As Willow lay down to sleep that night, she ran her thumb over the back of her hand, where Xander had repeatedly licked her. He was a beautiful man, big brown eyes, long lashes, a face she wouldn't mind bringing home to mom. < He's a VAMPIRE! > her mind screamed.

She turned, punching her pillow to get comfortable. She didn't understand what it was the brunette was doing to her, why she felt so *safe* when he was around. Buffy thought she was crazy - but decided they should all go to Giles the next day to see what the Journals had to say about the two. Perhaps he wasn't a dangerous vampire.

Somehow though, Willow had a feeling that he was. She knew what kind of vampire Angelus was, and for those two to have been sired by him. . .she couldn't imagine them being *nice*.

She snuggled to her pillow and closed her eyes, drifting into a dream filled sleep.

~*~

**London, 1860**

Alexander loosened his tie and glanced around the empty gardens belonging to the family of the woman he loved, the woman he would spend the rest of his days with. He ran his hand over his face, still numb from the shock - from the images of walking into his home, only to see his mother, his father, and his two younger sisters dead. He could never forget the horror of seeing their broken, bloody bodies, or the word *Mine* scrawled on the wall in blood.

He knew who did it, he knew who killed his family. It was the same man that hunted him every night, the one with long dark hair and dark eyes. He would come to him in the streets and talk with his soft Irish lilt, trying to convince him to join his 'family'. He promised eternity, he promised love, and he promised other. . .things. Things that would shake Alexander to his very core.

He did *not* want to be a *lover* to the dark haired man. Yet, Alexander knew that was what the man wanted him for.

He found himself going to church more and more, begging the Priest to help him get rid of the Devil. He was sure that was who the man was - he was the Devil in human form, trying to seduce him to a life of evil.

Alexander was strong, his faith in God powerful. He would *not* cross the line.

He glanced up, a brief smile crossing his lips. Willimina was running through the lush garden to the stone bench he was sitting on. She clutched her silk green coat closer to her body, trying to ward off the cold of the night. "Alexander!" she murmured, dropping to her knees in front of him.

He cupped her face in his hands, leaning down to kiss her chastely on the lips. "Willimina. . ." he said softly.

"How are you?" she whispered, tears filling her eyes. She reached up and brushed her fingertips on his cheek. Her heart went out to him, not understanding why someone would slaughter his whole family.

"Not well," he said softly, looking away. "Willimina, I need to leave London. I need. . .I need to get away from here."

Her face crumpled, realizing that he was leaving her. "Alexander. . ."

"Come with me, Wills, please," he begged, turning back to her. "I need you by my side. I won't be able to survive without you."

She smiled, her heart swelling at the thought that he wanted to be with her. "You know I would follow you to the ends of the earth, Alexander. But why do we need to move? Why leave London?"

"He's here, Willimina," Alexander hissed. "The Devil is here, and he wants me to walk with him for eternity! He killed my family. . .I. . .Willimina. . .he wants me to *be* with him!"

"Be with you?" Willimina asked softly.

"He gives me *looks*, Willimina. . .looks like I give you. He wants me to. . ." He cleared his throat.

"Oh, my god," she murmured, her hand going to her chest. "He *wants* you?"

"He does," Alexander whispered. He glanced around, sighing. "I only want to be with you, Willimina. . .we need to leave, run away from him."

She took a deep breath and looked back towards her home, then turned to him. "I'll go with you, Alexander. I have to gather my clothes. . ."

Alexander nodded. "Hurry," he whispered, glancing around the dark garden. He looked up, shivering at the full moon. "We need to leave now."

She stood, leaning down to kiss him. However, before her lips touched his, a hand wound through her long red tresses and *yanked*. A yelp of pain left her lips.

Alexander jumped up, glaring at Angelus, who was holding Willimina against his body, his face twisted into his demon's true form. "Leave, Devil! You have no place here!" Alexander cried. "God doesn't *want* you here!"

"And yet I am, Alexander," Angelus purred. He nodded slightly.

Alexander gasped as strong hands gripped his arms. He turned his head, seeing the icy blue eyes and light brown hair he recognized as one of the traveling companions of the Devil. He struggled. "Don't hurt her! I'll go with you!" he cried.

