Vikings, Sires and Siblings

part 15

The Scoobies and the two from LA, along with Anya but minus Buffy who had gone to pick Dawn up from Janice's house, all went back to Xander and Spike's place to await Tara's awakening.

Spike and Willow had both gone with Angel to put Tara in the room that she and Willow used when they stayed over. Spike had gathered the spell ingredients and demanded that Willow perform the anchoring spell, seeing as Angel had done as she demanded. The witch begrudgingly agreed; she hadn't wanted to leave Tara's side even for a moment but knew that it would be some time before she woke.

While this was going on, Xander and the others congregated in the kitchen. For once thankful of Spike's indulgences, Anya dispensed a round of whiskey to everyone. Everyone being herself, Xander and Cordelia.

Buffy and Dawn arrived shortly after, and Xander had to go down to the gate to let them in. That left Anya and Cordy alone in the kitchen.

"I can't believe she did that. I mean, I understand that she was hurting, but to ask Xander to make Tara a vampire? What was she thinking? He has a soul. And yeah, okay, he is pretty happy with Spike and everything, but he never asked to be a vampire, and given the choice I think he'd still rather be human. He never would have asked for this, and neither would Tara."

Anya turned to see Cordelia weeping silently into her hands, shoulders shaking. She rolled her eyes at her own callousness and pulled the other woman into her arms.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone on about it like that. Xander always told me I lacked tact. He was right. I should have seen this sooner; you love him."

Cordy sniffed and lifted her head.

"Xander?"

"No, Angel."

"Oh."

Cordelia wiped her eyes on the back of her hand and dug in her purse for a tissue. After finding one and wiping her nose, she finally nodded her head and a shaky laugh escaped her lips.

"I do. Not that it's done me any good. I mean, I know he cares about me, maybe he even loves me. But I'm not fooling myself, even with this spell, he'll feel so guilty about what he's done to Tara, he won't let himself be happy. Won't let us be happy together."

Cordy huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"What is it with Willow and wrecking my relationships anyway? First she has to get all smoochie with Xander when I was dating him, and now she has to practically destroy Angel. This spell could have been a gift, but she's turned it into a bargaining chip. Angel’s soul for Tara’s unlife. It just isn't fair."

"No it isn't. I was supposed to marry Xander and have babies and grow old and wrinkly with him. Instead, I got sucked dry by a minion, died, and turned back into a demon. Xander got turned, went gay and married Spike. Who says The Powers That Be have no sense of humour?"

Cordy giggled a little at that and Anya smiled and hugged her for a moment.

"He's going to need you to be there for him. He won't get through this alone; Tara will have Xander and Spike to help her, They'll try to be there for Angel as well, but he seems the type to brood alone in the dark rather than let anyone help him. You'll have to make him let you in."

"I'm good at that."

"Good. Now, I believe Xander's back with the others, what say we make something a little more appropriate to drink for Dawn than whiskey…"

~!~

The spell was rather simple - the hardest part of the whole thing would have been finding a willing member of the cursed vampire’s family to assist in it. Spike just wanted this done. He wanted Angel’s soul anchored, and then he wanted everyone to go home. He knew that wasn't going to happen; as long as Tara was there, everyone would be too, but he just wanted to take Xander to bed and hold him. His mate was hurting, having his best friend ask him to turn her lover had thrown him into a tailspin.

He didn't really understand it himself; not having a soul, it wouldn't have bothered him to turn the blonde witch. Xander would have been horrified; that was the reason he said no. Tara would be pissed at first, and rightfully so, but he knew that in time she would forgive Willow; she always did. Hopefully she wouldn't hold it against Angel; he had done what he had to. Angelus would have destroyed them all, and he knew as well as Angel did that Willow was serious about her threat. He had to hope that that one never got turned; even with her soul, she would be dangerous.

~!~

With the spell completed, Spike went back to his mate and Angel and Willow went to sit with Tara. They didn't speak.

After an hour or so, Cordelia knocked on the bedroom door and poked her head inside. She barely looked at Willow before fixing her eyes on Angel and smiling softly at him.

"How are you doing?"

Angel looked up at her and the expression on his face said it all. Cordy knelt in front of him and cupped his cheek with her palm.

"I'm sorry, stupid question. Do you need anything?"

"I'm fine, Cor."

Cordelia sighed and shook her head. She took Angel’s hands in her own and gave them a squeeze.

"No, you're not. But you will be, and I'll be here for you, I promise."

She kissed his cheek and he gave her a small smile.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm going to turn in; if you need me - for anything - you know where I am. Okay?"

"Okay. Goodnight, Cordelia."

"Goodnight, Angel."

~!~

Xander, Spike, Buffy, Dawn and Anya sat in the living room. Dawn was curled into Spike’s side with his arm around her shoulders. Buffy sat on her other side holding her hand. Xander and Anya stood in the corner talking softly.

"I don't think Tara is going to be too happy when she wakes up. An, promise me that if she calls on you, you won't do anything. Please?"

"Xander, I don't even know if I could. I've never been summoned to wreak vengeance for a lesbian before. But if she does, I won't do it. I'll tell D'Hoffryn that there's a conflict of interest or something. Don't worry."

