*****

LA

A moan brought his attention to his surrounding area. He was no longer in his room at the hotel, but in a warehouse. Blood dropped down on his face, blood that he recognized. The sweet scent filled him with dread before he looked up to see the source. Drusilla, his childe was stripped and chained naked dangling from a ceiling beam like an ornament off a Christmas tree. The blood drenched her body and dropped in large drops from where open whip marks decorated her from head to toe.

"Dru," came Angel's shocked whisper.

"Daddy, you came. I wasn't sure if I had enough strength, but Miss Edith told me you would come."

"Dru, how did I,.. where are we? Who did this?" Angel stammered.

"Daddy, we don't have much time, I'm getting weaker, the stars won't talk to me anymore."

Angel tried to grab her legs so he could cut her down, and watched as his arms went through her.

"Dru, how?"

"Daddy, you promised me once you'd always take care of, William, my Spike, you must do that now Daddy; promise me you'll save and take care of my Spike, promise me Daddy."

"Dru, where are you? Tell me where's Darla? Angel heard only soft whimpering sounds in response to his questions.

Dru?"

"Daddy, they took my girl, tortured her; made me watch before he dusted my girl."

"Who Dru? Who's doing this?"

"Cain, Daddy it's Cain. He's back and wants to be head of the clan, and he's starting a clan war. He's making a challenge, wants a clan war."

Angel went to game face, feeling nothing but immense hatred of the remembrance that Cain's name brought.

"Daddy, the stars stopped talking to me. I know my time is near; I have no time, no stars. I'll be joining my girl soon Daddy. Miss Edith still talks to me in whispers-helped me bring you here, is helping me to shield Spike, but now I know Cain will win if you don't reclaim a family clan. You must protect Spike; you'll need your Will, your clan. Daddy, I won't be able to hold a shield up for long."

Dru raised her head upward, and drew Angel's attention to the ceiling above from where she was hanging. A skylight, she was forced to hang there waiting for the sun to rise, and judging by the hour of the night he had less than 6 hours.

"Where are you Dru?"

"Don't know Daddy, somewhere in Europe, not enough time, not enough for me; time for you to find my Spike though before, before, please Daddy, protect my Spike. Miss Edith said the kittens would help you; the red tree will see the truth and plant the seeds for new and strong roots. Seeds will grow, roots will firm, and the wind will bring fruit, watch for rotten seeds, they too will help the tree grow. All seeds make a stronger tree. Go Daddy. I loved you Daddy. Miss Edith wants to me to sing, says my girl is waiting for me wants me to sing for her-my girl loves my singing."

He didn't get to say anything else. As Angel watched Dru, who started to sing a soft sweet lullaby, the scene fazed out before him, and he was back sitting in his chair in the hotel.

"NOoooooooooooooooo" Angel screamed, knowing in his heart that would be the last he'd see of his childe.

*****
Part 2:

A panicked Wesley stood in the doorway of his room. "Angel, are you alright?"

"No, we have to get to Sunnydale, now."

"What happened?"

"I'll explain on the way. Get the others too, all of them Fred, Gunn, Cordelia, and Lorne."

"Angel what?"

"Now Wes, trust me, please?"

All thought left Angel save the pulsing drive to save his childe in time.

"Yes, of course." Wes left to gather the others.

Angel reached for the phone in the lobby and dialed the memorized number. "Giles, I don't have time. I'm on my way there. You have to find Spike. Tie him; chain him up to keep him there. I don't care just have him there. We'll be there in a couple of hours, and Giles make sure everyone else is there. It's extremely important. I have my cell if you need me, no, he's not, won't be a danger to anyone, except to himself, I'll explain then, we'll be there as soon as possible."

Explain, how was he going to explain? He knew what needed to be done, he knew Xander would rather die, but he hoped that Buffy wouldn't fight it. Dru mentioned Willow seeing the truth. He prayed that that truth would convince both Xander and Buffy before it was too late.

Heading out the lobby, Angel turned in time to see Wes, where Fred and Cordy trailed behind him. "Gunn, and Lorne?"

"We can pick them up on the way." Wes replied.

"Ok, let's go then"

Ignoring everyone including Cordy's questions and comments, Angel turned and headed toward his car. They swiftly picked up Gunn and Lorne; Angel continued to ignore all of their questions as he focused on the drive to Sunnydale.

**********
Gunn's POV
**********

*Damn, Angel's giving the term `A bat out of Hell' a whole new meaning by the way he drives a car. First, I had to break game with the boys, it's a good thing I'm an alternate player. Second & third, I don't like how everyone's acting. The scariest shit is Lorne he hasn't said word one, and even had a small bag with him, like he knows something.

Probably does know too just like that scary voodoo shit Auntie V did. V, thankfully wasn't blood, but Lonnie and I knew to stay in her good graces, she knew magic, could do shit, and Lorne's like that though not in the scary way like V, unless lounge singers scare you shitless.

Lorne's annoying, a good singer just not my style of music, or clothes. He's loud, mouthy, can actually tell a good joke, and has the gift of knowing what's going to happen, good and bad. But a silent Lorne, now that is damn scary.

Wes, or English as I like to call and annoy him, isn't much better; just keeps staring out the window thinking too loudly, unlike Cordy and Fred.

