*****

**London, 1860**

"He's a beauty, isn't he?"

The blonde rubbed against the tall dark man, leaning up to nip at his ear. "He is, Angelus," Darla murmured in his ear. "Are you going to keep him?"

Angelus turned, his brown eyes flickering with gold. "Of course we are. Alexander will be a beautiful childe," he replied, smiling at his Sire.

"For the love of Bloody god, just turn him, Angelus," William growled from the corner, lighting a cigarette. He was leaning against the wall of the monastery, flicking his ashes on the hardwood floor. He had a look of boredom on his face.

Angelus turned amber eyes, glaring at his most disobedient, but favorite childe. "William, this is the moment. . .the moment I will take my Alexander and give him eternity," he whispered, his voice filled with awe.

"Bloody hell, Angelus, I'm happy for you, but can we get back to the killing? My fangs itch to sink into some bint's neck."

Angelus closed his eyes, feeling Darla wrap her arm around his waist. "Just let him go, boy. Let William go hunt while you embrace Alexander."

"You hear that, boy? Go hunt. We'll meet you at home before sunrise," Angelus hissed without turning around.

William blinked, his mouth dropping open. He stared at his Sire's back. Angelus had turned him a decade before and they were inseparable. They played together, they killed together, they loved together. Darla didn't like the fact that her attention was pulled away by the cocky brown haired vampire, so when she saw Alexander and his red head love, she knew that he would capture Angelus' attention. She made it clear from the beginning that Alexander belonged to *both* of them so the two of them couldn't shut her out like Angelus and William did. She hoped that this would finally drive William away to become his own vampire.

She never did like the cocky childe of Angelus'. He was rude, he *leered* at her, and he was only good to Angelus. The rest of the world, he didn't care a damn thing about, and she detested the fact that he didn't respect her like he should have. Angelus encouraged William's attitude, delighting in the open defiance the boy contained.

"Bloody *hell*, you *wanker*," William growled. "If you decide to cast me aside because of this *whelp* - I'll. . .I'll. . ."

Darla turned her head, a smirk on her features. "You'll what, William? Stake your Sire? No one stakes their Sire." She laughed.

William narrowed angry blue eyes. His hands clenched into fists. He couldn't *stand* Darla and her 'holier than thou' attitude. He *ached* to pull her aside and slam her against the wall, informing her that they all had a demon and she needed to get over herself. "Fine," he hissed. "I'll see you at the house, Angelus." He stormed out of the monastery.

Darla turned back to her Angelus, her favorite Childe, smiling at the look of lust on his face. He hadn't turned away from Alexander once, enraptured by his beautiful face, his big tear filled brown eyes, the dark brown hair falling in his eyes. His cheeks were gaunt, showing his weight loss over the last few weeks of his life. He pulled his scratchy brown monk's robe closer to his body, trying to curl into himself, to escape the scrutiny he was receiving from the vampires.

Two weeks.

It had been two weeks since Alexander's life dramatically turned upside down. Darla had spotted him, and she pointed him out to Angelus, who took a liking to him. The vampire approached him at the beginning, trying to seduce him, promising eternal life.

As Alexander was a religious man, he didn't want eternal life with Angelus. He wasn't sure *what* the vampire was, but he could feel the evil rolling off of him. He fled, leaving the vampire on the street, seething in anger.

Angelus systematically destroyed his entire family, finally killing the one true joy in Alexander's life. He watched as his beautiful red headed Willimina struggled against Angelus, crying out for him to save her. He couldn't move, couldn't push away the sound of William's laughter in his ear, or his grip almost crushing his arms. He just watched in open mouth terror as Angelus tortured her, then drained her. He made her suffer before she died.

The death of his family and of his love made him lose himself in the abyss of his mind as he gladly plunged into the inky depths, knowing that he was borderline insane - that half the things he said he was the only one who understood.

It was that moment, as he realized he had no one to live for, and he was too mentally gone to rebuild his life, Alexander knew he'd give his life to his God, that his God would save him from the Devil.

It was the day he joined the monastery, as he waited in the huge hall lined with pews, that the three vampires stormed in, killing all the clergy, leaving Alexander a quivering crying mess in the corner.

"Don't worry, Alexander," Angelus cooed, "it won't hurt. Not too much. You'll enjoy eternity. We will have a great time together." He glanced at Darla and the blonde nodded. Angelus' smirk grew, and he stepped towards the sobbing Alexander, enjoying the smell of fear rolling of his soon-to-be childe.

