Disclaimers: I don’t own them. Joss and Co. own any and all characters used for Buffy and Angel. Please don’t sue; I really don’t have much after school loans.
Spoilers: Semi current on all episodes. Don’t shoot if I’ve got some details wrong. I like to embellish a bit.
Summary: Buffy and Angel’s crews learn how far Willow has gone to make everyone happy.
Rating:NC-17
Comments: Feedback is always welcome but not necessary. Enjoy. Be gentle it’s my first fic.
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~Part: 1~
Willow Rosenburg tilted her face up to sun and let it warm her down to her bones. Anymore it was rare that she had the chance to enjoy the sun. Even with the first evil out there, waiting to destroy them all, Willow knew she had to make a decision. She knew why the first evil was back in action. She knew that the day was coming that she would have to kill Buffy. The dark voice in her head whispered how great it would be to kill the slayer, after all hadn’t she brought the slayer into this world. Willow blocked out the voice with the ease of long practice. She reached down into herself for the magic that was always there, the magic slightly corrupted with the darkness of the hellmouth. With that source, Willow allowed her consciousness to seep into the earth below her. To anyone who glanced at her, they would see a pretty, young lady enjoying the sun.
Willow took her consciousness deep into the earth, following the flow of energy and the rumbles that spoke of the imbalance. Her red head gleamed in the sun as her head tilted back, allowing the strands to tumble down her back. She wondered how long she would continue to play the bumbling idiot for her friends. How long would she go on pretending that she had allowed the power to go to her head? How long before she finally admitted that there was a reason that the darkness held such sway over her?
Willow decided that she would admit it to Buffy before she killed her. It had been her mistake that had brought Buffy back to life after her death and threw off the balance of the world.
Willow’s mouth tightened with the thought of killing the person she had once considered her best friend. She would do what she had to do though. She could not do any less. After all, in the end Willow was what the First would have to deal with. Beyond all the talk about the slayer line, Buffy was not strong enough to deal with the first evil. It was Willow who would stand before the first evil and face that army.
Willow opened herself more to the hellmouth below her, to tap into that power that so many coveted. And only she controlled. Willow’s mouth relaxed into a smirk as the dark magic washed over her and the voice in the back of her head roared in triumph. She ruled the hellmouth and controlled all activity; there was nothing that she could not do.
A sudden shift in the flow of the earth jolted Willow back to awareness. Her fingers dug into the soil as she tried to ride out the pain that was flowing into her. Her teeth caught her lower lip and she tasted blood as she tried to hold back the moan. It only lasted a moment before it was gone and Willow was able to open her eyes. Time to go back, Willow told herself. The first is ready to make his move.
~Part: 2~
Several hours away in Los Angeles, Angel woke up as pain swept through his entire being. His breath hitched and his undead heart seemed to pound in his chest. Angel’s thoughts were incoherent as he tried to wake up. His dark brown eyes were wide as they searched his room. His chest moved as he gasped for unneeded breaths, his hand rose to push his dark hair off of his forehead. The dark blue sheet bunched around his waist as he slowly calmed down.
He listened to the noises in the hotel. Fred and Gunn were arguing over a reference book, Cordy was on the telephone with a client and his son, Conner, was exercising in the basement. His family was safe and secure and he couldn’t figure out what had caused him the pain. Angel searched his mind and found the demon still chained and silent. A small frown creased his forehead as he realized that it had been some time since his demon had actually made itself known.
Conner and Cordelia’s betrayal had been the last time that his demon had actually demanded death. Even that demand hadn’t lasted long before the demon went completely silent. His feelings for Cordelia were confused now. She was no longer the love that had replaced Buffy in his heart. She was more of someone that you had once shared something that could have been special and now the emotions were dead. This left behind a vague uneasiness that made him unsure of how to react to her.
Angel shrugged his shoulders to rid himself of those thoughts. He wasn’t going to start brooding again. He knew his family was safe and secure, it was time to go back to sleep. Tonight he would try and figure out where the pain came from and what it meant. He lay back down, pulling the sheet higher on his chest and allowing the tension to drain out of his muscles. As he finally drifted off to sleep his last thought was of Willow and how she was.
~~~*~~~
As for Willow she was currently standing in the kitchen trying to get someone to listen to her about this afternoon. It had been hours since she had transported herself home to find that no one wanted to pay attention to her. Willow’s bright green eyes burned as the entire group ignored her. Her hand’s clinched into fists as she tried to remind herself that the new members of the group did not understand how the original Scooby Gang supported the Slayer. She ignored the dark voice in her head that demanded their blood. The voice whispered how much satisfaction would arise from the blood of slayers spilled on her hands. She shrugged it away as she often did when it was making its demands. For a moment Willow let her thoughts drift back to how this had all started.
