.
Distribution: Fire & Ice Of Sire & Childe, anyone else, ask, and you shall receive
Author's Notes: Something new. Came to me after watching Doomed for the zillionth time.
Dedication: To Inell, who shares my same tastes.

Angel had been driving for hours, days even. Only stopping when the sun made it necessary. And he had been no closer to finding either Spike or Willow. He had begun to lose hope, finally resorting to calling Sunnydale. Unfortunately, Giles had heard from neither. The former watcher had told him he thought there might have been an Email from Willow, but his ‘dread machine’ had lost it.

With every day that passed, his concern grew, as did the whole in his being. The one that had formed the moment he realized they were gone. Each day served only to remind him that he was nothing without them. If he couldn’t find them, convince them to return with him…

He didn’t want to think about what he was capable of doing should that happen. His days were filled with a restless sleep while morbid thoughts piled up around him, taunting him with all the things that could be happening to them.

Had Willow been attacked, killed or worse while walking around alone and unprotected? Had Spike run into more of those commandos? Had he been recaptured? Were they, even now experimenting on him? Had he found Willow? And if so, was she being tortured right along side his beloved childe?

His thoughts hadn’t allowed him a moment’s peace. He knew that he would have none until they were safe. He knew Spike was still alive, he would feel it otherwise, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t injured or captured or a whole list of other things he had had the misfortune to think up.

Angel ran a hand through his hair as he looked again at the address Marcus had given him. He had been leery to trust the demon when he called, but if there was even a chance that he could help him find Spike, he had to take it.

He parked the car and walked up to the side door of the warehouse. He could feel the vibrations under his feet as he walked along the pavement. The warehouse served as an underground club. Angel vaguely recalled being here once a long time ago, another lifetime ago.

He wasn’t surprised this was the kind of place he’d find Spike. He fondly remembered several occasion he and Spike had frequented underground clubs. Those were good times, ones he didn’t think too often about. Not because he was ashamed of what he had been, or of the guilt he associated with his former life. He simply didn’t like to be reminded that Spike was no longer with him, no longer a part of his daily life. Although he was always a part of him, would always be a part of him.

The vampire walked up to the door and knocked in the code Marcus had given him. He shifted his face into that of his vampire visage and waited for the door to open. When it did, a very large Kelvar demon stuck his head partially out. When he saw Angel standing there he eyed him carefully before grunting and opening the door, allowing him entrance.

The demon pointed towards the par and then turned back to his post without a second glance. Angel took a last glance at the hulking demon before letting his gaze travel over the room. It was separated into three tiers. The first, was several feet below him, and had some sort of stairway access, while the third tier was nearly ten yards above his head. The only way up, as far as he could tell was a securely manned elevator. He was standing on the second tier which was where the central dance floor was located.

Angel could sense vampires and other demons all around him, as well as a healthy smattering of humans, but they were mostly slaves or pets, with the occasional consort. He let his eyes wander in the direction the bouncer had pointed.

There he was. Sitting at the bar, chugging back shot after shot of a dark liquid Angel wasn’t going to presume was whiskey. Surprisingly, Spike didn’ t appear to be drunk. He watched as his Childe’s eyes traveled over the dance floor, finally settling on a young human girl sitting at the feet of another vampire, a fledgling, from what Angel could tell.

He saw Spike step away from the bar and head over to the table where the vampire sat. After several moments of conversation, ending in a loud snarl and Spike staking the fledgling, he carried the girl away with him to one corner of the room.

Angel wasn’t entirely sure about what happened next. He wasn’t sure if what he saw was real, or some bizarre parody of reality, and if asked about it later, he wouldn’t have been able to confirm what he saw, but he saw it nonetheless.

Angel’s vision was marred slightly by the dancing throng of people in the club. He lost sight of Spike, and used his connection to the younger vampire to hone in where he had taken the girl. When he finally caught sight of them again, Spike was bent over the girl, draining her life away, or so Angel thought.