Alexander's screams echoed through the monastery as Angelus took his life.

*****
Part 2:

**Sunnydale, 1999**

The night was silent, except for the chirping of a few crickets. The stars twinkled happily in the sky, unaware of any danger on the ground below. The road leading into Sunnydale, California was clean - the Sunnydale police force had their orange jumpered prisoners cleaning earlier in the day, trying to make the landscape look as aesthetically pleasing as possible.

The roar of an approaching car disturbed the peace. An empty, crushed pack of cigarettes was pitched out of the black spray painted window of a loud 1957 DeSoto.

"Hey, pet, watch this!" Spike grinned at his companion, his lover, the one being on earth the blonde vampire's sun set to.

Xander watched in wide eye fascination as Spike plowed over the 'Welcome To Sunnydale' sign. He turned his head, sliding across the seat towards the older vampire. "Spikey?" he purred, his voice taking the childlike quality that made Spike feel overprotective.

"Yes, luv?" He wrapped his arm around Xander's shoulders, trying to keep his mood light. He didn't want to admit to Xander - or himself for that matter - how worried he was.

Being turned intensified Xander's insanity, causing him to be plagued with visions of things yet to happen, and to profess that the earth, the stars, and animals talked to him. Angelus took great joy in his visions; however, William had thought them boring and a waste of time.

Xander - as William called him - didn't like the fact that his 'brother' didn't like him. The youngest vampire would often go to William and try to please him, trying to make the vampire like him. By the time Angelus had taken off to parts unknown without even a goodbye, William had fallen in love with the brown-eyed man.

They'd traveled the world together, loving and killing. Xander never wanted to leave Spike's side.

And then Prague happened.

Xander had been hurt in Prague. A mob attacked him, leaving him for dead - tied to a pole in the middle of the square, awaiting the rising sun. Spike rushed out to save his lover, horrified by the torture they'd inflicted on his pet. *No* one was allowed to hurt Xander, no one but Spike.

The injuries he sustained brought out an alarming change in Xander - the ones that actually scared Spike. Apparently, as the earth had told the brown haired man, his soul had never truly left his body, only hid in the recesses of his mind and body. His injuries brought his soul back out, coming forth at the most inopportune times: While Xander was feeding, while he and Spike were making love, while Spike was dealing out the torture Xander loved to receive.

Even more disturbing than seeing his lover's demon fight with his soul, Xander was starting to exhibit a third personality - the one of a fearful religious monk not wanting to be turned - the man Xander was as Angelus sank his fangs in the younger man's neck some hundred and forty years before.

In one of his visions, Xander saw the cure to his 'illness'. They were to travel to the land of suns and find the special vampire that lived there. A simple spell cast on a cup of the vampire's blood would cure Xander of all his extra 'personalities'.

They'd spent the last four years traveling the States, hitting any town that had anything to do with the sun, looking for the vampire that would cure Xander.

"Spikey, both the ground and the sky sing to me here," Xander murmured softly, his voice filled with awe. "They speak of a nasty blonde human, and. . ." He frowned softly, sitting up. "D. . .Daddy?"

"Yes, pet?" Spike asked, glancing at Xander. The younger vampire had taken to calling him 'Daddy' over the years.

Confusion rolled off of Xander and he bolted across the seat, curling up against the door. Huge tears were streaming down his face. "Please. . ." he begged, "not that. . ."

Spike growled angrily. It was the blasted monk personality! He hated that 'Holier Than Thou' monk. Listening to his lover spout off about God and religion was *not* his idea of a good time.

"God won't save you, William," Xander said softly, bowing his head. "He won't save you, nor will he save *him*. He allowed this to happen to us."

Spike glanced over, seeing his lover's eyes lucid. "Him who, pet?" he questioned.

"You know who, William. He haunts your dreams and sometimes my nightmares. He may seek redemption, but God cannot forgive an abomination."

"Xander," Spike growled, not enjoying the tingling in the base of his spine that signaled something *big* was about to happen. "Shut the hell up."

*****
Part 3:

"I miss Jesse."

"Yea, it was a pretty boring summer without him," Buffy nodded, glancing at her best friend Willow. She knew the redhead was upset - her best friend in the whole world had taken a summer vacation to *see* the world, not telling them when or even *if* he'd return. Her boyfriend Oz had slept with another werewolf, breaking Willow's heart. "Man, Wills, we *are* pathetic."

Willow looked up, brushing away her tears. "Huh? What makes you say that? We aren't. . .we aren't pathetic! Not too bad, I mean, cause, I mean, we are in college now. No more Mr. Snyder. . ."

