ENOUGH IS ENOUGH 6-11
Chapter 6
Willow stared around the place she had called home for the past few weeks. It was small and quiet and it suited her down to the ground. On her first day here she�d got a job working as a secretary for a small night club. Her job was to take bookings, organise clients and talent and organise files and such. It was great work plus she was really enjoying herself. Last night at the Club, one of the bar crew, whom she had become fast friends with, pulled her behind the bar and proceeded to show her how to tend bar. Willow couldn�t remember the last time she had had so much fun. Greg, the bartender, was a huge bear of a guy with rippling muscles which he wore with a tight t-shirt to emphasize. He growled at men who made too many passes at Willow and threatened them with bodily harm should they even think of touching her. But then he�d turn around and call her cutie and show her his tattoos. He was a total softie.
The waitresses had taken Willow under their wing and given her the dubious nickname Pixie. Unfortunately the manager was a real ass hole his name was Phil and he was a real letch. He was always trying to look up the waitresses� skirts and down their tops. Everyone adored Willow.
She had stumbled across this beautiful town in her travels after she had left Sunnydale. Occasionally she got a pang about leaving her friends as she had, but she pushed it away rationalising that they probably hadn�t even noticed her going.
Anyway it was finally time to go home, well back to her little apartment, it was so cute and totally Willow. Unfortunately she had to walk through a dark park which always gave her the chills. Still once a Sunnydale girl, always a Sunnydale girl, she thought as she gripped her stake tighter in her pocket.*At least I�ll be prepared if I meet a Vampire*
Suddenly, as if the fates heard her and decided to see if she was telling lies, there was a scream from the park.
Without thinking Willow turned and ran towards the voice hoping to come to the woman�s aid.
As she rounded the corner she stopped to assess the situation. Two Vampires had a woman on the ground and they were dripping something on her and kicking her. With a yell Willow ran towards them catching one in the chest as he turned around, before his dust hit the floor Willow had kicked the other in the chest making him fall over the figure crouched on the ground.
He jumped up and spun his leg out trying to kick Willow in the face. Luckily, due to watching Buffy, Willow was ready for this move and ducked and pushing up her arm managed to knock him over again. Rolling over onto him she let the stake catch him in his heart and as he evaporated she fell onto the ground.
�Ouch!� she moaned and staggered to her feet, remembering the woman on the floor. Willow turned and crouched on the dirty ground.
�Hey Miss are you ok?� She turned her over and got the second biggest shock of her life �DRUSILLA?�
Willow looked into the face of the insane Vampire who had tried to kill her.
�Little tree?� Drusilla moaned and her eyes fluttered �Make me better, don�t leave me.�
Willow rolled her eyes. No doubt about it she was a sucker!
She pulled Drusilla up and hung her arm over her shoulder. �I just know I�m gonna regret this!�
Willow struggled to open the door whilst still holding the Vampire in her arms.
�Come in Dru.� She bit out as the door swung open and she kicked it closed behind her. But as soon as she was in she dropped Drusilla onto the couch, non-too-gently, after all Dru *had* landed her in hospital.
She picked her first aid kit and tended to Dru�s wounds. From the looks of it those Vamps had been dousing her with Holy Water. Pity she didn�t keep any spare blood around the place. The errant thought made Willow giggle and it woke Drusilla up.
�Little tree, am I safe.�
�Yeah.� Willow said with a sigh �Pity I can�t say the same about me.�
Drusilla squinted up at her �You are safe from me little tree. Miss Edith says we are friends and Princess does not eat her friends.� She produced a slightly charred doll from the depths of her dress.
�Great.� Willow said flatly and put down the blood soaked cloth. �That�s as much as I can do with this. Tomorrow I�ll stop by the butchers and pick you up some blood. I�m going to bed.�
Willow draped a blanket over the vampire and went to get ready for bed.
Willow fluttered her eyes as she realised that someone was in the room with her. She shot up in bed and stared at Dru who had frozen in the middle of the room on her tiptoes looking like a guilty child.
�Dru?�
Drusilla pouted and pushed her hands into her dress �I-I want to sleep with you.�
Willow gaped �You want to what?�
�Little Tree is warm and Princess is cold.� She gave a little girl smile, all hopeful and Willow flopped back onto the bed.
