Dawn had come and gone. By now the contents of the book had been discussed at length, but there were a number of questions that still puzzled Giles.

"I simply don't understand how Spike can be a bond mate to a Servant.

For a start he is a demon, and such a creature does not even have a soul. Secondly there needs to be a third for the bond to be created, according to this book anyway. And none of the incantations were performed."

Giles fiddled with his glasses as his mind turned the puzzle pieces around and tried to make them fit together.

"Well, regardless of the text he clearly is a bond mate," said Wesley needlessly. They had all seen the symbol on Spike's chest, and the identical drawing in the book.

Giles turned to Spike. "So you didn't feel a surge of magical energy? Or any strange sensations?"

"Seems like I've felt nothing but strange lately, you tosser" Spike muttered. To tell the truth, he didn't really mind the whole bond thing at all. He got on with Willow; she never bored him, and he had come to respect her more over the last few days for her endurance and ability to remain calm under pressure. He thought she would make an excellent mate.

Plus she was the star of most of his recent fantasies, and had proved even better in the flesh than in his fevered imaginings. Besides, the bond thing to him sounded like a guarantee that this time he wouldn't waste a century with someone only to end up with his heart ripped out and stomped on.

A sudden thought occurred to Spike. "Hey Watcher, is Willow still mortal?"

Giles paused before responding. "Well, until the rituals are properly performed and the bond is in place, and she receives her Servant powers, she will be human and mortal. But once the bond is in affect and the powers arrive, she will be immortal."

Spike mulled over this new information. He definitely liked the idea of an immortal Willow, and after their recent encounters he liked the idea of a warm-blooded, immortal Willow even better.

But he definitely did not like the idea of adding another person to the mix. In his mind Willow was now his. He had marked her and, he thought happily, she had marked him, as evidenced by the bite on his neck.

"What about the whole wind thing? Maybe that was the magical energy," Spike thought out loud, hoping to find a way around the ritual.

Giles sighed long-sufferingly. Spike had described his dream earlier, and Giles had already told him that it was not what the ritual required.

"As I have already explained, the three parties to the bond are symbols of the three primal forces, earth, wind and fire. Each of the parties to the bond represents one of these energies, and the three must be in place for the bond to come into being. I do not understand how you and Willow have managed to complete part of the ritual by yourselves, but until the ritual is done properly, and with a third person, the bond is not complete. Willow is in great danger if the magical energy of her Servant heritage arrives before the bond is in place to help her."

Spike grunted in response, but he knew that despite the irritation of getting another person involved he was definitely in favour of he and Willow being bonded together.

He had seen the way that Angel had been holding Willow in the study as he fed from her, and he'd seen the bulge in Angel's trousers when he'd pulled the other vampire away from Willow. As far as Spike was concerned, the more ways that the poof understood that Willow belonged to Spike, the better.

And as for the small problem that Angel had marked Willow first and therefore technically had right of claim - (Peaches can just sod off) thought Spike, reassured by his belief that Angel's soul would ensure that he was too busy brooding to cause any trouble. (Just keep him away from the Slayer so soul-boy doesn't take any unplanned vacations and everything will be fine.)

Angel had remained largely silent while recent events had unfolded. He had seen the bite mark on Spike's neck, which had clearly been left by human teeth. It had been no accident that he had caught a glimpse of it; Spike had deliberately bared his neck to Angel while the older vampire was examining the tattoo, flashing a smug smile as he saw the look of fury on Angel's face.

Angel had been surprised by the response from his demon. Instead of screaming for Spike's blood for his insolence in touching what belonged to his grand-sire, his demon seemed to be thinking long-term for once - not usually its strong point.

"Let him act the fool," it growled. "We have marked Willow - she is ours, as is the boy. His demon then bombarded Angel's mind with images of some of the many ways that Willow and Spike would be made to understand who they belonged to, and it took several minutes before Angel recollected that Willow was not really his, and that Spike would rather eat glass than submit to his grand-sire.

The vampire then struggled to control both his demon and his emotions. He had to admit though, that he had pretty much decided that whatever he and Willow were, it did not fit into the "good friends" category - at least not for him. And as for Spike...

This line of thinking soon brought him back to the immediate problem - Spike. Angel decided to ruffle the blonde vampire's feathers a little.

"When the ritual is performed, why don't we just use two new people? Replace Spike with a more, ah, appropriate choice?" Angel maintained a neutral expression as Spike started to swear at him, amused at his grand-childe's response. He often wondered whether turning Spike hadn't been Dru's most irritating act of insanity. Dru had always been a sucker for blue eyes though, and he had to admit that Spike was easy on the eyes...

