Author: Buffywatcher

Feedback: Constructive comments always welcome: Deepkori@hotmail.com

Pairing: Primarily Angel(us)/Spike

Rating: R Possibly a bit of romantic NC-17'ish circumstances.

Spoilers: None this story takes place in an AU setting and will pretty much ignore the current season of Angel.

Warnings: This story will contain instances of extreme violence, sexuality and character deaths.

Disclaimer: Just borrowing them for a bit of harmless fun. All characters, recognisable likenesses are retained by their owner and accredited license holders.

Writer's Notes: This story takes place in an AU setting and includes a scene challenge posted by Angela with some minor artistic changes. Connor has been born, Spike has his soul and isn't chipped as well and Angel and the LA Gang have taken over the running of Wolfram & Hart. However the incident with the first has not taken place and Buffy died and has been resurrected. As always thanks are going out to GF, MarieC, Luba, and Mera my most excellent group of Beta/Editors. Very special thanks to Mera, she got in on the ground floor on this one and chimed in with some big assistance so dedicating this one to her.

Distribution: If I've already been given permission to archive my work please consider it yours if you want it. If I haven't and you would like to archive it please do, all I ask is that you email me and tell me where it's going so I can visit.

Summary: The Powers That Be offer to release Angel from his destiny as a Champion but they make a critical error that may well doom their cause forever.

*

Spike sighs and watches the sidewalk pass by from his rather unique perspective of being slung like a side of beef over his poofy Sire's shoulder.

"You know this is a really revolting experience! I'm going to be the joke of the Demon world if anyone sees me like this you know!"

His voice sounds grumpy and irritated but Angelus knows he's smiling while he bitches at the indignity. He pats his Mate's leather covered rear, intending to soothe his tattered ego but he chuckles as Spike wiggles with a soft moan.

"Oi! No fondling the merchandise unless ya mean to buy, Pet!"

Angelus deliberately runs his hand over that leather shielded rump, causing Spike to moan and rub against his shoulder trying to soothe the ache and he smiles. "I don't have to buy what I own Little One." Angelus hears his words and he's struck to the core by an astonishing insight. "We're free." He says with all the wonder of a little boy at Christmas. There is no longer some grand destiny waiting for them, no longer some master grand plan that they need to fulfil to keep the cosmic balance. For the first time in a very long time, he doesn't know what tomorrow is going to bring and he couldn't be more excited to wait and see. He's going to have every thing he's ever wanted, though for what seems like forever, he wouldn't actually admit what he really did need. He must have done something right though, somewhere if he's being rewarded so well. Everything he feared he had lost and would never have again is his once more. The humanity he had feared lost forever merged peacefully into his demon half, ending the internal conflicts that have plagued him for a century. He sits once more at the head of a family to be proud of and he has a love he thought he would never know again. Not the love of a teenager that doesn't know her own mind or what she wants from life but his own Precious Smart-Ass of a Childe....

"Hey! I dunno about you Peaches, but I'm not cheap and certainly not free." Spike says with a snicker.

Angelus jumps causing him to bump painfully against his shoulder with an evil smile.

"Bloody TEASE!" He hears Spike mutter and he grins. "So do it again already!" Angelus laughs and complies much to Spike's groaning delight.

Angelus shakes his head at Spike's antics, absolutely positive the younger Vampire could find a way to get aroused at an audit.

"Oh I say, what happened to Spike?!" Angelus stops in his tracks gaping at Giles in shock and laughing inside at Spike's muttering.

"Bloody hell! It would have to be the Watcher! Going to be the poster child for Lame Demons Monthly at this rate..." Spike mumbles too low for Giles to hear but he knows his Sire is getting an earful.

"Umm, hey there Giles." Angelus says trying not to laugh and pretending that he isn't giving the ex-Watcher an excellent view of Spike's leather clad butt.

"Whatever happened? Do you need to come inside? Were you attacked?" Giles asks concernedly and Angelus realises that with his mind wandering as it was, that they are standing in front of Giles' shop.

"Yeah Mate, I got attacked alright. A right horny Vampire it was too!" Spike laughs as he dangles down his Sire's back.

Angelus laughs and darts around a stunned Giles. "Sorry Giles; got to go!"

Giles spins around to see Angelus striding down the sidewalk with Spike swaying as he hangs over his shoulder and blinks confusedly. Suddenly Spike braces his hands on Angelus' butt and pushes himself up so he can look back at Giles and yells.