However, just before she lost consciousness, he let her body drop to the floor, still alive. Angel stared in something akin to shock as Spike turned and started headed back to the dance floor. He stopped mid stride and seemed to be looking around, after a moment, he locked eyes with Angel. Neither moved for long seconds that drew into minutes. Finally, Spike broke the gaze and headed towards the door. Just before he reached it, Spike stopped and without turning around, spoke.

“Coming, Peaches?”

Willow sat at her desk staring at her laptop as if it had committed some grievous error. The truth was she was afraid to open in, check her email and discover that she had new mail. Mail from Angel. But in all honesty, she was afraid she would discover the opposite was true, that she didn’t have any mail. That he either hadn’t received her email or worse, that he had, and just didn’t care.

She was miserable. She had spent nearly a week in this town, and it was nice, but she was bored. She missed the nightly patrols, the deadly things lurking in the dark. Or maybe it was just a couple of deadly things in particular she missed.

She missed seeing Spike everyday when she went to help Giles’ with research, and she missed coming home from patrols to find an email from Angel asking her to call him when she got in. She missed the anticipation she felt as his phone ran. She missed telling him all about her day, not leaving out any of the parts she tended to skip over when she talked to anyone else. She missed the complete honesty in anything Spike ever said to her. S he missed the intensity of him.

In short, she missed them both. Terribly.

But, she was not going to dwell on her hopeless fantasies, because she knew that’s all they were. The two vampires in question had probably forgotten all about her by now. They went on with their own unlives, forgetting the witch who wasn’t.

Sighing and purposely ignoring the laptop, which sat unused on her desk, Willow turned out the lights and climbed into bed, visions of two vampires invading her dreams once again.

Spike stood outside of the club, leaning up against the wall as he smoked his cigarette. From his present vantagepoint, the club just looked like an old abandoned warehouse, not unlike a dozen other buildings, which littered the local streets. If you listened closely enough, and were lucky enough to have enhanced hearing, you could hear the steady thrum of the music as the pulsating bodies mingled with one another in a frantic attempt to hang on to that last ounce of life.

Spike waited until Angel joined him on the side of the building before he spoke.

“What brings you back here, of all bloody places, Peaches?” Spike exhaled a ring of smoke and watched as he drifted through the night air.

“Same thing as you.”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “Them commando blokes implant you too?” He smirked. “Why you should have told me. I would have been delighted to rip it out of your skull.”

Angel glared at his childe, suddenly wondering why he had come here. He should have known it wouldn’t have been easy. His brain suddenly realized what it was that Spike had said. “Rupert told me about the implant. I’m sorry.”

Spike eyed his Sire carefully, unsure if he was sincere or not, finally deciding he was, Spike bit off the retort and shrugged. “Not your fault. Don’t matter now. Blasted thing’s gone.” Spike moved away from the wall and started walking towards the street, not waiting for Angel to follow, but knowing he would.

After a few seconds, Angel caught up with Spike. The two walked along the deserted road in silence for a few moments before Angel spoke. “You had it taken out?”

Spike stopped walking and turned towards his Sire, a slight grimace on his face as he spoke. “More like ripped out.”

“Marcus?” Angel asked, his mind already connecting the dots.

“Some chit he turned worked for the fuckers who put it in.”

“The Initiative.” Angel’s voice had taken on a hard note. One, which Spike hadn’t heard him use in a long time.

Spike chose to ignore the obvious anger radiating from the older vampire. He didn’t want to read too much into the reason behind such fierce emotions. “Why are you here?” He repeated his earlier question.

Angel stared at Spike for a long moment before he spoke. When he finally did, his voice was thick and husky. “I’ve come to reclaim what’s mine.

“Are you sure you have to leave?” Melissa asked as Willow walked back into the lobby after backing up her jeep.

