PARTS: 6 - 9
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~Part: 6~
When Giles found them, almost half an hour later, they were still like that, half sitting, half laying on the bed, their arms wrapped tightly around each other as they both cried tears of helplessness and fear. Giles paused in the doorway of the bedroom, fearing he was intruding on some deeply personal moment. His fears were justified when he heard Angel whispering terms of endearment and proclamations of love into Willow's ear. It was as if his words were meant not only to reassure the girl in his arms but himself. Stunned, Giles took a step back into the shadows beyond the entrance so he wouldn't be seen. He had to admit he'd suspected some of the feelings Willow and Angel had developed for each other in the last year but he could never have begun to imagine the depth. He'd known they'd grown close, but he'd honestly hoped it was only in terms of friendship, and he couldn't help but hope that was still the case, that he'd misunderstood Angel's words. He'd already gone through this exact scenario with his slayer, God knows he didn't need to be put through it again, because no matter how much they loved each other, he knew a relationship between Willow and Angel would never work, and once he explained everything to them, they would realize it too. He only hoped they weren't so far gone in their feelings that they couldn't shove them aside.
Hating to intrude but knowing he had no choice, the Watcher stepped forward, clearing his throat as a signal to the young lovers of his presence. Instead of springing apart guiltily, as Giles might have expected, Willow merely lifted her head from Angel's shoulder and fixed her quivering gaze on Giles. She didn't blush or break the compromising position at his presence, as she might have only a day ago. Too much had happened in such a short time to allow her to even think of her old reservations, much less act on them. "Giles- what are you… well, I guess Angel called you then." Her voice was hoarse from her crying but she spoke clearly, her eyes drying as she prepared to face what was to come. "I guess you know, huh."
Giles stepped forward, absently cleaning the lenses of his glasses, the tell tale sign of his embarrassment. Stammering, Giles answered, wishing Angel would release the girl and end their embrace and his own discomfort. "Yes… I uh, I know that and a great deal more. That's why I came here as soon as I could. There are some things I need to discuss with you, Willow. I was hoping we could do this in private, but since Angel is going to know about this eventually, and I suppose you, uh, want his presence, I suppose I should just say what I need to say right now."
Angel tensed at the tone of Giles' voice, shifting his body so he was no longer facing away from the Watcher and could see the play of emotions across his face as he spoke. Reluctant to relinquish his hold on Willow, Angel leaned back against the pillows, pulling Willow against him so she was sitting at his side, her body leaning against his, his arm able to remain comfortably around her waist. Angel frowned, wondering if he had imagined the glimmer of annoyance in Giles' gaze as his eyes swept over the juncture of Angel's hand and the skin of Willow's stomach, but it was gone before he could process it, and then Giles was speaking.
"Willow, I know what the doctors told you, and though I'm sure they told you what they knew to the best of their abilities, I know some things that they don't, and once I tell you, you'll understand why I'm concerned about these new developments with your health."
The skin of Willow's forehead creased in confusion. "What could be of greater concern than learning I'm going to die?"
Giles flinched at Willow's almost casual tone, but he pressed on, regardless. "Well, I must apologize for not coming to you with this sooner. In truth, I should have spoken to you on your 18th birthday, as that was the day the changes were to begin. Though the Council urged me to reveal everything to you then, I thought it best to wait, since we already had so much going on, what with graduation and trying to prepare Faith for her battle with the Mayor. So I waited- and I had actually asked you to meet me at my house today so I could talk to you about this very issue."
"Giles!" Willow interrupted the Watcher's babbling, growing anxious as he dragged out his point. "What exactly is it you were going to tell me?"
Giles drew in a sharp breath. "Well, you see, you can't have cancer, Willow. It's quite impossible because, well, uh, you're the Immortal Watcher." Giles waited as his revelation sunk in. The looks of utter disbelief and skepticism on the couple's faces couldn't help but produce a wry grin from him.
Angel seemed to accept the news rather well, which was understandable in light of the fact he had centuries of experience in dealing with surprises to draw upon. He glanced down at the petit girl in his arms with a mixture of reverence and awe. He'd met the last Immortal Watcher only once, and it was during his soulless days. Even Angelus hadn't wanted to mess with Merrick, deciding it best to skip town than face the Immortal Watcher. Merrick had had a lot of power. To think that Willow- his Willow- would one day be that powerful. Well, it was a little overwhelming. Willow, on the other hand, went with flat out denial. Laughing, Willow stated her opinion in no uncertain terms. "No, I'm not Giles."
"Willow, I'm quite certain that you are indeed the next Immortal Watcher. There really isn't any doubt. It's been known since before your actual birth."
Willow was barely listening, her body consumed by the hysterical laughter bubbling out of her throat. "Giles, the whole idea is so absurd. I mean, first of all, I'm not even immortal. I'm still growing and changing, like I always have. If I was immortal then why would that still be happening?"
With a sigh, Giles pulled a desk chair up to the edge of the bed, deciding it would be best he got comfortable since he'd assuredly have a lot of explaining to do before he was able to convince Willow he was serious. "Actually, though technically you are still aging, your body's metabolism is no longer operating at the same pace it used to, but has in fact doubled. When you turned 18, your body began to go through the changes to Immortality. Because the process is rather slow, your human body is attempting to adapt itself to the immortal metabolism that is slowly taking root within you. The two natures are briefly dueling, and so you are aging at double your normal rate. But there's no need to panic. The process will be over in a few months, leaving you at the natural age of about 19 for… well, forever."
