Notes: Oz and Willow broke up just after High School graduation. During that first summer break, Willow managed to find a spell to un-rat Amy. Faith died while in her coma. Everything else in AU.
 
 
 

Part One

“Angel…”

“Yes, Buffy.”

“Promise me that you will look after her.”

“I always have done.”

“That’s not what I meant…” Cough, cough. “… And you know it, you blasted
vampire.”

“Buff…”

“No Angel! Ever since we discovered that somehow she had become immortal,
Willow has withdrawn deep into herself. She won’t even talk to Giles about
it. She says she’s fine and goes back to hiding behind her computer.”

“Buffy, you know she won’t even see me. It’s why you called me home after
all.” There was a strange note of agony in the handsome vampire’s voice when
he finally spoke. I haven’t seen her in two months as it is.”

“I’m so aware of that.”

“And Harris hasn’t helped matters by upping and leaving the way he did after
he found out.” His voice was filled with barely controlled anger and
contempt as for a moment his game face emerged. “That alone, I know, has
hurt her beyond belief.”

“Angel, please. Would you at least try to understand what Xander must have
been feeling? He was dealt at least two major harsh blows in the same week.
I mean, first finding out that one of your best friends is dying is hard
enough but to then find out that his lifetime best friend is never going to
age, let alone die, is like a major bad here. It’s no wonder he flipped.”

“I’m sorry Buffy, but I can’t.” Angel growled. “I don’t care how harsh a
blow he was dealt. It doesn’t excuse the fact that he just upped and left
with out a word to anyone. He’s turned his back on both of you when you
needed him the most.”

“Alright, I’ll give in on that point.” She sighed deeply. “Xander is just
going to have live with the decisions that he’s made, and so do we. He’s
chosen not to be a part of this any more but if we’re lucky, we won’t lose
Willow as well.”

“And just how are we going to do that. She’s not speaking to any of us,
Buffy.”

“That’s where you come in, but first, there’s something I need you to tell
me the truth about.” The now fragile blonde turned a deeply serious gaze to
her former boyfriend. “Something extremely important.”

“And what exactly would that be?” He asked, suddenly cautious.

Buffy paused for a moment, as if choosing what exactly to say. She obviously
won an internal battle for a determined look appeared in her eyes.

“Angel, are you in love with Willow?”

“We do happen to be talking about Willow, Buffy. You can’t help but love
her. You of all people should know that.”

“An…gel.” She dragged his name out. “I’m being serious here and you know
exactly what I meant, so stop prevaricating. Are you in love with my best
friend and I want the truth this time.”

Instead of answering her, he stood up and walked slowly over the open
window. Resting his hand on the frame, he looked out over the garden created
by the two girls through out university, and took in an unnecessary deep
breath. To his slight shock, the young woman they were discussing was
walking with uncharacteristic listlessness around it.

The silver moonlight shone down upon her as it illuminated her lovely face.
At the same time it almost seemed to emphasise the aura of deep isolation
that now surrounded her.

As she stopped to smell some roses, he leant against the frame and finally
answered the Slayer’s question.

“Yes, I love her, Buffy, and for a lot longer than you realise.” His voice
was low, his dark gaze fastened upon the slender figure below. “You have no
idea just how long I’ve loved her. I don’t think I did till now, so how
could you.”

“I’m not quite sure I want to know what you mean by that.”

“May be so, but you know I owe everything that I am today to her, Buffy.”

“Gratitude is not what I wanted to hear, Angel.”

“Alright, darn you. I’m in love with Willow. If you must have the truth, I
think I could quite easily adore her.” He almost exploded, still watching
her.

“Yes, that’s what I thought.” Buffy said with a slightly relieved smile,
adjusting her position slightly. “Now here’s how I think we should go. The
plan itself.” She took a deep breath, steeling herself. “It’s time you told
her, Angel.”

He swung round to stare at her, simply astounded. “Don’t be so idiotic,
Buffy. I can’t just tell her. This is Willow we’re talking about.”

“I know exactly who she is, what ever you and Giles may think.” She started
to cough again. “And yes, I think you can just tell her.”

