Spike paced back and forth in Willow's living room.  Angel < CORRECTION,  he's Angelus now. > and Willow were upstairs in her bedroom.  Spike had known the minute her heart stopped.  A small part of him glanced to the ceiling and prayed to a God he didn't believe in, asking him to take care of Willow's innocent soul.
 
He knew that Willow would be different when she awoke.  She wouldn't have that innocence anymore.  He was going to miss that.
 
As soon as Angel's soul was gone, the two got up and went upstairs without saying a word to Spike.  Angelus had thrown his childe a glance before ascending the steps.  Spike didn't know what the glance was, but knew there was an underlining threat there.
 
"William, you are pacing."
 
Spike stopped, looking up at his Sire.  His true Sire.  "Yeah, who the bloody hell cares?" he grumbled.
 
Angelus moved stealthily across the carpet, grabbing Spike's chin painfully.  "You don't seem very happy at the turn of events."
 
"How am I supposed to feel then?  Please enlighten me, since you are the one who had the soul for a bloody century."

"William..."

Spike pulled out of Angelus' grasp.  "My bloody name is Spike, and I'd appreciate it if you would call me that."

Angelus laughed, turning away from Spike to throw himself on the couch. "I should have known that you would still remain the stubborn bastard you've become."

Spike laughed bitterly.  "What did you except?  For me to run lovingly to your side, drop to my feet, and worship you likeWilliam used to?  I haven't been William for a hundred years."

Angelus glared at Spike.  "I don't know what I excepted from you, Spike.  I don't expect your adoration, because I know that you aren't my William."
 
Spike turned away from Angelus, tears filling his eyes.  < You aren't my William, > kept repeating itself in his mind.
 
Angelus went to Spike, grabbing his shoulders.  He spun the blond around.  His face was inches from Spike's.  "You aren't my William," he repeated.  "But you are Spike, and there's a lot about Spike that I like."

"Huh?"  < Great.  Be an idiot in front of your Sire, why don't you? >

"I lost you once, Spike.  I'm not loosing you again.  Besides, I think that Willow likes having you around.  She's very adament about finding out how to remove the chip."  Angelus' fingers brushed against Spike's temples.  "I am too, I miss hunting with you."
 
Spike laughed, tears spilling on his cheeks.  "Yes, but is our hunting going to end up in the traditional buggering that it usually does?"
 
"Perhaps," Angelus said, a hint of a smile on his face.  "If you are good."
 
Spike gazed into his Sire's brown eyes.  He leaned forward to kiss him.

The phone rang.
 
"Bloody hell.  It's probably Slutty."
 
Angelus smiled.  "Mmm...Buffy.  It's going to feel so good to kill her."
 
"Are you going to get all obsessive and stalk her again?"
 
"No, my childe, I'm way past that point.  I just want to break her neck and move on.  I'm intrigued by this turning Xander angle though..."

The phone was on its fifth ring.
 
"Sorry, we aren't home right now, leave a message and we will call you back!"  BEEP.
 
"Angel?  Willow?  It's Buffy, is anyone the--"
 
Angelus grabbed the phone.  "Hey, Buff, it's me, I'm sorry," he said, doing his best imitation of Angel.
 
Spike smirked.
 
"Where were you?"
 
"Upstairs, with Willow.  We unhooked the phone in her room.  She was sobbing, he turned her, and they were going to kill you.  She's a wreck."
 
"Oh my god.  Do I need to come over?"
 
"No, Buffy, Spike's getting her calm again, I think.  She needs her sleep.  Besides, she will just push you away again.  Spike and I have everything under control."

"Are you ok, Angel?"
 
Her question threw him by surprise.  "Huh?"

"I know this is hard on you, watching her.  I was just making sure you were ok."
 
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine.  Tired, but fine."
 
"Well."  There was a long uncomfortable silence.  "Call me if you need me."
 
"I will, Buffy.  I'll see if Willow wants to talk to you too, when she wakes up."
 
"Thanks.  Bye, Angel."
 
"Bye, Buffy."  He hung up the phone.  "The Slayer, she was concerned," he mocked.
 
Spike laughed.  "She's got a lot to be concerned about."

*-*-*-*

Willow studied her spell book.  She had been curiously quiet since waking up.  Spike watched her, trying to figure out what was going on in that head of hers.
 
"Oh!" she cried.  "This might work!"
 
"You found something, pet?" Spike asked, glancing over at Angelus.

"Yes, I think so."  She chewed her bottom lip.  "Here, Angelus, look at this.  I have the ingredients upstairs."
 
Angelus looked over it.  "It's worth a try," he said.

Spike grumbled to himself.  "This better not make me end up loving the Slayer again.  I'm still not happy with you, Red, because of that other spell."
 
Willow's eyes flashed yellow.  "Don't piss me off, William, or I won't do the spell."
 
"You'll do the spell, Red, just don't bloody fuck it up.  And stop calling me William."
 
Willow got ready to say something when Angelus silenced her.  "Children, stop fighting.  I think this will work.  Willow, go get your supplies."
 
"Yes, daddy," she purred, walking past him.  She stopped briefly to drop a kiss on his lips, then went upstairs.
 
*-*-*-*

"That's it?" Spike asked.  He shook his head.  "I don't feel any different."
 
Angelus glanced at Willow.  "Then I guess we go hunting.  Test it out."
 
"The Slayer is mine," Willow grinned. 

"Are you sure you are strong enough, pet?  She's gonna try to stake you..."

Willow stood up.  "She can't stake her best friend," she said laughing.
 
*-*-*-*
 
Spike grinned as the lifeless body dropped to the ground.  "That was.... well, for lack of a better word, bloody good!"  He turned, smiling at Angelus and Willow.  He grabbed Willow and kissed her hard.  "Thank you, pet, I needed that."

Willow chuckled.  "Now our family is almost complete.  I want Xander, then we kill the Slayer."

"You want to get Xander first?" Angelus asked, raising his eyebrow.

Willow laughed.  "I like the idea that Buffy feels guilty because she couldn't save either of her best friends."