"Even if we were in high school, Wills, I don't think we'd be having anymore Mr. Snyder anyway," Buffy nodded.

Willow grimaced, trying not to remember the. . .thing her ex-principal had become during graduation three months before. "Ok, so we are here - "

"Two beautiful women," Buffy interjected.

"One beautiful woman and a really cute girl," Willow muttered softly. "So we are at the Bronze on a Friday night, two beautiful college freshman babes and. . ." She faltered.

"We want to cry about our love lives," Buffy nodded, patting Willow's hand.

"Well," Willow sniffed, "at least your boyfriend didn't sleep with another girl then leave Sunnydale all together!"

"Yea," Buffy said, looking down. "Mine slept with me, turned evil, tried to suck the world into hell, *went* to hell, then spent an entire year watching me from afar because we can't touch each other, lest it happen all over again."

"Ok, that *does* make me feel a *little* better," Willow nodded with a teasing grin. "At least my ex didn't try to send us to hell."

Buffy chuckled, rubbing her hand across her face. "Wills, can't we ever meet any normal *human* guys?"

"One normal human guy, coming right up!"

Both women turned, gasping. "JESSE!" they cried, jumping up. They rushed to him, throwing their arms around him, hugging him tightly.

Jesse chuckled. "Damn! If I would have known I would have had *this* welcome home, I would have come home like, two and a half months ago!" He guided the ladies back to the table, joining them. "So. . .where are the men?"

Both women's bottom lips quivered. "A. . .Angel decided that he and Buffy couldn't even really be friends anymore, because they want each other too much, and he wants her to have a good life, not one where she's not satisfied sexually!" Willow said, wiping the tears away.

Jesse frowned. "God, Buff, I'm sorry. . .I know you were hoping something would work out. . ." He leaned forward, hugging the Slayer as she cried on his shoulder.

After a moment, the blonde pulled away and looked up at him. "Oz cheated on Willow and slept with some wereslut named Veruca."

"Oh! My! God!" Jesse spun to his best friend, pulling her into his arms. He rocked her gently as she cried, the wound still much too fresh. "Wills, I am *so* sorry I wasn't here!"

She sniffed, wiping her nose. "It's ok, we are fine. We had each other, and Giles. Giles was cool. He let me work on my magic - I'm getting better."

Buffy leaned against Jesse's back, resting her chin on his shoulder. "And I trained all summer, and even trained with Angel some, and that was fun, cause I got to beat him up. Except for I'd really want to throw him down after and. . ."

Jesse's hand flew up. "*Don't* need to know!" He shook his head, sliding out from between his two best friends. "Listen, guys, you need cheering up, and I just miss the hell out of the both of you, so let's go back to Will's place, or Buffy, your place, and watch movies and eat ice cream." He grinned. "Who's up for it?"

They linked their arms with his, flashing beautiful smiles to him. "Lead the way, oh fair prince," Buffy bowed slightly.

The three set out on their trek to Willow's house. They decided to go there since Willow's parents, per usual, weren't home.

Buffy grimaced as the loud roaring sound of a car came up the street. "God, why do people have to have such *loud* cars?" she said angrily.

Willow looked up, catching the passenger's eyes. His brown eyes widened and she stopped, wondering who he was, and why he was so familiar to her.

"Spike, stop the car!" Xander exclaimed, turning towards his lover.

"What, pet?"

"Stop. The. Car!"

Spike slammed on the brakes, nearly slamming into a parked car. He chuckled slightly, then realized with horror that his brunette was jumping *out* of the car. With a grumble, he climbed out of the car, going to stop the insane vampire from eating just anyone on the street.

However, eating did have its merits. . .

Xander stopped in front of Willow, his eyes wide. "Willimina," he murmured.

*****
Part 4:

"Alexander," she smiled, reaching up to brush her fingers along his cheek. She stopped in mid air, frowning. "W. . .who are you?" she asked, stepping away. "I don't know who you are. . .and my name is *not* Willimina."

Xander looked pained. "Wills, please, don't tell me you don't know me. . .you loved me. . .you did until *he* took you away from me. . ."

"Cor, luv, *this* is the chit Angelus drained?" Spike asked, crossing his arms, staring at the three of the humans in front of him. His gaze settled on Buffy, wondering why she was making the back of his neck tingle.

And then it hit him. "Bloody *fuck*!" he hissed, seeing the Slayer narrow her eyes and reach for a stake.