�Fine.�
Drusilla beamed and crawled under the covers snuggling up against Willow. Within minutes they were both asleep.
After her shift Willow stopped by the butchers to pick Drusilla up some blood and made her way home.
�Dru?� she called as she entered the apartment
�Tree!� Dru yelled delightedly �You came back, Miss Edith said you would.�
�Well if she said I would then why are you so surprised?� Willow said putting the blood into the microwave and leaning against the counter watching her.
Drusilla looked at the floor �Sometimes she lies.� She said in a small voice. �She said Spikey was bad and Daddy was good and my monster would take care of Princess.�
�Didn�t he?� Willow realised that Dru was talking about the Chaos demon, or was it Fungus Demon Dru had dumped Spike for.
�No. he hurt Princess but he was all sticky and wouldn�t dance with me. Miss Edith said that we will be friends and that you�ll make me better.� Dru got up and began to potter around the kitchen, laughing at the utensils.
�Well I got you blood and fixed your face but I�m not a doctor and besides Vampire healing will kick in soon.�
�No.� Dru shook her head and stared at the blender �Make me the way I was before.�
�Before?� Willow had a sinking feeling she knew what Dru was talking about
�Before Daddy hurt me.� She said matter-of-factly
Willow�s mouth felt dry �You want me to help you become sane?�
�Yes.� Dru clapped her hands and poked the toaster.
�I�m not a shrink!� Willow exclaimed �How the heck am I supposed to make you sane?�
�Miss Edith says the little tree will help.� Dru stated calmly
Willow took a calming breath �Well for a start you can stop calling me little Tree, my name is Willow.�
�Willow.� Dru repeated like a child at playschool
Willow shook her head *Only me!*
�Hey Slayer?�
Buffy stopped in her tracks and turned around �What do you want know Spike?�
�Ease up on Chubs.�
Buffy gaped �Wha-?�
Spike took a drag of his cigarette and dropped it, crushing it under his boot. �Harris has just lost his best friend; he�s a little hurt right now. Telling him to give up is not helping.�
Buffy folded her arms and tossed her hair �Lame Spike.�
Spike arched an eyebrow as if asking what?
�You decide to champion Xander just to talk to me. Lame.�
�Oh get over yourself Slutty.� Spike rolled his eyes at her self- absorption.
�You expect me to believe that you care about Xander?�
�The kid has guts. He�s stupid as shit but he�s got guts. And he�s just lost his best friend, so you telling him to get over it is a bit heartless, pet.�
�Willow was my best friend too.� Buffy scowled at him �Xander�s not the only one who is hurting here.�
�Right, like you gave a damn, love. Dog boy left and you didn�t give a crap and then twitchy left and you ignored Red- again. Seems she was only your best friend when it suited you.� Spike glared at her beginning to wonder what he�d ever seen in her �Makes you wonder about your motivation.�
To Spike�s confusion Buffy adopted a deer in headlights look
�Motivation, for what?�
�For being friends.� He said puzzled, even more so when she relaxed. For the first time he wondered what Buffy actually was hiding.
Buffy could tell that Spike was getting suspicious so she did what Slayers do best and went on the offensive
�Listen Spike, maybe I wouldn�t win any awards in the best friend stakes but at least I tried. You tried to kill Willow on numerous occasions and were evil to her when you weren�t trying to kill her. There�s no way on earth she would be your friend.�
Spike smirked �Red liked me. She said so.�
�Hmm isn�t that what she said about Angel.� As Spikes jaw clenched Buffy knew she�d hit pay dirt �Angelus tried to kill her and yet they were still *best* friends, maybe she did like you but even after all Angel did to her she liked him best. After all Spike, you�ll never be Angel. Not for Drusilla, not for me and not for Willow. Second best.� Buffy spat and walked away leaving Spike alone in the cemetery.
Spike fought the urge to cry. The bitch had hit him where it hurt and she knew it. But she was wrong; Willow had liked him, hadn�t she? He wasn�t second best. He�d show them.
�She�s wrong.�
Spike jumped and cursed as he saw who it was
�Bloody hell little bit, what the f- uh heck are you doing out here?�
Dawn moved into the light and squinted at him �I followed Buffy.� she said simply
�You could have gotten hurt.� He was annoyed but then his mind processed what she�d said �What do you mean she�s wrong?�
Dawn moved to sit on a gravestone and then thought better of it once she�d seen what remained of the demon Buffy had been fighting spread all over it.