Willow stopped laughing, apparently thrown off guard by the detailed answer Giles had prepared. Of course, she still wasn't convinced. "Well, if I'm supposed to be immortal then why do I have cancer? You're saying that it's impossible, but, Giles, I can feel what's inside me. Something's wrong with my body, and the pain is very real. I'm definitely not imagining it. I mean, that's not a part of the process is it, cause if so I'm going to have decline this not so great honor, cause the pain is killing me, no pun intended."
Giles appeared as confused as Willow was feeling. "That's exactly why I'm concerned. From what I've been told, there isn't supposed to be any pain, though the last person to go through the process was Merrick, and he experienced it well over a millenium ago, so my information is sort of, well, dated. The point is, the transition is supposed to be a relatively smooth one. You're not supposed to notice any of the changes until about the fourth month of the process. As for illnesses, well, once your body starts the change, it's supposed to wipe out any deficiencies or weaknesses, including any illnesses that haven't manifested themselves before that point, such as cancer. If your body had cancer cells in it, the Immortality would wipe it out of existence, not speed up its incubation period. Which is why I'm worried about the tumors your doctor discovered within you. They should not exist, but if they indeed do, we need to find out why. Whatever the reason, I'm afraid the effects won't be positive on your changing."
The worry that was evident in both Giles' tone and expression quickly sobered Willow's jovial mood. "How are you so sure I'm the one?"
"There was a prophecy that foretold your birth. The Council located your parents while your mother was pregnant with you. We never told them, figuring it was for the best, but I was sent here to look after you and Buffy, and when your 18th birthday approached, I was to be the one to guide you through the changes. There have been signs confirming that you are indeed the next Immortal Watcher. When you discovered witchcraft and found that you had some power in you, well, that was actually just a latent manifestation of your powers to come. I allowed you to continue your studies without interference because I knew they'd one day be useful when you began your much more serious training."
Willow nodded, apparently willing to accept his explanations. "I don't get a choice in this, do I?"
Giles bent his head in acknowledgement of all she would be giving up as destiny closed its grip on her, forcing duties and responsibilities upon her. As he was only human, his position as a Watcher was still only a job which, hypothetically, he could walk away from whenever he wanted. Giles couldn't relate to the feelings Willow must be experiencing upon the realization of her fate. "No, Willow, I'm afraid not. The Powers That Be have given you their gift, but I'm afraid it's non-refundable, so to speak. You are their chosen one- our leader."
Willow grew silent, overwhelmed by the news. Her destiny, huge and incomprehensible to her fragile ego, which, though a bit stronger than it had used to be, still couldn't wrap itself around the idea of her being the Immortal Watcher. For some reason, Willow was having more trouble accepting the knowledge of her own destiny than she had had accepting the existence of vampires and demons. Then there was the whole immortality issue. Despite the fact that just a short while ago she'd been asking Angel to turn her into a vampire, Willow could not entirely fathom the idea that she was going to be immortal. When she'd considered becoming a vampire as an option it had been to save her from immediate death- the immortality issue hadn't dominated her thoughts or her decision. Of course, that didn't mean Willow had never wondered about what it would be like to be immortal. It was probably a frequent topic of fantasy among those who knew that immortality was indeed a possible reality and not just dime store novel fantasy. Willow had never seriously wanted to become a vampire before she thought she was dying, but she had allowed herself to consider hat it would be like to live forever- to see the end of the 21st century and know first hand if the future of the human race ended up resembling anything close to what science fiction discourse predicted. Angel himself had experience the entire span of the industrial revolution, witnessing first hand some of the most dazzling technological changes human society had ever undergone. Willow was always amazed when she thought about how incredible it must have been to live through these changes, and now, as the new millennium dawned before her and society entered into a new technological age, Willow almost couldn't believe that she was going to be around to witness it. It was quite literally a dream come true. Of course, the part about watching everyone she loved age and eventually die wasn't going to be much fun, but at least she would have Angel with her. At the thought of being able to spend eternity with Angel, the man she loved more than any other and whom she'd just discovered loved her as well, sunk in, Willow couldn't help but grin, bouncing within the cushion of Angel's arms as her excitement got the best of her.
Willow sucked in her breath as a quick stabbing pain in her abdomen brought her back to reality. Giles was definitely right to be worried about her, because something was not right with her body, and Willow had a feeling it had nothing to do with her body's transformation to Immortality.
Willow looked up at Giles, whose face registered his concern quite plainly. "I'm all right, but what are we going to do to find out what's wrong with me, cause I can't take much more of this pain, and if the doctors can't fix it, then who can?"
Giles grew pensive as he considered her question. "I think it's best we contact the Council as soon as possible. They'll be able to send someone who has a greater expertise in the field of immortality than I do. If after that we still aren't sure what's wrong with you then we might have to try going directly to the PTB's."
Angel, who had been silent during the entire conversation, merely trying to process everything Giles was saying and offering his silent support and comfort to Willow through his presence, was propelled into speaking by his surprise over Giles' last statement. "You can speak to the PTB's, directly? I thought that was impossible?"
