Disclaimer: Everything BtVS and AtS is owned by Joss, ME, and all them over there. Everything Anita Blake is owned by Laurell K. Hamilton

All in the Family: Blood is Blood

"That's exactly what she thinks," a cold voice said from the doorway.

Everyone turned and stared. Angel stood just inside the apartment, his hand resting on Spike's shoulder. The dark haired vampire nodded at Gunn and then looked the rest of the room, his eyes amber. His gaze rested on Buffy and Willow for a long time before he spoke. "William, go out to my car. Now."

Spike didn't hesitate- he just got up and complied, shocking everyone in the room. Gunn followed him. Angel turned toward Willow and smiled. Willow smiled in return acknowledging that she knew everything was okay.

"You can't stop this, Angel. Don't interfere." Riley said firmly.

Angel laughed. "Interfere? You messed with my family, boy. Be glad I haven't killed you yet."

Buffy gasped. "Angel..."

Willow placed a hand on Buffy's arm and spoke quietly. "He won't. Well, not unless Riley or any of his commando friends does anything stupid. Believe me when I say this, Buffy, you do not want to test Angel's soul right now. This is Sire/Childe stuff. You don't want to get involved."

Giles cleared his throat yet again. "I agree. Riley, calm down. If you haven't noticed, Spike and Gunn have already left. Deal with the fact that you've lost."

Riley's jaw clenched tightly, the muscles ticking. He said nothing, but sat back down.

Angel visibly relaxed and then turned to the group of people he'd come to see. "I'm not going to pretend to be happy that I can't do anything about this *chip* in my boy's head. What I am going to do is take him away from here. And if anyone tries to stop me, or attempts to hurt William at all..." Angel let the sentence trail off, though his eyes conveyed his intentions.

"He's a hostile-" Riley began.

Angel growled. "He's my Childe."

"Oh, big deal, Angel. Get over yourself." The words had barely left Riley's mouth before Angel lunged at the other man.

Buffy and Olivia screamed in shock. Giles made a move to get in between the two men, but Willow's actions beat him to it.

"Separate." Willow said, her voice deep and laced with power.

Angel and Riley were tossed away from each other and pinned against opposite walls. Buffy, Giles, and Olivia stared at the witch in shock as she placed herself between the two angry men.

"Enough," she began, facing Riley. "If you hadn't figured it out yet, you just made a huge mistake. But, because I love Buffy and I consider you a friend, I've decided to keep Angelus from hurting you. And believe me, Riley, you would be dealing with Angelus. Now, listen up everyone, I'm serious here. If I learned anything over the past few weeks, it's that a vampire's family is a lot more than meets the eye. Angel is seriously out for blood here. His family- his Childe- has been violated. No one say anything else about stopping him, all right?"

Angel gazed at the redhead with a newfound respect. Signaling to her that he was back in control, Willow released him from the wall. "Let Riley down, too, Willow," he said.

Willow turned her eyes to Riley and questioned him with the tilt of her head. Nodding slightly, Riley agreed to behave. Willow released him and motioned for them all to sit down. No one knew exactly what to say next. Giles finally broke the silence- and the tension- with a question to Willow.

"How do you suddenly know so much about vampire lineage?" he asked Willow.

Willow grinned. "Oh, I got a first hand demonstration. I met a few vampires while Spike and I were in London. From watching all that went on between them and Spike ... well, I learned a lot."

Angel smirked. "You met Spike's boys, didn't you?" he asked.

Willow nodded. "Yeah. Seth and his Childe Regan were there. And Donegan and Everett. They showed up at the house shortly after we arrived."

"And you're still human?" Angel asked, quietly.

Willow nodded. "It was scary for a couple of days, but then I told Seth I wasn't scared of him."

"You did what?" Buffy practically shouted. "Willow! Never tell a vampire that! They can tell when you're lying."

