Thanks: A big smooch goes out to falcons319 for giving me the name to the story!

Italics & *& capitals = emphasize

~ = thoughts


*~*~*

"Damn, Blondie. That's some shit load of stakes falling on ya," Faith exclaimed when Spike was done.

No one knew how much time had passed since Spike had started talking. The vampire hadn't been interrupted not once during his tirade, not even if it somewhat appeared like he was skillfully hiding something. The lack of interruption wasn't due to lack of questions but because the three young people were too perplexed to do anything other than gape.

Spike started to tap his fingers on his knee while his eyes moved from one face to another.

Finally, one of them spoke.

"Does this mean you'll be coming with us?" Willow couldn't hide her excitement.

Spike smiled sadly. "Sorry, pet. There's no point in me leaving Hrafen's protection 'less I have a death wish."

Willow pouted. "But... if this Treaty thing is going to pass –which is amazing and will save so many lives- someone's gotta present the proposal to the Watchers Council."

Spike eyed her meaningfully.

"Me?!" Willow stammered.

Spike nodded. "You're the best person for the job."

"But, but, even if Giles is the headman now and all..." Willow continued ignoring Spike and Xander's low chortles, "There's all these old stuffy men, who are always frowning on me, waiting for me to blow up the world or something!"

Faith chuckled and gave her a mock punch. "Well, that'd show them you really turned a new leaf, Will, won't it? Or that you're collaborating with the enemy."

Willow frowned, not liking the new thought.

"Will she be sleeping with the enemy, Billy?" Faith was in slayer mode as she stared hard at Spike.

"Someone else might be," Spike mumbled under his breath before he said loudly, "I won't ask you three to do this blindly. Wesley has all the information, 'm betting he's already written a full report on the matter and his opinions regarding. And if not," Spike snorted doubtfully, "You can easily get him to that."

Willow nodded lost in thought before shaking her head. "I'll have to see what Wes has to say first." She looked at Faith who crossed her arms in reluctant approval.

"Why?"

All eyes turned to Xander. The young man looked at the blackened television as if it would give him the answers.

Willow, assuming that the question was for her, replied, "Xan, if an old Line like this agreed to make peace with the Watchers Council and the Slayers, then more vampires might follow, and less innocents will die."

Xander broke his concentration on the TV, and turned his eye to his childhood friend.

"I know that, Wills. I meant WHY would their leader offer something like that?" His eye now bore into Spike.

Faith leaned forward on her knees. "Xander places an interesting point onto the square table. And that brings us back to sleeping with the enemy. You didn't boff some poor gal and lose your soul, Willy?"

"It's William, but Spike to you, pet." He seemed a little too calm. "And Ray--- Hrafen is a vamp that runs with the times. Mate knows his talkies. And knows what needs to be done in order to survive. In a matter of a few years, the new slayers would wipe out the vampires and demons and run them into hiding, and he knows that. Seems that he'll be willing to do what it takes to..."

"Keep from being tucked into a Dust Buster," Faith finished with a grin.

Spike shrugged as if it was an everyday matter. "And if I have to agree to join another Line to show my trust thus saving lives, then it's a sacrifice I have to do. Especially, since I'm lacking protection from my own."

"This really sounds great, Spike. It's just..." Willow was looking for the right word.

"Seems like it's too good to be true," Xander finished.

Willow pursed her lips agreeing. "I need to talk to Wes... make sure that it's not a way for these vampires to trap you in some way... and maybe then when we leave Giles can..."

"I'm staying," was stated firmly. Again, astonished eyes turned towards Xander who was evenly waiting for their reactions.

"What do you mean you're staying?" Willow demanded.

"You and C seemed way friendly..." Faith's words made Willow's eyes bug out in what that might mean. She opened her mouth to add her protest but Spike beat her to it.

"Bloody Hell, you are!"

"Listen, guys." Xander held up his hand to calm them. "The only way Giles is gonna buy this is if we give him some valid proof. And the fact that he, Spike and Wes come from the same green lands adds up to zilch. Giles would need a report from someone he trusts."

Spike raised an eyebrow. "And that'd be you, mate?"

Xander shrugged. "Hey, I'm your best shot for this to work."

Spike pressed his lips tightly together, not liking where this was going.

"And the night out on the town with our very own Holly-star, who also happens to be your first ex, has nothing to do with it?"

Xander had the dignity to lower his face and scratch the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"Dang, Xan man and Queen C are gonna give it another go?" Faith shook her head.

Willow seemed like she was going to be sick. Xander noticed and held her hand.

"This is very important, Will. I need to do this. As for Cordy, I'm really shooting blind here. Guess it's this... sometimes you find yourself with the first person who made you really feel and it's like you need to see if you can have that again. Sometimes it'd work..."

Spike murmured, "And sometimes not." He clapped on his hands on thighs and stood up. "Then it's settled. Willow would swap ideas with the resident watcher, clear out all the details of the Treaty and when you're set to leave back to the Old Land you take a report with you and soften ol' Ripper up." Willow nodded. He turned to Xander. "As for you, mate. Tomorrow there's this big bash that Raven is hosting for all manner of influential supernatural creatures."

