Disclaimer: I do not and will never own the characters in this story. Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc. own them. The only character I own is Ariana.
Summary: Something happened to Willow in Sunnydale and she left, but now she’s back. What happens next?
Distribution: Ask first.
Author's Notes: I only wrote this cause I was bored, if it sucks, tell me, please?
Rating: PG-13 (R?)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
New York City, 2003
“Justine? Are you ok?” Willow cautiously made her way to the unconscious young girl. “Justine?” As Willow nudged the slight girl, she heard a voice behind her.
“She’s dead.” Willow spun around to see Spike standing there, “What the hell are you doing here?? If I find out you were a part of this............” She let the threat go unspoken.
“Relax, pet. Can’t kill bloody humans, remember? Haven’t been able to since Sunnydale,” Willow paled at the mention of her old home town. “ Speaking of good, ole Sunnyhell, why aren’t you there? I figured you’d be there settling down, getting married.........but fighting unspeakable demons all alone in New York? Not where I saw you heading when I left.”
Willow turned her back to him, “Who are you tojudge me?”
Willow asked turning to face him. Spike was astounded at the sight he saw. Gone was the shy, little girl and in her place was a young woman who looked older than her years. She still had her trademark red hair, same fierce green eyes. Ah, those eyes, in them was a look that would terrify the cruelest beast. In the eyes of this woman, there was death and pain and a rage he couldn’t define. Her face was worn and haggard.
Willow was getting nervous as his eyes bore into hers. It felt to her as if his was peering into her soul. Spike walked up to her and caressed the side of her face.
“Something big’s going down. Figured you’d be there. What happened to you?” Willow looked away from him. “Well?” She knew he wouldn’t give up till he knew. *And I can’t let that happen...........never.* Which is why she did the only thing she had become good at over the past 3 years...............she ran.
* * * * *
Ariana was pacing back and forth as she waited for Willow to return.
*Where is she?? Justine couldn’t have run off that far-* Her thoughts cut-off as she heard the door open and quietly close.
“Well? Where’s Justine?” Willow jumped at the sound of her voice,
“She’s dead.” Willow stated it emotionlessly, like she didn’t care.
“What!?! And where were you? You promised her....”
Willow turned sharply to the girl behind her, “I was right where I was supposed to be! Do you think I didn’t try to help her? I tried and it was useless! There were too many of them! She knew the risks and she still went so don’t even try to pin this on me this time!”
Ariana was floored, “This time? What do you mean this time?”
Willow sank to the floor, “Nothing. I meant nothing.”
Ariana sat next to her and put her arm around her, “Willow? How come you never tell me about Sunnydale?”
Willow flinched, “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t mention Sunnydale.”
Ariana shook her head, “No, you agreed with yourself Sunnydale wouldn’t be mentioned.”
Willow laid her head on her knees, “Guess that can’t be avoided now.”
Ariana raised her eyebrows, “What do you mean?”
Willow stood up,
she was suddenly all business, again. “Something big’s about to happen
there and they
need me..........I
have no choice but to go back. I can’t fail them a second time.”
Ariana just nodded mutely, “I’ll call the airlines.”
* * * * *
Willow stared numbly out the window of the plane. *I can’t do this............Buffy and................him.*
“Hello, luv.” Willow jerked out of her thoughts at the familiar voice.
“What are you doing here, Spike?”
“I thought it would be good for us to have some help.” Ariana voiced quietly.
Willow looked grateful. “I thought when you left you swore you’d never come back.”
Spike smirked at her, “Yeah and we all know how well I keep my word at that promise, pet.”
Willow gave him a vague hint of a smile. “So, what made you come to your senses about leaving Sunnyhell?” Willow’s smile vanished as she began to think of that fateful night three years ago.......
Sunnydale, 2000
“So, what’re we doing this weekend? Bronze?” Willow couldn’t help but laugh at Xander’s boyish antics.
“Sure, what else have we got to do?” Neither one had heard Buffy come up behind them,
“How about fighting the apocalypse?” Xander’s face fell as Willow voiced what both where thinking, “Again!?!”
Buffy grinned, “Yep, the demons never seem to give up on the notion of the end of the world.”
