Spike paced nervously in front of the door. < I shouldn't have come. I could have done this myself. I swear, I'm becoming my Sire. I am a soft Nancyboy. > He stared at the door for a moment, then turned. < I'm leaving. > He started to walk away.

The door opened slowly. "Spike. Are you coming in or are you going to leave?"

Spike froze, hearing that familiar voice. "I'm going to bloody leave."

"You call me and wake me up, tell me you need my help, drive for two and a half hours, fighting the sun, no less, just to be a chicken shit and turn around without even knocking?"

Spike growled, his game face falling into place. He spun around and glared at his smirking Sire. "I am not a chicken shit!"

Angel leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his massive chest. "What do you want, Spike?"

"I. . ." Spike growled. "Bloody hell, Peaches." He pushed past Angel and walked into the vampire's new home. He glanced around. "Nice place," he muttered.

"Spike, I'm tired. We were out late fighting evil. What do you want?"

Spike sighed and took off his jacket. He pulled his maroon shirt off and folded it neatly, placing it on top of the duster. He pulled his black tee shirt off, folding it and placing it on top of the maroon shirt. He turned to Angel.

Angel shifted uncomfortably, crossing his arms over his own bare chest. It had been a long time since he'd seen his childe's smooth alabaster skin, and even longer since the boy admitted he needed help with something. "Spike," he said, clearing his throat, "what do you need my help with?"

"I need you to scar me."

Angel blurted in surprise, "You what?!"

*-*-*-*

:::RING, RING, RING:::

"Hello," Willow mumbled sleepily into the phone. "Spike, is that you? I'm tired, baby, let me sleep for a while."

"No, not Spike, it's Buffy."

Willow lazily opened her eyes. "Hey, Bitc. . .Buffy. What do you need?" She was still hurt over the fight from the night before.

Buffy chose to ignore the near slip of her best friend's tongue. "Willow, we are going to the beach tonight! Will you meet us there?"

"I have to ask Spike," Willow said. "I think he mentioned something about doing something special with me tonight."

"Willow, let it go. You've made your point. I'm sure Spike would find you just delicious. But stop pretending that you two are dating."

"Buffy! Xander said you walked back into the house the other night mumbling about leaving, as if something more was happening than should have been!" Willow cried. "What did you see? Why aren't you acknowledging it?"

Buffy's voice was hard and cold. "No," she said. "I refuse to believe that my *best* friend is interested in my mortal enemy. I don't care *what* I saw."

"Buffy. . ."

"No, Willow. It's not happening."

"Fine," Willow growled. "Don't expect me at your stupid beach party."

"Wills," Buffy whined.

"No," Willow said. "I'm tired of you not giving me the benefit of the doubt! And I have a hangover from our date last night, so I'm hanging up now."

"Willow. . ."

"Bye, Buffy." She slammed the phone down. She turned over angrily. As she stared at the wall, the anger dissipated, and was replaced with sadness. She started to cry.

*-*-*-*

"Scar you. Claim you?" Angel asked.

"No, actually, you are claiming me for someone else."

"Who?" Angel asked, curious. He stepped forward, then stopped, seeing the faint lines on his childe's chest. "Red? Willow did this?"

Spike smirked. "Bloody cut me up. Claimed me as hers, even told me I didn't belong to Angelus anymore."

Angel's demon roared, not liking the fact that someone had claimed his childe. However, it was apparent that Spike wanted this done, so there was really nothing Angel could do about it. "And so you want me to do what?"

"She can't cut deep enough. I can't do it, can't see it. Can't use a bloody mirror, you know! I got to thinking about it, and you are the only one I know, other than Dru, who can cut deep enough to scar without causing serious damage. So. . .will you do it? Will you carve RED into my chest?"

Angel crossed his arms. "You like her a lot, don't you."

"I love her," Spike said softly. "I've fallen in love with her, can you believe it?"

"Yea," Angel said softly. "She's a wonderful girl."

