�Tell me about this vampire chit you had a thing for.� Spike asked as he spread his legs out on the front seat of his car. He and Ripper had walked out of the bar when it closed with a bottle of whiskey filched when the barkeeper wasn�t looking and broken into his car which still sat in the alleyway. The sun was almost up but Spike was unconcerned, all his windows were painted black.

�What vampire?� Ripper said from the backseat. He wasn�t drunk but he felt slightly euphoric. He passed the whiskey to Spike.

� �The vampire.� Spike�s tone held a little bit of a whine. �The one you had an affair with.� He tilted the bottle back to drink.

� He leaned against the cool window and closed his eyes, drifting in thought. �She was beautiful. Still can�t believe she chose me. Though, we just had a biting thing. But, it was amazing, I�d never felt anything like that before or since.� He rubbed his eye with the back of his hand. �She said that�s all we could have because she was in love with someone else. Some bloke named William. She told me that I reminded her of her of him.�

� �The first night I met her, I�d gotten stinkin� drunk with my mates and we were looking for something new and exciting to do. So, we went to one of these �vampire bite dens.� I mean, its easy to get shagged, but I�d heard that being bit by a vampire was better than that. I just had to know what it would feel like.� Ripper glanced at Spike to see how he was taking the news but the vampire was curiously silent, intently watching him.

� �Anyway, we went to one of the higher end places. I didn�t want to get bit by some nasty minion. Only a master, well, mistress vampire. Y�know, just vamps out looking for a thrill. No blood whores for me. Must be fun for a change, instead of stalking and killing an unwilling human they get one eager to give �em their blood. It�s a whole different vibe. You just pay a hefty sum at the door for the privilege.� He smirked, though he got his money from robbing a market."

�She noticed me first thing. Right when I walked in the door. �

� �What did she look like, mate?�

� �Tall and slender. She had long dark hair and mesmerizing eyes but she had a childlike way about her. I don�t think she was all there, if you know what I mean.�

� �Her name?� Spike asked in clipped tones.

� �Drusilla.�

� �Bloody hell!� Spike reached over the seat and grabbed the dazed human. � I should have known. You�re him!� Spike changed into game face and tilted the young man�s throat out of habit. He lunged and then doubled over in pain. Spike slumped back into his seat. �You�re Jack.�

� �Right you are, mate.� Ripper said with a grin. �What�s wrong with your noggin�? I thought you were gonna rip my throat out there for a second.� He seemed unconcerned.

� �I�ve been chipped.�

� �Chipped? So, they found a way to neuter vampires in the future.�

� �I�m not neutered. The bleedin� government gave me this damn bit of tin in my brain, and I�m the only vampire that I know of that has one of these nifty bits of metal.�

� Spike harrumphed. �Be a cold day in Hell before I�m pay any more taxes. I�ll tell you that much. �

� Ripper chuckled before he grabbed Spike by the back of the neck. �You ever touch me again, mate, and I�ll dust you.� He said this quietly, without a trace of anger.

� Spike scowled at him. �Fine.�

� �Fine. Now, do you wanna hear the rest of this bloody story or not?� He released the vampire.

� �I already know the whole story, mate. She only hooked up with you in London, cause I was busy stalking a Slayer in New York. Killed the bird and took her coat too.� He smoothed his duster as he smiled at the memory. �She hated being around when I did that. Said I didn�t pay enough attention to her. So, she went to have a spot of fun in London.� Spike looked at the young man fiercely. �And that�s all you were, Jack, just a light o� love, or blood as the case may be. You were a toy while she waited around for me. My dark goddess confessed everything to me eventually.�

� �I never knew that. She said that you could never find out. To be honest, I was surprised she didn�t kill me the night you came back to London or that you didn�t kill me.�

� �She told me that I had to let you live. Because you were going to be a bleedin� Watcher and important in my life one day.� He pulled out his pack of smokes and offered Ripper one. They lit it them with the car�s cigarette lighter. �She could probably see what would happen to me, all the way back then. Knew I�d need you when I got chipped.� Spike said quietly.