"OI! Giles, do you know where we can get a white cowboy hat at this time of night?!"

"Well there's that new Wal-Mart off of Main and Third Street...its open twenty-four hours..." He finds himself replying. His eyes bug out as Spike slaps Angelus on the butt and he swears he could hear something frighteningly resembling, "Giddy up..." drifting back from the pair. He pulls off his glasses and cleans them and puts them back on and blinks after the pair. After a second he pulls his glasses off again and pinches the bridge of his nose as he pushes the door open and goes back into the shop muttering about too many late nights.

Another block and a half passes under Angelus' feet, as he watches. Fortunately the late hour has spared him being displayed like a trophy over the Great White Hunter's shoulder, to anyone but Giles. Suddenly his world spins on its axis as he finds himself flipped neatly off Angelus' shoulder and back onto his own feet. He clings to Angelus, who holds him pressed tightly to his powerful body, while he quickly adjusts to seeing the world right side up again. He looks around and sees they're in an alley near The Bronze and he looks up at his Sire with a quirked brow.

His eyes widen at the look of naked lust, hunger, and love on Angelus' face, the sheer animalistic heat pouring off his body is calling up the same response from his own Demon.

"Do you remember this place Wil?" Angelus drags a fingertip slowly down the centre of Spike's face to trace his lips. "I remember it very well." Spike shivers as Angelus presses his mouth to his ear and his voice deepens into the familiar brogue that always heralded such wickedly memorable delights when whispered under his breath in just this way. "I saw you across the darkness, the room full of twisting bodies and we circled each other, staring at each other across the distance...do you remember my Precious Boy?"

The pickings were so damn easy in this town. A whole club full of eager, tender, young meat; people so desperate to hold back the lonely nights that they seek solace in any willing body. The century may be far removed from the grand spectacles of the Victorian England but the same passions and desires still rule the senses in any time. This is his hunting ground and here in this place he is unmatched in his abilities and he knows it. Not even Angelus could match his skills at seduction, the slow dance that coerces the will, steals the inhibitions, the driving need to abandon everything to him that overrules all common sense. They have never lived more than in those sweet moments in his arms, with their lifeblood and on fire and pumping through their bodies in a flood of passion. They abandon themselves even as his fangs sink into their succulent flesh. He is careful to draw the process out, celebrating the life flowing into him from their veins, even as it slowly ebbs their life from their flesh. As he lays their cold bodies down his own flushes with the warmth and vitality of their lives, absorbing their essence as the memories of life bring comfort to his own barren form. It is a kinder end than humanity has deemed appropriate for the animals that they kill to survive on. Life is death; he has always known that; life cannot exist without death in one form or another. Everything lives on the death of something else. Plants live and thrive in soil made fertile and rich by the death of their fellow plants and the animals that in turn eat them. People eat the animals eating the plants and in the end their own deaths return them to the states of life giving soil from which they arose.

He is merely a hunter, stalking what he needs to survive. A predator with a purpose and that purpose is absolute. He kills or he starves, he hunts and he survives. He is certainly kinder in his regard for the source of his un-life than the bleeding heart humans; that slaughter entire herds in blood soaked orgies of destruction. Entire species driven to extinction and beyond, yet his kind have existed for millennia uncountable and people thrive. He wonders then just who the monsters really are.

He feels a curious tug of his senses and his eyes flash over the room and lock into the fixed chocolate brown stare of a fellow hunter. He almost smiles knowing this particular Hunter will deny to his last unnecessary breath that a hunter is exactly what he is and will always be. Only his prey seems to have changed; prey that at this moment appears to be him and he feels a slow burn in his blood. He steps into the darkness and circles the room, hiding his delight as Angelus tracks him, falling into his old hunting patterns without a thought. He steps back into the shadows and quickly circles around behind his unwary stalker and slips silently up the staircase and watches from the second floor. He smiles as Angelus circles the floor slowly, scanning for him in the darkness. Angelus...no this is Angel he realises; his Grandsire's in his souled version. Crowds have always been his element but for Angel they are a multitude of little roadblocks as each scent conspires to hide his own. Chuckling quietly he steps back into the deepest shadows as Angel's head flies back to scan the upper level. He smiles again. It seems his Grandsire hasn't forgotten all of his skills at the hunt.

