"You will"


"ask permission"


"before you pull a stunt like that"



Willow groaned and woke up to the loud sounds coming from the next room. She cracked one eye open to see a large glass of orange juice in front of her face.

"Drink it and you'll feel better," Spike said impatiently.

Willow raised an eyebrow, skeptical to trust Spike, but took the glass anyway. She tried to sit up a little too quickly and coughed a dry heave. Then, slowly she sipped on the orange juice.

Spike sat down in a leather arm chair that faced the bed. He leaned back and folded his hands behind his head. After looking the redhead up and down he couldn't understand what made Dru pick her. Her red hair lay in a half fallen updo, and blood stained the top of her dress. He did have to admit her blood smelled heavenly.

After Willow drank about half the glass of orange juice she noticed Spike staring at her. Her eyes met his, and she looked at him with confusion and saw the same emotion mirrored back at her. She coughed again and realized part of the reason she was so sore was because of the awful corset.

"Uh, Spike? Is there any more comfortable clothes I could change into? I'm just not used to wearing corsets," she said trying to put on a brave face.

"Sorry, luv, no can do," Spike said, not moving from his comfortable position.

"Why?" she squeaked trying to hold back tears. The corset was really uncomfortable, and she felt dirty with the blood stained on it.

"Well you see pet, you belong to Dru, and she believes you are her dolly. Notice that all her little dollies are wearing clothes just like you." Spike glanced over at the wall where the voices had been coming from, but now had stopped. "She would be very upset with me if I were to mess up her dolly."


"She claimed you pet, that's why."

"The bite?" Willow asked as her hand went to her neck to feel the bite marks.

"Yes, now don't go picking at it or you're going to make it start bleeding again. At least, wait till I get permission to have a taste."

Willow gulped and then looked around the room. "Wait, where is Dru?"

"You mean you didn't hear her? You would have to be bleedin' dead not to hear her, Red."

Willow shivered at the new nickname. 'Red' was not something you called someone who was little, sweet, and innocent. It was definitely not a name she had ever been called. Then she realized what Spike meant. The whipping sounds from next door!

"She is being hurt because of me," Willow thought aloud.

"Ding, ding, ding we have a winner."


"Don't worry, I don't think it's all pain, luv." As if on cue, Spike smirked as a moan was heard from the next room. Willow blushed a color almost the shade of her hair. Spike smelled a small bit of arousal coming from her. Hmmm maybe this bint isn't as hopeless as I thought.

For the next five minutes the only thing she heard was noises coming from the next room, and the tapping of Spike's fingernails against the wooden armrest.

The awkward silence lasted another three minutes before Willow finally spoke up. "So what does it mean that I'm claimed?"

"Well basically, you belong to Dru. You will not be able to age unless she dies, and all other vampires and demons will know just by your scent that you belong to her," Spike explained, getting more impatient by the minute.

"So, I'm really not going to get to go home," Willow said, letting go of her last bit of hope of that happening.

"That wasn't going to happen either way," Spike told her, picking at his black fingernail polish. "Angelus had plans for you anyway; Dru just put the plans on fast forward a bit."

"Angelus had plans for me too? Jeez, when did I become so popular in the vampire community," Willow mumbled under her breath.

"Well, it was nice chatting with you Red, but I think my babysitting duties are over." Spike stood up and opened the door. There in the doorway stood someone, but from where Willow was sitting she couldn't see who.