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TITLE: LOVE IS ETERNAL

AUTHOR: Angela F.

EMAIL: afullrtn@netscape.net

DISCLAIMER: Joss Whedon is lord of all including Spike and Willow; Anita Blake, Jean Claude and company belongs to Laurell K. Hamilton.

DISTIBUTION: Fever of Fate, Lover's Walk, and Eyeballs to Entrails, Bite Me…Please, and Inell's page. Anyone else wants it please ask.

SPOILERS: An alternate universe near the end of the fourth season of Buffy and, the last two Anita Blake books-Blue Moon and Obsidian Butterfly.

SUMMARY: Oz's leaving has left behind some devastating effects for the gang. Spike still has the chip but has learned to cope with it. The Initiative is still causing trouble. This is my first attempt at a crossover piece so feedback would be greatly appreciated.

AUTHOR'S NOTE 1: That's right. I'm baaaaaaaack.

AUTHOR'S NOTE 2: Much love goes to those who wrote back to me about this story. Sorry that its has taken so long to write more. Hope you enjoy the new stuff.

PROLOGE

The multicolored van sped down the highway, its driver lost in deep thought. Music blaring through the open windows as it passes the "Leaving Sunnydale" sign. The driver barely acknowledges that fact as tears stream down his face. His eyes stare ahead not really seeing the landscape around him. 'I shouldn't have left her. I should have stayed but I couldn't. I can't be around her like this. I almost killed her. If Buffy hadn't been there in time…thank god, she got there when she did. I don't know what I would have done, hell; I don't know what I'd do without her in my life. I need her but I can't be with her until I have control over the wolf. This werewolf shit is for the birds. I wonder how my cousin and his parents are handling it. Maybe I should give them a call.' Oz thought. He had been driving for hours, his thoughts tormented by what the wolf had almost done to Willow. Her face swam before him, tears streaming down her face, begging him not to leave, not to leave her. Suddenly, he had to pull off the road as the tears turn into racking sobs. He grips the steering wheel until his knuckles are white and lets loose with a heart-wrenching scream, in an effort to express his rage, his anger, his fear and his loss. He continues to scream until there was nothing left in him. His thoughts slowly start to clear, as he becomes aware of his surroundings. He looks around at where he is and suddenly everything becomes clear. He smiles what may be the first smile in weeks. Slowly he noses the van back onto the highway, passing the sign pointing to St. Louis.

Part One

Willow slowly made her way along the semi-crowded campus of the university, head bowed, eyes not paying attention to her surroundings, lost in her thoughts. Thoughts of Oz. The way his hair changed colors from week to week, how he managed to say so much with so few words. It had been two months since Oz left, two months of pure hell for the redheaded teen. 'My world feels like it has fallen apart. I can't eat I can't think I can't sleep. I don't think I can live without him. He was my reason for being, my everything. What am I going to do now? I don't want to go on without him.' Willow was so lost in her thoughts that she felt nothing when she bumped into people nor did she hear their complaints. This was so unlike the girl to be totally oblivious to the activities of others especially on the Hellmouth. The pain she was going through could not even compare to how she had felt when Jessie had been turned and killed by Xander. To Willow everything else she had gone through, almost being burned at the stake by her mother, Xander dating Cordelia, Xander sleeping with Faith, the inattentiveness of her parents, to the coma induced by Drusilla, none of that compared to the pain of losing Oz. Losing a boyfriend to another girl was something that Willow felt she could handle, losing your boyfriend to a part of himself that he had no control over was something altogether different and she didn't know if she could deal with it. It wasn't the part about him being a werewolf that Willow couldn’t handle. It was the part about him being a-werewolf-that-had-killed-another-werewolf-that-he-had-slept-with-then-tried-to-kill-Willow that she couldn't deal with. Oz couldn't deal with it either because he had left town and her. The other members of the Scooby gang didn't understand, they didn't know how deep the pain went. At least when Angel left Buffy it was mutually agreed that it would be for the best. They all wanted her to get over it. She had done a "will be done" spell but it didn't help her get over her pain. It only made things worse. The gang was still upset about that spell. They hadn't hung out together for a week; they only spoke when they were all at Giles' doing research. It was as if they were avoiding her. Everyone, including Giles, was treating her as if she had killed the Easter Bunny. Everyone that is, except Spike.

At first, he had treated her like the others were treating her, but when he saw how hurt and lost she was his treatment of her changed. He was the only one that spoke to Willow. He had listened to her, he had held hand and offered a shoulder to cry on when she found Oz's room stripped. He understood the pain that she was going through because he had been through it himself when Dru left. He had been the only one to forgive her after the effects of that "will it" spell had worn off. He really didn't see it as a big deal. He understood how the heart stops listening to the brain when love is involved. He knew what it felt like to be so desperate; to do whatever necessary in an effort to recapture lost love. He was after all "love's bitch".

