I AM YOURS 
By: PetiteMiel 

Chapter Twenty-Five
 
 

Buffy made her way down the hall, not sure where she was headed. Giles' news about Spike and Angel being in England had taken her completely by surprise. The last thing she had expected was to see either of the vampires tonight -- let alone being faced with both of them.

She headed down the stairs at the end of the hall and rounded the corner. She passed witches and slayers alike but paid no attention to their greetings as she traversed the halls, lost in thought. Turning left at the bottom of a second flight of stairs, she made her way quickly to her own room, closing the door behind her. Dawn was nowhere in sight and, for once, Buffy was glad of her sister's absence. Sitting down on the edge of her bed she ran her hands over her face, dreading the coming night. 

She wasn't sure why the vampires were in England, but she didn't think it was to help Wesley and Giles with their research. That only left one possibility in her mind. They were both still in love with her and were here to try to win her back.

Standing up, she began to pace as she played with the small ring on her finger. The image of them fighting over her brought a small smile to her face but she quickly scolded herself for the thought and shook it off.

Moving toward the window, she sighed heavily as she tried to sort out what she was going to do. Spike wasn't the kind to give up easily. She had told him she loved him and, thinking back on that now, she could see how that might have given him the wrong idea. She had thought that he understood, though. When he hadn't called her she'd assumed that he was moving on, but that obviously wasn't the case. 

She was just going to have to let Spike down easy, she thought. She couldn't have him following her around for the rest of her life, trying to get her to love him. Hurting him wasn't something she wanted to do but there was just no other way, she told herself. He would be devastated... but he was very resilient, and he would eventually find someone else and move on. Frowning slightly, Buffy ignored the twinge of jealousy that thought invoked and stared out at the courtyard below. 

Then there was Angel. He could be just as stubborn as Spike and, even with all her cookie dough speeches, he was probably unwilling to wait and risk losing her to Spike. He was obviously here for the same reason and, while one part of her wanted him to fight for her, the other part knew she still needed time to sort out who she was and what she wanted from her life. Still, there was this nagging voice in the back of her mind reminding her that she wasn't the one who left. For so long she had wanting nothing more than to be with Angel -- and now she was going to have that chance,  how could she turn it down?

With a heavy sigh, she realized that there were no easy answers to any of this and she was just going to make herself crazy trying to figure it all out now. She would just have to deal with one thing at a time and do what she felt was best. Telling Spike that they could only be friends was the first step; then, if Angel pressed the issues between them, she would put him off by using the First as an excuse. After all, she couldn't be expected to decide something that important while they were up to their ears in evil. 

She smiled slightly at that then, feeling she had at least partially resolved the problem, she went in search of her friends, ready to take on the far less daunting task of dealing with the First.

Spike and Angel lay curled around one another, their heads peeking out from under the covers. They were silent as they held each other, neither wanting to spoil the mood. Angel leaned closer, kissing Spike's neck, and the younger vampire tilted his head back giving him full access to his throat. 

They had made love all morning, each giving and receiving the kind of pleasure that neither truly believed they deserved. Spike's emotional state left him feeling needy, and Angel's tenderness had helped to reassure him and make him feel safe and loved. 

"Thanks..." Spike whispered, the sound barely audible in the quiet room. Angel pulled back, looking thoughtfully at his childe, then smiled and nuzzled against his neck once more. 

"For what?" He asked as he closed his eyes and held Spike more tightly. The blond looked up and pouted slightly as he thought through his response. He sighed quietly, then lifted his eyes to stare into Angel's concerned face.

"I guess just for being here... for making me feel better about things and taking my mind off everything." He replied, ducking his head shyly as he looked away. Angel watched him, knowing how hard it was for Spike to open up. His childe had been hurt so many times in the past and he knew that he feared being ridiculed for his more tender feelings.

"You don't need to thank me, Spike. I'll always be here for you no matter what. I love you." He stated firmly, lifting Spike's chin so he was looking at him once more. He watched as the worry and fear seemed to melt away and the blond smiled, then kissed him. 