� �She told me it was my destiny to be a Watcher.� Ripper said. �I knew it all my life, knew it was my bleedin� duty to be one. But I don�t want to. Y�know, I think it gave her some sort of perverse pleasure to bite a soon-to-be Watcher, especially because you were chasing after a Slayer.�

� �Poetic justice.� Spike agreed. Strangely, he didn�t hate Ripper. Though, it shocked him that he had this close of a connection to Giles and he had never said anything. Ripper watched over his princess while he was busy and only had a blood relationship with her, he could live with that. �So, how�d you get that bloody awful name?�

� �Jack? She gave it to me after I started helping her hunt. Like Jack the Ripper hisself. I used to find victims for her.� He bent his head in something that resembled shame. �But they weren�t good people. Pickpockets and what not.� He took a deep breath. �I was only a kid and high to boot! What the hell did I know.�

� �So, you go by just Ripper now?�

� �She called me Jack but my mates called me Ripper.�

�

Willow opened her eyes as the sunlight touched her face. She rolled over to find Buffy watching her. �Morning, Buffy.�

� �Morning, Wills.�

� Willow raised up on her elbow and yawned. At least she wasn�t angry anymore, her walk home last night had cooled her temper off a bit. Though, she hated the way Ripper and Spike were fighting over her, like she was property they wanted to claim. She�d just find a way to make them pay for that and they�d be even.

� �Did you eat breakfast yet?� Buffy was sitting on the side of the bed and was wearing her slippers. The two girls often got breakfast while still in their pajamas. Their designated cafeteria was downstairs and they lived in an all girl dorm.

� �Nope. You want to go with me?�

� �Sure.� She stretched her arms out wide and yawned as she sat up. Pushing her feet into her slippers and grabbing her keys, she followed Buffy out the door.

� As they were seated, eating pancakes and sipping coffee. Buffy asked the question she�d wanted to ask Willow since last night. �So, how do you feel about this Jim guy?�

� �Jim?�

� �You know. Tall, blond, blue-eyed, and looks fantastic in tight jeans.� The Slayer smiled.

� �Oh, �Jim�. I don�t feel anything about him. I just met him last night.�

� �Wills, I know he looks yummy, but don�t you think he�s a little. . .um. . .well, not your type.� Buffy had seen the way the young man was looking at her best friend last night. She was worried he was trying to take advantage of her. Like Parker.

� �My type?�

��Yeah. You�ve been all lonely since Oz left you and this is the first guy who shows you some attention.� Buffy watched Willow�s face for her reaction.

� Willow correctly guessed her friend�s concerns. �Buffy, he�s not Parker. I�m careful, I know I�ve been kinda wimpy lately but I won�t be taken in by him.� Especially because he grows up to be my high school librarian. No matter how good he looks in jeans. Or the fact that his kisses make my knees weak.

Giles opened the door to see Spike rushing in, smoke billowing from his duster. Ripper calmly walked in behind him.

� �Where the hell have you two been?� Giles shouted.

� �Out.� Ripper said, sitting on the sofa.

� Giles sighed in exasperation. He really couldn�t believe this is what he used to be like. He was a royal pain in the ass. �How did you to get home? I have Spike�s keys.�

� Spike grinned at the Watcher. �Ripper hot wired my car, taught me how to do it too.� He sat down on the couch looking very pleased with himself. He�d just found a new means to piss off the Scoobies. Maybe he�d move all their cars around town to different places. Places frequented by demons and the like. His smile grew wider.

� �Where�s Red?� Ripper asked.

� �I assume you�re referring to Willow.� Giles said stiffly. �You will stay away from her from now on.�

� �I�m not going to do anything to her, we just-.�

� �I know what you were planning on doing to her. Keep your hands to yourself!�

� Ripper�s jaw fell open. �You mean, you can-�

� �Yes, I can! I saw the whole thing in my blasted dream. I remembered the way you were looking at her, barging into her dorm room with only one thing on your mind. And we both know what that was. Listen to me very carefully.� Giles said as he jerked his younger self to his feet by the shirt. He fixed his own blue eyes with a menacing glare. �Leave her alone. She�s been hurt very badly and she doesn�t need you to add to the pain.�

� �Who hurt her?�

� Giles released his shirt.�That is not your affair. Now, you and I are going to look for that blasted spell book you used and we are going to get you out of Sunnydale.�

� �What if I�m not ready to go?�

� Spike smirked at them both, watching their argument avidly. He actually hoped Ripper didn�t go so soon. He was curious about him, wondered what other information he could get out of him about Giles.