Willimina's eyes widened. "Alexander, no!" she whimpered. "Don't. . .don't do it!"

"Sorry, boy, but it doesn't work that way," Angelus said with a low seductive voice. "You will be mine, but by my terms, *not* yours. Unfortunately, your little Red here doesn't fit into the plan." His laughter echoed through the gardens. It wasn't long before her screams ricocheted off the trees, cutting Alexander to the bone.

*****
Part 9:

"Wills, you ok?"

Willow glanced over at the Slayer, shaking her head no. She looked tired, and her eyes were puffy, as if she'd cried all night long. After waking up from the *very* realistic dream of Willimina getting killed, she couldn't shake the cold feeling of Angelus holding her, torturing her, killing her.

Buffy moved across the couch to sit next to her. "Wills, what is it?" she asked softly.

Willow shook her head. "Not now," she murmured. "Not yet."

Buffy frowned slightly. "Ok," she said softly.

Giles walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn, Jesse hot on his heels. "And then, my car broke down in Oxnard, and I had to wash dishes at a Ladies' Club to make money. G-Man, it was *so* cool. The women *loved* me," he grinned cheekily.

Giles glanced over his shoulder at his charge. "And the purpose of you sharing this information with me?" he asked curiously.

Jesse shrugged. "I've missed you, G-Man."

Giles placed the popcorn on the table in front of the group. "What's going on today?" He settled into his chair comfortably. "You've all obviously come to my home early on Saturday for a reason. . ."

"What can you tell us about Spike and Xander?" Buffy blurted out, not wanting to beat around the bush about the situation at hand.

Buffy's former Watcher paled considerably. He removed his glasses and began cleaning them. The three young adults exchanged looks of worry. "Why *exactly* do you want to know?" Giles asked softly. He decided there were things they didn't need to be aware of - unless it was detrimental to their health. Spike and Xander fell under that category, for the sheer fact that they were the Childer to the former vampire their friend Angel used to be. . .

"They are here," Willow said softly, hugging herself. Jesse wrapped his arm around her, comforting her. He knew something was wrong with her, but he wasn't sure what - she'd been fine when he and Buffy dropped her off at her house the night before.

"And they are *wiggy*!" Jesse added.

"Oh, dear lord," Giles murmured. He stood, moving across the room to his bookshelf. He pulled a couple of leather bound books off the shelf and moved back to his chair. He sat down, placing the books on the table in front of him. He looked up, capturing Buffy's eyes. "Does Angel know?"

Buffy nodded. "He does. . .they are here for him. Apparently, his blood can heal Xander."

"Xander is sick?" Giles asked nervously.

Willow nodded. "Angel said to let him die," she whispered, looking down. For some reason, she didn't *want* Xander to die.

Giles gulped, removing his glasses once again. The three knew that whatever he had to say wasn't good. "I hope for our sake, Angel changes his mind."

Buffy's eyes widened. "You *want* Xander to live? Giles, he's a *vampire*!"

"Buffy," Giles said gently, leaning forward. "Spike will go on a *rampage* if he doesn't have his mate. They are *inseparable*. If Xander dies, you'd better hope you stake Spike, or he'll bring Sunnydale to its knees."

Jesse shivered, then leaned forward and grabbed a handful of popcorn. "Tell us about Freakboys."

"Well," Giles said, his voice going to lecture mode, "I'm sure there is much more to their story. I'm only telling you what the Watchers knew." Giles leaned forward, pulling one of the books into his lap. He flipped through it, finally finding a page in the middle. "William the Bloody was the Favored Childe of Angelus. The two of them were known throughout the world as the 'Scourge of Europe'. William later took the name of 'Spike' as a railroad spike became his killing weapon of choice."

The group shivered at the thought. "You mean he. . ." Jesse started.

"Prefers to eviscerate his victims with a spike," Giles nodded.

"Oh my god," Buffy murmured.

"He's killed two Slayers in his lifetime - once in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion, and the other in 1977. His age is not known. . .falling somewhere between a hundred and thirty to two hundred. How old *exactly*, we aren't sure. You saw him? Did he try to kill you?" Giles asked curiously.

