"Yes." I answer. What can I say to her to stop the pain? I know what it feels like to feel betrayed by love. Look at Oz and me. I was ready to curse him when I found out about him and that foot disease girl. Oh dear, that isn't good. I think I might be making an enemy out of the Vampire Slayer - a girl 10 times stronger than me.

"So who's what then," Spike speaks up. "Am I his strength and Willow his seer guide?"

"I don't know," answers Giles rubbing his glasses. "When I came in, Angel have a vision, right?"

"Yep as soon as he saw Slutty over there."

"Did either of you feel it?"

"I didn't," I answer. "I felt him weaken. I needed to protect him, but that's all."

"Oh shit," mumbles Spike, "I'm the companion and stuff... No way! I'm the Big Bad, I kill things. I am not a nursemaid!" he screeches.

"Spike..." moans Angel from his place on Spike's chest.

"Shhh... It's okay, pet." Spike runs his hands over Angel's face and back, calming him again. "I'm here... oh bugger!" Spike hits himself around the head. "I'm turning into a bloody poof!"

"No, Spike," Giles can't help but grin as he speaks. "You will just feel protective around Angel because you will be able to sense his visions, and when he needs you. You are what grounds him into the present. To everyone else you can carry on being your vulgar self."

"Hee hee, I'm back!" Spike morphs into game face, and growls at Giles and Buffy.

"Spike, give over!" I command.

"You, Willow, are also feeling the bond. You are Angel's strength. I can assume that it will make you physically stronger, you will sense Angel's weakness and needs. You are already commanding around him, and protective of him with anyone that might come too close."

"I am?" I ask incredulously. Then I remember what I did to Buffy when she got too close. I never used my power like that before. There is an overwhelming feeling of jealousy if anyone comes near Angel. I can't stand the thought of another woman touching him, especially Buffy. Of course, Buffy and he were once lovers, and she still believes him to be her true love - her soul mate. I'm jealous of his feelings for her, even though deep down I know he'll always love her, but he's not *in* love with her. He's in *love* with Spike. Who is a man, so I can deal with that.

"So, what was Angel's vision?" Buffy suddenly speaks. She doesn't look at me but directly at Giles. I can almost taste her hostility towards me and Spike.

"Oh, good grief! We totally forgot, it might be important." Giles turns to Angel, and is about to touch him when Spike snarls. He backs off immediately.

"Angel-luv," Spike whispers into Angel's ear. He strokes his Sire's back gently, trying to keep him calm. "Can you tell me about the vision, pet. What did you see?"

My heart breaks as Angel lifts his head from Spike's chest. His eyes are bloodshot, and he's so pale and weak. The pain is visible on his face.

"I can't... please, Spike... I can't go back there... Please... no more..."

"Angel, you have to tell us," I order. My voice is full of authority and it makes me shiver with how cruel and heartless I sound. Yet, I feel as though he has to tell. He needs to share the pain of the visions with us. Otherwise, we can't heal it. I walk over and kneel beside my lover. I touch his face and he presses into my touch. I hate seeing Angel like this. He was always so strong, so big and protective. Now he can't even care for himself, he's broken by visions that he can't control. Thank the gods that he came to us. On his own, who knows what would have happened?

"I promise to make you feel better," Spike murmurs into Angel's ear. He runs his hands seductively down Angel's back, finally gripping his ass. Damn, he looks so fuck-able in leather. Bad Willow! Spike presses his lower body into Angel's hips and he moans softly. Buffy gives a loud huff and collects her groceries. I can't tell what she's thinking or feeling. I used to be able to understand her, she is... was my best friend, now I can't reach her. She's becoming so distant from me. She' no longer the Buffy I knew.

"Guns," Angel starts, his voice dragging my attention from Buffy. "It was those commando men and they were chasing something. A big human, but he wasn't. He'd been changed, that woman who... who touched me... she was there... she was replacing his body with demon parts... then he started ripping everyone apart! Blood everywhere! So much anger!" Angel's voice rises and increases, until he's sobbing and crying out about what he saw.

"Shhh, Angel," Spike comforts, pressing his body firmly against the other vampire's.

"Was there anymore, Angel?" asks Giles, who's taking notes. I'm so thankful that we have at least one person we cane turn to. With Giles' guidance, we might get through this.

"I don't... don't understand them..." Angel sobs in Spike's arms. His body trembles from re-living the vision again. I can't imagine what it must feel like. Does he experience what these people feel? Does he see everything from their eyes? Does he feel the pain of evil's actions?

"Will!" Angel suddenly screams, "Priests are coming... they hurt... Holtz burning me... hurts... hurts... save me... please... please, Will!"

