*~*~*~*

Xander and Willow held to each other, shaking in fear. Xander was pale, having lost a little more blood than Willow. Fortunately for him, the vampires had been teasing, not drinking deep as they could have. If Xand and Angel had really wanted to, they could have killed him.

Wesley sighed, crossing his arms. "This isn't good," he said softly. "Apparently, all three of you touched the demon after it touched Willow. And it wasn't killed by the right dagger, so now she's suffering from nightmares, which include the three of you."

Spike stared at Wesley, blinking owlishly. He turned to Angel. "Git's a Watcher, isn't he?"

Angel frowned, crossing his arms. "He used to be. Why?"

"Just noticing how it's common for Watchers to state the obvious," Spike grumbled, sitting down.

Xand chuckled. After a moment, he sobered up. "So what are we going to do? If we don't do something about this, we will kill either one of them."

"They should go stay with Cordelia," Gunn suggested.

Willow shook her head. "No. If they are going to attack us, they will get into Cordy's place. All they have to do is let Angel going in first, then he can invite them in." She chewed her bottom lip. "Of course," she said softly, "there is the revoking spell. . .it worked back when Angelus was hanging around. . ."

Wesley spoke up. "Good. Gunn, call Cordelia. Tell her that Xander and Willow are coming to stay with her. Angel. . .do you have the ingredients for the spell?"

Angel nodded. "I should. And if I don't, you should have the rest of it."

"Wait, wait," Xand said. "What about you two?" He pointed to Gunn and Wesley. "Won't we try to kill you?"

"Probably not," Spike said softly. "It is supposed to be Willow's worse nightmares. Not that she doesn't care if they die or not, but she'd be much more destroyed if Xander were gone."

"You should sleep with a cross and holy water just in case," Angel nodded.

Both Gunn and Wesley gulped, agreeing with the vampire. They had been so wrapped up in trying to protect Willow, they had forgotten about themselves.

*~*~*~*

~Willow crossed her arms. There was an invisible barrier separating her from Spike. He slammed his hands against it, making it shimmer and the world around her shake. Yet it stood still. He grinned, his eyes yellow. "So this is how it is, pet? You are going to block yourself off from me."

Willow lifted her chin, too proud to let him get to her. "You can't bait me, Spike. I know you don't mean what you say."

He walked back and forth, laughing softly. He ran his fingers across the barrier, watching in fascination as soft blue ripples rode the blockade where his fingertips touched. The obstacle itself was invisible, but the waves weren't. He stopped, pressing his hands against them. His hands glowed a soft blue where he pressed into the invisible wall, but he still wasn't allowed within. "Willow, Willow," he chuckled, clicking his tongue at her. "You've blocked yourself in, luv. You won't let the wall down. It doesn't matter what you say or do, doesn't matter how much you love me, you will never let me in."

"No," Willow said, shaking her head. "You are lying! I will let you in. . .at least, I will let the Spike I *know* in. I won't let you in. You are a bastard. You just want to hurt me."

Spike grinned maniacally at her. "Look at yourself, Willow," he whispered. "You are stuck. Locked in a rapidly diminishing invisible barrier. You can look out and see all your friends, how happy they are. . ." He pulled back, waving his arm out. Buffy and Riley were kissing on the couch. Angel and Xander were sitting on the dining room table, legs swinging, laughing about something. Even Xand was happy, alternating between Angel and Xander; and his vampire Willow. Spike turned back to her, pressing his forehead against the wall. "And poor little Willow sits all alone in her little self-imposed prison. All you have to do is invite me in, pet." He grinned, his blue eyes dancing.

Willow shook her head. "No. I don't want you in here. I want to be safe from you! You. . .you scare me," she whispered.

Spike clutched his shirt, where his heart would be. "Oh, Red, you wound me. . ." he said. He giggled insanely, bending over to laugh. "Poor lonely Willow." He ran his fingers through the barrier again. "Now, I'm going to go play with my Sire and your best friend." Spike winked. "Since you won't let me in, pet, Xander decided to do it for you." Spike licked his lips. "He's *so* tight. . .bloody delicious when I'm pounding into him." He laughed again and stalked Angel and Xander.

Willow watched with tears in her eyes as Xander jumped off the table happily and threw his arms around Spike, kissing him passionately.~

*~*~*~*

Willow woke up sobbing. She had never felt as lonely in that moment as she had her entire life. Xander was asleep next to her, with a goofy smile on his face. "Xander," she whispered, nudging him.

He turned away, mumbling, "Let me sleep, Angel. Don't want to get up yet. . ."

She sighed, crawling out of bed. She took a deep breath, tears filling her eyes. With an empty heart, she padded to the bathroom.

*~*~*~*

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