� �That�s too bad. Now, come along.� Giles snapped. Ripper swayed on his feet. The whiskey he�d shared with Spike had gone right to his head. He grimly followed the furious Watcher outside into the overly bright sunshine. He wasn�t going home anytime soon. Ripper also had no plans to stay away from Willow either.

Willow knocked on the door to Giles� apartment. �Giles! Are you home?�

��He�s not here, but you can come on in, luv.�

��Ripper?� Willow hoped her voice didn�t sound hopeful.

��Bloody hell! No. It�s Spike.�

��Oh.�

�Spike bristled. Was that disappointment in her voice? �I�d open the door for you, but the sun�s kinda in the way. I�m not in the mood to burst into flames. You don�t mind, do you, Red?�

�Oh. No, of course not.� She hesitated. Did she want to be alone with Spike? A couple of days ago, she might have been afraid of him. But after last night, a whole new component was added to their bizarre relationship. She wasn�t sure she was ready to see him again.

�Look, are you coming in or not?�

�Of course.� She said airily. �Why wouldn�t I be?�

She walked in to find the blond vampire relaxing on the sofa. He had a bowl of popcorn on his lap and mug of blood on the coffee table. �Want some popcorn?�

�No thanks.� She reached into her backpack and retrieved her laptop. �I thought I�d do some research for that spell book.�

Spike moved closer to her. �Mind if I look over your shoulder, pet? You being a hacker and all, I thought I could get a few pointers.� And sit close to you while I do it.

�Uh, sure.� She said, trying not to show her discomfort. His shoulder brushed her own. �So, what did you and Ripper do last night?�

�Talked a bit, that�s all. You still mad at me?� She gave him the �duh� look. �Well, really you should be mad at him because he started it.�

Just because the two of you treated me like a piece of meat? She didn�t feel up to an argument. �No, I�m over that.�

�Glad to hear it, pet.� He put his head on her shoulder. �Mmm. This feels nice, doesn�t it?.�

�What are you doing?� She was trying to ignore the shock of excitement that went through her body at his touch. �I�m only being friendly, luv.�

�We�re not friends. Until yesterday you never even noticed me. Why are you doing this?�

�That�s not true at all. I�ve noticed you for quite a while, luv.�

�Whenever you�re hungry. You keep telling me that I�m the first one you�re going to kill when you get the chip out. But I don�t think that counts.�

�No, pet. Well, yes, I want your blood. But that�s not all.�

�Ewww. So you want to. . .snuggle before you kill me? Is that supposed to make me feel better or something?�

�What did I say to you when I visited you in the dorm room?�

�I think you said �I�m going to kill you.��

�No, I offered you a choice. I said that I could kill you and let you stay dead or I could sire you. I was just being polite though, I was going to turn you no matter what you chose. There was no way I could part with you.�

�So you�re saying you lied to me?� Willow was flattered that he wanted to turn her but was uncomfortable expressing it, so she lashed out instead.

Spike sighed. �No, I�m saying I wanted. . .want you for a childe. I�ve never turned anyone, luv. You�ll be my first.� A devilish grin spread over his handsome face. �Know how long it�s been since I�ve said that to a girl?"

�Really?� She couldn�t help but smile.

�Really.� He put one cool fingertip on her neck to trace the path of her blue vein. �I bet a vampire�s never given you his kiss before.�

�Actually, and I�ll be darned if I know why, I must be like the Snapple of blood, made from the best blood types on earth, but I get bit a lot, it hurts-�

�No, pet, a kiss.� His voice lowered as he pressed his thigh between hers. Then he leaned down to put his mouth to her neck. �It�s a sharp kiss.� He tongue darted out to lick the pale expanse of her throat and she shivered. �And it�ll hurt, but its a good pain. Soon, that line between pain and pleasure will be blurred, both sensations feel good to you. And after that happens, only ecstasy. You�ve never felt anything like it in your life. I can promise you that, pet. � His blunt teeth nipped at her, he could feel her life�s blood humming through the tiny vein.