Willow’s life had been turned upside down her sophomore year in high school when she had found out that vampire did exist and one of her best friend’s, Jesse, was now one. Buffy Summers had come to Sunnydale, California that year and she was the Vampire Slayer. Willow and Xander, her other best friend, had to grow up quickly that year. A smile touched her lips as she thought about Xander. For a long time, she had had a crush on him. She used to pray that one day Xander would notice her. Willow had hoped that his dark eyes would be filled with something more than the love of friendship. It had never happened but Willow knew that the love she and Xander shared eclipsed some of the most romantic loves of the world.
Xander was the only one that had reached Willow when Tara had died. He had prevented her from destroying the world. He had stood before her and told her that there was no one else he loved more or wanted to spend his last moments with. Even now that memory was enough to warm her heart and give her strength. Willow knew that no matter what she did or who she was Xander would always love her. Not even her closeness with Buffy Summers was that strong. Oh, Buffy tried and relied on her but Willow knew that when she talked to the principal she was hinting that Willow was no longer pulling her weight. But no matter, let them think what they wanted, Willow decided as gazed around the room, she alone knew the sacrifices she had made.
Willow left the kitchen and headed for the basement. Her long skirt swirled around her ankles and the bright green top warmed up her eyes. She knew that everyone else may ignore her, but Spike would always listen to her. Partly out of respect and partly out of gratitude for how she had treated him when he was first implanted. Spike had been the second vampire that Willow had actually knew and talked to. That first time when he had been in her dorm room and trying to bite her but couldn’t. Even as she was telling him it was her fault, he was striding around with his black leather duster flying around him, assuring her that he had always wanted to bite her.
From that point on a connection had been made that nothing could break. Now he was chipless and with a soul. A soft smile touched Willow’s lips as she pulled open the basement door. Willow descended into the dark basement knowing that Spike would be awake and smoking. As she hit the final step, Spike stepped out of the shadows.
“Hello, Red.”
“William,” Willow replied as she stepped onto the basement floor. She offered him a warm smile. She took in the unbuttoned pants and no shirt. The effect was wasted on her, she decided. With his bleached blonde hair and those bright blue eyes, he could make a woman orgasm with just a look.
“Ya know Red, you’ve never explained why you are always calling me William when we’re alone.” Spike told her as he stepped closer to her and blew smoke out of his mouth.
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t”? Willow asked him as she stepped close enough to lay her head on his chest. Willow let the coolness of his skin cool her flesh and calm the voice inside her head. She knew that he would never admit it, but sometimes he missed the simple things like a touch or a hug.
Spike pulled Willow closer and tried to ignore the feelings of desire and protectiveness he always felt around the witch. As much as he loved the Slayer, the emotions that he felt for Willow somehow surpassed even that. When he actually considered it, the feelings Willow stirred up often reminded him of how he felt for Druscilla and Angelus. He shrugged that thought away and tugged Willow towards the bed. He didn’t want to think of things like that. He knew that Willow would sleep with him and after everything he needed that simple human contact.
~Part: 3~
Willow followed Spike willingly, knowing that he was not offering anything sexual. He just wanted that physical contact from another body. She allowed Spike to settle himself onto the cot and pull her in front of him. As Spike urged her onto her back and rested his head over her heart, Willow let one hand comb through his hair. She felt Spike’s unneeded sigh settle deep into her bones and allowed a smile to touch her lips. How many women would give their right arms to be in this vampire’s arms?
He was very handsome and so sexy. There was something about him that spoke of long, hard, hot, sweaty sex. You just knew by looking at him that sex with him would be earth shaking. Willow allowed herself to snuggle closer to him as he slid one leg over both of hers. Even as he settled himself closer to her, she knew that he was waiting for her to explain. They didn’t do this as often as they used to. Back when he was first chipped they had often did this. When everyone else had been gone and they had left her alone with him, he would relax and let himself be William with her.
“I have a problem, William,” Willow finally admitted after a long moment. Upstairs there was the sound of the possible slayers and the rest of the gang. But down here there was only silence and Spike.
“What problem, Willow?” Spike finally asked, knowing that it would never be that easy with Willow. In some ways Willow was the quietest of all the Slayerettes. She would bleed to death before admitting she was injured.