He grabbed Xander and pulled the younger vampire behind him. "Xander, it's a Slayer!"

Xander looked around Spike's body. "That makes sense," he murmured. "My Willimina would have been friends with a Slayer, had she known who they were. She was always of pure virtue and innocent heart." He smiled softly, gazing at her. "Wills, I love you. . .please come home with me."

"*Hey*!" Jesse said, stepping in front of Spike, blocking Xander from watching Willow. "Stop talking to my best friend like that! You don't even know who she is!"

Xander's demon came forth and he hissed at Jesse through fangs. "Get out of my way, little boy, or I'll rip your heart out."

"That's my boy," Spike murmured, his eye on the Slayer. "Tell him who's in bloody control here." His game face fell into place.

"Uh. . .Buffster. . .vamps here. . .can't you do the Slayage part?" Jesse said, stepping back.

"Wait!" Willow cried, stepping forward before Buffy could. "Did. . .did you say that Angelus drained me?" She shivered slightly at the thought.

"Angelus?" Buffy asked, her head snapping to Willow. "What about Angelus? Angelus is gone, we made sure of that. *You* made sure of that!"

Spike snarled, glaring at Willow. He didn't know *what* was going on, or how these *children* knew who Angelus was, but it was that moment that he knew that the redhead would never see the light of day again. It was *her* fault his Sire was dead. "You bloody bint!" he cried, slamming into her.

Willow screamed and Buffy pushed Jesse aside, her stake in the air, ready to sink into Spike's back.

"Willimina!" Xander exclaimed. "Spike!" He threw himself over his lover's body, howling in agony when Buffy's stake entered his lower back, to the left a little. He turned slightly, clawing at the hand of the Slayer.

She yanked her hand away from him, mentally running through her available options on killing the two vampires and saving Willow.

Xander pressed his forehead against Spike's back. "Spike," he whispered weakly. "Leave her alone. . .she didn't know. . .please. . .don't make me watch her die again. . ."

The soft words of his lover penetrated the violent haze of the blonde. He loosened his grip on the redhead's throat, rolling amber eyes in disgust as she breathed deeply, trying to get the oxygen flowing through her veins again.

"Spike. . .I'm hurt," Xander whispered, softer than before.

Spike turned his head, looking down Xander's back. He growled angrily when he saw the stake sticking out of his lover. He turned, glaring at the Slayer. "Take it out of him, or the chit here gets it. Don't think I won't kill her."

Buffy swallowed, and stepped forward.

"Let me," a deep husky voice said.

Xander howled again when the stake was removed. Tears were streaming down his face, and he *knew* he needed to feed - his wound was only making his sickness worse.

Angel stood above them, ready to plunge the stake in the back of the brunette, ignoring the demon rattling in his cage, screaming for him not to hurt them.

Spike turned his head, sensing another vampire. Shocked blue eyes met startled brown. Angel dropped the stake. "W. . .William?" he whispered.

"Angelus!"

Xander turned his head, his eyes widening. His pain was momentarily forgotten. "Daddy!" he whispered. He stood up, then threw himself in Angel 's arms. He clutched his Sire, crying against him. He was filled with confusion, all three parts of his personality clamoring to escape. The monk in him wanted to cringe, then banish him from existence. The vampire within him wanted to bask in the glory of his Sire, and the soul wanted to run to a dark room and brood for days on end.

"Oh my god," Angel murmured in shock.

Spike stood up, walking to Angel, a smile on his face. "Bloody *hell*, Angelus! Where have you been all these years? Why did you leave us?"

Jesse moved to Willow, never taking his eyes off the vampires. He helped his best friend up. "Are you ok?" he asked softly.

She nodded, her eyes wide, watching the 'reunion'.

Buffy stared at the three of them in shock, rooted to her spot. Her Slayer sense was yelling, "KILL!" while the rest of her was just staring at them, wondering what the *hell* was going on.

"What the *hell* is going on?" Willow asked.

Angel shook his head. "Come on, I think we *all* should go back to the apartment. Alexander requires. . .medical attention anyway. I can figure out why my childer are here, and we can send them on their way."

*****
Part 5:

"It's bloody you," Spike whispered in amazement.

Angel turned to look at his once favorite childe - back when killing was fun and the demon had control. Even after turning his sweet beautiful Alexander, William was his favorite. He wasn't at all surprised that they were still together. Alexander *needed* someone to take care of him, someone to help him survive. Right before he fled, William was beginning to fill that void in his life, the void that Angelus eventually didn't have the time, nor the want, to fill.