Fred who's seating squished in close to Cordy almost sitting in her lap is trying to hide her grin and elated happiness of the forced closeness she has to share with Cordy.

And Cordy, quiet she's not, and is still trying to get someone to talk to her by firing one question after another, but is being ignored by everyone except Fred. I still can't believe Cordy could see the once on coming crush Fred had for Angel that was quickly and affectively put out, but was completely oblivious to Fred's prominent crush on her. Actually I think it's starting to go beyond a crush, and I'm pretty sure Cordy doesn't swing that way. I know after this I'll have to make a point to talk to Lorne, to make sure I'm not just seeing things. I just really don't want Fred to be hurt any more she's has more than her fair share in the hurt department.

They always talk about the calm before the storm, and right now I'm not sure if I just want to ride the calm, or jump into the storm either way I gotta feeling it's gonna be damn, rocky. *

***********

Everyone was shocked when Angel pulled over an hour later.

"Gunn I need for you to drive."

"Me? Angel what's going on?"

Angel doubled over in pain, and went into game face.

"Gunn, please we need to get there."

Angel's cell rang before Wes could ask anything. Wes reached into Angel's pocket and answered the phone. "Hello---really, Angel is as well. We'll be there in just under two hours. No, he hasn't said. Yes, right away."

"Ok, what's the up?" Gunn waited impatiently for an answer while they changed places. Gunn started the car and was back on the road driving even faster than Angel if that was possible.

"English?"

"Oh, yes, that was Mr. Giles. It seems that Spike is also in unexplained pain like Angel is."

"It's going to get worse, especially for Spike, I'm controlling some helping her block some of it out, but she's getting weaker soon I won't be able to block it."

"Blocking what, and who's she." Gunn demanded.

"Dru, and blocking her pain." Angel winced.

Cordelia wanted answers, "So the wacky insane is in pain. How does it affect you or even Spike for that matter?"

Wes seemed to understand, "Good Lord Angel she's in her final death."

Angel couldn't deny it any longer; they were going to find out anyway. That and everything else, there was no stopping or avoiding what was about to happen. "Yes" Angel sighed in answer to Wes' statement.

Cordelia wasn't making the jumps that Wes already seemed to understand. "Final? But she's already dead, and even if she's dust why would you or Spike be in pain from it?"

"Angel is her Sire, and Spike he's her consort?" Wes asked.

"More." Angel hissed while still gripping in pain.

"They're mated? It's true then?" Wesley quickly worked out the calculations in his head.

Angel nodded his head.

"Oh my, does Mr. Giles know."

"No."

"Angel he has to know, where's that phone." Grabbing the phone Wes dialed Giles' number.

"Rupert, Wes here. Yes, it's Dru; she's in her final death! They're mated Rupert, Spike and Dru. Yes, it seems that it's true, I don't know. Yes, we'll be there soon."

Cordelia demanded, "Ok, I really am beginning to hate all this in-the-know speak especially when I'm not in-the-know, so start talking Wes. What's true?"

Wes tried to ignore Cordelia's question, but knew it would be easier to avoid a rattlesnake.

"Yes, well, when a vampire is in their final death that if they are connected, or marked then the others will know, would sense their death. The more connected the more they feel. Dru is connected to Angel because he is her Sire, as well as being Spike's Sire."

"Wait up how come that didn't happen with Darla she was his Sire, and Penn his oldest childe. I don't remember this kind of thing happening?" Cordelia inquired.

"You're right it didn't, I never loved or wanted to embrace with Darla. To embrace is a gift to give. It can't be forced." Between panting pains of breath Angel continued. " Darla chose me as a gift for the Master. I never wanted to embrace either Darla, or the Master. I had once thought of embracing Penn, but Penn was more interested in earning points with Darla and the Master. With Drusilla, Drusilla had power; the gift of sight and Darla wanted that control. I played my role I tortured, and drove Drusilla insane and created another childe as Darla ordered, but Dru was my beautiful childe of the night. After I turned her we did embrace. Darla wasn't happy about it because I never embrace with her, but she let it go when she couldn't do anything about it, and as long as I continued to please the Master nothing else mattered to her. I couldn't be there or care for Drusilla, as she needed not while attending to Darla and the Master, so when Dru brought me Will, our fate was�. " Angel let out a scream as he doubled over again. This time both Cordelia and Fred spoke as one.

"Step on it Gunn."

************
Wes' POV
************

*When did I become so attached---I really don't know. From the beginning I knew I was attracted how could I not. Only someone bloody blind could not want the man.

In the beginning I knew his history, knew there could be no us, but I still dreamed. Still I wanted more, though I knew there could only be friendship. I was, am, a gentleman, so my goal of friendship was very clear.

Then after getting to know Angel it was too easy to care. He gave such a quiet strength of acceptance that I've never known, and he's allowed me to grow in ways I was never allowed.

The researching started in small ways late at night just to avoid my dreams, and my loneliness. I wasn't able to find anything to change the curse, but I was able to recognize when the curse changed from our trip to Pylea.

When Angel was forced to see and confront his demon, and his demon Angelus was forced to see and confront Angel's soul; they met, battled, and then merged into one. Forcing the curse into a stalemate. Ironic really after all their years, and the long road of redemption it all came down to a meeting, and accepting of the minds after all.