Buffy shook her head. "We just sat in Angel's apartment -"

"You were *in* Angel's apartment with Spike and Xander? Are you *daft*?" Giles exploded, shocked his Slayer was still alive.

Buffy bristled, glaring at Giles. She opened her mouth with a retort, but Willow beat her to it.

"Giles, what about Xander?" she asked softly, not able to push the image of his face out of her mind.

"Not much is known about Xander," Giles murmured. "Not much without Spike. However, he *is* Angelus' Childe. . ."

A new voice broke into Giles' commentary on the vampire. "Darla hated both of them," Angel's deep voice came from the hallway.

Everyone turned, not surprised by Angel being there. He always managed to show up and surprise everyone to the point where it didn't faze them anymore.

Everyone except for Willow.

The redhead 'eeped' and moved against the arm of the couch, the image of him killing her replaying in her mind again and again. He frowned slightly, smelling the fear *radiating* off of her. "Willow?" he asked.

"You. . .you *killed* me!" she cried.

Buffy blinked, looking at her best friend. "What? Wills, you are still alive."

"What are you talking about?" Angel asked, moving into the living room. He went to Willow, kneeling before her, his demon *bucking* in the cage, wanting to surround himself in the intoxicating smell that was Willow's fear.

"Willimina," she said softly. "I dreamed about it last night. I think. . .I think Xander is right. I think that I am her soul reincarnated. . .I see too much in my mind, things I shouldn't. I *knew* he was Alexander, I *knew* who Cameron was. . ."

Angel frowned, glancing away, trying to remember the redhead that had been the love of Alexander's life. He frowned, glancing down. "I. . .I don't remember, Willow. I never looked at her face. . .I was too consumed with Alexander to notice anything else around me."

Willow glanced down, frowning. Her former life had ended in vain, all because a crazy vampire wanted Alexander.

*****
Part 10:

Giles cleared his throat. "Is there. . .is there anything else you can tell us, Angel? About Xander or Spike?"

"William was my favorite childe - even after Alexander was turned." Angel stood, moving to the couch. He sat down, leaning forward. He had his elbows resting on his knees. He stared at the wall in front of them, looking past them, staring at nothing. "I loved both of them. Darla hated William, hated the fact that he took me away from her. Alexander was her revenge. She figured that I would turn him, and he would be *ours* and it would force William to leave."

"But it didn't work that way," Giles murmured.

"Angelus'. . .*courtship* caused Alexander to go insane. He has visions, talks to the earth and the sky. . .animals. . .it bored Darla intensely. I *loved* him though." Angel looked down.

"Angel, Xander wants to spend time with me tonight. . .should I not go? I really would like to talk to him. . ." Willow asked softly.

Angel turned, focusing dark eyes on the redhead. "You will be the safest person in Sunnydale around him. I'm sure that even now, he would die for you. For some reason, his feelings for Willimina were never extinguished. . ."

~*~

~Whales, 1867~

"Pet, what are you doing?"

Xander turned towards his brother, who had recently started coming around to his 'affections'. William still couldn't say he *liked* the youngest vampire, but there was something beautiful about him when he turned those beautiful brown eyes towards him, when he stuck that full bottom lip out and pouted. . .

The brunette reached down, running his fingers along Cameron's spine. The cat was content, curled at Xander's feet, purring loudly. In the eight years Cameron had been alive, the vampire had spoiled him rotten. He was now a fat happy cat, satisfied to be anywhere the demon he 'owned' was. He looked out over the group of people walking through the night, unaware of the danger that lurked in the dark. They were on the balcony of Alexander's room in the house Angelus had obtained for the family. "Just watching dinner stroll by."

"Do you want to hunt, luv?"

Alexander pondered the question, then shook his head. "No. It saddens me, William. . ."

William reached out, brushing his fingers along the back of Alexander's neck. "Why's that, Xander?"

Alexander looked at him curiously. "You've been calling me that for a fortnight now. Why?"

William shrugged. "I like it. It's better than Alexander. Your name is too long, luv. So I shortened it."

"Why not Alex? My parents used to call me that as not to confuse me with my father."

"Alex is trite. Xander is special."

Alexander smiled. "You think I'm special?"