Willow nodded. "Yeah, he knew I was lying about being scared, but I corrected him on the source of my fear. Then we talked. I told him and the rest of Spike's kids stories about he Hellmouth. Things got easier after that. Well, especially after Spike claimed me."

Angel and Giles both stared hard at Willow, shocked. "He hadn't claimed you before they arrived?" Giles asked.

Willow shook her head. "No. We didn't know he could bite me then. And besides, we weren't ready for that yet."

Angel's eyes were wide. "Spike has that much control over his Childer?"

Willow shook her head. "No. Well, yes, but not exactly. He laid a verbal claim on me and then pretty much avoided me except at night. And he made me hide most of the time."

Giles looked at Angel and then at Willow. "He truly protected you, Willow. And his actions here tonight indicate that he is in complete control of himself. That alone has shown me that he's serious about his relationship with you. I'm convinced that he loves you. And I'm sorry I doubted your judgment."

"It's okay, Giles." Willow said with a smile before turning to Angel. "Did you send Spike and Gunn somewhere?"

Angel nodded. "They're at your house. Gunn was to take him there as soon as I arrived."

Willow grinned. "You're the one who told him to behave, huh?"

Angel smirked. "Yeah. It took some convincing, though."

Willow just smiled.

Angel touched her arm. "Willow, I'm taking Spike back to LA tonight. You can come with us or follow later, but my boy will not be in this town any longer."

Willow nodded. "I know. And I understand."

"Oh, god! Willow! You can't leave tonight! We've still got a lot to talk about! Don't leave tonight, Will, please!" Buffy pleaded.

Willow turned toward her best friend. "I'm not going to, Buffy. There's still a lot of stuff I need to take care of here. And besides, Christmas is in four days and I haven't seen Xander do the Snoopy Dance yet."

Buffy sighed and relaxed. Turning to Riley, she stated, "We're leaving. I've got a lot to think about and I'm not leaving you here."

Willow hugged Buffy tightly. "It'll be okay, Buff."

"I know, Willow."

Surprisingly, Riley left without protesting. Willow looked at Angel and then at Giles and Olivia. Smiling and beginning to giggle, she said, "Well, I sure know how to make an announcement."

Olivia was quick to join in her laughter. "Willow, my dear," she began. "I do believe that the two of us are going to be great friends."

Willow smiled brightly at her. "Thank you, Olivia. For everything."

The older woman just smiled. "I'm going to go to bed now, Ripper."

Giles nodded as she walked up the stairs. He turned to Angel and Willow and sighed. "Angel, I trust that you will explain to Willow anything that Spike hasn't?"

The vampire nodded. "Of course."

"And, Willow? You'll be careful? I don't believe Riley will give up as easy as Buffy did."

Willow managed to smile at Giles. "I'm always careful, Giles. You know that."

Angel stood beside Willow with his hand on her shoulder. "She'll be protected, Rupert."

Giles stared hard at the vampire and saw the truth of his words. "Yes, I see that she will be."

Willow smiled at Giles once more before she and Angel left the apartment.

____________________________________________

Angel and Willow rode in silence for a while. Upon reaching the parking lot they'd discovered that both Angel's car and Gunn's truck were gone. There was a note on Willow's car informing them that Gunn and Spike were waiting for them at the Rosenberg house. She'd tossed him the keys, they'd gotten into her car and had not spoken once since leaving Giles'. To Willow, the silence was deafening.

"Are you mad at me, Angel?" she asked quietly.

Angel looked at the woman beside him. "Not at all, Willow. I admit that I was- when Spike first called me. I still don't understand why no one thought to inform me about his *condition*."

"I'm sorry." Willow said.

"I know," the vampire said.

"I love him, Angel."

Angel's eyes softened at her tone. "I know that too, Willow. And I know he loves you. The fact that he asked me for help in the first place proves that."

Willow nodded. "Yeah."

Angel smirked. "That was some powerful mojo you worked back there."

Willow bit her lip. "Yeah. Sorry about that, but I had to do something." "I understand, Willow. And honestly, I was quite impressed. My demon was too."

