TITLE: Body and Soul Trilogy - Reborn - Chapter 2
AUTHOR: Lysia
EMAIL: cricket818uk@wadnitt.fsnet.co.uk
FEEDBACK: Is essential. I can't write without knowing I'm getting it
right and constructive criticism is noted and used.
RATING: 12, for violence.
WARNING: Angst, violence. Light S/A comfort-type romance.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of them, but I'll give them back to Joss
when I've finished with them.
SPOILERS: Set sometime after 'Forever'.
ARCHIVING: Here. Anywhere else, just ask.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Final part in the trilogy. Spike, now called Will by
Angel, has recovered from the restoration of his soul and prepares
for a second attack on the vampires who cursed him.

Chapter 2

"Tomorrow."

Will sat with his head in his hands, staring at the floor. He
couldn't believe this rotten luck. He had to fight his new arch-enemy
tomorrow evening. Why did fate have it in for him?"

"I-I can't do it, Angel," he confessed, shaking his head mournfully
and hoping his Sire wouldn't be too disappointed in him for showing
such cowardice. "I'm sorry, I just can't."

Angel pulled Will against him, holding him tenderly and running his
fingers through the newly-dyed dark-blonde hair. Then he gently
massaged Will's tense shoulders. It seemed so strange that this
conversation could be so reminiscent of the one he had with Will
before the initial attack, a little over a week ago. It seemed such 
a long time ago, so much had happened since.

"You'll be fine," he replied, his voice a monotone to hide the fear
he felt for Will's wellbeing. "You're progressed really well and... and
I know this isn't what you want to hear, but we'll need your help."

"Yeah, right," Will scoffed. "'Cos I was so vital to the team last
time." He searched his pockets for his packet of fags and lit up with
shaking hands. Smoking was one of the few habits he had continued
after receiving his soul. He found it calming now, whereas before it
was more to make him look tough.

"Will," Angel warned him. "What did I tell you about that?"

Will rolled his eyes. "Stop blaming myself and think positive," he
sighed, mimicking Angel's voice, earning himself a light smack across
the head from the aforementioned vampire.

"Don't mock your Sire," Angel instructed him in the best scary voice
he could use when talking to the adorable blond who was currently
pouting at him. "Now come on. Put that cigarette out. I'm going to
feed you and then you can beat me up some more. Won't that be fun?"

"Hang on mate, I've only just started me ciggy," Will sulked, taking
another deep drag from his cigarette and breathing out two plumes of
smoke from his nose. "My nerves are shot. I need this."

Angel watched Will exhale another lungful of smoke, his eyes closing
as he expelled all the tension along with the smoke. The tip of his
soft pink tongue darted out to moisten his lips, and Angel was
transfixed.

His beautiful Childe was irresistible.

Barely thinking about what he was doing, Angel kissed Will for what
must have been the hundredth time that day. He just couldn't get
enough of this souled demon the unruly Spike had become.

Will relaxed in Angel's embrace, his craving for nicotine completely
forgotten as he leaned closer, relishing the divine sensation of
Angel's lips on his - Angel's tongue gently sweeping into his mouth.

Angel pulled away, watching with an uncontrollable smile as Will's
eyes fluttered open and gazed up at him. "Calmer now?" Angel asked
him, resting a hand on Will's cheek.

"A bit," Will murmured, a small smirk playing around the corners of
his mouth as he tried to take a nonchalant drag from his cigarette
and stub it out in the ashtray on the table next to him. He licked
his lips and glanced upwards thoughtfully as if tasting a fine
wine. "Might need another go."

Angel knew exactly what Will was suggesting, so he captured the smirk
in another kiss, cupping Will's face and pulling him a little closer.

"Think you're calm enough for a bit of training now?" Angel asked
when Will was practically melting in his arms, grinning madly and
even managing to blush - quite an achievement for a vampire.

"Nah - wanna stay here," Will grumbled, trying to drag Angel down for
another kiss.

Angel chuckled at his Childe's behaviour and stood up. "Later Will, I
promise. We have to get you back to full strength. I don't want you
to get hurt in this battle, so you need to work out. If you don't
I'll carry you up there myself."

Will blushed even more, the redness of his face practically glowing
in contrast to the rest of his pale skin. "I like it when you carry
me," he muttered.