�Ew.� She wiped her hand on her slacks �She�s wrong about Willow and you.�
�How�s that, pet?� he lit up another cigarette
�Willow liked you, a lot.� she bit her lip unsure how much to tell him about Willow being in love with him �She says she gets on with Angel but she doesn�t trust him, never will. She trusted you.�
�That right?� Spike said beginning to smirk again *see Red trusted him, he knew it*
�She was always trying to get us to be nice to you. Plus Xander would never had patrolled with Angel, even if Willow were missing, Giles doesn�t hate you like he hates Angel and Anya likes you.�
Spike felt better, and felt like a ponce for feeling better �What about you?�
�Oh I never liked Angel that much he called me kid and would never let me hang with him� she said sneakily
Spike rolled his eyes but couldn�t control the grin that slipped past his lips �C�mon Li�l bit.�
�Yay!� Dawn gave a little jump and followed Spike.
Buffy leaned heavily against the door in her room and closed her eyes, placing her hands over her face. She was gong to have to apologise to Spike. Plus Willow would be pissed if she came back and Spike thought she hated him. How could she have said those things to Spike, she was mad but she wasn�t evil, she had never enjoyed being a bitch for being a bitch�s sake and what she�d just done was beyond cruel. Before she knew it tears started to slip past her fingers and her shoulders started shaking.
�Oh Willow!�
Chapter 7
Willow gaped at Dru
�You want me to do what?�
Dru pointed to the stage �Sing with me.�
�No way.� Her thoughts flashed back to the high school talent show. There was no way she was getting up there to make a fool of herself.
She�d taken Dru out again for the night; it got boring staying in all the time trying to get through to Drusilla. They talked about Angelus and Angel, about Darla, Spike and Miss Edith and tried to straighten out Dru�s twisted psyche.
It was hard hearing Dru talk about him but Willow just gritted her teeth and tried not to scream when she heard his name. She refused to say it herself, hoping that by ignoring him he would finally leave her thoughts. Unfortunately he was the stabilising influence in Dru�s mind, the one thing that never left her, so when she got upset she�d talk about Spike and how he�d protect his Princess. And yes, he actually did basically worship her.
So, anyway, to give herself a respite she�d started taking Drusilla out to the club once a week. Tonight they�d come on karaoke night, Hence the current dilemma.
�Sorry Dru but there is nothing on heaven that will get me up on that stage.�
Dru pouted and wished that Willow would bow to her every whim like Spike had done, but she knew, intellectually, that that was what had been wrong; she�d always had someone to do everything for her and leave her to her madness, Willow made her do it herself and in small ways it was helping her to become her own person and put the nuttiness aside.
�Please Willow. I used to love to sing and dance, before I was turned I used to sing with my sisters.�
Willow stared as Drusilla managed to get out an entire sentence without reverting to baby talk or talking in the second person, or mentioning the stars or dolls.
She sighed knowing full well that she had to do it now to reward Dru for her progress.
�Ok, but make it a short song please.�
Dru smiled at Willow, knowing that her gamble had paid off. She grinned as she remembered the perfect song.
�Come on Willow mine.�
Willow allowed herself to be dragged to the stage and she waited on the sides for Dru to select a song.
Dru gave her an impish smile as the beginning strains sounded and Willow rolled her eyes. Dru indicated that Willow should start so she closed her eyes against the crowds and she spoke the opening words.
�A few questions that I need to know,
how you could ever hurt me so,
I need to know what I've done wrong,
and how long it's been going on,�
*Ouch* she thought *I know Dru is psychic but she can really pick �em. She heard Dru singing the background in her deep voice. She faltered and Dru picked up the verse smoothly
�Was it that I never paid enough attention?
Or did I not give not affection?
Not only will your answers keep me sane,� Both girls shared a rueful smile before Dru continued �but I'll know never to make the same mistake again.
You can tell me to my face or even on the phone.
You can write it in a letter, either way, I have to know.� She nodded to Willow and Willow picked up the last part of the verse
�Did I never treat you right?
Did I always start the fight?