Moreover, it was because he could empathize with Willow that he found himself thinking about her. Thinking about how she was the only person of the Scooby gang that he felt he could really talk to and knew that she was really listening to what he had to say and not just humoring him. She was the only person to willingly comfort him, not once but twice, which in it was ironic considering the fact that he was trying to kill her both times. She never acted as if staking him was the main objective; she treated him in the same manner that she treated everyone else. She treated him as if he mattered. It was that reason above all others that had him following her around the campus on such a dreary day. Rain was predicted and the sky was overcast enough to allow the blond vampire a rare treat, the ability to be out during daylight hours without fear of burning to a crisp by the sun. He watched as Willow continued to trudge her way around the campus. 'The poor chit,’ he thought. ‘Still hurting over wolf boy's leaving then that fiasco with that bloody spell. Imagine the bleeding Slayer and me getting married! That'll be the day. Thank the God's below she came to her senses. Now the bloody gits are treating her as if she has the plague. They ought to have their heads examined, the pillocks. They should be watching out for her instead of treating her the way that they have been treating her. So she's not the Slayer, she's by far better than the whole lot of them. She's smart, funny, caring and compassionate. She can carry on a decent conversation that has nothing to do with fashion, hair, sex or the male populous. So what if the chit is a witch? Some of my best mates dabbled a little in the arts. I find the combination of her intelligence, innocence, and fiery conviction of right versus wrong a turn on. Did I just say turn on?' The thought that he was becoming attracted to the red haired girl was a little disturbing to the vampire but he filed it away as he followed her to her dorm room. He really couldn't complain about going to her room. Since the implant they still felt that he couldn't be trusted, therefore he ended up spending time with Willow in her room when the others were busy with the Initiative thus allowing him a chance to get to know her. The real her, not the one everyone else saw or thought they knew. She was so much more than a hacker. If only that moron or the Slayer would give her the chance to be who she really was, not what they wanted her to be. She was fire and ice; innocence and desire all rolled into one perfectly formed package. Spike knew that it would be up to him to help Willow get over this hurdle of pain and rejection before she could begin to live again.

He knocked on her door and waited to hear her voice asking 'who is it?' He strained to his ears to hear any sounds coming from inside her room. When he didn't hear her call out he opened the door and entered the room, as she had not revoked his invitation that would have kept him out of her room. He looked around the room for Willow and found her sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed staring at the wall, staring at the space where the picture of Oz used to hang. Tears were slowly flowing down her cheeks, falling unheeded onto her chest. Spike knew that in that moment he could have killed the person who was causing her so much pain. He vowed to himself that as soon as the chip was removed he would find that boy and make him pay for hurting his Red.

His non-beating heart lurched as he watched her shoulders shake with uncontrolled sobs. He quickly made his way over to her and wrapping his arms around her, pulled her onto his lap, murmuring words of comfort while rocking back and forth with the crying witch in his arms.

"Its okay Red, let it all out. I understand. He isn't worth all this pain but I know what it’s like to hurt so badly. None of them understand what it's like or how it feels to watch the one person you love the most leave. Don't keep it all inside let it out. You'll feel better after a good cry. Everything's going to be all right luv."

"No it's not," she said.

"Why not Red?" queried the vampire.

"Because I'm pregnant!" Willow cried as she completely broke down in Spike's arms, leaving the vampire in a state of shock.

Part 2

Spike stared in total shock at the crying girl in his arms. ‘Pregnant! By the wolf no doubt.' His thoughts were running rampant within his head, thoughts of his Willow in the arms of the wolf. His Willow, in the throes of passion, his Willow screaming the wolf’s name as she came. Unconsciously his arms tightened around Willow as his demon came to the surface. Willow pulled away in surprise at the growls that Spike was emitting in her ear.

"Spike? Are you okay?" she asked nervously.

"Huh? What was that pet?"

"You’re all ‘grrr’ and growly. Are you okay?"

"I’m sorry luv. There, is that better," he asked as his human façade slipped back into place. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really. I just want to forget about everything. I want my life to be like it was before."

"How’s that luv?"

"Simple. I was ignorant of the things that go bump in the night. Jesse was still alive and there was no Buffy."

"Red, if things were the way they were then, we wouldn’t be here right now. You told me yourself that if the Slayer never came to Sunnydale, you and Xander would be vampires and Sunnydale itself really would be Sunnyhell."

"But you would have your bite back," she argued.

"And one day I will have it back again. But this isn’t about me, it’s about you and the little one you will be bringing into this world," he reminded her.

"Oh goddess Spike! What am I going to do? I’m only nineteen. I don’t know anything about being a mother. The last time I had to take care of something I ended up being under the mind control of the Bezoar under the school. Add to that the fact that my own parents never really wanted to have anything to do with me."

"Red calm down! You’re getting all worked up for nothing. You’ll make a great mother. You are the kindest person to ever walk the face of the Earth. You are the one that keeps the rest of the Scooby’s together. Believe me, I’ve seen a lot in my time. You’ll be fine."

"But Spike, what am I going to do about Tara? She’ll be crushed when I tell her."

"Willow! Look at me," he commanded. "If she truly cares about you she will understand. If she doesn’t then maybe it wasn’t meant to be. And before you even start about the wolf let me ask you this question. Have you told him about the baby?"

She looked away as a blush spread across her cheeks. "I didn’t get a chance to tell him," she said quietly.

"Willow, he was here for a week. Okay, he was a prisoner of the commandos for a few days but he here. There was plenty of time to tell him."