He ached with the need to bite down, taste her hot blood, and make her his. Her heartbeat increased in both fear and anticipation. He moaned as his demon�s mask covered his face. Maybe he could bite her. If she wanted it. . .and he knew she definitely wanted it. She was lying in his arms, her neck tilted at just the right angle, a slight moan escaped her lips. Perhaps his chip wouldn�t go off, if he brought her pleasure. He scraped one fang along the vein.

�What the hell do you think you�re doing?!?� A voice roared from the open doorway.

�Xander!� Willow screeched. She scooted away from Spike and stood up. �We were just, he was, uh, I think I need to-�

�No need to explain, Willow. He�s had this coming for a long time.� Xander grabbed a stake from his back jeans pocket and advanced on the vampire.

�Now, hold on just a second you sod. Red and I were -�

�You were thinking about making a meal out of my best friend. I know you�re chipped and that you can�t do it right now. But I don�t really care at this point. I�ve had all of you I can take. Move Wills.� Xander gestured with his free hand.

A knife appeared at Xander�s throat. �I think you better put that down, mate.� Ripper closed the door behind him as he stepped inside. �Now, I don�t know why you�re so upset with my chum here, but just can�t let you stake him without a proper explanation.�

�Who the hell are you?� Xander had never heard a sound. His first hint that someone was behind him was the steady touch of the cool blade.

�Giles�s nephew.� Xander dropped the stake. �That�s better.� He lowered the knife and gave the shook up young man a moment to step away and collect himself. Then he tucked it back into his boot. �Now, how �bout telling me what�s going on here?�

Xander turned and looked at Ripper. This was Giles� nephew? Since when did Giles have family? And what kind of messed up gene pool was this? The young man stood at Giles� dimensions, perhaps a tad heavier on the muscled side. He had the same face with less wrinkles and no worried expression. There the similarities ended. He was dressed in jeans, a white tee-shirt with cigarettes rolled in the sleeves, and boots. The way he stood. The look in his eye when he wielded his blade. The way he winked at Willow . . .he just winked at Willow!

�Hello, luv. Have you missed me?� Ripper crossed the room at a leisurely stride that was somehow savage. Willow backed up quickly but ran into the breakfast bar. He stopped with the tips of their shoes brushing. �I know I missed you.� He threaded his hands into her luxuriant hair and leaned in to kiss her. Xander and Spike both looked for weapons to kill humans that might be lying about.

Willow could barely breathe. She shouldn�t be enjoying this. It was Giles! But, different. She hoped Spike or Xander didn�t kill him before he kissed her. Then three things happened all at once. Their lips met, Xander picked up an expensive vase (Giles� nephew, my tookus!), and a very loud voice yelled, �Hold it right there!�

Xander, who had been programmed to listen to the command inherent in that particular voice, put the vase back. Spike smirked, and sat on the couch. He was only going to threaten the young human. Ripper however was not the kind to listen to orders, no matter who gave them. So he kept kissing Willow. Willow never heard the voice. Giles strode across the room, in a different version of the cocky stroll Ripper had used, grabbed said young man by the back of the neck and propelled him across the room through the doorway they had just entered. �I said stay away from her.�

Giles peered down at Willow. �Are you okay?"

�Uh-huh.� she squeaked. Then she turned bright red as she realized that Giles could remember in detail every moment of that kiss. Giles� eyes widened and he turned away quickly as he remembered kissing her. He walked over to Ripper.

Willow turned and backed toward the couch, keeping her eye on the confrontation between the Watcher and the man he had been. She sat down on the couch. Well, actually, she sat down on Spike who was sitting on the couch.

�Hey!� Willow jumped up and stared accusingly at him. Spike shrugged. �Hey, what? You sat on me, pet. It�s not like I was the one trying to make out with you in front of everyone right in the middle of Giles� apartment. Of course, then, in a way, I guess it�s Ripper�s apartment, too.�

�Spike . . .� Willow reprimanded. Xander was looking very interested in their conversation..

�Ooh, that was interesting. Getting ready to show us that infamous bad side of yours?� Spike grinned.

Ripper looked up from the stare down he was having with Giles. �You have a bad side, luv?� He gave a disbelieving chuckle. �I�ll believe it when I bloody see it.�

Willow frowned and turned, she had to get out of there. �Xander, will you take me home?� Xander jumped at the chance to talk to Willow alone.