The knock at the door made them stir, but neither moved to answer it. They didn't want their time together to end, but knew that their respite from the real world was over when Wesley's voice reached their ears.

Angel growled loudly as he pulled himself from Spike's embrace, throwing off the blankets as he rose from the bed. He grabbed a pair of pants from his suitcase and slipped them on quickly, then took a t-shirt with him as he headed out to the other room. He pulled it down over his head as he opened the door, then stood staring at Wesley. 

The Englishman stood in the hall, smiling as Angel waved him in and shut the door behind him.  "I'm so glad you're up." Wes said, taking a seat on the large sofa that sat against the opposite wall.

"Actually I wasn't." Angel said through gritted teeth. 

"Well, I'm sorry to wake you, but I thought we should go over a few things before we head off this evening. I phoned Giles this morning and they'll be expecting us after dark." Wes replied.

"What's going on?" Spike asked as he walked out of the bedroom and headed over to the bar. 

Angel watched him, his eyes fixed on the lithe body, and his mind wandered back to their earlier activities, bringing a smile to his face. He shook off the thoughts and brought himself back to the present. 

"Wesley feels we need to have a meeting before going up to ...Where is it again?" He asked as he covered the space between the door and his childe. Spike smiled at him mischievously as he prepared them a meal.

"Sheffield. The Coven is housed in an old castle there. It will take a couple of hours to reach it, and I just thought before we left that we should go over a few things." The ex-watcher answered.

Spike pulled two mugs from under the bar, then opened the small refrigerator, smiling when he saw that it was fully stocked with fresh blood. Removing two of the containers he put them in the microwave that sat beside the refrigerator and then looked up. 

"Like what?" He asked as he waited for the timer to go off. 

"Well, I thought it might be prudent not to reveal too much to the Coven as Giles seemed to be a bit wary of them. I'm not sure he entirely trusts them. I was thinking it might be best if Fred and I went in first to see how things stand. Be a bit more covert. I could pretend to be Giles' brother come to visit whilst on holiday with my lovely wife Winifred." 

Angel turned toward Wes as Spike's eyebrow rose at the thought. 

"So what are we supposed to do while you're inside playing house with Fred, shag in the car? Oh hey, not a bad..." 

"Spike, really!" He was cut off by Wesley's shocked exclamation. "Must you be so crude?" 

Spike took a moment to consider the question, a small pout forming on his lips, then he smiled as he answered. 

"Yeah...I must, Percy." Angel laughed at the display as Wesley's scowl deepened. 

"Spike, don't call me that and, Angel, don't laugh -- his bad behavior should not be encouraged."

"Oh, but Angel likes it when I'm bad -- don't you, Luv?" The younger vampire replied, grinning wickedly as he reached out, kissing Angel on the cheek. Wesley began to comment but didn't get the chance.

"Ok Spike, behave." Angel scolded as he tried unsuccessfully to hide his smile.

"I am behaving. I got dressed before coming out here, didn't I?" The blond answered playfully as he took their mugs from the microwave and handed one to his sire, licking his lips before taking a drink. The movement was not lost on the older vampire and he tried to ignore the feelings it invoked. 

Wesley sighed deeply as he rose from the couch and approached the others. 

"As fascinating as Angel's personal predilections are, I really think we should get back to the important issues at hand."

Both the vampires gave him their attention, trying to appear as serious as possible, and he began again. 

"To answer your question, Spike, I thought the two of you would simply wait until I had assessed the situation and determined if it was alright to bring the two of you inside. Of course, if Giles feels it best not to, then I thought you should perhaps sneak in later after everyone was asleep. That way we could keep you two under wraps -- sort of like a secret weapon until such a time as we could determine for certain who the enemy was and whose side the Coven was on. We still don't know what's going on up there, and we don't know what we're up against. I think it best to be cautious."

Spike and Angel exchanged a brief smile, then turned back to the dark haired Englishman.

"What?" Wesley asked, sensing he had missed something.

"Well, this Coven -- you said they were housed in a castle up there in Sheffield...," Spike asked, finishing the last of his meal and setting the mug down on the surface of the bar.

