*****

Cordelia gave Angel a smile as she accepted the glass of water and the painkillers he held out to her. It had been hours since her last vision but the pain had yet to completely fade. The vampire gently stroked his seer's bruised cheek and gave her one more apologetic look. Things had been strained between them after the whole thing with Faith and he knew Cordelia didn't fully understand his actions. She did, however accept his decision and things were slowly returning to normal between them.

Angel wished he could say the same thing about his and Wesley's relationship but it wasn't so. Although the Englishman had a good excuse for not coming with them to Sunnydale, Angel felt as if Wesley was avoiding him. The vampire didn't hold it against him but he had hoped that he would be able to make the man trust in him enough to remain his employee. He enjoyed the ex-watcher's company even though they didn't always share the same opinion.

Angel stepped behind Cordelia's chair, his gaze moving over the others that had gathered for this meeting at Giles' place. His eyes locked with his ex-girlfriend's, Buffy, and held there as he felt the familiar pang in his chest. Things just seemed to get worse and worse between them.

Just a year ago he would not have thought that things would ever be so bad between them that they would actually end up fighting with each other. *Hitting* each other. He could sense the gap between them widening with every meeting and he was very afraid the bond they had once shared was beginning to erode completely.

Angel sighed deeply but quickly pulled himself together when Cordelia turned her head to look at him with a worried expression. He only had to look into her hazel eyes to see that she knew what he was feeling and that she was feeling bad for him. It meant the world to him that she wasn't leaving him alone to face his old ghosts. He smiled when she squeezed his hand in comfort and they turned their attention back to the discussion at hand.

"So, Cordelia, do I understand correctly? You didn't actually *see* anything? It was more of some type of 'bad feeling' you had?" Giles asked.

"Uh huh." Cordelia answered, crossing her legs. "Big, bad, danger stuff."

Giles nodded his head. "Yes, well, it's all very vague. I'm not sure what to make of it." He looked around, his gaze thoughtful. "Buffy?"

"Nope. Spider senses tingle free on my end." Buffy answered with a sigh. She checked her watch. She was late for her date with Riley and after the whole Faith and Angel incident in LA she needed a bit of a break from Angel and the gang. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Faith, Angel, the Initiative and of course, Riley. She wanted to be Faith-thought free for awhile.

"I feel it, though." Oz said to no one in particular. "It's kinda very intense."

Oz had been on his way out of Sunnydale when he had been struck with a strong feeling that had him making a sharp U-turn and heading straight back. It hurt him to be near Willow and her new lover, but if he had a part to play in keeping her and those she loved safe, then he would play his part to the death.

"Um, maybe there's a spell? You know. . .one we could do to see where the mystical energy is coming from?" Tara suggested, her hand clutching her girlfriends. Her gaze kept drifting to Oz and darting away. She could sense him watching her and Willow and she knew if she had a handy blanket she'd pull it over herself and Willow and hide from his fierce gaze.

"Oh, yes!" Willow clapped her hands. "That would be so cool! I think I saw something we could use in..."

"Will, I think our answer lies in violence." Buffy said, cutting her off. "Just find me the thing to pummel and I'll go kick evil's ass and you guys can all get out of here and go home."

"I really don't think it's to be that easy, Buffy." Giles told her."If Cordelia had a vision from the Powers That Be, then it's something we must take very seriously." He smiled at her. "I don't think violence will be enough."

Buffy snorted, crossing her arms over her chest, but she didn't disagree.

"So what's the plan?" Xander asked the group.

Giles coughed. "For the moment we don't *have* a plan." He admitted to the group. "We don't know what we're facing. All that we do know is the atmospehere has been changing and that speaks of witchcraft. What we need to find out is why and by whom."

A bright light lit the apartment, blinding them. All they felt next was the sense of falling.

*****

Tara found herself lying on the ground, grass and mud pressing against her palms as they flexed instinctively. After lying completely still for awhile she opened her eyes and looked around. She was outside, that much she could tell. Exotic trees were all around her and the ground was wet, soaking into her clothes. The smell was rich and dark and she seemed to be in some kind of jungle.

Tara sat up, her gaze sweeping the dark trees surrounding her. Swallowing hard, she got to her feet and began to walk the open path to her right. She walked until a shadow crossed her path, startling her. She placed a hand over her rapidly beating heart as she looked at he red headed man before her.

"Oz." She said in recognition. Her voice was trembling but she couldn't help it.

"Tara. You okay?" Oz asked her, looking at her pale, frightened face. Tara nodded.