"I'm what, William?" Angel asked calmly, the soul fighting his demon back into submission. It had always been hard for him to keep the demon under control, but he'd managed. But now, sitting in the same room with the two most beautiful and *loving* childer he'd ever created, the two that he had loved more than unlife itself, it was proving to be the most difficult battle his soul and demon had ever had.

No one in the room knew. No one but the arms of the leather chair he was currently digging his nails into.

Spike and Xander were on one couch, Xander sitting in the corner, his arms wrapped around his legs, rocking himself back and forth. Spike was next to him, eyeing his Sire, trying to figure out why he was letting the *Slayer* of all people into his home.

Willow, Jesse, and Buffy were on the other side of the living room, on the couch facing them. Willow couldn't stop watching Xander, Buffy couldn't take her eyes off of Angel, and Jesse was looking everywhere and anywhere, *except* for at the two dangerous vampires that could kill him with the piercing of fangs.

Xander started humming something. He blinked, then turned his head, resting his cheek on his knees. "Daddy," he purred.

Both Spike and Angel looked at Xander and responded, "What?"

Spike glanced over his shoulder at Angel and growled slightly.

Xander narrowed his eyes at Angel. "Not you. . .you are possessed with the demon - you will bloody go to hell!" he cried, dropping his feet to the floor. "You have done many wrongs in your life, and you will be *punished*! You seek redemption; you won't ever get it, Angelus. You can't possibly make up for all the lives you've claimed."

Angel blinked back tears, not understanding what Alexander was talking about. He was acting as if he were the monk, before the change. Once he was turned, that part of him was *gone*.

"Bloody hell, it's the effin' monk again," Spike said, throwing his arms up in the air. He turned to Xander and shook him. "Xanpet, come back to me. Push the soddin' religious spoutin' monk aside and come back to me. And I don't want to see the bloody soul, either. I want to see *my* Xander, my companion. I want my lover back, damn it."

Xander shook his head and glanced down. Angel watched in amazement as the look on his childe's face and in his eyes seemed to change. He was curious about the 'monk' and the 'soul' Spike referred to.

"Spike," Xander sobbed, throwing his arms around the blonde. "Spike, I'm scared," he whispered. "Please. . .make me better. Make me new again. I don't like this, I don't like fighting for the right to be me. . .I don't *want* the soul there. . .I don't *want* the monk there!" He sniffed, wiping his tears away. "I'm. . .sorry," he whispered, looking up, knowing that Spike was probably displeased that he was crying, especially in front of humans. "I'm so sorry for showing my weaknesses. . ."

"It's alright, luv," Spike murmured, kissing him softly. "I can forgive you - it's been a horrible night. Is. . .is he the one?"

Xander tilted his head, looking up towards the ceiling. He listened to nothing intently, a slow smile spreading across his features. "He is, Daddy," Xander purred, pressing against Spike. "He is the one. The stars are confused as to why he fights himself, but he is the one I need to be well again."

Spike nodded his head, and turned back to his Sire. "It's decided then. Give us a cup of your blood and we'll be on our merry way."

Angel blinked in shock. To have one's childe *ask* for blood from a Sire was unheard of and the punishment was *many* hours of torture. And his unruly childe didn't ask, he *demanded*. He stood up with a roar. "You will *never* demand I give you blood! You have to *earn* it!"

Spike stood, his vampire visage falling in place. "He's bloody *sick*, Angelus! He was almost *killed* in Prague! I need a cup of a special vampire's blood to heal him - and guess what? You are that vampire! I will *not* live my eternity with my mate fighting with the soddin' monk and soul! So give me some blood and we will leave!"

Angel glared at his child. He could not believe the *audacity* of Spike to show up in Sunnydale and started *demanding* Sire's blood. He sighed unnecessarily. "William, I'm one of the good guys here. When I left you, I'd. . .I'd been cursed with a soul. I help the Slayer now."

Spike stared at his Sire in open mouth shock. Having seen Xander's demon and soul fight, he *knew* his Sire must have been having a difficult time. However, to align himself with the *Slayer*. . .it was unheard of in the vampire world. "Sire. . .please," Spike said softly. "You have my word, we'll heal Xander, then leave Sunnydale. I don't want to be here anymore than you want me to be."

Xander moaned softly, clutching Spike's arm. "Spikey," he murmured, fear rolling off his body. "Spike, if. . .if I don't. . .If Daddy doesn't let me drink from him, then I will die!"