Willow smiled. “Yes. I’ve stayed here too long already. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

Melissa grinned at the redheaded, knowing that somehow the girl would be just fine. “But if you leave now, they won’t catch up to you.”

Willow looked up curiously. “They?”

Melissa laughed. “Whoever it is you’re running from.”

A frown crossed Willow’s features. “I’m not… I’m not running from anyone.”

Melissa nodded her understanding, but it was clear from the expression on her face that she didn’t believe her. “Well, you’d better get started. It’s getting late.”

Willow turned to look out the window. It the sky had this pinkish hue to it. The sun was setting. Melissa was right, she really should be leaving. Willow leaned over the counter and hugged Melissa in a fierce hug. “Take care of yourself. I’ll call you when I have an idea where I’m going.”

Not wanting to have to say goodbye again Willow grabbed her keys off of the counter where she had set them and left the lobby without a backward glance. As she left the parking lot, she saw Melissa wave to her out of her rear view mirror. Sticking her hand up through the opened top of the jeep, Willow waved goodbye to her new friend.

As she drove down the barren highway, in no particular direction, Willow thought over what it was Melissa had said. Was she running away? And if so, what was she running away from? Or was it a who? Maybe a couple of them. She turned her gaze to the right, to the passenger seat, where her laptop sat. She still hadn’t checked her email. S he avoided it like the plague, actually. She had told herself that there was no point in checking it. There would be no mail, so why bother with checking? But was that the real reason? Or was she afraid there would in fact be mail. Maybe from Giles, or maybe from Angel. Was he who she was running from? Was he sitting in his office worried about her? Wondering where she was? The idea both thrilled and upset her. It thrilled her knowing that he would worry for her, but it upset her to think she was the cause for such worry.

And Spike, what of him? Was he still staying at Giles? Was he living in Xander’s basement? Was he trying to stake himself again? That thought made her shudder. Even though she knew she would probably never see the blonde vampire again, the idea that he was dust sent a wave of terror through her body.

That was what had finally decided it. She had finally broken down and sent a letter to Xander. She knew she should have written to Giles, or even Buffy, but she knew they would never understand her need to leave. She wasn ’t even sure Xander would understand, but if anyone would, it would be him.

They had been friends for too long for him not to know how she thought, the way she saw things. Despite their recent estrangement, she was sure Xander wouldn’t hold her departure against her.

Even so, she had neglected to call him. She was afraid to call him and find out that something had happened. Maybe some evil Buffy could fight had come to Sunnydale. Maybe the Hellmouth had opened, again. Maybe Spike had got his bite back and killed them all. Or maybe nothing had happened. Maybe they hadn’t even noticed she was gone. Maybe they didn’t even care. Maybe they had gone about their lives without a second thought to her. The not knowing was getting to her. So, she had written to her oldest friend, hoping he could let her put her fears to rest.

But, she was also somewhat afraid Xander would come looking for her. That fear had led to the decision that she should leave town shortly after she mailed his letter. She knew that she would eventually have to go home, but she wasn’t ready, not yet.

She hadn’t found any of the answers she was looking for, only more questions. She seemed to have lost something in the few weeks she’d been on her own. She wasn’t sure what exactly, but she felt as though a part of her was missing. In all honesty, she had felt that way for awhile, but it seemed to get worse the longer she was away. But Willow didn’t believe it was the Hellmouth itself she was missing, but something else. Something close to her heart.

She shook her head, driving away her confusing thoughts, if only for awhile. Turning her radio up a couple of notches, Willow lost herself in the music as she continued driving, to where even she wasn’t quite certain.

Xander Harris reread the passage for a third time. He tried to think back to the last time he had spoken to Willow, trying to remember if there had been some clue to what was on her mind. He couldn’t think of one. Then he thought back even further, to the night they had returned to the old high school when a group of demons had attempted to sacrifice themselves in order to reopen the Hellmouth. That was the night Spike had tried to Stake himself. That was also the night Willow had made her decision, at least that’s what her letter said. For a moment he had the desire to go home and pack a bag. Leave Sunnydale and find his best friend, if not to bring her home, then to let her know she wasn’t alone, that she would never be alone.