I could never thank or curse my Father for his damnable lessons of a gentlemen's code of honor and it's boundaries. It's the only thing that's kept me from making a fool of myself over Angel. I thought I had a little time especially when we returned from Pylea. Then finding out about Buffy's death put everything on hold. He needed time to grieve and not have some fool of a man jump his bones.

Now this. Angel embraced, and embraced with Dru and Spike. Knowing now that he will never be mine. Spike, that poncy bleach blond, I wish I could hate him, but all I feel is envious. Envious that he will hold Angel, to which Angel is running to save him, his embraced childe. Though I care, I care for Angel. I really do care maybe more than care, but he'll have Spike, and I really do want Angel to be happy. Maybe one day I'll find some peace in all this, but it won't be today. *

*****
Part 3:

They broke every speed limit getting to Sunnydale, and Gunn beat his personal record arriving well under the three hours that it normally took to get there. Gunn and Wes half carrying Angel's limp body up the steps to Giles apartment. The door was answered before anyone knocked.

"Thank goodness you're here." Exclaimed Giles as he quickly moved to the side allowing the LA group to enter.

They turned toward the shrill and continuing wail that had assaulted their ears and stared at the hunched over chained figure of Spike being held and cooed to by Anya, Xander, and young girl they didn't recognized who was wiping Spike's game-face. A new wave of pain racked Angel and Spike. It took a moment before Spike's pain dazed face looked up and recognized his Sire.

"Please, Please don't do this to me. Please let me go, Sire please I need to be with her." Spike pleaded.

"No, Will, you won't be able to reach her even I couldn't."

"No, your lying you just want to keep me away, make us suffer apart."

"No, Will, I would never come between these last moments. She made me promise Will, not to let you go."

"NO, you Bastard! Even if you keep us part I will join her, even you can't break the mating bond. Do you enjoy this Sire? Leaving us wasn't pain enough, but now this last bit of torture on us, your childer, didn't the embrace mean anything to you, you Bastard." The shrill started up again in earnest, and Spike went back to being rocked and cooed by Xander and the girl.

Buffy reached out gently drawing Angel's attention. "Maybe this is a good time to let us in on what's happening?" Buffy asked.

"Yes, quite right. Wesley mentioned Drusilla was in her final death, and Spike is mated to her." Giles reiterated, "May I ask how you knew that she was is in her final death before Spike did?"

"I had a vision of her. Dru showed me. A vision of what was happening and told me who was behind it."

Dawn moved closer to Angel, but stayed within arms reach of Spike. "Why is he still in pain? Buffy and Giles said you'd be able to help him that you're his father or something, well make the pain go away." Dawn demanded.

At the way the girl looked at Buffy Angel realized this was Dawn, Buffy's sister. "You're Dawn right? Dawn, I can't stop his pain. I can barely control my own pain." Looking at the others who he knew needed to understand, especially Wesley, and Giles whose extensive study and knowledge of vampires only came from the chronicles written from the Watchers Counsel. " Dru's not dead yet, but she's in extreme pain because Cain had her almost drained. She's dead in the human sense, but not in the demon sense. The demon within her survives, lives on blood. She was beaten and drained to feel every moment of her final death. Made to feel and share that pain with her mate and Sire. We will know, feel her death, when the sun hits her; she will die instantly."

"You mean, you, and Spike will feel that moment." Dawn whispered. Dawn saw Angel's nod and she quickly went back and attached herself to Spikes side burying her tears behind her long hair.

"You mentioned knowing who's behind all this, and?" Cordelia asked what everyone silently echoed, and each stood close enough to hear.

"Everyone take a seat we don't have much time, and there is lot to go over." Angel regained a semi-resemblance of control and strength just from being near Spike. Through the embrace he could still feel both his childer's pain; Dru's overwhelming pain in her final death along with Will's additional pain of not being able to be there for her. For Angel just being within arms distance of his youngest childe enabled him to function, but looking over at his childe Angel knew Will was too embedded within the pain of his mate's death to gain any kind of strength from his Sire.

Everyone took a spot from the furniture to the floor awaiting Angel's explanation of what was happening. Angel took a deep unneeded breath before he continued. "Earlier I fell asleep and had a vision of Dru. I could see that she was tortured almost drained, tied to await the sun---She didn't know where she was other than she was somewhere in Europe. Not enough time for me or Spike to rescue her. She's trying to save Spike by having me protect him from the mating bonds affects. That wasn't her only warning." Angel looked directly over to Giles knowing he and Wes would put together the importance of his next words quicker than anyone else in the room. "His name is Cain, Darla's first childe, he wants to head the clan, the Order of Aurelis, and is in effect starting a clan war. In order to become head he has to destroy all opposing clan members including mates, minions, fledglings, and embraced pets."

"So, let him be head of whatever, it's not like you've do the clan thing anyway. We'll just ride out Dru's dus-- passing, and help Spike deal with it." Sympathy and pain echoed in the slayers next words. " I know it's hard to lose someone, but we'll be here for him."

"You don't understand Buffy, Spike's mated to Dru. When she dies her final death he will be compelled to do everything and anything he can to join her."