He pointed to Xander. "And you're coming."

Xander spluttered. He stood up and faced him. "Who- what? Do you need a human sacrifice... coz I don't think you got the memo – seeing everyone thought you to be part of Sunnydale's landscape – but after getting sent to Africa to recruit a new slayerette and gotten strapped down by cannibals, I presented my human sacrifice resignation!" he said exasperatedly. His finger stressed each accentuated point.

Spike scowled and looked at the girls. "Do I want to know?"

Faith shook her head.

"No—but the brew did taste a little off."

Willow nodded. "It needed some salt."

At Xander's indignant open-mouthed look, the girls burst into gales of laughter.

"Funny... very funny. Laugh it out at the guy who was going to be eaten by the village virgin!"

Spike shook his head amused and even allowed a small smile to grace his lips. You can get the kid into a new look, but you can't take his spirit away. It was like old times. It made him feel both happy and achingly sad. He had so many 'old times' and they all varied. Strange that the most fun he had was with a group of mortal children. That still never ceased to amaze him. Maybe going off to England wouldn't be that bad after all. He could talk to Raven and...

"So basically you want to go down in history as the middle man –vamp-- that would bring a virtual peace to the world?" Faith asked when Willow was busy lecturing Xander on his decision.

Spike thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, basically."

Faith crossed her arms. "That'd be neat."

"I thought so too." The two shared a grin.

Spike startled when a beer was pushed in his face. After he took it, Xander returned to his seat and raised his own can in the air. The girls were holding their own.

"Drink up, Darth. It's imported." The boy winked.

Spike popped the lid open and took a sip. He let out a satisfied sigh.

"Harris, mooching on the higher uppers works with you."

Xander chuckled. "Oh, I can't wait till we get this matter settled, so I can get back and smack Andrew over the head for keeping his mouth shut about this! I bet Buffy and Dawn will..."

Spike choked on another gulp. He yelped when Faith smacked him on the back. "Oi! Stop helping, Slayer!" he hissed in pain when he rubbed his back. Faith blinked at him innocently, he managed not to roll his eyes at her behavior.

Spike sat up and placed down his drink and looked at his hands. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke, "Don't tell Buffy." He looked up, catching their eyes. "Or the Nibblet. It'd be best if the matter's kept as restricted as possible for now. I want to tell them myself when it feels right, please."

Xander wasn't the only one was taken back at the 'please'. It was obvious that he wanted to object but relented.

"Fine. But on one condition."

"Xan..." Willow started, knowing how much Buffy hated the truth to be kept from her. Buffy to this day still brought up how they hid the fact that Angel was in town that one time to watch over her.

Spike stepped in and stopped the witch from voicing her complaints.

"Go on, mate."

Xander looked serious. "I want to be there when she knocks your brains out for not calling." He grinned. "And I'm talking about Dawnie here. Buff, now with her, I need to buy a digital cam for that!"

Faith and Willow groaned.

"You think she'd be that upset?" Spike sounded worried as he looked at the girls.

"Sure she would, Spike." Willow had her pity face on. "Remember her blow out when Angel visited and had us all keep it from her? And he wasn't even supposed dead!"

Both Xander and Spike winced at the reminder. Spike recalled that day when he was first introduced to how big Xander's mouth was, and he actually was worried for his grandsire's sake.

"They'll name a drink after you when B's through with ya." Faith smiled as if she looked forward to that event herself.

Spike dropped his head defeated then looked at Xander. "You got it, mate. But I draw the line at taking a memorial snap shot."

Xander pouted. "You're no fun." He bit on his lower lip before he reminded Spike that he intended to take a video recording of the occasion, not photos.

"How is that?"

They all looked at Willow.

"I mean vampires don't show up in mirrors but they show up in pictures... and the camera essentially uses mirrors. Unless the upside down reflection is the light not the vampire..." she trailed off at the incredulous looks on the others. She grinned sheepishly. "Well, it makes your mind wonder, you know?"

Spike waved his hand bored. "That brainy stuff is wasted on us, Red. Better off yappin' with Winifred about it."

"Yeah, just watch out for Wesley, he seems like the jealous type." Faith nudged Willow causing the redhead to blush.

Xander's eye widened and he wiggled his eyebrows. "Oh, Willow, been holding out on me? You haven't been playing doctor with sweet Fred, have you?" He placed hand over his heart. "I'm hurt!"

Willow's blush deepened. "Uh, I mean, she thought and... Oh! Spike... if Andrew met you when he came to L.A. that time then you must've helped Angel get back Dana, right? We've been trying our best to help her wake up but..."

She stopped her distraction plot at the look that fell on Spike's face.

"What happened when psycho slayer was running loose in town?"

"Faith?!" Willow sounded indignant.

Faith tilted her head to look at her. "We psycho slayers recognize each other." She turned back to look at Spike. "And we know when there's a lost cause."