"Where. . .where are we?" She stammered, her eyes darting from one shadowy place to another before once again settling on Oz's calm face.

Oz looked around him and shrugged. "The woods? I don't really know." He straightend suddenly and motioned for Tara to look up. "Look at the sky."

"It's red." Tara commented.

"It's also a full moon." Oz told her.

Tara quickly glanced back at him. "Are you gonna change? Are you still, you know . . .angry?"

"No." He smiled at her. "And yes." He shrugged again. "But I feel different." Oz said, frowning.

"Different?" Tara asked him, gingerly watching his every move.

"I'm feeling. . .It feels like I'm alone. Inside. The wolf seems gone." Oz tried to explain.

"Oh. But that's a good thing, right? For, um, for both of us." Tara asked him, giving him a weak smile.

"Yeah." Oz breathed, and grabbed hold of her arm. She gave a start, her eyes widening and he sighed. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just think we should get out of here. Find the others. Willow."

"Oh, um, okay." Tara mumbled, letting him lead her deeper into the woods and up a steep incline. She was still afraid of Oz and she was more than a little confused. Last time they had met she was pretty sure he wanted to rip her apart and now he seemed concerned that she followed him safely over rocks and dips and that she didn't slip as they climbed up a hill.

They continued to walk until something came rushing out at them and Tara stopped and screamed in fear. She was surprised when Oz pushed her behind him, protecting her, but accepted it. Oz's small body tensed but they both relaxed when they saw that it was Willow. Tara quickly pushed passed Oz to hug her lover close to her. Willow giggled with pleasure, returning the hug. Her eyes went to Oz and she moved to hug him too, ignroing his initial coolness.

"Oz! Oh, *Oz*, I'm so glad you're here with us, wherever *here* is!" Willow told him, dancing about on her toes. Her smile faltered and she looked him in the eye. "But, have you seen the moon? It's one weird color." She moved a step away from her former lover. "Maybe I shouldn't be hugging you? Don't wanna bring out the animal in you, huh?"

Oz hugged her, holding her close. "It's cool." He told her. "There's just me in here."

Willow pulled back to smile at him. "No more wolfie?" She asked, her tone hopeful. "Cause that would be good. And a relief. And or maybe not. Cause, um, where are we?"

"And, um, why do you think that is?" Tara asked them. "The no wolf thing. Why is that?"

Willow shook her head. "I dunno. Maybe this place is just an illusion where my ex and my current like each other? Maybe we all did drugs and we forgot about doing them?" Willow took in the doubtful looks of her ex and her current. "Maybe it's just me and I had too much coffee and this is a big caffeine rush?"

"Feels real to me." Oz told them, touching the leaves of a nearby plant.

"Whatever it is, I don't like it here." Tara said, taking one step closer to Willow.

"Yep." Willow gave up the looking for the good and went with her feelings. "This is a big scary unfun place. It's creepy. Bad. Okay. I'm done now." Willow smiled. "The imortant thing to remember is that we're all alive and we are together!"

"Yeah, together. I just hope the others are okay and together too." Tara said. All three moved closer together as they let their eyes sweep across the unfamiliar landscape.

*****

Xander fought his way through the bushes, angrily ripping the branches apart and ignoring the pain the thorns caused him. He stopped dead in his tracks as his latest hand opening revealed Cordelia, standing lost and alone in a clearing. He turned his head, checking what was behind him before looking back at Cordelia. Nothing but more thorny bushes behind him and Cordelia before him. He took a moment to weigh his options before letting a branch snap and announce his arrival. Cordelia spun around to face him and when he saw the hope on her face die and be replaced with scorn, Xander wished he had taken the *more* thorny path.

"Cordelia! You're so the very person I didn't wanted to see." Xander told her, cheerfully.

"Great!" Cordelia muttered with a dramatic sigh as she looked to the sky and cursed The Powers That Be or whatever creatures that were responsible for her current misfortune. "Let poor Cordy be the one stuck with the loser. Sure." She shot Xander a dirty look before looking back up at the sky. "See! It's stuff like this that blocks me from my faith despite of your oh so tangible presence in my life you know! I mean, where's the love?! Where's the Denzel like person to rescue me!!"

"Ah, sweet as lemons you are, Cor. As per usual." Xander told her. "And speaking of fruit, check it out!" He shouted enthusiastically, pointing to a banana tree beside the former cheerleader. His grin faded and he rubbed his stomach absentmindedly. "I can't believe I'm so happy to see a fruit tree when I can't see a hamburger tree near by. It's just wrong. And it's, well. . .It's so damn depressing."