"I know" was the answer from Willow.

"Why didn’t you tell him?" Spike asked.

"I don’t know," she said. "Things just didn’t feel the same between us anymore."

"And how do you feel about Tara?"

"She’s fun to be around and do spells with but I don’t think that that’s the kind of relationship that I want."

"There you go pet. You just answered your questions."

"But what will I do Spike? Oz was and still is a werewolf. There aren’t a lot of reference books written about this kind of thing."

"Well luckily for you, you know someone who knows some people that might be able to help you."

"Really? Who does Angel know?" Willow asked with a smile in her voice.

"ANGEL!" Spike yelled. "No one said anything about Paingel!" The thought of his Angel in all his self-glorifying broodiness being around Willow made Spikes blood boil with rage. ‘No! Angel will not be the hero here. She’s mine even though she doesn’t know it’

"I was only kidding Spike. I trust you. I know that you wouldn’t hurt the baby or me. I guess this means that I’ll be having a baby. So where are we going and who are these friends of yours"

"Since you must know, little witch, we will be spending a little time in St. Louis. Someone there owes me a few favors."

"Let me guess. Vampires live in St. Louis?"

"As a matter of fact yes they do. St. Louis is not on a hell mouth like here so the vampires there are different that what you are use to but they can be trusted to handle whatever comes their way."

"How are they different?"

"Well for one thing, they have rights and are accepted as citizens just like humans. They don’t have a ‘game face’ like we do, their fangs are always present."

"Is that all?"

"Not really but it’s getting late and I have a few calls to make and you need to get some rest. You need to let the others know what ‘s going on before Slutty tries to stake me for kidnapping you. I’ll meet you at the Watchers place tomorrow at sunset and we’ll take off then."

"Whatever you say Spike. Our lives are in your hands."

Part 3

"Well, guys? Say something," she pleaded. Giles took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose the he pulled out a handkerchief and started to clean his glasses. Xander still had his mouth open and appeared to be in shock. Anya just sat there looking bored. Riley looked like he wanted to say something but couldn’t. Willow turned to look at Buffy who had yet to say something.

"Buff, did you hear what I said?"

"Yeah, Wills, I heard you. You’re pregnant and Oz is the father. I got that part. What I don’t understand is where Spike comes into the picture, especially in light of everything that has been going on lately."

"Spike was the only one who understood how I felt when Oz left the first time. We became friends after he tried to kill himself. There is no one in Sunnydale with the knowledge to handle what I might end up going through while I’m pregnant."

"But why Spike? Why not go to Angel?"

"Because the poof doesn’t have the connections that I have. That’s why Slayer," Spike said as he strolled though the door.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t stake you" seethed Buffy.

"How about the fact that none of you wankers have a clue as to how Red feels. She is the best of you lot and yet she puts all her wants and needs aside for you. And what do you gits do? You take her for bloody granted. ‘Willow research this, I need your notes Wills’ he mimicked. She gives and gives of herself but do any of you bleeding care? No! You keep taking off to do God knows what, leaving her alone and feeling worthless. I for one don’t intend to let her bring her child into an environment like that. That’s why. Red are you ready?"

"Yes Spike. I’m ready."

"Well let’s hit the road. See you pillocks in a few months" he called as the couple walked out the door leaving the others in stunned silence. As Spike escorted Willow to the DeSoto, she looked back at the apartment where she had spent so much time at as the tears started to fall.

Part 4

Spike looked over at the sobbing witch in the passenger seat and thought to himself ‘That went well! Look at her, crying her eyes over a bunch of stupid gits that can’t see the bloody forest for the bleeding trees. They acted as if they didn’t give a damn about the baby. Just as soon as I get this chip out of my head I’ll show them what’s what.' He pulled the car over to the side of the road and gathered Willow in his arms. "There, there pet. Everything is going to be all right. Good old Spike will take care of everything. This kid will be the best kid ever. Wait and see" crooned the vampire as the tears from the witch made large wet circles on his shirt. She looked up at him with tear filled eyes, trying to stifle the sobs that kept wanting to emanate from her throat.

"Why?" she asked.

"Why what?"

"Why did they act that way?"

"I don’t know, luv. Maybe because they’re stupid beyond belief?" he offered.

She giggled at that. "Seriously Spike. They acted as if I had gotten pregnant on purpose or something. I didn’t, I made a mistake. It’s not like they have never made mistakes," she said with a little vehemence in her voice. "I mean look at Xander, nobody blamed him when he got involved with Ford and his zombie gang or when he dated the Mummy girl and Preying Mantis lady. Anya brought that vampire version of me from the alternative universe but no one said anything about that. Buffy ran away and neglected her duties as a Slayer and all anyone had to say was ‘Gee, I hope she’s okay". But does that happen when I make a mistake. No! I get the cold silent treatment. Even an ‘Oh my God, are you all right’ would have been better. But no, Willow can’t make mistakes. She has to be perfect. Well they can all go and fuck themselves!" she stated.

Spike looked at her as if he never seen this side of her. ‘Cor, she is magnificent when she is angry. Her eyes are like sparkling emeralds. I can feel the heat radiating from her and her blood is pulsating in her veins. If she looks like this when she is mad as a human I wonder what she would look like with a demon inside of her’.