Spike's eyes widened. He was *not* losing his Xander! With a growl, he turned back to his Sire. "Angelus, I need your blood! I need to save him! If you don't, he'll bloody die!"

Angel calmly regarded his childer. Both were dangerous - true products of Angelus. Angel rubbed his face. He loved both of them, but knew they had no place in his life of redemption.

With his demon wailing in agony at the thought, Angel's eyes locked with Xander's. His voice was calm and quiet when he responded.

"Let him die."

*****
Part 6:

Spike stared at Angel in shock. "You are just going to let him *die*?" the blonde whispered, his voice filled with anguish.

Angel never took his gaze away from Xander, his eyes locked with the deep brown eyes of his youngest childe. "I would have to dust you anyway," he murmured.

Xander whimpered, pressing himself against Spike. "Daddy doesn't love his Alexander any more," he whispered. "Spikey, I need. . ." He turned to the blonde. "I need to feed."

Spike narrowed his eyes at his Sire, automatically cutting off all ties in his head to the brunette. "I'll see you in hell," he hissed. He turned to Xander. "Come on, pet, let's find a place to sleep." He took his lover's arm. With one last glare at Angel, the two vampires left.

Willow grabbed Jesse's arm and followed, feeling the urge to talk to the odd vampire who claimed to know her - the one she felt she knew.

Buffy glanced over at her former lover. She knew that she should leave and hunt Spike and Xander down, but the Slayer was rooted to the couch, concerned with Angel's mental state. "A. . .Angel?"

The dark-haired vampire was sitting in his chair, his elbows on his knees, his face covered with his hands. "Go away," he murmured.

Buffy slid across the couch, reaching out to touch his arm. "Angel, I'm here for you. . ."

Angel looked up, his full game face on. With a roar, he yelled, "Get the fuck out!" Big pink tears splashed on his cheeks.

Buffy blinked in shock, then stood. She moved to the door. Without even bothering to turn back to him, she said, "I'll be here if you need me." She walked out of his apartment.

Angel stood up with a roar, the demon finally pushing through. In anger, he began to systematically destroy everything he owned. With three simple words, he'd destroyed two lives: condemning one to death and taking the love of the other's life away.

He fought back tears as the demon pelted him with memories of his beautiful Alexander.

~*~

**London, 1863**

"Darla, where is Alexander?" Angelus murmured, brushing his lips across her cheek. He'd just arrived back to the home the four vampires shared, having returned from a hunt with William. The younger vampire had found a delectable brunette he wanted to shag before killing, so Angelus left him to it.

Darla rolled her eyes, wondering where she lost control when it came to Angelus' childer. Penn was brutal, stuck in killing the same types of victims over and over. He couldn't just enjoy the kill for the kill, he had to mimic his family's death again and again. William was rude and obnoxious, and she couldn't stand him. Alexander was great, for the first few minutes. Then his insanity and ability to 'hear the stars sing' got on her nerves. < Why can't Angelus just create nice, normal vampires? > she thought. "He's *upstairs* with that damn cat. I don't understand why you *insist* on letting him keep it."

"It makes him happy," Angelus murmured softly, smiling at his Sire. "When Alexander is happy, I'm happy."

Darla just rolled her eyes and walked away.

Angelus snickered to himself. He turned on his heel and sprinted upstairs to Alexander's bedroom. He didn't understand himself why the youngest vampire of his family wanted to keep the cat that had been Willimina's before her death, but the cat wasn't afraid of them, and seemed to like Alexander no matter what he was, so he allowed it.

He pushed open the door to his youngest Childe's room. He leaned against the doorframe, his eyes running up his Childe's naked body. Long lean legs covered with dark hair met at the apex of his thighs with his torso. A soft wide cock and heavy balls were resting comfortably in a nest of dark curls. His stomach was flat. There was a big ball of white and black fur lying on his wide muscular chest. The vampire's eyes were closed, long lashes resting against pale cheeks.

The most comforting thing to Angelus about the scene was that both cat and vampire were purring so loud it echoed throughout the room.

He chuckled to himself and walked into the room. Alexander opened his eyes slowly, a grin spreading over his features. "Daddy," he purred. "Did you and Brother have a good time hunting?"

Angelus sat on the bed, running his fingers through the fur of the cat on his chest. Cameron, as Alexander called him, stood, kneading his paws in Alexander's chest. Cameron moved up and banged his head against Alexander's chin a couple of times, causing the youngest vampire to giggle slightly. Alexander ran his hand down the back of the cat, finding Angelus' hand. He curled his fingers around his Sire's, smiling up at him.