"Yeah, well, know what's more depressing? I need to pee." Cordelia announced.

"Eww. I didn't want to know that." Xander complained, his face turning into a grimace.

"I need to find a bathroom." Cordelia said, looking around her.

"Well, hey, good luck with that! If you haven't noticed we're on Monster Island!" Xander told her and she gave him a look. A *hard* one. He smiled at her.

"I can't pee if there's not a bathroom!" She argued.

"Tell that to someone who cares." Xander said. "Right now I have bigger problems. I'm fighting mental breakdown here. I haven't had a chocolate bar in.oh, God, two hours! What kind of hell place is this where there's only fruit?"

"Must be my very own personal hell since you're in it." Cordelia muttered as Xander ran into a tree, managing to land a pile of bananas on his head.

*****

Buffy groaned, pushing at the body on top of her. "Giles, thinking of moving any time soon?"

"Oh, sorry." Giles mumbled, rolling off of her. The back of his head thumped against the ground and he lay spread-eagle, staring up at the night sky.

Buffy smiled at him lovingly as she sat up. Her eyes clouded with sadness as she noted how old he looked. She didn't like to be reminded of the fact that the people she loved grew old and died. She knew odds were she'd die before those she loved did and that thought got her through the thought of loss most days. Morbid as it was, it comforted her. The thought of a day when Giles didn't exist was unthinkable to her.

Giles tilted his head to the side. "Now this is very odd."

Buffy sat up, her legs crossing over each other. "Ya think?" She looked at her watcher. "That's pretty much a given, Giles." She looked around her and then she looked back at Giles. "Yo, Giles. You alive in there? Or do the pretty stars got ya in their thrall?" She asked as his face was over taken with one of his "expressions" as he looked up at the sky.

"Hmm? What?" Giles stammered, blinking as she brought him out of his thoughts. "Oh, yes."

"You hurt?" Buffy asked him, concerned. "Did you hit your head?"

"I'm all right." Giles assured her and accepted her hand so she could help him up into a sitting position. "This is extraordinary. A red moon."

"What?" Buffy said, following his gaze. "Oh. Look at that. It's neat."

"It looks a bit ominous, don't you think?" Giles asked her.

"Oh yeah, it's a very bad moon." Buffy said and jumped to her feet. "What is this place?"

Giles struggled to his feet and started to walk around, inspecting the area.

"Giles, you're in pace mood, what gives?" Buffy asked him, walking up to him.

"The only thing I know for sure is that we have a problem." Giles answered.

Buffy gave him a look. "All those times you said it's absolutely necessary for a slayer to have a Watcher who guides her and acts like the brain while she's the brawns? So not get that."

"Oh, bite me."

"Giles!"

*****

Angel heard a low moan and rolled to his side, looking into the jungle. He saw a pale face peak out from the shadows and he relaxed. "Anya, right?"

"Angel." She said, crawling up to him. She sat down and brushed away the dirt from her face. "What happened?"

"I don't know. There was a bright light and then. . .I was here. Have you seen he others?" Angel asked her.

"No. And I haven't heard any screams." She sighed. "They are probably dead."

Angel raised his eyebrow and shook his head. He got up to his feet and helped her up. He might have never been a noble man but his Sire had thought him well to treat a lady, if one could call Anya that...

"Wait a minute." Angel suddenly said, his eyes widening.

"What?"

Angel touched his wrist, feeling the throb of his pulse. He took Anya's hand and placed it against his smooth chest, where his shirt hung open, right over his heart. "Can you feel that?"

"You're buff." Anya commented with a smile.

"What? No! The beating of my heart! Can you feel it?" Angel snapped at her.

"Yeah, you're human. So?" Anya sighed. "Hey! If you get to be human why can't I be a demon again? It's so not fair."

"This is amazing. I can't believe this." Angel said, while Anya continued her bickering.

"Can you stop the whining?" Angel finally said.

"Well, it bites!" Anya complained.

"No, I'll bite if you don't shut up!" Angel threatened her.

Anya crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh please, you're not a vampire anymore."

"You think I couldn't make it hurt anyway? Try me." Angel hissed.

Anya narrowed her eyes. "You have no idea who you're talking to! I was a vengeance demon for over a thousand years. Every man across the mortal plain feared my wrath."

"Not hard to believe." Angel commented.

Anya punched his arm. "You're mean!" She broke into a smile. "I like it."

Angel stared down at her. "Look, I'm going to see if the others are near by. You wait here."