That idea had gone on for about half a second, until he had read the next sentence, which explained that she would be leaving soon, so he shouldn’t try and follow her. Still, the desire was there. But, he also remembered how Spike had disappeared from Sunnydale right after Willow, and when he called Los Angeles to see if the Blonde Boy Wonder had gone to see Angel, Cordelia told him he was gone as well.

Xander wasn’t certain how, or why, but he knew both vampires were looking for her, and he was confident they would find her. He didn’t know why that thought comforted him. There had been a time when the idea of Willow being chased down by two vampires would have angered and frightened him. But, not these vampires, not anymore. He supposed maybe he had grown up some.

Looking at the comic he had received in the mail along with Willow’s letter, Xander shook his head. No, not grown up, but he had learned to recognize true friendship for what it was, no matter where it came from.

Willow pulled into the restaurant parking lot with a sigh. She wasn’t entirely sure how she had ended up here, of all places. Rock Springs, Wyoming. She didn’t know what had led her here. She had left the Inn in Trinidad, Colorado with the intention of heading east, towards Rockford. She had a cousin there she was thinking of visiting.

However, after she had been driving for nearly an hour, she found herself driving in a completely different direction. She hadn’t even realized she was doing it until halfway through the trip. It was as if something was drawing her there, something beyond her control.

And now, here she was nearly twelve hours after she had left Melissa. She was starving, and extremely tired. She couldn’t bring herself to stop along the way. Almost as if she would have missed something important if she hadn’t gotten here as soon as possible. But that didn’t make any sense. There was nothing in Rock Springs to see much less miss.

Taking a deep breath, Willow exited the car and took a good look at the place she found herself in front of. The Log Inn. The guy at the gas station had told her this was a good place to stay. Comfortable room, good food, and not too expensive. It sounded good to her.

She was exhausted, and famished. Deciding she wasn’t accomplishing anything standing outside, Willow walked towards the Inn, determined to eat and get a good night’s sleep. Maybe after she had rested she could figure out why she had come here to begin with.

Spike took a look around the deserted road. “Why are we here, Peaches?”

Angel ignored his childe as he consulted the map he had acquired at the last stop. They were still several hours away from where his sources had told him Willow was heading.

Unfortunately, the sun would be up long before they got there. They would have to get a motel room and stay for the day. It wasn’t something he really wanted to do, but necessity over ruled desire sometimes.

Spike growled. He hated being ignored. And being ignored by Angel was somehow worse. “Angelus!” He snapped, he temper getting the best of him.

Angel turned his attention to Spike, finally. His face was expressionless, but his eyes held a hint of amusement. “We’ll stop here.” He pointed to a small speck on the map.

The spot was so small that Angel’s finger covered the name of the town. Spike raised his scarred eyebrow. “Why there?”

Angel shrugged slightly. “As good a lace as any.” He didn’t wait for Spike to comment as he pulled the car off of the side of the road and continued on the highway.

Spike scowled but didn’t comment as he continued looking out the window. He wasn’t even sure why he had agreed to let the poof tag along on his search for Willow. Although he had to admit, if only to himself that he did miss the prick. More than he would ever actually acknowledge to anyone let alone his Sire.

As he watched the road pass under the tires he began to think about what exactly he was admitting to, just by acknowledging the claim Angel had made when he had run into him at the underground club. He and Angel had come to an… understanding, of sorts. They both wanted to find Willow, safe and in one piece. However no decisions had been made about what would occur once they found her.

They both wanted her, loved her, would die to have her, kill to protect her. But where did they fit inter her heart? Was there room for both of them? Was there room for either of them? They were not ignorant enough to know that this was not their decision to make.