“It’s too simplistic. It just won’t work.” He returned to the bedside and
handed her the glass from the bedside. As she took a sip, he continued. “It
really won’t work.”

“I think it will because it is Willow we’re dealing with, but on the other
hand if you went to her right now it wouldn’t.” Buffy put her glass back.
“So that’s where Cordy and I are going to help you out.”

“I’m quite capable of courting Willow by myself, and if you two get
involved, I’ll never stand a chance.”

“Then how come we haven’t seen much evidence of it so far.” Buffy threw
back. “And don’t be so insulting.  You’re almost as bad as Giles. He’s
waiting for the Hellmouth to throw something in for added flavour.”

Angel looked over to the doorway where the Watcher had been listening. “Are
you, Giles?” He asked with a grin.
“I believe I may have said something along those lines, Angel.” Rupert Giles
replied as he entered the room. An uncharacteristically sly grin crossed his
face. “I came to tell you that we’ve had a sudden loss of power in the
library.”

Vampire and slayer looked at each other in puzzlement.

“We never noticed anything,” Buffy informed her Watcher.

“It was a localised incident. Only the library was effected.” He sat down in
the chair opposite his Slayer’s bed, the sly grin still on his face. “I
believe your mother pulled the fuse.”

“Giles!” Buffy exclaimed in shock, turning to stare at her mother as she
arrived. “Mom!”

“It was the only way that we could think of, dear.” Joyce Summers replied as
she moved into her daughter’s bedroom, a similar smile to Giles’s lighting
up her eyes. “Willow has hidden behind her computer for far too long. A
drastic plan of action was needed.”

“So where is Will now. This is normally the first place that she head for.”
Her daughter asked after laughing slightly. She didn’t notice the look Angel
immediately threw at the window.

Joyce Summers, on the other hand, did not. She had been looking for it, and
seeing it her internal smile grew. “Willow has gone out into the garden to
clear her head. She said something about a slight headache.”

Buffy did not miss the look that her mother and her watcher shared, however.
“Something’s happened, hasn’t it. Something unexpected to do with Wills.”

“Yes, it has.” Giles responded immediately to the concerned note in her
voice, leaning forward to reassure her. “For the first time since we
discovered that she was immortal, Willow broke down ad cried this
afternoon.”

“Oh poor Willow.” Buffy sighed.

Of the mortals, only she could really understand what it was like to have
your destiny change with out warning, but only the vampire could appreciate
the shock of knowing that she was going to live forever would be like for
the redhead. The two shared a swift understanding look before Buffy turned
back to her Watcher.

“How is she now, Giles?

“She’s a little subdued as you would expect, but I think she may be ready to
talk.” Her Watcher replied.

“But only to the right person.” Joyce inserted before directing her next
comment to the vampire. “To you in fact, Angel. She knows you’re here
because she said so, so why don’t you go and find her. I know for certain
that she feels guilty about shutting you out when you arrived.”

“I’ll see you later, Buffy.” Seconds later and a burst of vampire speed, he
was gone.

Buffy stared at her mother in open-mouth astonishment and just a little
annoyed. “But… but mom, I had a plan.” She found herself stuttering.

“And he’s just about to do the most important bit.” Joyce leant down and
kissed her daughter’s pale cheek. “Buffy dear, love has neither rhyme nor
reason. It most definitely does not have the sort of plan you were dreaming
up.”

“But it was going to be such a good one. One of my best.” She moaned
slightly, lying back against her pillows.

“I’m quite sure that it was, dear.” Her mother responded softly. “Now,
you’ve been up long enough for today. Try and get some sleep now.”
“But… I… haven’t… talked… to Willow.” Her daughter replied as her eyes
started to close by them selves.

“In the morning.” Giles suggested quietly. “After she’s spoken to Angel, I
think she will have had enough for today as well.”

As the exhausted Slayer fell asleep, her Watcher and mother moved to the
open window.

Down below, the dark haired vampire had just entered the garden. He was
standing watching the petite slender redhead as she sat on a stone bench,
looking down at her feet.

He appeared to say something, causing her to look up. They watched as she
stood up, her eyes raising to his handsome face. For a few moments, they
appeared to talk, and then the redhead launched into a run that ended in the
vampire’s open arms.

