Spike's POV:

A couple of hours later, we have Willow nearly sober. Cordelia is filling her with mug after mug of strong, black coffee. I feel sorry for the girl, in a way. Cordelia's coffee is the worst I've ever tasted. It will either kill or cure her.

"No more," Willow moans, as Cordelia puts another cup before her.

"Willow, you have to tell us what you did," orders Wesley, as calmly as he can be with three eyes.

How can he be calm at a time like this?

"I don't really remember much," she mumbles again.

"Try!" I snap.

"Angel and I were talking. We got a little drunk, then I saw these little green men and... no... no, I think I dreamed that."

"Just tell us what you did!" I shriek at her. Cordelia touches my arm, but I brush her off.

"I think.. I mean I did a `As I will' spell. It was supposed to make things better," she whines, tears running down her face.

"You mean the spell where you nearly got me to marry Buffy?"

Willow nods, looking even more dismal.

"Right, then," smiles Wesley, thinking he's got it all covered, "You can just do a quick reversal spell and everything will be back to normal."

Willow starts to sob even more, "I can't!"

Huh? I'll torture her until she does!

"I can't. I wished my powers away."

"What?!" screams Cordelia. She grabs Willow by the shoulders, and shakes her hard. "What did you wish, Willow?"

"Me, I got rid of my powers. You, I wished the pain away. Spike, Angel wanted him to be able to defend himself from humans. Wesley, well you always wore glasses, so I wished perfect sight. Gunn, I don't know you, but Angel explained you and said you were bald - so I wished you hair."

"What about, Angel?" I spit out, my temper reaching nearly boiling point.

"I wished his pain away, his guilt over the past gone."

"What did you say *exactly*?"

"I didn't want him to remember the grief from when he was a vampire," she mumbles.

Great, that probably means he remembers nothing of being a vampire!

I sit down. I can't take anymore. This is unbelievable! It was bad enough the first time around when Willow made me nearly marry Slutty. At least then she reversed it with a spell, but this time the stupid bint has gotten rid of her bloody powers. What do we do now? I know what I want to do - and it involves chains, spikes and a lot more unpleasant things. Unfortunately, it won't get me anywhere. Willow is a witch now divorced of her powers. Just bloody brilliant!

Suddenly, there is a heart-wrenching scream from Angel. We moved him into the bedroom to sleep off his drunken stupor. I run in to him, only to find him curled in a ball at the top of the bed. He shivers and his hands pull at his hair.

"Where is this place? Did my Da send me here? Please, is this my punishment?" he blubbers, through the fear and tears.

I just can't get over his strong Irish accent. I've never heard him talk like this. I have never heard the pure terror in his voice when he mentions - Da - his father. I move towards Angel, but he tries to make himself even smaller.

"Please don't hit me. Please, I won't do it again!"

"Angel, do you know me?"

"I'm not an angel. Why did you call me that? My name is Liam."

"Liam, do you know who I am?"

Angel - Liam - stares at me with terrified eyes. "I don't know. I feel... there is something... I know you are Spike. I don't know how I know... please, are you a devil? Am I in hell? My Da said I belong in hell..." Tears fill my childe's eyes and he buries his face into his arms. I step towards him quickly, wanting only to offer comfort.

"Please, don't hit me!" he wails as I approach, " I won't cry, I promise I won't. Please..." He hurriedly wipes away his tears and backs further across the bed.

"I'm not a devil, and I won't hit you, An... Liam," I gently reassure him. I keep my voice low and raise my hands in the spirit of surrender. Angel - sorry, Liam relaxes again and his arms fall from shielding his head.

"Are you hungry, Liam? Do you need anything?" Liam shakes his head and curls back up on the bed.

I stand and stare at him a moment. His whole demeanour has changed. He's a child, terrified, yet at the same time thinking he deserves to be afraid and punished just because of who he is. I slowly reach out and brush my fingers through his dark locks.

"Please..." Liam whimpers, the smell of his fear enraging my demon.

I hold back the urge to shake him or try to knock some sense into him. I really don't think violence towards this broken chid will do any good. I hush him, continuing my gentle strokes. I wish I could say something comforting. Trouble is what can I say? Everything is so alien and strange that he's not going to believe my words. So I just continue to pet his hair. After about 10 minutes, his dark chocolate eyes flutter closed and his breathing slows. I don't move, just continue stroking until all breathing stops and I know he's asleep.

When I return back into the main room everyone is staring at me. I think they were all listening. Willow is crying again and Cordelia tries to comfort her.