Willow knew something big was happening that night and whatever it was, it wasn’t going to end well. It was just a feeling she had. *I seem to be having alot of those lately. Bad feelings are bad and well, bad. Like the one I had with Angel.......and his lips.......NO! That was bad. And it nearly destroyed everyone. I don’t think Buffy has fully forgiven me yet....*
As if reading her mind, Buffy looked at her and squeezed her arm, but even Xander noticed the pained expression on her face as she thought about it.
“Aren’t we supposed to be fighting the apocalypse?” Xander asked, as if just remembering.
“Oh, yeah, well, it’s only a few vamps and their toys........nothing I can’t handle, but Giles’ may need help in the research department.” The relief was evident on their faces.
“You sure, Buff? I mean, not that I like fighting the apocalypse, but.........?”
Xander asked her, clearly worried. She smiled at him, “I’m sure. Now, you guys go home and get some rest? I’ll see you tomorrow at Giles’. Bye, Xander.” And with that she left Xander and Willow alone. “She still hates me.”
Willow thumped her head onto the table. Xander gave her a half-smile, “She doesn’t hate you, Will. She just needs time.
What she saw.........her best friend and ex. In bed. Together. It’ll take time to get over.” Willow picked her head up to stare at Xander incredulously, “What about me? Huh? When she saw us, she gave me a choice and I chose her over a person I cared for deeply. A person I was falling for. Had fallen for. Then she expects me to beg her forgiveness? Sure I can be sorry, but only to a certain point and you know what? I have definitely reached it,”
Willow got up to leave, “I loved, excuse me, I love him and I gave that up for her friendship. When is someone gonna say, for me, ‘Oh, she just needs time?’,”
Willow shook her head, “Good night, Xander.” Xander watched his friend go, part of him agreeing with what she said.
* * * * *
*I can’t believe I went off on him like that! <You were only sticking up for yourself. About time, too.>* Willow put her head down in shame as she walked up the walkway of her house. Willow was thinking so intently that she didn’t notice her front door was slightly ajar.
"What.....? Mom, Dad? Are you in there?” She slowly opened the door and the sight that greeted her was gruesome. Willow gave out a strangled cry as she saw the bodies of her parents strewn across the floor, but that wasn’t what sickened her the most. What did was the writing on the wall. In blood. Her parents’ blood.
Willow read the message with tear-filled eyes, ‘ This is what happens when you mess with me.’
Willow gasped, raising her hand to her mouth. “Who are you? What do you want from me?”
Willow screamed at the apparently empty house. “You know what I want, Willow.”
Willow whirled around to face him, startled. “You?? You did this?”
He smiled at her, “And I’ll keep doing it until you give me what I want.”
Willow shuddered, “Never.” He shrugged, “Have it your way, then.” Before she could say anything, he pulled Xander out of the chair he was sitting in, bound and gagged. The chair was facing the other way and she hadn’t seen him there. “Xander?,”
Xander’s eyes were widened in fear,
“Oh, my god. Xander!” Willow rushed forward to grab him when he was pulled out of her reach,
“Tsk tsk tsk, not until I get what I came for. You know what it is, Willow.”
Willow’s shoulders slumped forward in a motion of defeat.
“Why are you doing this? You’ve already killed my family, why can’t you just leave him alone?” He gave her a smirk, “Because, my dear, as long as he’s alive, you still have family. And without family, you’re just so easy to conquer.” In her heart, she knew he was right.
“Let him go and I’ll come with you.” He grabbed her arm and bound her hands together. Then he laughed, “Did you actually think I would let him go and run to that Slayer of yours? I guess you’re not as smart as people think.”
Willow watched
the man who had
been stalking her for months slit her best friend’s neck and something
inside of her snapped. She screamed and broke the ropes, not caring that
it slashed her wrists. The next few minutes were a blur. The last thing
she remembered was grabbing a knife on the floor next to her mother’s body.
* * * *
“Willow? You ok?” Willow snapped out of her nightmare and saw Spike staring at her, concerned. “Yeah, I’m fine.” It was then that she noticed she was crying. Spike saw she didn’t want to talk about it,
“The plane just landed.” She nodded her head,
“Great.............nobody........knows we’re coming, right?”
“No one.” Willow just stared silently at everything as they got off and rode over to the motel to spend the day.
* * * * *
“Do we have any idea what we’re fighting?” Lynn asked Buffy and Giles. Giles took his glasses off and started to wipe them off with his handkerchief, “Well, w-we have several possibilities. W-we’re in the process of narrowing them down.”