They sank to the ground, the vampire cradling what appeared to be a sobbing
Willow. He rocked her back and forth, running his hand in soothing movements
up and down her back, obviously trying to comfort her.

Giles let out a soft sigh. “Thank God! I was beginning to be that would
never be a possibility. Especially when she refused to even see him.”

“He’ll bring her back to us, Rupert.” Joyce said quietly, linking her arm in
his as for a moment she laid her head on his shoulder. “I have complete and
utter confidence in his ability to do so. Especially with the way those two
feel about each other.”

“And just what do you mean by that?”

“Rupert, for a Watcher, you are sometimes remarkably unobservant.” Joyce
said in a tone that was annoyingly knowing. “Willow has been in love with
Angel for quite some time. She’s just done a very good job of concealing
from all of us. Buffy and I wormed it out of her after his last visit when
she was just a little too worried for his safety. As for Angel, well lets
just say his cryptic persona has always been absent when Willow was anywhere
near him, especially since his return from Hell.”

“Yes… well…” He said slightly embarrassed. He turned from the window to look
at the sleeping Slayer. “She’s fading away, Joyce. Slowly but surely, she’s
fading away.”

“I know. She has one last goal, Rupert.” She indicated the couple in the
garden. “That was her most important one.”

“And finding him will be difficult.” The Watcher said strongly. “Cordelia
and Doyle have come up against several blank walls already.”

“Buffy will persuade Willow and Angel to persuade him.”

“She’ll have an extremely hard time in doing so. Quite frankly, I will be
surprised if Angel agrees. He can barely stop growling when anyone even
alludes to him.”

“He’ll do it for Willow though. They both will.”

“I still really don’t understand why she want to speak to Spike of all
vampires. It’s not as if he’s that fond of him either.”

“She has her reasons, Rupert. That’s all we need to know.”

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Angel walked slowly out into the garden and stopped, his gaze falling upon
the petite redhead who meant more to him than he would ever be able to be
put into words. Yes, he did love her. In truth, he adored her but it went
even deeper than that. It always had. He was connected to her in a way that
went to the very roots of her existence.

He lived, or unlived for the more pedantic, to be a part of her life these
days. H wanted to be at her side, working with her, protecting her and most
definitely loving her. He smiled ironically to himself. It always appeared
to be at times like this when everything became clear to him.

In becoming a vampire, everything he had ever been, all that he had ever
done over the past two and a half centuries, even as Angelus had always had
one purpose, he realised; to bring him to Willow here and now.

In a way, his presence had been the catalyst needed to bring about the most
important changes that had happened to the redhead hacker witch, as well as
the Slayer’s.

Even the original curse that had given his soul back the first time. Just so
that she could give it back to him when he had lost it again and then to go
on to anchor it.

His internal smile changed to one of deep concern as he watched the redhead.
She was looking down at her feet in a way that was uniquely her own. He
suddenly realised that she was surrounded by an aura of loneliness and
isolation he had not seen for a long time.

“Willow.” He called her name softly and her head rose slowly, a strange
expression in her green eyes as she realised exactly who had spoken.

“Angel.” She stood up gradually, sighing deeply. “I suppose I should have
known. You always manage to turn up when I need to talk to someone.”

“You’ve done the same for me, sweetheart, more times than I can remember.”
He smiled gently at her but the slight look of reproach in his dark eyes
spoke of his real purpose. “You’ve been shutting us out, Wills. It’s just
not like you.”

“I know I have and I am so sorry.” She lowered her head for a moment and
when she raised it, her beautiful green eyes were full of shining tears. “I
really didn’t mean to, Angel. Not you or Giles, but not you, especially not
you. It just got… too much for me all of a sudden.”

A choked sob escaped her tight emotional control. “Goddess, Angel, I even
shut out Buffy and she needs me right now. How could I be so selfish.”

“She understands, sweetheart. We all do, believe me.” He immediately tried
to soothe the little redhead. “And no-one thinks you’re selfish. Anything
but, so come here, little one.”