"We have to find a way to break this spell," I comment, looking back at the mass of terrified Angel on our bed. They nod in unison, understanding the desperate need we have to end this spell. The problems remains on now how to do just that. The `As I Will' spell is rather simple, but it requires a witch of some supremacy to perform it. From what I remember from last time, Willow is the only one who can reverse it. In other words even if we bring in a hundred witches they couldn't take the wishes back, only the spellcaster can do that. That is where we hit a snag. Willow can't because the idiot witch got rid of her own powers! I don't believe this! I don't know what to do for the first time in my life! There are no plans, no inspired ideas, nothing. And then there's Angel - what the hell do I do with him!? He's having a bloody breakdown, cowing from everyone, because daddy-dearest used to beat the shit out of him. He doesn't have to tell me, I can see it. Makes me kinda glad that my own father wasn't like that.

Our best course of action is suggested by Wesley - attack the books. I must be in a sad state, because I can't think of any other alternative. Willow and Angel - Liam! - what the hell do I call him! Okay, I'm sticking with Angel - are put to bed and the rest of us stomped downstairs to search for an answer. Oh, joy!

It's around dusk when there is a growl from upstairs. Nobody takes the slightest bit of notice. I guess that they are all so used to having two vampires around which things are an every day occurance. The growl, however, gets my attention. Vampire growls are just like animal ones they all have meaning. This one is a `I'm hungry and I'm about to attack you' growl... I don't even have time to shout a warning. Angel flies down the stairs, over the banister, and lands on Cordelia's back. She lets out a full scream, (amazing set of lungs on that girl), and luckily manages to fling him off. Angel lands on all fours like a cat, and growls again.

"Spike! Stop him!" screams Cordelia, prancing about trying to escape Angel`s attempts at snaring her for dinner.

Yeah? "How?" I shout back. She's kinda forgotten the whole discussion we had about the spell. The part where my chip now works the other way around. Where I can't hurt one hair on Angel's bloody head!

Angel pounces again and this time knocks Cordelia over onto her back. His long fangs snap at her throat, but she manages to stop them connecting. I try to hit Angel in the jaw, but the pain sends me to my knees. Wesley and Gunn attempt their own method of attack. Wesley throws a vial of holy water and Angel screams in pain. He claws at his face, as the vile liquid burns into his flesh. Gunn lets lose an arrow that hits Angel in the abdomen. He screams in fury trying to pull it out. All this time, I can only stand and watch. I can't do anything. I can't help Angel, and I can't protect the humans from him either.

Finally, Wesley and Gunn have Angel cornered with the threat of Holy Water and a crossbow. He's like a caged animal as he snaps and snarls at them. I can see his eyes wide with hunger and fury. Finally, I realise he's immersed in the bloodlust!

I've never seen Angel do this. He always seemed to have so much restraint. I had thought he never felt it, or didn`t feel it as strongly as I did. That his human soul somehow lessens the need. I was wrong there; his human soul just gives him a conscience. It doesn`t stop him from being a vampire with all our needs. Just as in humans a soul doesn't stop them from committing sin. With Angel it's his memories, his will that controls his bloodlust. Without it Angel is almost like any other starving vampire. He needs blood and he'll kill to get it.

"He's hungry!" I inform Wesley. Wesley nods, continuing to hold Angel at bay while I run into the kitchen. I grab a couple of blood bags, calm myself and then walk slowly towards Angel. He is still snarling and growling, when suddenly, he sniffs the air.

"Childe," I call to him, grabbing his attention. His golden eyes fix upon me and he sniffs in my direction. He lets out a deep-distressed whine. Instantly, he ceases being aggressive. He kneels before me awaiting his food from the one he knows, instinctively, to be his sire. Wesley and Gunn step away, as I advance towards my childe. I hope this works. I can't fight Angel for dominance, I just trust that some part of him recognises that is who I am - his sire, his master, his provider. I reach out a hand towards him and he sniffs at it, then slowly starts licking my fingers. His tongue is rough and demanding. It's really quite a turn on.

"Childe, you hunger," I speak softly, trying to calm to him, "I am your Sire, and I will provide you with food." Angel's golden eyes gaze into mine and he whines again. I hold out the two blood bags and he grabs them in a flash. There is a slurping, sucking sound and in seconds it's all gone. I quickly tug out the arrow from his side, it's not so bad, and will be healed soon since he`s just fed.

"Spike, can you control him?" asks Wesley softly, trying not to get Angel's attention. He foolishly walks towards me, making Angel look up from the now empty bags. He snarls and bares his elongated fangs.