Giles glanced sharply at the vampire, surprised that Angel even knew anything about the PTB's. He couldn't help but wonder how he did, since most vampires were oblivious to anything beyond earthly affairs, answered quickly. "No, no, of course… you're quite right. The PTB's don't speak directly to humans- what I meant was we would go through the proper channels to speak to them, such as the Oracles, or perhaps one of their emissaries. The Council has many contacts that deal directly with the PTB's that should be able to help us." Giles stood slowly, preparing to leave. "Now, as long as there's nothing else we need to discuss right this moment, I should be going. I'll be at my home, in case anything comes up, and I will check in as soon as I have any new information. Are you two going to be all right?" He waited for an answer, half hoping Willow would ask him to stay, as he was extremely hesitant to leave the Immortal Watcher in the hands of a vampire, any vampire, even Angel. Though Giles had made great strives towards forgiving the vampire for all the havoc he had caused (the demon had caused, he amended in his mind, a reaction to all the times Willow had hammered that point into all of their heads), he still wasn't entirely easy with granting the vampire such huge leap of faith- trusting him with the care of someone so vitally important to not only him but the world. For Willow's sake he fought back his desire to take her with him, knowing that she wouldn't take criticism of Angel very well, especially not now.
But Willow just absently thanked Giles, her attention drawn within. Already she seemed to be oblivious to his presence, moving her body closer to Angel's, instinctively seeking comfort from him. Angel also thanked Giles, telling him he'd be in touch if anything happened before he heard from him, and then effectively turned his back on the watcher as well, concern for Willow dominating his thoughts and actions. The Watcher quietly slipped out of the room, leaving the couple on the bed as they whispered words he couldn't hear to each other.
~Part: 7~
Angel watched Willow as she slept within the cradle of his arms. He could only imagine how exhausted she felt, though he had to admit he hadn't expected her to slip into unconsciousness so soon after Giles had left. He supposed the days events had taken their toll on her, not to mention the changes her body was going through and the still unknown disease ravaging her body from inside, fighting against her body's changes. Right after Giles left, Willow had taken two of the painkillers Dr Walker had prescribed and within minutes she'd been out like a light. Angel had immediately cradled her body in his arms and was content merely to watch her sleep.
He loved the way her eyelids cast shadows against the pale globe of her cheeks, and the way her chest rose and fall with each breath she took. He reached trembling fingers up to her forehead, smoothing back stray strands of her silky hair. He never could get enough of the feel of her hair beneath his fingertips. One night he'd spent hours just petting her head while she slept as if she were a cat, feeling like a thief as he indulged in those moments of intimacy without her knowledge. She'd snuggled closer to his obliging hand, as she did now, and that act of unconscious trust had made his chest tighten with longing. Now he could indulge himself without fear of her waking and rebuking his approaches. Though there was still so much they needed to discuss, they had begun to move towards a whole new level of intimacy in their relationship. Angel wanted nothing more than to lean down and kiss those two perfect buds of her lips, which were now slightly parted as she breathed. Never had anything been so tempting to his self control, but he could wait. Now that they knew she was going to be Immortal, that her death no longer hung over their heads like an oppressive fog, Angel didn't feel the need to rush. They had all the time in the world to discover each other.
Watching her now, Angel felt the same old surge of protective possessiveness that usually claimed him while he watched her sleep. Instantly, Giles' concerns of earlier came back to him. He remembered the look of surprise on Giles' face when Angel had expressed knowledge of the PTB's. He knew Giles wondered how Angel even had knowledge of them. There was a lot the Watcher didn't know about him, things he'd thought wisest not to disclose to anyone in Sunnydale, even Willow. He'd never told Willow about how he'd been sent to Sunnydale by Whistler because that had related to Buffy, and they'd both shied away from any topics concerning his former love. Now it looked like the topic was going to have to be broached, because Angel thought there might be something he could do to help Willow.
Whistler was an emissary for the PTB's, one who was directly tied with the events occurring in Sunnydale. The PTB's had sent him specifically for the purpose of influencing the events concerning the slayer and her friends. Angel had been sent to help Buffy directly by the PTB's, though Giles didn't know that. Angel hoped that since he'd been important enough for them to make him a kind of emissary through Whistler, then perhaps he could ask for their help now.
Angel hadn't spoken to Whistler in months, the last time being about three months after his return from Hell, right around the time Willow had permanently anchored his soul. He'd shown up at the mansion, unannounced and unexpected, to personally congratulate the vampire for now permanently being one of the good guys. Whistler had left his latest number for Angel, saying he had some business in LA that would keep him occupied there for some time. That in and of itself was odd. Whistler had never left a number he could be reached at before, always preferring to pay Angel back for his own cryptic nature by taking the role on himself, initiating contact between them at his own leisure. Now Angel couldn't help but wonder if Whistler had known what was going to happen- if he'd left the number specifically for this time and circumstance. If so, Angel was going to let the demon have it for not warning him; for not preparing him for what was to come. Whistler might be his mentor, but the demon definitely could definitely stand a lesson from his pupil, particularly in the area of full disclosure.
Extricating himself as carefully as he could from Willow's body, reluctant to leave her even while she was asleep, Angel rose from the bed. Willow, her body automatically reacting to the loss of his body, reached for a pillow to replace the solidity of his chest, wrapping her arms and resting her head against it. Angel couldn't help but smile at the action. He loved the feeling of being needed by Willow, cause God only knew he needed her as much as his human self had once needed air.
After a quick search of his desk drawers, Angel found the piece of paper Whistler had scribbled his number on. Deciding to make his call in the privacy of the living room, Angel took a seat on the side of his couch that had sustained the least damage from his earlier escapades, and quickly dialed Whistler's number.
"Hello, this is Whistler: demon extraordinare at your service. How may I help you this fine evening?"
Angel grinned, fighting back a chuckle. "Do you always answer your phone that way? I mean, what if this was some courtesy call- what would they think?"
"Angel, my dear soulful vamp friend, How are you?"
"Not too good, as I'm sure you probably realize."
"Ah, yes. I do have to admit I expected to hear you on the other end of my phone line a lot sooner than this- actually, two months and 3 days ago by my count. What happened, lost the number?"