Spike knew that they needed to find her, that was not even in question. What happened afterwards was up to her, but he wasn’t about to let her walk away again. And remembering the determined look in his Sire’s eyes, he didn’ t think Angel would either.

Angel pulled off the highway and turned down the main road, his eyes searching for a place to stay.

“There.” Spike pointed to a building down the road a bit. He wasn’t sure why he picked that particular building over any of the others he could see, but it somehow seemed to be telling him that was where they should go.

Angel nodded, not really caring one way or the other where they stayed, so long as it had protection from the sun.

As Spike climbed out of the parked car he took a look around the silent streets. “You do realize, not even you will be able to find dinner here.”

“I’ve already eaten.”

Spike reached inside his duster pocket and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it as Angel walked towards the lobby of the building. “I haven’t. I’ll be back.”

Angel stopped and turned around. “Try not to kill anyone.” When Spike nodded his head slightly, Angel turned around and walked inside to pay for their room.

Willow sat up straight in her bed. S he looked around the room frantically for a moment. She wasn’t entirely certain what had woken her. Just a feeling she had. When she was sure she was alone, she shook her head from the hazy feeling in her brain.

Climbing out of bed, she pulled on a pair of jeans and threw on her jacket. She left her room without a second glance. After walking silently down the hallway, Willow found herself in front of another room. Room 247. The number meant nothing to her, but she found herself tempted to open the door and see if there was someone inside.

Running a hand through her hair Willow turned around and left out through the emergency exit. She needed to get out, take a walk maybe. She wasn’t sure what was wrong with her. Ever since she had inadvertently driven to this town, she felt as though she were waiting for something. Wait, she wasn’t altogether sure. She didn’t even know if she wanted to know.

As she walked down the street, Willow noticed how quiet things were. She headed towards the edge of town. One of the waitresses had told her about a small club on the outskirts. It wasn’t considered to be the good area of town, nor was it a place for just anybody, but the entertainment was… entertaining, and the alcohol cheap.

Suddenly, Willow found herself in need of a good stiff drink. She walked silently towards the club, and wondered if she was meant to come here. Was this small club what had driven her here? Was there something, or someone she was supposed to meet? Or was she just losing her mind?

Spike let the body fall to the ground. They were still breathing. A pity really, the man didn’t seem like he had much to live for. But Spike had no real desire to kill him. He was too pathetic to even waste a good kill on. Oh well. He looked around the club and smiled slightly. Maybe he could get drunk before the dawn drove him into closed quarters with his poof of a Sire.

He walked towards the bar, a slight smirk on his face as he watched the locals running around the club. Even the moron hadn’t danced so badly. She shook his head at the display. That when he saw it. Out of the corner of his eye. A flash of red. He must be seeing things. That was the only explanation. He had been dreaming of her for so long he thought he saw her wherever he looked.

“Spike?”

Spike focused his eyes on the voice. That sweet voice that he must be imagining. He looked up. “Red?” He asked, scarcely believing it was her.

Willow stared at him for a long moment before downing the shot of vodka in her hand and turning and running.

By the time Spike realized she had indeed been there, and wasn’t a figment of his imagination, she was gone. S he had fled. He ran in the direction she had gone, only to have to wade through more mortal bodies that he had ever had the displeasure of running into. He finally made it through the crowd, only to stop at a side door that led outside. When he was back among the cool night air, Willow was nowhere to be found.

“Bloody Hell!” He cursed as he headed back to the motel.

Willow ran. It was stupid, she knew. She should have waited. Talked to him, found out why he was in this small town, a thousand miles away from where she had left him. Well, she hadn’t actually left him, persay. Just Sunnydale in general, although he was in Sunnydale. Or at least he had been. But now, he was here, in Wyoming. Why? That was her first question. And it was a question she wasn’t likely to get an answer to, not if she kept running away from him.