Either way, I'm going out of my mind,
all the answers to my questions,
I have to find.�
Dru ran her fingers over Willow�s face and the men in the audience sat up straighter as the two beautiful women stood closer. Willow suddenly felt more confident and picked up the microphone and began crooning into it.
�My head's spinning, and boy, I'm in a daze,
I feel isolated, don't wanna communicate,
I take a shower, I will scour, I will roam.....
find peace of mind, the happy mind, I once owned, yeah.�
Dru ran her hands over Willow�s shoulder and picked the microphone off Willow taking the next verse and pulling Willow closer to her
�Flexing vocabulary runs right through me,
the alphabet runs right from A to Z,
Conversations, hesitations in my mind,
You got my conscience asking questions that I can't find,
I'm not crazy, I'm sure I ain't done nothing wrong, no,
I'm just waiting, 'cause I heard this feeling
won't last that long.�
Willow couldn�t help chuckling as Dru told everyone she wasn�t crazy; no wonder she had picked this song. They both began to sing the chorus
�Never Ever have I ever felt so low,
When you gonna take me out of this black hole?
Never Ever have I ever felt so sad,
The way I'm feeling yeah, you got me feeling really bad,
Never Ever have I had to find,
I've had to dig away to find my own peace of mind,
I've Never Ever had my conscience to fight,
The way I'm feeling, yeah, I just don't feel right.�
After they�d sang the chorus Willow was totally into the song and her confidence oozed out of her as she took the next verse letting the lyrics wash over her.
�I'll keep searching deep within my soul,
For all the answers, I don't wanna hurt no more,
I need peace, got to feel at ease, need to be.......
Free from pain, I'm going insane, my heart aches, yeah.�
Without realising it she began to dance against Dru, handing her the microphone. The men in the audience were practically salivating as the two women writhed against each other.
�Sometimes vocabulary runs through my head,
the alphabet runs right from A to Z ,
Conversations, hesitations in my mind,
You got my conscience asking questions that I can't find,
I'm not crazy, I'm sure I ain't done nothing wrong,
Now I'm just waiting, 'cause I heard this feeling won't
last that long.�
As they got to the last verse Willow opened her eyes and realised that her stage fright had gone, everyone could see her and she didn�t care. She was having fun! So she gave the last part her all
�Never Ever have I ever felt so low,
When you gonna take me out of this black hole?
Never Ever have I ever felt so sad,
The way I'm feeling yeah, you got me feeling really bad,
Never Ever have I had to find,
I've had to dig away to find my own peace of mind,
I've Never Ever had my conscience to fight,
The way I'm feeling, yeah, I just don't feel right. x4
You can tell me to my face, You can tell me on the phone,
Uh, You can write it in a letter, babe, 'Cause I really
need to know.
You can tell me to my face, You can tell me on the phone,
Uh, You can write it in a letter, babe, 'Cause I really
need to know.
You can write it in a letter, babe, You can write it in a
letter, babe.�
Willow came off the stage on a high listening to the thunderous applause following her and Dru.
�Wow go Pixie!� said one of the waitresses and Greg gave her two thumbs up
�That was fun!� Willow beamed to Dru
�Wanna go again?� Dru asked
That night Willow was humming the song they�d sang at the bar, first Never Ever and then Dru had gone for Patsy Cline�s Crazy and Willow sang The Honeyz� End of the line and they�d finished together with Sisters are doing it for themselves.
They�d gotten standing ovations and Phil offered them a permanent singing position, which Willow had declined, she really didn�t need that kind of pressure right now. Will got ready for bed feeling better then she had for a long time.
She slipped in between the sheets and snuggled down, quickly falling asleep.
In the night she felt something glide across her skin and soft touches. She woke up to find Drusilla caressing her face and arms with long smooth strokes.
�Dru?� she asked hesitantly
�Poor Willow mine, all hurt inside. Someone hurt you, made you bleed inside I can make it all feel better.� To illustrate her point she bent down and kissed Willow on the mouth. Willow shot up in bed.
�No Dru. I was hurt by� someone but we can�t. For one thing, I don�t think of you like that, for two I still love�them and I�m kinda your doctor for now which makes this definitely malpractice. So no Dru.�
Dru withdrew her hands from Willow �So no naughty touching now.� �No naughty touching.� Willow said relieved, there was no way she could have fought off Dru.