An unexpected gasp came from Xander, "NO, you can't let that happen." Anya pressed herself closer to Xander's back trying to comfort him as he and Dawn continued to rock and comfort Spike.

"I don't plan on it, but it's complicated."

"You'll just have to uncomplicated it. Spike's one of us now, he earned the right, and I'm not about to let even a childe of Darla's hurt him." Buffy glared at Angel waiting to see if he'd deny her claim.

"What about this Cain, can't we just stake him?" Gunn, asked.

"Possibly, if we can get to him, and either way that won't stop what's about to happen to Dru, or stop Spike's compulsion." As Angel spoke he made a quick glance over to his childe.

"Can't you just tell him that he can have the clan title?" Buffy blurted out.

"It doesn't work that way Buffy. He'll be coming to kill me and all that is mine."

"We can stop him though-right?" Willow asked tentatively.

"It won't be just him, it will be all that is his. All his childer, minions, embraced and pets."

"What's that mean---embraced I still don't get it Angel?" Cordelia's face showed her confusion just as her voice did.

"It's hard to explain, but it's kind of like accepting one as family. The embrace has to be accepted both ways. I embraced with both Dru and Spike, but I never did with the Master, Darla, or Penn. It's almost as strong of a connection as being mated. Cain will come to kill and destroy all even those who are only marked." Angel watched as what he said started to sink in the Watcher's mind.

"Oh Lord, does that mean what I think it means." Giles exclaimed.

"Ok, enough again with the double speak, Angel, just lay it out there in plain, simple, English." Buffy was starting to get annoyed.

"Fine, I'll put it very black and white since we don't have time anyway. Spike will be compelled to die a final death soon after Dru does, unless he is re-bonded, and mated to over ride the affects. Cain was Darla's first childe, in a sense Darla's mistake, and one that the Master despised."

"If he was a mistake why didn't she just dust him?" Gunn inquired.

"It was the Master's punishment. He said that her poor choice and flaw of a first childe was a blemish that she'd have to live with. Cain was to be a punishment, to humble her. When Darla turned me, it was to please the Master in all things. She turned her back on Cain and left him to survive on his own. Contrary to popular belief vampires are not solitary creatures. We are more animal like in that we need to create a pack or family. We create connections through childe/Sire relationships, or we embrace/mark those we want or need. When I was cursed I became solitary because I was afraid to embrace/or mark anyone. That ended when I came to Sunnydale and met Buffy. The need was there, and I couldn't control myself and I started to mark what was mine."

Xander interrupted, "Don't you mean who, you started to mark who you felt was yours."

"Yes, how did you---?"

Xander interrupted before he could finish. "The hyena, I understand packs. So this Cain is going to want to kill your entire pack."

"Yes." Angel was surprised that Xander understood exactly what that meant.

"So what about Spike?" Xander asked.

"He needs to be re-mated/bonded."

"You're going to do that right?" Xander replied in a soft hopeful voice.

Angel look at Xander and wondered for the umpteenth time since he walked in seeing Xander rocking his childe exactly what kind of relationship he did have with Spike.

"Yes, but it but not just me, I'm not strong enough anymore, and neither is Spike. We've both been living as sub-vampires, not taking in the proper food source to make us strong."

"So how? You have to do something he can't take much more."

"I know Xander, we'll need a fourth mate to strengthen the mating bond two mates to be our pomme de sang ones we can mate and embrace with, who will tie us together."

"Pomme de sang, that's French, what the hell is an apple of blood? And what do you mean a fourth for mating? As in mating with you and Spike---EWW" Cordelia's mouth ran off before she could stop and think.

"A fourth mate, yes, and yes mating basically means exactly what you're thinking Cordy, and more. It's a much stronger connection of a mark or even being embraced, but the mating is enhanced ten fold when the pair are embrace and are pomme de sang's the givers of blood."

Red-faced Cordelia stammered out. "Ah Angel, not a vampire here-and I'm not voting to be turned."

"You can't--won't be turned to become a pomme de sang. A pomme de sang is the gift of blood, a special bond with who they're mated with, giving the gift of their blood joining in the ardeur in place of the hunt."

Buffy asked, "Like a thrall, like Riley?"

"No, not exactly, a thrall isn't mated they aren't gifted, thralls become enslaved to a vampire where a pomme de sang shares the ardeur with their mate. It's difficult to explain to put into words exactly everything that's involved. I've never been mated, or had a pomme de sang, but Spike mated with Dru after they embraced, so their connection is very strong. I'm not even sure it will work, but they didn't share or have a pomme de sang which could help us over-ride Dru's connection." Angel signed, and looked over at worried expressions for young people before him who had become his friends.

"And if not, and we lose." Buffy wasn't sure she wanted to an alternative.

"Then I've lost everything before it's even started." Angel looked pointedly at his childe before looking back at Buffy.

Buffy stepped forward. "Angel, don't say that. I'll do everything I can to save Spike, and we'll stop Cain."

"You have to know the truth. If I can't stop, if I can't save Spike there is no saving me, or.." Angel glanced toward Dawn than looked directly into Buffy's eyes.

