Giles had been discussing with the others the issue of the third partner, and he welcomed the sound of the lift returning. There was little point in trying to resolve the problem without Spike and Willow, both of whom would have to agree to the choice; at least, Giles couldn't imagine Willow casting a deciding vote in the face of Spike's opposition.

Giles noted the uneasy look on Willow's face, and wondered if the pair had come to their own decision. He shuddered to imagine who Spike would choose - no doubt someone of the calibre of Harmony, his last partner.

"Ah, good, yes, why don't you both sit down," he said, addressing Willow. "Now we need to try to find a third partner so that we can do the ritual, and obviously time is of the essence. Our initial thoughts were that an experienced witch might be a good choice, given the power that will be at your disposal. I'm sure the Watcher's Council could provide a list of people in the area, so we could see if any of them seemed, ah, suitable to you."

As Giles paused, Willow interrupted. "I had another dream while I was out before, and apparently humans are no good. We need some kind of demon or human/demon hybrid." After that bombshell, Willow settled herself more comfortably against Spike, and the pair watched as the others processed this new twist.

"I see, well, that does complicate things. Um, Wesley, do you have any thoughts?"

"Perhaps the Council could suggest some demons who would be suitable," Wesley replied doubtfully.

"I am a demon," said Angel quietly, drawing all eyes towards him.

Giles and Wesley were struck speechless at this statement of the obvious, each wondering why this solution had not occurred to them immediately.

Willow turned to Giles and Wesley, saying gently, "Spike and I would like to talk to Angel alone."

Giles nodded, saying "I'm sure you must be as hungry as I am, why don't Wesley and I go and get some food and come back in an hour?"

Smiling thankfully, Willow watched the two men depart, then looked at Spike, silently encouraging him to speak.

Angel saw the two exchange a glance, then said: "You don't seem very surprised," leaving Spike to comment "Well, mate, Dru was the first choice but we didn't have time to track her down."

Enjoying Angel's irritated look, Spike added, "and I couldn't agree with Willow about the Slayer, bitchy blondes just aren't my thing."

Willow closed her eyes as the argument began. She was exhausted; she felt like she hadn't slept for a week. She longed for a hot shower and a warm bed, and at the rate these two were going she would be lucky if they didn't come to blows.

She had many reservations about the choice of Angel, and the animosity between him and Spike was just one of them. She decided that if Angel was going to be their bond mate, he and Spike would need to resolve some of their problems.

Standing up she imagined that she could actually see the cloud of testosterone surrounding the vampires as they enacted their eternal "I am the alpha male" routine.

"I am going to have a shower and get some sleep; I'm exhausted and I need to rest before the ritual. Spike, when you're finished explaining everything to Angel, you can organise the ritual with Giles, the sooner the better."

She turned to Angel, hesitating before asking "Is it OK if I use your room?" Angel nodded silently, and went with Willow to show her the bathroom and bedroom, and to fetch her some clean towels.

He returned to the main room to find Spike smoking, and looking unusually serious. Angel sat opposite him, and gestured for Spike to begin.

"We need to perform the ritual soon, and you're the best we can think of. But don't think this means I'm going to let you get your claws into Willow, or into me, or that you can come between us. I saw the way you were feeding off her, holding her.." Spike's eyes melted to gold as he saw the image again, and he let his demon emerge.

He moved quickly to grab the older vampire by the throat. "Willow is mine, my mate, and I am only consenting to this to keep her alive. Once the ritual is finished we are going back to Sunnyhell. If we need you, we'll call."

Spike's bitter tone made it abundantly clear that Angel would not be receiving any calls unless it were a matter of life or death.

Spike decided he might as well get the whole thing out in the open now, so he released the still silent Angel, let his human mask re- emerge and retrieved his still burning cigarette from the coffee table, absent-mindedly rubbing at the mark it had left on the table top.

"Anyway, as far as the ritual goes, because Willow chose me as a bond mate, then you will have to be one as well. That means we all get to have a shag before we leave you to brood in peace."

Seeing Angel's thoughtful expression, Spike hurried on, eager to get it over with. "And you don't need to worry about your soul flying away, Willow says that once we do the ritual it will be permanently fixed,so you can always go and shag the slayer if you start to feel lonely." And on that note Spike stood up.