He leans back against the pillar and deliberately affects the bored air of a college student looking for anything to hold his attention for long. He almost grins as within moments and eager young co-ed is buzzing around him like a moth eager to breed before its short life is over. He's happy to oblige on at least one of those criteria and a whispered suggestion later they are out of the club and in an alley with his fangs sunk into her neck. He smiles against the cooling skin of his prize as the tingles of Angel's presence begin to dance over his nerve endings. He remembers the rush of the night air as he tossed his half dead meal at his would-be hunter; who had arrived just a few minutes too late; and ran into the gathering night.

His course was well charted in his memory, as the sound of soft footfalls behind him heralded his ponce of a Grandsire's pursuit. He turns the corner and runs to the end of the alley catching his hands in the chain link fence and slowly turning to face his pursuer. As he has every time before, Angel has slowed to a walk at the head of the alley and slowly closes the distance between them...

"I remember." Spike says softly, leaning forward to rub his cheek against Angelus' in a tender caress.

Angelus brings his hand up to caress his face as he returns the caress. "I want you to do something for me William." He breathes in a low purr.

"Anything for you." Spike replies simply, clinging to his Mate.

Angelus sucks in a deep breath, throwing his head back as shudders sting his body to life at the sincerity in Spike's voice. He knows that Spike meant it, anything he wants and Spike will get it for him. He knows in that moment, more clearly at any time in his long existence, that he is loved, totally and completely. "I want to relive that night William, as it should have been. I want to taste death on your lips; I want to swallow life as you writhe against me. I want to watch you William. At some point before we leave this fucking town I want you to show Buffy just how close death has been all along. I want you to stop hiding just what you're capable of. I want them all to see and I want to watch them realise the truth, that they live because you wished it. I want them to know William just what they're losing, what they've lost, before I take you from this place once and for all. Will you do these things for me William? Will you my Precious Boy?"

Spike leans back and runs his tongue in a slow caressing lick up the side of Angelus' face pushing off of his chest and stalking into the night. His duster flares out around him like black wings as he stalks to The Bronze and slips inside.

Angelus watches him go and a predatory smile breaks across his lips as he waits a few minutes and follows. He searches the darkness and finds not a sign of his quarry until there...a movement in the deepest dark. He moves slowly circling around to get a better view but the dark shrouded form moves with him in the easy movements of a long association. There! He watches as Spike steps boldly into the light licking his lips and sucking his cheeks into his trademark smirk as he runs his eyes appreciably over him slowly. Suddenly as he appeared, he is gone, vanished amidst the crowd and he chuckles and heads for the staircase to the second floor.

From the shadows behind a pillar, Spike watches his Mate with a grin; then slips into the crowd. He has prey to find. He scans the crowd, gliding through the shadows, silently assessing the crowd with all the focus of a Great White shark, swimming among fat unaware seals. It doesn't take him long to find just what he's looking for and lighting a cigarette he strolls over to a dark corner where a couple seem caught in a stolen moment. As he gets closer his eyes trace the forms caught in the illicit moment and he grins. Yes just what he was looking for indeed.

"You're not very smart are you, Pet? This is a Slayer town and you're not going to be long off the stake if you keep flaunting yourself like this." Spike says leaning against the wall. The startled Vampire spins around dropping her weakened prey in the process. Spike attunes his senses to the foolish man and determines he'll live; he returns his attention to the petite blonde Vampire glaring at him. She snarls and makes a move to seize her unconscious dinner, but Spike easily catches her arm and holds her still, stepping closer to her and subtly placing himself between her and the man. "Now Pet, there is no need to get upset. I'm just trying to help a fellow Vampire. You don't want to play with your food in here Kitten. The Slayer doesn't take kindly to it." He leans forward and presses a soft kiss to her nose and starts to move away. He hides his grin as she follows him to watch his arm. He stares down at her and raises his eyebrow, asking a silent question.

He knows that by now she'll have instinctively realised that he's a much older and far stronger Vampire and finally smiles as her hand drops and her eyes submissively. "Very good, Pet. You're not totally ignorant, that's a beginning." He moves slowly through the club, feeling the young Fledgling following but he never stops to look over his shoulder and check. He turns just as he reaches the rear exit and while he cannot see Angelus he knows that he's watching and chuckles softly as he pushes the door open and leaves.

He strolls casually, not needing to look to know that the petite blonde Vampire is following him doggedly. He turns down an alley and turns to face the eager young Fledgling.