"I think so, as long as he doesn't challenge me." Then we are in a real mess, but I'm not going to increase their fears. They might try to hurt my childe, but this time I can fight back!

I block out all the other humans and concentrate on my childe. I have to get him out of this state. Now he's been fed it should be a lot easier. As I gently start to purr, Angel's head cocks at the sound and he stares at me. I get nearer and nearer, until I stand directly before him. I half expect him to attack, but he understands his place. He acts like a vampire childe should and obeys his sire. He presses his face into my crotch and rubs it into my growing erection. Seconds later, I feel his fingers trying to work the buttons, so he can properly thank his sire. I would love to feel his mouth around me, but I don't think that the others are ready to experience that at this time.

I gently take his arm and pull him up to his feet. "I'm going to take Angel upstairs."

"I think you had better lock him up, too," adds Cordelia, staring fearfully at my feral childe.

Angel is clearly not happy about me stopping his show of appreciation. I manage to get him up the stairs and out of sight, before he becomes impatient again. I really don't want to stop him. I love Angel's mouth. Still, I just hope that he doesn't remember this when the bloodlust has past. Because this is something I don't think Liam would ever willingly do with another man.

Angel drops to his kneels and rips open my jeans. Desperate hands pull out my cock, petting it roughly. Then he feeds it directly into his mouth and starts to suck. The force and violence of his actions are bloody incredible. His hands vigorously pump me, while he sucks and licks at the head. My hands entwine in his hair, as I start to thrust into his mouth. His hands fall away and he relaxes his throat. Oh, wow! Angel growls softly which sends a current of passion directly along my cock and into my balls. I know I'm coming soon. I thrust harder and I feel his hands grasping my hips tighter. I just love vampire sex. Humans could never survive anything this violent. I am literally raping Angel's mouth and he's asking for more. I howl as I come, spurting my seed down his throat. As he licks me clean, complacent golden eyes stare up into mine.

"Angel... I..."

Suddenly, Angel's eyes turn from golden back to chocolate brown. For an instant there is confusion in their dark depths. Then fear followed by horror as he sees my now limp cock hanging before his face. He scrambles away; making small sounds, but unable to say anything.

Oh, Shit! I don't need this now!

"Liam..." Angel looks up at his name but doesn't respond. He hesitates for a second, but then he's off running down the hall. He almost flies into our apartment, slamming the door closed behind him.

Just great, this is all I need! I take off after Angel and rip the door open. Nothing. I look around in the bedroom, balcony, then bathroom - it's locked.

"Liam!" I shout, "open the door. I need to explain some things to you." I hear sobbing behind the door but he doesn't open it. I knock on the door again, but still no response. Unexpectedly I smell blood - strong, powerful, vampire blood.

"Liam! Open this fucking door, now!" I'm getting desperate, scared almost. I pound the door with my full force, the lock breaks and I fall through onto the tiled bathroom floor.

I find Angel curled up in the corner of the shower. In his hand is a scalpel (most likely nicked from the first aid kit), and he's making long cuts into his forearm. I try and make a grab for the scalpel, but the bloody chip screams in protest. I drop to my knees before him. I feel... am so useless, I can't even help my childe in his time of need. I cannot comfort Liam, as I could Angel. Liam doesn't understand anything of himself, me, this place. He's so lost.

"I am evil... the devil leads me... I am damned..." Angel murmurs strange litanies as he cuts into his skin. "I'm in hell," he comments suddenly. He looks up at me with tear filled eyes.

"Liam, I need you to give me the knife." I hold my hand out, trying desperately to keep my voice calm. Inside, the sire part of me is screaming to do something with my childe. Punish him, protect him - it doesn't matter which - just stop him. The trouble is I can't force him. I can't make a grab for the scalpel without the bloody chip going off. I might be able to take the pain for a moment, but what if I miss? What if Angel does something more drastic?

"What am I? I drank blood... I touched you... Oh Dia, I touched you. You had your..." he blurts out his words between the sobs. His hands shake as he swaps the scalpel into the other hand, and starts cutting again. "Am I being punished... for what I did... is this hell?"

"No, Liam, this isn't hell. I love you. You know my name because I am your Sire. Your creator." He looks confused, but his hand stills. "You are a vampire. I am your master. Do you understand that?"

"How can you love me? You're a man?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does! It's a sin!" Angel waves the scalpel around, but suddenly he calms again. It's amazing how he jumps from enraged one second to terrified the next. "Please, don't let him punish me... Please... Please..." The knife drops from Angel's bloodied hand, and he commences to weep in earnest. I gently pull my childe to me and he curls into my embrace. It's so strange that Angel can fear his father more than hell.