Dru bit her lip �Can I sleep in here tonight Willow mine, I wont touch.�
�Ok.� Willow said and waited until Dru was wrapped around her before falling back to sleep.
Dru stayed up for some time thinking about who could possibly have hurt Willow so much, and how much she�d like to meet them- for just five minutes- with a chainsaw.
Willow was quickly becoming the most important person in Dru�s world. More important even than Daddy. Dru realised that she�d been unfair to Spike, always comparing him to Daddy, she�d hurt her Prince. Funny she always knew it but it took Willow to make her realise it. Willow didn�t like talking about Spike, or anything that happened over the Hellmouth. She just wouldn�t talk about it at all, and Dru didn�t want to push. Willow was making her better, she could feel the need for insanity, the need to deny reality and push the world away creeping away from her. Willow showed her that the world didn�t have to be scary and hurtful. It could be fun and sweet. She�d always love the little Redhead for that.
Chapter 8
Giles sighed as his eyes blurred, he had been researching for this damn demon that Buffy and Spike had come across since two o clock that morning when both of them had come in looking a little worse for wear. Buffy had slumped in a chair, looking listless whilst Spike had growled something at him and left.
�What�s wrong with Spike?� Giles asked not sure if he really wanted to know the answer.
�He found a tip about a redhead while he was beating one of the vamps; turns out he was lying to get out of a staking. Spike got his hopes up for a bout five minutes and I think its hit him hard.�
Giles pinched the bridge of his nose �I really wish Willow were here, with her abilities she�d be able to track herself down in no time.�
The two of them looked at each other whilst his statement sunk in and they both began to laugh.
Spike kicked a trash can across the alley in a fit of rage *that scum sucking minion thought he could pull a fast one on the Big Bad?* Spike swallowed for a moment- just a moment he thought he finally had a lead to finding Willow. He missed her so much; it was like there was a hole in his chest where his heart used to be. He ached to see her again, to listen to her talk to him. To see that cute little smile when she was listening to him, the one that made him feel so special. The Slayer had apologised for what she�d said and agreed with Dawn, Willow had liked him. He had liked her, still did. Even more with the more he�d learned about her, he made Xander talk about her telling him about what she�d been like as a kid, before Buffy arrived. He learned about their adventures at high school and before he�d come along. It wasn�t much but he felt like there was still a part of her around. It would have to be enough until she was back where she belonged. With him. Spike bit his lip and decided that it wouldn�t do any good to analyse that feeling at the moment. No that could wait, until she was home.
Willow grinned as Drusilla flirted with Greg forcing the six foot three bartender to blush like a school girl.
After a few months together Dru had come to work with Willow after she got fed up of her being asleep for most of the day and at work at night, she claimed she missed her tree. She normally sat at the bar waiting for Willow to finish work. The normal atmosphere was good for the training that Willow was putting her under. Training to be normal and it was working; Dru hadn�t had a nutty episode in nearly a month. It was funny to think of shy little Willow teaching the scary Vampire Drusilla how to be normal and Dru was giving Willow lessons in advance witchcraft. Dru was impressed at how well and how fast Willow could pick up magic spells. She predicted that soon Will would be out ranking her in the magic stakes. Willow grinned at the thought.
She sat heavily on a barstool and rubbed her aching feet. Dru had grabbed her earlier on and forced her on stage again. Who knew the vamp loved karaoke that much? Drusilla and Willow�s voices worked perfectly together and patrons had gotten used to them writhing together on stage. Dru made Willow forget her stage fright. She felt hands slide down her arms and turned hurriedly to see Phil leering down her top.
�Willow.� he sneered
Willow jumped off the barstool and glared at him �Phil.�
�You are so pretty, little pixie, how about we go out back and talk.�
�No.� Willow stated firmly and moved out of his reach but he grabbed her again
�Come on red, don�t be a tease.�
Willow�s eyes flashed with barely restrained rage �Don�t call me Red and get your filthy hands off me.�
Dru looked up as she felt the air crackle and saw Willow staring down the sleazy manager. �Uh oh.� She said and slipped off her chair
�Watch your mouth Red.� Phil mocked �Or I�ll find something for it to do, I�m sure you�d enjoy it.�
Willow�s eyes blazed black for a second and when she spoke her voice was octaves deeper
�Get off me and don�t call me Red. Nobody calls me Red.� A breeze swept through the bar rustling the papers and rattling the bottles on the bar. The wind grew in intensity circling around the Redhead until the force knocked Phil on the floor and he lay there cowering.
