Solace

Title: Solace

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: S/W

Summary: We find comfort in the strangest of places.

Reviews: I need reviews like I need air. They help to inspire me! So please leave your comments, good, bad, or indifferent.

Random Quote: “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” ~ Galileo Galilei

Disclaimer: I don’t own them I’m just playing with them a little bit… Sue me and all you will get is my debt.

A/N: There is poetry in the next few chapters that is written by a one William Pratt aka William the Bloody Awful Poet. It is not meant be to well written or even remotely good. Just to give you a heads up.
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Willow gave a goofy smile then followed Spike down a hallway off of the main room. She had not noticed the hallway when they had first entered and had Spike not pointed it out she would not have seen it. The entrance to the hallway just looked like a slight dip in the cave wall.

As they walked along the corridor the candles burst to life lighting the way to the end of the hall. As they neared the end of the hallway there were two wooden doors both with the intricate ivy designs that covered the rest of the cave and mimicked the tattoo on Madeline. Spike pushed open the first door and ushered Willow in.

The room was beautiful. A rich dark wood four poster bed with red silken sheets sat in the center of the room. Candles hung from the walls and ceiling bathing the room in a comfortable glow, a warm fire crackled in a hand carved fireplace to the side of the room, and a smaller version of Madeline’s chair faced the fire place resting on a hand woven grass rug. Two tall bookshelves filled with hand bound books were pressed against the cave wall near the bed.

Willow walked over towards the bookshelves and let her thin fingers caress the spins as she read the titles. One red covered book caught her eye. She pulled it from the shelves and carefully opened the front cover. The initials W.P. were scrolled in fading black well ink.

“How ‘bout you put that back and we figure out the sleeping arrangements, yeah?”

“Huh?”

“The other room’s the loo.”

“Oh. Um oh.” Willow carefully placed the book back on the shelf and saw Spike visibly relax. She looked at him for a moment more before she turned and pulled the book again. She could see him stiffen but never said anything. His eyes followed her as she walked around the room. She sat down on the soft bed pulling the book into her lap.

“Red what are we doing?”

“Well I’m going to stay up and read for a little. I don’t see why we can’t just share the bed? Do you promise to leave my virtue alone?”

“Yeah, you don’t want to read anything on those shelves. They’re dull. Didn’t you bring your own books?”

“Why don’t you want me to read this?”

“Waste of your bloody time is all. They should all be thrown in the fire.”

She studied him then cracked the cover again. Her fingers danced over the beautifully written W.P. She could tell that who ever had taken the time to write this had spent hours of care and love. She turned another page, careful to not damage the book.

Before she had a chance to read the next page Spike screamed and lunged towards the bed, “Willow NO!”

Startled by the use of her real name she looked up at Spike. He was frantically trying to get up to her, the silken sheets causing him to have some trouble with traction. He growled in frustration before grabbing the ends of the blanket and pull it towards him.

The sudden movement caused Willow to lose her balance and fall backwards. She giggled as Spike pulled her closer. She tried to squirm away holding the book out of his reach. He grabbed her by the waist and puller her closer to him, wedging himself between her legs. She wiggled trying to get away, tears welling up in her eyes from laughter. She stretched further desperately trying to keep the book from him.

“Red.” He warned as he leaned down, bracing himself by placing his left hand next to her head, trying to reach the book, his face shifting to his demon visage.

“Spike.” She mocked and tried to use his body to pull herself free. She managed to pull herself away from him just a little before her wiggling set him off balance and he fell on top of her. The extra weight of his body did not stop her giggling.

She could feel him getting closer and closer to the book and wondered what was so important about this book that he would not let her see it. She placed her small hand on his shoulder to try and push him off. They continued to struggle until he gasped and looked down at her. His amber eyes wide in shock, the hand that had been after the old book traced her face and pushed a raven lock from her face.

She gave him a smirk, her black eyes seemed to glisten with amusement. Silently she cocked her head and Spike felt himself lift off her body. “You can use your vampire skills I can use mine. Oh don’t look so shocked. It’s not like you have ever played by the rules anyway.”

Spike was held motionless in the air a few feet above the ground. He watched her with his eyes as she walked around him, her thin finger tracing the waistband on his jeans. She reached up and slipped off his coat and gently placed it on the bed. She sat down on the soft bed and the book hovered by her face.