"Yes -- but I don't think it will be a problem for the two of you to scale the walls, if that's what you're worried about."

"So they live there, right, mate?" The blond asked, ignoring Wesley's other comments.

"Yes, Spike, they live there. What's that got to do..." He stopped, looking at the two vampires standing before him as the truth finally hit him. "Oh bloody hell. You'll need an invitation to get in. Damn." The ex-watcher swore as he ducked his head, slightly surprised by his own forgetfulness. 

"Why didn't you just ask Giles about this when you called him this morning?" Angel asked finally. 

"Well, I was a bit distracted and I forgot to. I tried phoning him several times since then, but haven't gotten an answer." 

"Well, not to worry, Percy -- I'm sure with that enormous brain of yours you'll work it all out and come up with a brilliant plan. In the meantime I'm going to take a shower. I wouldn't want to go visiting when I'm all sticky." Spike smiled at Wesley as he stepped around his sire and headed back toward the bed room. 

Wesley's face turned a bit pale at the implications of that remark but he didn't respond, feeling it would only make it worse. 

"Yeah...ah... actually, if we're going to leave at sundown, I better get ready too." Angel added, watching his childe walk away. 

"Yes, well, I was supposed to meet Fred for lunch anyway, so I'd best be going myself. Shall we meet in the lobby then?" 

"Yes, the lobby's fine." Angel said, ushering Wesley hurriedly toward the door. 

"Angel, there's no need to rush -- we still have several hours until dusk."

"Yeah... but Spike and I tend to take very long showers." 

"Oh I see...oh I do see. You're as bad as Spike." Wesley said as he stared at his friend's smiling face, the meaning finally clear. He turned around, shaking his head, muttering to himself as he headed off to find Fred.

Buffy stood beside her sister, leaning against the wall just inside the door to the main hall. She had told Dawn about the First after finding her friends in the dining hall, but had gotten almost no reaction to the news. She glanced over at the teen-ager and could not help thinking that Dawn had already known. It was a disturbing thought and, one no matter how hard she tried, she could not shake. 

A moment later her attention was drawn to the parade of slayers and witches entering through the heavy oak doors. She watched as they filed past, seating themselves quickly, curious to know why they had been called to this meeting. 

Giles and Merissa entered soon after, making their way toward the back of the hall, facing the assembled group. The room grew silent as the Coven's leader raised her arms then, turning toward the watcher, she indicated that he should speak. He smiled slightly at the courtesy, then turned toward the others.

"I know that you're all wondering why you've been brought here, and I won't make you wait for the answer as I'm sure you're anxious to return to your studies." He began. "I have already spoken with Merissa about this matter and we both felt it was important that all of you be made aware of this situation." He paused as he removed his glasses, cleaning them briefly with the edge of his shirt. Then, returning them to the bridge of his nose a moment later, he continued. 

"Last evening I was approached -- for lack of a better word -- by The First." A quiet murmur spread throughout the hall and the white haired witch stepped forward.

"Ladies, attention please. There is no reason to be concerned. Are you not all women of power? The First is an incorporeal being who can not harm you physically in any way." She said. Giles looked at her and frowned slightly, then addressed the women once again.

"Yes, that's true -- you are all capable of defending yourselves... however, I would still urge caution here. The First may not be able to strike against you, but it has no difficulty finding others willing to do so."

"So true." Agreed the white haired witch before addressing the crowd once more. "Our good friend Mr. Giles is correct. The First may employ minions to do its bidding, but they can not harm you here. We would be very poor witches indeed if we did not know how to defend ourselves from the enemy."

A quiet laughter filled the hall as the assembled witches smiled, nodding their heads. "There are protection spells laid one upon another surrounding our home and no evil will cross our threshold this night or any other. As long as you remain within these walls, no harm shall come to you." 

"Well, yes...that's all well and good, but the First does use other means as well. Manipulation is certainly its strongest tool against any of us, so I would still urge all of you to be careful. It excels at playing mind games. If you are approached by the First, do not engage it in conversation -- simply leave its presence immediately." He finished, hoping they would heed his words.