"Unfortunately not," said Giles, breaking into Angel's thoughts before they could veer too far off the track, "the bond has been partially created, and Spike must be one of the three who perform the ritual. Now we just need to find the third."

"Do I get a vote?" Willow asked sweetly, causing four heads to swing around to stare at the relaxed redhead, who gazed calmly back.

Willow walked the LA streets, watching the sky lighten as dawn approached. If there was one thing that she had learned from having the Slayer as a best friend and living all her life in Sunnydale, it was that denial was comfortable but dangerous.

It was obvious from the book she had read that if she really was a Servant - and the evidence so far seemed pretty overwhelming - then she needed to find herself some bond partners and get the ritual done quickly.

The book suggested that once the dreams began, which was the first indication of approaching maturity, then the release of the Servant's energy was not far away.

It seemed to Willow from recent events that Spike was going to be one of the bond partners, regardless of how appropriate a choice he might be. And in her heart Willow was glad that she and Spike had somehow managed to start the bond without knowing what was happening.

She knew that Giles would never have agreed to Spike being one of the partners, and probably Spike wouldn't have wanted to anyway. But now no-one had a choice, and Willow had at least one bond partner who was very much to her liking.

She pondered the issue of the third person. It was clear from the book that there was no requirement for the bond between the partners to be sexual; all that was required was the initial ritual, and afterwards that all three were present for the completion of difficult spells.

Apart from that, judging from the book, the three could live separate lives if they chose. So Willow's first thought was to choose a friend, like Xander or Buffy. However the bond partner would become immortal, so it was a very serious choice.

Willow was not sure if her friends would jump at the chance or be horrified. Plus there was the added complication of Spike being the other partner, which would probably not go down well with either of them.

Also Willow knew from personal experience that neither Buffy nor Xander were very open-minded when it came to magic, and she also thought that being a Slayer and immortal and a magical being might be a bit too much for anyone, especially Buffy.

Next on her list of candidates was Giles. Willow thought it over and decided he would be a good choice. He was reasonably open-minded about Spike, and while the two were by no means friends, at least they were not enemies. Willow rather thought that given a choice between Buffy, Xander or Giles, Spike would have no hesitation in picking Giles.

Also, Willow thought, continuing her calculation of pros and cons, Giles was familiar with magic and was knowledgeable in all things demonic, which would be a definite advantage if the three were going to spend eternity fighting evil.

Willow looked up to find she had wandered back to Angel's office. She went through the unlocked door into the office and sat down on the sofa. She knew the others would be downstairs, and had without a doubt read the book and discussed all the same issues that she had been pondering.

Yawning, Willow lay down , not feeling up to talking to the others just yet. Closing her eyes, Willow fell into a light sleep, and her dream self groaned when she found herself in all too well-known surroundings. She looked into Ms Calendar's face, seeing no sign of friendliness but a sort of quiet acceptance.

"You have come alone," said the familiar voice with obvious displeasure. "You must not waste any more time. Soon the full power of your Servant nature will demand release and you must be ready. Where are your bond partners?"

"Uh, well, I do have one already, you know, uh, Spike?"

"It has never happened before, that a Servant has bonded to a demon," said Ms Calendar reflectively. "You must choose your third with care."

"I though maybe Giles, the Watcher?" Willow said hesitantly.

Ms Calendar shook her head. "The choice is yours, but I do not believe that he will serve. To create a bond between the Third and a demon and a Servant, you will need someone who is also a hybrid, not a pure human."

"Like a slayer?" Willow asked, considering her options.

"Perhaps," agreed her companion, "but I cannot imagine that a demon would consent to a sexual union with a Slayer."

Willow's eyes widened. "But, but the book said the bond did not have to be one of mates, that you could simply be bond partners without any, you know, uh, sex."

"That is correct," came the reply, "but you have already elected to have bond mates rather than bond partners by your actions with your Second."

Seeing Willow's confused face, Ms Calendar tried to explain more clearly.

"The bond is not a thing in name only. It binds three into one, and the bond is eternal. As long as the First lives the bond continues. There can't be a difference in the nature of the bond between each of you. As you have made your Second a bond mate, so you must make your Third the same."

Willow sought a way out of this maze. "OK, let's say then that Spike and I find our Third, and do the ritual and, you know, the bond mate sex thing, can we then just be by ourselves, I mean Spike and I? Do we have to keep the Third with us?"

Ms Calendar chose her words carefully. "Once the bond is in place, you may do as you please. You do not yet understand, because although Spike has been marked as your bond mate, the bond between you is not yet active. But the bond will operate most effectively if the balance between the three is maintained."