"Angel, it's okay! I have you!" Spike gently rocks his crazed Sire.

"I believe that was the demon inside that is fighting against the visions," says Giles quietly to me, making more notes.

I shiver as I look into glazed and terrified eyes. I believe that Angel doesn't see us after the visions, just images of his past and the aftermath of the terror he witnesses.

"What do you mean? Angelus is doing that to Angel?" I question, shocked by the revelation.

"Yes, he's dredging up their past, confusing Angel about what he is witnessing in the visions. Soon Angel might not be able to tell the difference between what's real and not. He won't know what's happening, going to happen, and what has already past."

"Well, I'll just start cooking dinner while you think about this. You three staying?" Buffy asks us cheerfully from the kitchen.

"Yeah... sure." I mumble in surprise.

I observe her for a moment while Giles and Spike talk between themselves. Something has happened to her. In the last few seconds she's changed. How - I can't tell. I'm sure she's planning something.

"Buffy, are you okay?" I ask walking over to the kitchen area. She smiles and continues putting the food out. "I'm really sorry about everything that happened. I never meant to hurt you, it just... something made me, us... I'm just really sorry." I finish. To say something forced me to have sex with Angel would be lying. I could have stopped it, but I didn't want to. I wanted to touch him; I wanted to feel desired and loved. I feel whole, like I've never felt before. It is just like Angel said before - we are joined. We touched each other and felt whole - complete. Like we are the missing pieces to something... Well, I'm not really sure what we are. What are the 'three'. But even though I have these questions, I never want that to change - not even for Buffy's sake.

"Willow, I understand I really do. I know you weren't hurting me on purpose. I was wrong to get angry. Angel and me, well, we aren't together anymore. He's moved on and so should I. It was just a shock, Okay? Forgive me?" she gives me that smile that always melts my heart. I hug her, and she embraces me back. But for some reason it feels strange. Almost like it's forced. I don't know if it's on my part or hers.

***

Angel's POV:

The vision earlier has left me weak and restless. I've told Giles and Spike that it didn't feel urgent and those events were not happening now. In fact, they feel months away... Spike agrees with the assessment and says he feels no sense of urgency either. I still get flashes of the vision, but also another one. One very different to the first. This time with priests in red clothing, I discern a sewer and I'm running through it. Another moment, I'm in some large underground cavern, where a man whose name I know is Holtz starts to torture me. I can't tell if this is real or not. Did it happen or will it happen? Past, future and present are becoming a huge blur to me. The only thing I'm sure of is the presence of Spike, m' ion�in (my beloved) and Willow, mo cumhacht (my strength). When they talk to me I know they are real. I know that they shall protect me. They are the only people that ground me into the present.

"Burning..." I suddenly mumble into Spike's chest.

"Slayer, something's burning," Spike shouts out at the slay... Buffy.

"Angel, did you have another vision?" asks Giles, his interested peeking.

"Nah, we can smell it." Spike answers, with a sly grin.

I snuggle deeper into Spike's embrace wanting to never move. I desire to be here forever. With him is the only place I've felt safe since I received the visions - well, maybe even longer than that. I never blamed him for torturing me. If I was evil and wanted the ring, I would have done much worse. So I do understand, after all he is my Childe, and I did teach him that. It is strange how he can accept me so easily and quickly. Then again after our experience with the Initiative he might need someone to hold on to. I get the feeling sometimes that he experienced more than he lets on. That he can remember what they did to him - whatever it is that stops him from biting or harming humans.

"I hope you're all hungry," Buffy shouts from the kitchen, "there's enough here to feed an army."

"Oh, that reminds me," Giles says, "I brought some blood while I was out, for you and Spike."

"Thank you, Giles," I answer. I smile lightly and attempt to rise. My muscles tremble with the strain and in the end both Giles and Spike help me stand. Giles' touch alights more flashes of visions inside my mind, but I push them away. Spike gives me a curious look, but doesn't say anything. I wonder if he felt that? If he knows whenever I get a glimpse of a vision?

"Xander... door..." I mumble. In the vision, I glimpsed at Xander and a blond haired woman coming towards Giles' home. Spike smiles at me. I don't know why.

"Don't fight the visions, luv," he whispers while Giles answers the door.

"You know when I have them?" I ask back, in a vampire soft voice.

"I feel them on the edge of my mind. Kind of like an itch I can't scratch. I don't know what you see, but I know when they come. You can't fight them, Angel. Try and accept them, maybe they won't hurt as much." Spike soft fingers stroke my cheek and I lean into his touch. I don't know how to do what he says. It's like my whole body and mind rebels against the visions, causing me pain and suffering.