“Let’s see what has you all twisted up shall we?” The book opened to the page with the W.P. and she cocked her head. “Well this hasn’t gotten you all worked up. How about we keep going?”

The page turned and Willow could hear a growl erupt from Spike’s lips. She smiled up at him then let her eyes scan the page. In beautifully written script was the book title and the author’s name. Willow gasped. “The beauty of Red by William Pratt?”

Her eyes scanned the book, page by page, as tears flowed silently from Spike’s now blue eyes. A look of astonishment marred her features. Her black eyes kept darting back to Spike as she read more and more of the book.

“Her beauty both terrifying and grand, she is not the woman I had planned. Her witchly powers have taken hold, her fiery spirit becoming bold. There is nothing more I’d rather do than tell my Red I love you.” Willow looked at him in utter confusion the black fading from her hair returning it to its red beauty. “Spike?”

His body was released from her hold, his boots making a loud thump on the stone floor. “What do you want me to say Red?”

“Who are these about?”

“You.”

“Me? But…Madeline said she…Spike?”

“Just forget it ok Red. Can I get me book back?”

“No it’s not your book. It’s mine; you wrote them for me I want to read them. All of them.”

“They are just the ramblings of a confused vampire poet. Can we drop this?”

“I will but you have to talk to me.”

“About?”

Willow waved the book up for him and gave him her resolve face. Spike sighed when he saw it. Willow was not going to let this go until he told her all about the book and its contents.

“I spent several years with Madeline before World War II and she likes to talk. She told me about things that had happened, things that were happening, and things that had yet to happen. She kept telling me to wait just wait and my girl would save me. I thought she meant Drusilla but as you’ve gathered she doesn’t really like her.” Spike walked over to his duster and pulled out his cigarettes and lighter. He lit one up before he continued, “When I asked her about this girl she just smiled but when I want something I have a tendency to focus on only that. She finally broke one day and told me the girl was a red head. That wasn’t good enough I wanted more, needed more, feel in love with a woman I knew nothing about. She would feed me little bits here and there to keep me happy. Every time she gave me a little more I did something for her, that’s why this place looks like a house and not a cave luv.” He smirked at her then looked away.

“That’s why you offered to turn me?”

“No, don’t matter much though couldn’t could I? Thinking back on it don’t think I would. Like you just like you are Red.”

“But I thought you loved Buffy?”

Spike looked down at the floor. The candles and fire sent shadows across his face exaggerating his already sharp features. His blue eyes held sorrow and shame. “I cried for you for so many nights before the war. Didn’t know it was you of course but I cried for you. When I finally got meself back to Dru she took the pain away said it wasn’t time yet for my little tree. Never much understood half the stuff she said but when she left me again it was because of the sunshine. I thought she meant Buffy and at this point you were only a whisper in my memories. Didn’t even realize I was looking at ya til just today.”

“How long did you stay here?”

“Came round after the Boxer Rebellion after my first slayer. Stayed till about 1940 so that be about 40 years give or take.”

“Why does she still call you William?”

“Said I was still William, always will be no matter how much I want to change. That I should be grateful that he still wants to be a part of me.”

“Do you still love me?”

Spike’s head shot up and looked at her in shock. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he answered, “She said you would save me, she never said you would love me.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“Look it’s different to fall in love with a fantasy and something completely different to fall in love with someone tangible.”

“So you don’t love me?”

“That’s not wot I… Do you hear that?”

“Don’t change the subject Mr.”

“Willow shut up!” Spike turned his head towards the door then lifted his head and scented the air. “If I were you I would bring back your dark side.”

Willow nodded and closed her eyes as Spike slowly opened the door. He shifted into game face. He turned to look back at Willow to be greeted with a dark smirking face. He held one finger to his lips and walked from the room. He stopped when he couldn’t hear Willow following. He turned and cocked his eyebrow. She looked at him, her head cocked, her feet floating a few inches off the ground. Spike shrugged and continued down the hall.

When they neared the entrance Spike held up his hand. The voices could be heard clearly now and his stomach turned.

“Please gentlemen have a seat. Would you like something to eat?”

“Listen lady we ain’t here to eat, by order of the US Military you are under arrest.”

“And what have I done to merit such an honor?”

