The king sized bed seemed empty without Spike. Angel was on his back, staring at the ceiling, while Willow was on her side, facing him. He was so far away from her, she wasn't sure if she could even reach out and touch him. When Spike was there, there wasn't enough room on the bed, with legs and arms everywhere. Without the blond, they could have fit two more people on the bed comfortably.
"Angel?"
"Yes, Willow?" he asked softly, turning to her.
"Do you love me?"
He frowned. "Of course I do, Little One. What makes you think I don't?"
"You are sleeping all the way over there..." she whispered, tears coming to her eyes.
"I didn't know if you wanted...I wasn't sure if you wanted me to hold you..."
"Please, Angel, I need you," she sobbed.
He slid across the silk sheets and wrapped her in his arms.
She sighed. "Thank you." She closed her eyes, sliding her hand under her favorite pillow. She frowned softly when her hand hit something foreign. She sat up, pulling the item out. Angel looked up at her. "What is it?"
"A letter, I think." Willow turned the envelope over. " 'To Red, from The Blond One.' " She read. "It's from Spike."
"Open it," he whispered.
Willow opened it, pulling out a letter. " 'Dear Willow,' " she began. She frowned. "It's serious, he never calls me Willow unless it's serious." She sighed, tears springing in her eyes again. " 'I love you. I want you to know that. I've loved you ever since I kidnapped you and Xander. I never dreamed I would get a chance with you, but one of your goddesses blessed me. The last two years with you and Angelus have been the best of my entire existence.
" 'Now that's all said and done, I want to give you something. Please keep it always. I'm going to go take care of Dru once and for all, and I didn't want this becoming dust. However, you'd better give it back if....WHEN I come back. Love always, William.' "
Spike's ring fell out of the envelope. It was identical to Willow's, except for his was red gold (for Willow) and yellow gold (for Angel). She looked up at Angel, who was sitting up. "Angelus?"
Angel looked at her, his eyes angry and yellow. "Tonight, I go dust Drucilla."
----
Spike paced back and forth. It was daylight, he couldn't leave. Even if he wanted to, Drucilla's minions wouldn't let him. He was surprised at how easy it had been for him to find the former love of his unlife. < Guess the bond is stronger than I thought, > he thought.
Drucilla had been surprised when Spike showed up at her new lair. It was obvious she'd expected Angelus. She decided, however, that Spike was almost as good - surely Angelus would come looking for his childe.
Spike threw himself down in the corner. "Bloody hell. The Poof will come and see Dru and the demon will fall in love all over again and then POOF! He will leave us. If there can even be an us. She's probably dust me for one reason or the other. And then my poor Red.... maybe Cordelia and Wesley will take care of her. I know she won't go back to Sunnyhell..." He laughed bitterly. "Like the Slayer would welcome her with open arms." He sighed. "And I'm talking to myself. Picked up too many bad habits from Red." He started picking at his chipped fingernail polish. "I wonder what true death is like?" He frowned. "Yea, William the Bloody's soul and demon partying it up in hell."
-----
Angel glanced up. Willow was steadily sticking stakes in various hiding places on her outfit. "Willow, what are you doing?"
"I'm getting read for the hunt," Willow said. She frowned. "The hunt?" She chuckled. "I've picked up too many of Peroxide Blond's mannerisms."
"You aren't going with me," Angel said flatly.
"Oh, no, buddy, I'm not loosing EITHER of you. The only way I can assure that is that I'm there to make sure nothing bad happens."
"Willow, it is too dangerous!" he cried.
Willow laughed. "Surely you jest! Think about the last six years of my life! Do you honestly believe that a crazy vampire and a few of her vampire tramps scare me?"
"But, Willow, she's Angelus' childe!"
"And? I sleep with Angelus every night, AND his most dangerous childe. I've faced both of them when they DIDN'T love me. I'm. Not. Scared." She set her resolve face.
"I get it, I get it. Resolve face. But Willow, be careful. She will want to hurt you because you belong to us."
Willow laughed. "When will you two learn that you belong to me?"
For the first time that night, Angel smiled. "I love you, my little witch."
"Yea, yea, ditto. Come on, we've got some vampire bitch ass to kill and a crazy blond to save."
Angel sighed. "Ready if you are."
The two stepped out into the night, both knowing that somehow, by the time the sun rose the next morning, everything would be totally different. Both prayed for the best.