Willow was not interested in finding out what that meant, she just wanted to avoid being forced into an eternal menage-a-trois. OK, she decided with a sick feeling in her stomach, one time ... she could handle that, if she had to.

Then something else occurred to her. "Hey, what was that you said about as long as the First lived? I thought after I become a Servant I will be immortal?"

Ms Calendar said without expression, "If Servants were completely invulnerable, they would not now be reduced to one."

"Well then," said Willow, her rapidly dwindling patience evident in her voice, "how exactly did they die?"

Her guide's face seemed momentarily shadowed by the dark memories that Willow's question raised. "They can be killed by other Servants or by the bond partners of other Servants. Or by their own bond partners," and the voice lowered, before adding in a whisper, "or by their own hand."

Willow wondered briefly what kind of beings would be stupid enough to destroy themselves, then another thought occurred to her.

"But if I die, what happens to my bond mates?"

"They lose their immortality and become as they were before the bond as created."

"But Spike is already immortal," Willow thought out loud.

"Not truly immortal," responded Ms Calendar. "He can be killed by sunlight, or fire, or a stake through the heart, or decapitation. Once the bond is active, he will only be able to die in the same ways that you can."

"And if one of my mates dies?"

"Then the bond will be weakened between the remaining partners, and a new Third must be found to ensure the bond survives."

"And if the bond does not survive?"

"Then all magical energy returns to the First, whose physical form even as an immortal cannot support it in isolation, and the First will be consumed."

Willow turned all of this over in her mind.

"But if Spike gets his chip out, he may very well try to kill me, or turn me."

Ms Calendar looked blankly at Willow. "This is just one reason your choice may be one which you regret in the future, but know this: once the ritual is completed you can never be turned into a demon, as your body and soul are both part of the bond and cannot be separated. If Spike, as a bond mate, kills you then your body will disintegrate as the magical energy leaves it, freeing your soul as the bond ceases to exist. You will never be a vampire."

(At last, some good news,) Willow thought morosely. And with those words she blinked to find herself once again in Angel's office, with a pain in her back from his lumpy sofa. She thought over the latest revelations as she slowly stretched, easing her aching muscles.

It appeared that choosing Spike may not have been such a good idea, although to be fair she had not actually known at the time that she was making a commitment for eternity, it had been more of a lust thing.

(The one time I let my hormones do the talking) Willow moaned to herself. (Oh, okay, the second,) she smirked, unable to deny the tingle that crept through her body at the thought of spending an eternity with her hormones and Spike - delicious.

And at least with Spike she felt able to act as she pleased. He had no box that he was trying to fit her into; "the friend", "the nerd", "the research girl".

Willow may not know much about wild sex but she knew that Spike had enjoyed their encounters as much as she had, and she had a feeling that once he had finished moaning about having to work for the good guys for eternity the two of them would make quite a team.

Except for that small problem of their Third, Willow sighed, deciding she might as well face the music, and she headed for the lift. The men were so engrossed in their conversation they didn't hear the lift, or her walking across the room.

Willow shook her head. They all looked tired and ready to argue - great. She heard Giles raise the issue of the Third, and chose that moment to make her entrance.

"Do I get a vote?" she asked, inwardly laughing as four heads swung around showing expressions of embarrassment, relief, surprise and, in Spike's case, desire.

She smiled slightly as she walked over and stopped next to the blonde vampire, leaning against him and slipping her hand into his as she turned to face the others.

Willow saw Giles look of acceptance, Wesley's barely concealed revulsion and Angel's blank expression. But the older vampire's stoic look was betrayed by his tightly clenched jaw - clearly Spike's grand-sire did not approve of the match.

Giles was exhausted. He had managed to get everyone sitting down; the humans had been fortified with coffee and the vampires with blood.

He was very aware of the tensions within the group. He had seen the bite marks on Willow's neck - and on Spike's - and wondered what exactly had happened since he sent them off to LA a mere half day ago.

Spike and Willow were making a silent expression of solidarity by sitting as close as possible, hands linked together. From the look on Angel's face Spike should consider himself lucky that there were no stakes lying around.

Giles suspected that Angel's anger did not merely come from his poor relationship with Spike - he had seen the expression in Angel's eyes when he looked at Spike and Willow together, and wondered how long Angel had been having those feelings.

Giles was also annoyed that Wesley, for reasons he could not even guess at, had decided to show his support for his employer by pointing out at length why Spike was an inappropriate and poor choice for a bond partner.

Just when Giles had reached the end of his patience, he saw Willow stand up and felt a surge of magical energy that left the hairs standing up on the back of his neck.