“I think the first is ready for his next move.”
“What gives you that idea?”
“The balance of magic around the hellmouth has shifted and is focusing on something,” Willow explained as her hands ran up and down Spike’s back.
“Any idea where it’s settled?” Spike asked as he listened to her heart beating against his ear. He almost lost himself in the sound, enjoying the feel of her warmth against his coolness. Her blood was rushing through her veins and her smell was one of deep contentment and relaxation.
“I think there’s something coming this way, and no one upstairs was listening to me,” Willow took a deep breath. “Why won’t they listen to me?”
Spike grip tightened around her, trying to offer whatever comfort he could.
“In the beginning, there was just the three of us Scoobies. We all made a contribution and all concerns were listened to.” Willow sighed and went silent.
Spike said nothing; he knew exactly what the gang had been like. There had been no beating them because they made the use of all of their strengths. Now it was as if Buffy was everything, and the rest of the gang was out in the cold. If the Slayer were defeated this time, it would be on her own head and no one else.
“Now it’s like we are nothing. Buffy is training the possible slayers like the council would.” Willow sighed and closed her eyes. “Perhaps it’s for the best, in the end, to separate the Slayer from those who help her.”
Spike pulled Willow a little closer and allowed his own eyes to close. “The Slayer is alive because of her support system. We’ll figure it out Red.”
Willow said nothing and after awhile Spike fell asleep to the sound of her heartbeat and the feel of her hands soothing his back. Willow pulled Spike closer and felt the dark voice in her begin purring at his nearness. She knew that Spike wondered about the feelings that he had for her. Sooner or later Willow was going to have to explain that feeling. Perhaps she would after everything was said and done. A deep contentment was coming from deep inside her so Willow finally let herself fall asleep in Spike’s arms.
~~~*~~~
When Angel awoke again, he was aware of a feeling of deep contentment. As if for the first time, he was at peace with himself. He wondered at the feeling, he was so used to being at war with the demon deep inside of himself. The pain that had shocked him awake this afternoon was a dim memory and of no consequence to him now. He rolled out of bed and headed for the shower. Tonight was a new night and he would make a difference in the world again. There was nothing he could not do.
After a quick shower Angel was headed upstairs to see what was brewing tonight. As he hit the last step, Angel was suddenly hit with overwhelming desire. In a second, Angel was harder than he had been in years. His dark eyes closed in an effort to control it. After a few seconds it passed and Angel was very confused. It was definitely time to talk to Wesley, Angel determined as he ran a dark hand through his hair.
~Part: 4~
When Willow’s eyes opened she was in the master bedroom in a mansion. In the center of the room was a huge four-poster bed draped in red velvet and black satin. There were hundreds of candles spaced throughout the room. Willow took a step forward and her breath caught when what she was wearing slithered against her skin. A glance down showed she was now wearing a skimpy silk nightgown in green. Two pale hands wrapped around her waist and drew her back against a solid chest.
Willow sighed and tilted her back against his shoulder. Her hands folded over his as a cool mouth nipped at her throat. Willow tilted her head to the side to allow him better access. A low moan escaped her throat as a cool mouth began to suck lightly on her throat. She took the hands and brought them to her mouth. Her tongue flicked out and traced all the fingers on both hands before gently sucking the fingers into her mouth. Behind her the figure groaned and his mouth closed over her neck and suckled. He pulled his hands out of her grasp and dropped to her hips to pull her closer against him.
After a moment the hands began a gentle foray over the nightgown. Willow’s eyes closed as the hands closed over her breasts and warmth was polling low in her belly. The mouth was moving over her throat and nipping at random intervals. Her right hand raised and pulled the head closer to her as the hands began to gently pluck at her nipples.
A chuckle escaped the man behind her as he gently turned her in his arms. Willow’s eyes opened slowly as her head was tilted up. Her languorous green eyes met warm dark eyes and a smile formed upon her lips. Her arms rose to curl around his neck and she pulled his mouth to hers. Her lips met his and a growl rumbled from the man’s throat. His hands pulled her closer as his tongue swept past her lips.
For long moments their tongues dueled against each other. Willow tilted her head and pulled him closer to her. His tongue dragged against hers and Willow felt her knees go weak. Her hands clenched in his hair and her mouth clamped down on his tongue and sucked. The effect was immediate as the man dragged her closer and rubbed his erection against her belly. Willow finally dragged her mouth away from his, gasping for breath and arched her back, a low moan escaping her. With a sudden move, the man swept her off her feet and strode to the bed. In seconds Willow was flat on her back with the man hovering over her.