"Why?"

"It's dangerous." Angel tried to explain, nodding at the deep jungle. "I don't know what's in there."

"So we can die together. It'll be romantic." Anya said, linking arms with him. "Let's go meet our fate together."

"You're one weird woman." Angel told her and she pulled a strand of her hair behind her ear and looked him deeply in the eye as she smiled.

"Yes. Yes I am."

*****
Part 2:

Xander muttered to himself as he climbed the rocky mountain side, Cordelia trailing behind him. They had been here for hours now and there was still no sign of a sun. Xander was beginning to doubt a sun even existed here. The red, full moon still hung high in the sky like a bad omen.

Xander heard the unmistakable sound of rocks falling and looked down to see Cordelia clinging desperately to a protruding stone as several bits of rock fell past her. He took note of the beads of sweat and mud smeared across her face as she clung to the side of the mountain.

"Oh God. I'm ready to wake up now." He heard her whisper, her voice exhausted and scared.

"Be careful, Cordy, you might slip and fall to a horrible death." Xander told her.

The former cheerleader lifted her chin and glared up at him. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

Xander didn't answer. It wasn't that he didn't have a comeback, it was just that the absolute terror in her voice took the fun out of it. Instead, he pulled himself up and over the ledge and then leaned down to offer her his hand. She accepted it without hesitation, letting him pull her up next to him. The two sat and looked out over the landscape below them.

"You know what's bugging me?" Xander finally asked after awhile.

"We're on an island stuck with each other?" Cordelia suggested.

"Yeah, there's that too, but it's that moon. It's red." Xander answered, nodding his head towards it.

"Well, I've seen an orange moon every now and then. It's normal."

"That's not orange, CC. It's red, as in blood, which makes it both icky and not normal." Xander told her, causing Cordelia to grimace.

"I hate this place!" Cordelia exclaimed, looking at her red, blistered palms. "What's going to happen to us if we can't get out of here?"

"I kinda think we die." Xander mumbled, standing up. "But before that, we're gonna reach the top. So, come on, lets get moving!"

* * * *

Willow glanced around and then looked up at the night sky. "Okay, this part is weird. Really weird."

"So, what you're saying, is that there is a part of this that is *not* weird?" Oz asked.

Willow gave him an amused look but kept a serious tone. "It should be light by now."

"What are we going to do?" Tara whispered, holding tightly to Willow's hand. The jungle's weird noises frightened her.

"I know what we can do. Try to not get killed." Willow suggested, only half-joking, as she squeezed her girlfriend's hand in comfort. "That's what we do best after all." She smiled at her companions. "Come on, guys! Think of all the practice we've had."

"Well, I can look around." Oz said. "Maybe I'll be lucky and find the others."

"No, don't go, Oz! I. . .we don't want to be alone." Willow said, panicking, and she placed her hand on his arm. "If we go somewhere, we'll go together, all right?"

"Sure." Oz said, smiling slightly.

Willow suddenly squealed. "I got it! I got it! I can do a spell that creates a ball of fire and it will help us get through the jungle and find our friends."

"Not saying you don't know what you're doing, but do you know what you're doing?" Oz asked her.

"Trust me. This is going to work. I've gotten a lot better at this." Willow assured him and ignored the look Tara gave her. She made a gesture for them to be silent. "Aurora, goddess of light and scorching fire I implore you. Make your instrument shine through the wilderness and help us find our way to people and places we've lost." A bright ball of fire sparkled in front of them. Willow turned around, looking at Tara and Oz with a proud smile on her lips. "Neat, huh?"

She saw their eyes widen and frowned. "What?"

"Are you sure it's supposed to be doing that?" Tara asked her, watching the ball grow behind the witch.

Willow spun around and stared at the rapidly growing ball. "Oh! Oops. Tara, what do I do? Oh, no, badness now!" She shrieked as the ball started to fly towards them. She threw herself to the ground and rolled over as the ball flew past her head and after her girlfriend who was running for cover.

"Tara!" She screamed as the blonde suddenly disappeared from her sight as if the earth had swallowed her.

Oz, who had been running after Tara, came to an abrubt stop at the edge of a cliff and looked down, seeing Tara hanging onto a little tree as her feet scrambled to find purchase against the cliffside. He watched as the ball of fire continued down and evaporate into the dark blue waters of a lake far below them. Willow was beside him in an instant.

"Tara, hold on!" She cried out in horror, staring into her girlfriend's frightened tear-filled eyes.

Oz quickly dropped to his stomach, making sure he was steady and offered his hand. "Grab my hand."