"Spike is not my bond partner. He is my bond mate. You have seen the mark, and you know what it means. I am not interested in hearing your opinion. Spike was my choice, and I have no regrets. Now my mate and I," said Willow, carefully stressing the word "mate" as her eyes flashed red-gold, "have some matters that we need to discuss in private."

And grabbing Spike's hand she pulled him to his feet, and dragged him across the room to the lift, shutting the door firmly behind them and stabbing at the button for the upper floor.

As the lift jerked into action Willow looked up at Spike, who raised an eyebrow at her. Willow continued to hold his hand, fiddling with his fingers as she avoided making eye contact and said quietly, "I guess you know about the whole bonded-for-life thing then?"

She risked a quick glance at his face and saw Spike smile slightly. His smile widened as he caught her gaze, and Spike pulled Willow against his body, wrapping his arms around her.

"I can think of worse ways to spend eternity," he said slyly, leaning his head down to lick at his mark on her neck. Willow smiled, relieved that he seemed to be taking it so well.

"So you're not upset that you're stuck fighting for the good guys?"

"Not like I had a lot of choice with this sodding chip in my head, pet."

The mention of the chip reminded Willow of another of the strange events of recent days. "How come you could bite me? I mean, without the chip going off?"

"No idea love. Maybe because it was self-defense," he said, ostentatiously rubbing the mark on his own neck.

"You bit me first," she pouted, drawing a chuckle from the vampire, amused at the contrast between her words and actions as she returned his gesture and licked the bite mark she had left on his neck.

"It's nearly healed already," Willow noted, disappointment evident in her voice.

"Don't worry luv, once we get rid of the wankers downstairs we can have another round, and I'll let you bite me again."

"Liked it, did you?" Willow asked archly, drawing a growl of assent from Spike. She growled back, enjoying the gentle rocking motion of his pelvis against hers. She was not sure which one of them had started it, but she knew she had better stop it soon if they were going to get any more talking done.

Sighing, Willow forced herself to pull away, batting at Spike's hands as he tried to draw her back into his arms.

"No, no, I mean yes, yes, I definitely want to, but no, not now, we really need to talk about this whole bond thing."

Spike grunted his displeasure, but he knew they had to solve this problem so he followed Willow out of the lift and over to what looked like a very uncomfortable sofa.

"Bloody poof, just because he likes to suffer, he could at least have a decent sofa for the rest of us," Spike muttered, drawing a grin from Willow as he made a production of trying to find a comfortable position.

"Come on then pet, out with it, you look almost as uptight as the Slayer."

Willow tried to find the right approach. "Well, OK, uh, you know that we, at least I, need to do this ritual sooner rather than later. And, uh, so you are one of the bond partners because of the whole blood thing-"

Spike helpfully interrupted to add "-and the shagging."

"Yes, uh, well anyway we need to find a third person before we do the ritual, and then all we have sex and then, that's it."

Spike looked puzzled for a moment, then said slowly, "Sorry - what was the sex bit again?"

Willow's face flushed red, and she had to concentrate not to stammer.

She had had wild sex with this man - well, demon - not once but twice, and she refused to stammer.

"OK, well apparently because you and I had sex while exchanging blood, then the bond is one of mates not partners, and that means the same bond needs to be made with the other person as well. Although I think that we only have to, you know, ah, do it together, just once."

Spike looked at her suspiciously. "I don't remember reading that in the book. And what do you mean, you think?"

"Well," said Willow, feeling her temper starting to flare, "I had another of my boring dreams. Unfortunately I didn't get a manual, and the dream guide has kind of a cryptic thing going, so sorry! But as far as I can tell, we only need to do the sex thing to activate the bond, and after that we can all do our own thing. Well, more or less."

Wrinkling her nose at Spike's expression, which clearly indicated that he wanted more details, Willow continued. "All three need to be present for full power, you know, the big stuff, but other than that I don't think we need to be joined at the hip."

"I can think of a few other places I wouldn't mind being joined" leered Spike, earning a reproving look from Willow.

"Spike, focus. Come on, we need to try to think of a Third. You know Giles and Angel will both try to decide for us, so we need to already have at least agreed on a short list."

"Okay, so I have to decide who I want to shag and then be bound to for eternity. This could take a while."

Willow rolled her eyes.

"Spike, we are going to be bonded to this person forever. I think you need to take this seriously - you don't get a second chance. Besides, I have a feeling that there may be more to the bond than we know, so I really would like it to be someone I at least can get on with, if it turns out there is going to be an eternity of togetherness in our future."

Spike admired Willow's flushed face. She really was shaggable when she got worked up about something. He was not that keen on having to share her with anyone, but he told himself it was just one time; besides if they picked the right person it could be fun.