It's a long, hard job getting Angel cleaned up and re-dressed. I manage to get him on the bed and I handcuff him there to the middle headboard post. He'd be a lot more secure spread eagle, but I don't think that's going to help his mental condition. He's petrified enough as it is, and I just want to make sure he doesn`t run. Angel doesn't fight me, and just lies there defeated as I click the cuffs around his wrists. I bring him more blood, and convince him to drink it. With eyes closed and tears running down his face he does so. Afterwards, Angel curls up and goes to sleep.

It is so strange watching this version of my childe sleep. I always thought that Angel was like Liam, but if I had meet this man in a dark alley, I would have never have known him. His father has destroyed his son. Liam has been turned into a frightened, broken thing that would rather kill himself than face his father's wraith.

This experience is full of revelations to me. Things I never knew about him or ever expected. I saw Angel's bloodlust. I can see that he has learned and fought to control it. He does it so well that not even I knew he had it. I also recognised where a lot of insecurities Angel have arisen from his past experiences. No wonder Angel has so much difficulty in loving anyone yet at the same time yearns to be loved. That he always felt he's not good enough to love and be loved in return. I remain at his side and stroke his hair until he falls into a deep sleep. Then I leave him and go in search of Willow.

I open her bedroom door and approach the bed. "Willow," I whisper. That's strange I don't hear a heartbeat. I pull back the covers and find the bed empty. What the hell? I check under the bed, everywhere, but I can't find her. I don't even smell her. Oh, bloody hell! What has she done now?

"Guys! We have a problem!" I run down the stairs and quickly inform them of the situation.

Willow's POV:

Everything I do goes wrong. I can't do anything right. I've destroyed my friends lives just as I did in Sunnydale. Now I can't undo it. I don't have my powers anymore. I wished them away! I have to leave; I have to run... I don't know where to go.

I grab my jacket and leave the Hyperion. I can hear Angel sobbing in the next room. The others are downstairs trying to find an answer for my mistake. Oh Angel, I'm so sorry. I only wanted to help you, to make you feel happier. I've just made it worse. I've even destroyed your happiness, and made Spike unable to touch you. I brush the tears from my eyes and run out into the night. I'm not sure where I'm going. I found a magic shop in the phone book in the hotel. Maybe they can help. Maybe someone can help me get my magic back. I need to find a witch, a mystic... anyone! I need to help my friends, I just don't know how... I don't know! Oh goddess... what do I do? What am I doing?

"Ahhh!"

A big black sedan screeches to a halt before me. Two huge men jump out, grabbing my arms, and manhandle me into the car, slamming the door behind me. I try a spell, but then I realise I've lost my magic. I scream. Trouble is no one knows I've gone. I pull myself up off the floor, and look around. Facing me is a tall dark haired woman.

"Ah, you must be Willow," she remarks, smiling brightly.

I instantly don't like her. "What's it to you?" I snap back.

"I'm Lilah Morgan, from Wolfram and Hart."

"So?"

"I'm here to offer you a solution to our unique problem."

"What? What do you mean? Who are you?"

"We have sources who tell us you are a very powerful witch. Unfortunately, you have recently divorced yourself from your power. We can give it back to you."

"You've been spying on Angel," I realise.

"That is unimportant. I am making you an offer. You do something for us and we give you back your gifts. Do that and you can go home, and put to rights the mess you have created for Angel and his people."

She does have a point. I don't trust her, but what option do I have? I have to save Angel and Spike. They were so happy, just like Tara and me. I won't see that destroyed.

"Okay, you have a deal." I hope I'm doing the right thing.

Spike's POV:

I need to kill something. Not sure what or who, but the need is certainly there. I haven't felt like this since becoming Angel's sire. All my attention was focused on him, and I forgot about everything else. Our situation is not looking good. Without Willow, we can't break the spell. The trouble is we have no idea where she's buggered off.

I've left the humans to find whatever they can, and now I sit watching my childe sleep. He weeps softly and curls himself tighter into a ball, crushed up to the headboard where his hands are secured. I want so much to touch him, but in this state, I doubt he'd appreciate my advances. What is he going to be like if we can't reverse the spell? Am I going to have to seduce him again? That thought holds a few interesting possibilities; like having sex with him for the first time, teaching him to take my cock into his mouth, all those other things too. Oh yeah, great image. Unfortunately, I like Angel the way he was. I like him fighting me, his character as dominant as mine. I like him with the knowledge he has of my body and what pleases me. I liked watching him awaken while I fuck him, and not be offended because I am. This Liam wouldn't even dream of that.