Will's embarrassment only made him more adorable. Angel swooped down
and wrapped one arm around Will's knees and another around his waist.
He was about to haul him into a fireman's lift, but instead it felt
more appropriate to kiss him gently and scoop him into his arms,
letting Will wrap his arms around his neck and cling to him as he
picked him up and carried him upstairs to the makeshift training
room, nearly losing his footing when Will began nibbling his ear.

~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy returned to the Magic Box a little dazed from what had
happened. Angel... and Spike. It just seemed too bizarre! Angel was her
ex!

"Ah, hello Buffy!"

Buffy looked up to see Giles standing behind the counter in the empty
shop, holding a book. Oh what a surprise that was.

"Where is everyone?" Buffy asked, her request coming out quiet and
distant.

"Oh, Anya has gone to look for information from demons, Willow and
Tara are researching particularly famous battles with large vampire
groups, as am I, and I believe Charles has gone to contact some
weapons dealer who specialises in fighting the undead and other
demons."

Giles's reply was long and complex, and Buffy barely registered any
of it. She merely nodded and mumbled some reply before wandering over
to the back of the shop, informing Giles that she was going to
prepare for the upcoming battle.

Once in the safety and isolation of the back room, she dumped her
jacket on a chair and wiped her eyes to rid them of the unpleasant
stinging sensation. Then she proceeded to pummel the punching back
until her arms ached and her knuckled were bruised.