“Housing a fugitive and being of undeterminable species.”

“I house nothing of the sort and I have a species.”

“You expect us to believe you made all of that by yourself?”

“I may be blind sir but I am not an invalid.”

“Grab her let’s go. Dr. Walsh wants this one ASAP.”

Without warning Willow burst into the room followed closely by Spike. The power crackled around her and the men raised their weapons to them.

“Willow, Hostel 17?”

Willow cocked her head at the group. Riley stepped forward, gun still raised, as he looked at her. She smirked when she heard Spike’s growl from behind her.

“Hello Riley,” her voice dark and heavy. She looked at him like he was an insignificant speck.

“Willow what are you?”

Willow laughed, “I’m the things nightmares are made of.”

“Fire at will,” Was Riley’s simple command as he fell back into the formation. The men raised their guns and in an instant the cave was alive with gunfire.

Spike dove across the room and used his body as a shield for Madeline but to his surprise none of the pain associated with being shot radiated through his body. His head snapped up and looked at Willow. She was in the center of the room, hands held out to her side, her body several feet from the floor. She wore a smirk on her face.

The men looked down at their guns in shock. “Too many drugs will do that to a guy I’ve heard, might want to see a Doctor if you continue to shot blanks.” Willow cackled, “Bored now.”

“Red! Willow don’t.” Spike jumped up and was at Willow’s side. She looked down at him in confusion. “Red don’t do it. It will eat you alive when you come back to me.”

“Death is too good for them.” She smirked, “I want to play, bring me my demon so we can play.”

“Wot you have in mind?” Spike asked as he looked at the men who were slowly backing towards the door.

Willow looked up in time to see them near the door and it slammed shut, “Not yet boys.” Their guns ripped from their hands and turned on their former owners. “Which ones hurt you?” She asked as she traced Spike’s smooth forehead with her finger.

“Dunno Red. ‘S not important.”

She raised her hand and gashes appeared on the solders faces. Their blood trickled down their faces. She pointed to Riley and his reluctant body slid across the floor. He stopped inches away from Spike. His breath coming in heavy terrified pants as he tried to pull away and he could not.

“Hungry Spike?” Another gash appeared around Riley’s wrist. His blood was dripping onto the cave floor.

“Luv please stop.” Spike took several steps back. His pink tongue darted over his lips. His blue eyes burned into her black pools. He stopped backing away and looked at her again. He extended his hand to her, “Come here my dark beauty.”

Willow looked at his hand, her feet resting against the floor again. She walked over to him and smirked. She slipped her small hand into his and gasped when he pulled her body flush with his. She let her delicate fingers run up and down his solid chest. She smirked when he brought his demon features forward.

Spike’s arms wrapped around her small body holding her close to his, her over heated flesh warming him. He looked into her dark features with his own; a deep growl rumbled threw his chest. He smirked when he felt her shiver.

“That is enough!” Madeline shouted her blond hair sprayed out around her in an unseen wind. The solders collapsed to the floor then they simply vanished. The room was quiet again. Madeline slowly walked over to Willow and Spike, her calm exterior had returned. “William please you know the rules.”

Spike nodded and his demon visage started to fade. Anger flashed across Willow’s face and he quickly pulled it back to the forefront. He looked at Madeline in desperation.

“Willow there are rules here and his demon is one of them. Now calm yourself child.” Madeline said as if she could see Spike’s face.

Spike pulled back his demon face. This time there was no objection from Willow she just brushed her fingers against his smooth forehead and gave a little pout. Spike smiled and kissed her on the forehead before he rested his chin on the top of her head.

“You did well Red now come back to me.” He whispered to her. He looked at Madeline who nodded at him to continue. “Willow, luv, take a few deep breaths for ol’ Spike here yeah?” He could feel her body trembling with the urgency to stay the way she was and the desire to let go of what she was becoming. “Come on Red let it go.”

An anguished sob left her mouth. Spike let her pull him to the floor as the raven locks were rapidly replaced with red. Her whole body shook with tears and Spike ran his hand up and down her back in a soothing motion.

“I was going to kill them.” She sobbed onto Spike’s chest, holding handfuls of his black t-shirt. “Oh Goddess what am I becoming?”

A/N: I wanted to thank Rexcalon for the review. It made me very happy and excited to see my first review on this story. :)