That was another thing she didn’t know. Why she had run? Was she afraid of him? Was she afraid he would see her and tell the others? Or was she afraid he was just as happy to see her, as she had been to see him? It had been so long since she had laid eyes on him. So long since she’d seen the blue of his eyes, tinged with the slightest gold flecks when he was on the verge of loosing his temper. Those chiseled cheekbones, and the slight quirk on his lips as he smiled a smile she liked to fantasize was just for her.

Willow knew he hadn’t been looking for her. He seemed as surprised to see her as she was to be seen. She had to wonder what a master vampire, even if he had a chip in his head, would be doing in a small town in Wyoming.

Running out of breath, Willow took a look at her surroundings and found she was only a block away from her motel. She continued running, wanting to get inside before Spike caught up to her, if he had even chased after her.

She entered the side door of the motel and sunk against the wall, trying to catch her breath.

Angel had sat in the motel room for about thirty minutes when he decided to take a walk around. He supposed it was partially due to mild curiosity. He didn’t really think this town held any danger but one could never be too careful. The other thing, which drove him to leave the silence of his room, was Spike. Spike didn’t know exactly what room they were staying in and he didn’t want his childe stuck wandering around when the sun came up. Although Angel was sure, if it came to that, Spike would make himself at home in anyone’s room. He wasn’t what one could call shy and he didn’t blend well.

Sure, the blonde vampire had the ability, and knowledge to skulk in the shadows, he could be incredibly stealthy when he wanted to. The problem was Spike didn’t usually want to. He was far too impatient to sit back, and wait in the shadows. That just wasn’t his way.

Another reason, he had ventured out. Angel knew that Spike had his bite back, and was infinitely pleased by that fact, as strange as that may sound. Although he himself didn’t kill anymore, and he didn’t wish Spike to do so either. Forcing such a decision on any vampire, much less one he cared for as much as Spike was atrocious. Cared for? Angel knew damn well that his feelings for Spike had surpassed caring the moment he had seen the blue-eyed man nearly two centuries ago. His love for him bordered on obsession. But not the same kind of obsession which had led to Drusilla’s present state of mind. The two situations were vastly different

With Drusilla it had all been about possession. He didn’t want her; he wanted to own her. And he had accomplished that, hadn’t he? In the end it was all about him, or at least his soulless counterpart.

With Spike, however, it wasn’t about possession, and want. It was about need, and desire, and love. He had loved William long before he had turned him. He had stalked the youth for months before approaching him. Angelus had known the boy knew he was following him, watching him, how was still a mystery. What was even more interesting was despite William’s knowledge of being watched, he never deviated from his routine, if you could call it that.

William was ruthless, even as a mortal. That was probably part of what had drawn Angelus. That, and his beauty. He was beautiful. He had wanted to keep him with him always, but as a companion, not a possession. Although the fates had had other plans.

Angel shook his head slightly, as the memories seemed to invade his senses. He didn’t really regret what had happened with the Gypsy girl, but the way in which he had handled it. He had wasted so many years. So much time had been lost. But he was done waiting. Now was the time to take back what was his.

He walked through the lobby briefly, keeping an eye on his surroundings. He knew Spike would be returning shortly and was hoping to catch him. They still had much to discuss where Willow was concerned and felt it was better they reach some sort of an agreement before finding their love. He also knew that no matter what they decided, if Willow didn’t want them, there was nothing they could do short of kidnapping her. And as much as having her tied to their bed for eternity was a pleasant thought, the older vampire preferred a willing partner.

Angel nodded briefly at the woman behind the front desk. He had told her to direct Spike to their room, should he come into the lobby, but he was aware that it was more than likely Spike would come in through the back.

As he made his way back towards his room, a strange feeling came over him suddenly. He couldn’t quite explain it. It was a sense more than an actual feeling. Pushing the thought away, Angel made his way into the elevator and to his floor.