"I don't feed like a true vampire, not as a fledgling, never mind a Master. Cain's been training, gaining strength to win and beat Angelus and all that's ours. Even if I lost my soul and became Angelus again we'd be in the same position hopeless. I'm not mated, the Master is dead, my Sire is dead, they were, are of my line. One of the two I embraced with is going to die a final death. Angelus and I only have only a few pets marked. Without a mate or ones I'm embraced with I'm nothing. I have no line, and Cain will destroy me and mine with no effort. Even with Spike living I still don't know, but at least we'd have a slight chance."

**********
Gunn's POV
**********

*It's gone from bad to nasty in too short of a time, and I'm having trouble keeping up. It wasn't that long ago I was jumping hoops avoiding work, and trying not to think about demons, vampires and things that howl in the night. Now I'm in famous Sunnydale, and all the famous tales from Angel, English, and Cordy where the real nuts, flakes, demons, and slayers live, and my main man Angel a bona fide Master vampire who is about to be mated, and, or dethroned depending on your take of things.

Personally I think I just entered the twilight zone.

Angel's holding up, but I got a feeling it's only because of the two blonds, Buffy, and the one on the floor who is a freakish mess. I know he's the one Angel came running to help, the Big Bad, William the Bloody, one fourth of the Scourge of Europe, but now looking at him all I see is Alonna, I mean he looks how I felt when Alonna died at my hands. Not a nice place to be, or even witness someone else's pain.

Though to stop those lines of thoughts I just have to look over to Cordy. I mean watching her face twitch with the thoughts of Angel wrapping himself around the blond; the male blond is just plain funny. She looks like she was just told she'd have to shop K-Mart for the rest of her life just not a welcome thought. Though it's not like I'm loving the idea either not that I'm a homophobe, but I guess I'm not ready to march the parade either, but I've lived here in sunny Cal all my life, and most of that time has been on the streets which gives the word tolerance a whole new meaning.

Looking at Fred I really do hope Cordy learns about tolerance and friends, and catches a clue real fast cause that girl has got it bad.

I'm also still worried about Lorne he still hasn't said anything, and that alone is stretching my nerves to the max.

And one look at Wes and I can see I've got to take my own advise on tolerance and friends. I can't believe I didn't see it before now, and they say the eyes are the mirrors to one's soul. I guess I've been one bald, blind, black man to not see the truth that's staring me in the face. The way Wes is looking at Angel places Fred back into the crush category.

Damn, I had a bad feeling about Fred getting hurt, but seeing Wes it's way too late, he's already there and in the worse way. And there is not a damn-fucking thing I can do about it. *

*****
Part 4:

"And the persons who do become this pomme de sang, will give you-us this chance?" Buffy looked Angel straight in the eyes too afraid not to; too afraid her dream of the two of them together might come true.

Angel nodded in answer.

"But what.. I mean if you mate what about your soul? Does that mean you'll lose it? Is the choice between dealing with Angelus or this Cain?" Buffy stammered.

Wes looked up and answered Buffy. "Ahmm, actually his soul's anchored now. He--Angel and Angelus merged together, after they each faced their other half before we left Pylea."

Buffy turned hurt eyes toward Angel. "Is that true? You didn't---"

"Shhh, There was no reason when my love had died." Angel wiped away a few tears that escaped from Buffy's eye. He grabbed Buffy's hand and caressed it.

He turned toward Willow. "Willow, there's a couple of spells I'd like you to perform. Both are very quick and simple verbal spells, one will show you the marks, marks Spike, Dru, Angelus and myself made. Showing you their auras and the different intensities and strengths of the mark. It will help to see who might be able to handle or is capable to doing the bond. Once we know, and if we have their consent, the other spell will accelerate the embracing and mating bond. Will you please perform these spells?"

Angel squeezed Buffy's hand, and she squeezed it back in answer to his silent question that hung in the air between them.

Willow looked from Buffy to Angel then nodded her consent, and took the book from Angel's hands. After she re-examined the spell Willow performed it to a tee.

"Oh Goddess, how beautiful---ah, everyone here is marked, but there are differences. Mostly in colors, and the amount intensifies over the person-kinda like an aura, but instead of surrounding the person it's wrapped around them "

"Willow focus in on Buffy, what color does she have around her?"

"Colors, she has a lot. Seven different colors totaled. Three large brilliant colors surrounded by even larger amounts of white an silver and two rather bright small ones."

Angel cast a quick worried look at Buffy before he asked. "I didn't except that, what about Fred here what color is around her?"

"Again colors, but only two shades of gold, a darker gold and a lighter gold."

"Angelus' mark mixed with mine, so mine is two different shades of gold."

"Yeah, I see what you mean--- Fred, Lorne, Gunn, Cordelia and Wesley all have the same colors of gold." Willow giggled, "Though Wesley seems to be splashed and dipped in it a lot more than the others."

Wes blushed at the possible meaning of that statement.

"OK, and the others?" Angel probed on.

"Lots of different colors, though mostly a purple color."

"Do you see that purple color on me?"

"Yeah, you have a lot of colors, but there is a lot of the purple color on you it's especially dark there on the left side of your neck, and similar orange one on the right side" Willow explained.

"What color do you see around Spike's heart?" Angel asked.

"MMM, it's one big orange color wrapped around the heart that seems to reach and intertwine around his neck with the gold where both are encircled strongly around his body. There's a slue of other colors, but none as bright or as large as the gold and orange."