"You know that it’s okay to be upset with them pet" he started.

"Upset? I am pissed as hell with them" she stated.

"Okay, you’re pissed. That’s good. You need to get it off your chest so that you can concentrate on the baby. That is all that you should be concerning yourself with, not those wankers back in Sunnyhell. This baby is more important then they are and if it takes me until the time the baby is born to get you to see that than that’s just what I will have to do. Is that understood?"

"You will stay with me the whole time?"

"I just said that didn’t I?"

"But Spike, what are you going to do for six months cause that’s how long it will be before the baby is born. I don’t want you to get bored while we are there."

"Don’t worry pet. I won’t be bored. I have a job lined up for me when I get there."

"Oh really? What kind of job is it?"

"Let’s just say that I’ll be working in the entertainment industry for a while."

"That’s so cool. But won’t that be hard as a vampire?

"Not really. Remember what I told you about the vampires in St. Louis?"

"You mean the part about them having rights and being treated as citizens?"

"Yeah that’s the part. As I was saying, my friend has arranged for me to work in one of his clubs."

"Yeah, I can see you as a bouncer"

"I’m not going to be a bouncer, luv."

"Are you going to be a manager?"

"Not in this lifetime I hope."

"A waiter?"

"You’re asking for it, you know."

"I’m sorry Spike. You have to remember that the only club that I’ve been to is the Bronze and they didn’t really have much in the way of staff."

"I’ll forgive you this time but no more cracks like that again little missy. Now how about you just sit back and relax, we’ll be at the airport in a little while."

"We’re flying to St. Louis?"

"Oh course. It takes less time to get there than driving. I thought it would be easier on you and the baby."

"Oh Spike! I don’t know what to say. That is the nicest thing that anyone has done for me."

"Just don't tell anyone else about it luv. I have my rep to protect."

"Don't worry Mr. Big Bad. Your reputation is safe with me," she said giggling at the expression on his face.

"How do I get myself into these things" he lamented. "Let's get this show on the road, shall we?" Spike said as he put the DeSoto in gear and sped off into the night.

The Desoto pulled into the long-term parking lot at the airport. Willow looked around as she got out of the car and turned to the man that would be her traveling companion. Giggling softly she said "Gee Spike, exactly how long are we going to be gone?"

The blond looked at the red head, who was trying to keep the smile off of her face and replied with a smirk "I don't know pet. We'll be there as long as it takes."

"As long as what takes? she asked.

"For you to admit that you are head over heels for me" he said with a grin.

"Oh you, you vampire!" she shouted. They both started laughing.

"Gotcha luv." he said with a wink. It was an old game that they fell into every now and then. One would ask a question and the other would respond with an answer that would ultimately lead to one of them trying to get the other to say that they loved the other. So far it was a tie game with neither party wanting to admit the truth to the other. "Come on Red. Let's get our bags. The plane should be here by now. We need to see if our party is here."

"Who are we meeting?"

"We're supposed to meet some bloke by the name of Asher."

"Is he a vampire?"

"Yes he is a vampire. He's one of Jean Claude's lieutenants or some rot like that."

"Who's Jean Claude?"

"He's the bloke I know in St. Louis."

"How old is this Asher person?"

"Let's see, he's slightly younger than Jean Claude and Jean Claude's about 400 years old give or take a decade or two."

"Wow! That's way older than Angel is. I thought that older vampires didn't really hang out with younger vampires. That you guys had a rank structure or something like that."

"Normally that's true. In this case though, I knew Jean Claude before he was the Master of St. Louis. He and Asher go back a long way, kind of like Peaches and me before he got that soul of his."

"You mean?"

"Yeah, they were very close. I remember hearing about them and a girl named Juliana. Brought back some good memories."

"Where's the girl now?"

"She's dead luv. I think she was burned at the stake or something like that."

"Oh my goddess! That poor girl, I know how she must have felt."

"What's that pet?"

"Being burned at the stake. My mom and Buffy's mom were under the influence of a fairy tale demon and we were being burned at the stake. That's when Amy turned herself into a rat."

"You're kidding right?"

"No, I'm serious. If Buffy hadn't woke up when she did I wouldn't be here now."

"Speaking of being here, here we are luv."

"Where are we?"

"We're at the VIP lounge. Asher told me to meet him here."

"Oh! Don't we have to like, um, check our bags and get our tickets?"

"Not this trip Red. Jean Claude sent his plane to pick up up. Asher's here to make sure that there are no problems."

"This is so cool."

"Right. Come on, I see him over there at that corner table."

"Spike wait!"

"What is it Red?"

"Do the vampires in St. Louis have souls?"

Spike looked at Willow for a minute before he started laughing. "Oh God luv! Do they have souls? That's funny. Red you are priceless." He continued to laugh, blood tears falling from his eyes

"I'm so glad that I'm amusing you so much Spike," she said tensely

"I'm sorry pet," he said as he tried to bring himself under control. "It's just that I've never really given the matter any thought. I mean look at me. I'm a vampire and I don't rightly have a soul."

"But you're different."

"How's that luv?"

"Well, you have that chip for one."