Willow smiled. "Really? And my goodness my life is weird. Not three weeks ago the idea that your demon was impressed with me would have totally freaked me out."

Angel laughed. "Welcome to the family, Willow."

She grinned. "Thanks. Angel, can I ask you a question?"

"You can ask me anything you need to, Willow."

She was quiet for a moment. "Okay. See, I didn't think there was anything really spectacular about it at the time, but while we were in England Spike sent me to see his grave-"

"He did what?" Angel asked suddenly.

Willow bit her lip. "Yeah, okay. See, now Anya reacted that way too, only a little quieter and then she hugged me and then took Xander home. What's the big deal?"

Angel sighed and pulled over to the side of the road. Turning to Willow he answered quietly. "Willow, for a vampire to show a person his grave means that they're openly admitting to being human once."

"Okay." Willow said, still unsure of Angel's point.

"That means that Spike was not only asking you to be a part of his future, Willow. He wants you to know about his past as well. He's given all of himself to you."

The full meaning behind Angel's words slowly sunk in. Willow's eyes filled with tears as she realized how much of himself Spike had trusted her with. Not only was he letting her get to know his demon, but also William, the man he'd been in life. Both man and demon loved her.

"Wow." Willow said quietly.

Angel nodded. "Willow, never in all of my years, have I allowed anyone but my Sire to see my grave."

"Really?" Willow asked.

"Really," Angel began. "This is a very big deal. Willow I was joking around before, but I'm serious now. Welcome to the family."

_________________________________

Willow and Spike were standing on her porch saying good-bye. "You're sure you won't come with us?" Spike asked again.

Willow nodded. "I'm sure. I'll be okay. Gunn's staying here to make sure I'm safe from Riley and his bunch, and I really need to spend some time with the gang."

Spike nodded. "I know, luv, but that doesn't mean I like it. I'll miss you."

Willow grinned. "I'll miss you, too, but it's only a few days. I'll be there before sunset on Christmas Day. You won't even be awake before I get there."

"I know." Spike said as he leaned in for a kiss.

Willow tilted her head up and met his lips. The kiss started soft, their lips moving together slowly. Spike pulled her closer and deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing her lips before slipping into her open mouth. Willow responded eagerly and with passion.

Angel cleared his throat from beside his car. "Spike, it's almost 3 am. We've got to hurry. Seriously."

"Oh, shut up, Peaches. You're just jealous." Spike said as he backed Willow up against the porch railing, her back to Angel.

Angel just smirked. "Hurry up ya bleached blonde pain in me arse."

Spike and Willow laughed. He pulled her to him and crushed her lips under his. Her tongue sought entrance to his mouth and he readily complied. Her fingers gripped the back of his head as his hands traveled up and down her back. Spike nipped lightly at her lips before breaking the kiss. He tried to pull away from Willow, but she refused to let him go.

"Not yet," she said.

Spike sighed contentedly and pulled her even closer. Willow stood with her head on his chest, her arms tightly around his waist, her emotions rising to the surface. She knew that he had to go if they were going to make it to LA before sunrise, she just couldn't let go of him. She knew Spike could feel the tension in her body- she felt his body respond with a tension of its own.

"Luv-" he began. Willow nodded into his chest. "I know, Spike. I know you have to go, but ..."

Spike ran his hands reassuringly up and down her arms. "What is it, pet?"

Willow sighed. "It's just that for the last few weeks we've not been apart very much. The longest times were a few hours at the most. I'm scared, Spike."

"Of being alone?"

Willow shook her head. "No, it's just, what if absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder?"

Spike tightened his arms around her. "That will not happen. Willow, you are mine. Being apart for a few days won't change that."

Willow nodded. "Yeah, but, what if it does?"

Spike almost growled at the defeated sound of her voice, but she needed reassurance, not force. "Willow, look at me."