Buffy rolled her eyes and continued training as Giles sat down in front of the computer Willow had forced him to buy before she took off. *Ah, Willow. These are the times when I miss her most.*
“Giles?” He snapped out of his trance as he heard Buffy call his name,
“Yes, Buffy? Have you remembered something?” So far, Buffy had been the only person to see this mysterious force. The odd thing being, though, she couldn’t remember any of it. “Not really..............but, you’ve got a message.”
He looked over at the answering machine and cure enough, he did have a message. He looked bewildered,
“Hmm.........that wasn’t there before.......” He pressed the play button.
“Hi, Giles? I know you guys might be there, so I disguised the rings on the phone.” Buffy and Giles gasped at the voice on the machine, “Look, I might be able to help you with your problem.........I’ve seen it before..............I’ll call you with more.”
Lynn looked from Giles to Buffy and back to Giles again, “Umm....who was that? Cause you two look like you’ve just seen a ghost.” Giles cleared his throat, “That.....umm......That, Lynn, was Willow.” Lynn’s mouth hung open. She’d heard about her. It was practically all she heard about at first.
“The girl who took off?” Giles nodded. Lynn looked at Buffy, “You ok?” Buffy had been quiet since she first heard her voice, “Fine.” But Lynn knew she wasn’t. Just hearing that one word told her that. Her voice was laced in anger.
“No, you’re not. Do you want to talk about it?” Buffy stared at her, “Talk about what? About how my ‘best friend’ slept with the man I loved and then took off without so much as a good-bye? Or how about when she-”
“I had to leave. You may not know why, but you of all people should understand that,” Buffy turned sharply at the vaguely familiar voice, “I also thought you forgave me for the thing with Angel, but you apparently haven’t.”
Giles watched, astonished, “W-Willow? Is that you?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” Giles went to hug her but she flinched and walked away from him, “And Spike. And an associate of mine, Ariana.” Ariana didn’t think twice of being called Willow’s associate. Willow never called her or Justine her a friend in public, not even when it was just them, but she knew Willow thought of her as a friend in her heart, she was just afraid to say it aloud for some reason. Buffy turned around,
“What’s he doing with you?”
Willow looked at Buffy, “He’s here to help me fight this thing.”
Buffy saw red, “Help you fight this thing?? What makes you think you’re gonna fight it? I’m the Slayer and I can’t even fight it.”
“You fought him?” It came out as a strangled whisper. “Yeah, I’ve fought it.” Giles stepped in, “But she has no recollection of the event.”
Willow nodded, “Good.”
Lynn’s eyes bulged, “Good!?! Having the Slayer not remember is good? How is she supposed to defeat it if she can’t remember it?”
Willow turned to the stranger, “She’s not going to defeat it. I am.”
Buffy grabbed Willow’s arm, hard, “If I’m bruised from this fight 2 weeks ago, then it’ll kill you! You are not going to fight it, I am and I’m going to win. I just got you back, I don’t intend to lose you now.”
Willow shook her arm free and turned her back to her, not noticing Angel walking in, “You don’t have me back. I’m only here to kill this thing and then I’m moving on. You’ve never seen this thing, Buffy, or ,at least, you don’t remember. And you’re lucky, too. I remember. I dream about it every night. I thought I killed it, but I was wrong. You can’t kill it with normal weapons......it just won’t die like that.”
Buffy put her hand on Willow’s shoulder, only to have it shrugged off, “You forget, I don’t use normal weapons.” Willow shook her head, “Neither do I. Not anymore.”
Buffy gaped, “What are you talking about?”
“She’s talking about magic, Buffy.” Everyone turned at the new voice to see Angel standing behind them. Willow saw him and forgot about everything else, “Angel? I thought you moved to LA?” Angel walked up a little, “I came back. You can’t fight this thing, Willow, no matter how strong you think you are.”
Willow’s eyes became devoid of emotion and a coldness filled them, “Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, Angel. You have no idea the abilities I am capable of. No idea.” And with that she turned and walked out.
* * * * *
“Willow? Willow, stop!” Willow stopped, but didn’t turn, “What do you want, Angel? I thought I made it clear I never wanted to see or talk to you again?”
Angel recoiled at
the thought of that night she had chosen Buffy over him,
“Yeah, I remember. But I don’t understand why you left? Or why you left just now?” Willow turned to face him, outraged, “My parents and my best friend were murdered, Angel. And you still can’t even imagine why I left?”