"Luv, think about it. Just because I have the chip doesn't mean that I'm not evil. I'm still the Big Bad. I just can't hurt humans."

"But you haven't hurt any of us."

"That's because I CAN'T. Believe me, if I didn’t have this chip Slutty and her boy toy would be singing a different tune. As for Xapper and demon girl, they have their uses. They amuse me."

"What about me?"

"What about you?"

"Don't you want to kill me?"

"Did once, but not now."

"Why not?"

"Do we really have to get into this now? Didn't we already have this discussion once before?"

"Yeah but that was before we knew about the chip"

"So? The answer I gave you then still applies today. Tell you what, after we get settled in St. Louis I’ll take you out to dinner and we'll have ourselves a nice long conversation about all those thoughts that seem to want to keep you from having a good time on this trip."

"Promise?" she asked

"Cross me heart and hope to live. Now tell me, who loves you pet?" He asked with a teasing glint in his eyes.

"Why you…you vampire!" Laughed Willow.

"Come on Red. Let's not keep Asher waiting." With that the couple made their way over to the golden haired man at the corner table

Part 5

Asher stood as the couple came closer. Shaking hands with Spike he said "Monsieur William. Its is so good to meet you. Jean Claude has spoken highly of you. And who is this vision of loveliness that I see before me?" As Asher spoke his eyes traveled the length of Willow's small frame. He could feel the fear coming off of her in waves as well as the tingling sensation of magic that he usually only felt in the presence of Anita. His unscarred eyebrow rose in question as he took in her pale complexion, which mixed with her brightly colored red hair and expressive emerald colored eyes reminded him of Damien, but he did not give voice to his thoughts. "Enchant Mademoiselle. I am pleased to make your acquaintance," he said as he brought Willow's hand to his lips where he bestowed the chastest of kisses upon it.

"I think I might be sick," grumbled Spike. "I can't tell who's worse, you or the bloody poof. Willow this is Asher. Asher this is MY friend Willow."

Asher had the paunch not to laugh at Spike's words, which had been accompanied by a low growl and the flashing of golden eyes.

"It is very nice to meet you Mr. Asher," Willow began only to be cut off by Asher's accented voice.

"Please call me Asher. There is no need to be so formal Mon chat."

"Okay. Asher it is and please, call me Willow." she said with a blush staining her cheeks.

"As you wish Mademoiselle Willow. Would you care for anything? A drink before our flight perhaps?"

"Thanks mate. I'll have a beer and Willow will have a coke." Replied Spike smugly.

"Very well. I shall return tout suite." With that Spike and Willow watched, as Asher seemed to glide across the floor to the bar.

"Oh my goddess," Willow exclaimed. "Are all the vampires in St. Louis like that?"

"I don't think so Red."

"That's good," she said with a sigh of relief.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Spike. I'm just a little nervous, you know?"

"There's no need for you to be nervous. It's not like you've never been around vampires before," he said as he lit a cigarette.

"But that's different."

"What's so different? A vamps a vamp. We all drink blood and we have to stay out of the sun" was the reply from Spike along with a stream of smoke.

"No that's not what I mean. I mean that I'm familiar with the vampires in Sunnydale. They all want to kill me. I've never really been around vampires for a long period of time."

"Hey! What am I? Chopped liver?"

"No! It's just that I know you."

"And what about Nancy boy? I know you've been around him?"

"I know Angel would never hurt me, Angelus scares the poop out of me. You know I don't do well around strange vampires. What if I start to panic? I always babble when I panic. Panic is so not a good thing for me."

"Red, you're babbling now." Spike remarked good-naturedly.

"See! That just proves what I was saying. I'm panicking already and I just met Asher. What's going to happen when we actually get to St. Louis?"

"Calm down luv. You're going to be just ducky. You'll be as safe as a babe in the womb will. Speaking of which, if you don't calm down think about what will happen to your wee babe."

"OH MY GODDESS! Spike! What's going to happen to my baby?" she exclaimed.

"The baby will be just fine. Jean Claude has made all the necessary arrangements for our vacation."

"Are you sure? I mean how do you know that we can trust Jean Claude?" she said, still a little leery of the idea of being in the company of strange vampires for any amount of time.

"Willow, luv, do you honestly believe that I would allow any harm to come to you and the little one? Give me a little credit here. The Slayer would have my knackers for lunch if anything happened to you. Not only would I be meeting Mr Pointy face to face, the Watcher would probably curse me with a soul right before my dust particles settled. Add to that, the fact that the king of brood would stake me out on a bloody anthill in the sun and then dance on my ashes. Believe me. With that kind of pressure on me, there's no way I would let anything harm you."

"Now I know that Buffy and Giles would most definitely try to hurt you but I really don't think that Angel would do anything to you."

"Why do you think I was so late picking you up from the Watchers house? I had to let him know where I was going. It's all part of vampire politics. Since he's my sire, I have to get his okay to travel to another vampires territory. Before you ask, don't. I'll try to explain it to you some other time. Cliff's note version is that Peaches had to clear it with Jean Claude before I could take you to St. Louis. Believe me, I can't repeat his warning word for word."

"Okay. So basically I'll be as safe with you in St. Louis as I was in Sunnydale?" looking a little relieved at his words.