Just as the lift came to a stop, Angel pushed the button and waited for the doors to slide open. Just as they did, he stepped out and collided with a speeding body. A warm, mortal body with a scent he recognized.

After a quick rest, Willow heard a noise outside. She knew that it probably wasn’t Spike, but she couldn’t take any chances. She jogged down the hall and ran into a utility closet. Taken a deep breath as she listened to the sounds of retreating footsteps outside, Willow was struck with how ridiculous she was acting. It was a mere coincidence that she had run into Spike. He wasn’t looking for her, but even if he had been, it wasn’t like he was going to hurt her.

Still, she couldn’t bring herself to calm down. When she her ears met silence on the other side of the door, Willow snuck out and looked both ways. She decided she would be safer if she took the stairs to the second floor, where her room was. And her odd behavior not being abated, Willow ran the entire two flights of stairs, and continued to run as she entered the hall.

It wasn’t until she had slammed into a large body that she realized she wasn’t alone in the hallway. A large cool body. One which seemed decidedly familiar. Although it didn’t have the same smell of leather and cigarettes as the *other* cool body she was familiar with, there was something familiar about this one.

“Willow?”

Willow froze. She knew that voice.

“Angel?” She was afraid to look up and discover she had been dreaming again. She was out of breath and panting wildly from her trek up the steps and could have been hallucinating.

Angel pulled the redhead into his arms and hugged hr fiercely. “Willow.” He breathed into her hair.

Willow was breathing so rapidly and it felt so good to be wrapped up in his arms, Willow started to cry. Eventually she was sobbing uncontrollably. Willow heard the sound of another set of footsteps in the hall but at that moment she didn’t care. She felt safe, and loved.

“Blood Hell, Peaches! What did you do? I leave alone for one minute and you’ve made Red cry!”

Willow twisted around from her position against Angel’s chest. “Spike?”

"Spike?" Willow repeated. She looked from Spike to Angel and then back again as she stepped out of the older vampire's embrace.

"What's going on here?"

"Let's go inside." Angel suggested, guiding her down the hall.

Willow looked questioningly at the two vampires, but followed them down the hall and into one of the rooms. She noted with surprise that it was the same room that had given her the strange vibes earlier.

"You've been staying here?" Willow asked softly after Angel had shut the door behind them.

The vampires didn't answer her but moved into the center of the room.

"Sit down." Angel motioned to the edge of the bed. Willow sat down and looked nervously from one vampire to another.

Angel and Spike shared a look, as if they were deciding who should go first. When Angel nodded, Spike moved the chair closer to the bed.

"Red, why did you leave?" He asked quietly, the cockiness gone, replaced by a real desire to know what had driven her to run away from him.

Willow looked into his blue eyes and was surprised by the sincerity there. "You remember the night those demon's tried to open the Hellmouth? You were going to stake yourself?"

Spike nodded and waited for her to continue.

"Those things you said to me? They made sense. As much as I tried to deny it at the time, you were right."

Spike shook his head and took her hand in his. "No, I was wrong. I was just lashing out."

Willow stood up and started pacing around the room. "No, you weren't. That's the thing. When I left, I was pretty much upset. I wanted to prove that I wasn't dead weight, and I could help Buffy out. But you know what I realized instead?" She looked from Spike to Angel. Both vampires were staring at her in curiosity.

"Do you?" She asked again, staring at them both, demanding that they answer her.

"No?" Angel offered not having a clue what she had realized, and fearing that he wouldn't want to know what it was.

"I realized that I don't want to. Not help Buffy. Not anymore."

"What?" Angel frowned.

Willow looked up at him, her green eyes meeting his soulful brown ones. "When I met you, I was nothing. A nobody." She held up her hand to stop Angel's protest. "It's true. I was the Slayer's best friend. I did research. I helped with homework. That was my role. That was what I was good at. And then… later I got interested in magic… and I did that too. Sometimes well." She smiled at Angel. "Sometimes not so well." She grinned sheepishly at Spike. "But still, that was my role. Devoted slayerette."