"Good, Dru's color must be the orange, and Spike's is purple. Only those mated, or embraced would be around the neck and heart. All other marks would show around the rest of the body."

"So Deadboy you marked us like pack does territory, instead of urine you pissed color on us."

Angel glanced at Xander again surprised by the boy's astuteness. "Yes, Xander it's similar"

Cordelia scrunched up her face "Eww, enough of the bathroom talk-got it."

"Oh, who marked me?" Anya asked a bit too happy about it. Willow looked and saw that she was marked by Spike.

"Angel, what does the size of the mark mean?"

"The larger the mark, and deeper the color, the more attraction from the one who marked them. Another vampire can't see the mark, but in a way they can sense it-the deeper the mark the stronger the sense. Once you start marking it's completely instinctual, and is used in battle whether with another Master, or clan."

Willow looked back and forth from Xander, Buffy to Wesley who had the largest amounts of marks with the deepest colors, but she also noticed marks of green wrapped around Xander and Buffy. "Angel both Buffy, and Xander have a small green mark, who would."

She didn't finish when Xander finished for her. "Dracula, right Deadboy."

"Yes"

Xander continued, "So how is this going to help Spike?"

"Dru said that the kittens, a pet name she would call humans would help me bond with Spike. Those with the strongest marks to each of us might be strong enough to handle the bond. I marked most of you here, but I don't know to what depth I marked everyone. Except for possibly Buffy, between Angelus and I, she should be well marked. Even if she agrees to be one of our pomme de sang we would still need another. Willow who has the strongest marks?"

"Ah, well like you said everyone has a mark. As I mentioned Wes has a lot of the gold almost like he was dipped in it-you, know has a kind of a head to toe thing going on. Then Anya, and Tara only have the purple marks. Giles, has purple both gold's, and orange. I seem to have the purple and gold. Mmmm, Buffy has seven marks, Angel/Angelus in almost equal amounts of gold's. One is darker than the other, and an almost equal amount of purple, with a small patch of green and red. The white and silver seem to be a bit larger than the gold, and in equal amounts. Dawn has a lot of purple kind of a like Wes, and Xander. Xander has six marks."

Willow's eyes widen as she realized that Buffy and Xander had been embraced. From Angel's own words only those marks around the neck where embraced marks, and Buffy and Xander showed such a mark. From the color of gold Willow could see that Angel embraced Buffy, but Angelus embraced Xander. Turning Willow glared at Angel before continuing on.

"The lighter gold is a little bit smaller than Buffy's, but not by too much, but there is a larger amount of Angelus' mark and a really large mark from Spike, and a small mark of orange from Dru. Plus a smaller amount of the green than what Buffy has, but he also one centered on his chest a deep brown almost like a Hershey candy bar."

"And this all means what?" Cutting to the chase Cordelia stated a little to clearly glaring at Willow. Willow looked down mumbling to herself trying to avoid an answer.

"Willow?" Buffy inquired softly. "Willow it's ok, I'll do what I need to. Really it'll be ok."

"Ammm, I'm sorry Buffy it's not you-I mean you do have a lot, but not as much as.." Willow mumbled the rest.

Buffy squeezed her hand, "Who?"

"XanderandWesoktheyhavethedeepestmarkesandarecoverinthem."

"WES and XANDER" Cordelia exclaimed.

Willow nodded her affirmation, and avoided everyone's eyes somewhat embarrassed over the implication.

Angel knew exactly what the implication would mean. Knew that there was a chance that Buffy wouldn't be the one-and now to know that was the reality he didn't know if he could subject them to the role as his mates and pomme de sang. With Buffy she was had been in his heart for so long it seemed unconceivable to have someone else never mind two someone else's. Both men he had lusted over. One he trusted and was a friend, and the other was Xander. Xander who didn't trust him, and had hated him from day one, but it was that hate that attracted Angel and Angelus to the boy.

Angel turned looking into Buffy's eye's sharing the pain of being separated once again.

"If I do this, if I create the bond, if I fight Cain-then it would change everything, and everyone."

"What do you mean if, of course you'll fight that's what we do, we fight the good fight." Cordelia stated.

"Cordelia's right you can't let Cain mess with those who are innocent. You said he'd kill all of those who are marked from you and Spike-that's all of us. We can't let that happen?" Giles replied than looked down at his already clean glasses.

Buffy grabbed Angel's hand. "Angel, we took on the Master and a Goddess Glory, you really think we can't handle one master vamp."

"He won't be alone Buffy, to make this move to take over to fight the rightful heir of a clan, then he's got five childer, and each of those childer have dozens of minions. There will be a war and the first they'll go after are the childer that are embraced, Drusilla and Spike, next are embraced pets, that's you Buffy, ---you, and Xander."

Buffy glanced at Xander who had trouble meeting her gaze, and felt Angel turning her back to him as he continued.

"You offered yourself to me to save me. Xander, I forced into making a horrible choice as a bribe to Angelus-I embraced you both not as equals as I did Dru and Spike, but as human pets. You both freely came to me. Cain will go after each of you next. Then he will go after all that have been marked. Just as Willow was able to see, so will Cain's people. They will come and be focused on one thing to kill you. Cain's childer that you'll be fighting will be as strong and powerful as the Master you fought because they have been feeding."

