Authors: Amy Mina, LightLes
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Warner Bros., etc. I don't own them. I am not making any money off this story. "Mirror Images" was started by the lovely and talented Amy Mina. However, she has allowed me to take her premise and run with it. I hope I do her proud.
Summery: Angel soul is inhabiting Willow's body. (For those of you who are fans of "Xena: Warrior Princess" think about the way that Xena's soul was in Autolycus' body).
< > indicates thoughts
* * indicates remarks made by either Willow or Angel that the others cannot hear..
Spoilers: Up to and including "Becoming."
Archivists Note: Part one is written by Amy Mina. Parts two to six are written by LightLes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Willow sighed at Xander in exasperation. Before she could retaliate, Xander ran out of her yard and around the corner. Cordelia watched her boyfriend run and rolled her eyes. Willow looked at her shirt and screamed in anger. "Xander! Xander, you are going to die!" Picking up the water hose, she began to wash the mud from her shirt, then realized it was in her hair as well. Shouting a scream of frustration out, she threw the hose into the side of the house.
"Geez, Will, why don't you go inside and get cleaned up," said Cordelia. "I'll clean this mess."
Willow gave Cordelia a grateful look. Looking around the backyard, she saw the broken water balloon pieces, a torn down volleyball net, and a bucket, which has been filled with mud a few minutes earlier. Willow knew her parent would be very upset if they came home to this mess. < Reminder: Kill Xander. > "Thanks, Cordelia," she said. "I'll be out to help as soon as I look presentable."
"No problem. Then after we finish cleaning, we are going to look for my boyfriend and teach him a lesson."
Willow gave Cordelia a devilish grin. "Sounds good." She walked into her house, careful not to mark any of the walls with the mud. Once reaching her room, she used her index finger to open her closet and get out some new shorts and a shirt. Almost running to the bathroom, she quickly shut the door behind her and turned on the shower. Waiting for it to warm up, her thought drifted to Buffy and Angel. Buffy had been gone for a little over a year, and there had been no sign of her or him. Willow had invited the last three slayerettes other than herself over to relax and spent time together. Oz hadn't been able to make it, but the other two had come. No matter how hard she tried though, she couldn't forget about Angel or Buffy, not even for a moment.
Willow massaged her temples, and moved to check the water. Liking the temperature, she began to get ready to get in, when a sudden dizzy spell hit her. Grabbing on to the wall, she bent her head down till it was over, and she was able to get into the tub without falling. Finishing the shower as quickly as possible, she got out and got dressed. Brushing her now short hair, she checked her appearance in the mirror to make sure it was okay. Satisfied with what she found, she began to turn away when she thought she saw a glimpse of Angel in the mirror. Doing a double take, she stared at the mirror. When she saw nothing there, she shook her head, and let out a soft chuckle.
Heading down to the backyard, Willow was surprised to see that everything was already cleaned up. Cordelia was sitting on the back porch swing relaxing. Willow walked out and sat next to her in surprise. "Wow, Cordelia, you cleaned that fast."
Cordelia smiled and looked at Willow. "Thanks. Feel better now?"
"Very much so. I think we need to think of something good to get back at Xander."
"I agree. No broom closet make out sessions with him any time soon." Willow and Cordelia both broke out into laughter.
"He'll just die!" said Willow, laughing again. "How will he survive without that?"
"I don't know," replied Cordelia. "Seriously, we need to think of something to do to him."
Willow thought for a minute before jumping up from the swinging and running back into her house. "I've got it!"
********************
Willow grabbed a tape and popped it in the VCR. Cordelia sat on the couch and waited for Willow to tell her what she wanted to do. Pushing play, Willow began to explain. "A few days ago," began Willow, "there was this awesome episode of Xena on. It had to do about Xena dying and trying to come back. In order to do this, she had to take over the body of the 'King of Thieves' and used it to get her body back."
"So what are you saying we should do?" questioned Cordelia.
"Something like that. No exactly like that, but what I was thinking was we're still not sure what happened to Buffy and Angel. What if I pretended that Angel was inside of me."
"What?"
"I could tell Xander that when I preformed the spell, Angel's soul never made it to him, and stopped in my body."
Cordelia appeared to be thinking for a moment. "That would really freak him out."
"I think so," replied Willow. "I think we should do that."
Cordelia slowly nodded her assent; not totally sure if it was a good idea to do this. Willow on the other hand, was all for it. "Okay, good," replied Willow. "We can call Xander over in a few days. Tell him there is something wrong with me, and he has to see it for himself."
"Do you think this will work?" replied Cordelia.
"It sure will, no problem."
****************
Willow closed the door to her room, and walked over to her bed. Lying down, she thought over everything that had happened that afternoon. < What was I thinking? That is so disrespectful to Buffy and Angel. It's just WRONG to even consider that! > Willow groaned and put her hand over her eyes. Feeling the tears began to slip through her fingers, she turned on her side, and her body began to shake with sobs.
*Why are you crying, Little One?*
Willow abruptly stopped her sobbing and looked around the room. Seeing no one there, she slowly got up and walked over to her window. Seeing no one there either, she went back to her bed, she wondered if she had just heard things. Taking a few tissues, she wiped her eyes. < Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts..>
*Willow, I need your help*
Willow stiffened and looked around her room again. "Where are you?" she asked out loud. When no answer came, she began to think she was crazy again.
*I'm inside you,* came the voice.
"This is nuts," Willow said out loud. "There is no one inside me."
*I am.*
"Stop it," she screamed, putting her head between her hands and groaning.
*Willow, calm down.*
"Then leave me alone."
*Willow, it's me, Angel. I'm inside you.*
Willow's head shot up, and she began to shake it back and forth. "No, you're lying."
*No, I'm not. Look at you mirror.*
Willow jumped up from her bed and grabbed her hand mirror. Her face never appeared reflecting back at her. Instead she saw Angel's face. "No, no, no, no. This isn't happening."
"Yes it is," the face responded. Willow took her hand and slowly ran it over the mirror, taking in Angel's presence. She covered her mouth with her hand and began to cry. Angel's face showed his confusion, and that he wasn't sure how to react. "Willow, don't cry, please."
"I'm sorry," she replied. "I just never thought I would see you again, in person, or at all."
"I know, and I never thought I would be here again."
Willow's confusion was apparent on her face, and she quickly pulled herself together. "How did you get inside of me?"
"If I knew, I would probably already be gone."
Willow pointed to the mirror. "Where's your body?" she asked.