"I see you're as blasé about events surrounding my life as usual." Angel couldn't keep the bitterness out of his tone that time.
Whistler snorted. "Last time I checked, this wasn't directly your life, now was it. Or am I mistaken and you're actually the next Immortal Watcher? Damn it, I hate it when I miss a memo. That's the one problem with the PTB's- they really need to update their courier system. You wouldn't believe how long it takes me to get the latest info sometimes."
"Hey, if anyone's going to be sarcastic during this conversation, it's going to be me."
"I didn't realize the vampire who had cornered the market on brooding knew what sarcasm was. My bad."
"Whistler." Angel growled out as a warning.
"Oh please, let's cease the growling. You know it doesn't scare me. Now, not that I don't love our colorful banter, but I do have things to see and people to do, so what, if anything can I do for you. Did you call just to chastise me for keeping you in the dark? Cause we've been over this before. You know I can only reveal as much as the PTB's allow. It would take too much out of the hands of fate, and you can't imagine what demonic bitches those fates can be. Wait, scratch that, maybe you can."
Angel decided to ignore Whistler's typical attempts at baiting him and get on with finding out what he wanted to know. "First of all, we only just found out tonight."
"Wow, way to procrastinate; and those Watchers are usually so prompt and organized. Well, I suppose he could have done worse and waited longer than two months, when the girl would be going through some of the most obvious changes. It definitely couldn't be ignored then."
"What's going to happen to her?"
Whistler hesitated. "It's nothing you have to worry about. It's all just part of the process, and she's going to end up stronger and more powerful because of it. The only thing you can do is be there for her during it- she's going to need all the support she can get."
"Whistler-don't give me this cryptic 'The PTB's won't allow it' non-information bullshit. I just spent the past 24 hours in hell- so to speak, and don't you dare make that comment I know you've got ready. Willow just went from thinking she had terminal cancer to finding out she'd going to live forever in the span of a day, and you're telling me you can't give me any more information? You haven't seen the pain she's in, Whistler. I'm witnessing it first hand and it's not pretty."
"Wait a minute- what are you talking about?"
Now it was Angel's turn to hesitate, caught off guard by the genuine surprise evident in Whistler's voice. "Don't tell me you don't know about what I'm talking about- the tumors." When Whistler didn't say anything, Angel went on, enunciating every word as if he were explaining to a child. "The tumors in her body the doctors identified as cancer, the immense pain that's been tormenting Willow for the past two months- is any of this ringing a bell? I want to know why this is happening. Giles couldn't explain it but he also said it's been over a millenium since Merrick went through his own transformation, so details on the process are sketchy at best. Is this normal? I mean, if so I can deal with it, but if it's something else- you'd better tell me, cause I won't risk Willow's health just because you're afraid of the fates kicking your ass."
"Angel- reign yourself in and lets start from the beginning. Are you telling me Willow had cancer?"
At first, Angel figured Whistler was just being his typical self, joking around and taunting Angel by withholding information. Heck, he'd done it so often in the past. Now he began to wonder if perhaps he was wrong, and if so, and Whistler really didn't know what was going on, then something could most definitely not be right. "Yeah, she had some tests at the hospital confirming it. Giles said that the change to Immortality was supposed to kill off all diseases in Willow's body, but I thought maybe he was just mistaken, and the tumors were actually part of the process, a sort of death of her human form. Are you telling me you didn't know about this?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Giles is right- this isn't the way it's supposed to happen. Any diseases Willow might have had before she turned 18 are supposed to be killed off by her Immortality, meaning she shouldn't have any tumors. That is definitely not part of the process."
"Whistler, if you know what's wrong then I want to know right now, no bullshit."
"Jeez, Angel, up until 30 seconds ago I didn't know anything was wrong at all, now you want me to give you an explanation. From what you're telling me, something is going wrong with the transformation, but I can't be sure what, and any speculation would be just that- speculation, which wouldn't help anyone. Now, give me some time to see if I can find anything out and I'll get back to you. Angel- it's going to be all right. Whatever this is, it's not going to kill her."
"How can you be so sure," Angel snarled, his fear causing him to turn against his old friend. 'You don't even know what it is. For all you know she could die tomorrow from whatever this is. Can you guarantee she's going to be okay?"
"Fuck. Look, you know as well as I do there are no guarantees in this world. But you also realize how important she is. She's the fucking Immortal watcher, and the last time I checked that means she can't die unless the PTB's have a direct hand in it."
"So what are you saying- the PTB's are behind this?"
"No, they wouldn't get this directly involved. Besides, she's the chosen one- meaning chosen by them. They wouldn't do anything to mess up her transformation. Whatever this is, it's not coming from them. Look, I'm going to speak to them. They'll know what's going on and once I know I'll give you a call. Stay close to your phone."
Angel hung up, realizing that Whistler was right. It was pointless to speculate, especially when it took time away from him actually contacting the PTB's and finding out what the hell was going on.
Angel stood up, too restless to remain still. Instead he found himself pacing before the fireplace. He ran a trembling hand through his hair, trying hard to squelch the tumultuous feelings within him. There was a whirlpool inside of him, threatening to pull every rational thought and ounce of self-control he had under the riptide of his panic. He definitely couldn't handle this seesawing of emotions. First everything was fine, then it wasn't, and then it was again, then back to worse possibilities. If something really was wrong, how could he tell Willow? The emotional roller coaster was turning out to be worse than anything else. It was hard enough on her to learn what fate had in store for her, but to have to find out that a destiny she hadn't even asked for was in jeopardy, endangering her life… well, whatever it was Angel intended to move heaven and earth to fix it. Willow was worth way too much, even without the whole Immortal Watcher thing, for him to just stand by and let fate destroy her.
