Rating: PG-13 for now, NC-17 eventually
Summary: Sequel to Jenni's 'A Day in the Life'
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I don't even own the computer i'm typing this on.
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~Part: 1~ Find a Way
Willow woke slowly. She'd never been a morning person. The first thing her brain registered was that there was another person in bed with her. She cracked open an eye to see Angel smiling at her softly.
"Morning." He said.
She returned his smile sweetly. "Morning."
She stretched like a cat then glanced over at the clock. It was ten AM. When she had arrived in LA yesterday and told Angel she remembered everything she wasn't sure what would happen, if he would still want to be with her. Actually, she'd been terrified he would tell her the whole forgotten day had been a mistake and turn her away. But the vampire had welcomed her with open arms. They had spent the whole day together then fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Angel leaned forward and claimed her lips shattering her thoughts and
leaving nothing but him. They only broke apart when the red-head
needed to breathe.
"I could get used to this." Willow said with a sigh as she snuggled up to her vampire again.
"Maybe you shouldn't," Angel said softly, then continued when she looked up at him. "When do you have to go back to Sunnydale?"
"I have school tomorrow." She said with a frown, then her face brightened. "It doesn't matter. We will find a way to make this work, Angel. I'll come down every weekend and maybe even for a few hours during the days when I only have class until noon. I love you, Angel, and I’m not going to let a little thing like a two hour drive get in the way of that."
"What about a little thing like a royally pissed off slayer?" A voice said from the doorway.
"You're in early, Cordy." Angel said, sitting up and running a hand through his hair.
"Yeah, well, I called Doyle this morning and he said a cute little red-head
that you knew from Sunnydale showed up yesterday morning and was
still here when he left last night. I knew it had to be Willow. When
the hell did this happen anyway? When Doyle said it looked like she
was staying here I didn't think he meant in bed with you. And your
soul."
"It's not like that Cordelia, well I mean it is, 'cause we are in bed together, but there was no, you know, and I mean it would be like that if we could 'cause I love Angel but we can't and we won't and oh god, she's right what is Buffy going to say. I can't lie to her, I’m really bad at lying to Buffy and Xander is going to have a fit and Giles will do that British glare thing and start cleaning his glasses and Anya will ask how the sex is and..." She trailed off as Angel took her chin in his hand.
"Will, breathe. Everything is going to be okay. You said it yourself; we will find a way to make this work. Now, why don't you go with Cordelia and explain everything that happened yesterday, the REAL yesterday. She doesn't know."
The witch nodded. "Okay." She leaned in for another quick kiss then she got up and followed Cordelia out into the living room.
Angel stood and began to pace. As much as he hated to admit it Cordelia was right. Buffy probably wouldn't take this too well but at the moment it didn't matter. He really did love Willow and nothing was going to stop him from being with her.
~Part: 2~ Road Block
When Angel emerged from his bedroom Willow and Cordelia were sitting in the kitchen talking. He knew Willow was still telling the secretary about the forgotten day because Cordy was actually paying attention. It took something pretty damn interesting to make that happen.
He moved forward and went to the fridge, listening to what Willow was saying.
"So I decided to come here and tell Angel I remembered and well, here I am."
"Angel was human?" Cordelia asked Willow. Then she turned to her boss. "You were human? Wow. So now what?"
"Well, I’ve decided that I’m going to be all naughty and evil and skip classes for a few days so I can hang around."
"You have?" Angel asked as he poured some blood in to a mug and popped it in the microwave.
"Yep. I brought my book bag with me so I have all my homework from yesterday and I can read ahead for all my classes so I’ll still be on top of things." Willow said.
"Yeah, well, just be careful which 'things' you stay on top of. 'Cause I swear, Willow, if he losses his soul I’ll feed you to him." Cordelia told her with a glare.
"Cordy." Angel said and that one word held enough warning to make the
former cheerleader rise and head upstairs without so much as a
flippant remark.
"Ok, that was impressive." Willow said after Cordy's silent figure disappeared up the steps.
"Not really, the quiet never lasts long enough to be impressive."
The redhead giggled and moved over to where the vampire was standing. He set his mug on the counter as she wrapped her arms around his waist. She snuggled against him for a moment the picked up her head to look at his face.
"I'm scared, Angel."
"Of Buffy?" He asked.