"Hey, thank your lucky stars that we don't have any weres living in Sunnyhell."

"Weres?" she said anxiously.

"Yeah, you know weres? People who have lycanthropy."

"What?"

"Come on Red. You dated Dog Boy for how long and you don't know about lycanthropy? I thought you were the smart one."

"We never really talked about it. I know that he was bitten by his little cousin who, was bitten."

"Okay, I see that I have my work cut out for me. Lycanthropy is a virus-like gene that can be passed from human to human. There are different flavors of lycanthropy. The most common form is the werewolf."

"What are some of the others?" As frightening as the subject sounded, Willow could not help but be interested by Spike's words.

"Well pet, I'm not entirely sure about the world population, but I can tell you that in St. Louis, you'll probably run into some wolves as well as wererats and wereleopards." Spike explained glad to see that Willow's intelligence was winning over her fright.

"Will they be the friendly types?"

"Some yes, some no. The ones that live at the Circus are."

"The Circus?"

"Oui mademoiselle Willow. Jean Claude is the proprietor of Le Cirque de Sacre." Asher said as he placed the drinks on the table.

"The Circus of the Damned? Oh I get it I think." Willow said as she took a sip of her coke.

"Rest assured mademoiselle Willow. The Circus is a legitimate business. It is only one of Jean Claude's holdings. The Circus is home to Jean Claude's non-human employees."

"By non-human employees, I take that to mean vampires?"

"Oui, vampires mostly. We also have a few members of the local wolf clan living with us as well."

"We? Does that mean that you live there as well." Spike said with a hard edge to his voice. 'Who does this pillock think he is. Trying to hit on my Red like that. I can see through his French charm. I'll have to keep my eyes on him' thought Spike as he continued to smoke his cigarette all the while staring daggers at Asher.

"Oui. As Jean Claude's second in command, it is necessary that I live on the premises. Damien, one of Jean Claude's lieutenants, also resides within the walls of the Circus."

"Will we, I mean Spike and I that is, will we have to live there too?"

"Avec regret mademoiselle Willow, at the present time it would not be within the best interest of your child to live at the Circus. Jean Claude has made arrangements for you and monsieur William to live with one of the lesser wereleopards."

"I thought that all of the weres lived at the Circus?"

"Not all of them live at the Circus. The one that you will be staying with is a very special leopard."

"How so mate," Spike said as he sipped on his beer. ' Take that you wanker' he thought smugly.

"For one, he is a pomme de sang."

"Pomme de sang?"

"Crikey! I think I'm going to like St. Louis." Spike said with a smile on his lean face.

"I don't think that I understand."

"A pomme de sang means apple of blood."

"Which means fresh blood for me without the bloody headaches or fear of Mr. Pointy."

"Monsieur Pointy?"

"Long story mate. I'll tell you all about its later."

"Wait a minute. You mean that this person that we are supposed to live with for an undetermined amount of time is going to let Spike feed on him?" Willow looked at Spike. She could see the anticipation of fresh blood in his blue eyes. ' Oh goddess, now what am I going to do?' she thought.

"Oui."

"Blimey. This means no Slayer on my ass about feeding, no more bagged blood for me. No sir, only the good stuff for now."

"Spike!" Willow exclaimed outrageously.

"What?"

"What about the chip?"

"What is this about a chip?"

"A bunch of military types caught me and stuck this bleeding chip in me head. Chip won't let me feed on humans." replied Spike as he crushed his cigarette out in the ashtray on the table.

"Ah, I see. Perhaps Dr. Lillian would be able to help you." Asher replied with a thoughtful expression on his bisected face.

"Dr. Lillian?"

"Oui, she treats many of the weres at the clinic. She is quiet good. As she is a wererat she was the most logical choice to provide you with your medical care during your pregnancy. May I be the first to offer you my congratulations and may your child be as beautiful as you are."

"Thank you Asher." Willow said, still chagrined that she had shouted out her condition in an airport lounge.

"Now, as fascinating as this conversation is, why don't we continue on board the plane?"

"Sure thing mate," Spike said finishing his beer.

The trio of people with brightly colored hair walked out of the lounge. Willow walked in between Spike and Asher. As they made their way down the corridor to the gate where Jean Claude's Lear jet sat awaiting them, Spike reached over and clasped Willow's hand, interlacing their fingers. He gave her a wink when she looked up at him and leaned over to kiss the tip of her ear as he whispered "Laissez bonne temps faire rouler!"

PART 7

"Jean Claude! I can't believe that you would call me to come over here after my last raising to talk about an old friend of yours that's coming to town. You DO realize that it's about three and half-hours until dawn and I'm standing here covered in chicken blood. This had better be good." Anita Blake said as she walked into the lavishly decorated office of the Master of the City of St. Louis.

"Ma petite, I would not have asked you here at this hour were it not important" he responded smoothly.

"Okay" she said as she made herself comfortable in one of the chairs in front of Jean Claude's desk. "I'll listen to what you have to say AFTER I've had a cup of coffee."

"D'accord, ma petite. Would you care for anything else? A meal perhaps?" he asked ever the gracious host.

"No thanks, just coffee" she said.