Deciding it was best not to worry her with what Whistler had said, Angel shoved his own feelings aside and went back to the bedroom. Willow was still fast asleep, only while he was in the other room, she had moved one of her hands up so that it was now balled up into a fist just below her lips. She looked so serene as she slept that Angel couldn't help but wonder how, after everything that happened, her sleep could be so peaceful, her expression so devoid of the turmoil her life had been thrown in to. For Angel it spoke of the steady strength of her character, the innocent beauty of her soul. Willow was, quite literally (as they now knew) one of a kind. He couldn't quite believe how lucky he was to have her in his life, and he was going to do everything he could to make sure she stayed in his life. He might have come to Sunnydale for Buffy, but it was Willow he'd found here, and it was Willow who'd saved him in more ways than one. She was his reason for being now; the reason he woke up every day trying as hard as he could to be worthy of not only her friendship but her love.
Angel crawled back into bed, carefully removing the pillow from Willow's grip and replacing it with his own body. She shifted in her sleep, making room for the new mass surrounding her. Her eyes fluttered open for a moment, her lips curling into a smile as she whispered his name. Angel placed a kiss on her forehead as she slipped back into a deep sleep. Not long after, Angel followed her.
~Part: 8~
"Angel?"
"I'm in the kitchen, Willow. Stay there, I'll be back in a minute."
Willow laid back against the pillows, feeling more than a bit disoriented. She'd woken up to an empty bed and a splitting headache. Her head pounded a staccato rhythm, as if a tiny goblin was hammering into her forehead with his tiny iron hammer. It had taken her a few moments to clear the sleepy cobwebs from her mind and recognize the bed she was in was Angel's. She couldn't get her brain to operate fast enough and recall anything else, especially since there seemed to be hours of dreams to process. Her sleep, however long it had lasted, had not been empty. Instead, images from her dreams flashed before her mind's eye, confusing her. Now that she was awake and slowly regaining her equilibrium, she was finding it hard to understand her dreams, though she sensed she'd understood exactly what they had meant while she was sleeping.
Before she could contemplate the senseless images, Willow picked up the sound of Angel's footsteps as he approached the bedroom. Quickly cursing the lack of a mirror in which she could check her reflection, Willow attempted to smooth down her bed head with her hands. She was sure she looked horrible, considering how she hadn't exactly indulged in beauty care while in the hospital and had just been asleep for God knew how many hours. Willow couldn't help but think of all those famous romance novels she'd read, and how many times the hero professed his love to the heroine when she was looking her absolute worst, like in Gone With the Wind. It would have been so easy for Angel to profess his feelings for her any time during the past year when she didn't look like such a mess, what with bags under her eyes, her hair an unwashed mess, and her body all sore from the strain her illness. But no, Angel had to pick the couple of days where Willow probably looked the worst she ever had. Love sure had a funny way of messing with people.
Angel entered the room slowly, a tray loaded with food balanced in his hands. His face was lit by that sexy little smile Willow was always wishing she could see more often, but unfortunately, Angel wasn't big on smiles. Willow couldn't help but smile back, especially when he came offering gifts.
"I thought you might be hungry when you woke up so I had the grocery store deliver some food and I fixed you some breakfast." Angel leaned down to place the tray on the bedside table and Willow couldn't help but admire the play of muscles beneath the cotton of his white T-shirt as he moved. She wondered how those muscles would feel beneath her questing fingers. She knew how hard his chest was from the numerous times she'd rested against it while falling asleep, but he'd always been modestly covered in clothing, and though she'd naturally seen him without his shirt on before, she'd never been free to explore his body as she'd often fantasized. Perhaps now she'd finally get a chance to indulge in those fantasies.
Angel glanced over and caught Willow's admiring looks. If possible, his smile got even wider. "Aren't you at all interested in what I made for you?" He teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Willow couldn't help but blush. She only hoped Angel didn't realize just which direction her lusty thoughts had been headed. Talk about jumping the gun. After all, they hadn't even kissed yet. For all she knew, he regretted the things he'd said. The other night, well, they both had thought she was dying. Perhaps now that they knew better he didn't feel the same way. It was one thing to tell a person you thought would be gone in a few months time that you loved her- it was quite another to have to say those words to the woman who'd be around for the rest of eternity with you.
Hoping to get over her sudden discomfort, Willow looked at the tray Angel had brought inside. It was laden with some of the most delicious foods she had ever seen, and her mouth began to water just looking at it. She hadn't realized just how hungry she was, but her stomach began to grumble in recognition of its emptiness. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't had a decent meal in days. Her eyes greedily took in the tall, inviting glass of orange juice, the stack of buttermilk pancakes and the two small dishes of strawberries and white frothy whipped cream. She'd never seen a meal that tempted her more than the one Angel had arranged for her.
"Angel, I didn't even know you knew how to cook!" Willow exclaimed, reaching greedily for the juice. Before she could reach it, Angel playfully slapped her hands away.
"Oh no you don't. I made the breakfast, and that means I'm going to be the one to feed it to you." With that being said, Angel settled down beside Willow and proceeded in choosing the juiciest strawberry he could find. Satisfied with his choice, he then dunked the fruit into the cream before bringing the offering up to her lips.