She nodded. "And Giles and Xander and Cordelia. They're all gonna think
we're crazy and stupid and they are just gonna sit there with
stakes waiting for us to be irresponsible. And none of them are going
to understand."
"We'll make them understand. I promise. Now, you need to call Buffy."
Willow jerked away from his embrace. "What? Why?"
"Relax; you don't have to tell her anything except that you're not going to be around for the next few days. Everyone will get worried if you just disappear."
"Oh, yeah. I knew that." She said then moved toward the phone. She dialed and her best friend answered on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Buffy, it's Willow."
"Hiya Wills. Where've you been? I stopped here to see if you felt like Bronzing it but you were no where to be found."
"Yeah, that's why I’m calling. Something came up and I had to leave town for a few days."
"Okay. So what came up? Where are you?"
"I'm..." Before Willow had a chance to answer Doyle's voice rang out from upstairs.
"Angel! Get up here, man. Vision. And bring your pretty little redheaded bed warmer. I think she can help."
Willow was staring in horror at the phone knowing that Doyle's shouted words had easily carried across the line. She could also hear Buffy shrieking.
"What? You’re in LA! With Angel! And there's a BED involved! What the hell is going on, Willow?"
"Uh, Buffy? I gotta go." Willow said then slammed the phone down. "Oh no, oh no, oh no."
"Willow, it's okay. One disaster at a time. Let's go figure out Doyle's vision then we'll worry about Buffy." Angel said taking Willow's hand and leading her upstairs.
"Yeah. You're right. I'll call Buffy back later and explain, when she's
had time to calm down."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Giles came home to find a note taped to his door. He opened it up and saw it was from Buffy.
"Oh dear lord." He murmured then picked up the phone. As the note requested he dialed the Summers' residence.
"Joyce, yes. I'm fine, and you? I just wanted to let you know that Buffy may be unreachable for the next few days. Yes, it seems she’s on her way to Los Angeles."
~Part: 3~ TLC
Willow was exhausted. The Rapien Demon Doyle had had a vision about
put up quite a fight. But Angel had gotten the worst of it. The witch
glanced back at the brunette vampire who was leaning on Doyle heavily.
"Here," Willow said moving over to the two men. "I'll help him downstairs."
Doyle handed the vampire over and Willow knew Angel was just as tired as she was when he didn't protest.
"Cordy and me will be headin' home for the night. You take care of him,
Red." Doyle said. Will nodded tiredly then led Angel down stairs
and into his bed room.
"I'll get you some blood, clean your wounds up a bit, then you can rest, okay?"
He sat himself gently onto the bed and nodded.
Willow disappeared for a few minutes then returned with a mug of blood
and a first aide kit. She handed the mug over, waited patiently
for Angel to drain the contents the directed him to lie on his side.
Both his back and chest had been shredded by the demons whip-like arms
but even as Willow watched some of the more shallow wounds began to
close.
She sat down beside him and got to work patching up his chest.
"You did really good out there, Will." Angel said, eyes downcast so he could watch her work.
"Really?" The witch asked her face breaking out into a bright smile.
"Yeah. We couldn't have done it without you. Your casting has improved a lot."
"I've been working really hard. Sometimes I still do a spell that goes caplooey but I think I’ve improved. It's nice to finally be able to work this stuff in the field." Willow said.
"You don't in Sunnydale?" Angel asked wincing a bit as she cleaned a particularly nasty injury.
"Sorry. And no. Buffy and Giles don't like me playing around with magick. Since, you know, there is still the occasional caplooey."
"You'll never perfect your magicks if you don't practice." Angel said.
The red head just shrugged. She finished up with his front then walked around the bed to start on his back.
"This isn't nearly as bad as your chest." She said more to herself than
her patient. She finished quickly then placed the first aide supplies on
the floor and slid down to lay behind him. She slid her
arms carefully around his waist and placed a gentle kiss over his tattoo.
Then another on the nape of his neck.
"Will?"
"Hmmm?"
"What are you doing?"
"Administering the most important medicine of all, TLC." She said with a giggle. She continued to place little kisses over the patches of unabused flesh until Angel carefully turned so he was facing her.
He pulled her as close as he could without agitating his hurting skin then kissed her lips. "I could get used to this." He murmured.
"I suggest you don't." A voice hissed.
The vampire and witch turned to see Buffy standing in the living room staring at the couple with angry narrowed eyes.