"Why are you following me Cutie?" He asks in a soft purr, leaning against the wall smoking his cigarette. He doesn't react as the infant Vampire presses against his chest and runs her hands over him.

"I don't have a Sire, you are old and strong, I can feel it." She says in a pleading voice.

"You're looking for a master then Pet. You want to belong to me?" He leans forward and draws his tongue up the side of her neck, flicking over the artery and she makes a soft noise very like a kitten and presses her neck against his mouth.

Spike grins against her skin as the tingles wash over his nerve endings and he lifts his eyes to meet Angelus' intent gaze. He lifts his head and flashing his fangs, sinks then into the Fledge's throat and opens a bloody wound, before lifting his head and licking his lips. He slowly tilts his head the other way and sinks his fangs into the other side of her throat, feeding slowly.

Angelus stares panting, he can't believe how exciting it is to watch Spike draining the oblivious Vampire, stealing from her the very blood she has taken from others. His mouth waters at the sight of that petite blonde writhing against his Mate and he grins knowing why Spike chose this particular prey. He licks his lips, easily able to imagine it is Buffy he's draining; Buffy that's whimpering and writhing in the deadly embrace of his Mate.

Spike dips his fingertips cruelly into the wound he made on the other end of the Fledge's throat digging in until the blood drips from his fingers. He holds his hand out over her shoulder and stares at his Mate hungrily.

Angelus leaps forward plunging his mouth down on those bloody fingers and sucking them clean, moaning at the taste of living blood. There is nothing so intoxicating at blood still pulsing with the vitality of its stolen source, Vampire blood in particular is very powerful when drawn directly from a host.

Spike pulls his fingers free and cups the back of his Mate's head and pulls his mouth to the bleeding wound he made for him.

Angelus moans as the blood fills his mouth, he hasn't fed from a body in so long. He roars and his true face emerges as he rips into the juicy neck of the Fledge, feeding greedily.

Spike slows his feeding, letting his Mate take the bulk of their prize as he slowly caresses the rich dark hair under his hand. Suddenly he is swept into powerful arms as the Fledge collapses into dust between them and his Mate sweeps him up, pressing him into the wall with painful pleasure. His mouth is sized by his hungry Mate and his eyes widen in delight; as the last mouthful of the Fledge's blood passes between their mouths in a passionately bloody kiss.

Angelus moans brokenly as he tries to sink into William, pressing him tighter to the brick wall behind him until he must surely be crushing him. He groans at the taste of death on his lover's lips, writhes as the lifeblood of the Fledge passes between their mouths like wine. He loses his balance as Spike shoves him violently back and leaps into a graceful summersault over his head, landing cat like, he runs into the night with a wicked laugh.

Angelus stares unbelieving for a second then roaring a hunting cry; he speeds off in pursuit of his fleeing Mate. He growls as Spike eludes him at every turn, being more agile and graceful with greater speed at his command; catching him when he has room to manoeuvre is almost impossible. He grins as he watches Spike sprints down THEIR alley and he slows marginally until he's almost walking. He watches as Spike hits the chain link fence and slowly turns to face him.

Spike sinks his fingers through the chain links and holds on tightly, his body bowed like some pagan sacrifice as Angelus stalks slowly towards him, a predatory smile on his face. He slips his duster off one shoulder at a time, tossing it aside onto one of the wooden crates lining the alley. He runs the flat of his hand slowly over his flat abdomen, his nimble fingers easily opening the catches of his vest. Soon that is landing feather soft atop his duster. He slowly pulls his T-shirt out of his pants and starts to pull it off, shuddering as cool hands cover his own and help him.

Angelus pulls the shirt off and presses it to his face, inhaling deeply and rubbing it against his face, revelling in the scent of his Mate. He tosses is aside, noting absent-mindedly that it lands neatly on top of the vest and duster. He slips his own duster and sweater off and sends that sailing over to join the discarded clothing. He runs his hands slowly up Spike's sides, smiling devilishly as he twists under his hands at the gentle tickling. He leans forward, sweeping his hands inward and over the rippled muscles of his abdomen and over the perfectly sculpted planes of his chest. He curves his hands inward; dragging his razor sharp nails lightly over the sensitive nipples. He smiles as small trails of crimson leak slowly from the loving abuse. He leans forward catching the trails of sweetly spicy ambrosia against his tongue as his hands slide up Spike's arms to cover his hands with his own, pressing them to the chain links. His tongue snakes out to sweep off the small streams of blood that have leaked from the slight wounds and he suckles gently at the wounds until they close. Throughout, Spike's wiggles and moans have punctuated each lick and suckle as silent testimony for how good it feels.