Feeling flustered but also incredibly decadent and pampered, a feeling Willow thought she might definitely be able to get used to, she opened up her lips, her tongue emerging to accept the luscious fruit. Her head lolled backwards onto the pillow as the taste exploded onto her tongue. She absently licked her lips as her mouth enclosed around the fruit, resulting in her mouth and tongue inadvertently wrapping themselves around Angel's finger. Her eyes flew up to meet Angel's, which were sparkling with the lust he was barely able to reign in. He continued to smile as he slowly withdrew his finger from the hot vacuum of her mouth, shifting uncomfortably so as to hide the evidence of his desire from her. He didn't want to scare her by rushing whatever was developing between them.
Willow, meanwhile, was trying to hide the rather pleasurable warmth that had begun to permeate her abdomen as her tongue caressed Angel's digit. She knew the feeling, recognized it immediately as the growing evidence of her own desire for Angel that appeared whenever her thoughts towards him took the turn of the more romantic. Sometimes merely looking at a certain well-proportioned part of his body could cause the warmth to appear and her stomach to tighten with longing. No, food had definitely never tasted this good to her before. She doubted she'd ever be able to eat another strawberry without remembering this day.
The tension in the room was thick and palpable as they stared at each other. When Willow began to once again chew the remaining fruit in her mouth, her cheeks aflame with a mixture of her embarrassment and her desire, Angel turned away and proceeded in preparing another strawberry for consumption. As they both tried to reign their hormones under control, Willow swallowed, cleared her mouth, and decided to bring up some subject that might ease the tension between them. "How long have I been sleeping?"
Angel's body visibly relaxed at Willow's innocuous question. He still wanted to grab her and kiss those lips which were pouty from sleep, licking away with his tongue at the specks of cream now tingeing the outer rims of her mouth. However, he was happy to find that if he directed his attention to other topics he could control his urges rather well. Continuing to feed her, only this time careful not to dip his fingers too closely to the tempting warmth of her mouth, Angel answered. "16 hours by my last count. You've pretty much slept the last day away."
Willow nearly choked on the strawberry. "You're kidding me. I can't believe that- I mean, I've never slept for 16 hours at a stretch in my entire life. I'm usually a 4-5 hour sleep kind of person. Maybe all that sleep I've been neglecting myself for the past 3 years is finally catching up with me."
"Well, don't worry. It's not like this is a signal of your newfound laziness- it's just a result of all the strain your body has been under, not to side effect of your body's transformation. I'm sure it's easier for the Immortality thing to do, well, its thing while your body is expending less energy."
Willow chewed contemplatively, her head cocked to the side causing a cascade of shimmering red strands to fall over her shoulder. Angel found himself momentarily distracted by the movement. The familiar desire to run his hands through those strands overtook him, but she was awake now, and he resisted the urge. Instead, he tried hard to concentrate on what she was asking. "Have you spoken to Giles yet?"
Angel began to feed her the pancakes. "He called a few hours ago but there's no news yet, though the Council is working on it."
Willow only nodded, apparently not too concerned by the news. "I'm sure everything's going to be fine. The Council will find out what's going wrong with the transformation and we'll fix it. Of course, then I'm going to have to deal with my new role, but I can't even think about that right now. It's too mind numbing a concept to wrap my mind around. I mean- can you imagine it. Me immortal! Who would have ever thought it."
Angel didn't want to destroy Willow's optimism by voicing his own fears. He was enjoying this time alone with her, without the intense emotional strain of the past couple of days, that he hated to disrupt it in any way, especially when his own concerns might end up being unsubstantiated. He still hadn't heard back from Whistler yet, so there was no reason to worry her needlessly. Instead, he was going to enjoy this time alone with her, and maybe, if he was lucky, he'd finally get to kiss her as he'd been dreaming about non-stop while she slept. Of course, the best way to bring that about was to broach the topic of their relationship, and pray that Willow returned his feelings now that she didn't believe she was going to die anytime soon. "I always hoped." He stated quietly, so low that he wasn't even sure if she'd heard him. He kept his back turned away from her, busying himself with cutting the remaining pancakes into bite size pieces.
Willow blinked, her heart racing at the hope his words were instilling in it. "What do you mean?" She was amazed at how casual she managed to make the question seem though inside, every hope she had for the two of them as a couple hinged on his answer. Willow held her breath as Angel continued to keep his back to her. She couldn't make out anything from his expression, which she could only see in the slightest profile.
After what seemed like an eternity, Angel turned towards her. His face was a mask for his inner emotions but he couldn't hide the love darkening his eyes. "I mean I always hoped there would be some way I could keep you with me forever; to never have to let you go. I love you, Willow, and I never want to be without you."
Willow remained silent, too busy trying to hold back the grin threatening to break out for fear of Angel misinterpreting it as her not taking him seriously. Instead, Angel ended up misreading her silence as a rejection. His smile began to fade as he withdrew both emotionally and physically from her. "Of course, I'd understand if you didn't feel the same way. I mean, if you were still in love with Oz or something, I'd understand that, or if you just didn't want to be with me, then that's okay. I'd never force you to feel something more for me than you do, and it won't hurt my feelings." Angel swallowed convulsively around the lie. "You can tell me."
Willow couldn't stop herself from laughing this time. The situation was even more surreal than when Giles had confessed that she was the next Immortal Watcher. It was only the hurtful expression on Angel's face that restored some of her self-control and allowed her to speak again. "Angel, no." She grabbed a hold of his retreating form, holding on tightly to his upper arm. "You don't understand. I'm sorry I laughed- it's just… God, you don't know how long I've waited to hear you say those exact words. Actually, I had kind of given up on hoping you could ever feel that way for me. Even after the other night, I was afraid you'd just said those things because of the circumstances, and that maybe you felt differently now. And I don't know where you got that idea about Oz. You were there when we broke up- why would you think I was still in love with him, after all this time?"