William scowled, hating how the brunette calmed him, how he tricked the demon into submission, how those big brown eyes drew him into the eye of the storm - everything around them was whirling with a fierceness that could take him down in an instant, but in that moment, that second - things around him were calm and still. "No, you bloody wanker," he growled. "I don't like you at all."

Cameron glanced up at that moment and meowed, causing Alexander to glance down. He chuckled slightly, nodding. "Yes, Cameron, I know that William really likes me, even though he fights it," he whispered loudly. "But we can't tell *him* we know that."

William growled, but found himself enjoying the playfulness of the vampire. The personality of the younger vampire did have its merits - he found he enjoyed mischievous antics Alexander brought to the bedroom. "Xander, you said you were sad. . .why are you sad, pet? Angelus got your knickers in a wad? Are you upset that he's been so dedicated to Darla lately and not paying attention to you?"

Alexander laughed. "No, I'm not. I know I won't belong to Angelus forever. The stars have said that a blonde devil will be the one my world revolves around eventually."

William growled again, not liking the fact that some *blonde* would take Alexander away from them - he only hoped that it wasn't Darla. "Then why are you sad, pet?"

"I saw red tonight. She was beautiful, William, her long red hair piled high on her head, ringlets around her face. I wanted to kill her, wanted to drink her life, but I couldn't. Her red hair was too much like my Willimina's."

William knew that Alexander had a particular oddity about him - he couldn't bring himself to kill anyone with red hair. Angelus humored him - it angered Darla. She just wanted him to kill, to enjoy the taking of a life, and didn't see why he would let one live because of the *color* of her *hair*.

"You love her still, don't you?" William asked softly.

Alexander nodded, looking back at the passing humans. "I do. I don't know why, I know that I shouldn't," he said quietly, "but I do. I can't forget the way her hair shined in the sunlight, the way her emerald eyes sparkled when she looked at me. Angelus doesn't even love me as much as Wills did. The stars told me though, that the blonde, the one that will steal my heart, the blonde will love me as much as Willimina, the blonde will complete me."

"And do you know who this blonde is?" William asked, truly curious of the one who would take his brother away.

Alexander shook his head no. "The stars didn't tell me, only that it was a blonde, and the devil, and that I would fall so in love. . .we would be together forever, until we were ashes blowing in the wind."

William glanced down, then cleared his throat. "Well, luv, I'm going to hunt. Sure you won't join me?"

In the seven years Alexander had been a part of the family, he'd never once hunted alone with William. He stood, shooing Cameron back into the room. "I think I'd like that," he said softly, knowing that to watch William fight was a beautiful experience. He was sleek and graceful, and dirty and dangerous - all at once. Alexander often stepped away from the fight just to watch both his Sire and his Brother fight. They were different, yet both so very beautiful.

Little did the two know that night would be the beginning of a lasting relationship - one that would last longer than either of them could ever imagine.

William wrapped his arm around Alexander's shoulders. "I'll even spare all the redheads for ya, luv."

Alexander threw him a beautiful smile of thanks. He always did *hate* it when Darla would turn and kill the redhead he'd been trying so hard to save.

*****
Part 11:

"So. . ."

Xander smiled, reaching up to run his fingertips along Willow's cheek. "You are so beautiful, Willimin. . .Willow." He smiled. "I'll always have a hard time remembering that you are her, but you aren't."

Willow looked around the campus of UC Sunnydale, where they'd finally sat. They were in the quad, sitting on a bench against a huge oak tree. She turned back to Xander. "You really aren't going to hurt me, are you?"

A look of horror passed over Xander's face. "I would never. . .could *never* hurt you!" He frowned slightly, looking around. "Willow. . ." He turned to her, wanting to tell her everything he'd been through the last hundred and forty years without her, all the things that he and Angelus had done, everything that he and Spike had done. . .all the sights he'd seen. . .

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. Her eyes widened, and her hands splayed across his chest. "Alexander?" she asked softly.

"I was going to kiss you right before Angelus took you away. I. . .want to taste you," he purred.

She shivered slightly, her eyes falling shut at the thought of feeling his lips against hers. "Xander. . ." she murmured, her lips brushing softly against his.

He could feel the warmth, he could feel her hot breath, he could feel the softness, smell the scent that *was* *his* Willimina. . .