"And remember well, my children. The First has no power but what you give it. Listen not to its lies and it shall have no power over you." Merissa said as she stared past the crowd toward Dawn. The brunette stared back at the witch, her gaze intense, then she turned away, walking from the room. Buffy frowned and followed after her as the crowd began to make its way from the hall. 

Angel slipped out of his clothes before he even made it across the room. Jumping in the shower he grabbed Spike about the waist and pulled his wet body against him, then turned, pinning his childe to the wall. 

"You know I'm starting to worry about you, Luv." Spike said as Angel's mouth covered his for a quick kiss. 

"Why?'" Angel asked as he began to kiss his way down his childe's slender throat.

"Because I think you're one of them...what do you call them...nymphomaniacs." 

Angel pulled away, staring at the blond in disbelieve.

"Me? You think I'm the one who's a nymphomaniac?" 

"Well, yeah. You're insatiable. You're always after me, grabbing me all the time. You grabbed me in the kitchen, grabbed me on the plane, now you're grabbing me in the shower." He replied, a slight pout forming on his lips. 

"I like grabbing you. You feel good." Angel said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively as he tightened his grip and kissed Spike again, this time slipping his tongue between his lips for a taste.

"See -- insatiable." Spike stated matter-of-factly as they parted once more. Angel just laughed and spun his childe around to face the tiled wall. 

"I'll show you insatiable." He muttered as he began to lick his way down Spike's spine. His childe trembled slightly, then moaned as Angel's hands grabbed his ass. 

"Like me grabbing you now, don't you?" Angel asked playfully as his squeezed the taut flesh. 

"Oh yeah." Spike sighed.

The dark haired vampire smiled at the response then knelt down, lifting Spike's right leg up to rest his foot on the edge of the tub. He leaned in, letting his tongue brush over the small opening that was now more accessible to him, and Spike moaned at the touch. 

Angel played gently for a moment, sliding his tongue back and forth over the small pucker, listening to the sound of his childe's pleasure, then he thrust his tongue inside. The gasp from the younger vampire made him smile inwardly and he continued to play, as he continued to squeeze and caress his ass and thighs.

Spike squirmed back, trying to force his sire's tongue deeper, but the dark haired demon would have none of it and he was pressed against the wall even tighter. His resistance melted away a second later and he closed his eyes, letting the sensations sweep over him, then whimpered softly as Angel pulled back. 

The older vampire smiled at the disappointed sound, then slipped a long finger inside the blond, eliciting a loud groan. He worked it in and out watching as Spike began to move his hips, rubbing his cock against the tiled wall trying to find some relief. Angel quickly added a second finger, scissoring them as he stretched the younger vampire, trying to prepare him quickly. He needed to be inside him.

Spike pressed his face to the wet surface of the shower wall, his moans and whimpers filling the air around them as his sac tightened, the need to come getting harder to resist. Angel replaced his fingers with his cock a moment later and slid effortlessly inside his childe, not able to wait another minute. 

Thrusting hard he fully embedded himself in the younger vampire, groaning as he felt Spike's muscles tighten and spasm around him. The blond cried out as Angel pulled almost completely out and then swiftly thrust back in, but there was more pleasure in the cry than pain. 

Setting a fierce pace Angel continued to thrust in and out of him, his hands gripping Spike's slender hips as his nails dug into the flesh, drawing blood. It was quickly washed away in the steady stream of water pouring down around them but Spike was oblivious to it, his whole mind focused on the sensations running through him. 

He loved everything about being taken; the feeling of Angel inside him, the way his sire pressed his body as close to his as he could get, larger hands covering his as their fingers intertwined against the wet tiles, and the shudder that ran through him with each thrust of Angel's cock against his prostate. He could go to his final death happy now that he'd found this again.

A second later all thought was brushed aside as Angel rotated his hips and Spike cried out, the pleasure driving him to push back, sending tremors through his body. The older demon nuzzled his neck, licking his way up the slender column, then nipping at the skin with blunt human teeth. Spike flexed his hands, squeezing Angel's fingers in an iron tight grip as he tried to regain control and stave off his orgasm, but the first prick of his sire's fangs against his throat was too much for him and he came in a rush, the force of it making his body tremble all over.