"Keep your bloody hands off of her, Poof. I will dust you over her."

Angel smiled. "I promise. I won't touch Willow."

"Good. So can you help me?"

*-*-*-*

"Spike, hey," Willow said to his cell phone answering machine. "It's Willow." She sniffed. "Buffy is a bitch. She's making me cry, she still doesn't believe me about us. Anyway, she called to see if I wanted to go to the beach tonight, but I told her I wasn't sure, and um. . .so anyway, do you want to do that? I don't mind going to the beach, if you want to spend the time with everyone else, but if you want to do something else, that's fine too. Spike, where are you? Are you sleeping? I figured you'd be up by now. Call me later. Love you."

*-*-*-*

Spike gritted his teeth. "Fuck, don't you have some bloody alcohol or something? Even the soddin' watcher gave me scotch when they had to dig the tracking device out of my bloody back."

Angel stopped, looking down at his childe on the kitchen table. He was gripping the side of table. He had no shirt on, and had a look of utter pain on his face. "What tracking device?"

"Bloody Commandos. Shot me in the back. Watcher and Slayer's pets had to dig it out." Spike opened red watery eyes and looked at Angel. "Are you going to finish this anytime today, mate? This is fucking excruciating."

"More pain than you can bear?" Angel said smoothly. He smiled softly, tilting his head, listening. He had put on a Mozart record in his bedroom. He listened for a moment to the classical music before looking back at Spike.

Spike could see Angelus in his Sire's eyes. It was the same damn music he always played when he wanted to truly torture Spike. "You are a sick fuck, Sire," Spike growled. "Of course it's not more than I can bear. *I* am the Big Bad!"

Angel ran his hand along the R he'd carved into Spike's chest. He brought his fingers to his mouth, softly sucking them between his lips. He closed his eyes, savoring the blood. "Still taste as good as you always did, William."

Spike closed his eyes, ignoring the rush of lust that ran through his body at that simple gesture. "Bloody hell, Angelus. Let's get this over with so I can go home to my Red."

Angel opened his eyes and dropped his hand, cupping Spike's straining erection. "Are you sure you want to rush home so quickly?"

Spike sat up quickly, grabbing Angel by the back of the neck. Their faces were inches apart. "This is *not* happening. You are *not* letting the demon free, and we are *not* involved. Now get me the bloody alcohol and hurry up with the scaring! I need to get back to Sunnydale before Red realizes I'm gone." He let go of Angel and lay back down.

Angel chuckled and went to the cabinet. He pulled out a bottle of scotch and opened it. He took a huge swig, then handed it to Spike. "Here, boy."

"You can drink with me," Spike said, "but if you dare mess up the carving. . ."

"Come on, now, boy, you know me better than that."

"Whatever," Spike grumbled. He took a mouthful of the scotch, closing his eyes as it burned a trail down his throat. "Bloody good stuff this scotch is."

Angel leaned over Spike and began to carve again.

*-*-*-*

"Hello?" Willow asked, answering the phone.

" 'ello, luv," Spike slurred. He laughed. "I got your. . .voice on my phone. Poofulas had to show me how to get it off the phone."

Willow sat up. "Poofulas? Are you in LA?"

"Yep! Say hi to Peaches!" Spike threw his phone at his Sire. "Red wants to say hi."

Angel laughed, picking up the phone. "Hey-ya, Wills, how are you?"

"Angel?" Tears filled Willow's eyes. "Why is Spike there? And why is he drunk?" < He's leaving me. That's why he's with Angel, and he's drinking. He's leaving me. >

"He. . .needed a little help with some ritual scar. . ." Angel laughed as Spike glared at him. "...with something. . Only daddy could sooth the itch."

Willow blinked. "You two slept together!?" she cried only registering the last few words.

"Oh, Christ no!" Angel said, slapping his hand over his mouth. "Spikey and I would never. . .could never ever sleep together! He loves you, Willow. You are all he's been talking about since he's been here. . .Willow's so pretty with her red hair, and Willow's so pretty when she's mad and Willow's so pretty when she's naked. . ."