Before their lips touched, he tilted his head with a frown, then looked up quickly. It took Willow a moment to realize that Xander wasn't with her anymore. "Xander, what. . ."

He silenced her, putting a finger on her lips. "The stars are speaking, Willow. As beautiful as you are, they don't like to be interrupted."

She turned her head, looking up towards the sky. The stars twinkled happily at her. She closed her eyes, not hearing a *damn* thing out of the ordinary. Xander, however, was frowning deeply, almost looking paler than usual.

Abruptly, he stood, pulling Willow up. "Spike. I need to find my Spike," he said, spinning around. He stopped, Willow slamming into his back. He held her there behind him, protecting her. "What do you want?" he asked.

The three men standing there in the shadows wore camouflage outfits and black masks over their faces. They held gold guns, something that Xander instinctively knew didn't hold bullets. He *knew* they wouldn't hurt Willow, that they were there for him. The stars had warned him, *screamed* at him to run, to find Spike, but he was *so* enraptured with Willow and her beauty. . .her lips. . .he didn't listen to the stars as he should have.

"Hostile, don't hurt the girl!" the leader of the three said.

Willow stepped out from behind Xander. "Hurt me? He could *never* hurt me."

"Ma'am, I think there are some things about your friend that you just don't know about," the second man said, stepping forward slightly.

"Who *are* you? Why did you call Xander 'hostile'? Why do you have those guns, and the masks?" Willow asked, frowning.

The leader turned his head, nodding at the second man. They both turned to the third man, both nodding. "Go!" the leader exclaimed.

The second guy, who was directly in front of Willow, rushed towards the girl. She yelped, trying to get behind Xander. Xander turned, his game face falling in place, ready to protect Willow. However, electricity *surrounded* him, causing the voices in his head to *cry* out in agony. He fell to the ground, his body *twitching* violently from the electricity coursing through his body. He closed his eyes, just repeating one word in his head over and over, his personal mantra: < Spike, Spike, Spike. . . >

Willow turned, shoving at the second guy who'd gotten her out of the way of the lead Commando's tazer blast. "NO!" she screamed. "You can't *do* that! He's my *friend*!"

"He was going to *bite* you, honey!" the guy grunted.

Willow shook her head, tears streaming down his face. "No, he wasn't," she whispered, suddenly scared. Who *were* these people? Why did they subdue Xander? What were they going to do with him? What were they going to do with *her*? Fear flooded her system and she started struggling. "Let me *go*!" she exclaimed.

The guy reached glanced at the leader of the three, who stepped forward. He'd pulled out a soft rag doused in something that would knock Willow out *fast*. Her eyes widened and she started screaming, thrashing against the one holding her. The leader placed it over her mouth and nose, and it was only a moment before Willow slumped in her captor's arms.

Forrest Gates ripped his mask off, holding up Willow. "Damn, she's a spitfire!"

Riley Finn pulled his own mask off, frowning. "Why was Willow with a Hostile?"

Graham Miller's mask came off last. "You know her? Who is she?"

Riley turned to Graham. "She's in Walsh's class, friends with that cute blonde I was telling you about the other day." He turned, glancing at Forrest. "Ok, we've got to get this Hostile back to the compound before he comes out of his daze. We can't leave Rosenberg out here alone." He carefully tilted Willow's head, making sure that she hadn't been bitten on her neck. "She looks untouched. . ."

"Sure we shouldn't take her back to the Initiative?" Graham asked. He picked up Xander, slinging him over his shoulder in a Fireman's Carry.

"No," Riley said. "I'll try to keep an eye on her. . .she's in my class tomorrow, shouldn't be too hard." He picked Willow up, smiling softly at the unconscious redhead.

"You just wanna keep an eye on her 'cause *someone* has a crush on her friend," Forrest teased his best friend.

Riley grinned. "They are *roommates*," he said, smirking. He started off towards Stevenson Hall.

Forrest and Graham chuckled, going the other way.

*****
Part 12:

For two such stealthy Commandos who prided themselves on 'security' and 'covertness', Forrest and Graham never once noticed the dark angry shadow following them through the campus of UC Sunnydale.