"I don't think I can." Tara whimpered as she felt the thin branch begin to give.

"Baby, please." Willow begged her, sobbing.

"Dammit, Tara, grab my hand!" Oz roared at her. Tara looked up, still horribly afraid, but reacting to the anger and command in his tone, she reached for him. Oz quickly grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled. Willow took hold of his belt and began to help. Together they drew Tara to safety.

Willow threw her arms around Tara's neck and kissed her desperately. "I thought I'd lost you." She whispered.

"Ne. . never." Tara stammered, smiling through the tears. She looked over at Oz, who was lying on the ground next to them panting in exhaustion and she blushed. "Thank you."

"I don't do thanks." Oz told her, his fingers gently brushing her lower arm. "But you're welcome."

Willow smiled softly, feeling a familiar pang in her chest as she reached out to take Oz's hand in hers. Their eyes locked and Willow felt like laughing and crying at the same time. Willow rested her head in Tara'a lap as she held Oz's hand in both of hers and the three stayed that way, trying to catch their breaths.

* * * *

Buffy sank to her knees, looking at her bleeding hands. She had tried to climp a tree in order to get a better view of their surroundings, but had fallend flat on her back, getting ripped and torn from the thorny bushes she had fallen into.

"Giles, something's wrong." She told her Watcher, who was looking down at her with concern. "I'm weak. What's happening to me?"

"I don't know but I'm sure there's no need to panic." Giles assured her, creating a rag from his shirt to bandage her hands.

"Nah, of course not. No need to worry when I'm gonna go into shock, anyway." Buffy told him as he did his best to clean and bandage her wounds. "This is unreal, Giles."

"Yes, quite so, but we've got more important things to worry about." Giles told her. "I believe I know who's responsible for this."

"Who?"

"Ethan Rayne, of course. He needs a good being killed to and we're going to help him with that." Giles muttered.

Buffy sighed. She knew how Giles got whenever he thought Ethan Rayne was responsible for some dark wacky mojo. "You don't know he's to blame for this."

"Ha! It reeks of him. Trust me, this is the work of that ninny." Giles told her.

"Fine! You go look for Ethan Rayne, Rupert Giles' dark nemesis! I'm gonna stay here and mope and do the shock thing." Buffy muttered, crawling to a tree and leaning against it and closing her eyes. "How does it start? With cold?" She shivered. "Cold. Check. What's next? When do I get to pass out?"

"Instead of whining and acting like a brat you could find a way to get us out of this situation!" Giles snapped at her.

Buffy opened her eyes to glare at him. "Oh, I'm sorry. My *total* bad, seeing as how I forgot this is all my entire fault! I don't have my slayer powers anymore, so don't expect me to be all slayery!" She crossed her arms over her chest and closed her eyes again. "My feet hurt, my hands hurt, everything is weird, you're *being* weird, and I want my friends. It's official: This day can't get any worse."

Lightning flashed in the dark sky, followed by thunder. They both looked up as fat rain drops began to fall. Buffy sighed miserably. "Don't you *dare* say this is my fault, Giles. I don't need slayer strength to stab with a pointy stick."

"Quite so."

* * * *

Anya watched the nicely shaped back of Angel as he walked a few feet ahead of her as they tramped through the jungle.

"If you insist on making us walk, then why don't you carry me? I have blisters on my feet and they're all your fault." She told him. He stopped and turned around, but only gave her a glare. She waited for a reply but he just turned around and continued to walk, which angered her more than a nasty reply would have. So she stopped walking and pouted at his back.

"Hey!" She shouted after him, frightened when he was almost out of her sight. She became even more frightened when a huge spider landed on her shoulder, hairy legs squirming and beady black eyes staring up at her.

"Oh God, Angel, get it off me!" She screamed, running after the man.

Angel turned at her cry and ran back to meet her. With a swift move of his hand, he knocked the deadly spider from her shoulder, watching it scurry off. He took Anya's hand and pulled her close. "You okay?"

Anya nodded, shivering in the aftershock of near death. She took a deep breath when the sky above them suddenly opened up and rain began to pour down, dripping from the large leaves that obscured their view of the sky, but offered no shelter from the deluge. She clung to Angel, feeling the wet material of his black shirt stick to his muscular body beneath her hands. Anya swallowed, suddenly, completely aware of how intimately their bodies touched.

Angel pushed a damp strand of her hair from her face, watching her beautiful eyes as she looked up at him. He saw the wakening desire there and licked his lips, pulling back from her as he felt himself grow hard.