"Okay," I reply. I feel suddenly warm as he flashes a glaringly bright smile at me. I wish I could kiss him, here and now.

"Deadboy!" Xander cries upon noticing me. "And Deadboy junior. Shouldn't Buffy be around staking you now? Wait a minute... what are you and Spike doing together... and in leather! Quickly Giles, a stake."

"Angel isn't evil, Spike can't bite you," Giles answers calmly and takes his jacket.

"Huh?" Xander looks at the three of us with surprise.

"Hi, I'm Anya, and wow! You two are really cute!" A leggy blond enters behind Xander and immediately comes over to shake my hand. I back away. Giles touched me before and it set off another vision, I won't risk it again.

"Are you sure he isn't evil?" Xander whispers to Giles.

"I'm not evil again! Why does everyone think that?" I retort back. I step away from Anya, and Xander takes her arm to lead her away from me. "I haven't been evil for a long time."

"Yes, dear," Spike grins and pats my arm. I growl at him.

"So everyone ready for dinner," Buffy calls from the kitchen. She walks in carrying an unnaturally large sized turkey, followed by Willow with roast potatoes and peas. Willow gives me a gentle smile as she passes.

"Come on, gather round, we're all friends... well, kinda friends here." She gives me, Spike and Willow a strange look. I shiver remembering the visions of Buffy from before. The problem is I don't know what it is that makes me afraid. They really weren't specific about what she'll do.

Everyone stands nervously around the table. No one is comfortable with each other, and we all have our little unspoken anxieties and fears. Finally, Giles and Willow take matters into their own hands and guides us to the table. Willow sits Spike and me next to each other making a space for herself on my right. Then, Giles gives Buffy a seat at the head of the table, while he takes the opposite end; Xander and Anya sit facing us.

For a long moment we sit in silence. Willow goes off and brings Spike and myself a mug of warmed blood. She reseats herself next to me. She gently takes my hand and smiles encouragingly. Xander and Buffy both give us an evil glare, but say nothing.

"So Slayer, you kill your own turkey?" Spike enquires breaking the silence. "Just to make sure, you didn't stake it did you? Because I would hate to find a stake left in there."

"I think the turkey looks wonderful, Buffy," Giles interrupts before Spike can say anything more.

"Yeah, can't wait to taste it," Xander grins, holding his plate out for Buffy to give him a slice.

Soon everyone starts eating - in silence. Spike and myself drink our blood, while everyone but Willow turns away in disgust. It's strange that I feel comfortable drinking it with Willow, she seems to accept all our vampire needs. She doesn't act afraid of me in any way. Unlike Buffy who was never able to accept that under the soul, I am still a vampire. I missed being that. I have the urges of a vampire, and being with Spike makes me able to act some of that out. Okay, I'm just talking about the sex at the moment. I miss vampire sex. I miss the blood and the biting, the near impossibility of hurting his vampire body.

"Enjoying it, Peaches," Spike leans over and grins at me. I shiver at his suggestive manner, I don't think he was speaking of the blood. Oh damn, I hope he can't read my mind. I suddenly think about Spike naked and tied to the bed, writhing as I suck him off. Spike gives me a luscious grin, over his mug of blood and licks his lips clean. His eyes drop down into my lap, and the grin becomes wider. Damn, I think he can smell me. Beside me Willow elbows me in the ribs and I draw my attention away from Spike. I think everyone noticed me staring at him, as he gave my groin an eyeful.

"So, what are you and Spike doing here then?" asks Xander, he's been desperate to ask that all night, "and why isn't junior here trying to kill everyone?"

"Oh, that's easy," Buffy comments, while eating her turkey. "Spike can't bite humans. Those commandos captured him and they did something to his head. Angel has visions, given to him by a dead Seer. Then they come to my town and with Willow, they screw the hell out of each other. I'm not straight about that part, Will. Did you screw both of them or just Angel? And was that before or after Angel fucked Spike?" She smiles sweetly and continues eating.

I can't believe she just said that. Xander's jaw drops open and he stares at Willow and me, then back to Willow. Giles chokes on his turkey and Anya has to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre. Me, I feel like burying myself in a nice deep hole - on the other side of the world. Spike just throws his head back and laughs. Suddenly, he's grabbing hold of my face, and drawing me into a deep kiss.

The table is silent while everyone stares at Spike' mouth attached to mine. "I think this is the best Thanksgiving ever," he proclaims taking a breath. I think I'll have to agree with him on some parts. He covers my mouth again, groping heavily and we continue to kiss in the silent room.

End