"In hell, with the demon," he replied, giving a small smile. "Don't ask me why I got out, I don't know, but I'm trying to help to make up for what I have done."
Willow felt her face turn red, her thoughts about Angelus apparent in her mind. "Yes Willow," replied Angel. "I can read everything you think."
"I'm sorry," apologized Willow softly, feeling guilt for her thoughts.
"Don't be," said Angel. "You have the right to think that. I feel the same way."
Willow looked at him in the mirror, and could still see the same guilt ridden Angel that she had always known. "We need to get you your body back."
"You could just look for a way to get me to leave."
"No," she said. "How can I bring you back? Where is Acathala?"
"You might get hurt, I don't know if I could stand that."
"I'm not changing my mind. Where is he, I might be able to save you."
"The demon-"
"I don't care about the demon!" screamed Willow. "I miss you, we all miss you."
Angel silently looked at her in shock. He thought for a minute before giving her a small smile. "Okay, I'll help you. Under one condition."
"What?" asked Willow.
"I get to take over your body when you tell Xander that I am inside you." Willow put on a big grin.
"I like that idea."
Willow stood awkwardly in her room for a minute. "What's wrong?" asked Angel.
"I need to go to the bathroom," she replied, her face turning bright red. Angel gave a little laugh, and she ran out of her room to go use the restroom.
**********************
Willow dressed quickly and got ready to run out of the house to go to the Bronze. She was about the leave, when Angel gave her a small "mental tap." "What?" she asked out loud, forgetting that he wouldn't answer verbally.
*Stakes, holy water, crosses…you need to make sure that you are protected, remember?*
"Oh, yeah," she answered, he face blushing. She ran back up to her room, talking out loud to Angel as she ran up the stairs. "Umm, Angel, you won't take over my body without my permission, will you?"
*Of course not,* he answered.
"Okay," she replied. "Just making sure."
*Don't worry.*
"Easy for you to say," she said, grabbing her supplies. "You don't have someone in your body that can read your every thought and take over your body." When she didn't get an answer, she knew he was acting his guilty part again trying to give her some room. She rolled her eyes, she was starting to get used to the fact that he was in her. Closing the door behind her as she left her house, she walked to the Bronze. Arriving safely, she walked over to the table that she always sat at right near the foot of the stage. Oz sat there waiting for her.
"Hey, baby," he said, greeting her. She gave him a kiss before sitting down.
"How are you?" she asked, holding his hand tightly.
"Better now that you're here," he replied, kissing her hand. "I heard that you and Xander got into a mud war today."
"No," replied Willow. "I was just the innocent bystander. He was covering me in mud." < And then later I found out that Angel was inside me…this has been a very interesting day overall. >
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it. I had to go see my cousin. He is having trouble with the werewolf thing and needed some heavy duty chains and lessons on how to lock himself up."
*Oz has a werewolf cousin?*
< No, he is a werewolf, > thought Willow.
*What?*
< You didn't know? >
*I had no idea,* he replied
"Willow?" asked Oz. He snapped out of her private conversation with Angel and looked at him innocently.
"Yes?"
"Are you okay?" he asked concerned.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
He shrugged slightly. "You just don't seem like you're really here."
< Angel, I want to tell him. >
*It's up to you, I'm not going to stop you.*
Willow smiled and tried to reassure him. "Don't worry, I'm fine. Just a little tired."
His smile showed his concern. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Oz," she said leaning forward. "I'm fine, really. Now, you have a gig to play tonight. Go play and quit worrying about me."
"Okay, babe." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "If anything is wrong, make sure you tell me."
Willow smiled and nodded. She began to feel guilt for not telling him but pushed it away. Watching as her boyfriend played on stage, her pride for him surfaced.
*They call this music?* Angel asked. Willow pulled a small hand mirror out of the pocket in her pants. She saw Angel's face with a small smile stare back at her.
"I like it," she said defensively. Angel's smile grew, and Willow realized that he was teasing her. She smiled back, enjoying that Angel wasn't brooding as much as used to. "Getting rid of the brooding figure?" she asked, just as teasingly.
"Shhh," said Angel. "Don't want to ruin my image."
"How are you doing in there?" Willow asked.
He shrugged. "Fine. Better than having to drink blood all of the time. Forgot how good food used to taste to humans."
"I guess it would taste better than blood," replied Willow.
"It should, Will, unless your tastes have changed," came Xander's voice from behind her. Willow turned around to see Xander and Cordelia staring at her in confusion. She put the mirror away and grinned at them.
"Hey guys, what's up?"
"Nothing much," replied Xander. "Listen, Willow, about this afternoon-"
"Don't worry about it," replied Willow. "It's forgotten."
Xander gave her a smile. "Thanks Will. Can I get either of you a drink?" he asked the two ladies.
"Nothing, thanks," said Willow.
"Cappuccino," said Cordelia. "No fat, vanilla, extra foam." She gave Xander a full grin, and watched him walk away. Cordelia turned to Willow with worried eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Fine," replied Willow. "Just beginning our plan," she lied. Cordelia gave he head a small nod.
"Just making sure," she replied. Willow smiled at her and jumped up from her seat.
"Listen, I have to go do something. I'll see you later, okay? Tell Xander I said goodbye."
"Be careful," replied Cordelia, showing concern about the vampire population. Willow smiled.
"Don't worry, I'll see you guys later." She quickly walked from the Bronze. Once she was outside, she tried to think, but felt Angel's questions arise. Taking out the mirror, she looked at him and waited for him to ask.
"What are you doing?" he asked. "Why didn't you stay longer?"
"I have work to do," she replied. "We have to get you your body back, and then both of us need to go find Buffy."
"Where are you going?"
"To the abandoned mansion. That's where Acathala should still be."
"I would prefer if you did this during the day," said Angel. "You never know what could show up at night."
"I'll be careful," she replied. She put the mirror away and concentrated on getting to her destination. Deciding to take a shortcut through the cemetery, she kept her eyes opened for signs of the undead. Seeing the new slayer patrolling, she felt safer and kept walking. On the south end of the cemetery, she heard someone behind her. Willow quickly spun around and saw a vampire heading towards her. "Oh, shoot."
Angel could clearly feel Willow's fear when the vampire approached. He watched as Willow gripped her cross and stake tightly. When he saw two other vampires behind the first one, he knew Willow wouldn't be able to fight them off.
"Angel, what should I do?" she asked out loud.