"We need to find shelter." He told her, taking another step away. He still held her hand in his, reluctant to let her go completely.

"Okay. Yes. Shelter." Anya whispered. She kept her eyes glued to the body that seemed so damn lickable. Tall, dark and handsome, which was just the way she liked her men.

Angel swallowed hard, noticing how her pretty dress clung to her like a second skin. Her nipples had hardened in the cold rain and he longed to take one into his mouth, play with it until she moaned and squirmed and was unable to form a single thought. Until she was only able to feel the pleasure wash over her as he used his skillful hands and mouth to bring her over the edge.

Angel groaned, shifting, uncomfortable, in his snug, wet pants. The rain did nothing to cool the heat he was feeling.

"I, um, think I saw a cave back there." He stammered, and when she touched his chest it felt like a jolt of lightening went through him.

Anya began to move her fingertips in small circles across the thin material of Angel's shirt, before she moved them further down.

Angel seized her hand, stopping her questing fingers' travels over his body. He was old enough to know the game she was playing. Hell, he was old enough to have helped make the rules. However, there were lots of reasons for him to stop this. He seemed to be human here, yes, but did the curse still exist in some way or another? And, if he remembered correctly, Anya was Xander's girlfriend and they were in love, weren't they? Angel had been the "other man" on countless occasions without regret or remorse, but he had become a better man since then, and those days were gone forever, weren't they?

Angel was still brooding as they reached the cave he was leading them to. He was quickly pulled from his morose thoughts as Anya let her dress fall to the floor, leaving her standing before him completely naked.

"What the hell are you doing?" He blurted out.

Anya looked at him, confused with the reason for his raised tone. What? She was soaked. Why shouldn't she get undressed? It was a perfectly logical and human thing to do. She frowned as he pulled off his shirt and walked it to her, his head turned from her, and dropped the wet thing over her. She accepted the shirt as she stepped completely from her dress and finding a place to sit. She didn't understand why he didn't want to see her naked. She had a very nice body, she was sure. And while she enjoyed seeing him without his shirt, she didn't see why *she* had to be engulfed in its wetness.

"Um, thank you. But it defeats the purpose of removing *my* wet clothes if I just put your wet clothes on." She smiled at him. "Are you stupid? Because no one told me you were stupid. That never came up. I was under the impression you were clever. Was I wrong?"

"Oh, right. That's why you did that. I'm going to look for dry wood. See if I can get a fire going."

Anya just sat and watched as Angel scrounged for wood and built a little fire not far from her. She noticed him shiver.

"You should take off your pants now. So you can get warm and so that they can dry." She told him, enjoying the way the firelight flickered over his naked chest.

"Fine. Turn around and give me some privacy." Angel responded, taking the shirt she had tossed to the floor and laying it out to dry, along with her dress, beside the fire.

"Why?"

"Because that's what people do?" She only looked at him. "Fine. Have it your way." Angel sighed and released the restraints that held up his soaked pants. Anya watched, enthralled, as he pushed his pants down, past his hips and down his muscular thighs. When she saw that he wasn't wearing any underwear she wanted to cheer with delight, but held back. This was a man that had truly been blessed and she wasn't talking about any boring ole soul!

"You have a very nice body." She told him, once he had stepped out of his pants and stood naked before her. "And a large penis. It's nice." Anya lay back, her hands going to her lower stomach. "I'm naked and horny."

"Yes, I see that." Angel answered. He didn't turn his gaze away, as his mind was screaming at him to do, but instead, stared unashamedly as her legs spead in invitation.

"This is where you take advantage of me." Anya prompted, not understanding what was taking him so long.

"Now why would I do that?" Angel responded, sitting down by the fire. He had been resisting women for what seemed like forever. He was sure he could resist this one too.

After a silent moment Angel was mortified to hear crying. He looked at her, somewhat startled; he hadn't expected her to be a cryer. His expression softened. "Hey, now, what's the matter?"

"You're being mean to me." Anya sobbed, heartbreakingly.

Angel had no idea of what to say. He wasn't being mean; he was only being prudent. He couldn't figure this one out. He gave in and crawled to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and letting her bury her face against his chest. He hushed her, rocking her gently as he kissed her forehead. He felt her lips against his cheek, at his neck, at his chest and it was nice. He froze when Anya's soft mouth moved lower and suddenly engulfed his cock, causing all thoughts of protest to flee his mind.

"Jesus Christ!" He exclaimed, his fingers reaching down and entwining in her soft, brown locks.