�W-w-what are you?�
�Down Girl.� Dru whispered at Willow�s ear.
�Screw this, I quit.� Willow spat and gave Phil one last glare before slamming out the door.
Dru picked up her bag and ran out after Willow.
�Tree?�
Willow growled and Dru swung her around
�Calm down Wills, that creep isn�t worth losing your temper over. Although it was pretty spectacular.� Dru couldn�t help but smile at how far Willow had come in the past few months. The girl had some serious power.
�He called me Red, no one calls me Red.� Dru nodded. Willow would never tell her but one of their agreements was that, unless asked, she didn�t call her Red or ask about why she left Sunnydale. Dru stuck by this as she didn�t want to lose her friend.
Willow stared at their surroundings �I hate this crappy town.�
Dru was struck with inspiration �So we can leave. I have some money that I put aside; we can travel until we find somewhere we like.�
Willow grinned, loving the idea. She linked her arm in with Dru
�Let�s go.�
Chapter 9
Spike was impressed. Xander showed him how to activate the spring loaded stakes in his sleeves, so that he could be carrying stakes but look unarmed.
�Great mate. Who knew you�d be any good at woodwork. I thought Nancy boys preferred knitting.�
�Well we can�t all be perfect at hair care.� Xander retorted and they shared a grin. They still enjoyed baiting each other but it was never as barbed as it had been before.
�Hey I�ll have you know that it takes a real man to dye his hair, unfortunately you�ll never know about real men.�
�Yes well I�m into women, but thanks for the offer Captain Platinum.� Dawn giggled as Spike pretended to be offended.
�You guys fight like brothers.� She commented and laughed harder at the expression of horror on both Xander and Spike�s faces.
The bell jangled and Buffy walked into the shop
�Guys.� she greeted with a small smile. She was so glad she�d swallowed her pride and apologise to Spike all those months ago. The atmosphere was so much less tense now that they both knew where they stood with each other.
Spike had worked hard to integrate himself into the group, and Buffy had the feeling it was more to do with a certain missing Redhead than anything else. She could see it the way Spike would ask for stories about Willow before he came to Sunnydale, how he always asked each demon if they knew anything about a redheaded witch before he killed them, how he perked up at the mention of her name and never failed to chase down any lead about her. Spike was falling in love with Willow.
Buffy had come to the heartbreaking conclusion that Willow was dead and she had mourned but here was Spike falling in love with a girl who wasn�t even around, the capacity for love Spike had still amazed her.
But who wouldn�t fall for Willow. Even now she was gone she still incited them to pull together and be a team. Xander and Spike were practically friends and they all realised how much Willow and Giles had done for them in research areas so they all took on those duties and did it more seriously, making Giles� job easier. But there was still a Willow shaped hole in their lives, one that would never be filled by anyone else.
Willow kicked out her feet and the Vamp dropped like a stone.
�Hah!� Willow yelled and rammed a stake in him watching him go poof.
Dru smiled at the childish display, for once feeling like the adult.
The girl who they�d helped staggered to her feet
�Oh my gosh thank you so much I thought I was pretty much toast for a moment there.�
The girl peered closer at them �Oh, its you! I mean really you. Oh my god.�
Willow and Dru exchanged bemused glances
�You�re Fangs and The Red Witch.�
�Fangs and the Red Witch?� Willow giggled �What?�
�The two of you are practically legends!� the girl bounced a little �You�re like, my heroines.�
�Huh?� Dru added totally lost
�Oh c�mon everyone who�s anyone knows about the two avengers. Fangs and Red Witch, the two daring saviours of the night.� She looked Willow up and down �Honestly I thought you�d be taller.�
�I�m sorry I think you have us confused-�
�You saved a school of teenage girls from being sacrificed to a demon from another dimension.� She interrupted
�Well if they were silly enough to use REAL spell books in their school productions.� Willow muttered still annoyed about that
�And you defeated like an army of Vampires.�
�Small army.� Dru defended �Only a couple of clans.�
�Do you really patrol for evil *every* night?�
�Nothing on T.V.� Willow said feeling uncomfortable
�Wow, my best friend is gonna flip when I tell her I met you. Totally flip, she�s your biggest fan. Her whole Witch circle has talks about you and there are internet sites, hers is the best though it�s called RedFangs. My God you guys have even worked for the Watchers council!�
�It was a small job.� Drusilla still wasn�t pleased about that one
�Oh wow!� she repeated �I�m Chrissie by the way.�
�Hey.� they both said, not too impressed and feeling more than slightly embarrassed. Since Dru had acknowledged that the visions came from her and not from the stars or the doll, they had started to act on them, much in the same way that they knew Cordelia and Angel did. It wasn�t their fault that they were so good at it or that their names had begun to become famous to be whispered in awe and reverence in certain circles and feared in others- not their real names of course- but Fangs and the Red Witch. Now that they had been on the move for almost six months and the kind of adoration was getting a little embarrassing, although it had been funny at first. Then they started getting requests, like the one from the Watchers council to free a member who had been held captive, or to find a certain mystical artefact. The Red Witch�s powers were the stuff of much envy and speculation. Rumour had it she could do almost anything.