Angel remained guarded despite the reassurances she was providing. "I don't know. It's just, you were so sad for so long after he left. I know the break up was mutual, but it probably wouldn't have happened if he hadn't left town with his band. I guess I always wondered if you were still in love with him, and then when you didn't say anything just now, it just seemed like the confirmation of my suspicions. So are you saying you're not in love with him?"
"Angel, I… I've been in love with you for so long. There's no question that I want to spend my life with you, no matter how long it is. You're the only one."
The next thing Willow knew, before the words were even completely out of her mouth, she was pressed tightly against the firm wall of muscles making up Angel's chest. His arms were wrapped tightly around her, holding on as if he was afraid she'd disappear, or perhaps he'd wake up and discover this was a dream, if he let go. Willow felt herself swept up by the waves of Angel's intense, desperate emotions and began to encircle him with her arms, holding on with a force as great as his own.
The kisses started out slow, just the lightest press of Angel's strong, firm lips against the back of her neck. At first Willow barely noticed his attentions, until his lips began to circle around, suckling and nibbling a path around to the skin directly beneath her jaw. Each caress of his lips was heightening the tension within Willow, building her anticipation as he made his way agonizingly slowly up her chin towards her lips. As the ultimate destination was just about to be reached, Angel hesitated, causing Willow to gasp in frustration. Whether he'd meant to or not, Angel had pushed Willow over the edge with his ministrations, resulting in her being the one to finally kiss him. She grabbed the back of his head, her fingers tangling in the silky strands of his hair, and pulled his lips to hers.
The tension fled from both of their bodies as they greedily explored each other with their lips and their tongues. Each searing hot brush of her lips caused Angel's body to shiver with delight until he whimpered in pleasure. He'd always been a rather tactile creature, and the feel of Willow's delicately probing hands as she slipped them away from his hair and under his shirt to explore the contours of his muscular back was driving him over the edge.
Angel adjusted his grip until his hands were clasped together at the small of Willow's back. He was then able to move both of their body's without separating from each other. He laid her down in the middle of the bed and adroitly positioned his own body so he was resting on top of her, his thighs and knees measuring up to hers, his lips still connected to hers as they continued to kiss. Angel slipped his hands out from underneath Willow's body and began to explore the soft skin of her stomach beneath her shirt. Willow was the next to whimper as his fingers tickled the skin just underneath the fall of her breasts.
Willow almost growled in frustration as Angel ignored the arching of her back which would have placed the soft mounds of her breasts firmly in his grasp. Instead, his hands traveled upwards to rest firmly on her shoulders, exerting the slightest of pressure to hold her down. His mouth continued it's assault on hers, drawing her tongue into his mouth so he could suckle at it with purposeful intent. As he sucked on the organ, the tightening in Willow's abdomen rose to an almost painful pitch.
Unable to control her own desire to touch every inch of his body, Willow brought her fingers up to his upper chest and began to unbutton his shirt. Though far from innocent, Willow wasn't used to being this aggressive and her fingers faltered a couple of times. Sensing her hesitation, Angel tore his mouth away from hers and lowered it to her jaw, kissing his way to the delicate shell of her ear. "We don't have to do this if you don't want to. I'd never rush anything with you- just say the word and we'll stop."
Willow considered his words for all of two seconds before she resumed her removal of the offending garment, pushing the material off his broad shoulders. Despite her nervousness, there wasn't an inch of Willow that wasn't responding to Angel's oral and manual assault of her body. She'd been waiting for this moment for so long, dreaming of its actual occurrence, that there was no power under Heaven or Hell that was going to stop her from having what she wanted. Willow stared directly into Angel's eyes as she answered him so he would know just how much she wanted him. "Make love to me, Angel."
The quiet certitude of her simple request touched Angel's heart as well as inflamed his lust. His passion for the red headed beauty beneath him was unmatched in anything he'd ever felt for anyone before that he couldn't stop himself from savagely ripping the buttons of her shirt. The desire to see and feel her naked flesh was overwhelming in its intensity. As the garment fell away, leaving Willow naked save her panties, Angel took the opportunity to gaze upon the aesthetic beauty of her body. His eyes roamed over her as hungrily and as obtrusive as his hands, glorying in the golden sheen of her skin and the soft curves of her womanly frame. If anything, the flush that began to color her skin at his prolonged stare made her even more beautiful. He wanted her to know just how much he desired her.
"Willow." He waited until she met his eyes before continuing. "You are so beautiful." When he saw the old disbelief creep into her eyes, Angel drew one of her hands into his own and guided it between their bodies, letting it rest over the swell of his pants. Her eyes widened as she felt with her own hands the evidence of his desire for her. "I want you to know how much I want you Willow. You do this to me- only you."
If Willow still had doubts, her following actions hid them well. She quickly moved her other hand to the zipper of his pants and within moments had freed his erection. As she began to stroke his shaft, manipulating the cold flesh with her warm fingers and palm, Angel groaned. Had anything ever felt as unendurable pleasurable as Willow's hands on him.
He let her explore his body for a few minutes before placing his hands on top of hers, stilling them. She looked up at him, confused. Brushing his lips to hers he answered. "You don't want this to end so soon, do you? As much as I love to feel your hands on me, it's my turn to please you." Before she could answer, Angel removed her hands, resting them by her side. He quickly removed his pants so that he was completely nude. Covering her body with his, Angel began to kiss his way downward, stopping to lavish her breasts with attention. When he had worried her nipples, making them harden from his ministrations, Angel moved on. Next, he found himself fascinated by her bell button and began to explore that tiny hole with his tongue. Willow bucked underneath his touch, the anticipation of the next place his tongue would be exploring was too much for her to take.