"Oh crap." Willow whispered.
~Part: 4~ Friendship
Willow whimpered a bit at the look of rage in the Slayer's eyes but
Angel squeezed her waist gently and she relaxed a bit. They knew this would
happen, sooner or later. Granted Willow had expected and hoped it would
be much MUCH later but....oh well.
"What the HELL is going on?" The Slayer demanded.
"What are you doing here, Buffy?" Angel asked calmly.
"What am I doing here? What is WILLOW doing here? In LA. In your BED!" Buffy shouted stomping into the bedroom.
"That's none of your business." Angel said firmly.
"None of my...." She sputtered. "I thought she was my best friend and now I find her here playing house with my..."
Angel cut off her angry tirade. "I'm not 'your' anything anymore Buffy."
"So Willow jumps into your bed and you just forget about me? Forget about us?"
"There is no us Buffy. Even before I left Sunnydale things weren't the same and you know it. Besides last I heard you were seeing someone else? Riley, I think his name is."
Buffy seemed to realize she was losing ground so she changed tactics. "What about the curse?"
"We're not going to let anything happen to make me lose my soul. We both have better control than that." Angel said.
"Oh, so that's it. You're with her because she's not enough to make you lose control. She can't make you feel the way I do." Buffy said with a smirk.
A growl sounded throughout the room but to everyone's surprise it came
from Willow. The red head had been silent up until this point but now she
couldn't take it anymore. She stood and walked over to Buffy then pulled
back her
hand and punched the slayer with enough force that she went down on
one knee.
Willow hissed and shook her hand trying to ease the sharp pain the hit had caused. "Don't you dare speak about me that way. I have done everything you ever asked of me, I gave up any chance at a normal life for you. To help you. And I never asked you for ANYTHING in return."
"But she's right. You don't make me feel the way she did." Angel said then he turned to Buffy who was still kneeling. "With Willow I feel safe and loved and at peace instead of edgy and agitated and torn. Willow loves me just as I am, I don't have to pretend to be human around her."
Buffy's face turned red and she stood then dove straight at Willow. "You bitch! How could you do this to me? I thought you were my friend." She screamed and before Angel could stop it she punched Willow and Angel could tell by Buffy's stance that she wasn't holding back.
A crack resounded and Angel knew it was the sound of Willow's cheekbone fracturing. The red head fell to the floor and everything stopped.
"Oh god." Buffy whispered bringing both hands to her mouth. "Will..."
The slayer moved forward but Willow flinched back and for the first time
when
Buffy looked into the witch's eyes, she saw fear.
"Get away from her." Angel hissed getting down to his knees next to Willow. The girl was crying now and he knew each sob was excruciating as it jarred her face. "Get out Buffy. Get out and if I ever see you here again I will not be responsible for my actions."
The slayer turned and silently walked out.
~Part: 5~ Love
Willow sat crumpled and shaking on the floor with Angel kneeling next to her trying desperately to comfort the distraught girl. He murmured softly to her and rubbed soothing circles on her back. After a few minutes her shaking subsided and she looked up into Angel's eyes.
"I love you." She whispered then winced as the words caused her broken cheekbone to move.
It was nearly enough to bring the vampire to tears himself. Of all the worries she must have about what would happen when she went home, the turmoil he was sure she felt, those three precious words were all she choose to say.
"I love you too, Willow. So much." He said gathering her to him. He
picked her up and started to the door. He saw the question in her eyes
and answered it before she could speak and hurt herself
again. "I'm taking you to the hospital. They probably won't be able
to do much besides x-ray you and she how bad the damage is but they'll
give you some painkillers."
"Don't. Stop." She said with another wince. She wanted to speak so badly but it hurt so much, every little movement of her face felt like a hot thick needle being driven into her cheek.
Angel glanced around the room and spotted Willow's backpack. He set her down gently on the couch and picked up the bag. The vampire opened it and pulled out the notebook and pen he'd hoped to find there. Willow took the notebook with a grateful sigh.
'We don't need to go to the hospital.' She wrote. 'I can heal it if you'll get me what I need.'
"Of course." Angel said. "Just tell me what to get."
She wrote a list of the herbs she would need and then laid down on the couch.
"I can get all of this at the local organic market. I won't be long." He kneeled down and kissed her gently on her forehead.