"Oui ma petite. If you will excuse me," he said as he rose gracefully to his feet. He walked across the office flood with the grace that few humans could possibly pull off. The soles of his knee-high leather boots made no sound as he moved closer to the side board where sat an exquisite coffee service.

"Cream and sugar if I remember correctly" he said confidently.

"That's right." 'Man what a memory. Guess that comes from being a vampire and a smug bastard,' thought Anita as she watched Jean Claude pour the fragrant coffee into a cup that looked to be to fragile for his long fingered hand. Hands that she knew could crush bones or tear a person's throat out in the blink of an eye. Hands that could feel as soft as silk, as they caressed her body during the heat of passion. 'Shit! This is not good. Being celibate only works if there is no temptation. I don't know if I'll be able to handle another six months without him or Richard. It’s a good thing that Richard is still in Tennessee studying trolls. The both of them in town are pure torture.'

"Ma petite? Your coffee is ready" Jean Claude's voice whispered in the vicinity of Anita's right ear causing the small brunette to jump and reach for her Browning Hi-power until she remembered where she was and with whom.

"Huh! Oh, thank you," she said taking a sip after she reholstered her gun. "Ah! This is very good. Is the cream real?"

"Oui, nothing but the best for you ma petite" replied Jean Claude with a smile.

"Okay then. Now that I've had my coffee, what's the story?" said Anita.

"The story?" he asked with a confused look on his face.

"Yeah, tell me about this friend of yours."

"Ah yes. Mon ami went by the name of William the Bloody when last I saw him."

"Let me guess he's a vampire?" she asked.

"How old is he?"

"Je ne sais pas" he replied in the native language of the country of his birth.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Anita asked glad for once that she remembered the little French phrases that he would leave at her house written in little notes for her to find.

"He is quite a bit younger that I but he does not carry himself as if he was young. He was in the company of a few older vampires when I first met him. But that is not what is important."

"What exactly is important about him?" she asked as she sipped on her coffee.

"Vraiment, it is not him that is important. William will be arriving with a companion." Jean Claude said.

"Another vampire?"

"No."

"Human servant?"

"No."

"Wait a minute. This vampire is traveling with someone but the person is not a vampire and not a human servant?" she said incredulosly.

"Oui" was the reply from the French vampire.

"Just whom is William traveling with, if I may inquire?"

"He is traveling with a young female by the name of Willow Rosenberg."

"Does he feed from her?" Anita asked. 'Somehow this is not making any sense' thought the woman called the Executioner by the vampire community of St. Louis.

"No."

"Will he be hunting in St. Louis?" she said holding her breath while fervently praying that she would not have to execute a friend of her former lover.

"No."

Anita released the breath she had been holding before replying "Let me test my understanding here. You have this vampire friend named William the Bloody coming to visit. He's traveling with some girl whom he is not feeding from and he will not be hunting when he gets here. Is that correct so far?"

"Okay Jean Claude. What's going on?" she demanded. Things just weren't adding up in Anita's mind

"There has to be a catch to this. What's the real story about your friend?"

"It is quite simple. William and his companion will stay with Nathaniel, if it is agreeable to you."

"Nathaniel? Are you out of your mind?" she all but screamed. Nathaniel was the youngest and most vulnerable member of the wereleopard pard that Anita had inherited when she killed their old leader. Gabrielle was a real sick kitty; he had been pimping out the leopards to whoever had the money until Anita killed him.

"On the contrary, I am in full control of my mental facilities. If you will be patient, I will try to explain."

"This had better be good."

"Ma petite you wound me. I would not endanger your pard. They are a part you and as such a part of me as you are my human servant."

"Don't remind me." she replied tensely. Being Jean Claude's human servant was the last thing that she wanted to be but there was no other way to save his or Richard's life when Sabin was in town. "Just tell me why you want these people to stay with Nathaniel. Why not let them stay here at the Circus?"

"That is not possible at this moment," Jean Claude said.

"Alright explain."

"It is simple. The young woman, Ms. Rosenberg is pregnant."

"What?" exclaimed Anita.

"It is to my understanding that the father is a werewolf."

"Why is she coming here?" 'What a tough break' Anita thought.

"It has something to do with where she lives."

"Don't tell me let me guess. The are no doctors where they are from?" she asked with a smile.

"Being petty does not become you Anita" Jean Claude admonished.

"Sorry" Anita replied quietly.

He nodded briefly before continuing. "Have you heard of a city called Sunnydale. It is located in California."

"I remember hearing that there were a lot of strange disappearances out there. I was contacted because it was thought that vampires were responsible. Now that I think about it, the disappearances have decreased last I heard" she said with a thoughtful look on her face. Bert, her boss, had been pissed as hell about the case until he found out how much money was involved. Then he had practically salivated over the possibility of major publicity until he found out that Anita would not be going to California.

"That is correct. The truth is that Sunnydale is located over an active hellmouth."

"Okay I'll bite. What is a hellmouth?"

"A hellmouth is an opening to the bowels of Hell."

"Yeah right and I'm the Virgin Mary" she quipped with a smile.