Angel blanched at the coldness in her voice, “Willow, I realize what happened, but it’s been three years.”
Willow stared, disbelieving, at Angel, “Yes, Angel. It’s been three years. Three years since I lost everything.......my family, Xander, ..........you.”
She didn’t look at
him and Angel barely caught the last part, “Me? You never lost me.....?”
Willow shook her head, “Yes, I did. The moment he killed them I lost any
capability to love ever again.”
“You were there?!?” Willow laughed bitterly, “You guys sure do catch on quickly.” She maliciously retorted. Angel faltered before he realized what she was doing,
“We were worried. You don’t have to be a bitch about it. I can be understanding to a point, but when you start to act like this, all my sympathy for you? Let’s just say I don’t have much left.” Angel turned around and left, calling back to her,
“You know where to find me when you’re ready.” “Oh! Yeah, go ahead! Run away! Who needs you anyways....,” Willow sank to the ground, “Who needs you?” She quietly asked herself as tears silently ran down her cheeks.
* * * * *
Willow quietly shut the motel door behind her. “Where’ve you been, Willow?”
Willow looked up to see Spike sitting there, waiting for her. “What the hell do you care?” She wrung out her rain-soaked hair. “Don’t be a smart-ass. Where’d you take off to?”
Willow stared at him, “None of your business.”
Spike shrugged, “Fine,” He watched her walk over to the make-shift kitchen, “But what is my business is why the hell you want to fight this thing?”
Willow got a far away look on her face, “I’ve already fought this thing before and I know what will kill it,” She grabbed a drink from the small refrigerator, “Besides, I have a personal stake, no pun intended, in this.”
Spike smirked at her, “Personal, huh?,” She nodded, “Fine. I guess the least I could do is help you out.”
“Gee, thanks.” She replied sarcastically. There was a silence between them for a long time and it was only broken when Ariana woke up and asked, “Hey, Will. What about your parents? I mean, don’t you want to see them?”
Spike watched Willow carefully and noticed when she paled at the question, “Yeah, Willow? What about your parents?” She shot him a murderous glare, “It’s none of your damn business.”
Spike and a shocked Ariana watched Willow walk out of the motel, slamming the door behind her. “What just happened here?” Spike just shook his head in an ‘I don’t know’ gesture at Ariana’s bewildered question.
* * * * *
Buffy and Riley were out patrolling when they heard it. The sounds of fighting and someone was losing. Bad. Buffy looked at Riley and ran in the direction of the fighting, Riley ran after her. When they got there, all they could see was two figures fighting and every now and then Buffy saw a flash of red. Then, as fast as they had heard it, the fight was over. And Willow stood there, holding her arm. She hadn’t noticed them yet. She looked around to see if anyone was watching and when she didn’t see anyone, she put her hand over her arm, which had a huge gash on it, and the next thing Buffy knew, the gash was gone.
“Isn’t that Willow?” Riley asked, looking a little confused. Buffy nodded. As if sensing them, she turned in their direction and saw them standing there. The look on her face was a deadly one. A dangerous one. And then Willow disappeared, leaving a very confused couple standing there.
* * * * *
“You should’ve seen her, Giles. She isn’t the Willow we knew. She’s different. More dangerous.” Giles sighed and sat down in his chair, “You must’ve been mistaken, Buffy. That couldn’t have been her.” Buffy let out an exasperated sigh, “So, what? Riley and I both imagined it? It was her, Giles, and I’m telling you, she creeps me out now. She isn’t the same.”
“Would you be?” All four people jumped at the sound of Angel’s voice, “Could you at least warn people before you do that?!?” Lynn cried out.
Angel gave them a sheepish look, “Sorry.” Buffy, Giles, and Riley remembered when Angel used to do that and Xander would say the exact same thing. “Deadboy.”
Angel said softly. Lynn looked at Angel like he was crazy, “What?”
Angel looked at her, “He used to call me Deadboy.” Buffy smiled at the memory. “He who?”
“Xander.” Lynn’s face got a look of understanding, “Oh.” Buffy then remembered Angel’s earlier comment,
“Would I be, what?” Angel’s face got serious, “Wouldn’t you be changed if you lost everyone you cared about?” Buffy didn’t understand,
“We all lost him, Angel. You don’t see me running around with a look of murder on my face.”