With a smile Willow smoothed a hand against his cheek. “Hello, Angelus.”
“Good Morning Willow,” Angelus greeted her with a warm smile that held a hint of arrogance.
Willow stared up at the man that for almost a year had tormented her and her friends. The face was the same. The cocky grin and dark smoldering eyes were the same to a casual glance. Willow knew all of this and rather than seeing the demon that tormented her she saw the man she had come to love. In his eyes, Willow could see the love and a contentment that went beyond the cockiness and arrogance in those dark eyes. Her hands burrowed through his crisp dark hair.
For a moment she enjoyed that sensation, forgetting the heat that was still pooling in her middle. Willow’s eyes drifted closed as she lost herself in the sensation of his crisp hair tangling in her fingers. She forgot that in the waking world there was danger, she only knew that right now she was safe and loved. When she opened her eyes again, Angelus was looking at her with a peculiar gleam in his.
Angelus stared down at the woman that he had come to love. With her red hair spread over the pillow and her green eyes sparkling up at him, Angelus knew that he would kill for this woman or gladly die for her. He wondered how he could have come to the point in his life, him the Scourge of Europe was in love with a 22-year-old girl. But as Willow wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss, Angelus could not bring himself to care.
With a groan Angelus allowed himself to become lost within Willow. Willow moaned against his mouth as his hands slipped underneath the silk nightgown. Willow’s hands moved down Angelus’ back and clutched at him as his mouth left hers to close around her nipple through the nightgown.
“Please Angelus,” Willow begged as she arched into his mouth.
“Anything, Willow,” Angelus promised as he stripped the nightgown from her body. Willow hands reached out and began to undo the buttons on Angelus’ satin shirt. As Angelus began to move down her body, Willow was pushing the shirt off of his shoulders and running her hands over his bare chest and back. He nibbled his way down her chest and across her stomach. Angelus groaned with desire when her arousal thickened in the air.
Angelus nudged Willow’s legs apart and nipped at the flesh at her inner thigh. His fangs extended and sank into the quivering flesh. Willow’s moans cascaded over Angelus’ ears and sank deep into his bones. For the first time he felt a warmth that went deep into his heart.
“Angelus,” Willow moaned as she pulled him closer and spread her legs farther apart. Angelus accepted the invitation and after carefully licking the twin wounds closed settled between her thighs. His tongue gently lapped at her very essence. Willow arched into the caress and dug her nails into his scalp.
For long moments Angelus continued to torment Willow. His lips and tongue teased and soothed at the same time. In moments Willow was screaming in orgasm and writhing against the sheets. Angelus rose over Willow as her body continued to quiver from her orgasm. With a quick thrust he was deep inside Willow.
Willow arched into the thrust. She shook with the force and wrapped her legs around his hips. Her hips tilted up and Angelus went deeper. He growled low in his throat and her eyes met his.
Willow was not surprised to find the demon staring down at her. His ridges pronounced and his fangs extended. With a smile, Willow tilted her head back and exposed her throat to Angelus. With a purr, Angelus slid his fangs deep into her neck. For an instant Willow wondered if it was possible to combust from pure pleasure. The feeling of Angelus slowly drawing blood out of her body was enough to make her climax. Her body shook around Angelus and she clutched him to her.
Angelus purred low in his throat as Willow’s blood washed down his throat and into his veins. The familiar taste of magic and innocence that signified Willow warmed him. Angelus eyes closed and thrust deeply into her warmth one last time as he climaxed. With the vaguest feeling of regret, Angelus withdrew his fangs from Willow’s neck. Still purring contentedly Angelus licked the puncture marks on her neck. He smiled in satisfaction as Willow sighed with contentment beneath him.
He removed himself from her and rolled to his side. With a swift movement Angelus gathered Willow to him. Her silken limbs tangled with his as she snuggled closer and rested her head over where his heart should be. For a moment he allowed himself to wish he were human. At that moment Angelus would have given anything to give Willow the sun, children and a normal life; a life that didn’t include vampires or the hellmouth. He was interrupted from his thoughts by her voice.
“Angelus, do you ever regret it?” Willow’s voice was small and worried.
“What do you mean, little one?” Angelus tried to meet her eyes but they were closed as her fingers drew circles around his nipples.
“The bargain we made to get Angel out of hell?” Willow refused to look into Angelus’ eyes and find disappointment there.