She felt moisture on her face and reached up to wipe a few beads of
water from her cheek. She must have worked up a sweat.

~~~~~~~~~~

Angel watched the television with mild interest while brushing his
fingers through Will's hair as his Childe lay beside him on the sofa,
his head on Angel's knee. Both were exhausted from training but too
wound up to sleep, even though it was almost noon and very late for
them.

"I'm doing really well, aren't I?" Will asked, still glowing with
pride over his victory in their last sparring match of the day.

Angel shrugged, still pretending to watch the boring documentary of
French architecture. "You're okay."

Will turned over and glared up at Angel. "Okay?" he repeated
indignantly. "I kicked your arse, mate."

Another shrug from Angel as he took a sip of blood from the cup he
was holding. "I let you."

Will sniffed disdainfully. "Let me," he muttered. "Bollocks you did.
I beat you."

Angel grinned. There were times when Will was so like Spike it was
astounding. It was as if there was no change at all, apart from the
fact that Spike would never lie with his head in Angel's lap. "Don't
swear at your Sire, my boy," he told Will firmly in his best Angelus
voice.

Will, as usual, just sniggered at Angel's playful scolding and turned
away.

Silence followed for a moment, then Will turned back to face Angel
again.

"Angel?" he asked softly. "What are we?"

Angel looked at him blankly and replied without need for
thought. "Vampires. We have human souls but we're still vampires. The
demon is just controlled so..."

"No." Will shook his head and looked away from Angel, focussing
instead on a bit of nail polish he was trying to scratch off. "I
mean... I mean our relationship."

Angel closed his eyes and tilted his head back. "Oh God, Will I was
hoping you weren't going to ask that question."

Will sat up, resting his elbow on the back of the sofa and leaning on
his hand as he stared at Angel. "Please," he asked, treating Angel to
his most appealing look - the look that Angel had said could make the
coldest heart melt. "I want to know. What's going on here?"

Angel sighed and rested his head in his hands. He knew he had to
discuss what was happening sooner or later, and it scared him. It
would mean admitting that he was starting the type of relationship he
should be avoiding, and once he'd done that he would have to stop.

Will pressed on, wrapping a hand around Angel's arm and moving a
little closer. "I mean, I thought it was just because you're my Sire.
It was the first time we'd really been friends and I thought that...
all this was part of the package. You know, blood-bond and all that.
But... there's something else isn't there?"

Will's question was answered with a slight nod. Angel couldn't manage
any words. He just looked plaintively at his Chide. Will was so
adorable sometimes, so different from Spike.

"W-what?" Will stuttered, feeling suddenly awkward under Angel's gaze
and concerned by the look of despair on his Sire's face. "What, are
you embarrassed? Don't be, please. I know... I know I'm not your usual
type." He grinned and was relieved when Angel grinned back too.

"It's not that," Angel replied, turning so he could face Will more
directly. "I never even thought about that. The way... things are
between us - it just seems so..."

"Natural," Will interrupted. "See - we're just made for each other."

At Angel's amused look Will blushed and dropped his head, inspecting
his nails again. "Sorry. That was William talking. Bit of a hopeless
romantic, that bloke."

Angel reached out and cupped Will's cheek, moving their faces closer
together. "Yeah, but he can be so sweet sometimes." He kissed Will on
the forehead, sighing wistfully as he gazed at the younger vampire,
so boyish and shy at some times and so confident and witty at
others. "I can't help how I feel about you, Will," he announced
softly. "You're so attractive, and so amazing. And you're mine."

Will looked up and grinned. "Now who's the hopeless romantic?"

Angel laughed at his own words. "I know," he sighed. "That's just how
you make me feel - and I promise it is more than just the blood-bond.
I was like this with Darla and Dru, but I had other Childer and never
felt this way about them. They were all just friends and they left
after a few years. I guess you're just... special."

The smile those words caused lit up Will's face. His eyes sparkled
with joy and for a moment Angel wondered if Will's soul was endanger
and he was about to have a very evil and a very annoyed Spike
returning to the world.

That thought reminded Angel once more of how dangerous this situation
was, and he quickly moved away from Will and stood up, determined to
be strong.

"I'm going to get some sleep. You should too if you're joining us
tomorrow."

With that, Angel gave Will a pat on the shoulder and a brief chaste
kiss on the cheek and headed for his room. Will's voice stopped him,
and his words chilled him.

"Can I sleep in your room?"

Angel turned, finding himself faced with Will sitting on the sofa,
huddled over with his arms wrapped around his shoulders, as if he was
cold when not in Angel's embrace. Cold and lonely.

Angel felt so sorry for the tiny figure sitting in front of him. He
wanted nothing but to hold Will in his arms forever and never let him
go - never let evil things like demons or Skull's vampire gang ever
get near his sweet boy to hurt him or upset him. He wanted to protect
him. He wanted to care for him. He wanted to hold him and kiss him
and he just... wanted him.

It would appear that Angel was going to have to address his worries a
lot sooner than he had hoped.

"I don't think that would be such a good idea," he replied as calmly
as he could manage, hoping he wasn't about to break Will's heart.

Will's face fell and he felt numb, as if he was detached from his
body and floating somewhere. His Sire wasn't letting him share his
room? "What? Why?"

Angel sighed, hating seeing Will so hurt. He walked up to his Childe
and leaned down, tilting Will's face up to look at him. "This is
why," he explained, and pressed his lips to Will's in a fierce and
passionate kiss. On instinct, Will wrapped his arms around him to
drag him closer, his fingers tangling in his Sire's hair and one hand
resting against his chest, finding tensed muscles beneath the silk
fabric of his shirt.

Slowly, Angel moved over and rested his head on Will's shoulder,
prompting the younger vampire into a hug. Will complied and they sat
holding each other for a moment as Angel tried to work out how to put
his fears into words.

"It's too risky, Will," he murmured, trying to sooth his Childe at
the same time. "We're too close and we both know the dangers. I don't
think you want Angelus back any more than I do, and Spike might not
be too much fun either after all this. We have to be strong. I'm
sorry."

They drew apart and Will met Angel's gaze, his face blank, as if he
was too dazed and hurt to handle emotion. Angel wondered just how
hurt his Childe was. Had his warning been taken as a rejection?

Then Will laughed. Whether it was hysteria or just amusement Angel
wasn't sure. He watched Will curiously and with more than a little
concern until his Childe fell silent and just grinned up at him.

"I'm not asking to share your bed because I want a shag, Angel," Will
informed Angel as he tried to control his laughter. "I'm asking
because I'm scared about tomorrow."

Angel nodded. He felt a little embarrassed, but also a little
reassured. Will was clearly aware of the risks they were taking by
allowing themselves this relationship.

Will stood up beside Angel and they eyed each other in silence. What
needed saying had been said and, although it had been awkward, Angel
felt a little better.

"I bear in mind what you said," Will informed Angel, serious now. "I
know about the happiness clause and all that, but I trust you, and I
trust myself. I think we've got a hell of a lot more self control
than you give us credit for."

As if to prove his words, Will planted a small and chaste kiss on
Angel's lips before making his way over to the bedroom to find his
pyjamas.

"Bathroom's mine, by the way!" he called over his shoulder, grinning
smugly.

Angel shook his head, finding himself watching every movement of
Will's lean body as he walked away. Self control? That remained to be
seen.

~TBC~