"As I know for a fact that you are not a virgin, therefore what I am saying must be true," he said with a voice that expressed seriousness. "Anita, this is a unique situation. According to William, Ms Rosenberg has no one to assist her with her pregnancy."

"What about the father?" inquired Anita, ashamed of herself for making light of the relationship they had once had.

"The young man in question is no longer in the equation. This young woman is in need of tender care. As the father is a werewolf, I thought perhaps that Dr. Lillian would be best suited to care for hear medically."

"Dr. Lillian I understand but Nathaniel? That I just don't see."

"The reason I suggested Nathaniel is twofold."

"Twofold?"

"Oui. As you may already have surmised, William will need to feed while he is here."

"Hang on a second. You want Nathaniel to act as pomme de sang for your friend?"

"Oui but only with your permission."

"Over my dead body" she yelled. The last time Nathaniel had acted as a pomme de sang he had been captured and almost died. If not for Asher and Damien he would have died when they were in East Tennessee to get Richard out of jail.

"Anita, hear me out please. If what I am about to tell you does not appeal to your humanity then I will make other arrangements for William and his guest."

"You have the floor" she conceded.

"I take that to mean that you will listen without comment?" he said in an amused tone.

"Absolutement."

"Your French is improving" replied Jean Claude reminding Anita of the conversations that they used to have during the wee hours of the morning before sleep.

"A military group captured William a few months ago. While he was confined he was implanted with a microchip which prevents him from harming human beings. When he first found out about the microchip and his limitations if you will, he was attempting to attack a young woman, Ms. Rosenberg, in fact. As she is still human it is quite obvious that the microchip is functioning properly. William tried to return to his lair but things did not work to his advantage. In light of that fact he had no other choice but to turn to his mortal enemy for help. He struck a bargain with the Slayer and her Watcher."

"The Slayer and her Watcher?"

"Ma petite."

"I'm sorry."

"As I was saying, in exchange for substance and sanctuary William provided them with information and assistance from time to time in regards to dangerous events that were going to occur. It was during his time with the Slayer and her group that William became better acquainted with Ms. Rosenberg. They became friends much to the displeasure of the Slayer. It is as a friend that William contacted me about her condition. It is quite simple really. I had hoped that between Dr. Lillian's medical knowledge and Richard's scientifically background that we would be able to help William. As William has been unable to feed from humans, it may be possible that the blood of a lycanthrope would be more beneficial for him. As for Ms. Rosenberg, it is to my understanding that she is a Wiccan or witch if you will. I had thought that as your teacher Marianne is not here, that Ms. Rosenberg could help you in some way. And as for Nathaniel, well lets say that it has been my hope that someday he would become less dependent on you and become more dependent upon himself. I was of the thought that between William and Ms. Rosenberg, Nathaniel would be able to become a stronger person."

"That is certainly quite a story Jean Claude and I agree that between Dr. Lillian and Richard that there may be a possibility of helping William. I don't really have a problem with the baby part of this. My main concern though is for Nathaniel. He has been through a lot and I promised him that I would never let anything hurt him again. You know how I am about my promises."

"Oui ma petite. I am very much aware of the lengths you would go to in order to keep a promise or protect someone who belongs to you. I give you my solemn vow that no harm will come to your young leopard during William's visit" vowed Jean Claude.

"When will they be arriving?"

"I have sent Asher to pick them up in my plane. They should arrive sometime this evening."

"Okay. Let me sleep on this and run it by Nathaniel. I'll get back to you this afternoon before I go into the office."

"As you wish ma petite." The vampire sensed that Anita was on the verge of agreeing but he would give her the time that she felt she needed to make her decision.

"Was there anything else Jean Claude? I would really like to get home to shower and sleep soon" Anita said feeling the prickling that signified the approaching of dawn.

"Ma petite, I have offered to provide you with a room of your own here within the Circus so that you would not have to travel to your home at times like these" he suggested with a teasing glint of sexuality in his sapphire blue eyes. Eyes that Anita could feel herself wanting to fall into again.

"I am well aware of your offer Jean Claude and the answer is still no" she replied a little shakily. 'It would be so easy to say yes to him' she thought. 'No, I have to be strong. Its hard enough to have feelings for him and be his human servant but for Jean Claude, Richard and I to be in this triumvirate without being intimate is torture for all of us. No wonder Richard stays away from the city so much. And then there's Jean Claude. If being celibate were killing me I'd hate to know how he's dealing with it.

"As you wish ma petite. Richard will be returning in two weeks. There will be a soirée upon his return. I would like it if you would join us."

"I'll have to check my schedule Jean Claude. I'll let you know."

"Oui ma petite. Allow me to escort you out," said the vampire rising from his chair behind his desk.

"I know the way out Jean Claude" Anita said as she got to her feet in preparations to leave the Circus of the Damned.

"I am well aware that you know the way out. I merely want to ensure that the Circus is secure for the day" Jean Claude replied as he made his way over to the office door, stopping just short of opening its. He remembered that if there was one thing that annoyed Anita the most its was being treated like a helpless woman. Anita Blake would BE the first person to tell you that she was perfectly capable of opening doors for herself.

"Sure you do," she said a little sheepishly as she exited the office before her ex-lover, the vampire Jean Claude, Master of the City of St. Louis.