His sire came a moment later, still frantically thrusting into the smaller body until he had nothing left. He slumped against Spike, pulling his fangs free of his childe's throat, then leaned his head on Spike's shoulder kissing it softly. He didn't want to ever move. 

"See -- nymphomaniac..." Spike sighed, feeling completely satisfied if not a bit weak in the knees.

"Well then, that makes two of us." Angel replied, pulling out of him and turning him around.

"I can live with it if you can." The blond replied, smiling as Angel leaned in to kiss him once more.

"I can." He answered as he turned up the shower and reached for the soap, thinking how much more fun a soapy Spike would be.

Buffy found Dawn standing in the courtyard staring up at the afternoon sky. She watched as her sister wiped the tears from her face and then spoke.

"Why won't you tell me?" She asked quietly.

"Because if I do, you'll try to fix it, and you can't. You'll die trying to fix it, Buffy, and this time I won't let that happen." Dawn answered, looking over at the petite blonde. 

"Dawn, I know you think you're doing the right thing, but I need to know what you know. I can't fight this thing blind."

"That's just it, Buffy...you can't fight it at all. It's not your fight." The brunette said, the resignation in her voice making the slayer reconsider her options.

"If you think I can just ignore this...Dawn, you know I can't."

"Yeah...I know... but it won't make any difference." She said as she turned away, slowly walking across the courtyard as her sister stared helplessly after her.

"Buffy, are you all right?" Giles asked as he approached her. She turned sighing loudly, then shook her head.

"I don't know what to do, Giles. She won't talk to me. She thinks she's protecting me, and there doesn't seem to be anything I can say or do to make her change her mind."

"I see. Well, try not to worry too much. Perhaps she just needs some time. I'm sure it will all work out in the end. It usually does." She looked at him, then turned toward the building that housed their rooms. He walked alongside her, his hands in his pockets. 

"You seem pretty optimistic about that. Not exactly the Giles I'm used to." She smiled slightly at her watcher, and he smiled back.

"Yes, well... I've decided to give it a try and see if it doesn't work out better than usual. First time for everything, you know. Oh, come on, we've lots of research to get to. Leave her for a bit. I'm sure she'll come round." 

They continued on and entered the building as Merissa looked on. She smiled at their easy manner and obvious affection, knowing in the end they would need that bond to see them through.  Turning, she left thoughts of the others behind as she walked purposefully toward the younger Summers and stopped at Dawn's pointed command. 

"Go away." The young girl said through gritted teeth, not even bothering to turn around.

"Is it so hard to hear the truth?" The witch asked quietly, knowing that her earlier comments had touched a nerve.

Dawn turned at her words, glaring at the witch, then turned away and, opening the gate, stepped outside the compound. Merissa followed only a few short steps behind, but stopped on the grass as Dawn walked out onto the bridge. 

"Why can't you just leave me alone?" 

"How can I? We are bound together." 

"I don't want to be bound to you. In fact, I don't even want to know you." The teen-ager replied angrily.

"It is too late for that, I'm afraid." Dawn looked up at her words, then took a steadying breath.

"Look, I already told you I wasn't going to choose, so just leave me alone." 

"Do you think it that easy, child?" The witch asked softly.

"What do you mean? If I don't choose, it can't happen. Nothing will happen." 

Merissa looked at Dawn, her eyes softening as she smiled at the girl. She would like nothing more than to leave her with her innocence intact, but she knew that it was too late for that. Dawn must accept the truth.

"I have spent a millennium setting the pieces in motion, weaving the threads and altering the skein to suit my needs. Do you truly believe that I would not have foreseen such a choice as no choice at all?" 

Dawn's eyes widened at the comment and she took a step closer, her fists clenching at her sides. "What do you mean? What have you done? It can't happen if I don't choose. It can't!" She cried, staring at the witch, searching for some hope that her belief was truth. The tears brimming in her eyes spilled down her cheeks and she shook her head, the weight of the world pressing down upon her. 

"I can't. I don't want to die." She sobbed, her whole body shaking with the force of her words. "I don't want to die." 

The older woman stepped closer, her hand reaching out to touch Dawn's face. 

"Do you think I do not understand?" She asked. Dawn's anger returned and she pulled away, walking back to the bridge. 

"You don't. You can't understand. You're not...you're not..."

"Look at me. I too am flesh, made so by my own hand so that I might understand. The purpose of my existence comes to a close and I shall go the way of the wind, as will you."

"No...please...I haven't had enough time." Dawn begged as her tears dropped into the water, the ripples spiraling outward toward the shore. 

"You were not made to be flesh. I did not make you so."

"Then make another. You can, you can do anything, just make another. It won't care." The girl pleaded.

"If I could, then all my choices would be simple, but this is beyond me." She replied sadly.

"It's not fair. I won't die." Dawn said resolutely. 

"You would rather he did?"

"He's already dead!" She shouted, turning away again, her fist pounding the railing beneath it.

"Indeed...but is that not the reason you must choose?" Merissa asked as she turned and walked away at last.

Spike leaned up against Angel as they sat in the back seat of the hired car. The countryside flew by as Wesley made his way down the winding roads and through the trees toward their destination, but it was all a blur to him. With each passing mile the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach grew worse. He wasn't sure why he was so troubled. There wasn't any reason to be frightened, but he was, none the less. He felt as if he was going toward something he should be running away from, and he didn't like that feeling. 

Reaching out unconsciously, he took his sire's hand and Angel looked down as the younger vampire began to play with his fingers. Squeezing his childe's hand reassuringly he leaned down, kissing him softly. He smiled as he pulled away, then, seeing the frown on Spike's face, he whispered in his ear.  "What's the matter?" 

"Nothing, Luv." The blond said softly, smiling weakly. 

Angel was certain something was wrong but he decided not to press him, and instead wrapped his arms around him, pulling him tightly against his chest. Spike let himself be held but said nothing else for the remainder of the trip.

Twenty minutes later they rounded the last turn and the castle came into view. Spike leaned forward, taking a good look at his surroundings as Wesley parked the car, then sat back as the two humans stepped out onto the grass and approached the gate.

Wesley didn't even have the opportunity to knock before the gate swung wide and a young woman ushered them inside. The two vampires sat quietly, watching as the gate closed in front of them, then Angel spoke.

"We should know something soon. We shouldn't have to wait too long."

Spike didn't answer but sat staring into the darkness, and Angel reached over, touching his arm lightly to get his attention. The younger vampire looked back at his sire and nodded, then frowned when he saw the worry in Angel's eyes. 

"I'm fine, mate -- stop looking like that." He said, giving the dark haired demon his full attention.

"You look upset, that's all. You've hardly said two words the whole way up here."

"I'm fine, like I said. I'm just worried about Dawn, that's all. I can't believe that Wesley didn't ask Giles how she was." Spike replied. 

He had been angry at Wesley when he found out that the ex-watcher had neglected to get an update on the girl's condition but he was angrier at himself when he realized that he hadn't given Dawn a thought since his arrival in England. He had been so caught up in his own misery the night before and so caught up in Angel all day that he had completely forgotten the reason he had come. He felt as if he had somehow let her down again.

"She's going to be alright, Spike." Angel said, trying his best to believe it himself. Spike sighed loudly then leaned his head back against the seat, closing his eyes. Angel watched him then leaned in, kissing his outstretched neck. The younger vampire jerked upright at the touch, smacking his chin on the top of Angel's head, and they both yelled out in pain.

"Bloody hell, what are you doing?" 

"Well, I was trying to take your mind off things, but I didn't think I'd get assaulted doing it." Angel answered angrily as he rubbed the top of his head. 

Spike glared at him for a moment then smiled and moved closer. He pulled Angel's head down and kissed it gently, then kissed his lips as well. 

"There, all better." 

Angel moved so fast that Spike never saw it coming. He was pulled down onto the seat and pinned before he could even protest. His mouth was covered in soft kisses as hands slipped up under his shirt and he moaned as Angel gently teased his nipples into hardened nubs. He wanted nothing more than to let Angel take what he wanted, but he pulled back instead. 

"Angel, stop." He said, trying to push the larger vampire off him.

"Hmmm?" Angel replied, kissing Spike's neck as he reached for his belt.

"Angel, no...stop, Angel." Spike said more forcefully, using every ounce of strength he had to push Angel away. His sire looked down at him, the worry on his face even more evident now.

"What...what's wrong?" 

"We can't -- they could come back any minute." 

Angel stared at Spike for a minute, then smiled. "Since when do you care about propriety?" He asked.

"Well...normally I wouldn't -- and if it was just Wesley, I'd do it just to see the look on his face, but they might not be alone. Buffy could...well..." He trailed off. Angel moved away and sat back down on the seat as Spike sat up and righted his clothes.

"Yeah, I guess she might...well, I guess it wouldn't go too well if she walked out here and saw us doing...well, saw us." Angel said, staring out the front window.

"Yeah." Spike replied quietly, not sure what else to say. 

They hadn't discussed whether they would tell Buffy about their relationship and he was sure that Angel wouldn't want her to know. The thought made him a little angry but, before the feeling had a chance to fester, Angel spoke.

"I think I should tell her the truth." 

Spike looked over at his sire, his eyes wide, not sure how to respond. The surprise was evident on his face and Angel moved over, kissing him gently.

"If you think I'm going to be able to pretend I don't love you, you're crazy -- and, what's more, if you think I'll be able to keep my hands off you the whole time we're here, you're even more so." He said seriously.

"But...well...I mean, what are you going to do? Walk in there and say 'hey, Buffy, I'm shagging Spike now, nice knowing you'?" The blond replied.

"Well...no...I don't think I'll put it that way."

"Then how? Any way you tell her, she's going to be upset."

Angel thought about it for a moment but, before he could answer, the gate opened and Wesley headed toward the car. They both turned, leaving any further discussion of the slayer for a later time as the Englishman approached. 

"Well, it seems you are expected. Giles thought it best to tell the Coven of our arrival, so it's alright to come in."

Angel sat for a moment, not moving, then opened the door and stepped out of the car. He waited for Spike to join him, then closed it behind them. They walked up to the gate in silence, their hands unconsciously clasped. The gate swung open a second later and their hands slipped apart as they were met by Merissa. 

"Enter and be welcome." She said as she stepped back, allowing them to step into the courtyard. Giles stood just inside and Angel noted the tension in Spike at the watcher's approach. He knew that Giles had not been happy about Buffy and Spike's relationship, and he assumed that this was the cause of his childe's unease. 

"Well, I must say you are literally the last person I ever expected to see again, Spike, but I'm glad you're here." The watcher said, reaching out his hand nervously. Spike looked at him and knew that, with this one gesture, the watcher was asking to put the past behind them. He wanted nothing more than to tell him to get stuffed, but decided to be the bigger man instead. Reaching out, he took the hand offered and let go of his anger.

"Yeah, well... I'm a hard one to get rid of. Like a bad penny, I'm always turning up." 

"Yes, indeed." He said smiling, then looked away. "Angel, it's good to see you." He said, turning toward the other vampire. Angel nodded, smiling slightly at the greeting.

"Well, I know the others are anxious to see you both, and we have a lot to discuss. They're waiting in the main hall." He said as he turned and started up the path. 

They followed after him, looking about the courtyard as they tried to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings. The outer gate swung closed behind them and Spike turned to watch. Merissa stood smiling at him and he frowned slightly, the sinking feeling he'd had earlier returning full force. Turning away, he continued up the path, wondering finally if Angel hadn't been right after all. Maybe he should have stayed behind.

The First stood high on the battlements, watching the scene below. It smiled to itself as Spike rushed across the courtyard, oblivious to what was to come. Laughing softly to itself, it stared down at Merissa sealing them away for the night, so sure that nothing of its power could touch them, but it was of no matter. The time was nearly upon them, and its wait was finally over.