*~*~*~*
"Spike, I'm scared."
Spike glanced over at the frail redhead in his arms. She was wide-awake, having downed a *lot* of caffeine. However, unlike the incident from earlier, when she attacked Xand after drinking three cups of coffee, she wasn't affected. She was only awake. Her mind was elsewhere, replaying all the dreams she had dreamt.
"Willow," he said softly, turning to her. "I won't let anything happen to you."
She looked up at him, sighing. "I know you don't want me to die, but. . .I mean, perhaps it would be easier if I did. I wouldn't have the dreams, and you wouldn't be wrapped up in them. . ."
"I *won't* let you kill yourself," he growled.
Tears fell down her cheeks. "Spike, make love to me," she whispered.
He frowned, running his fingers through the salty tracks. "Not that I don't want to, pet, I do, but I don't understand why. You are bloody hurting here. I shouldn't be taking advantage of that."
She sat up on the bed, her hand on his chest. "Spike, I want to be with you. I want to know what it's like to be underneath you. . .to be loved by you. If Angel can't find a cure, I could *die*. I want to know what it's like before. . ." She choked back a sob. "I mean, what if we never get
another chance?"
"Pet," he whispered, sitting up. "Are you sure? Absolutely sure?"
She nodded her head yes.
With a sad smile, he captured her lips in a kiss.
Their touches and caresses were slow and methodical. They explored each other with increasing intimacy. Spike made love to Willow tenderly, showing her the rarely seen side of a vampire.
She chewed her bottom lip and closed her eyes, throwing her head back. "Spike," she whispered, her world shattering in orgasm. "Spike, bite me. . ."
She didn't have to tell him twice. His game face slid on and he leaned down, kissing her skin softly. After a moment of preparation, he broke her delicate skin with his fangs. She moaned, and he started to purr. Her warm blood gently trickled out of the twin holes he placed on her neck. Lazily, he lapped at her neck, enjoying each and every drop of the ambrosia that belonged to his witch.
As her blood washed down his throat, he grunted, exploding inside of her. "I love you," he whispered into her skin.
She held him close, closing her eyes. "Please, Spike, don't ever leave me," she begged.
"I promise," he whispered.
*~*~*~*
Angel was surprised when he opened the door. "Rupert?" he asked. "Rupert, what are you doing here?"
Xander looked up from his place on the couch. "G-Man!" he cried, jumping up. He ran to the older man, hugging him tightly. "Oh, god, I've *missed* you so much!"
"Er. . .thank you," Giles frowned slightly. "But, Xander, you've only been gone a couple of days."
Xander frowned. "It's only been a couple of days?" he asked. "Hmm. Seems like much longer." He absentmindedly rubbed his neck. "So what's going on?"
"I've come to tell you something. There is only one way to save Willow."
Angel looked up. "What?" he asked.
Spike walked out into the living room, leaning against the couch. He was wearing only jeans. He crossed his arms across his muscular pale chest. He glanced down at Xand, who was watching Giles give his Watcherly advice. "It 's bloody bad news. I can see the Watcher's cheek twitching," Spike hissed softly.
"She has to die," Giles nodded gravely.
"WHAT?" everyone cried, jumping up.
"No!" Spike yelled, his game face sliding on. "I'm not letting my bloody witch die!"
"Willow dead?" Xander asked softly, sitting down. His head was swimming. "We can't. . .she can't. I can't loose Willow."
Willow was standing at the entrance to the hallway. She caught Giles' eyes, knowing that there was more to the plan than she had to die. "I personally think that Giles is one of the smartest men in the world. If he said I have to die, I guess I have to die," she whispered. Somehow, she wasn't too worried. She knew that she would wake up eventually.
"No, Pet," Spike whispered, going to her. Tears filled his eyes. "I just found you. I can't bloody lose you."
She smiled up at him. "You won't lose me, Spikey," she teased softly. "I know Giles. He has a plan. He always has a plan. That's why he's here, so he can make sure that I live. He would have just called if all I had to do was die. But he's needed here." She looked around Spike. "Right, Giles?"
"Right," Giles answered, amazed that Willow was holding up as well as she was. He'd heard stories of people affected by this demon, and they were usually pretty suicidal. Willow looked drained, but there. "We have to let you die, *but* I have a spell that will bring you back. Now, it *should* work. It usually does. . ."
"Good enough for me," Willow whispered. "Spike will change me if you can't bring me back."
Angel and Spike's eyes flew to the redhead's face at the way she so casually told the room she would be a vampire if things didn't work out. "Willow, are you sure?" Angel whispered.
"I'm sure," Willow sighed. "I'm not going to die. I have too many things to do. And if you have to change me, then tie me down and give me a soul. We did it with you, we can do it with me." She chuckled. "If I know Giles, and I think I know him pretty well, I'm sure he's even got an Orb of
Thessula in his bag."
Giles chuckled, pulling out said Orb. "I knew that you would have wanted it that way, if it came down to it, Willow." He sighed. "Shall we start?"
*~*~*~*
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