Angel forced a sigh through his lungs. Her ice cold attitude had gotten a little old on the ride to the hotel they would be staying at for the night. Despite his attempts to cajole her into speaking she had adamantly refused to even acknowledge his presence. "Willow...you need to listen to him. Eternity is a long time to spend with someone you hate..."

The red head arched an eyebrow. "Wow Angel. This is a far cry from a few hours ago when we were fucking just to PISS HIM OFF!" Her voice rose in volume until she was screeching, the words ringing loudly in the small, tacky room.

Spike smirked, grabbing the ashtray off of the small nightstand. He sat down at the pathetic excuse for a dining table the establishment offered and lit a cigarette, waiting to see what his Sire would say to the witch's accusations. He could believe that it was the truth - that they had done what they did to spite him. But it went deeper than that. On some level they had both wanted each other before that.

Not that he minded.

After what had happened back in the cheerleader's apartment he couldn't imagine anything other than the threesome the dark haired vampire had accidentally mentioned wanting. The idea of sharing his Red with his Sire for the rest of eternity wasn't unappealing in the least. It might would be the only way he got to be with her at all and it meant he would get to shag the Poof on a regular basis.

Provided she ever spoke to either of them again.

"Wills...I had a talk with him. He really does care for you in the only way he knows how." Angel sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed and looking at her with haunted brown eyes. He longed to take her in his arms and soothe away all the hurt both his Childe and now himself had caused her. But he couldn't. This needed to be dealt with without making it more difficult with physical actions. Things like that had started the whole mess in the first place.

"And why should I believe -you-?"

Chocolate eyes closed in pain. "What have I ever done to make you not able to trust me?"

The red head snorted, standing. She glared at him, beginning to pace. "Well, gee, I don't know Angel. Maybe taking advantage of me? You -knew- I wasn't going to be able to stop. I needed the contact after being away from my mate for so long. And there you were, his -Sire-," she spat the word out with contempt. "Ready to console me right into bed."

"You know that's not how it happened, little one..." Angel sighed, genuine tears forming in his eyes. "But if that's what you want to believe, despite all the friendship I've given you over the years then so be it. It doesn't change the mess you are in or make things any better for you. So go on, alienate one of the only friends you will have for the coming centuries!" He was yelling now, eyes fading to amber as he regarded her. In all his life, even as a degenerate teen, he had never had a woman say he took advantage of her. It cut him deeper than any sword or stake ever could.

Green eyes grew wide and Willow took a good look at the man she had just mortally insulted. Her eyes traveled over the pain etched lines of his face, wondering what had come over her to speak so harshly. It was true, she had made the advances. How could she speak so rashly in anger? "Oh, Angel..." A lump of sadness formed in her throat when he turned from her.

"Spike..." The red head turned to her mate, trying to find comfort in him.

"Don't look to me for help, Red." The vampire murmured softly. His blue eyes were cold as ice as he regarded her. "You've done nothing but push me away since we got here. You didn't give me one soddin minute to explain to you how I felt. Just jumped to your stupid little conclusions. And now, when someone takes my side, you hurt him in a way your twisted little mind can't bloody well imagine!"

"I didn't think..."

Spike snorted. "I can believe that, chit. You didn't think one bit. Never once crossed your mind that maybe I want you for you. Never once crossed your mind that we could have a good time in eternity together. Never once crossed your mind that Peaches over there likes you just as much."

Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, spilling in salty lines over her deathly pale cheeks. "He does? You do?" She turned, looking at Angel's back as he laid on the bed. He could hear every word being said yet he didn't turn over once, didn't acknowledge anything. She put a hand to her head, grief plain on her face. Tears shook through her petite frame and she felt weak in the knees.   "Oh goddess. I'm such a fool."

Spike barely managed to catch the witch as she collapsed to the ground. Despite the anger he was feeling to her - for hurting both himself and his Sire, he held her. He couldn't bring himself to say the words she wanted to hear though, that he forgave her. She hadn't apologized yet and didn't rightfully deserve it.

But he could still hold her.

Willow cried, sobbing in the arms of the one person her body cried out for more than any other. After a few moments she looked up into his face. "I'm sorry for being so stubborn...It was a shock. Finding out I'm yours for a lot longer than anyone else has ever wanted me before..."

Spike nodded. This he could understand. Claiming her as his mate had been more of his demon's decision than his conscious mind's. It had been something he hadn't even known he wanted until it happened. And after... Afterwards he had been too caught up in the high of it all to realize that scaring her wasn't smart - that it might help to alienate her.   "It will be ok, pet. I do want you. More than you still realize. I wouldn't have claimed you otherwise." He chuckled softly. "Believe me, I don't want to spend eternity with someone I dislike any more than you do."

The red head smiled up at him, wiping her tears away with the back of one of her hands. She lifted her head, capturing his lips for a brief kiss. It felt right - like coming home, and she never wanted to be without it again. When they broke apart, she glanced over at the bed, her heart breaking at the sight before her.

Angel was still there, his back turned to them and his shoulders were shaking. When she listened closely, Willow could hear the heart rending sound of his sobs. She turned to Spike, a plea for help in her eyes and he just shook his head. "This is your mess, ducks. You fix it."

The red head nodded, pulling away from her mate's arms and crossing to the

bed. She flinched when the dark haired vampire rolled away from her hesitant touch on his back. "Angel... I am more sorry than I can ever express...I was wrong to accuse you..." Her voice shook as tears spilled over her face. "I wanted it just as much as you did. Please believe that I didn't mean it." She sobbed aloud when he didn't turn over - didn't acknowledge her statements. "Oh goddess, please Angel... I love you just as much as I love Spike...please? You know I didn't mean it."

Suddenly she was in his arms, staring into a smile so bright it was like the sun. "A...Angel?"

"Yes, kitten?" The vampire purred, looking down into her face. Her proclamation of love had sent him over the edge, unable to put her through further torturous apologies.

"Does this mean I'm forgiven?" The startled red head whispered. She could feel the bond between her and her mate's Sire straining at the close contact between them and longed to lean up and kiss his full lips.

Angel grinned. "Just this once."

Willow smiled, her face clearing of sadness. Leaning up, she gently brushed her lips against his. The moment was perfect until Spike cleared his throat. She pulled back, suddenly uncertain. Her face was filled with confusion. "So...what now? I mean...I like Spike...but...I like you too, Angel...Oh goddess. Just when I start to get things straight everything gets complicated again."

"Pet..." Spike murmured, coming to sit on the bed next to the cozy pair. "I don't mind you being with Peaches sometimes as long as you know you are -my- mate." He smirked. "Truth is, he and I are thinking about re-exploring what we once had and I would hope that one day it could be the three of us in one big bloody bed shagging like bunnies until the break of..."

His words were cut off as his mate's lips crashed into his. He felt her fingers slide lightly along his thigh. She traced the growing outline of his shaft through the tight jeans and he moaned into her mouth. Cracking open an eye he could see that his Sire was kissing along her throat, kneading her milky breasts through the thin cloth of her clothing.

Willow pulled back, moaning as Angel hit an especially sensitive spot with his mouth. She turned lusty eyes to her mate and grinned wickedly.   "Can that 'one day' start right now? Cuz...I don't think I need to wait if you don't."

Spike smirked, grinning as he caught his Sire's eyes. She had surprised them both yet again. Things were definitely looking up for the coming centuries. "Sounds like a marvelous idea to me, Pet."

End

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