Angel shook his head, “No, Buffy. She lost Xander more than you did. She knew him her entire life.”
Buffy was furious, “So that means, I didn’t feel pain over it? You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“ I know that she blames herself. I know that she lost her parents and Xander in one night. You still have your family, she doesn’t,” Angel watched as it finally dawned on Buffy,
“I also know that she watched Xander die.” The last part, Buffy only heard it because of her enhanced hearing. Her eyes bulged, “What!?!” Angel nodded gravely,
“She was there, Buffy.” She sank to the ground, “Oh, my god. She-”
“And I know that while you guys are playing this stupid, little game of yours, Willow is out fighting your demon.” All pairs of eyes turned to see Spike standing there.
“She’s doing what?” Spike turned to Buffy, “You heard me.” Angel was curious, “I thought you were helping her.” Spike turned to look at his sire, “I am helping her. She can’t fight this thing alone. No matter what she thinks.” Buffy stood up, “Then we have work to do. Where did she say she was going?”
* * * * *
By the time they got there, the fight was already underway. “She’s going to get herself killed.” Buffy, Angel, and Spike ran forward to help her.
“Willow! Look out!”
Willow turned at the sound of her ex-lover’s voice.................and was thrown to the ground by her opponent. He grabbed her arm, twisting it against her back, and whispered in her ear, “Next time, beautiful.” As quickly as he had appeared, he left, leaving a bewildered group of people and one pissed off witch. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?” Buffy, Angel, Spike, and Giles flinched at the intensity of the rage in her voice.
“I brought them to help you, Willow,” Willow watched Spike step forward, “You can’t fight that alone. I mean, look at what he did.”
Spike pointed to her arm, “If you hadn’t distracted me........I was doing just fine on my own, thank you.”
Angel shook his head, “This ‘independant’ kick is going to get you killed.” Willow turned on him, “Who asked you? I have been taking care of myself for 3 years, damnit. I think I can handle this, all right?” Buffy looked at her incredulously,
“Oh, yeah, Willow. You’re just doing a great job at that. Look at you. Ms. Independance. Can’t ask anyone for help.” Willow stood there, “This isn’t any of your business, Buffy! Stay out of it! It’s my fight.” Willow mumbled a few words, but her transportation spell didn’t work. She never got a chance to finish it before she passed out from the blood loss in her arm and a wound on her head.
* * * * *
Willow opened her eyes and for a second, she didn’t recognize where she was. And then she did. *Angel’s apartment. I haven’t been here since.............since I left him.*
“Angel? Where are you?” He swiftly walked into the room, “I’m right here. What is it? Are you in pain?” Willow was about to make a bitchy comment, but decided to, just this once, let someone help. “No....I......I just..........”
“Just, what?” Angel prodded. “Wantyoutoholdme.” Angel was confused, “Once more and this time, try to breathe.” Willow took a deep breath, “I don’t want to be alone.......” Angel got the message and climbed into the bed with her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Willow sighed and burrowed deeper into his embrace. *I miss this. I miss him.*
* * * * *
Angel awoke to the sound of crying. He was surprised that it was Willow. This wasn’t the Willow he had seen earlier. This one was vulnerable. He turned her to him and wiped the tears away.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Willow hadn’t meant to wake him. She stopped crying but only because she realized something. Being in his arms was all too familiar and it made her remember the good times she had had with him, the ones before Buffy had walked in on them. And she came to a revelation that she hadn’t been able to admit until now. She wanted him. As if reading her mind, he tenderly kissed her.
* * * * *
When Willow woke, she was very disoriented. But it all came back to her as she felt a strong pair of arms encircling her waist. *Not again!* She hadn’t meant for this to happen. She couldn’t do this again. She quietly got out of the warm bed and went to the bathroom. When she was in there, she quickly dressed and got the hell out of there.
* * * * *
Angel awoke to find himself alone, “Damn.” and he punched the empty pillow next to him.
* * * * *
The gang didn’t hear much from Willow for the next few days and the next time they saw her was when Angel found her in the cemetary, unconscious.
“Willow? Willow!” Angel was frantic as he pulled her into his embrace and ran with her to the library. “Giles! Giles, I need help!” Giles came rushing out and saw Angel holding Willow, “Oh, dear.”
