"Hi there, something wrong?"

Willow turned round to find a beautiful young woman looking at her
with concerned eyes. A puzzled look went through her own green eyes
as she suddenly felt as if she knew her, and in that same moment knew
she could trust her.

"Yes, I mean no."

"You're not sure I take it, so your problem must be a
man." It was
accompanied by a musical laugh. "Want to talk to an unbiased
stranger?"

"Actually yes. If you want to listen that is..." Willow moved
along
her seat a little and the woman sat down beside her.

"Sweetheart, when a girl looks like you did a moment ago, I'm
always
ready to listen." The other woman replied.

*The fact that it's your job doesn't hurt either, does it! *

<Shut up, sister! >

"So what's your problem..."

The redhead sighed, looking down at her hands. "I suppose you
could
say I have a problem with a man. It's more like my life."

"The describe the man to me." It came out more as a command
than a
request. "Let me see him through your eyes."

The normally bright green eyes suddenly turned dreamy and it was
obvious to the closely watching blonde, she didn't even know it
had
happened.

"He's... well, tall, fit, gorgeously, even dangerously
handsome. Dark
eyes that remind you of molten chocolate. Dark brown hair that make
you want to run your fingers through it again and again.  He's
gentle, caring but he's strong, powerful. Sometimes he wear it
like a
shield, others, he tries to hide in the shadows but never from me.
And he listens to you. I don't mean just what you say but what
you
don't say."

"Go on, Willow." The older woman said softly, laying her hand
on hers.

"He listens to me. Sometimes I think he's the only person
that does.
Especially since he came back from... from Hell. We... we seem to
talk with out using words. He's been there for me when no-one
else
has even wanted to know."

"And you've been there for him, haven't you Willow."
The elder
woman's voice grew even softer. "Every nightmare, stopping
him
brooding."

"He needed someone." Willow's eyes started to clear a
slight blush in
her pale cheeks.

"He needed you." Simple but the truth. "You're in
love with him and
he's in love with you."

"But... but he can't. I can't!" Willow almost wailed,
paling as she
jumped to her feet and moved away. "I can't be. I just
can't!"

"Why not?"

"Because he's Buffy's... and I have Oz."

"Is he, Willow? Do you?"

"No! I mean, Yes! Oh Goddess, I'm so confused, I don't
understand."
Willow literally collapsed to the ground, her eyes shimmering with
tears as she looked back at the woman.

*So what are you going to do now. You're going to have to admit
to
knowing more than you should... if you were a real stranger. *

<Play it by ear of course. It's what I do best after all and
there's
nothing else I can do. I can't let her be broken by this, not now
the
pair of them are almost on the right path. >

*That's why we decided you were the best person for the job,
remember. *

<Like you said, love is my job! >

*Don't gloat! *

<Then butt out and leave me to it! >

Steeling herself, she turned her mind back to the girl before her.
"Willow child..."

Willow was visibly pulling herself. Hearing her name, she rose and
returned to the seat, looking at the woman however with pain-filled
eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall apart like that.
It's not me."

The elder woman immediately took one of her hands in her own,
ignoring the feeling of disbelief and amazement being sent to her by
her invisible companion. Her own gaze was tinged with growing respect
for this petite redhead and a little shocked by the amount of power
running through her.

"Sweetheart, I just threw you a ball right out of left field.
You're
entitled to feel that wee bit wiggy, I'd say."

"I've got a question though."

"Then shoot."

"How do you know my name? I haven't told you it."

*Oops! Have we slipped up! *

<SHUT UP! >

"Let's just I wasn't quite honest when I first spoke to
you."

"Meaning..." Willow completely confused, asked. Even though
her
emotional senses were in turmoil, her newly awakened Wiccan senses
were still telling her that this woman could be trusted.

"Have you ever heard of the Powers That Be?"

"Yes, Angel mentioned them in connection with this demon guide he
has. Whistler." She smiled suddenly, her whole face lighting up
as
she mentioned the vampire before the sadness returned once more.

"Let's just say I sort of connected to them."

*There's an understatement! *

"Oh! OH!" Willow replied, her brow creasing slightly.
"But that still
doesn't explain how you know my name."

"We know all about the Scooby Gang, Willow, thanks to Whistler.
In
fact, if I'm honest, we're rather proud of you all." She
squeezed
Willow's hand. "You don't find very many mortals fighting
evil these
days, I can tell you."

"Huh!"

"A conversation for another day, I think." The older woman
replied
smoothly. "We're severely off track, so back to what we
we're talking
about."

"I'm not sure..." Willow began.

"Uh uh! sweetheart, way too late to back out now." She
grinned. "Time
to swim. Can I ask you something "

"Well, I suppose so." Willow replied, eyes widening.
"What?"

"Has the Slayer returned?"

Willow shook herself, turning slightly away and when she spoke her
voice was tense. "No."

"Then why did you refer to him as Buffy's. From what I
gather, he
hasn't been hers since that stupid original curse was broken."

"But... but isn't that why he was sent back from Hell."
Willow was
becoming totally confused. "Because Buffy needed him."

"My dear child, how can a person be sent back for someone who
isn't
even in the same town. Let alone the same state. Especially that
selfish chit. Quite frankly, he was sent back because YOU needed
him."

*Couldn't you find a bigger sledgehammer to hit the poor girl
with! *

<For once, subtly is a total bummer. Live with it! >

*That's news to me. I didn't think you even knew what the
word meant!
*

<Hah! Remind me to laugh later. >

"He was sent back for me!!" The redhead exclaimed
incredulously.

"Have you noticed him hanging around anyone else since he got
back
from that awful place Acathla took him to."

"Well, no, but I just thought that was because..."

The woman lay a finger on her lips. "Willow, Angel wouldn't
protect
you just because you restored his soul permanently. Believe me, my
dear. He has deep feelings for you."

"But Buffy?"

"Child, she has rescinded her part in this play of life." The
woman
replied almost harshly. "Let her go, Willow. Holding onto the
hope
that she will return will only hurt you."

Willow swallowed, her heart heavy. "I just can't do that."

"Try my girl. I know it's not in your nature, but I really
advise
trying." She patted her cheek gently. "Now to your other
problem. Do
you really believe you are still in love with Oz."

Willow blushed violently and lowered her gaze. "No." She said
in a
low voice.

"Good because you may be about to find out something about him
you
really won't like." She rose suddenly. "Now I have to go.
Think about
what I've said Willow and go let that handsome vampire of yours
know
about the state of his soul."

She started to walk away, leaving a stunned redhead behind her. The
small girl only just pulled herself together as she was almost out of
hearing. "But what's your name?"

"You can call me Ven." The soft reply came floating back.
"Dusk is
coming, Willow. You know the risks. Go home."

When Willow looked for her again, she was gone. In the same moment,
two words floated to the forefront of her mind. "Soul
permanently."

Seconds later, she was gone.

End

read the sequel 'Permanent Condition'

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