She inclined her head the slightest bit and Angel hurried out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As promised Angel returned quickly. He found the redhead sitting up a book in one hand her notebook in the other. She was outlining the healing spell for him.
'I can't say it. If I do the herbs can you speak the actual spell?' She wrote.
He nodded and started unloading the brown paper bag, placing each ingredient on the coffee table in front of Willow for her inspection. When he was done she nodded and handed him the notebook. It told him exactly what to do and when to do it.
Willow began mixing things together in a bowl Angel retrieved from the kitchen after a few minutes she looked over at him expectantly. He looked down at the paper and began to read. It was fairly simple and didn't take long to read, when he finished there was a dull flash and he heard Willow whimper. When his vision cleared he moved to her.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes." She said. "Weak though, couldn't get it to heal completely."
He tilted her face towards him and saw that she had a dark bruise on her cheek but she was talking fine and she hadn't even winced. That was an improvement.
"I'm sorry about this, Willow." Angel murmured.
"It's not your fault. Neither one of us expected Buffy to come here like that."
"I still feel like I should have done something."
"Don't, Angel. It's over and done with now. All that we can do now is try to manage some damage control. Giles and Xander..." She trailed off, as if she didn't even want to think about the reaction of the two men.
"How long are you staying?" Angel asked moving closer to her and putting an arm around her shoulders.
"Till Sunday night." She murmured sleepily as she rested her head on his shoulder.
It was Tuesday. Five days with her didn't seem long enough but he wouldn't argue. As long as she was here he would do his best to make sure she was happy.
~Part: 6~ Acceptance
The next afternoon Angel crept upstairs when he heard Cordelia come in. He 'Shushed' the brunette before she even opened her mouth then explained what had happened the day before and that Willow needed to rest. To his surprise Cordelia was furious. She had never really liked Willow but she liked Buffy even less.
"After everything Willow has done for that bitch! I can't believe her!" Cordelia hissed.
"God, I love it when she's angry. Isn't she beautiful when she's angry?" Doyle said with a smirk as he entered the office.
"That must be why you've made it your mission in life to piss me off!" Cordelia huffed as she moved toward the coffee-machine to make the tar she passed off as coffee.
"Of course, Princess." Doyle said with a wink.
The merriment in his eyes faded as Cordelia quickly repeated the story for him.
"But the witch is all right?" Doyle asked.
"She has one hell of a bruise but it's not broken anymore." Angel told him. "She'll be with us until Sunday, then she has to head back to Sunnydale."
"Oh and I bet Buffy will just break out the 'Welcome Wagon', Xander too. He'll just be ecstatic to see her." Cordelia said with a roll of her eyes.
"You think Buffy will tell him?" Angel asked, he figured she would, but was hoping she wouldn't.
"You're kidding right? She's pissed at Willow, she's gonna want someone to be pissed with her." She said.
"Misery loves company and all that." Doyle said.
"Hopefully I'll be able to convince Willow before she leaves that what those two losers think doesn't matter." Cordy said.
"And why would you do that? I figured you'd be reveling in the chaos." Angel asked in a dry voice.
She glared at him but answered anyway. "She's been here for under a day and look at you. You haven't brooded once and you're shirt! It's green, I have never seen you wear anything that wasn't black."
Angel glanced down at the shirt; he'd worn it because it reminded him of Willow's eyes. He smiled at the thought.
"And look, now you're smiling! And I know that has something to do with Willow." The former cheerleader said.
"She's right, man. You've got, like, a glow about you." Doyle said cocking his head to look at his undead friend.
"Just don't get..." Cordy began but Angel cut her off.
"Too happy, yeah, I know."
"Good. So what's on the menu today?" She asked.
"Unless Doyle gets a vision, nothing. I actually was hoping to take Willow out tonight, try to get her mind off of things." Angel said.
"Out where? Like dinner out, movie out, clubbing out?" Cordy asked.
"I haven't given it that much thought."
"Of course you haven't. Why don't you go wake up Willow and I'll order some lunch then we can all eat and talk over our options."
"Okay, thanks." Angel said and disappeared down the hall.
"That was insightful and mature. I love mature women." Doyle said with a lazy smile.
"Shut up, Doyle."