"DA! Please I dinna mean it... please... please... it hurts!" Angel wriggles about, and tries to fight off the man in his nightmares. His body rigid and his back arches. "Please... it hurts... Please, stop!"

Angel sits up and screams as loud as he can. His voice so full of terror, I wish I could kill the one who haunts his memories so, but I can't because time has taken that justice away from me. The only thing I can do now is comfort him, so I do. I'm across the room in an instant, taking him into my arms. I don't care what he thinks about a man holding him - I won't let go. Angel starts to weep as I rock him tenderly. Yes, the big bad is really the big softly - so sue me!

"It's okay, Angel. You're safe now; no one will hurt you." My sire instincts are working overtime in protective mode. The powerful need to safeguard what is mine forces my human face to change into vampiric ridges and fangs. I can smell his fear, but I can't let him go.

Angel stares at my face, but surprisingly doesn't pull away. "You're a demon," he whispers. The smell of fear vanishes to be replaced, strangely, by curiosity and need. "This Angel, you love him?"

"He's my Childe."

"Please, protect me. Don't let my Da hurt me," he begs, as his arms grip me painfully.

"I swear no one will touch you. You are mine!" I can't help it. I kiss him. Angel doesn't respond, and pulls away with an incredulous look in his eyes.

*****
Part 4:

Liam's POV:

The strange blond demon kissed me! His lips were cool against mine, but it didn't feel wrong. I thought it would be so different from kissing a woman. It's not, it's still all lips, mouth and tongue. Nevertheless, he kisses more passionately, and with more force than anyone I've ever kissed before did. And I've certainly kissed a lot of women, girls, whores - it never mattered. I just wanted to feel something. Something other than my father's abuse. I think that's what scares me about this man...demon. He has power over me; I can feel it deep down inside. Yet, he's not using it against me. When he touches me it's with kindness and comfort. So unlike my father, who touched me only with cruelty, pain and violence.

"You are mine," he murmurs again. Cool lips cover my own and I open up for his questing tongue. I don't fear this demon kissing me anymore. Spike, I believe his name is. Sounds like something you would call your dog.

Spike's hands move lower and start to unfasten these strange trousers I'm wearing. His hand slips inside and he grips my naked length.

"No!" I shout panicked, pushing him away. "It's wrong, evil. Please, I can't sin any more!"

"Angel... Liam, it's not. You are mine. You aren't human anymore. I promise you, it will make you feel better."

I remember our talk earlier when he told me: I am your Sire. I remember him feeding me blood and how my wounds healed. He made me feel safe and protected. I don't really understand, but my heart trusts him. Trusts him to tell me the truth. And I know something is different with me because my heart doesn't beat. I worked that one out all by myself.

Spike's hands move back to my cock and he starts to pull me out of the trousers. My cock looks strangely pale, but surprisingly very erect in his hand. He grips me hard, squeezing lightly as I moan. No one has ever touched me like this. It's so strange... Oh, what is he doing? His hands warp around my cock stroking up and down, hitting the base with a hard pressure. He brings his hand to the head and rubs his palm across the crown.

"Oh..." I gasp. Spike grins down at me and with extraordinary gentleness kisses my mouth. To my lessening shame, I think I'm enjoying this man's kisses.

"My Childe," he whispers into my ear. His term of endearment makes me feel warm and I sigh contentedly into his grasp.

Spike moves up into a kneeling position so he can grip my erection easily. His hand slides up and down a couple of times, but then stills. With both hands, he places them side by side against my shaft, looking like a pair of bookends. Then he pushes hard against my penis. Jolts of pleasure screams through my body. Where did this man learn this? Do other men do this? Why the hell haven't I done it? Spike gives another push and I scream in delight. Now, his hands glide up and down, creating a constant tugging on the skin around my balls, making me feel as if I'm on fire.

"Uh... please," I moan. His hands don't stop moving and he stares down at me with golden eyes. My whole body begins to tremble and quake in his grasp. "Stop!" I cry, knowing I'm going to spend soon. I am afraid of doing that through this man's masturbation of my penis. I fear he's going to be disgusted by my semen. Surely, he doesn't want to see another man' seed. Doing that alarms even some women. Especially when it's in the wrong place.

"Come, Childe," he whispers erotically in my ear.

Oh, oh... I can't hold on. My body arches and the blond demon leans down over my cock. Gracious, he's going to bite it! However, I don't feel teeth, just a wet, smooth mouth surrounding me. I scream with the contact and my cock releases its climax. I fall back on to bed, exhausted. My body feels calm, relaxed and my dreams seem so far away. This strange demon sire was right.