Angel watched both Buffy and Xander's waiting for reactions to his words.

"In the beginning, ..I didn't think I'd would be bonded with anyone else, but you Buffy. Later, Angelus wanted----" Angel looked over to Xander then into Buffy's eyes so she'd understand.

"You've got to understand if I bond/mate with Spike then with Wes and Xander as our pomme de sang's they will share the ardeur with us. They will be mated to us and all that entails; it will also create a stronger bond within me and Spike. We'll be stronger because of our mates, from their gift of being our pomme de sang's. Taking Cain on means I will be compelled to call what's left of my family, our line, my marks as well as Spike's or even Dru or Darla's if any are alive. Doing this means changing everything, everyone will change. I, .Buffy I still have my soul, I can't make that decision for you, and you have to make it yourself. Each of you, and understand you will all change."

"What changes exactly-you said no turning into vamp-face" Cordelia demanded.

"No, you won't be turned especially if I'm mated. The desire to make childer won't be there, but there will be other changes subtle changes that will be more noticeable with each other than to the world or outsiders. The most noticeable change will be a connection to me, to Spike and our mates. You'll feel it. Want to be around us, need to be closer to us to each other. You'll feel a connection with each other as well. I'm not sure what other changes if any. I haven't been around a clan since the Master and he never had any humans for pets or embraced with anyone during that time that I knew of. Actually he never liked humans except as food."

"Oh goody like I really wanted to hear that. So if Xander and Wes agree to bond to you and Spike, then you'll fight Cain and reclaim your clan thing right? Of course, if not then we're picked off one by one by Cain's happily demented family," Cordelia recapped.

"I'll fight either way, but it will be a very short fight without Spike or the bond."

"Is there a way I can bond with Spike only and not you Deadboy?"

"No, Xander I'm afraid not. Will is too weak to take just a single bond in replacement of Dru; even with me I'm too weak to fight his draw to Drusilla my other childe. No, I'll need your strength, and Wes' to keep Will, Angelus, and myself anchored to the new bond."

Xander looked down at Spike who he still held in his arms, and knew he couldn't lose him, but was just starting to realize the debt he'd have to pay. He glanced back at Anya, and swallowed hard.

"Anya?"

Angel looked directly at Xander, so he knew that there could be no mistake. "It won't be the same, once mated. The mated partners are very territorial, and usually never share. You'd still be close, and will want to be close, but no, you won't feel the same once the bond takes affect-it'll be more like family, a very close family."

Anya looked up toward Angel, and knew she would lose Xander once he was bonded. She moved in front of Xander and looked into the man/boy who was brave enough to love her, and taught her how to love and be human again.

"Xander, hush, it's ok." Anya brushed away some of his tears knowing how torn he felt. Taking a deep breath Anya pulled all of her knowledge and strength to say what she knew needed to be said. "Shhh, I know, Xander I've seen a clan war between vampires once before, about 600 years ago. Lots of carnage, and not in the making a vampire happy carnage way, that's why they don't have too many." Taking a long breath trying to keep her emotions steady, and focus on the intellectual paradox in front of her. "Xander, you're the white knight, my white knight, you've saved my life more than once, and you wouldn't be able to live with yourself if something happen to Willow, Dawn, or Buffy if you could have stopped it. I've lived, a very long time, just over 1000 years, and you're the only one who ever really made me feel really wanted and loved either as a demon, or human. A human who had to learn to be human; you were there for me every moment even though I was an ex-demon. I want you to live, I need for you to live, and you won't have that chance without this bond." Swallowing hard, and holding back her own tears Anya continued. "Please, live for me Xander-Please you must.

"I, Anya I love you---I" Tears continued to fall down Xander's cheek.

Anya clung closer to Xander and nuzzled his neck whispering. "I know Xander, it's ok Xander I love you too. I always will, and I'll be here for you always, but I want you to live, live a long life, you deserve that, and this is the only way."

She wiped away his tears and kissed his lips as if saying good-bye already. Willow watched amazed at Anya, as a large gold color mark grew winding around her body and intertwined beside Spike's purple mark.

Xander looked up and nodded toward Angel. They both turned toward Wesley and awaited he's answer. He only nodded his consent.

************
Xander's POV
************

*It was only a nod, but it sealed my fate. How did this happen?

One moment I was with Anya, planning our wedding, and Spike, my bleach fangless friend, was baiting me left and right. Dawnie was laughing at our word play, and the next moment the phone rang with one panicked Giles urging us to come to his place. My nightmare began with one step through Giles door. That one step changed the course and direction of my life.

Giles, Tara, and Buffy waited and watched as Willow cast a spell causing Spike to be restrained where he stood. Anya, Dawn, and myself were shocked and dismayed by Willow's actions. After Glory and Buffy's death Spike became one of us. Not just a Scoobie either, but most of all a friend. Someone I trusted at my back, and here my oldest friend was casting a spell on my other close friend.

Spike, true to form started yelling, and showed his disbelief that his Red would do something like this to him. I was about to give Willow a piece of my mind when piercing screams filled the room. I felt like I was in slow motion when I turned back toward Spike, and watched him slowly fall to the floor. The screaming went on and on. Buffy rushed forward and pulled Dawn into a hug as we all watched horrified at Spike's torment. Dawn started crying hitting and yelling at Buffy to make Willow stop hurting him. Willow looked up at Dawn with a confused hurt face to which Tara pulled Willow in closer to her. I knew then she wasn't hurting him, somehow she knew what was going to happen.