Anya grinned around his cock, sucking harder. Can she just say "men"? They were just too damn easy.

* * * *

Xander and Cordelia had climbed to the top of the mountain and were now walking what seemed to be a twisting and turning path that led *down*. Neither had anything to say about that and both refrained to make any comment. Xander stopped suddenly, throwing out his arm to stop Cordelia from moving further.

"Wait a minute. This seems familiar, somehow." He said out loud.

Cordelia looked around them and then smacked his arm. "Well, hello, pinhead! We've already been here! You're making us walk in circles, you loser!"

She stopped her tirade when they heard something move behind the dark trees and bushes.

"What was that? There's someone in there! It could be Angel!" Cordelia exclaimed.

"Yeah, it could be Angel." He agreed. "It could also be some kind of monster we've never seen before that wants to eat us alive. So? Do *you* wanna go in there? Cause my answer is a big 'no'."

"Well, if you go first. . ." Cordelia began.

Xander sat down on a rock and smiled at her. "I believe I've already answered that question."

Cordelia sighed and sat down next to him.

Xander sighed. "This is killing me. The others could be out there somewhere. Dying for all we know, and we're sitting here doing nothing."

"Oh, and who's idea is *that*?" Cordy snapped. Xander remained quiet. "So? Got a plan?" She asked.

"Nope. I just needed to say that out loud." Xander told her.

"Humph! Of course. Why did I even bother asking? You having a plan? Not of the likely variety!"

"Okay, Cordy. Do *you* have a plan?"

"We could scream for help." Cordelia suggested.

"I think we're pretty much in a scream-all-you-want-scenario. The only thing you're going to accomplish is to loose your voice. What am I saying? Great plan, Cor!" Xander said, thumping her on the back. "Go for it!"

The seer was reading her shot to sock him when the rain began to pour down from the heavens.

"Typical!" Cordelia shouted, giving Xander a fierce glare, as if he was to blame for nature's pranks against them.

Xander shrugged, used to and almost expecting such misfortune. He stood up, nodding towards the swamp in front of them. "Guess we're going through there after all."

"Are you insane? I'm not going in there!" Cordelia yelled, looking in horror at the muddy water.

"It's just a short swim, Cor. Once on the other side I think we can find shelter." Xander told her. He lowered himself into the water, satisfied when his feet touched the muddy bottom.

"If there's something icky in here you're going to be so very beyond sorry." Cordelia told him as she followed him. She made a disgusted sound when she felt the filthy water seep through her clothes. "Oh God, I'm going to be dry-cleaning until judgment day!"

Xander quietly concentrated on making it across, carefully feeling his way through the water, not wanting the bottom to suddenly disappear under him.

"Why is this happening to me?" Cordelia cried out, as the heavy rain caused the water to spurt into her face. "Did I mention I hate this place?" She asked Xander's back. When he didn't answer her she quieted, taking a deep breath. She almost fainted when she felt something slimy bump against her bare leg. "Xander?"

Xander heard her whisper his name and turned around, looking at her pale face. "What is it, Cordy?"

"There's something in here." She told him, her voice shaking.

"Like what?" He asked her stupidly.

Cordelia didn't even dignify that with an answer. She felt the thing move against her again and decided to panic, diving in and swimming past Xander towards the shore. He yelped, not wanting to encounter whatever Cordelia had found under the dark water, and followed, swimming in blind panic after her. They crawled together up on the other side, the rain washing some of the rancid water from them. Frightened, they stared out over the swamp as the lighting gave them clear sight of a long snake-like tail disappearing beneath the surface.

Xander screamed like a girl and continued to do so until Cordelia slapped him. She captured his startled face in her hands and kissed him into silence. Fear was once again the thing that brought them into each other's arms.

* * * *

Anya was lying on her back, watching the fire light dance across the ceiling of the cave with her mouth open as she panted and moaned in pleasure. He eyes squeezed shut with ecstasy and she arched her body as Angel's tongue thrust into her sopping cunt.

"Oh god!" She whimpered as his licked at her slit. His talented tongue moved up to her throbbing clit and she moaned again. When his lips wrapped around the heated, blood filled nubbin of flesh, she screamed in rapture, coming so hard she felt as is she were pulling apart. Anya opened her eyes and lifted her head to admire his beautiful face, or what she could see of it, as it was buried between her soft thighs, his tongue still lapping at her juices. She rolled her hips, her hands coming down to sink into his hair as she took control of where his mouth and tongue went as he sucked and kissed at her.

When Anya felt another orgasm build she pulled at his dark head. He looked up, amused.