Spike took a deep breath and let it out. "She chopped my hands off." He ignored the gasps to point at the exact location of the cuts. "Both of them. M'not saying it for gapes of wonder or pity, just reciting the facts. Poor girl is broken." His blue eyes spoke more deeply than his words. "She saw me as the man who hurt her, mixed with slayer dreams. I'm betting those people she killed represented the same horrors for 'er. She was an innocent." His voice became hoarse. He refused to think it was because he remembered Angel staying with him in the hospital that first time and was the last sight he saw before the fell asleep and the first thing he saw when he woke up. "She's not one anymore."

Gloomy silence befell the little group for long uneasy minutes, before Willow stood up uneasily declaring that she wanted to check on the new Wicca Slayer. Faith decided to join her. They left without as much as a goodbye for the two men.

Not soon enough after the door clicked close, the silence was once more interrupted.

"You, Peroxide Wonder, are holding out on something." Xander crossed his arms. "And I plan to find out what."


*~*~*~*~*~*


Soft. Smooth to the touch. The willing flesh moved beneath his hands, limbs writhing in the warm light illuminating from the hearth. Wanton eyes stared up at him as mouth was occupied with pleasured moans, begging, wanting, filled with wonder.

Hands slid along his shoulders caressing, urging. Fingers trailed lightly up and down his arms and along his shoulders, across his throat, lingering as if to memorize the feel before moving up to tangle in the mane of curls, using them to pull him down. Eyes locked, asserting who was in command, always, before closing in union to take in the full sensuality of the kiss. It was different than the passionate, lustful smacking lips of times before, and yet not lacking their enthusiasm.

He pulled back, gazing down at his lover, knowing he enjoyed being watched due to the hardness brushing against him with every little move.

His hands stroked gently up and down the hard belly enjoying the feel of muscles jumping at his kneading. A hard nub stared up at him, daring him. And he not backing down from a challenge, lowered his head, licking it, amused when the nipple hardened even more. So, he nipped at it, lightly at first then ended with a sharp bite when the chest refused to stop moving along with its owner's pants. He swiftly sucked at the blood before his mouth turned up in a smirk when his lover's head snapped up, only omitting a deep groan but not any words.

Good boy.

His hands dipped down, and then slid up the trembling inner thighs. He held up a finger and let the fingertip brush across the pearly hardness.

The groans turned impatient.

Finger after finger joined the manipulation, painfully slow if the scent of blood in the air from a bit lip indicated to anything, until an open fist gradually closed around the erection in a tight embrace.

He chuckled at the cry of delight, but decided to let that one slide.

The fist It began to stroke the elongated member in measured, languid motions, up, down and twist, up, down, and twist.

The panting became whimpers, catching in each kneaded breath, as the body wavered on the edge of release.

His hand paused only a second before the body let out its release, able to fluently read it.

Every muscle under him tensed, the back jerked upward and body twitched as intense pleasure was held back. Fingers ripped through the sheets and blue eyes bright with unshed tears from pain of holding back started at him in confusion, margining on betrayal.

"Special, special, boy. Proved yerself, time and again. You want this, want to be me own? Me boy, me pet, mine to command."

Blue eyes stared at him straight, unwavering, they never had when a challenge was being met.

Brave little fool. Not knowing what he was agreeing to. Not realizing his concurrence had no authority whatsoever.

A nod. Thighs parted in invitation.

He let out his demon full force, with no preparation he rammed in. He swallowed the scream in his mouth, in a brutal kiss that was quickly returned with equal fervor.

He snapped back with a hiss, wiping blood from his mouth with his thumb before licking it off, never losing eye contact with the dilated blue orbs. He stared down at what was his own, the creature that excited him in away no one had ever before. It was an abomination, the humanity which it tried in futile attempts to hide from him making it unique.

He would make sure it was for him and him alone.

"You're mine now, William." It was all the warning the young vampire was allowed before he pushed back his head with a strong movement and sunk his fangs in the flesh, covering the nearly invisible bite scar.

Rich blood, full of life, something that never ceased to amaze him, filled his mouth, a moaning gasp of pleasure in his ear and the delicious pain of nails digging into his back. His own completion, multiplied by the one under him, buzzed through his body like tendrils of burning fire. Bodies twitched and gasped as muscles fluttering with aftershocks ... a voice rang in his ears ...

"Angel . . . Angel!"

Bare ceiling stared down at him.

"Your seven thirty will be here in fifteen minutes ..."

Angel sat up in bed and looked down at his limbs tangled in the rumpled sheets. "Oh, shit."

TBC

~*~**~**~**~*

A Mirage of Possibilities:
Don't believe everything you see...
http://lusciousspike.livejournal.com/

Corresponding Quotes...
People don't fall in love with what's right in front of them. People want the dream. What they can't have. The more unattainable, the more attractive. -Xander.
When I say, "I love you", it's not because I want you or I can't have you ... I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. -Spike.

~*~**~**~**~*