But when Spike tried to visualise he and Willow shagging with someone else, he couldn't think of a single person who he wanted to put into the picture. This might be harder than he had thought.

"So, who have you got in mind then?" he asked Willow.

"OK, so my first choice was Giles," Willow paused to enjoy the look of revulsion and horror on Spike's face, "before I was told about the whole sex thing, and also that we can't choose anyone who is completely human. So, our options are either some vamp or other demon, or the Slayer."

Willow watched with interest as Spike jumped to his feet and began to scream. "No fucking way! There is no fucking way I am getting naked with the Slayer, no, no, no, I'd rather shag a Chaos demon. I'd rather shag Giles!" And with that Spike abruptly sat down.

(Who knew vampires could hyperventilate?) Willow mused as she waited for Spike to calm down.

"OK, I don't really fancy the idea of having sex with Buffy either, and anyway I know she wouldn't want to be bonded with you so I had already crossed her off my list. But I don't really know a lot of demons. I mean, there's Harmony, but I would have to say that on my list of, uh, OK, of one, she is at the bottom."

Spike tapped his foot nervously. He was still having a hard time keeping images of a naked Buffy out of his mind, and he could feel his stomach churning at the mere thought. As if it wasn't bad enough being engaged to her, but bonded for eternity! A Slayer! Spike thought that if Buffy was the only other choice Harmony seemed like an excellent idea.

Willow looked at Spike, but from the glazed expression on his face she didn't expect much help from him at present.

"OK, so I have some other ideas." That got Spike to look up, and Willow hoped that he was at least paying attention.

"So, I was told that we couldn't choose a pure human, so that could mean that say a werewolf could be OK, I mean, I don't actually know where Oz is, but at least he's a possibility."

Spike struggled to control his demon at the thought of having to allow that filthy wolf anywhere near his mate. Spike said coldly, "Next suggestion."

Willow took one look at his face and hurriedly moved on. "O-kay, well I thought that whoever we decide on it should be someone who is connected to at least one of us, so we have an idea of what they will be like."

Spike looked skeptical. "Please don't tell me you are going to suggest the moron."

"He doesn't qualify, he's human."

"If you say so," Spike muttered.

"Please Spike, I am happy to listen to any suggestions you have, but if you can't suggest anyone then at least try to be helpful." Willow showed Spike her resolve face, and as he slowly nodded she continued.

"Well, the only other person I can think of is Drusilla."

Spike wasn't sure which was more shocking: Willow suggesting he shag the Slayer or her indicating that she wanted to be bonded for eternity with his sire.

"Luv, I appreciate the thought, but first I have no idea where Dru is, and second she wouldn't do it."

Willow noted sadly that he didn't say he didn't want Dru to be their Third, but still she was his sire, and she had read in the Watcher's Diaries all about the devotion of a childe to their Sire, and also that such devotion was rarely returned.

Spike saw Willow's despondent look and wondered whether she had really decided that Dru was the best choice. There was no way in hell he was going to end up bound for eternity to that faithless, crazy loon; bad enough being her childe.

Plus he knew Dru, and if she got wind of his new relationship with Willow she would do her best to make trouble. And making trouble was something that Dru had a gift for.

Spike searched his brain for an alternative, but he would never trust Willow with most of the vampires he knew. One taste and they wouldn't be able to help themselves, they would drain her.

Spike wasn't sure exactly how immortal Willow would be after the ritual, but he didn't want to take any chances.

That just left the great poof. Spike gnawed at his lip. He had expected that Willow would put his name forward: (I mean) he thought, (he's not human and he's here.)

Spike hoped that Angel's soul and his whole eternal love deal with the Slayer might keep his brooding Irish eyes off Willow, but he couldn't help but remember the way the souled vampire had been sucking at her neck earlier, looking very much like his demonic alter ego.

And then there was the whole losing his soul gig. Spike had no desire to have he and Willow bonded to Angelus. "I guess we'll just have to make sure he doesn't enjoy himself too much " Spike thought maliciously.

And he had shagged Angel so many times before, one more would hardly make a difference. Spike was much less relaxed about Angel having a chance to try his slimy Irish wiles on Willow but, (beggars can't be choosers) he thought, and he could put up with watching the poof get his grubby paws on Willow if the alternative was a dead Willow.

Plus, the practical side of him decided, as his grand-sire Angel was already entitled to anything Spike possessed, including his mate. So the bond ritual wouldn't really be making any difference: Angel already owned them both.

Willow was searching for another name - was Harmony really the best she could do? She heard Spike clear his throat, and looked at him hopefully.

"I have an idea, but there are going to be conditions - lots of them" said Spike, looking anything but happy.