�So can you like, REALLY shape change?�
Willow rolled her eyes and Dru nodded, it was time to move on.
�What�cha doing Nibblet?�
Dawn jumped guiltily �Nothing.� She tried to shut down the lap top but Spike grabbed it off her with a smirk
�We�re not looking at Porn are we Li'l bit, dirty pictures?� Spike turned the screen towards him
�No.� Dawn said in disgust and blushed
�A fan fic site dedicated to the adventures of Fangs and The Red Witch.� He read and then looked at Dawn �You�re kidding?�
�Oh come on Spike.� Dawn rolled her eyes �Everyone is so into Fangs and The Red Witch. Their adventures are so cool, you know I bet Red Witch could so kick Buffy�s ass and close the Hellmouth for good. Rumour says she can do soul restorations in her sleep.�
�Good idea to stay away from her then.� Spike said shuddering at the thought �One bad nightmare and we�re all acting like the poof.�
Dawn laughed as Spike had intended
�Wonder why they�re called Fangs and The Red Witch?� Spike wondered out loud but Dawn shrugged
�Don�t know there are drawn pictures but I really don�t think that anyone knows what they look like. Some have them look like Wonder Woman and some like Xena.�
Spike raised his eyebrow �Are there pictures?�
�Pig.� She said jokingly �No, no pictures. No one can get close enough to photograph them.�
�Yeah but there are descriptions and stuff. RedFangs had a bulletin up saying that her mate had actually been saved by them. Claimed they were both drop dead gorgeous, if Red Witch was a little short.�
�I *knew* you were interested in them too!� Dawn pointed at him as he revealed he had, indeed, searched the web for pictures of the Duo.
�Oh Hush.� Spike would have blushed if he�d been able to �Can�t a bloke be interested in the goings on of the demon world?�
�Sure, you just wanted an autograph!� Dawn scoffed
�So this fan fic any good?� Spike tried to change the subject
Chapter 10
Willow sat staring into the darkness. They had been with this Vampire gang for a few months now, letting Willow learn more about Vampire culture than all watchers and most vampires ever would. She had been exposed to powerful magic�s of both the dark and light variety and had realised that the power within her self had eclipsed even the most powerful she had seen. It scared her. She didn�t know what she was capable of. But through it all Drusilla had stood by her. She had become Willow�s family; the only one she would ever need. A week ago Dru had been badly hurt in one of their fights for good and Willow could still taste the panic that had arisen from that. The idea that Dru could leave her or go off one night and die and she�d never know; well the idea didn�t sit well with Willow at all. So she�d agreed to let Dru claim her. She fingered the bite mark which was still tender on her neck, just above her pulse point. It let all vampires know that Willow was taken, but more importantly, let Willow feel Drusilla much in the same way a childe feels a Sire.
They had stopped briefly in New Orleans to watch Mardi Gras but Willow was itching to settle down for a while, it was fine to move around the country and fight evil and learn more about different demon cultures and witchcraft but Willow wanted somewhere she could call home, somewhere to rest between fights. It was time to find a home. She got up and brushed grass off her and felt down the bond to find Dru, who was probably hosting a tea party with that damn doll. Actually Dru had accepted that the visions didn�t come from Miss Edith, which was a plus and certainly a step in the right direction. Willow headed off to find her friend and have a talk to her about finding a home.