Spike had been happily feeding, stalking his prey through Sunnydale, avoiding his Sire and the Slayer at all costs. He was staying close to where he knew Xander would be. He knew the brunette wanted to be alone with Willow, and for reasons he couldn't understand, his demon didn't mind. He knew that Xander could take care of himself, but they hadn't been apart much in the time they'd been together, and the blonde felt better knowing that he was close enough to help if something happened.

And then he felt fear.

The bond Spike shared with his lover was *flooded* with fear. He threw aside the person he'd been feeding on, the blood suddenly tasting stale. He turned and started running towards where Xander was. He could hear the man' s voice in his head: 'Spike, Spike, Spike'.

And then there was *pain*.

He finally reached the area, his demon *crying* out at the scene before him. Xander was lying on the ground, motionless. Willow was struggling against the tallest of the three men there. One of them leaned forward, pressing a rag against her face. She passed out. Masks were removed and the men laughed about something.

Two of them walked off with his lover while the other man left with Willow. Spike momentarily thought of following the man with Willow, but Xander was much more important to him. He proceeded to follow the men through campus, managing not to be seen.

He watched in anger as they took him into a hidden entrance. He waited for a moment, then ran to the camouflaged door, trying to open it. It didn't budge. He grabbed the doorknob and shook it, then banged on the door with his fist. When nothing happened, he turned with a roar. His gameface fell into place and he stalked the night.

~*~

Buffy glanced up at the knock on her door. She put her book down, tucking the bookmark between the pages she was reading. She went to the door and opened it, blinking. "Riley Finn?" she asked with a frown. "What. . ." Her eyes widened as she realized who the girl in his arms was. "Willow! Oh my god, is she ok?"

"Can I come in?" Riley asked softly.

"Yea," Buffy said, pulling him in. She ushered him to Willow's bed where the Commando gently laid her down. "What happened to her, Riley?"

"I'm. . .not sure," Riley said slowly, turning back to her. He had to be careful with his story, assuming that Willow would tell her the story when she woke up. But then, what could Buffy Summers *really* do? There's no way she'd start looking for the Commandos. . .he assumed she'd turn the other way just as ever other citizen of Sunnydale did. "I was walking back to Lowell and I found her. . .she was unconscious. I didn't want her to be left alone."

"Has she been hurt?" Buffy asked, her eyes widening. She rushed to Willow, looking over her body, trying to make sure she hadn't been bitten.

"I. . .I didn't see any visible marks on her," Riley said. "Did she. . .did she go out with anyone tonight, or was she alone?" < Maybe I can find out *what* she was doing with that vampire! >

"She. . .was with an old friend," Buffy said frowning. She knew something was wrong - she believed that even though Xander was dangerous, she believed Angel when he said that he wouldn't hurt her. "Where. . .where is he?"

Riley frowned slightly. "I don't know, Buffy, she was alone. Do. . .do you think he might have done this to her?"

Buffy's eyes widened. "I. . .don't think so. He *really* cares about her." She crossed her arms, turning away with a frown. She *knew* that as soon as Spike found out that Xander was gone, if he was, then he was going to go on a rampage. She *had* to see Angel. "I. . .gotta go."

Riley blinked slightly at her abrupt change in conversation. "Uh, yea. Ok. So I'll see ya in class?"

She nodded absentmindedly, gathering her things. "Yea, class. I'll be there tomorrow." She turned, smiling. "Me and Willow will be there, all ready to learn!"

"Yea, ok," Riley said with a frown. He was *definitely* being dismissed. "I'll see you tomorrow." With a soft sigh, he turned and left Buffy and Willow's room.

~*~

"Willow's ok?" Angel murmured, walking quickly, trying to catch up to Buffy.

"Huh?" Buffy asked, turning back to her ex-boyfriend. "Yea, Wills is fine. Jesse's at the dorm room, making sure she's ok when she wakes up."

"And this. . .Riley. . .said that she was alone? I wonder where Alexander is," he said softly.

Buffy shrugged. "I don't know, but somehow I don't get the feeling he'd leave her alone by choice. Something's wrong, and we have *got* to find Spike. If he realizes that something is wrong. . ."

"Yea, Sunnydale's going to be in big trouble," Angel agreed.