"Where is your knife?" He purrs quietly, smiling as Spike whimpers. He knows his Precious Boy better than anyone and there isn't a doubt in his mind that he's armed.

"Left boot." He moans softly, rubbing against his chest eagerly.

Sinking to his knees his hand finds the knife and pulls it free as his tongue slips into the tempting treat of Spike's navel. He smiles as Spike groans and moves against his mouth in silent demand and he gives in. He thrusts his tongue into his navel sucking gently between licks as Spike becomes more frantic, until finally he lets his fangs drop and he sinks them deep into the hard muscles of his belly. He moans at the lingering warmth stolen from their Vampire prey. It is a little known fact that Vampires feed on more than just blood when they drain their victims dry.

Spike moans, moving against his Sire's mouth with a soft purr of encouragement and Angelus smiles and pulls his fangs free, licking the small wounds until they heal. He places the flat of the blade against Spike's skin and grins as he flinches from the cold blade only to arch into it a second later. He stands slowly pulling the blade over Spike's flawless alabaster skin, caressing it almost lovingly with the razor sharp blade. He turns the blade slightly and a smallest, thinnest line of crimson is his reward as his tongue chases the blade, with a healing sweep.

"You always did take excellent care of your weapons William. I'm pleased to see that you still do." Angelus purrs laying the edge of the blade feather soft against his skin opening another hair thin line in his perfect flesh.

Spike hisses in pained pleasure as he feels his skin give ever so slightly under the light pressure of the blade and the cooling swipe of his Sire's tongue that heals the scratch and chases the pain away. He looks down at that cold, merciless blade tracing light patterns against the shivering muscles of his stomach and he sighs. He looks up and meets the loving warmth of his Mate's eyes and he shivers at the look of utter possession shining from their darkness.

"I want to claim you as my true Mate, Wil. Bonded for all time and sanctified in blood according to the old traditions." Angelus says softly.

"You are the Master of the Aurelius Order, Angelus. I will have to pass the Trial to prove my worthiness to have you as a Mate. No Vampire has taken a Mate by the old traditions in over three thousand years. Are you sure this is what you want? I know it is all I have ever wanted." Spike replies just as softly. "I have always been yours from the moment you took me from Dru and reared me yourself. All I have ever wanted is to be yours in every way there is to be had."

Angelus leans forward and presses his lips over the claim mark he made when re-sired Spike. "All I have ever wanted is to claim you in every way there is have you."

"Then make the mark Angelus. I will pass the trial by combat easily, with a place at your side for eternity as the reward." He stares into the dark eyes of his Sire for a long moment; before closing his eyes, letting his head fall back against the chain links as he symbolically bares his throat.

Angelus takes a deep breath and steels himself for what he must do. He presses the tip of the blade into the flawless flesh of his Childe's perfect chest and begins to cut an ancient glyph in bloody relief marring that perfection willingly. "William out of Angelus, Master of Aurelius you do hereby sanctify that you will face the Trial Of The Mate. Proclaim your intent Childe of the Blood."

"I, William, out of Angelus do hereby sanctify my flesh, my blood, and my will to the Trial for the right to stand as True Mate to the Master of Aurelius." Spike hisses as the blade cuts deeply and his blood begins to flow. He locks his fingers into the fence and tries not to flinch as the knife cuts deeply.

"I, Angelus, Master of Aurelius do proclaim William as my champion in the Trial. I accept his betrothal to the Trial and will stand as true Mate." Angelus completes the final slice of the glyph and pulls the knife free and licks the blade clean as he takes a step back. He lays the flat of the blade against his palm and slashes it viciously and drags it over the cuts on Spike's chest, rubbing his blood into the wounds.

Spike's chest is clothed in a shroud of crimson that all but obscures the symbol. Angelus makes a soft keening sound and leans forward carefully licking off the blood. He carefully sinks the tip of his tongue into the incisions and traces the design and within moments they begin to heal leaving a faint tracing of white scars. Angelus looks up and sucks in an unnecessary breath as he realises that Spike passed out at some point of the process and only his death grip on the fence is keeping him upright. He pries his hands loose and catches the unconscious blond and wrapping him in his arms, he sinks to his knees. He knows there is more at work here then the pain of the marking; Spike's tolerance for pain is almost legendary; so it must be the ritual itself. He folds his Childe into his arms and rocks gently, waiting patiently for him to awaken.