*Hold on,* he answered. Angel moved out of the portion of her mind that he spent most of his time in and took over her body. "I'm sorry Willow," he said out loud, pushing her into the part of her mind he usually vacated. The vampires turned to growl at him, and he growled right back. "You want to fight?" he asked them, taking a firmer hold on the stake.
"No," said one, "We want a dinner."
"Come and get it," replied Angel arrogantly. One of the vampires came charging at him, and he swung out Willow's fist to knock him across the jaw. The vampire fell back surprised that this young girl was fighting and beating him.
"Slayer," the vampire growled. Angel stared back in surprise. < Slayer? >
*Angel!! What are you doing? I'm no slayer!*
"Calm down, Willow," he whispered. Turning his attention back to the vampires, he got used to the difference in Willow's body and his own. It didn't take long to get rid of the vampires, and Angel grinned in relief once it was all over.
*Angel!!*
Angel sighed and released control over her body. Willow felt like she was flying on a roller coaster and was immediately back in control of her body. She gasped in surprise and fell to the ground. "Angel! What happened?"
*I took over your body,* he replied, like it was common sense.
"No duh," she replied. She put her hand against her forehead. "I feel like I have a hangover," she groaned. Angel didn't comment, and she was very grateful for that. Willow once again headed towards the factory where Acathala was located. It took a while for her to get there, but once she did, she pushed the hinges on the door open.
Willow took in her surroundings. She could see a garden in the building and many different rooms branching off the main one. With the stones as the wall and the elegant steps, the place was beautiful. Looking at the architecture of the building, she slowly roamed around. Walking into one of the rooms, she saw it.
Willow took a hard look at Acathala. This was what had sent Angel to hell, and torn her friend's heart to pieces. She took her fist and pounded it on the stone. It seemed nothing more than a piece of cement to her. But she knew it was more, much more than that. It was what had destroyed the "normal life" they had attained on the hellmouth. Becoming so angry at the statue it was hard for her to see straight, she let out a loud cry. Swing her arm, she hit it with all of her strength behind it.
"OWWW!!"
*What are you trying to do?*
Willow took a deep breath and held her sore arm with her other hand. "Trying to see how I can break my arm quicker. Pounding it against stone or breaking it over my knee."
*Take a deep breath.*
"I did that," she replied. She took another deep breath and rubbed her arm. "Okay, I have to figure out how to get your body out of hell. If I just grab this sword-" She stared at a sword now laying on the ground.
*DON'T TOUCH THE SWORD!!*
"Calm down, I'm just going to hold it." Willow put both hands on the end of the sword and picked it off of the ground. "Just a sword," she murmured to herself. < Oh, well, can't hurt to take it with me. > Willow left the house with the sword and went to the library. Finding it empty, she quickly opened some books to see if they talked about Acathala.
"What are you doing?"
Willow spun around to face the person behind her. Principal Synder stood watching her. "Just what do you think you are doing here?" he asked again.
Willow panicked for a few seconds before forming an answer. "I was just looking up a few things for a school project."
"Really?" asked Snyder, a surprised tone to his voice.
"Yeah, really," she replied. "Were learning about, umm, frogs."
Snyder shook his head. "Miss Rosenburg, I'm disappointed in you. You are graduating in a week, you no longer have school. I thought Buffy would teach you a few better excuses that that."
Willow stared at the man in disbelief, which turned to anger at the negative comments about her friend. "Fine," she replied icily. "Do whatever it is you think you need to do cause I am sick of the crap we have had to take from you." Willow's eyes turned dark as the rage over took her. "You made our lives a living hell just to survive, so Buffy couldn't do her job like anything other chosen one! Then, you expel her so she leaves." Willow continued to march toward him and he kept stepping back. "Do you have any idea how much I want to kill you!"
*Hey Willow, down girl.* Angel was enjoying this performance, but knew that it was just going to get her into more trouble, and he was right.
"Just who do you think you are to talk to me like that?" Principal Snyder retaliated. "That's it, you are expelled."
"You can't so that!" replied Willow. "That's not legal."
"I just did, didn't I?"
"Well, you're a filthily…" Willow paused trying to think of an appropriate word to describe the repulsive principal. "Well, I can't think of anything right now, but I feel better and now that I am expelled, you can't tell me was to do. I have a friend to save, so get out of my way." Willow picked up the few books she was looking through and ran back to her house. Once she was safe inside her room, she got ready for bed. Turning out the lights, she got her first good night's rest in a long time.
**************
"Cordy, I swear, there's something wrong with her!"
"Go to bed, Xander."
"I can't. What if she's sick? What if she's mad?" Xander paused for a minute. "What if she's possessed? We live on the Hellmouth, that can happen you know."
Cordy groaned into the phone. Willow's idea was already working, and he had only seen her for five minutes. "Go to bed, Xander. It's two in the morning."
"I think we need to call Giles."
"That's it," said Cordelia. "I can't take this anymore. I'm going to bed. There's nothing wrong with Willow, you're just paranoid. Now, either you can go to sleep or continue to worry, but I will see you tomorrow." Cordelia hung up the phone and laid back down on her bed.
***************
"Come one slayer," the vampire shouted at Buffy. "Give it to me." Buffy raised her eyebrows as well as her stake.
"You really want to die like this?" she questioned. "Walking into the sunlight might be less painful and quicker."
"You don't scare me," replied the vampire. "You're only a shell of what you used to be. Weak, thin, scared, you aren't good enough to be called a slayer anymore." Buffy stood still for a minute, thinking about what the vampire was saying. She knew it wasn't all true, she had her own apartment, even getting enough aid from the government to attend college. She was making a life for herself, and was even engaged to a young man. She glared at the vampire and tried to recover some of her wit that she was so famous for.
"Liar, Liar, pants on fire!" she taunted. Giving the vampire a look that she wished would burn threw him, she changed the hold on her stake. "You want me, come get me." The vampire came racing towards her, but didn't last long. Within a few minutes, he was dust. She waved her hand in front of her face and smiled. < One more down, too many to go. > Buffy walked back to her apartment quietly, he head filled with images of her fiance, Darien. She loved him more than she had ever loved anyone, even Angel. Just thinking about him brought a cloud of depression over her. The lost love of a first love hurt. Leaving all of her friends behind hadn't made it any easier. < I could have died tonight and they would never know what had happened to me! >
Unlocking the door to her apartment, Buffy found a note on the floor that looked like it had been slipped under it. Buffy smiled when she saw it was from Darien, asking her to call him when she got in from hunting. Darien had heard about vampires since he was a young child, his grandfather having been a former watcher. Meeting him had been no mistake, and she was grateful for it.
"Hello?" Buffy smiled at Darien's tired voice.
"Hey," she replied. "Got your message."
"Just wanted to make sure you were doing okay," he replied. "I worry about you alone and hunting all of the time."
"You shouldn't," she replied, walking into her kitchen. "I'll be fine."
"I want to hunt with you," he replied.
Buffy shook her head. "No way, that's a no-no."
"If you say so."
"I do." Buffy took a deep breath. "Darien, I have a question."
"Shoot."
"Okay. Um, could I invite my friends and my mom from Sunnydale to the wedding?"
Hearing silence on the other end, she began to worry that he would be offended. "Darien?"
"I'm surprised you even bothered to ask," he answered. "You can invite anyone you want, and I would love to meet them. I think you should call them and see if they can come."
"Do you think a months notice is enough?"
"Plenty."
I should let you go. You have an early day tomorrow. I don't have classes till ten."
"I'll talk to you tomorrow then. I love you, Buffy. Don't ever forget that."
"I know, I love you too. Sleep tight."
Buffy hung up the phone and slowly got ready for bed, dreaming of Darien, her friends from Sunnydale, and how they would react to her call inviting them to the wedding tomorrow.
End Part 1
Willow had finally gone back to sleep, leaving Angel in silence. He was still quite shaken by this latest turn of events. He hadn't intended to end up inside Willow's head <Although if I had to be in someone's head, I can't think of anyone better than Willow Rosenberg> he mused. She was definitely the smartest person he knew and if anyone could figure out how to find Buffy and get him back into his body, she could.
Meanwhile, Angel found himself inside one of the most fascinating minds he had ever known. Angel....well, his soul anyway....was standing in the center of what appeared to be a vast hall. He knew that this was only the image he was projecting but it seemed appropriate. He was surrounded by bright, shining globes that floated in the air. He gingerly touched one and gasped as the ball flattened to form a screen. From the images and sounds he saw and heard, Angel quickly deduced that this was one of Willow's memories. He saw Willow, although it was obvious that this memory was several years old. Her hair was still long and her clothes were loose and plain. She was sitting at a table with Xander and a boy she called ‘Jessie.' Angel's attention was suddenly taken by the appearance of the petite blonde who walked up and asked if she could sit down.....*Buffy*. His heart hurt at how young and innocent she looked.....indeed, how innocent they all looked. <This must be Willow's memory of the first time she met Buffy.> he realized. He could feel her surprise and joy at making this new friend and watched the memory several times.
Angel spent some time randomly touching globes, viewing Willow's memories. He didn't see it as an invasion of her privacy–after all, he couldn't turn around without bumping into one. He watched her memory of their first meeting and the time she had bawled him out for not taking Buffy out for coffee. He chuckled, finally realizing what she had been talking about. He watched her interact with her parents and Xander, and witnessed the famous "Barbie" incident. He got a good idea about how she felt about the people in her life. In his life....and death....Angel had never met anyone with the capacity for love and forgiveness to match Willow Rosenberg's.
Finally, he came to a group of globes that were separate from the others. These didn't glow, and in fact seemed to be sucking light from the vicinity. He touched one, and was immediately overwhelmed by fear and pain. The screen before him showed Willow, looking absolutely terrified. A hand was wrapped around her neck, and at first Angel couldn't see who the hand belonged to. Then the screen widened and he was sickened to see himself holding Willow captive. He could feel the pressure of his hand squeezing the breath out of her, could hear her strangled sobs, and the voices of the others as they called out to her to hang out and begged him to let her go.
He guardedly touched another globe and saw a heartbreaking scene. Some boy he didn't recognize was telling Willow that he had found someone else, but that he still wanted to be her friend. She was crying as he walked away... Angel backed away from the horrible memory, then spun as he bumped into another one. He saw Willow and the others in the library. Willow was holding a ball that appeared to be made of glass or crystal...<The Orb of Thessaly> he realized with a shock. <This must be Willow's memory of restoring my soul....He watched as Willow, Giles, Xander, Kendra, Cordelia, and a boy he didn't recognize gathered around the table. The incantation had barely started when Dru and her friends burst through the doors. He watched as Willow ran towards the stacks, heard the snap of Xander's arm (though, try as he might, he really couldn't feel all that sorry for the kid) and felt Willow's horror as the bookcase came towards her. He heard her scream, but it took a moment to realize that it was the real Willow, the here-and-now Willow who was making the noise.
*What is it, Willow?* he asked, worried that something might have come into her bedroom.....
"Sorry." she gasped. "I was having the most horrible dream...."
*About what?*
"It was so weird. One minute I was having happy dreams about the time I met Buffy, or the first time I remembered Cordy actually being nice to me....."
Realization dawned on Angel. *But then you started having nightmares about all the bad stuff that's happened to you.*
"Yeah," she said, mystified. "How did you.....?"
*I'm sorry, Willow.* he admitted sheepishly. *I was sort of mucking around in your memories. I didn't realize that you would see them too.*
"Oh!" She was silent for a minute. "Well, can you restrain yourself long enough for me to get back to sleep?" He was amazed that there was no anger in her voice. In fact, she seemed to be slightly amused.
*Absolutely.* he promised. *Good night.*
"Good night." Slowly she drifted back to sleep and Angel spent the rest of the night exploring the other facets of Willow's mind, being careful not to touch anything. He found her center knowledge which, ironically, was represented as a huge computer and began to look at all the things Willow had learned in her 18 years of life.
****
Willow approached the school building, still trying to decide what to do.
"Angel," she said softly. "I think we should tell them the truth."
*You're probably right.* he sighed. *I did kind of want to see the look on Xander's face when you sprung your little 'joke' on him, though.*
Willow giggled. "Think of the look on his face when he finds out that I'm not joking...that you really are inside of me."
*Good point.* he laughed. He then noticed that the yard was empty and that there was no sound other than her voice and the occasional car. *Where is everybody?*
"It's summer, silly. No school."
*Then what are we doing here?*
"Giles works here, remember? I....I mean, we're going to talk to him." She could feel dread creep over Angel. "Don't worry." she said, firmly. "He won't do anything to you."
*He has the right, you know....* Angel replied. Willow hesitated before answering.
"Yes, but I think he understands that Angel and Angelus aren't the same person. It may be hard for him at first, but I believe he'll get over his anger and hurt."
*I hope you're right.* he sighed. *Let's get this over with.*
******
"Giles?" The Watcher jumped when he heard the soft voice.
"Willow! You startled me. You're early. I didn't think that we were supposed to...." He saw the look on her face and knew that something was very wrong. "What happened?"
"Uh....this is going to be kind of hard to explain." She looked over his shoulder and an idea came to her. "Come over here. I'll show you." She walked to his office windows and, curious, he followed.
"What is it?"
"Just stand behind me and watch." Then she said something extremely odd. "Show your face." At first, all Giles could see was her reflection in the glass. Suddenly, it changed. He was no longer staring at an image of Willow, he was looking into the face of a dead man.
"Angel?" he gasped. The reflection switched back to that of the red-headed hacker.
"Yeah." she sighed. "I'll give you three guesses as to where his soul ended up and the first two don't count."
"Are you trying to tell me that Angel's soul is in your body?" Giles was aghast at the notion.
"So it would seem."
"But how....?"
"I haven't got the vaguest idea. The important thing is that he knows where Buffy is and how we can get her back." Giles sat down heavily.
"I don't believe this...." he muttered.
"Neither did I, at first." she said, sitting down next to him. "Especially since I came up with this idea to tell Xander that Angel was in my body....as a joke."
*Uh, Will...that was actually my idea.*
"Oh. Well you could have said that sooner." Giles stared at Willow as she began to talk to herself.
*It didn't seem important.* Angel said sheepishly.
"Well, you're going to have to be the one to explain to Cordelia that this is serious." she retorted, then saw the way Giles was looking at her. "Sorry. Giles, I'm not crazy, I'm not hearing voices, I'm not under any sort of spell."
"There has to be some explanation." the librarian practically shouted. "What if it's one of Angelus' tricks?"
"Angelus is in Hell." Willow quietly reminded him. "He's got Angel's body and we have to get that out."
"No!" Giles spat. "Getting Buffy back is one thing, but I will not be a party to bringing that monster back from Hell...."
*Let me talk to him.*
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!" *Yes!* Both Giles and Angel spoke at the same time. Willow sighed. This could get complicated.....
"Giles, that last remark was directed at Angel. He wants to talk to you." Willow closed her eyes, then opened them again. Giles couldn't have said what was different about her, but he knew that he was no longer talking to the girl that he had known for the past four years. Her face was the same, but she sat a bit straighter, and had uncrossed her legs. She leaned forward in a very mannish fashion and began to speak. "Rupert, it's me. Angel." It was Willow's voice, yet it too was different.
"My God....."
"Listen to me, Rupert. I know that you don't trust me and frankly, I don't blame you. If I were in your position, I'd be skeptical too."
"Well, you're not in my position are you?"
"True. I know that you'd like nothing better than for me to go away forever. But I can't do that until we find Buffy and I get my body back."
"Why not?"
"I don't know how I was sent back to Earth, or how I ended up in Willow's body. More importantly, I don't know how to get out. What I do know is why I came back. I've been sent to bring Buffy back to the Hellmouth where she is needed and wanted. I'm the only link you have to her and the only way to get me out of Willow's head is to find my body and bring it back."
"Where is Buffy?" Giles asked, still not ready to trust his former ally.
"Cedarville, Ohio."
"All right, then. I'll go fetch her while you and the others try to solve this....soul-swapping problem."
"It's not going to be that easy, Rupert." Angel had been thinking over his promise to let Willow get his body out of Hell before going to find Buffy, and had realized that there was some merit to her plan.
"Why not?" If there was one thing Rupert Giles hated, it was being contradicted.
"Buffy left because of her guilt over sending me to Hell. She tried to escape her life as the Slayer and has now gotten herself involved in a.....situation that is rather sticky. The only way to get her out is to convince her that I am alive and well. Seeing me is probably the only thing that will do that, don't you think?"
Giles refused to agree with vampire, even though he knew that Angel was probably right. "What situation has Buffy gotten herself into?"
"It's complicated.....I think you'd better see it for yourself." Giles knew Angel well enough to know that the vampire wasn't going to volunteer any more information.
"All right then." he sighed. "I guess we have to do things your way, for now. But listen to me and listen well. You do anything to hurt Willow or anyone else and I swear I will go to Hell, find your body and beat the bloody shit out of it. Do I make myself clear?"
"Uh, Giles?" Both Giles and Angel/Willow started at the sound of Xander's voice. "Who are you talking about?"
*Goody, goody, goody! Payback time!* Angel smirked at Willow's comment.
"Harris." Willow/Angel said, menace practically dripping from her/his voice.
"Uh....hello, Willow." Xander didn't particularly like his best friend's tone. "You're still mad about the mud, aren't you?"
"Oh this is about much more than the mud, Harris." Willow/Angel bared her/his teeth in a feral smile. Cordelia stifled a giggle <Man, Willow is really playing this to the hilt, isn't she?> the brunette thought.
"What's going on, Will?" Xander was visibly nervous now.
"Perhaps I should explain...." Giles began, but Willow/Angel cut him off.
"Why don't you let me handle it, Rupert? Harris and I have a few things to settle."
"Since when did you start calling me Harris?" Xander was thoroughly confused now "Or calling him Rupert?"
"Right about the same time you started calling me ‘Dead Boy.'"
"But I never called you ‘Dead Boy'" Xander protested. "That was a name reserved for Angel....Oh my God." His eyes widened in shock. "What have you done to Willow?"
"Relax, Harris. Willow's fine. I'm just sort of...sharing space....with her for a while." Cordelia couldn't help it, she laughed.
"What's so funny?" Xander turned to her.
"Sorry Xander. Sorry, Will. I couldn't help it. It's a joke, Xander. Willow and I came up with it to get back at you for yesterday."
"Sorry, Cordy. This is no joke." Willow/Angel turned her/his gaze on the girl. She was immediately struck by the difference in Willow's bearing and speech.
"But....it has to be. This is a joke, isn't it Willow?"
"No."
"Prove it." Xander spoke with false bravado. "Tell me one of Angel's secrets--something that Willow wouldn't know."
"All right." Willow/Angel went into full intimidation mode as she/he stood up and walked over to the boy. Even though Willow was shorter than him, Xander got the distinct feeling that she was looming over him. "You want a secret? I'll give you secrets. I was there when you saw Buffy outside the mansion right before that final fight." Xander scoffed. "You came to deliver a message from Willow. What was the message, Will?"
*I told him to tell Buffy that I was gonna try the curse again.....* Willow was totally mystified.
"You told Buffy that Willow wanted her to kick my ass. Isn't that right, Harris?" Xander blanched and Willow/Angel suddenly let out a shriek.
"You WHAT?" Willow was back and she was furious. She grabbed Xander's shirt and shoved him against a wall. "You didn't give her the message? How could you, you jerk!" Cordelia and Giles were forced to physically separate them.
"We don't have time for this!" the librarian barked. "Xander, Cordelia....Angel knows where Buffy is. He says that she's got herself in a bit of trouble and that the only thing that will help is if we get his body out of Hell and put his soul back in it. That is our priority right now. Are we all agreed."
"Yes." Willow said reluctantly.
"Yeah." the others agreed.
"I still don't like this." Xander said.
"Neither do I." Giles sighed. "But we don't seem to have any alternatives."
"Uh, could I ask a favor?" They all turned to stare at Willow. "While we're looking for ways to get Angel's body back, could we also look for ways to uh....screen some stuff from his soul? Right now, he sees everything I see, hears everything I hear, knows everything I'm thinking.... Sorry, Angel, but I'm not getting in the shower until I'm sure you can't see anything."
*Aw, come on!*
"No! Get your mind out of the gutter." They both laughed as she headed towards the stacks oblivious to the stares of her friends.
End Part 2
Willow sighed and closed the book.
*No luck, huh?*
"No. There are plenty of ways to open a portal to Hell–in fact, there are so many, it's scary–but there's no way to locate a specific body and pull it out." It had been three days since Angel had shown up in Willow's head and she was incredibly frustrated.
"Not a problem." Xander quipped. "We'll just open the door to Hell, chuck Angel's soul in, close the gate, and go for pizza." Willow gave him a withering look.
*Funny man.* Angel growled and Willow felt his surge of anger.
"Cool it." she ordered both of them.
*Sorry.* Angel could feel the tension radiating throughout her body and knew that getting irritated with Xander would only make things worse.
"I still think we should go with the ‘Eye' spell." Willow said to no one in particular.
"I'm beginning to agree with you." Giles put down his book and removed his glasses to rub his eyes. "If we knew where Angel's body was, it would make it that much easier to open the portal at the right place."
"What's the big deal?" Cordelia asked. "I mean, why is it so important that we open the portal at exactly the right place?"
"Cordy, when we open the gate, whatever is on the other side is gonna be able to come through." Xander explained. "If it's not Angelus....."
"Oh." Cordelia's face showed that she understood the danger.
"Hey, everyone." Oz breezed through the library doors, but stopped when he saw the faces staring at him. "What?"
*HIM!* Angel recognized the kid from Willow's memory. They had met, briefly, at Buffy's party but had never been formally introduced. All he knew about the stranger with the purple hair was that he had hurt Willow badly. He instinctively reached for control of her body....
"Hey!" Willow gasped as she felt the surge of power "Stop that!"
*I'LL KILL HIM* Angel could still remember the pain and anguish of her memory.....
"You're hurting me!" Willow cried out as he continued to struggle for dominance. Suddenly, to the amazement of Oz and those around the table, Willow burst out into tears and ran into Giles' office, slamming the door shut behind her. Xander rose to follow, but Giles pulled him down.
"I'll go. I think that your presence might make things worse." he said quietly, and followed Willow.
"What did I miss?" Oz asked, still stunned at the sight of his ex-girlfriend having what appeared to be a total mental meltdown.
"Sit down, Oz." Cordelia instructed.
"I don't wanna sit. Someone tell me what's going on." As succinctly as he could, Cordy explained the situation, with frequent interruptions from Xander.
******
*Willow?* When she had started to cry, Angel had realized his error and immediately ceased attempting to wrest command of her body away from her. *Willow, I'm so sorry.....*
"Willow, are you all right?" Giles opened his door and sat next to the shaking girl.
"Just....just don't talk for a few minutes....either of you, ok?" she gasped, then grabbed a tissue to staunch her sudden nosebleed..
*Ok.*
"Of course." They sat in silence for a few minutes until her tears dried, the bleeding stopped, and she regained her composure.
*Are you all right?* Angel finally asked tentatively.
"I've got a migraine." she groaned.
"Lie down." Giles instructed. She did and he fetched a wet rag to put over her eyes. "What was that all about?"
"Angel recognized Oz from one of my memories. He got angry and....tried to take control."
"I don't understand." Giles said. "Why would seeing Oz upset him so much?"
"Angel....accidentally found my memory of our bust-up. It's hard to explain–heck, I don't even really understand it–but apparently, Angel can feel the emotions I was feeling when it happened, so I guess he was just acting on them."
*Willow?* Angel decided to chance her wrath.
"Yes?" Her voice was small and weak. He could tell that the struggle had taken a good deal out of her.
*I'm very sorry, I never meant to hurt you.* Angel was mortified. <Even as a "good guy" I can't help but hurt the people I care about....>
"Stop that!" she ordered, as soon as she detected the trail of his thoughts. "What's done is done. I appreciate the thought, violent though it was."
*That was a bit overboard, wasn't it?* he asked, sheepishly.
"Just a bit." she laughed, but winced at the pain it caused.
*I won't do it again.* he promised.
"Good. Now let's move on, shall we?"
*Agreed.* He could feel her forgiveness and it was a balm on his troubled conscience.
"Not so fast." They had both completely forgotten about Giles. "Willow, if it won't hurt you, I'd like a word with Angel."
"Oh....okay."
*Don't worry, I'll be gentle.* Angel spoke in a soothing voice in an effort to calm her fears. Giles watched Willow, trying to pinpoint the exact moment Angel took over her body. The redhead slowly sat up and turned to face him.
"Ouch!" Angel hadn't had a headache in almost two centuries and wasn't liking the sensation much at all.
"Angel?" Giles asked, making sure he was talking to the right person.
"Rupert, I know what you're going to say...."
"What the Hell were you trying to do?" The mild mannered librarian was gone and in his place stood a very angry man who had earned the nickname "Ripper."
"I lost control. It won't happen again." Giles wanted to hit the vampire, but remembered that he was still inhabiting the body of an innocent young woman.
"I told you not to hurt Willow...."
"And I didn't mean to. I would never intentionally harm her." Angel tried to put as much sincerity as he could into his voice. This was somewhat difficult, since he wasn't used to having to draw breath--or to being a soprano.
"Why do I find that difficult to believe?"
Angel sighed. This was also a new experience for him and he took a moment to revel in it. "Rupert, you don't like me. You don't trust me. There's no real reason you should. But, Willow, for some reason, does....."
*There's lots of reasons....*
"Quiet, you." he ordered. "Where was I? Oh yes. Willow does trust me and I will do everything in my power to keep her safe. I promise you that." Giles didn't want to admit it, but he believed Angel.
"Right then." He resigned himself to not being able to pummel Angel...yet, anyway. "About this spell Willow wants to cast...."
"Yes?" Willow/Angel leaned forward. "She hasn't told me much about it."
"I thought you two shared thoughts....."
"Willow figured out a way to screen certain things from me." Angel admitted. "I only have full access when she's asleep."
*Not any more you don't, buster.* Angel winced when he realized what he'd done.
"Sorry, Will."
*I'll bet.* He was surprised to feel her chuckle. *Listen, since we're discussing the spell, let me take over.*
"Giles, Willow's going to come out now." Angel said. Giles watched as the girl's posture and attitude changed. Willow moaned and held her head in her hands as he silently handed her another cloth.
"I must say, all this two people, one body business is rather confusing."
"You have no idea." she whimpered. Finally, she sat up and looked him in the eye. "Giles, don't give Angel a hard time, okay? He didn't mean to hurt me, he just went into protective hyper-drive."
"All right." he sighed, giving up. "Now. About this spell–even with the ‘Eye', how do you intend to find Angel's body?"
"I can use Angel's soul as a kind of tracking device. There is still slight connection between them and I should be able to follow it easily."
"You do realize how dangerous this is, don't you?"
*Dangerous? What's he talking about, Willow?*
"I understand." she said to Giles, ignoring the voice in her head. "Let's do it now, before I lose my nerve."
"All right." Giles stood up.
*Willow.....* Angel was getting very nervous. <What is she planning?>
"Relax." she said. At Giles' look, she hastened to explain. "That was meant for Angel." He merely shook his head and followed her out of the office.
Xander was pacing around the table and when he saw them come out he rushed over and grabbed Willow's shirt.
"Listen, creep. You leave Willow alone, you hear me?"
"Xander..." Willow said.
*Can I hit him?* Angel was practically salivating at the prospect.
"No!" she snapped. "Xander, get your hands off of me."
*Why not?* Angel pouted.
"Why? What will you do if I don't?" Xander asked, at almost exactly the same time.
"Xander, that's Willow not Angel." Giles tried to pry the youth's fingers off of his best friend.
"Angel, I am not going to bruise my knuckles because Xander's being an idiot. Xander, you are being an idiot, you know. It's me, Willow." Xander looked at her closely and realized she was telling the truth.
"Sorry Will." he said, stepping back. "I was just worried about you."
"Will someone please tell me what is happening here?" Oz was getting impatient. "Willow, Xander and Cordy said that somehow Angel is inside you? That can't be right."
"It is." she sat down next to Cordelia. To forestall any further discussion, she pulled a book from the table and opened it in front of her. "We're going to try the ‘Eye' spell."
"What, now?" Cordy looked at Giles nervously.
"No time like the present." Willow muttered. She read a list of ingredients from the book. "I've got all of this stuff, but we're going to have to move this little show to the bio lab." Without another word, she grabbed her bag and marched out. The others merely stared at each other for a moment, then reluctantly followed.
*****
Giles stood behind Willow watching anxiously for some sign of life. Although Willow's body was upright and capable of basic motor function, her mind or soul or....whatever had been cast into the void of Hell in search of Angelus. She had been "gone" for nearly a half hour and he was starting to get very worried. There was the potential, however slight, that her soul could be trapped in Hell for eternity. That was why he had initially objected to her suggestion that they use the spell to find Angel's body. <This is ridiculous!> he thought. <Why is this happening to Willow....to all of us?> Try as he might, he could not forget what Angel/Angelus had done to Jenny and the rest of them, and he certainly couldn't forgive. Suddenly, Willow's body jerked upright. Giles saw awareness in her eyes for a brief moment, then they closed as she lost consciousness and fell back into his arms.
A few minutes later, Willow came to on the couch in Giles' office.
"Whoa....deja vu!" she chuckled as Giles placed another cloth on her forehead.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes." she closed her eyes again, but opened them quickly with a gasp. "Giles, we have a big problem."
"What is it?"
"Angel's body... it's not in Hell. Angelus has come back to Earth!"
End Part 3
"All right Angel." Willow said sternly. "Truth time. Where's Buffy?" She was sitting by herself in Giles' office recovering from the after-effects of casting the "Eye" spell.
*Downey State Prison.*
"WHAT?" Willow shrieked. This brought Giles running. He had been out in the library explaining the situation to the others.
"What's wrong?" he asked, expecting yet another crisis. He wasn't disappointed.
"Buffy's in jail!" Willow answered, staring at him with her big, green eyes.
"Good Lord, things just keep getting better, don't they?" Giles sighed and removed his glasses to rub his eyes. "Why don't you come out and Angel can tell us the whole story."
"All right." Willow stood and followed him to the table where the others sat. Xander noticed the expression on her face.
"What now?" he asked, apprehensively.
"Buffy's in jail." Willow said again as she sat down and, had the situation been less serious, would have laughed at the expressions on her friends' faces.
"Oh no." Xander moaned.
"Why am I not surprised?" Cordelia asked at the same time. Oz simply stared.
"Okay, Angel, do you want to tell this?" Willow asked.
*Yes.* Everyone saw the distinct shift in posture and expression that meant Angel was in control. Willow/Angel took a deep breath and began the story.
"When Buffy left Sunnydale, she was running away from the Hellmouth, her life as the Slayer, and anything that made her remember me." He paused to force down the lump that was forming in his/her throat. "She went to a little town in Ohio....I guess that was as far from Sunnydale as she could imagine.....Anyway, things were going well for about six months. She had a job and a place to live. She started making friends and even started dating." Angel was a bit surprised when this revelation didn't spark its usual stabbing pains of jealousy.
"So what happened?" Xander couldn't help but be riveted by the story.
"Well, to paraphrase an old saying, you can take the girl out of the Slayer, but you can't take the Slayer out of the girl. One night, Buffy was walking home when she saw someone attacking a young woman. She assumed the guy was a vampire and drove a stake though his heart....."
"But he wasn't a vampire, was he?" Giles winced.
"No. Just a common rapist wannabe." Willow was overcome by Angel's feelings of helplessness.
*You couldn't have done anything.....* she said, but Angel refused to be comforted.
"A stake through the heart is just as lethal for a man as for a vampire." he continued. "Buffy didn't even try to fight for herself. She pled guilty and was sentenced to twenty years."
"Poor Buffy." Oz murmured.
"What about the other woman?" Giles asked. "Didn't she testify that Buffy was only trying to help her?"
"Buffy wouldn't let her."
"Great." Xander grumbled. "We've got to get her out of there. We can't fight Angelus without her."
"Well, what do you suggest we do?" Cordelia asked, exasperated.
"Whatever we have to."
"You thinking jailbreak?" Oz raised an eyebrow.
"Before we rise to new heights of criminal activity," Giles interrupted "why don't we see if there are some legal ways to free her. Angel, I need Willow."
"You got her." Once again, the transformation was startlingly obvious.
"Willow, I need you to get onto that blasted machine and find out what you can. Xander and Cordelia, you go through our newspapers and magazine collections. Oz, I need you to run to the university's law library and pick up a few books for me."
****
Willow sighed as she flopped down onto her bed.
"I'm so tired."
*I'll bet.* Angel could tell that the hours of research on top of the after- effects of casting the spell and the brief battle for control earlier had left her both physically and emotionally drained.
"At least we have some time to get Buffy back." When they had seen him, Angelus had been incredibly weak. Apparently the trip to and from Hell was difficult for any body, even if it was inhabited by a demon. Willow also had the impression that Angelus wasn't in Sunnydale. "Angel, I'm going to change now so you'll have to switch off for a few."
*Okay.* Usually, Angel could see and hear everything Willow did, but they had figured out a way for him to separate himself from her senses. She insisted that he do this whenever she changed or showered or did anything else that fell into the "personal" category. She always completed these tasks quickly, since he had once admitted that he was terrified of the complete absence of light and sound.
"All done." she said as she climbed under her covers. She nestled her head into her pillow and stared at her ceiling. "I'm sorry."
*For what?*
"I know I promised to get your body back, but...."
*Willow Rosenberg, how can you possibly blame yourself for this mess? Besides, if I recall, I wanted to get Buffy back first when all this started.*
"Yes, but if I had cast the spell right in the first place, we wouldn't be having this conversation would we? You would be back in your body and Buffy would be back and..." Angel stopped her by the convenient method of closing off her vocal chords. He could exert this small amount of command over her body without hurting her.
*Listen to me and listen good. This is not your fault. You did everything right. You said all the right words and trust me, you have more than enough power to pull off a simple soul restoration.*
"How do you know that?"
*I was there.* She gasped.
"How is that possible?"
*It's kind of hard to explain. When I.....lost my body, I guess, my soul went to a kind of waiting room. I could watch all of you, but I couldn't affect what was happening. I saw myself try to kill you....*
Willow interrupted angrily. "Wait a minute! If you were watching, doesn't that sort of mean that you weren't responsible for anything that Angelus did? I mean, if you weren't in your body, then the demon was in control, right?" Angel was about to say something, then paused.
*You know, I never really thought of it that way before.*
"All right then!" she crowed, triumphantly. "I don't want to hear you beating yourself up about what happened." They were silent for a while.
"Angel?"
*Mmmm?*
"Do you think Angelus knows about us....I mean that you're inside of me?"
*I don't think so. How could he, really?* Angel thought about it for a moment. *He may know that you tried the spell, but he probably assumes it didn't work.*
"Good." she sighed happily. "Now all we have to do is get Buffy out of jail and figure out how to get the demon out of your body and you back into it."
*Piece of cake.* his sarcasm was incredibly obvious.
"Absolutely." He was surprised at her optimism.
*Willow, how can you be so sure we're going to win?*
"We're the good guys."
*That's not an answer!* He didn't want to take away all of her hope, but she couldn't afford to be naive, not now.
"Look, I know that we have some major problems to overcome, but we do have some major things going for us."
*Like what?* From where he was sitting, things looked pretty bleak.
She ticked them off on her fingers. "One, we do have some time before Angelus gets his strength back. Plus, he's got to get back here and that's gonna take a while, since he can only travel at night. Two, we have some fair warning this time. The first time Angelus showed up, we didn't know what to expect. This time we do. Third, he doesn't know what we're up to unless he's got his own pet seer or something, which I think is highly unlikely. He used to have Dru--although I don't know how much help she was--but Spike and Dru left town right after Buffy did. Fourth, we've got six minds against his one....seven when we get Buffy back."
*Where are you coming up with six? There's you, Xander, Cordelia, Oz, Giles......*
"And you, silly!" she giggled. "Or aren't you planning on adding any contributions to our strategy sessions?" They both laughed. "These six, soon to be seven, minds will all be working on ways to get Buffy back and on ways to get your body and soul reunited. ‘Cuz frankly, I don't intend to be sharing my body with you for the rest of my life."
*Don't you like me anymore?* Angel used his most pathetic voice.
"Sure I do. But, I don't want you critiquing my dates–if I ever have any–and I highly doubt you'd like college. I'll be going in the fall, you know?"
*Really?* he was amazed. *I thought you were a junior.*
"Angel, I was a junior when you....uh....left. It's been a year and half."
*Where are you going?*
"Erikson College. It's a little school in upstate New York."
*Wow!* He took a moment to absorb the information. He wanted to continue the conversation, but realized that Willow had fallen asleep. He mentally smiled and settled down to another evening of exploring her vast store of knowledge.
*****
"Willow?" Both Willow and Angel were stunned at the change in Buffy's appearance. Her hair had been cut short with what looked like a pair of garden shears. Her skin had lost it's healthy glow and her eyes no longer sparkled. She had lost weight and looked positively gaunt. "My God, is it really you?"
"You were maybe expecting the Tooth Fairy?" Willow tried to sound cheerful, but was having a great deal of difficulty doing so.
"What.....Why.....How did you know I was here?" Willow's eyes widened as her friend asked the one question she'd been hoping to avoid initially.
"Well, it's kind of....uh....complicated." Fortunately, she had come prepared for such an emergency. She slipped a compact out of her purse, opened it, and held it up so that her face was reflected, but Buffy could still see the mirror's surface. "Look at the mirror. This ought to explain a few things." Angel briefly showed his face and Willow heard Buffy gasp before she put the compact away.
"Will.....what's going on?" Buffy's voice was shaky.
"Uh....well, Angel's soul is kind of currently in my body."
End Part 4