She stopped in front of Spike and looked at him carefully. "But then you came back. You made me question what I was… what we all were. I left to prove that I could make it on my own so that I could return to Buffy, feeling better about myself. But that isn't what happened."

"What happened, pet?" Spike asked, now eager to know what his witch had discovered about herself.

"I'm tired." She said as she sat back down on the bed. "I'm tired of the way things have gotten. We aren't the same people we were four years ago, but it seems we're supposed to be, you know?" She looked up at Angel, hoping he would understand what she was trying to say. "When you were back in Sunnydale did you ever feel like they were trying to turn back the clock? Make things how they were… before?"

Angel nodded and smiled slightly. "Yeah, it did seem that way. I had to go, get away.

Spike looked up at Angel, a smirk playing at his lips. "So that's why you really left? Not because you couldn't keep your hormones in check around Slutty?" He chuckled.

"Shush." Willow admonished him, but she was smiling.

"So does this mean you're not going back?" Angel asked cautiously.

Willow nodded. "It does." She looked from one vampire to the other taking a deep breath, not sure if she was crazy for what she was going to say next. "There's more."

Both angel and Spike noticed her nervousness and glanced at each other, afraid of what she would tell them next.

"More?" Angel asked as he set next to her on the bed.

"Yep, I don't know how you'll react. I don't know if you'll even care, or if you'll pity the poor the little…"

"Willow," Angel stopped her before she could go any further. "You can tell us anything." He looked at spike, who nodded. "Both of us. We love you."

Willow was so lost in her own thoughts of what she was about to tell them that her brain didn't register what they had said. She took a deep breath. "I missed you guys. Both of you." She looked up nervously at them. They were smiling at her, which she took as a good sign, but one that made her realize they didn't understand what she was trying to say.

"I seem to have done something stupid." She smiled wryly at the two men.

"What's that, Luv?" Spike asked as he moved from the chair in front of her to the place on the bed on her other side.

"I fell in love… with two extremely sexy, although inherently different master vampires." She smiled wistfully at the ground, not wanting to see the look on their handsome faces.

What happened next, Willow never would have believed. Dreamt of, definitely. Fantasized about, surely, but believed? No.

Angel bent down and placed a soft kiss on her cheek, his tongue trailing along her warm skin. He heard her take in a sharp breath as he reached her earlobe. "Not stupid." He murmured into her skin.

"Actually, right smart of you." Spike whispered as he claimed her lips in a fiery kiss.

She was lost to all sensation as she felt the two men she had fallen in love with caressed her skin with their talented tongues.

"Wait!" Willow gasped as she pulled away from her vampires. <Her vampires?> "What's going on here?" She looked from one to the other. "Why are you guys here?"

Spiked sighed in exasperation. "I came looking for you. Ran into the Poof. We… talked. Figured out we wanted the same thing."

Willow stared at Spike incredulously. Spike shrugged.

"Which is?" Willow asked, too afraid to hope.

"You." Angel whispered in her ear. "To have you, love you, worship you." His voice was husky with desire. Desire for her.

"We love you, Pet. Never doubt that." Spike kissed her tenderly, as he pushed her farther back on the bed, resting his body slightly on top of hers, insuring she wouldn't try to get away.

Willow looked into his eyes and saw the truth there. She smiled. "I love you too." She held out a hand to Angel, silently asking him to join them. "Both of you."

Angel climbed onto the bed with his two loves and began to show them just how much he did love them.

Willow awoke pressed against two bodies. Two cold, hard, naked bodies. Her mind flashed back on the previous night and she could hardly believe it had actually happened. But the fact that she was indeed in bed with both Spike and Angel proved to her that it had happened. They had come after her. They loved her.

Everything was going to be fine. She wouldn't be going back to Sunnydale, but that was okay. She had a new home to go to. A new family. And that was just fine.


The End