Summary: Willow helps two of her friends out for the holiday.
Spoilers: Nothing specific. A little of Becoming 2, and all the ones that
deal with Angel's soul and soul loss.
Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine, no matter how much I wish they
were. < sigh > They belong to Joss Whedon and the WB I have to
live with borrowing them for my stories.
Rating: You watch the show, this is fine.
For Tracy and Laura, my inspirations. I *think* that's a good thing.
hehe
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A Different Kind of Valentine
by: Amy
I held the box in my hands nervously, fiddling with the silver wrapping paper. I knew he would like it... Love it even, but I still was unsure about giving it. They had been so careful. Maybe I was wrong about the whole thing. Maybe I was tempting Fate.
But she was my friend, one who had saved my life countless times. And so was he, and I knew how much it hurt her to not be able to be with him. I saw how it made her drag her feet sometimes. When that detached look came over her face, my heart would turn and twist in my chest. That kind of love, so sacred and beautiful, yet so unattainable was slowly killing her. And that hurt me. I was determined to do something to make them happy.
Even though that wasn't quite allowed.
Finally he came, swinging the heavy cement door open. Surprise registered on his face as he realized who it was. He lifted his eyebrows, smiling curiously as he opened the door wider to let me in.
"Willow. Hello. Is there something.... I can do for you?" Alarm flashed in his eyes. "Is Buffy okay?" I nodded, gulping.
Stepping into the large room, I handed him the box. He looked down at it and then back at me, unsure of what to think. I smiled slightly. "Happy Valentine's Day, Angel."
He looked back at the box, dazed. He led me absently to the couch by the fireplace and we sat down. He turned the box over in his hands. He looked almost frightened to open it. Shooting me another glance, he shrugged and for a moment, I felt I could almost hear him thinking. The shock and gratefulness in his expression almost made me cry. Was he wondering why I was doing this? Didn't he know I was his friend?
I knew Buffy had given him something special for the holiday. And I knew that even though they had been cautious, they were still so in love.
Finally, casting me a warm smile, he fumbled with the paper, trying not to tear it too badly. He carefully slid his fingers under the tape and lifted the flaps of each side. He pulled out the plain white box inside. After opening it, he stared down at what he held in his hand. Amazement crossed his features.
The Orb Of Thessula began to glow.
Dropping it back onto the tissue paper in the box as though it had burned him, he turned to me. "Willow?" His eyes were tortured, and I instantly regretting not having explained before.
"I found the curse again," I started haltingly. "I got to thinking about it, how unfair it was. You shouldn't be sentenced to a life of torment, Angel," I said gently. "And neither should Buffy. So I went into full research mode. And after a few weeks, I found what I was looking for. I think. Something that will make you and Buffy possible." I searched his blank face.
"You mean..." He trailed off hoarsely.
"Yes," I stated proudly. "I'm going to anchor your soul to your body."
A loud silence descended on us. He looked at me for a long, long time, and there was a moment when I considered pulling back, his expression was so incredulous. I could tell he wanted to object for fear of hurting me, but my face held no room for that sort of thing. Then, though, his face softened into a smile, the kind Buffy had told me about seeing on his face, but one I had never had the pleasure of looking at myself. It lit up the room.
Handing me the Orb, he sat back against the couch. Tears broke his voice as he murmured, "Thank you."
I smiled and nodded. "No problem."
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The room crackled with energy. The candles wept tears of white wax. White candles for purity of spirit. Angel stood in the circle of chalk I had drawn for him. As I continued to chant in latin, I felt my breathing once again start to come in gasps. My heart slowed to a dangerous pace.
And then, just like before, my head snapped back and forward as I was filled with another Romany spirit.
I knew what I was saying, the only words I was able to speak. "Bind to him."
The Orb held in Angel's palm shattered in a flash of gold glass and then dissipated into a glowing, sparkling dust. Angel fell to his knees and clutched at his chest as his soul began to quicken. A scream like I had never heard tore from his throat. I felt like I was hovering above my own body as I watched the chaos, but in my memory, it is silent and peaceful, like a black and white photograph.
Blue light flashed around the room, swirling off the walls. The music started then, beautiful music from instruments I could never imagine. It filled my ears until I was weeping openly. If anyone had shown me more beauty that night, I would have died from the pain. I felt like every dream or hope or wish I had ever thought was in that music. I was reaching out to touch it, sinking into the pure sound.
And then it was gone.
I slowly got to my feet and stood shakily. Angel was crying too, I noticed. He looked up at me from where he was still kneeling and I walked over to him. Helping him up with one hand, I looked at him. Did it work?
As if he read my mind, he slowly nodded. "I... It's there. It was sewn into me. My- My demon is still there, too, but...." he trailed off for a moment, looking past me absently as he thought. "But it's dormant. I don't feel it clawing or fighting me like it used to." A sudden grin lifted his face and I smiled back.
He held me close for a moment. "Thank you, Willow." The words echoed in my ears and I felt myself flush with pleasure and pride.
A sound knocked me out of his arms. Buffy stood, her stance defensive as she looked around the room wildly. "What happened?!" She sounded nearly hysterical. Angel and I were silent and it took her nearly a minute to realize that no one was being hurt. She took a tentative step towards Angel. "What happened?" she asked in a quiet tone.
His eyes twinkled and though I knew he was a little weak after the spell, he rushed for her with vampiric speed. Scooping her in his arms, he laughed. I watched and smiled at her feet dangling helplessly as he lifted her from the floor. She laughed in return, pushing her confusion aside.
Setting her down on the ground, Angel looked at her seriously. "I love you." Buffy's eyes widened at was once a forbidden statement. Still, she answered without hesitation.
"I love you, too."
Then he kissed her, and I saw a warm light fall over them. Angel finally broke the kiss and held her close, looking over her shoulder to me. I was suddenly aware that I had been shamelessly spying on them.
But he simply smiled at me and mouthed "Thank you," once more before kissing Buffy's shoulder. I turned to leave, knowing that he was planning on telling her.
When I was nearly to the door, Buffy's happy shout chased me and I could imagine the smile on her face. I left the mansion, feeling free.
I wanted to see Oz.
The End
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