"ANGEL!" Willow screeched, her entire face turning red at the thought that Spike might have told him about her nakedness. "Give the phone back to Spike!"

Angel giggled. "Spikey, I think she's mad at you, cause you told me about her nakedness."

"But, baby," Spike purred into the phone after wrestling it back from Angel, "you are beautiful when you're naked. I was only trying to tell Peaches how lucky I was because you let me see you naked." He lay back on the couch, his head falling onto Angel's lap. Angel dropped his hand to his childe's head and started running his fingers through the blond hair.

"Spike," Willow said, her voice quivering. She didn't know if she should be proud or cry for days. "When are you coming home?"

"Leaving when the sun goes down, pet. I want to go to this beach party you were babbling about. Gonna rub the Slayer's face in the sand!"

"Spike. . ." Willow said dangerously, "what are you going to do?"

"No worries, luv, I won't embarrass you at all." He closed his eyes and allowed a small moan escape his lips. Angel was scratching Spike's scalp with a tiny bit of pressure. Not enough to hurt, just enough to entice. "That feels *so* good, Angelus," he said softly. "You always did know what I liked. . ."

Willow's mind kicked into overdrive as she imagined Spike lying on the couch, with Angel hovering over his body, running his fangs and tongue over the younger vampire's body. She closed her eyes and moaned softly at the thought. Never before had she really thought of Spike and Angel together, but at the softly spoken words of her lover, it was all she could think. "S. . .Spike," she said softly, "what are you doing?"

"It's Peaches, pet. He's doing it. Playing with me head, like he loves to do."

Willow's eyes flew open. "H. . .Head?"

"Yup. Scratching me scalp."

Willow frowned, then brightened. "OH! Scalp! Head, that's right, yeah!" She giggled nervously. "Um. . .Spike. . .just come home soon. I miss you."

"Mmm. . .god, Angelus. . ." Spike growled softly, "you've got to stop, Peaches."

"Why, lover?" Angel asked, looking down at his childe's blissful face.

"Because if you don't, I'll have to pound into you, and that part is only reserved for Red. . ." Spike moaned.

Willow smiled. Even when he was drunk and horny, he was still trying to be faithful. Now it was time for the test. She cleared her throat. "Spike," she said in what she hoped was a demanding voice.

Spike's eyes flew open at the sound of dominance in Willow's voice. He sat up slowly. "Red?"

"Spike, you better get your ass back to Sunnydale now, before I am displeased. I'm borderline unhappy as it is. I thought I told you that you belong to me. No one else, not Angelus, or Angel."

"Yes, Red, I'm sorry," Spike said sheepishly. "I'll leave right now, if it pleases you."

"You are in the Desoto?"

"Yes."

"Fine, the tinted windows should protect you from the sun. If you aren't here," Willow tried to quickly think of a sufficient demand of subservience, "bowing at my feet in three hours, there will be hell to pay, and it won't make you happy."

"Yes, Red, I understand. I will see you in three hours." Spike hung up, turning his head and seeing a confused Angel. "She used *the* voice."

"The voice?" Angel asked, his brow coming together in confusion.

"*The* voice. Like the one you love to use with me."

"The dominant voice?" Angel asked softly.

"Yeah," Spike said. "She said if I'm not bowing at her feet in three hours, there will be hell to pay."

Angel's eyebrows shot up. "Hell, Spike, you'd better get home! I've seen Vamp Will, I know what she's capable of!"

Spike stood up, swaying slightly. He looked down at his chest, where RED was carved in angry red lines. "Thanks, Peaches. I owe ya."

"Yeah, you do. Now get home safely or it'll be me who will have hell to pay!"

Spike grinned his cocky grin, gathered his clothes, and walked out the door.

Angel chuckled to himself and lay down on the couch. "Well my boy. I don't know what she's going to do to ya, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it."