He didn't even have time to take a step before a vamped out Angel charged him and knocked him to the ground, his hand crushing Spike's throat.

"Listen to me boy, I am your sire and you will treat me with respect, or I will give you my own personal training course in obedience. If Willow is your mate then as your sire I can claim her, even if I had not marked her before you."

Spike averted his eyes at this, which Angel took as his acceptance that by vampire law Spike could not enforce his claim.

"And I am agreeing to do this only because of Willow, because this ritual must be performed, and quickly, to ensure her well-being. I have no desire to force myself on her, but if Willow ever asks me to come to her, for any reason, I will - and don't imagine that there is anything you could do about it."

Angel noted with approval Spike's newly submissive demeanor, and loosened his grip. He rubbed his fingers gently up and down Spike's neck, causing Spike to writhe slightly beneath the larger vampire while he cursed his body's easy submission. "Bastard," Spike muttered, causing Angel to smile.

"Don't worry William, I'll try not to make you look too bad," Angel purred, enjoying the uncertainty that crept into Spike's eyes.

They lay there together for what seemed like an eternity to Spike, before the sound of the shower cutting off reached his ears and he found the strength to push a relaxed Angel off him, straightening his clothes and scowling at the smirking figure. He picked up the book from the coffee table and dropped it onto Angel's chest.

"Come on Peaches, let's get moving."

Giles and Wesley returned, laden down with shopping bags, both surprised to see Angel and Spike sitting at the table together with a collection of objects in front of them, checking through a list.

Spike dug through the newly arrived refreshments, selecting a bagel and a bag of blood and headed to the microwave. Giles turned to Angel, asking "Are these the ingredients for the ritual?"

"Yes, we seem to have everything except a rose crystal, most of the other ingredients are quite common. I called Cordelia, she is going to get a crystal and meet us here at 11."

Giles checked his watch; it was nearly 10am. "Have you read over the ritual itself?"

"Yes, it's quite straightforward. We will do it alone. You and Wes can stay with Cordelia at her house, just in case we need any help, otherwise you can meet us back here this evening. You can give Spike and Willow a lift back to Sunnydale."

Giles looked surprised. "Oh, well, I assumed that once you were all bonded that Spike and Willow would be remaining here with you." As he spoke Giles was aware of Spike, standing nearby and obviously following the conversation with interest.

"No," said Angel shortly. "According to Willow we only need to be in physical proximity when calling on the full power of the bond."

"Ah," said Giles, clearly unconvinced but not willing to press the matter further. "And where is Willow?"

"She's sleeping," Angel replied, and checking the time he said to Spike, "You'd better wake her up."

Spike stood silently and left the room, leaving Giles very curious as to what exactly had taken place in his absence.

Angel watched Spike go, wondering if things would remain this awkward after the bond was in place - he certainly hoped not.

There had been a time, when Spike was still William and Angel soulless, when the two had been very close. Dru's insanity meant that for all practical purposes Angelus was William's sire, teaching him how to hunt and torture, and finding in him a treasured companion.

Humans had little concept of how lonely eternity could be without a childe or mate to stand beside, and even Angelus would admit - if only to himself - that the whole Dru episode had not been a success.

That had been another reason the demon had welcomed William; at least with a childe to keep her busy Dru had spent less time bothering her none too patient sire.

But then the gypsy curse had intervened, and Spike had made his feelings about the souled vampire more than clear. It obviously hadn't helped that during his brief return Angelus had spent his time torturing and fucking Dru, much to her delight and Spike's anger.

And now Angel had the feeling that he was going to get a taste of what Spike had gone through, watching the woman he wanted be with someone else.

Angel did not know exactly what his feelings for Willow were, but he knew one thing: with his soul was secure, if this ritual was going to be his one chance to be with Willow then he was going to make the most of it.

Willow was having a wonderful dream. She was lying on the beach, baking in the sun, eating an ice-cream. She was completely relaxed, and warm from head to toe.

The ice-cream was plain chocolate, her favourite. It was deliciously cold, and as she swallowed she could feel the chills move through her body, sending shivers up and down her spine.

But then a piece of ice-cream fell from the cone onto her neck. Willow tried to brush it away, but it kept moving, tracing an icy path up and down her neck.