Xander pulled his ex-fiancée into his arms and hugged her even as he heard a soft growl from across the room.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now go to your mate before he comes over here and makes an ass of himself with his jealousy."

Xander chuckled softly.

"Yes Ma'am."

~!~

Dawn must have fallen asleep because she woke up to Buffy gently shaking her shoulder.

"Hey, sleepy-head. Come on, time to go up to bed."

"Where is everyone?"

Dawn sat up and looked around the darkened room with a frown.

"Spike took Xander up to bed, Anya had to go - vengeance business, and Angel and Willow are still in with Tara."

At the mention of the blonde witch's name, Dawn's eyes welled with tears.

"Is she... Is she awake yet?"

"No. It could be awhile. Sometimes it takes a couple days for a new fledgling to rise."

"Oh. Why is that?"

Buffy scrunched up her nose in thought.

"I think it depends on how strong the sire is. Xander rose pretty quickly, but Thor was like, really old. Angel’s pretty old, but nowhere near Thor's age. Plus he eats pigs’ blood, so it might affect how fast Tara wakes up. I don't know."

Dawn nodded and allowed Buffy to pull her to her feet. As they walked up the stairs toward their allotted rooms, Dawn hesitated at her door.

"Buffy? Can I... Can I sleep with you? I'm still kinda freaked about the whole Dru and Gabriella thing."

Buffy smiled and held out her hand.

"’Course you can. Come on."

Hand in hand the Summers sisters walked into Buffy's room and closed the door.

~!~

Hunger. It was all she knew; her entire existence was focused on the aching void in her belly. She could smell something sweet and tantalising close by and let her senses hone into the source of the scent. She could hear a pounding, a steady thrum that accompanied the smell. It called to her and she felt the need to answer, to consume the sound, the scent; she could almost taste the sweetness. And then she could. For a brief few seconds, she experienced ambrosia as something thick and sweet filled her mouth. She barely registered the struggling form beneath her, only the sensation of strong arms stealing around her waist and pulling her away. She roared in outrage.

Angel leapt across the bed at his newest childe, but not fast enough to stop her from biting Willow. He pulled her off the shocked redhead as she roared and struggled in his arms.

"Leave us. Now!"

Willow scrambled off the floor and looked horrified at her girlfriend’s demonic visage before fleeing in tears. Angel pulled Tara around to face him and pulled her mouth to his neck.

"Feed, childe."

Without hesitation, Tara sunk her fangs into his skin and drank.

~!~

Willow ran from the room; tears blurred her vision and she nearly fell down the stairs. She stumbled into the kitchen and saw Spike and Xander, both in game face as they fed. A startled scream escaped her and she clapped her hand over her mouth and turned to leave.

Xander and Spike scented the air, they both raised their eyebrows in shock at the scent of Willow's blood and followed her from the room. She was headed to the door when Anya suddenly appeared and blocked her escape.

"Oh no you don't! You caused this, you are going to stay right here, missy and deal with the consequences."

Spike tilted his head and looked Willow over; he noticed the bite mark on her neck and shook his head sadly. Peaches was getting slow in his old age; he should have been able to catch Tara before she even got close to Willow.

"An?"

Xander stepped closer to his ex and his oldest friend - who 'eeped' and took a step back from him as he approached. Xander blinked in confusion and Anya laughed.

"Shake off the grr face, Xander. She's just been bitten by her newly-risen lover. I think you're scaring her."

"Bitten... Tara? Tara bit you?"

Willow nodded and started to cry.

"Oh, Goddess. What have I done?"

Xander pulled his distraught friend into his arms and Spike and Anya exchanged eye rolls and watched as Xander comforted Willow.

~!~

Angel gently pulled Tara away from his throat and she blinked up at him in confusion.

"A-Angel? Wha... What happened?"

Angel sighed and pulled Tara over to the bed and sat her down.

"You were hurt, last night during the fight. Do you remember?"

Tara tilted her head and thought for minute. Angel knew she had figured it out as her eyes widened and her mouth trembled.

"Vampires, they... They killed me. How... Who? Why, why would they do this?"

As she started to cry, Angel wrapped his arms around her. Everything about her screamed out "childe", "family" to him. He held her as she sobbed and when she finally calmed again he held her at arms’ length and lifted her chin. He looked her in the eye and waited for her to make the connection.

"You. It was you, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I had no choice. I'm sorry."

A few minutes passed and finally Tara spoke again.

"Willow. She made you do this, didn't she?"

At Angel’s nod, she continued.

"What did she threaten you with? What did she do?"

Angel swallowed and lowered his eyes.

"She threatened to turn Angelus loose. Xander and Spike refused her; Xander said you wouldn't want this, but I couldn't let Angelus free. He would have killed them all - or worse."

"I understand. And Willow? Did she secure your soul?"

"Yes. After... After we came back, Spike made her do it."

"Good. She won't have that threat to use again. Where is she?"

"She... "

Tara watched as Angel struggled to find words.

"She ran out. After you... After you bit her."

~!~