�I love this place!� Willow enthused to Dru as they watched the Mardi gras parade.
�It�s great.� Dru said quietly
�What�s up Dru, you�ve been quiet all week.� Willow asked softly knowing there was something wrong with the woman who had become her best friend.
�I-I think I�m ready to do it.� Drusilla answered hesitantly
Willow stopped �Are you sure, we don�t have to just yet if you don�t want to, if you�re not comfortable, we can wait.�
�No.� Dru straightened her shoulders �I haven�t had an episode in months and I �I can do it.� She said with determination
�Then let�s do it and do it properly.� Willow held out her hand and Dru dropped it into her hands.
�What are you going to do?� she asked nervously
Willow looked around and then a huge grin spilt across her face �watch.�
She darted out from around the crowds towards the main float and placed her prize on the front of the float before running back to Drusilla.
�Now Miss Edith can travel the world in style.� The two women giggled and went home arm in arm.
Spike sat in his apartment watching the TV, there was a news item in New Orleans about the Mardi gras parade. He watched as the floats drifted by in the background. Suddenly his eyes caught sight of something secured to the front of the first float.
�Is that?� he squinted at the screen. Then shook his head, it couldn�t be. He had to be going mad, seeing that bleeding doll everywhere.
Chapter 11
�Are you sure about this Wills?� Dru asked as she looked around the dingy warehouse.
�We�ve been travelling for a year, I want to rest for a while and I want to set up my own business, what better way than to do something I love.�
�But a night club?� Dru whined
�C�mon Dru we both love Singing and dancing and a club is a perfect front for our sideline.� She smirked at Dru who rolled her eyes.
�Fighting for good. I�m a mockery of a vamp.�
�Get over yourself.� Willow said as she tried to envision the place as she wanted it.
�Ok.� Dru consented. �I�ll do it.�
�Great!� Willow beamed �We�ll take it!� she told the woman who�d taken them to see the house. She let loose a huge smile.
�Great choice ladies, it�s a little out of the way but if you do want to make it into a club I�m sure that will be in its favour, make it that much more exclusive.�
Willow nodded, not really listening. She was imagining how she could decorate; it was to be a real club, nothing like the Bronze or even Phil�s place. Magic would be a heavy feature. Willow couldn�t stop the shiver of delight that ran down her spine.
Dru watched as Willow went off into a trance. It was the look that said Willow was thinking deeply. After spending all this time with the Redhead she had gotten to be quite a good judge of her moods. She still hadn�t got the girl figured out. It would take more than eternity for that, not for the first time she wondered if Willow would want to spend eternity with her. She still hadn�t had the courage to ask. Imagine that, a Vampire over a century old too afraid to ask a human girl if she wanted to be with her forever. For the first time in her unlife she understood how much Spike had loved her, how someone could really love someone else, be prepared to do anything to keep them happy. She was prepared to give her unlife for her. She loved Willow. Was in love with her. She had tried on occasion to get the girl to progress their relationship past the friendship stage but Willow halted any advances with her sweet smile and decided tone. Dru knew that since the red head had left Sunnydale she hadn�t so much as looked at any one in that way. Not for the first time, she desperately wanted to know who had hurt Willow so bad that she had seemingly given up on love.
Willow�s shining eyes bought her out of her reverie
�A night club it is then, ducks.�
Xander stretched out on the sofa. He had had a hard day on the construction site and all he wanted to do was curl up with Anya and sleep for a while. He listened to her in the kitchen making him a snack. He felt a smile creep across his features. She was getting to be so domesticated it was scary. She insisted that she could cook him a nice dinner but that she wouldn�t be a little housewife, she had employment too and it was only fair that-
A crash from the kitchen made him sit up hard
�An, you ok?�
Silence
�Anya?� Xander got up, panic settling in his stomach as he darted for the kitchen �Anya?� he shouted
A glass dish was in pieces on the kitchen floor but Anya wasn�t in there.
�ANYA?!� Xander screamed
�In here.� A weak voice called from the bathroom
Xander rushed in to see a decidedly green Anya crouched over the toilet bowl, heaving. She looked up at him with tears falling down her face.
�Xander, I don�t feel so good.�
