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Shanna
shannalynn9064@yahoo.com
Angel sat back, grinned, and watched his seer and Wesley on the stage stumble their way through Meatloaf's 'Paradise By the Dashboard Light'. His gazed drifted to the back entrance that Spike and Willow had used. He was torn between staying put and tamping down his urge to make sure Spike had enough sense to simply feed from Willow, and going out, joining them and giving into the urge they both felt each time they had the redhead in their arms. His decision was made for him when the Host sat down across from him.
"Angelcakes, quite the little group you've got here tonight."
"Lorne," the vampire greeted the green-skinned demon. "It is an interesting bunch, isn't it?" He grinned, then winced when Cordelia tried to hit a high note and failed miserably. "Sorry about that," he nodded toward the stage.
The demon's red eyes were practically watering and he was sure his ears would begin bleeding at any given second. He tilted his head, acknowledging Angel's apology. "The redheaded pixie and the blond dollface are new."
Angel chuckled, imagining Spike's reaction to being called 'dollface'. "'Dollface' is my grand-childe Spike and the pixie is a friend from Sunnydale, Willow."
"A 'friend', huh?" Lorne raised his eyebrows at the description. "That's not what I got from her reading, although it was a little muffled by Princess's, uh, singing. Then again, I got confirmation from dollface's reading, sooooo. . . Congratulations will be in order soon, I suppose."
"Congratulations?" Angel's complete focus was on Lorne now, tuning out Cordy and Wes.
"On your soul, Angelcakes. Soon you'll have your very own, shiny, personal, permanent soul. All light and goodness. If I'm not mistaken, that will be the work of one adorable little Pixie."
The vampire got a goofy grin on his face. "Yeah. I got word from the Powers that Willow can secure my soul."
Lorne hesitated, unsure how to proceed. "Angel, studmuffin, while your soul will be secure, things won't go quite as smoothly as you'd care to hope. Changes, obstacles are coming. Misunderstandings and lies will all be factored in."
A frown marred the vampire's face. "What are you talking about Lorne? What obstacles, lies? Who's going to be lying? What misunderstandings?"
The Host shook his head to clear away the fuzzy images imparted to him. "I'm not sure. That's all I was given, but know this, it's not going to be smooth sailing, Sweet Cheeks. Rough waters lie ahead for the three of you. Trust in yourself and each other. Don't let outside or internal forces tear apart what you're forming now. That's not what the Powers have planned for the three of you."
Angel's glass was halfway to his mouth when he froze. "The three of us? The Powers have plans for Willow, Spike and me?"
Lorne gave the vampire a secretive smile. "The Powers have plans for all of us, Angelcakes. Some are just grander than others."
Willow and Spike chose that moment to reenter the building. Their redhead was flushed and her lips swollen. Angel watched as she tried to tug her top up to cover the fresh bite mark on her neck. Spike's gait was off, and if the grimace on his face was any indication, his grand-childe had done a wonderful job of restraining himself in the alleyway. The dark vampire chuckled as he took in the uncomfortable looking bulge in the blonde's tight jeans.
Willow walked over, blushing madly, but stopped and smiled shyly at the Pylean sitting at the table with Angel. Spike walked up behind her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and the other around her waist, pulling her back against him. He sized up the demon sitting with Peaches and felt him to be harmless, but he would let this jolly green giant here know just who his Red belonged to. The hand on her shoulder tugged down her top to reveal his fresh mark and the blond vampire lowered his head to kiss it softly, blue eyes locked with red.
Lorne laughed softly. "No need to posture so much Dollface. I get the picture. The Pixie belongs to you. . .and Angelcakes here. I knew that from the moment the two of you sang tonight."
Angel took in the pair's confusion and explained. "Spike, Willow, this is Lorne, the Host of Caritas. One of the services he offers is a reading. He gets messages from the Powers when someone sings. We sometimes come to him when we're working on a case and we need his special form of insightfulness."
Lorne grinned. "The Powers have a soft spot for the big lug," he motioned toward Angel. "He always seems to. . ."
The Host's words were cut off by an enthusiastic hug from Cordelia.
"Lorne! Where have you been all night?"
"Hello, Princess." The demon chuckled at the former cheerleader's drunken display of affection.
"So," Cordy began before plopping into the seat next to him, "did you get anything from me tonight? Any tall, dark, salty goodness in my near future that won't impregnate me with demon spawn?"
"Afraid not, sweetness." He reached over to pat her hand in a consoling fashion when a pout appeared on her lips. "However, I do recommend you have that landlord of yours check out the pipes in your kitchen before your apartment turns into a kiddy wading pool."
"I *knew* it!" Cordelia slapped her hand down on the table, making all of the glasses shake. "I told him there was something wrong with that sink."
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The drive home was relatively quiet, if you didn't count Cordelia's soft snores and whispers exchanged between Willow and Spike. Angel glanced over and took in the happy couple and felt a stab of loneliness. The petite redhead sat on the blonde's lap, their heads close together as they exchanged soft words and softer kisses. He felt left out of the loop again.
Tonight. Tonight he would talk to Spike about the Blood Oath. He didn't want to wait any longer to make love with Willow. Angel wanted her to know how special she was to him, and that the sex didn't just have to be about the bloodlust. He prayed to the Powers that Spike would release him from the Oath.
It wasn't very honorable, but he was weak and willing to admit it. Life without Willow in it would simply be a black void. Even imagining his life without Spike seemed to be too quiet, too dull. He knew it would mean his return to the 'King of Brood' title that Cordelia had bestowed upon him. Angel hoped they would stay with him, be with him. Lorne's message had worried him, though. Rough waters lie ahead.
Angel looked over at the snuggled couple. He hoped they would all be able to ride out the waves.
***************************************
After dropping off Wesley and Cordelia at their respective apartments, Willow, Spike and Angel drove back to the Hyperion. As they entered the front door, Angel grabbed the arm of his grand-childe, holding him back slightly.
"We need to talk. . .now," the dark vampire said softly enough for only the blond to hear.
Willow turned around at the steps. "Are you coming?"
"Why don't you go on up and get ready for bed, pet? Peaches and I are goin' to grab a bite."
The redhead looked dubious, but neither looked in the mood to kill one another, so she shrugged. "Ok, but don't be too long. I've kinda gotten used to being snuggled before falling asleep." She blushed and sent an embarrassed grin to the vampires before heading upstairs.
Both waited until they heard the door of Angel's suite close. "So what's this about then, eh Peaches?" Spike pulled out a cigarette and wandered further into the lobby.
"Come on," Angel gestured for his grand-childe to follow him as he headed for the kitchen. "You might have gotten something to eat tonight, but I didn't."
"Jealous, mate?" Spike strolled into the kitchen after the dark vampire and leaned against the wall, observing Angel's normally agile movements become slightly agitated.
"What's got your knickers in a twist, Peaches?" Spike pulled out a cigarette, lit it and exhaled. He squinted through the smoke, watching his grand-sire work himself up into a right tight knot.
Angel waited until his blood was heated and he was leaning against the counter to meet the blonde's eyes. "It's about us. . .Willow. . .the oath. I'm ready. . .for her to secure my soul, but I wanted to ask you something first."
Spike kept his face expressionless. His stomach dropped a notch. The Poof wanted to make love to their witch, not just sex, but make real love with her. Why would she want him when she can have a demon that's all soul-havin'? What could he, a soulless demon, offer her, besides his undead heart? "What's the question?" He was proud of himself. His voice didn't shake a twitch.
"We have the blood oath, I know, but would you consider staying here afterward? You and Willow?" Angel paused, taking a deep, unneeded breath. "With me?" He looked at his grand-childe, hope in his eyes with a dash of fear mixed in. Would he just have the one night with Willow and then it would all be over? They would take off for Sunnydale and he would never see either of them again? Would his existence go back to being empty and nothing but mission after mission for the Powers?
Spike knew his mouth had dropped open wide. If he wasn't in such shock from his grand-sire's request, he probably would have been berating himself for giving anything of his emotions away. "You want me and Red to stay here? With you?"
Angel cringed at the disbelief in the younger man's voice. He knew he shouldn't have asked. It was stupid to think that they would want to stay in LA with him. He could demand it, pull Right of Sire again, but that's not how he wanted them. He wanted Willow and Spike to stay of their own free will. "Will you at least think about it?"
Spike's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why?"
Angel's head shot up at the terse question. "Why? Why wouldn't I want you to stay here. I think we've been getting along pretty well, at least the last few days, and we have both admitted our feelings for Willow. I thought maybe the three of us. . ." Angel let his voice trail off, waiting for the blonde's reaction.
"So, you love Red and are willing to deal with me?"
"That's not what I meant at all," the elder vampire protested.
"Then exactly what the hell did you mean, Peaches," Spike angrily threw the rest of his burning cigarette into the sink and took a step toward his grand-sire. "'Cause that's what it sounded like to me."
Before the blond could blink, Spike was wrapped in his grand-sire's tight embrace, their mouths locked as Angel tried to convey in that one kiss why he wanted the blond to stay. The kiss was harsh, and passionate, then softened to a gentle, almost poignant touch. The dark vampire pulled back and gazed down at the surprised face of one William the Bloody. "That's why I want you to stay. You, me and Willow. The three of us. I think we could be good. I love Willow, but I care for you too Spike. We have a lot of things in our past to overcome, but I'd like to try. I loved you once. Well, Angelus loved you once, but he is part of me. Maybe with time, . . ."
Spike backed away, shaken to his core by his grand-sire's words. "You're serious," he stated in a hushed tone.
Angel stepped closer again and lightly brushed back the bleached blond locks that became mussed in their impassioned embrace. "The offer is open. I'd like you both to stay. *Both* of you, Spike."
The blond vampire backed away once again and turned to walk out of the kitchen, leaving Angel standing there, imagining how dim LA would seem without the two of them. Spike stopped in the doorway, but didn't look back. He turned his head slightly and spoke to his grand-sire over his shoulder.
"Consider the blood oath forgotten, but Red's got a mind of her own. People she feels responsible for, loyalties to those soddin' Scoobies. I'll go where she goes. If you want us to stay, you'd better make a bloody good case for the witch to be swayed."
"You'll stay?" Angel asked, almost afraid to believe what he'd heard.
"Told you, it's up to Red. Now come on, we've got a witch waitin' for us upstairs that's gotten used to fallin' asleep wrapped around us." The blond looked over his shoulder as his grand-sire quickly rinsed the mug out and followed him toward their rooms.
"You know, I overheard her talking to Cordy about that the other day. It seems she was referring to us as her 'Cuddle Vamps'."
Spike looked outraged as he trailed Angel up the steps. "Cuddle Vamps? I'm William the Bloody, bleedin' hell! I'm the Big Bad. I ain't no soddin' Cuddle Vamp!"
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