“What’s this?” Angelus sat up and turned Willow’s face up to his. His dark brown eyes were puzzled. Angelus almost growled when Willow still refused to meet his eyes. “Willow, look at me.” The order was bitten out between gritted teeth. Immediately her eyes opened and the look in them almost brought him to his knees. Tears were shimmering in their depths and there was such a deep pain in them.
“Ah, baby.” Angelus groaned as he tugged her close and wrapped his arms around her. “There is nothing that I regret about you except that I didn’t notice you sooner.” Angelus rested his cheek on her hair and allowed his eyes to drift close. “You’re the only good thing that has come out of this entire experience, Willow. Never doubt that.” Angelus tilted her face up to his and kissed away her tears. “Never doubt that Willow,” he whispered as he claimed her lips in a deep kiss.
Willow lost herself in Angelus’ kiss. He burned away all thought and fears as he urged her head back farther and tangled his tongue with hers. Her hands slipped through his hair before she pressed him back into the sheets. Her entire body once again began to burn as only Angelus could make it. Warmth was pooling low in her abdomen as she pulled away from his lips. Willow smiled as Angelus groaned in protest and then purred as Willow moved her mouth to his neck. He arched his neck as Willow began to suck and nibble on it.
Angelus clutched at the sheets as Willow began to torment him. He was glad that she was out of that melancholy mood. He hated the fact that he could not save her from everything. A moan was ripped out of him as Willow suddenly bit down hard enough on his neck to draw blood. In an instant, Angelus’ fangs descended and he flipped Willow over onto her back.
Willow smiled up at him. A drop of his blood still glistened on her lips. Her bright green eyes were smiling up at him with that hint of darkness that always surprised him. Her thighs parted more and he found himself pressing deeper into the junction between her thighs. Angelus’ unnecessary breath caught in his throat and he was overwhelmed with the surge of his emotions. Willow reached up a hand and brushed Angelus’ cheek. “There’s nothing I regret either.” For a moment passion was suspended as Angelus’ pressed his forehead to hers. There were no sounds but the mingling of their breaths and a deep sense of peace.
Willow was surprised when Angelus’ head suddenly jerked up. A threatening growl rumbled deep in his chest and his demon face was in place. She started to reach for him, only to stop when he spoke. “Danger.”
~~~*~~~
Willow jerked awake in the real world, her eyes as dark as night and her power crackling in the air. With a movement of her hand the shadows standing around her were thrown up against the wall and Willow was on her feet preparing to deal with the interlopers. Willow didn’t fight the dark magic as it rolled through her. She welcomed it and the calmness it brought. Deep within her mind she could still hear Angelus’ growl.
She felt Spike roll to his feet behind her. His growl heightened the feeling of danger that she was struggling with. All of her senses were under full alert and tingling. Spike pressed against her back and she could feel his growl rumbling through her body. His hands clutched at her shoulders as he glared at the people now plastered to the wall in the basement.
Spike almost smiled around his fangs as he stared at the surprised look on all of the slayer wannabes. Willow had never shown any of the new gang her power. And now she was crackling from the power that she was holding at bay. His hands soothed her shoulders as he bent to whisper in her ear.
“Not that I’m not getting a kick out of this luv, but don’t you think you should let them down?”
“Not until they tell me what they are doing down here,” Willow replied coldly as her black eyes took in their expressions. “They weren’t invited and I have no need for children right now.”
Spike actually laughed out loud at the outraged expressions that appeared on all the slayer wannabe’s faces. For the first time since joining this group he felt like a demon. He wrapped his arms around Willow’s waist and pulled her back against him. His nose buried in her red hair as he breathed in her scent. Willow always smelled like vanilla, innocence and the spicy smell of magic. His amused blue eyes remained locked on the girls plastered against the wall. Spike watched their mouths move and yet no sounds emerged. “Red as much as I’m enjoying the show,” he informed her as he nibbled on her ear. “They can’t explain without being able to speak.” Spike stroked Willow’s ear with his tongue, enjoying the way her head tilted to let him.
Willow trailed her fingers up one his arms as her head tilted to allow Spike to reach her ear. Her eyes still swirled black and she knew that her hair was starting to tint black. Willow rested her head against Spike shoulder as his chin rested on hers. Her black eyes roved over the possible slayers as they struggled against the bonds that held them. She could feel her lips twitching with dark amusement at the terrified expressions on their faces. “Why whatever is wrong girls?” Willow asked. “One would think that you were just taught that might doesn’t always work.” Her voice was dark and sadistic. “After all, the rest of us are nothing but a nuisance right?” Her question hung in the air before she waved her hand.
Spike watched as the possible slayers dropped to the floor. The girls lay on the floor stunned and breathless. His fingers drew designs on Red’s stomach as the girls scrambled to their feet. He couldn’t prevent the laughter that echoed through the room as the possible slayers rushed up the steps in an all out panic. “I suppose they decided that they didn’t want to play with us, eh Red?” His head turned towards her neck and he proceeded to nibble.
“I guess they just couldn’t handle being shown that might doesn’t make right,” Willow told him as she arched her neck into his fangs. Her now black hair swirled around her other shoulder as her hand reached up to press his face into her neck. As he licked slowly at the base of her neck, she couldn’t hold back a moan. Her head tilted even more as he continued to trace her collarbone with his tongue.
Spike growled deep in his throat as Willow continued to offer her throat to him. The scent of her arousal was beginning to permeate the air and Spike wanted to do nothing more than to bury his fangs into her throat as he slammed into her. Willow’s magic was still crackling in the air and he turned Willow to face him. His unneeded breath caught in his throat as her black eyes met his. Spike’s face slipped back into the human façade as he met the evil swirling around in her eyes.
When Willow had gone completely evil he hadn’t been here. Spike had never seen this face of the innocent Willow. For the first time, Spike could actually understand why everyone stepped lightly around Willow. With a questioning look in his eyes, he began to lower his head towards her. He almost groaned in satisfaction as her head tilted and her lips parted. Just as their lips were about to meet the basement door was suddenly shoved back and bounced off the wall.
“Willow!” Buffy’s voiced echoed around the basement.
“Yes?” Willow called back unconcernedly as she stepped away from Spike. She turned and faced the blond slayer as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Willow tried to ignore the emptiness that came from inside her at the loss of Spike’s touch.
“What’s going on?” The blond slayer asked suspiciously as her blue eyes went from Willow to Spike.
“The children,” Willow said drolly as she stepped towards Buffy, “surprised me when Spike and I were taking a nap.”
“Yea, Slayer.” Spike stepped around Willow as he lit a cigarette. “Red and I were just trying to take a little nap. Then the kiddies decided they wanted to play pepping tom.” Spike took a deep drag of his cigarette and blew it out. “I should have stayed in my crypt,” Spike mumbled to himself as he reclined against the wall, watching Buffy and Willow face off.
Buffy didn’t take her eyes off of Willow’s black gaze. Her face was firm and without mercy as she slowly moved into a fighting stance. “Still doesn’t explain why you decided to use magic Willow.”
“By the Goddess Buffy,” Willow bit out as she slowly let go of her magic. “I woke up with the sense of lots of eyes watching me.” Willow waved her hand in the air. “We’ve all been jumpy with the first around.”
Buffy sighed and relaxed her stance. With an apologetic smile at Willow and Spike she shrugged her shoulders. The brief smile touched her lips and warmed her bright blue eyes, “I guess the girls were kinda stupid. Nobody should sneak up on a sleeping witch.”
“I won’t apologize though,” Willow told Buffy as she looked towards Spike. She fought back the wave of arousal that hit her as her eyes traced Spike’s naked chest. Willow’s eyes half closed as her green gaze met ice blue and heated.
“I wouldn’t expect you too,” Buffy assured Willow as she turned toward the steps. “I’ll tell the girls that they can’t expect to surprise a witch without consequences. It’s about time they learned that being a slayer is not the most powerful being on this planet,” Buffy’s voice was determined as she headed back upstairs.
“Buffy,” Willow called after her friend without turning to watch her leave.
“Yea, Wills?” Buffy paused at the top of the stairs.
“Please stress to the children that next time I won’t be so nice.”
“Oh, I’ll make sure they understand,” Buffy told her with a chuckle. “In fact,” the slayers voice turned slightly thoughtful. “I think that I might have just come up with a new exercise.”
~~~*~~~
Willow smiled as Buffy left the basement still mumbling about showing the possible slayers that pure strength didn’t always work. You had to hand it to Buffy that she always tried. Perhaps soon Buffy would agree to listen to her again. When the door closed behind the slayer, Willow once again concentrated her attention on the blond vampire lounging against the basement walls. Arousal once again swirled through her as she met that heated blue gaze.
Spike took another drag on the cigarette as Buffy closed the door behind her. Once again he was almost drowning in the emotions that Willow aroused in him. He didn’t know what to make of it anymore. Before today, he would have sworn that there was nothing sexual in his feelings for Willow. And yet, it was all he could do not to throw her on the bed and bury himself deep inside her. The only thing that kept him from doing that was the consequences would be.
“William,” Willow whispered huskily as she stepped towards him.
“Red,” He replied, struggling to keep his voice neutral.
Willow came to a stop at his tone. His voice was empty and withdrawn, reinforcing her inner feeling of emptiness. “I’m sorry, William. Sometimes,” Willow waved her hand in the air, green eyes not looking directly at him. “My dark magic often goes to the extreme. I know that we’ve never crossed the sexual line and your friendship is very important to me. And that is why I am ever so sorry that I have made you uncomfortable and I swear that I will never do something like that again. After all, I’m just Willow and you love Buffy, stupid of me to even think of doing something like this. Trust me, I will never do this again. Word of honor. As long as you still believe in my word. After all I was very, very bad and nobody should trust me.” Willow ran up the stairs as soon as she was finished talking, leaving behind a very confused vampire.
~Part: 5~
“How exactly would you describe what you happened?” Wesley asked as he reached for another book. When Angel had first burst into his office Wesley had been prepared for everything but what had come tumbling out of his mouth. Even now Wesley was finding it had to imagine what exactly was going on.
“Everything is overwhelmed by the feelings I have. Pain in the middle of the day, then complete contentment upon waking until finally overwhelming desire,” Angel looked up from his contemplation of his hands. His dark eyes troubled and begging for a simple explanation.
“I just don’t know,” Wesley told him. “I’ll research, and maybe I’ll even call Miss Rosenberg. After all, we don’t really know much about your recursing and the effects it will have on you both.”
“You think that Willow might be experiencing something similar?” Angel queried anxiously. He had never really noticed the redhead witch while he was in Sunnydale; it had taken him moving away to appreciate what she had done for him.
“I have no clue Angel,” Wesley replied absentmindedly. “I wasn’t there and I never saw the spell. Not to mention all we know is that it works, no one ever looked into it further.” Wesley reached for another book. “Miss Rosenberg might have suffered effects that she never told anyone.”
“We should call right away then,” Angel sputtered as he reached for the telephone.
“No,” Wesley disagreed and smacked Angels’ hand away from the telephone. “We should get more information about where the emotions are coming from before we upset Miss Rosenberg.” Wesley looked at Angel over his glasses and when Angel nodded his agreement went back to his books.
Angel slowly left Wesley to his books. He had never considered the possibility that Willow could be suffering any effects from the spell. When he had first come back, Angel had even been upset with the red haired witch for cursing him and then sending him to hell. It had taken awhile for him to remember that Willow never did anything that would deliberately harm another person and that Buffy had been the one to send him to hell. The thought that Willow was suffering and had been suffering in silence, afraid to approach him or even warn him, had his gut twisting.
Angel made his way to his office, wanting nothing more than to pick up the telephone and call Willow and make sure she was all right. He didn’t know what was going on in Sunnydale right now. His mind had been so caught up in everything else going on here that he hadn’t spared a thought to the hellmouth. His dark brown eyes hardened and a frown touched his lips, Angel would give Wesley until sundown tomorrow before he called. He agreed that there was no reason to upset Willow but neither was it smart to let it go if something was wrong. Angel felt the relief spread through his body as he resolved to call Willow tomorrow and knew that he had made the right decision.
~~~*~~~
Willow made it through the rest of the day somehow. She kept up the self-recriminations about Spike. She should have known that Magic and unfinished sex with Angelus and then standing around Spike was a bad idea. After all, Spike was Angelus’ and as such hers. Not to mention, the man just radiated sex and lust. Her green eyes stared unseeingly outside to the yard. She absently noted and dismissed all the possible slayers exercising in the yard. She knew better than to think she could compete with Buffy, Willow reminded herself as she wrapped her arms around her chest. Hadn’t she learned anything from Angel and how he acted towards her?
The only thing to do was to pretend it didn’t happen. Willow nodded decisively to herself. No one knew her secret. Angel had never reacted to any of the things that her and Angelus did, so there was no reason to think he would start now. Spike had never wanted her; she had just been a willing body, so there shouldn’t be any problem from that corner. Yes, Willow decided with a sigh, it was much better to pretend it didn’t happen.
The deepening darkness jolted Willow out of her thoughts. With a glance at the clock, she realized that it had been hours since she had first slipped into her room. It was amazing that she had been left along for as long as she had been. Willow’s lips tightened. They either didn’t notice or are too afraid to bother her now.