"We did, why didn't you want to come with us?"

"I needed rest, Daddy. You are insatiable during the day." Alexander smiled as his Sire bent down, kissing him. The older man's tongue slipped into his mouth and Alexander moaned into the kiss, tasting his Sire, small traces of the blood he'd stolen that night, and the death that surrounded the beautiful man. When Angelus pulled away, Alexander smiled. "I love kissing you," he murmured. "You always taste of death and other delicious things."

Angelus smirked, turning his head as Cameron jumped off the bed and went to the corner, stretching out on the floor to sleep more. "So. . .did you and Cameron have a good night?"

Alexander sat up, his face more serious than it had been a moment before. "If I tell you something, Sire, will you promise not to laugh like Grandmum did?"

The older vampire ran his fingers down his Childe's cheek. "I promise."

"I can talk to Cameron now," he whispered, as if it were a secret.

"You. . .can? Does he talk back?"

Alexander nodded. "He speaks to me of love and death and other things. He enjoys living here, but is wary of Darla. She wishes for William, Cameron, and I to be gone, Sire. She thinks I am not good enough for you, and that William is arrogant and rude, and that Cameron isn't even good enough for 'dinner'. Sire, she wants my Cameron *dead*." Alexander shook his head. "Cameron doesn't like that very much."

Angelus was amazed. Alexander had *never* shown any inkling that he had an idea what the others in the house thought of him, except for William. But the youngest always asked why Brother didn't like him, nothing more than that. He never acted like he had a clue how Darla felt about him. "What does he think of William?"

"He knows William doesn't like us - he doesn't like the time that we take away from him. He wants you to himself, Sire. Cameron says he thinks you coddle me, and that you should just let me grow on my own. While you are at his side, of course. But. . ." Alexander looked down sadly. ". . .Cameron just wants William to like me. And he doesn't. Brother doesn't like me." He pouted slightly, making Angelus think of a child.

"And me?"

Alexander looked up, his face lighting the room. "He *loves* you, Angelus. He thinks you are good to both of us, and you treat us good, better than anyone *ever* did. . .except for Willimina. . ." Alexander looked away, trying to hide his tears. "He misses her. A lot."

Angelus never could understand why Alexander *missed* Willimina so much. The older vampire didn't miss his family - and as a human, he'd been especially close to his sister.

"But he knows that I will see her again, some day. He won't be here though. It will be a very long time before it happens. . .Cameron will be long gone." Alexander tilted his head, thinking. "Daddy," he said, the childlike sound back to his voice. "Why doesn't Cameron drink blood like us?"

"He isn't a vampire, sweetling," Angelus murmured, pushing his childe back and laying next to him. He started running his lips across his childe's chest, enjoying the taste of his lover.

"Can we make him one?"

Angelus glanced up, looking at the smiling face of his childe. It almost broke his heart to tell him no. "Alexander. . .you can't *make* an animal a vampire."

The younger vampire looked over sadly at Cameron, who was watching him with big green eyes. "I'm sorry, baby," he purred sadly, "Daddy says you can't be a vampire like me."

Cameron meowed, and Alexander shook his head. "No, we aren't going to try, because it might *kill* you. I don't want you to die before your time."

*Meow!*

"*No!*" Alexander hissed at the cat. "There will be *no* going to Darla and making her do it! You know if you *could* be a vampire, she wouldn't turn you! Now go to sleep, Daddy and I are going to play. I'll pet you later."

The cat hissed slightly, then put his head on his paws, almost pouting. Angelus stared at the cat in amazement, almost believing that Alexander had talked to him. He glanced back down at his childe, who was smirking at him. "You don't believe me, Daddy. You'll see."

All conversation past that ceased as Angelus claimed his childe again and again.

*****
Part 7:

"Alexander!"

Xander turned at the sound of his name, a smile gracing his features. Willow and Jesse were running towards him and Spike. "Willimina," he murmured, reaching out and taking her hands.

"M. . .my name is Willow," she stammered, wondering again why this beautiful man thought she was someone else.

"You may be Willow in this life, but once you were mine. You were my Willimina, before Angelus killed you." He smiled sadly. "I wish Cameron were still here. He would *love* to see you."

"Who's Cameron?" Jesse asked, shifting uncomfortably next to his best friend.

"My cat," Willow murmured, suddenly seeing a vision of a black and white ball of fur in her mind. "He was my. . .Willimina's cat." She shivered. "But. . .I'm not her." She looked up at Xander. "I can't be."