Spike started calling out `Princess, No, No, No.' Then he seemed to shake himself free from whatever had a grip on him. `Red, please you need to let me go, my dark Princess needs me please I'm begging you' Spike, William the Bloody, was begging I couldn't believe it and it shocked me to the core. Spike had become a stable rock in my life, someone I admired, someone who didn't even bend to Deadboy, and now here he was begging Willow to free him. Fury filled me, fury at my oldest friend in making Spike do this, it wasn't right. Anya, who clutched at my side, was feeling the fury under my skin, and trying to calm and sooth me with soft caresses on my back. Willow turned into Tara shielding her face, but not before the anguish of tears shone in her eyes. Dawn pulled away from Buffy, who had been whispering to her, trying to comfort her sister. Dawn kneeled before Spike and held him crying with him and the anguish of his forced restraint. Anya squeezed me one more time before she kneeled down beside Dawn brushing her hair away and started caressing Spike's back like she had mine a few moments ago. I followed Anya and embraced Spike as large sobs came from the small tight compact body. I enclosed Spike tighter within my embrace trying to give my support. A part of me felt that this was right, me holding Spike this way, that this was where Spike belonged, where I belonged.

How timely pathetic, or poetic my insight was at that moment. Now, not only will I be holding Spike again, but Deadboy and Wesley as well. Deadboy, holding him, touching him---urk, I don't want to think about it, please I can't. I still hate the bastard. Before he left for LA we had come to an understanding we both mutually hated each other, but we both loved Buffy. My love for Buffy had changed over the years from first love to accepting the warmness of just friendship; just as my love for Willow and Cordelia changed. I hated Angel for becoming Angelus and Angelus for forcing me to submit to him. I was lucky Dru interfered with Angelus' plans for me, but not before he got a taste of me-not before he touched me-not before he marked and claimed my darkest dreams, my deepest.. Now I'm forced to, forced to face those dark dreams.

And Anya, my love. How can I feel, feel anything, anything, but sorrow and pain at losing you. My feelings for Anya slowly crept up on me. In the beginning it was just wondrous fun sex, lots and lots of sex. Then, we talked and got to know each other. Anya was new to so many things, always had a different perspective from everyone else, which I began to love. She also listened, listened to everything-my jokes, my thoughts, my pain, and my secrets, even my silence. She was the one person who was always there for me. Once I could have said that about Willow, but we grew up and in some ways apart, but Anya was there. Even though she had problems with day-to-day human things she had knowledge of a thousand years, yet she didn't want to be with the zeppo, the donut-boy, the bloody whelp, but with me Alexander La Velle Harris. How could I not love someone who wanted and loved just me? Now I've lost her.

I'll be mated, in a sense married, to three other men. Angel who hates me, Wesley a relative stranger and once rival for Cordelia's affections, and the third Spike, a friend who is losing his one true love. Mated with men, mated as in sex, sex with Spike. I guess I should be grateful that Anya and I were very experimental, so I nothing will be too much of a surprise. Well, except it won't be a toy, but three experienced men. I've read some of Giles watcher chronicles about Spike and Angelus; the whole Sire/childe thing wasn't just a parent/child thing unless they were a very weird and kinky family. I'm pretty positive Wesley has experience. With Spike it doesn't seem to bad, and if I was honest part of me still craves Angelus' touch. What am I thinking, I'll never be complete, never have real love again. I guess I'm a real Harris after all; I'll never be really happy or have true love. Pathetic, real pathetic Harris, and all in the name of saving the ones I do love. *

**********
Wes' POV
**********

*I wanted to say yes, shout it out even, but I couldn't form a single syllable never mind a coherent sentence, only nod in consent. My fantasy, my dream was here. I was going to be with the person I waned most. Wanted what a lie the person I loved most. One half of me was elated; the other half reality was crashing down around me. This wasn't some silly romance of finding my true love, my mate, or even that Angel saw and returned the love I had for him. No, this was nothing but lust. Angel lusted after me, but he doesn't love me. I can see that when he looks at Buffy. I recognized the pain in Angel's eyes. I can see the pain just as clearly as it had been reflected back to me every time I looked in the mirror. I'm nothing more than a substitute, a body that he lusted after. One that was here when he thought Buffy was dead. And it's not like he lusted after just me, no I am only one fourth of this quartet. The one fourth of this quartet that that wasn't even lusted after enough to embrace. Spike, I can understand he's his childe; one he chose and created, but Alexander Harris. The same Xander Harris, a boy who had once captured Cordelia's heart seemed to also capture Angelus'; at least enough to embrace the boy. A boy, one I have under estimated. A boy, who found love, has love, which was getting married, who is sacrificing he's love in order to save his friends. He's not doing this because of a secret love. No, his pain is echoing off of him. And this boy shares something special with Spike as well. The way he holds him screams the care he has for the smaller man. Angel will have his childe back, will have the boy he embraced, and then there's me; a body that he's lusted after, but not enough to embrace me. The saying of being careful for what you wish for has never made itself more clearly in my entire life. *

*****