"My turn?" He asked her. Anya licked her lips and tried to form words but was unable to do so. Angel only smiled and slid his way up her body. He kissed her lips as his hands went to the back of her knees, cupping them and pushing up.

Anya moaned again, unable to do anything else, as she felt his hard cock against her slit. She reached down and took hold of his cock, guiding the head of him to her entrance. Angel moaned as her hot hand grasped him and he thrust fully inside her. He took hold of her wrists and held them above her head as he began to move inside of her. Anya's legs wrapped around his ass, locking her ankles as he slid deeply into her. She cried out once she felt the slap of his balls against her ass as he rode her to completion.

Several times through out the night Anya felt as if she had died and gone to heaven. She lost count of her orgasms and the times she had reached for Angel or he had reached for her, deciding the count didn't really matter. She just lived and existed to feel what this man made her feel. He, for however long it lasted, was her every thing and she was utterly lost to every thing but the sensation of being part of him for this moment.

* * * *

Willow brought her arms around Tara, trying to rub warmth into her chilled body with her hands. The rain had come quickly and had soaked them within seconds. They had sought shelter in a cave behind a fast moving waterfall Tara had spotted. The blonde smiled at Willow, still amazed with her beauty and the fact that she had her love.

"I love you." She told her.

Willow smiled softly. "I know."

Tara lowered her eyes and Willow captured her chin, tilting her head up. "What's wrong?"

Tara's eyes darted towards Oz who had moved further into the cave. Willow forced her to look back at her. "Hey, I love you. You."

"I know that. It's just that I don't think you're really over him yet, which I can understand." Tara told her quietly.

"He's Oz, you know?" Willow said, looking at the short, redheaded man with a fond smile.

Tara's eyes never left Willow's face. "I know."

Willow turned around, walking towards the path that went along the back of the waterfall.

"Where are you going?" Tara asked her, surprised.

"Nature's calling. I need a little privacy. I'm gonna be right outside, don't worry." Willow said with a smile. Tara nodded and hesitantly walked to Oz.

"Where's Will?" He asked her, worried.

"Um, she needed a little alone time." Tara answered, blushing slightly.

"Oh." Oz said and crouched down as he worked at lighting a fire. He couldn't stop his grin as his fumbling brought forth a familiar snap and crackle and flame. "Behold, I give you fire."

"That's nice." Tara commented and sat down.

"It is pretty cool, huh? And I was never a boy scout. Learned it all from TV." He moved his gaze from the fire to Tara. "You really a beautiful girl, Tara. Special. I can see what Willow sees in you." He leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss. Tara was speechless when he moved away.

"Um, what's going on?" Willow asked them as she came behind them.

"Come here." Oz told her softly and she obeyed, sitting down beside him. "We need to talk." Oz continued. "Willow, I miss you. I miss you, like every second, even when you're around. It's not easy being without you. I've seen what you two have and I respect it. All I ask is that you let me be a part of it."

Willow stared at him, not knowing what to say. Tara looked at her girlfriend, seeing the questions in her eyes. "I. . .I wouldn't mind." She stammered. "At least, I don't think so."

"You wouldn't?" Willow exclaimed. "I mean, oh. Wow."

"Are you willing to give it a shot?" Oz asked her. "The three of us? Some kind of 1970's relationship? We can ask Giles how they work, if we ever find him."

Willow looked at them and then started to giggle. "I'm giddy now."

Tara and Oz decided to take that as a yes.

"Do you like cats?" Tara asked Oz. She wanted her room to be Oz friendly but she wasn't going to give Kitty Fantastico away.

"They usually don't like me. The wolf thing, you know." Oz answered.

"Oh, but you don't eat them, do you?" Tara asked him.

"Oz doesn't eat cats!" Willow exclaimed, scowling her girlfriend. Then she looked at Oz. "Um, you don't, do you?"

"Not officially." Oz answered dead pan. "It hasn't been documented thus far."

Willow grinned. "He's just being Oz." She told Tara.

"It's pretty much my full time gig." Oz answered and Willow gave him a kiss. "I'm told you get used to it."

An hour later the three fell asleep naked in front of the fire. Smiles were on all their faces as they shared the same dream.

*****

Ethan Rayne looked into the magic ball with a grin on his face, watching them all fall asleep in the dream world he had created for them. They would soon wake up in their respective beds only remembering their adventures as a dream. Ethan's smile widened, knowing he had put things in motion. Love was chaos in its purest form and he would look forward seeing it grow or perish.

The End