Willow looked up. Spike tilted her head and his lips descended onto hers in a tender kiss. His tongue teased hers while his hands traveled over her body. One hand cupped her ass, lifting her up slightly. The other rested on the back of her head holding her firmly to him.

Willow moaned into the kiss as she felt his erection against her. She tightened her arms around his neck and tried to pull her body up. Spike, never breaking their kiss, lifted her onto the porch railing. The hand that had been cupping her backside moved between their bodies to Willow's denim covered core. Willow moved one of her hands to cup his erection over his jeans. Their kiss intensified and after a moment, Willow broke away breathless.

She tilted her head to the side and offered her neck to him. Spike began to purr as he kissed the exposed flesh tenderly, sucking it into his mouth and bringing her blood to the surface. His hand stroked in time with hers, both of them fondling each other through their clothes- each careful to ensure that the seams were hitting all the right places.

Willow groaned as his tongue ran over the mark he'd made on her neck a few days before. Knowing what she needed, Spike let his demon emerge and slipped his fangs into the mark, renewing it. They both came as he drank from her. Willow cried out in pleasure at the same time that Spike groaned against her. Withdrawing his fangs, Spike lapped at the remaining blood. Willow's body was trembling and she held him close.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too." Spike said.

Willow rested her head on Spike's shoulder and smiled. "Thanks. I needed that."

Spike laughed. "Yeah, pet. I know you did. Now, if you don't mind, I'd rather we stop giving Peaches a free show. I mean, if we're gonna let him watch, we should at least charge him something."

Willow slapped his arm playfully before she realized the implications of what Spike had just said. Her eyes wide she turned around to see a smirking Angel leaning against his car. "Oh Goddess!" Willow exclaimed, blushing madly.

Spike just laughed. "Believe me when I say that Angelus didn't mind, luv."

That just made Willow blush harder. "Oh Goddess!"

Spike pulled her back to him and kissed her soundly. Willow tasted her blood in his mouth and had to fight herself for control. She didn't want him to leave, and tasting herself on him made her want to drag him to her bed. Instead she pulled away and looked at his jeans.

"You've got a little problem there."

Spike glared at her. "I wonder why?"

Willow giggled. "I can take care of that for you."

Spike's eyes widened as he watched her concentrate on the wet spot on his jeans. He was about to tell her to stop when he heard the Latin coming from her mouth. It was just a few words and Spike instantly felt the spot dry. Reaching down, he was very surprised to find his jeans not only dry, but clean. Willow just grinned at him.

He grinned back and kissed her once more. Willow sighed into the kiss before deepening it.

"Spike." Angel said softly from the car, reminding both Willow and Spike that it was time to go.

Willow broke away from the kiss and ran her hand over Spike's face. "Baby? Go all 'grrr' for me?"

Spike looked at her funny, but complied. He gasped in pleasure as Willow's fingertips brushed against his ridges.

"I love you so much. And I'll see you in a few days," she said.

Spike kissed her again. "I love you too, Red."

He hugged her close for a moment longer before telling her good-bye and walking slowly to Angel's car. The two vampires waited until Willow had joined Gunn in the house before driving away. Spike was still in his demon face when Angel spoke.

"You realize I'm going to be hard for weeks after watching that."

Spike's human visage emerged as he laughed. "Serves you right for peeping."

Angel chucked before turning serious. "She just accepted your gift, William."

"My gift?" Spike asked quietly.

Angel nodded into the darkness. "I told her what that trip to the cemetery meant."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Angel said. "Spike, that thing at the end when she asked to see your demon..."

Spike nodded. "Yeah, Sire. I get it. She was accepting me for who I am. Again. How did I get so bloody lucky?"

Angel laughed. "How the hell should I know?"

"I'm not going to turn her."

Angel nodded. "I know. I didn't believe you when you told me that before. Not really. But, I do now. I see what she means to you."

"I love her."

"Yes, William. And she loves you."

Spike smiled. "Yeah. She does, doesn't she?"

The End.

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