* * * * *
“She’s waking up.” Willow didn’t make much of the voices she heard around her, she only knew what she wanted, “Angel?” Angel glanced up in surprise, “I’m here.” It took a few minutes but Willow finally remembered everything and realized where she was and the fact that she had just called out for Angel. She sat up swiftly and regretted it almost immediately,
“Ow.” She cried softly, grabbing her head. Buffy rushed forward to help her, but she pushed her away. “I don’t need your help.” Angel saw Buffy flinch softly at Willow’s words. He walked over to Buffy, “Let me speak with her alone.”
Buffy nodded, still hurt by Willow’s rejection. “What?” The question came out of Willow’s mouth as soon as the gang had left. He walked over to her, “You know what.”
Willow got up, “Is this the part where I break down and you comfort me?” She looked up at him, feigning innocence. Angel shook his head in amusement, “No, Willow, I know that isn’t going to happen. You’re too proud to ask for help.”
“Just because we had sex, don’t presume to think you know me.” Angel’s face grew hard at the harshness of her statement. “Don’t do that, Willow.”
“Do what?” Willow asked with an innocent face. “Don’t turn something special into something meaningless because you’re angry.” Willow laughed evilly,
“You thought that was special? Please!,” Angel flinched. To him, it was like going back in time to the night she told him she didn’t want to be with him anymore.
“It. Meant. Nothing, Angel.” Angel’s heart felt like it had been ripped out. *Again.* He silently reminded himself. “Look me in the eye and tell me it meant nothing, Willow.” Angel saw Willow’s face grow cold, “I told you, Angel, it was just a way for me to pass time.”
Angel shook his head, disbelieving, “I don’t believe you.” Willow shrugged, “Do you think I care?” Willow watched him and saw the tears welling up in his eyes as he walked out, all the while her heart was screaming, *No! Don’t leave me!*
But she didn’t follow her heart, she only listened to the voice in her head reminding her of the last time she loved someone, and she let him walk out.
* * * * *
Buffy was on the computer, researching whatever it was that was killing innocent people, when , out of nowhere, Angel practically ran out of Giles’ office with a look of profound agony on his face. She watched him go with a confused expression,
“What....?” She knew the only place to get answers would be to go to Willow because when Angel was like this, he never talked about it, he would just brood.
And with Willow like she is, she doubted she would get an answer from anyone. She decided to give it a shot anyways. “Willow?” She walked into Giles’ office to find Willow sitting there, her shoulder’s shaking with sobs, “Willow? Are you ok?” Buffy put her hand on Willow’s shoulder. The instant she did, Willow went rigid, “Yeah, fine, why wouldn’t I be?”
“It’s okay to talk about it-”
“I have to go.” Willow cut Buffy off with her short sentence.
“B-But......” Buffy watched Willow walk out, dumbfounded.
* * * * *
*So beautiful.* He was thinking as he watched her leave the high school. *Our time will come to be together, my sweet rose.* He unconsciously started massaging the only scar he had from the wounds she had inflicted on him three years ago. *But before that time can come........you, my heart, will pay for this deformity you caused.* He closed his eyes and when he opened them again, he was in front of Willow’s motel. He grinned evilly as he thought of his plans for her.
* * * * *
Willow slammed the door behind her as she walked into the motel room. Sighing, she threw her things on the floor and when she did, she looked up. Stifling a scream, she saw the man, whom everyone was hunting, waiting for her.
“Such a warm welcome, Willow.” Willow spit in his face as he chanted a few words meant to paralyze her. “Now, was that really necessary? Such a rude, young woman.” The one thing he hadn’t counted on was her fighting back with magic.
He was soon shocked to find himself on the ground after she countered his paralysis spell. “Well, well, my weeping Willow has managed to learn a few things.” Willow had a look of hatred on her face as she replied, “What can I say? You inspired me.” He smiled at her, pleased at her growth, “Well, when you join me, we’ll make a wonderful team.”
“takes my soul.” She watched as he stood, I’ll only join you when Hades flexing his bruised arms. They stood in a standstill for what seemed like hours before he made a move.
e threw a disarming spell only to have her block it and throw a chair at him with telekinesis. He dodged it easily. And they were back to a standstill, “Is that all you got?”
Willow was taunting him so she could distract him. He shook his head, “You know better than that, my dear.” As soon as he said this she knew he was up to something. “What are you up to?”