It wasn't long before the two found Spike, bending over the latest of his victims. He looked up with a growl. "They took him," he hissed, shoving the body aside. He stood up, kicking at the body angrily. "The blokes *took* him! I don't know whom the bloody hell they were, but they took him. Knocked Red out and *took* my Xander!"

Angel growled softly, not liking the idea of someone messing with his childer. "Who, William?" he asked.

Spike shrugged. "Some Commando blokes."

"Why didn't you stop them?" Buffy asked, tucking her stake away. "You are a strong badass vampire. You could have taken them out to save Xander."

Spike shook his head, pushing past them. He started walking down the street. "I couldn't. They had. . .they had weapons. They *knocked* Xander *out*. I couldn't help him if they captured me too, now could I?"

Angel and Buffy caught up to him. "Why didn't you come get me?" Angel asked. "Why didn't you ask me to help you?" Angel grabbed his arm to stop him from storming off.

Spike spun around with a roar. "Because I asked you *last night*, you soddin' Poof! If you were so anxious to let him die then, why the hell would you help him now!?" He jerked his arm away, turning away. He crossed his arms, yet didn't walk away. He just stood there, waiting to see what his Sire would say.

"How can we help you?" Buffy asked softly.

Spike sighed unnecessarily. "I don't know who the blokes are, but I know where they took him. I couldn't get in. . .I tried."

Angel growled. "Come on, let's see if we can figure out how to save Alexander."

*****
Part 13:

Xander woke up with a dull throbbing in his head. He blinked, groaning. His body *ached* and that wasn't something he was that used to - unless he and Spike had just had a romp through the bedroom, playing with the chains and whips the two owned. *However*, Xander knew that his aches and pains were caused by something completely different.

He sat up and looked around, the stark whiteness of the room he was in blinding him slightly. He closed his eyes, trying to swallow the feeling of dizziness that overtook him. Whatever it was that happened to him now had him locked up in a small room, and he didn't take too kindly to that.

He stood, his game face sliding into place. He stared at the glass wall, keeping him from escape. It wouldn't be too hard for him to slam through it. . .

He slammed into the glass, his body *arching* in pain as the electricity traveled through his body, electrifying him for trying to escape. He *howled* in agony, tears filling his eyes. He wanted. . .*needed* Spike, needed to get away from that bright white room with it's electrical door, needed to feed, needed to make sure Willow was ok.

He blinked, leaning against the wall, holding his side. "Psst. . ."

Xander looked up, trying to get rid of the lingering feeling of the electricity. "Who's there?"

"New to the joint, eh?" a cocky sounding demon on the other side of the wall asked. Xander followed the wall up, seeing a tiny gap between rooms.

"Yea," he murmured, shaking his head. He could feel the monk and the soul clamoring to get out, to escape the prison he was in.

"What's your name, kid?"

Xander's eyebrow rose and he chuckled. "Kid?" A slow smile spread on his face. Sometimes insanity had its advantages. "Um, my name is Alex," he murmured, moving around the room, looking for escape. He didn't *like* the fact that he couldn't feel Spike anymore, that he was *shielded* from his mate.

"Word of advice. Don't drink the blood."

Xander turned slightly, blinking. "Don't drink the blood?"

"It's drugged," the other vampire whispered softly, keeping the secret from getting out. "It's drugged and you pass out and then they come and take you away."

Xander frowned. "Thanks." He went to the other side of the room, pressing his hand against the wall. He closed his eyes and leaned against it, his ear pressed against the bright white wall. He could *hear* and *feel* the electricity traveling through the wall, swirling underneath the barrier, powering the building.

He felt a twinge at the back of his neck, causing him to growl angrily. The swirling of the electricity, the energy his body was picking up from the wall, made something *foreign* in the back of his neck tingle. There was something there that wasn't supposed to be. He had no clue what it was, or what it did to him.

He clawed at the back of his neck, wanting it *out* of his body right *then*. However, he was unable to find anything, even after breaking the skin. He dropped to his knees in the middle of his new prison, his hands curled into fists in anger, bits of skin under his fingernails. There was a hole in the back of his neck where he'd dug his nails in, trying to get the piece of whatever it was out from under his skin - but even then, even as he tried not to lose control and cry because he *couldn't* feel his Spike, because he *knew* whatever it was in the back of his neck was bad, and because he was, for the first time in a very, *very* long time, scared - even then, he could feel the tears behind his eyes.

