"I don't like this," Buffy said. "I still say her and Spike are friends. Why else would they just dance?"

"So you think she's been hanging out with Spike and Willow all this time?" Cordelia asked.

"Yes, I do."

"The implications of that....that's just not good, a Slayer hanging out with a vampire and his lover." Xander looked at Buffy. "At least you and Deadboy have an excuse."

"And we wouldn't be together if it weren't for the soul," Angel said.

Buffy looked at him, almost hurt. "We wouldn't?" "Buffy, seriously. Do you think Angelus is happy with the fact that I love you? You know the demon hates you."

She frowned. "Well, I...I would dust you if you didn't have the soul!"

<You couldn't last time,> Angel thought. "I know, I would want you to," he said softly, taking her hand.

Buffy stood up. "Come on. We are doing the spell now."

*-*-*-*

Half an hour later, Willow walked into the Bronze. She looked good, feeling refreshed from her afternoon nap. She saw Spike and Faith dancing and grinned. She went over to them and pressed against Faith, slipping her arm around the brunette's waist, between the Slayer and Vampire. She leaned up and kissed the back of Faith's neck. "Hey, pet," she whispered huskily. "Having fun dancing with my mate?"

Faith chuckled, leaning against Willow. She was surprised, the girl never made any sexual gesture towards her, but she wasn't displeased. She'd always thought Willow was beautiful, and had entertained dreams of being stuck between Willow and her vampire lover. "Yea, I am. Do you mind?"

"Nope, as long as I'm in there somewhere."

Spike leaned forward and kissed Willow. "You are always there, pet."

"Oh, damn!" Faith said, spinning to look at Willow. "Red, they found the spell!"

Willow's face fell. "Damn it. When?"

"Tomorrow."

"You gotta stop....stop them...from..." Willow blinked her eyes, a weird look in them. She looked at Faith in horror. "Oh, goddess..." she whispered, "What have...what have I done?"

"Shit!" Spike growled, gently pushing Faith out from between them. He grabbed Willow. "They did the spell! Those bloody kids! I will rip them apart!" he growled. His voice dropped to a soft whisper, "Red....baby...."

She looked confused, then scared. "Spike, let me go!" she cried, pushing him away. "You can't....hurt them..." She shook her head. "They are my friends..." She frowned. "I have to go!" She ran out.

Spike covered his face with his hands. "Oh, god, I just lost her."

"Shh," Faith said, rubbing his back. "Red really loves you, Spike. I'm sure once it all settles, she will come back."

"No, she won't, Faith. She's too sweet and innocent....I'm too evil for her." He frowned. "Come on, I want to get out of here."

The two left the Bronze.

*-*-*-*

Willow ran all the way to Giles' house, knowing that's where they would be. The last two months kept repeating through her head, all the things she'd done, everything she felt with Spike....how much she truly thought she was in love with him. <It's the amnesia saying you love him. You can't love Spike, he's horrible, and a mean evil person.> She burst into Giles' house.

Everyone looked up at her. Buffy stood up slowly. "W...Willow?"

"Buffy!" she sobbed, rushing into her best friend's arms.

"Oh, god, Willow, you are back!" she cried. Everyone hugged the red head. "We missed you so much, and my god, that Lady Red person you were pretending to be was such a bitch!"

Willow frowned. <I wasn't pretending. I really was her....that's a part of me. The part you don't want to see.> "I..."

"Shh..." Xander said. "It's not important. Our little Willow is back, and that's all that matters. We know you didn't mean anything you said while you were psycho."

Willow crossed her arms, her frown deepening. <This isn't the nicest way to welcome me back, guys,> she thought.

"Did he hurt you?" Angel asked softly.

Willow looked up at him, trying to fight back the hate that filled her body. "No, Angel, not at all. He took care of me....I am....was...his mate." She sighed.

"Good," Angel said.

"I'm going to stake him," Buffy cried.

"NO!" Willow shrieked. "You can't kill him!"

"Why not?" Buffy asked.

"I love him," she said simply.

"No, you don't!" Buffy cried. "You aren't his Willow, you are mine!"

Rage filled Willow's veins. She closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and opened them again. Her mind was whispering her often used spell for strength. She was calm and composed. She stepped to Buffy. "If you touch him, I will kill you."

"WILLOW!" Buffy yelled. "Stop this! Where is the quiet shy little Willow I love?"

"Oops, looks like she went bye-bye," Willow sang evilly. Her fist shot out, connecting with Buffy's nose.

Buffy cried out, closing her eyes in pain. She knew it was broken.

Willow walked to the door calmly. "If you need me, you know where I am. I'll be somewhere that I belong, and where I am appreciated for who I am...not what you want me to be." She walked out.

"Giles!" Buffy whined, holding her bleeding nose. "Do something!"

Giles frowned. "She has her memories back, Buffy. I'm sorry, but Willow is happy as Lady Red. The Willow we knew really is gone."

*-*-*-*

Willow headed for the mansion. She knew that Spike would still want her, and she knew that's where he would be. She belonged with him. For the first time in her entire life, she felt like she truly belonged.

She burst into the bedroom. Spike and Faith were there, holding each other. "I need her," Spike would whisper ever so often.

Both of them looked up. They noticed the differences right away. She wasn't quite Red, but she wasn't quite Willow. She carried herself as....both.

"So," Willow smirked, "do I get to join in the loving, or do I have to kill somebody?"

"R...Red?" Spike asked softly.

She grinned. "My mate," she purred.

He grabbed her and kissed her hard. "My mate," he replied, nuzzling her neck.

Willow grinned at Faith. "Our toy," she leered.

Spike's leer was as sexual as Willow's was. "I don't mind if the chit doesn't mind."

Faith grinned, lying back. "Your toy," she purred.

*-*-*-*

Willow smiled in her sleep, pressed between a warm body and a cold body. She was finally happy. She was where she belonged. She was home.

END.

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