The wait isn't very long before Spike awakens quietly, turning to face his Sire and pressing his lips gently against the skin over his heart.

"I can feel you inside me like a living thing, curling around my nerves." Spike breathes sounding almost enraptured. Spike lifts his arm and presses his nose to his wrist and inhales deeply. "I swear I can smell you." His tongue flashes out licking delicately at the pulse point. "I taste you." He says with all the wonder of a little boy as Angelus smiles and pulls him closer.

"We're going to need to ask Giles for some help with the spell to open the portal for the Trial and for the bonding." Angelus says cupping his Precious Boy's cheeks and nuzzling their foreheads together.

"Terrific, so which of him gets to tell him he has to be there the first time we mate?"

Angelus laughs at Spike's devilish expression and leans forward kissing his imprudent Childe tenderly. "He is the eldest of our adopted "family" of sorts, so he must stand as witness. I think he'll do it when he realises what an honour it is to be asked to officiate at our mating ceremony."

"Great, than you can tell him." Spike chuckles as Angelus groans.

"Are you alright?" Angelus traces the raised scarring with gentle fingertips.

"It felt...incredible. Hurt like Hell but it's almost like you were slipping into me with every cut and then you were. I can still feel it, like part of you is curled up here." Spike covers his hand and slowly slides it down his down his chest pressing it to the hard muscles below his belly button.

"It...it is WARM!" Angelus' eyes fly open in wonder and he presses his hand more tightly against the alabaster skin. "Wow that feels...it doesn't hurt you does it?"

"It feels strange, it doesn't hurt at all but I feel different. But then I am different aren't I?" Spike says looking up with uncharacteristic shyness.

"Yes you are my Mate initiate and soon to be my Mate in truth. We will both be changed by it, bound forever in ways no one else will ever understand." Angelus cups the beautiful cheek and pulls forward until their foreheads touch and they both sigh. With their blood ties so strong and only strengthened by the initiate ritual, they are flooded with what each other is feeling and they're lost in each other's thoughts for several minutes.

Almost in unison, they lean back and almost identical grins bloom on their faces as they lean forward for a silent kiss, lifting their hands to entwine their fingers. "Wow." They breathe, again in unison. "We should go see Giles now." They share a quiet glance then laugh quietly as Angelus stands carrying his Precious Boy with him easily.

Spike dresses and takes the hand Angelus is holding out and lets himself be pulled to his side as he throws an arm across his shoulders. He snuggles happily, tossing an arm around his waist and they stroll from the alley.

The fates are kind and the walk to Giles' apartment is a quiet one and Giles doesn't seem overly concerned to see them, inviting them right in.

"I must say I'm surprised Giles. I would have thought Buffy would have run straight here with her 'He's going to kill us all Giles!' rhetoric." Angelus says quietly.

"Indeed she did Angelus. However as I see it, you've been in Sunnydale for over a week and you haven't done anything but look after Spike. Xander and Andrew aren't only healthy and thriving up at the mansion, they're the happiest I think I've ever seen them. Lastly, I trust Spike and he trusts you or he wouldn't let you near Andrew. I figure Buffy is just off on one of her infamous hormonal tirades." Giles says frankly.

Spike is naturally the first to start laughing, but he's soon joined by his companions. Angelus hops up onto one of the bar stools at the breakfast bar and opens his arms. He smiles as Spike turns his back and scoots backwards into his embrace without hesitation.

Giles pulls his glasses off and cleans them before slipping them back on and quietly observing the pair as he slips by them into the kitchen. Angelus has slipped one arm across Spike's collarbone to cup the opposite shoulder and his free hand is resting lightly on the smaller Vampire's stomach. The embrace is clearly possessive, but it's obvious from the soft smiles both men are sporting that neither have a problem with that aspect of their relationship.

Giles pulls out a couple of mugs and pours in some blood and pops them into the microwave and sets the timer and goes back to his quiet observations. Angelus is talking quietly, his lips pressed to Spike's ears in a tone so low; that even though he's less than two feet away, he can't make out anything more than meaningless sounds. While the Watchers Council has learned many things about Vampires there is still much that they do not know about their private interactions. Why that should be is simple enough, no one that has ever seen such interaction has lived to tell what they know. The tinny ding of the microwave pulls him from his reverie and pulls the heated mugs of blood out of the microwave, absent-mindedly opening the cupboard he grabs a small bag. He tosses in a handful of mini marshmallows into one of the mugs and replaces the bag in the cupboard. He pours himself more coffee then picking up all three mugs returns to the living room to hand out the mugs.