~Part: 7~ Wake Up Call
Willow woke to the feel of a gentle hand smoothing back her hair then running lightly down her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open to see Angel smiling down at her. He looked so perfect to her that she did the only thing she could think of, she grabbed him and pulled him to her, crushing her mouth to his. Angel was so surprised by the move that for a moment he just let her pummel his mouth then when it sank in his mouth moved over hers taking control of the punishing kiss.
While Angel was distracted by the witch's mouth she snaked her left hand around his back and pulled until he collapsed on top of her. Willow's legs parted so he could rest comfortably between them and her right hand went to his hair to make sure his mouth stayed fused to hers. She only let go when she had to breathe.
"You…" Whatever Angel might have said was lost as the redhead arched up, capturing his lips with her own again.
One of her legs crept up to rest on Angel's hip and she scratched her nails lightly down his back as he settled more firmly against her.
Angel growled against her mouth when the scent of Willow's arousal hit him. She shivered at the sound and moved beneath him. This time when she pulled away for air instead of trying to speak Angel's lips found a better purpose. He kissed a line down her jaw then moved his mouth to the smooth column of her neck. She turned to give him better access as she pulled in great gulps of air.
Willow moved against him again and moaned softly as he nipped at her neck in response. She could feel his cock, long and hard against her, and mourned the clothes separating her from that thick piece of flesh she so desperately wanted inside of her. When she squirmed against him for the third time Angel's hand went to her hip to still her.
"You're killing me, Witch." He murmured into her ear before moving his attentions back to her throat.
"You're already dead." She said.
"Do I feel dead to you?" He asked moving his hips against hers.
"Yep. Stiff." She said.
His head came up and he stared at her for a heartbeat then started laughing. A second later Willow joined him. When they'd both calmed, minutes later, Angel rolled onto his back and pulled the redhead to his side.
"You see, this is the kind of thing I never had with Buffy. I could never laugh with her, the passion was there but the fun was missing." Angel said.
Willow smiled. She felt amazing; it was like afterglow without the sex. "Good, I'm glad I can give you that."
"So, before you accosted me, I was going to ask if you wanted to go out tonight."
"Like a date?" She asked with a giggle.
"Sure, even though I have the feeling Cordy and Doyle will be tagging along. She's ordering lunch for us, by the way. Hungry?"
"I'm starved but about tonight, there is a slight problem. I don't have any clothes."
"Then I'll just have to send Cordelia out shopping. She'll be happy because she gets to spend my money, you'll have something nice to wear out tonight so you'll be happy, and we'll get rid of Cordy for the rest of the day, so I'll be happy."
"Yeah, I meant to ask how you ended up with her working for you. I never saw that one coming."
"Neither did I." Angel said. "But she has her uses, granted I haven't really figured out any of them, but she must have at least one, right?"
"You just keep telling yourself that, mister." Willow said with a laugh.
"She needed a job and I guess it wasn't too horrible having a familiar face around, so here she is." Angel told her with a shrug.
"So I guess the whole acting thing never caught on?"
"No, she goes to auditions now and then but they haven't amounted to anything."
"Lunch is here!" Cordelia called.
"Speak of the devil." Willow said and slowly moved away from Angel. "Oh! We found a use! She orders lunch!"
"Knew there had to be one." The vampire said as he rose and held a hand out for Willow.
The couple walked up stairs hand in hand and found Cordy setting out paper plates and deli sandwiches.
"Your blood's in the microwave, Boss." The former cheerleader said. "Ham on rye ok, Willow?"
"Sure. Thanks, Cordelia. I'm starving!"
"That makes two of us." Doyle said. "What did you get for me, Princess?"
"Oh, you wanted something?" Cordy asked with a raised brow.
"You wound me!" Doyle said putting a dramatic hand over his heart.
"Oh cut it out, here." Cordy said shoving a sandwich at him. "So are we going out tonight?"
Angel sent a smile and an `I told you so look' at Willow when Cordelia said `we'. "Yeah, but Willow didn't bring any clothes with her. I was hoping you could go pick a few things up for her."
"You're joking right, what, you thought I'd say no to shopping?"
"No, but it's considered polite to ask." Angel said.
"And keep in mind he said a couple of things, Cordelia. Not a whole new wardrobe." Willow said.
"Uh huh, sure." Cordy said but Willow knew the other women would come back with far too much of things she would probably never wear.
"This was a really bad idea." Willow mumbled as she saw the calculating look in Cordelia's eyes. "Really bad."
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