"Stranger things have happened, luv," Spike murmured. < She's a cute chit. . .wonder if *she'd* like to join the family? >

"No, Spike," Xander said, turning to his lover. "Willimina. . .Willow. . .she remains untouched. Do not hurt her. I don't want her to have a demon within her. It makes. . .it makes the monk angry."

Spike's eyebrow rose, but he wasn't surprised that Xander knew his thoughts. It wasn't the first time, and the blonde was sure it wouldn't be the last. "So you won't hurt her? Even the vampire?"

"I like her," Xander smiled. "I don't want to turn her, I don't want to hurt her."

"Good!" Jesse exclaimed. "So you are going to let us live!"

Xander's hand shot out and wrapped around Jesse's neck, squeezing. "I said I didn't want to hurt *her*. Her is *not* you. I don't care what happens to you."

"Alexander, that is my *best* friend!" Willow scolded, hitting Xander's arm. "Stop hurting him!"

Xander blinked once, then twice, then finally let go of Jesse, pushing him away from them. The youth fell to the ground. "Run home, little boy, and I'll let you live."

Spike smirked, knowing that this was his *true* lover - the evil, maniacal vampire that Xander could be.

"I'm. . .I'm not leaving Willow here alone with you!" Jesse exclaimed, standing up, brushing his clothes off. "You may not want to hurt her, but that doesn't mean you won't."

Xander growled dangerously, stepping towards Jesse. His game face fell into place, but he didn't attack, not wanting to hurt his Willimina by hurting the one she called 'best friend.'

Willow put her hand on Xander's chest, oddly not frightened of the vampire. "Alexander," she said softly. "He's trying to protect me, you can't blame him for not wanting me to be hurt."

Xander narrowed his eyes once again, hissing slightly at Jesse. He turned to Willow, his hand coming to his chest to wrap around hers. He pulled her hand to his face, kissing her fingers softly, completely forgetting the fact he was in game face.

Willow tilted her head curiously. "You're purring," she said in amazement.

Xander didn't answer her, rubbing his cheek against her hand, taking a moment to lick the pulse of her wrist. He inhaled deeply, imprinting the scent of his Willimina in his mind.

Willow watched in amazement, suddenly reminded of a big purring cat. She looked at Spike, who was watching his lover with mirth dancing in his eyes. "He likes you, pet," the blonde chuckled.

"I figured that out," Willow whispered. "I didn't know vampires could purr."

"Only when they are extremely happy, luv. He hasn't purred much since Prague. He's been too sick." Spike looked down, a growl echoing off the trees, much louder than the purring. "I can't *believe* me soddin' Sire won 't let my Xanpet have a bit of his blood!"

Willow turned big green eyes from the catlike vampire in front of her to his lover. "Maybe I can get him to change his mind."

Spike's eyes widened. "Do you think he would?"

"It's worth a try," Willow shrugged, giggling as Xander started licking the back of her hand with slow leisurely licks. "He's like. . .a cat."

"Cameron told me when I found your soul again that I needed to mark you, to make sure that the world knew you belonged to me," Xander murmured.

"So, luv, she's Willimina's soul reincarnated?" Spike asked. He reached out, running his fingers along the back of Xander's neck. It was comforting to watch his lover claim the human. Normally, he wouldn't have stood for something like that to happen, but being around Willow calmed Xander and made him much closer to the vampire Spike had fallen in love with.

Xander nodded, running his tongue over her fingers. "She looks like her too, big green eyes, long fiery red hair. . .we'd known each other since we were little - she was my best friend. I used to think that her hair was fire. She was quiet and shy, unless it was just the two of us. . ." He chuckled slightly, tears filling his eyes. "I loved her with everything I was. When Angelus. . ." His voice tapered off, and he looked up at Willow. "Can we talk? Tomorrow night?"

She nodded, enraptured by the soft tone to his voice, the way he spoke of something that had happened so very long ago to him and another woman - and yet she could almost see it in her mind. "I would like that. Just meet me right here at dusk, we'll go walking around Sunnydale."

Spike wrapped his arm around Xander. "Come on, luv. We need to get you fed, and then we need to find you a place to rest."

Xander kissed her hand once more, then leaned into Spike's embrace. "Goodbye, my Willimina," he murmured before the two vampires turned and walked away.

"Ok, *that* was wiggy," Jesse said. "He. . .he's a freak."

Willow slapped Jesse's chest. "Come on, let's go find Buffy."

*****