"Oi, marshmallows, ta Rupert." Spike says with a genuine smile as he takes a sip and tries to spear a marshmallow with a fang while Angelus just grins. Giles takes a sip of his coffee not wanting to make light of one of the younger Vampire's more endearing qualities.

Angelus tears his gaze away from his playful Childe with some difficulty to see that Giles is doing his best to avoid grinning at the scene himself. "We have a favour to ask you Giles."

"Well indeed if there is something I can help with..." Giles is clearly surprised.

"William and I wish to be Mated in the Vampire tradition, married if you will."

"Oh...oh my. I wasn't aware that Vampires actually did that..." Giles says shocked but secretly excited as this is one aspect of Vampire interaction of which very little is known. While it's not unusual for Vampires to occasionally spend centuries together, it is often simply a matter of staying together. Though there has long been a rumour of a more formal ceremony, which is all that they were rumours, with no facts ever being uncovered.

"It's a rite not often undertaken in this day and age...and there is some risk involved." Angelus says honestly.

"Risk, what kind of risk is involved?" Giles asks.

"If Peaches wasn't the Master of Aurelius things would be...simpler. However as The Master is dust, the chair of Aurelius passes to his successor." Spike looks over his shoulder and kisses his Sire softly. "A Master of an order cannot take a Mate and have it be sanctified without certain ceremonies. I have to prove my strength, my worthiness to stand as the Mate of the Master of Aurelius. Trial by combat against Inmarian Demons is the method set down by the traditions."

"You have to fight an Inmarian?!" Giles pales at the thought of the grotesque looking Demon that resembles little more than a giant black widow spider crossed with a great white shark.

"Three actually, but I am allowed a weapon." Spike says matter-of-factly.

"Three...how many Vampire have survived the Trial exactly?" Giles asks sitting down heavily.

"To my knowledge, a Master of an order has never taken a True Mate." Angelus reveals.

"Haven't taken one or their partners didn't survive the Trial?" Giles asks shakily.

Angelus lets his silence speak for him and Giles pulls his glasses off and cleans them nervously.

"It's important enough to risk losing Spike over?"

"Spike will win Giles. I have no doubt of that I assure you. For reasons of his own he has restrained himself. He will win." Angelus says proudly, tightening his arms possessively as Giles' eyes lingers on Spike a moment too long.

"What do you need my help with?" Giles says finally.

Angelus sets his mug down and takes Spike's as well setting it beside his own and slides his hands up Spike's chest sliding his duster off. He sets that carefully aside and almost laughs out loud as Giles is staring as he gets his first real look at Spike's new slaying gear. Angelus slips his hands down Spike's chest slowly once more and slowly opens the catches holding his vest closed and peels that off as well. Spike obligingly holds up his arms as he hooks his T-shirt and pulls that off as well.

Giles stares as Angelus trails his fingertips up from Spike's navel to trace the thin tracings of scar tissue that decorate his once flawless chest. He's always secretly realised just how very well made Spike is but to see him display so wantonly and pressed tightly against a powerful male is...orgasmic.

"Beautiful isn't he?" Angelus purrs proudly. "It's one of the reasons I took him from Drusilla you know. I couldn't let her break him as she'd broken every other Childe she'd sired."

Angelus trails his hand slowly up to glide his thumb over Spike's plump lower lip. Spike's tongue sweeps out to curl around that caressing digit with a soft flick. Giles is left with little wonder as to what another of Spike's talents is. Angelus nuzzles his cheek against Spike's forehead sweeping his hand back down to trace the glyph etched into his chest.

"This is the first step of the ritual. This marks him as an initiate and it creates a slight empathic tie between us. As Spike goes through the Trial, I will hear and know all that is in him to know. As his flesh proves its worthiness, so his mind surrenders itself to me. A True Mate is the closest tie of blood Vampires have, absolute trust must be assured as there will be no secrets between us. For the Trial by combat, we're going to need your help. We need somewhere to have it that we stand a chance of keeping the Inmarians contained long enough for Spike to kill them. Secondly, it is customary that the Trial be witnessed by the members of the direct Bloodline of the Master of the order. Spike is the last of my direct descendants but we both share some regard for our adopted family. We'd like you all to stand up with us at the Trial. We're also going to need an impartial Demon observer."