Spike grinned as Willow frowned in her sleep, her hands emerging from beneath the tangled covers to bat at his head. He gave her neck a final lick, then started pressing quick nipping kisses over her face, causing Willow to wake up in the nicest possible way: with his name on her lips.

"Spi-i-i-ike," Willow groaned, before succeeding in capturing his mouth with her own. Spike allowed their tongues to play briefly, before rolling away and hopping off the bed.

"Wakey wakey, the Watchers are back and its nearly show time," Spike sang to the disgruntled, naked redhead who shot him a dark look as she regarded with revulsion her crumpled, well-worn clothes, laid out next to the bed.

She turned to Spike with an assessing look that made him fear the worst - rightly, as it turned out.

"Give me your shirt," she commanded with a sexy smile.

"C'mon luv, not my shirt," he whined, even as his hands moved automatically to the buttons.

"Well," said Willow slyly, "I guess I could always ask Angel to lend me one of his." She giggled at the outraged look on Spike's face as he stripped off his red shirt, handing it to her quickly.

She slipped the shirt on, tying the ends around her slim waist and then with a grimace she put her wrinkled skirt on. Spike grinned at the picture that she made, and moved closer to run his hand up the back of her leg, grabbing her naked buttock and pulling her hips towards him.

"Mm, no panties, you shock me Red," said Spike playfully.

Willow couldn't control the blush that spread over her face. She still hadn't found her underwear, last seen in Angel's study; she was mortified just imagining the scene when they finally emerged from wherever they were hidden. She made a mental note to get to the study as soon as possible - alone - and find the wretched things ... before someone else did.

Putting the problem aside for the moment, Willow padded barefoot to the door, asking Spike, "Is everything ready for the ritual?"

Spike followed close behind his mate, his appreciation of the gentle swing of her hips increased by his knowledge of what she did - or rather didn't - have beneath the thin cotton of her skirt.

"Hmmm?" was his only reply, as Willow gave an unladylike snort and went to find Giles. She found him bent over the table next to Angel, double-checking that all the preparations were in place.

"Hi Giles," said Willow, gratefully grabbing a muffin and looking over his shoulder at the list of items required. She gave Angel a half-smile, and asked "Are you OK? I mean, you know, with everything?"

"Yes," he replied, giving her what he hoped was a reassuring look. He couldn't imagine how Willow must feel, being told she must either bond herself to two vampires or die. He was surprised that the shy girl he had known in Sunnydale seemed to be coping so well - but then again, he was starting to realise that he had probably never known the real Willow.

Spike moved to stand behind Willow, placing his hands on her shoulders in a possessive gesture that was not lost on any of those present.

"Yes, well, we are more or less ready," said Giles, nervously cleaning his glasses. "I have prepared a, ah, concoction from most of the ingredients. Cordelia is on her way with the last item, a rose crystal."

"This mixture," and he gestured to the gray looking liquid in a pottery bowl in front of him, "is to be lit, and then the rose crystal immersed in it. Then each of you must cut yourselves with this dagger," and again he indicated an object on the table, a very ornate and old looking silver knife, "and add the blood to the mixture while reciting some words, and you, ah, each of you must taste the blood of the other two."

"And that's it?" Willow asked, her eyes running over the paper that Giles had handed to her, which contained the words that she must say.

The two vampires had their own piece of paper.

"So it would seem from the text," replied Giles, giving the mixture a final stir. "Angel has suggested that Wesley and I wait at Cordelia's while you perform the ritual, and I will come by at dusk to take you and Spike back with me to Sunnydale; assuming the spell works, of course."

Willow felt mixed emotions at Giles' words. She was glad that Angel had already arranged for them to have some privacy; she guessed by Giles carefully blank expression that he had at least a fair idea that blood wouldn't be the only bodily fluid getting exchanged today.

But she also felt upset that she and Spike would be leaving so soon; it seemed cruel somehow, like they would just use Angel for the spell and then discard him once he was no longer needed.

But on the other hand Willow had very deep reservations about the inclusion of Angel, and she had no wish to jeopardise her new relationship with Spike by suggesting that they stay longer.

Spike had been adamant that they should leave immediately after the "shag-fest", as he so elegantly phrased it.

So she kept her peace, and prayed to the Goddess that she was not about to make the biggest mistake of her life.