The vampire' face loses his ridges and fangs, returning to beautiful human planes, and he lies beside me. I automatically shift away but strong arms hold me. I can't comprehend why, but he makes me feel so loved...

"When is my Da coming for me?" I whisper, fearful of his answer. I fear this strange place, yet I dread the thought of leaving this demon' home. I dismay at returning to the punishments I know await me. I'm sure to be beaten raw for this transgression with another man.

"He's not coming, luv." Soft, cool hands touch my face and wipe away the tears. "Your father's been dead a long time. You were brought here by magic. Do you understand that?"

"Witches, you mean. That red headed girl, that left sometime ago, she was a witch?"

"Yes," he pauses intrigued, "You heard her leave?"

"I heard someone come to the door. I feared it was my father, but I smelt her somehow." I have no idea what that means, but I instinctively knew it was that girl.

"Well, that was Willow. She cast a spell over all of us. That's how you came to be here, in the body of my Childe." He waits for me to say I understand, so I just nod. "Unfortunately, she wished her powers away and now she can't break the spell."

"That means I can't go home. I won't see Kathy." The demon sighs and wraps his arms around me. It's peculiar that I can smell his pain, his sorrow. He desperately wants... no, needs this being called Angel back. The one who is his real childe. The one he loves. I never knew men could love each other.

"Can't she get her powers back?"

"No, the stupid bint got rid of them. The other humans you saw are trying to find another answer."

"Why doesn't she go back to the devil that gave her powers?" The demon laughs softly and cuddles me into his chest.

"It doesn't work like that, luv," he chuckles.

"My people say that the devil gives witches their power so that he works through them to do his evil." I'm not sure how to explain this. I only know what I was told when I was a child. "I used to tell my sister stories, I told her the devil was like a businessman and he'd get witches to be his employees."

Spike's POV:

Evil's business... Now there's a thought... Hold on! I know who that is - Wolfram and Hart. Damn it, why didn't I think about them earlier? Every time something goes wrong for us they are always involved. It's like they are spying on us... Oh, Shit! I remember coming back home... before finding Angel with Willow... and hearing this weird buzzing... At the time I didn`t pay any heed to it. Then I discovered Angel and Willow kissing and groping so I completely forgot about it. Bugger! I have to talk to Wesley.

Damn it! I knew Wolfram and Hart were sniffing around here just a little too much. Before we went to Pylea (Author's note: Reference to a new story between 3-4 I haven't written yet, basically LA gang go to Pylea etc) this new bastard lawyer turned up on the door step and tried to evict us. Then we found the exterminators here. I should have fucking checked the place out, at the time however, I was kind of busy from recovering from being pure demon while in Lorne's home dimension. Funny story there.... which I'll save for later...

"Get dressed," I tell my childe urgently, and he quickly puts himself straight. I don't want to leave him alone here, not if Wolfram and Hart are watching.

Downstairs, hours *and* hours later:

"So you think the place is bugged," Wesley says slowly at me as if I`m losing it, blinking his three eyes in annoyance. "By Wolfram and Hart."

Yes! That's what I've been trying to tell you for bloody hours! Sometimes these humans are really dim. He makes me wish I could bite them. I don't, however, because... well, I don't really know why.

"Yes!" I shout at Wesley *again*. He doesn't look convinced, but suddenly Cordelia gets an idea.

"Hey, I've seen all the good spy movies, and the one place they always put a bug is in the phone." She grabs the phone and starts unscrewing the mouthpiece. Luckily, it's an old type, so you can do that. She pulls out the wires and nothing... "Wait, maybe that's too obvious."

"I don't know," continues Wesley, in his lecture mode, "I mean, why would Wolfram and Hart be interested in Willow? She's only a college student from a small town, who only arrived a couple of days ago."

Oh yeah, and if Wolfram and Hart have been watching she put on quite a show for them. She brought us down and unable to fight in a few hours flat. If they have been watching us, I bet they were glued to the bloody screen!

"Wesley, are you blind... well, not with 3 eyes, but you must be really slow or something. Willow is not only a student, but a *witch* too. I only have to feel my head to know that!" Gunn complains. He's not happy about the hair at all. He's even tried to shave it off, but seconds later it grows back. We are interrupted by a loud crash, as Cordelia throws Wesley's desk lamp on the floor.

"My lamp!" cries Wesley appalled. We watch as Cordelia moves the wreckage around with her foot.

"Ah ha!" she cries joyfully. She picks up a small, black circular piece of equipment. That certainly doesn't belong in an old style lamp. "Now what you gotta say about that, Wesley?" She throws over the little object and lucks smug.

Hey, I was the one who suggested it in the first place!

"Err... Spike man, I think you'd better check out Angel," Gunn nervously informs me.

Now what!? Angel is where I left him, curled up in one of the easy chairs in Wesley's office. He rocks to and fro like a small child, and when he looks up his eyes are golden. Just great, he's hungry again! I am so glad that Angel knew about being a vampire when I turned him. Dealing with Liam is just too much hard work. He doesn't want to kiss, he doesn't want to have sex, and he doesn't want to fight me, now he doesn't even want to feed. Urgh! Save me from awkward childer! I bet I was never like this when I was turned. I sigh and go get Angel some more blood bags. I need to keep on top of his feeding, because when he's in the bloodlust, I can't fight him, and none of the humans here are strong enough to restrain him, either.

"I can't..." Angel moans as I hold out the bags.

"Drink it! I am your Sire, now bloody drink it or I will whip ya." Angel snatches the blood bags from my hand, and hungrily sinks his fangs into them. Now, where were we?

"Right! Wesley, we found a bug, now are you going to listen?"

"Still, I don't know why they would want Willow."

"They can't be interested in, Willow?" I challenge, "Yeah, right. She only brought down the whole of AI in one night. I can't fight demons, Cordelia can't see all of her visions, you two are... well, just plain weird, and Angel... Angel is a right mess. Liam is afraid of his bloody shadow. I'm pretty damn sure they would want Willow on their team."

"Ah," Wesley sits down, looking a little concerned now. Pillock!

"There's one good thing," adds Cordelia, "We know Wolfram and Hart have access to a lot of magically inclined people. I'm sure they will know how to return Willow's powers. If we can get her out after that, then she can reverse the spell."

Sometimes, Cordelia really amazes me. This is one of those few times. What she has put forward is a workable plan, if I do say so myself. The only trouble is how do we pull it off? Hey, there might be a one good point about this spell. Humans run Wolfram and Hart - and I can bite humans now...

"Okay, people. Time for one of my brilliant plans!"

"Ohhh... No," sobs Cordelia.

What?

Willow's POV:

Lilah, the lawyer I *really* don't trust, has brought me to the huge office buildings of Wolfram and Hart. Spike's talked about them when Angel was recovering in Sunnydale. They sound more vicious and heartless than many of the demons I have encountered on the Hellmouth. Also the frightening part is - I've only meet humans so far. I can understand why Angel fears for Spike and his chip.

"Here we go, Willow." Lilah shows me into a large boardroom, the curtains are closed, and there is an oriental man meditating in the centre of the room. "We have flown in a mystic from Tibet; he's a master of hypnotism. Our specialists believe that this spell of yours has only cloaked your talents. With a little help you will be able to access them again. Then we'll talk about payment."

I don't trust Lilah, but at the moment it's not like I have a choice. I need my powers back. I have to reverse the `As I will' Spell. If I don't, I think that given time, Spike will kill me. Not for changing his chip, but for touching his childe. I never would have imagined just how possessive he is. He's worse than Angelus. Goddess, I'm babbling again... I really need to concentrate...

Spike's POV:

Okay, the plan's simple. Over a year ago, Angel helped Lindsey McDonald steal some files from the Wolfram and Hart`s vaults. While there he discovered a secret entrance into Wolfram and Hart by underground means. That's the way we are going in. Then we grab some weapons and then storm the place. Great plan, except it won't work. Right, now what? Okay 2nd plan; I surrender to Wolfram and Hart. No... 3rd plan - I kill a human then say I'm on their side, taking my childe with me, and pretending to be blood-suckingly evil again. That's an even better plan. Then the others will attack from the secret passage and we escape! Simple. Brilliant. Disregarding the fact it won't work.

"That's your plan?" laughs Cordelia. "That's all you can come up with?"

Okay, it's a little difficult getting into the place, especially when they have an early warning systems, and security guards who carry wooden stakes!

"It might work," Wesley interrupts rubbing his third eye. "It's a direct approach, which they might not suspect from us. If Spike can distract them, maybe we can do some damage and hopefully find Willow."

"You're agreeing with this!?"

"Cordelia, we are running out of options, we also have other problems to consider. Angel for one, and then there is Spike' chip, and you yourself cannot understand the visions. We cannot help anyone this way."