~*~

~Romania, 1898~

Alexander glanced around warily, leaning back against William. It was his Sire's Anniversary, and Darla wanted him to herself, not wanting to share him with his childer. William was eager for them to go, wanting to spend some time alone with Alexander anyway. The impetuous Childe of Angelus, one fourth of The Scourge of Europe, had finally made his Grand-Sire happy - he'd all but claimed Alexander as his own, leaving Angelus free for Darla to do with what she would.

Angelus would watch the two of them, knowing there was love between them, feeling slightly left out. He ached to be with them, ached to step in and claim the two as his Childer once again, but he knew it would only serve to fuel Darla's anger, and he didn't want to face her wrath. The oldest male of the group stood by and watched as his youngest Childe fell in love more and more with the unruly Childe of his that never left his side.

"William," Alexander said softly, "I'm scared."

"Scared, pet?" William asked, capturing Alexander's chin and turning his head slightly. Alexander wasn't scared of much, so whatever it was that frightened his lover worried him. He leaned down and placed a soft reassuring kiss on his lover's lips.

"Daddy won't be coming home, William," he said softly, tears filling the corner of his eyes.

William blinked in shock. "Won't be. . .won't be coming home? What do you *mean* he won't be coming home?"

"Grand mum is going to get him dinner, something delicious, and forbidden. It will cause him to run away, to leave us. The stars told me earlier, but I couldn't stop them from leaving, couldn't warn them, they were already gone." He looked down, the look of a sad, lost puppy on his face.

William's non-beating heart constricted in his chest. He was *losing* his Sire? He wanted to push his Xander-pet away, wanted to run into the night, wanted to save that which he'd grown to love over the decades together. He didn't want the stupid blonde to ruin their family, even though she was constantly trying to do just that.

He knew Darla wouldn't come back for them, knew that the blonde would rather live alone, live her existence out killing by herself, than come to them, ask them to join her in her travels around the world.

He glanced back down at Alexander, his heart almost bursting in his chest at the sadness in those dark chocolate eyes he could spend an eternity staring into. "What are you scared of, Xander?" he asked softly.

Alexander's eyes rose to meet comforting blue orbs. "Scared you will leave me, so you can search for Daddy."

William considered his life without his Sire, then considered life without his Xander. He was quick to realize that it would hurt *far* worse to be without Alexander. He leaned down and kissed his full pouty lips once again, then pushed him up. "Come on, pet, I hate Romania. Let's get out of here, while we still have time before sunup."

Alexander looked mildly confused. "What? We are leaving Darla? What if. . .what if she needs us?"

"Darla's a bitch, pet, in case you haven't noticed. She doesn't like either of us." He started stuffing things into his bag. "So hurry the bloody hell up, pet, get packed. We have a new life ahead of us, just *me* and *you*. No Angelus, no Darla. Just the two of us."

Alexander's face lit up, causing William to smile. He didn't care about never seeing the sun again, as long as he could see *that* look on his pet's face for eternity. "And blood and sex and killing and love?"

William snickered softly. "And blood and sex and killing and love, pet. I'll give it all to you. All you have to do is ask, and it's yours."

Alexander smiled. "*Anything* I want?"

"Anything at all, pet."

Alexander's soft giggle filled the room as the younger man stalked his lover, moving towards him like he was prey. William shuddered slightly, *loving* the way he moved in on his victim, whether it was someone he was going to eat, or him right before. . .

Alexander *pounced*, knocking the two of them over into a sprawling heap on the ground. William laughed slightly, the chuckles dying in his throat as he saw the seriousness on Alexander's face. "Xander?" he asked softly.

"The stars and the earth *sing* to me, William. They say this is right, that you and I are going to be together. They whisper of love and death, life and blood, long days filled with passion and pain. The stars say that we will have *such* a grand time!"

William's lips curled into a sneer. "Come on, pet, let's get the hell out of this soddin' place," he murmured, kissing his lover softly, vowing never to let him be scared again.

*****
tbc