"Well I believe I have an idea of the where. There's an old Gold's Gym on the other side of town that's slated to be demolished...would that do?" Angelus thinks for a moment then nods. "Anya has accepted her powers back and she's once more a Vengeance Demon so she'll probably be glad to be the witness. Lastly, let me say I'm sure all of...most of your friends will be delighted to attend and stand in the place of family. Even Buffy; if I have to hogtie and gag her myself." Giles states; polishing his glasses again before replacing them.

"There's a bit more." Angelus feels Spike chuckle silently. "As the oldest of the family...Spike and myself aside of course, there is a special role that you play in our bonding ceremony."

"Oh my well I'd be honoured to help in any way that I can."

"Well you'd have to stand in the place of the Elder of the Bloodline and signify that the mating has taken place and that we are bound. There is a small incantation and ceremony before we sanctify the bond. As Elder you will oversee the recitation of the incantation and the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony you...well you announce officially to the bloodline that the bonding has been sanctified."

"Oh I say that sounds like an important role are you sure you want to leave it to me?" Giles says surprised.

"It is your rightful place as Elder, Giles. You and the witness must both declare the ceremony was properly...witnessed and that we have mated."

"So I'd be sort of a priest?"

"Sure Mate, if a priest attended the wedding night festivities." Spike says with a wicked grin.

"Pardon me?" Giles says with a stutter.

"You and a witness of your choosing must attest that we have fulfilled the ceremony and MATED, Giles." Angelus says speaking slowly, trying not to laugh at the panicked look in the Watcher's eyes.

"'E means that you and another person 'ave to watch us shag, Pet. Then you have to go announce that the ceremony has been fulfilled and the bonding sanctified." Spike says plainly.

Giles just sits there blinking owlishly for several moments. Angelus and Spike finally give in and laugh at the blush starting to spread over Giles' face and neck. "Oh I say. Well...oh I say..."

Spike turns in Angelus' arms and presses a soft kiss there before stepping out of his arms and squatting in front of Giles' chair. He gently places a fingertip across his lips to stop his stuttering and locks his eyes into Giles and smiles slowly.

Angelus almost snickers as Giles almost instantly calms down and mirrors Spike's smile unconsciously reacting to the Vampire's rather unique abilities. "I've kept touch with someone that could help you make this decision Rupert. Shall I call him?" Spike asks softly.

"Who is it?" Giles asks in a half dreamy voice, caught in the depth of the fathomless blue eyes.

"He's an old friend of yours that wanted to be sure that you were being looked after properly. We met back in my "chip" days. Asked me to look after you and keep you safe and I said that I would. He calls me a couple times a month to see how you're doing." Spike replies quietly but Giles doesn't really appear to be paying attention.

"You've zoned him out!" Angelus says chuckling. "He may not even remember his name right now. You should be labelled as a lethal weapon Little One."

Spike chuckles and looks anything but innocent as he picks up the phone and dials a number from memory; while Angelus observes curiously.

"Hey Mate, it's me." Spike says with surprising warmth. "I think now's the time, Pet. I think he's ready to see you now. Half an hour, great we're at his place. See ya then." Spike hangs up the phone and returns to his lover's welcoming arms.

Spike and Angelus snicker as Giles suddenly speaks up after about fifteen minutes. "Aren't you going to call your friend, Spike?"

"I told you, lethal weapon." Angelus says teasingly. Spike playfully socks him in the shoulder and tossing out Giles' cold coffee pours him a fresh cup and presses it into his hands.

A little over twenty minutes later someone knocks on the door and Spike waves for Giles to stay in his chair and goes to open the door himself. "Hey Mate, come in." Due to the angle of where he's sitting and the open door blocking his view, Giles can't see who's arrived.

Angelus takes a few steps forward and peeks over Spike's shoulder and stares for a moment before he returns to his bar stool and starts to grin. This should be an interesting reunion he thinks.

Spike ushers in a dark haired man and closes the door before returning to his lover's embrace.

"Hello Rupert." The man is classical handsome but manages to look vaguely sinister at the same time.

Giles lurches to his feet, his eyes locked on the new arrival. "Ethan."

TBC

**Special thanks to GF my most excellent Beta/Editor for getting this chapter back so fast! He's the best really!**