For once Wesley is talking sense. Usually, he's dead set against all my plans, and disagrees with my every suggestion. Even the one where I suggested video taping me and Angel having sex, just so he could gain some pointers. Well, *I* thought it was a good idea. Oh... sex... Angel... Angel's ass... I've got to get this spell broken, and soon!

The first part of our plan; which I am not sure is going to work - because I never usually carry out my plans - is for me to fool Wolfram and Hart into thinking that I'm evil again. So step one: find a nice juicy human. Step two: take Angel with me, because there is no way I'm leaving him behind. Step three: make sure Wolfram and Hart can see me doing this evil stuff.

I take Angel's car, while the others set out in the tunnels under Wolfram and Hart. I have around an hour before they attack. Angel and I arrive outside the Wolfram and Hart building at dusk, and I set about finding a nice juicy human. Which turned out to be easy, I had just pulled up when this young man living off the streets approaches us. I offered him two hundred dollars to play dead and he agrees. My next problem is Angel. The outside world scares him to death, everything being so alien to him. If he could have done it I think he would have had heart failure when I put him in the car. Still, it does mean he won't do anything without my guidance and permission, which gives me a high level of control over him.

I tell Angel to get out of the car and to stick by me. He walks two steps behind me, so I don't think I have to worry about losing him. I walk confidently into the front lobby, dragging this teenage boy with me and being followed by my childe.

"I want to speak to Lilah Morgan," I shout at the guards. They back away from us and I can hear my presence being reported. "Get her here now!" I hope this works. It doesn't take long before the bitch lawyer arrives on the scene. She's flanked by half a dozen guards, all holding long, pointed wooden stakes.

"What can I do for you, Spike?" she asks wearing a false smile.

"Oh, it's what I can do for you." My face changes as I speak, and then in full view of everyone, I sink my fangs into the kid's neck. For a moment... just a moment I want to drain him, but then I remember this is our only chance to find Willow. If I don't come through we could lose her, and I'll never get Angel back. I don't suck. In a minute or so, I drop the boy to the ground, and true to his word he stays there. I think I'll give him another couple of bucks for his performance.

"Little Willow' marvellous spell has disabled my chip, but you already know that. I can kill humans now, and I'm pretty hungry."

"You really think I'm going to believe you?" Lilah laughs, "You're on the good guys' team, aren't you? First you follow the slayer around, and then you move onto being Angel' faithful little puppy. You're just a little lap dog, Spike."

"Angel follows me, now. I am his Sire and master. If you like I can offer my services to a rival company, or I just go and raise Angelus for someone else."

"Angelus?"

Now that perked her attention. I haven't got a clue what to say after that. It was just something to get her attention. I'm making this up as I go along. Right... I can carry this off; I'm good at lying. "Oh yeah, I know how to get Angelus back. When you returned him to his body the last time, we just put a spell on Angel so he'd be in control again. Angelus is still in there, just waiting to come out. I can give you that." Please fall for this load of bullshit!

"Well, it looks like we have something to discuss after all."

Yes! Sucker! I follow Lilah into the main lift and up into her office. Angel trails behind me, not making a sound. I can tell he's afraid, he smells of fear and confusion. A part of me is nervous that someone else is going to recognise that soon, too. I've got to do something to change this situation, and fast. We enter Lilah's office and she offers me a seat. She looks Angel over appraisingly and smiles. I don't like that look one little bit.

"Angel, come and kneel Childe," I order. Angel's fear increases and he starts to tremble. I know that the Liam side is scared to death of authority figures, but I just hope he obeys me. He slowly walks to the side of my chair and kneels there.

"I believe that the witch has done something to Angel's memories," I comment, as Lilah stares at my kneeling childe.

"He's completely under my control," I lie. Truth is, if he goes into the bloodlust I have no hope of stopping him. Thankfully, I fed him earlier. "He knows whom is Master is."

"And is his master willing to share? He really is a fine specimen. There are those who would pay handsomely for his attentions." Lilah reaches down and touches Angel's spiky hair. He jerks away from her, almost putting his head into my lap.

I have to smile. I never knew Lilah had a thing for Angel. Maybe I can use that to my advantage. I run my fingers through his hair and down his neck. Angel shivers unconsciously when I brush against his scar.

"Depends on the price. My Childe has a fine mouth, but no kissing. He has many other attributes you might find pleasing." Angel's eyes widen in horror, and he attempts to pull away from me. I do the only thing I can think of - I kiss him. It's more a one way kiss because Angel's in shock, but it has the desired effect. I can smell Lilah's increased arousal. In fact, it's giving me an idea. I just hope Liam or Angel will forgive me. I withdrawal from Angel' mouth and lick my lips.

*****