She threw herself across the garden, landing with an almost resounding thump
in his open arms. Her own wrapped tightly around his neck, and for a second
the vampire was glad he no longer needed to breathe. Feeling the slight
desperateness in her fierce embrace, he tightened his own around her.

“I’m scared, Angel. So scared.” Her low voice came out even lower, muffled
against his neck.

“I know you are, baby.” He murmured into her silky hair as she started to
cry. He ran a comforting hand down her back as the sobs grew more
heartbroken before sinking to the ground with her, cradling her against his
body. She now lay half across him, head buried against his chest. He started
to rock her back and forth, continuing to run his hand in soothing strokes
down her hair and back. “Just remember, I’ll always be here for you.”

It was at this point that the two watchers in the upper window turned away,
thereby unknowingly missing the most important part of the little drama
being enacted below. They also missed just how much their fears regarding
the redhead witch were about to be alleviated.

The petite redhead drew back slightly, resting against his raised knee, the
strange expression back in her eyes. She scanned his face for a moment, as
if searching for something.

“Why?” She asked simply, tears continuing to fall down her face. “Because
we’re both immortal now. Tell me why. Angel?”

He gently wiped away the tears before cupping her cheek. “Are you sure that
you want to know the real reason, Willow?”

“Yes… yes, I think I do.”

He looked deep into her green eyes, his own darkening. “Then it’s because
I’m in love with you. I love you, Willow Rosenberg.”

“You… you do!” She stuttered, completely stunned. The sudden shock though
actually helped her to regain control of her wavering emotions. She promptly
lowered her wide gaze. “But what about Kate… Angel, what about Buffy.”

Gently cupping her cheek, he rested his thumb on her lips and stopped her
nervous rambling. He raised her gaze back to his own and her hands fell to
rest on his shoulders. “Willow, sweetheart, Kate is just a friend, a
colleague that helps out every so often, and as for Buff…”

He looked up at the Slayer’s window for a moment, before returning his
attention completely to the redhead that had completely taken her place in
his heart and his unlife. “You of all people know that when we decided to be
just friends three years ago, it would be a friendship that’s worked better
for us than anything else we may have had going and it has.”

Willow looked at him, still slightly confused and finding it hard to believe
what he was telling her. Out of nowhere though, she felt a small flame of
hope begin to burn deep within her. “Angel, what are you saying? I don’t
understand.”

“You don’t believe me, you mean.” He replied calmly as a feeling of strange
confidence entered his own subconscious.  “And as for your point about
Buffy, she is well aware of how I feel about you.”

“Buffy knows how you feel about me!”

Willow jumped to her feet and moved away from the vampire, her mind in
complete chaos, hand balled against her stomach. She also felt strangely
bereft at losing touch with him “Oh Goddess, this isn’t happening to me. I’m
dreaming. I have to be.”

Angel jumped to his feet with his usual vampire grace and followed her,
catching her firmly by the shoulders. He drew her back against him and a
shudder went through her slight frame. “Will, believe me when I say this is
no dream, and Buffy not only knows…”

He turned her round and looked down into her confused green eyes. He traced
her lip with a loving finger and a blush crossed her pale skin as he
caressed her cheek. “Sweetheart, she approves.”

If possible, her eyes grew even wider as the flame within her grew even
stronger. “She… she does!”

“Yes, she does.” He drew her closer, moving his hands into her hair and
lowered his head, kissing her softly. She drew back and Angel leant his
forehead on hers. “Which leads me to believe, little one, there’s something
going on here I don’t know about. Something you have to tell me perhaps.”

“Angel…” She almost squealed his name in her shock as she turned her head
aside.

“Believe me, Willow.” He whispered, dropping his hands to her waist. “I do
love you.”

‘Find the confidence to believe me, Wills.’ He said to himself. ‘Please
sweetheart.’

Willow’s thoughts were running almost in a parallel fashion as her hands
came to rest on his forearms. She could actually feel the flame of hope grow
strong enough to break the barrier of despair that had surrounded her soul
in recent months. Without warning, her deepest and most yearned for wish was
coming true.
‘Carpe diem, Wills.’ She could almost hear the Slayer say in her mind, just
like on the first day that they had met.

‘I’m going to, Buffy. I’m really going to for once in my life.’ She replied
and she could almost hear her friend laugh happily.

Taking a deep breath, she gathered her newly rediscovered courage and
confidence then looked up into the vampire’s handsome face. She fastened her
bright green eyes on his chocolate brown ones only to find herself
breathless at the emotions concealed there.

“Angel.” Her name left his lips with a husky breath as she reached up to
brush a lock of spiky hair back into place, before tracing the curves of his
handsome face with soft caressing fingers. The look of pure wonderment and
joy in her eyes grew as she truly began to believe the promise of forever in
his.

Reaching up on tiptoes, she brushed her lips against his. “I… I love you
too, Angel.”

A sense of pure relief went through Angel as she finally confirmed what he
had been desperately hoping for and he pulled her closer. Wrapping his arms
around her, he lowered his head once more and this time she raised her own
lips to meet his.

Many kisses have been written about over the centuries but none could ever
hope to meet the sheer poetry and significance that this one had.

This kiss was full of meaning, a completeness that joined two people
together as fate had always planned for them to be. This kiss confirmed the
bond they had always shared and that had been unknowingly strengthened with
the restoration of his soul, then his return from Hell.

This kiss spoke of a passion that would burn forever and dreams that would
be fulfilled. This kiss spoke of a love that was already stronger than most
and would only grow stronger with every day, every year that would pass.

This kiss was right.

They drew slowly apart, lips lingering for a final taste of each other’s
essence and leaving the redhead breathless as she rested her small hand on
his pale cheek. “But we have to take it one day at a time, Angel. For both
of us.”

Catching her hand with his own, he drew it to his lips and pressed a kiss to
her palm, sending shivers down her spine as he lingered. “Whatever you want,
darling. We have all the time in the world to love forever.”

“To love forever.” She repeated with a childlike wonderment. “Being immortal
does have an up side after all.”

“Oh yes, baby.” He drew her back again and she rested her head in the crook
of his shoulder, a place that seemed made for her. He suddenly chuckled.
“Remind me to tell you what Buffy said this evening when we were talking.”

Willow swallowed a choked sob, her arms going round his waist. “She really
needs us now, Angel. More than she ever has as the Slayer.”

“I know she does, little one, and you’ll be there for her just like you
always have.” The vampire accepted the sudden change in subject, resting his
head on hers as he felt her shake slightly. “She needs your heart’s strength
now, Will, especially now she’s fading from life.”

“She is… is fading, isn’t she, Angel.” The redhead swallowed a sob again.
“Oh god, it hurts so, Angel. It still hurts knowing that… that Buff’s the
first. She’s still too young. It’s not fair; it’s just not fair. Why are the
fates being so cruel.”

With a sob that almost broke his non-beating heart, she buried her head
against his chest, the tears falling freely once more. Almost able to feel
her pain, she started to rock her back and forth, running his hand up and
down her back in the same soothing rhythm as before. He rested his head on
hers again, a single red tear running down his cheek.

“I know it’s not fair, little one. It’s not fair to either of you.” He
murmured into her hair. “But perhaps the fates felt you two were the only
ones strong enough to accept the destiny they’ve given you.”

She didn’t respond, just clinging to him as he continued to rock her. As he
murmured non-sensensical and calming words into her silky hair, he could
feel her begin to fall into an exhausted emotional sleep in his embrace. He
lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest and gently kissed
her forehead.

“Angel.” His name left her lips as she put her arms around his neck
drowsily. “I do love you.”

A smile lit up his dark eyes and he gently pressed a second kiss to her
forehead. “I love you too, sweetheart.” He murmured back, holding her even
closer. “And I will for all eternity.”

He was rewarded with a beautiful smile from the redhead as she closed her
eyes and rested her head on his shoulder.

Turning, he walked slowly back towards the house, entering through the open
French windows of the library. As he moved through the open curtains, he
found himself looking at the two mortal adults as they cleared and tidied up
the current prophecy.

Hearing them enter, Giles looked up and immediately crossed to his side, a
slightly worried look in his dark eyes. “Angel…” He broke off.

“I’ve got her back, Giles.”

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
 

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