~~~*~~~
The group downstairs was quiet when Willow finally entered the living room. She had changed clothes into a pair of jeans and a comfortable T-shirt. When every eye in the room swung to her and then away, she knew she had been the topic of their conversation. For a second, Willow was tempted to walk away, she really didn’t need everyone nervous simply because she had proven that she was still strong in magic. Instead, she pasted a bright smile on her face and asked, “what’s up guys?”
“Hey, Wills,” Xander called as he entered the living room from the kitchen. He was snacking on a Ho-Ho and Willow had to smile at the image he made. “Want some?” Xander asked as he walked over to her and offered her a bite.
“Thanks Xander,” Willow replied as she took a bite of his Ho-Ho. Her hand remained wrapped around his wrist as his dark eyes smiled down at her. In those dark brown eyes she saw the little boy who had first befriended her, the teenager that had been her crush, and finally the adult that remained her rock. The dancing warmth in his eyes was enough to make her forget, especially when he gently tapped her head with his other hand.
“For you, anything,” Xander assured her. He lost himself in those green eyes. He delighted in seeing the familiar Willow in those emerald green depths. There had been awhile when he had been afraid that he never would again. Xander knew he could have handled anything but losing Willow. As he had told her when he stopped her from destroying the world, there wasn’t anyone in the world he would rather be with in the end.
Willow had been there for all of his milestones. She had been there for all of his firsts. His first F, his first A and everything in between. When he had killed Jesse, he had snuck up to her room and crawled into her arms. She never mentioned his sobbing and begging for forgiveness the next day. Through everything Willow had been his rock, and he delighted in where they were now.
When he had gotten home, Xander had heard the grumblings of the possible slayers and had wanted to shake them. With everyone so on edge, the girls should be thankful that Willow hadn’t incinerated them. He knew he was quite tempted on occasion, especially since they were all about Buffy. Instead he had held his tongue and waited for Willow to make her apperance and now he would deal with everyone else.
“So Wills, I hear you decided to make wall ornaments of our current slayer squad,” Xander teased as he brushed away a speck of cream off her cheek. “Personally, I think that I would have made them a bonfire for sneaking up on me while I was sleeping.” Xander winked at her and was delighted by the smile that lit up her face. “In fact, as of now I am going to move in with you and you can protect me from teenage girls and things that go bump in the night.” Xander stated dramatically.
Willow had to laugh at Xander’s foolishness. At the same time she could help but warm from his sentiment. He was tactfully announcing that he was on her side and she loved him all the more for it. “Of course Xander. It’ll be just like when we were little kids.” Willow agreed with him and laughed up into his face. Her green eyes twinkling merrily into his as she threw her arms around him. “One thing though,” Willow said as she paused thoughtfully, her lips pursed mischievously.
“What?” Xander asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Aren’t you one of those things that go bump in the night?” Willow asked innocently as she stared up at him.
‘Wills, I’m crushed,” Xander stated dramatically as he dipped her over his arms, trying to contain his laughter.
Willow laughed and clutched at Xander as he dipped her low enough that her hair brushed the floor. His dark brown eyes laughed into hers and she felt everything realign itself again. It didn’t matter what the rest of the gang thought, it was enough that Xander believe
d in her and trusted her. She drew his face down to hers and pressed a kiss against his lips. For a long moment, neither of them moved and then with a smile Xander drew back, and the rest of the gang began talking around them.
“Okay guys, this is what we are going to do,” Buffy announced as she moved towards the front door. “Willow is going to demonstrate how they patrolled and controlled the vampire population without a Slayer.” Buffy’s blond hair was pulled up onto her head and her dark clothes clung possessively to her figure. She looked like the oldest slayer alive and the slayer wannabe’s gazes followed her.
“Why would we need to know?” One of the girls asked as she tossed her dark hair over her shoulder.
“Because,” Buffy explained as she moved closer and her voice dropped to a whisper, ”Willow can beat me hands down whenever she uses magic. She’s done it before and she can do it again.” Her arms crossed in front of her and she moved her blue gaze to meet each of the girls’ gazes. “And the people that you have ignored and ridiculed, have fought the darkness without any training. It’s time that you learned from them.”
Her gaze moved to Willow and a smile touched her lips at the sight of her two friends still wrapped around each other. Willow and Xander’s arms were still around each other’s waist and Willow’s head was tipped onto Xander’s shoulders, with her redhair spilling down his arm. When Willow’s green gaze met Buffy’s blue, the two shared a smile and Willow nodded in agreement of Buffy’s plan.
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