Before she even finished her sentence, he had pulled Angel out from behind a door. “Why did you bring him into this? He has nothing to do with it.”
“Quite the contrary, lover,” Willow shuddered when he called her that and Angel blanched, “He has everything to do with this.” Willow took a look around her to gather her surroundings. “Mmmm........don’t you just love that smell?”
Willow stared at him, perplexed, as he got a far away look in his eyes, “What smell?” He looked at her as if he had forgotten she was there, “The smell of victory. I remember three years ago..........this same smell.........mmm.......so.......so.......exhilarating. Except....it was mingled with a hint of fear. From that insolent friend of yours. God, how good it felt to finally kill him. He never stopped talking.......oh, well. That was year ago and this is now.” Willow almost flew off the handle when she reminded herself, *He’s just trying to throw you off, be careful. He’s trying to anger you so you’ll mess up.* So she replied with this, “Yeah, you’re right. Xander always did talk too much,” She paused to see him completely confused,
“And he always was a coward.” He was infuriated, this was not going how he wanted it to.
Willow circled him, “The only problem with this little scenario? You grabbed him. And I hate to be the one to tell you this,” She paused, “But him? Not someone I really give a damn whether or not you kill. In fact, I couldn’t care less if you killed everyone in this small, despicable town. Though, I doubt you could do any real harm.”
As soon as she said this, she knew she had him. He went into a rage and threw Angel, who was bordering unconsciousness from the magick, to the floor.
Instead of using his magic, because he was so angry, he attacked her physically. Which she was ready for. After mere minutes of fighting, she had him on the ground and pulled out a knife. He grinned, thinking he had her, “You can’t kill me with that insignificant kitchen knife.”
Willow gave him a malicious smirk, “Who said anything about it being a kitchen knife?”
His eyes grew huge as he realized what it was, “No! Don’t do this. Think about the life we could have together? Traveling, a little magic here and there......Reconsider what you’re doing.” Willow stared at him doubtfully,
“After the way you killed my parents and best friend? I don’t think so.” She lifted the knife just as Buffy, Lynn, Giles, Spike, and Ariana came in, and she plunged it into his heart. She was thrown off by the powerful burst of light searing threw his body and within seconds, he was gone. The only sign that he had ever been there was a burnt spot on the carpet. Before she knew what was happening, she passed out from exhaustion.
* * * * *
Whn she awoke, she was staring at the disbelieving stares of her friends. “So, now you couldn’t give a damn about us? Gee, thanks, love you, too.” She heard the hurt in Buffy’s voice.
“You-you don’t un-understand, Buffy,” She paused as a wave of dizziness passed through her, “I said that to throw him off. To make him lose his concentration. And it worked.”
Buffy relaxed a little, before cautiously asking, “Are you staying?”
Willow’s eyes clouded, “I don’t know, Buffy. I don’t think I could. Not after everything that’s happened.” Angel heard the double meaning behind her phrase, but didn’t comment on it. He was still too hurt by her words.
Buffy walked to her, carefully taking her hands and was shocked when she didn’t pull away, “I want you to stay. So we can work things out. Get past this together.” Willow gave her a shy smile, “I’d like to try....”
Willow glanced at Angel and Buffy saw this. So, she decided to give them some time alone. She queitly stepped out of the door, giving Angel’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze,
“I’m sorry, Angel.” Willow stated quietly. “Sorry for what? Tearing our night apart? Or telling that guy I don’t matter? Which could you possibly be sorry for?” Willow flinched at the coldness in his voice. “It was all my fault, Angel. Everything. Xander’s death, my parents deaths, your pain, Buffy’s pain. It was---is my fault.”
Angel softened, “How could you be responsible for their deaths? You tried to save them. And there is no way you are responsible for our pain.” Willow shook her head, “You don’t understand, Angel. I brought him here. I called him here with my magick. He killed them because of what I did.” Angel’s heart was breaking for her,
“Oh, god, Willow. It was an accident, you didn’t mean for any of it to happen. You can’t blame yourself for it.” Angel walked to her and pulled her to him. “It wasn’t your fault.”
* * * * *
3 Months Later
“Angel, hurry up! We’re gonna be late!” He heard his fiance’s voice call to him.
“I’m coming.” He called to her. He walked out to her and smiled, “How was I ever lucky enough to get you?” Willow laughed and shook her head, replying, “I don’t know, Angel. I don’t know.”
The End