Though Angel found sexual torment incredibly erotic, he didn't want to take their first time together to that level. Pulling her panties down, Angel immediately pried open her legs with the gentle pressure of his fingers on her upper thighs. She was now lying completely nude before him, the delicate lips of her vagina open before him, glistening with the juices of her arousal. The smell and sight of her desire for him was almost too much for him to take. His tongue was tentative at first, gently exploring the outer folds. The sounds Willow began to make urged him on. He darted his tongue out to lap at the juices his touch was producing. When he deliberately turned his attention to the hardened nubbin within her folds, Willow arched her back and moved her fingers into his hand, practically shoving his face into her crotch. As she began to buck beneath him, Angel was forced to hold her hips down with his hands.
"Angel… please… I need to feel you inside me." Willow was whimpering now, begging for more of his touch. The soft keening sounds she was making were more than Angel could take. Moving back up, he captured her lips with his own while positioning his cock at her entrance. He considered asking her one more time if she was sure she wanted this, but before he could even form the words, Willow had wrapped her own legs around his hips, applying pressure to the small of his back so that he couldn't help but slide into her. He tried to fight the force she was exerting, easing his way in as slowly as possible so as to not hurt her anymore than necessary, but Willow seemed oblivious to his desire to take care. Entangling her fingers in the silky strands of his hair, she guided his mouth to hers while simultaneously pushing him deeper into her with her legs. As his cock became fully sheathed within her, breaking through her maidenhead, Willow screamed against Angel's mouth. He kept himself still, enjoying the heavenly pleasure of Willow's tight vaginal muscles clamping down on his shaft as it adjusted to his intrusion.
Initially, the pain was so sharply intense, Willow couldn't stop her reaction. She bit down on his tongue, piercing the fleshy organ and drawing blood. The hot liquid filled the cavern created by their joined mouths, sloshing between their tongues and pouring down both of their throats.
Angel was too shocked to react at first. As his mind processed what Willow had done, his demon began to emerge, battering down the walls of his control. Snarling, Angel began to thrust into her while he drew her own tongue into his mouth. He pierced her tongue with his fangs and almost exploded inside of her as her blood mixed with his own, creating a heady elixir unlike anything he'd ever tasted before. When Willow sucked his tongue back into her mouth, using both her vaginal muscles and her cheeks to clamp down on both of his organs, Angel couldn't control himself any longer. He came with a roar that was lost within the wet recesses of her mouth, spilling his cold seed deep inside of her. As his cock twitched within her, Willow felt the tightening of her own abdomen explode, spreading warmth throughout her belly. He could feel her muscles spasming with her own release as he collapsed against her. He tore his mouth away from hers, dripping rivulets of blood onto the pale skin of her shoulders. Lowering his head to lick the drops away, Angel nestled against her, enjoying the afterglow of their coupling. He loved the way the velvet walls of her vagina felt around the softening flesh of his cock as he remained inside of her. He could feel her relaxing underneath him, lethargy stealing over her.
Wanting to say it before she descended into slumber, Angel kissed the nape of her neck and whispered, "I love you, little girl."
Willow smiled, bringing a hand up to caress his cheek. "I love you too, my Angel."
Rolling off of her, Angel wrapped the petit red head in his arms and before long they had both drifted off to sleep.
~Part: 9~
Willow checked her reflection in the passenger side mirror one final time, puuting off having to emerge from the car. She smoothed down a few stray strands of hair and frowned disapprovingly at the dark circles underneath her eyes. There was nothing she could do about those, and she only hoped her friends wouldn't get any more worried than they already were upon seeing them. She'd tried to dress her best, hoping if she acted healthy and normal they wouldn't freak out any more. She really didn't want anyone worrying about her, especially since Angel was doing enough of that for everyone.
Angel leaned down, sticking his head through the open window. "So, do I have to go in there and tell everyone you're holding court out here or do you actually plan to leave the car anytime tonight?"
Willow stuck her tongue out at the vampire, unable to help her childish reaction. "Don't exaggerate. We only got here 3 minutes ago."
"Four minutes and 20 seconds, but who's counting." He smiled playfully at her, enjoying the look of annoyance that flashed across her features. He loved getting Willow all worked up, teasing her into anger. Her fiery temper, the few times it emerged, was incredibly sexy to him. "But seriously, I don't know why you're so nervous. They're your friends; they're worried about you. What's to be scared or worried about?"
Willow cocked her head to the side, examining her own turbulent emotions. "I'm not scared. it's just. I haven't seen most of them since before all these changes occurred. I mean, my life has been thrown into such turmoil in such a short period of time. I'm just not sure how to act around people anymore, and I'm afraid of how they're going to act around me. I don't want people to walk on eggshells around me because they're afraid I might be dying. But then, I also don't want them to all get weirded out because I'm supposed to be turning immortal and I'm going to be the head of the Council and all of the slayers. Then there's me and you- what if some of them disapprove and get mad at us for being together. I mean, everyone, including me, has kind of thought of you as Buffy's for so long. What if they think I'm stealing you from her, and, and, they think I'm just a big skanky ho like those girls on Ricki Lake. Oh my god- I'm not like one of those girls, am I?"
Angel cut Willow's babbling off with a soft kiss. "Sorry for cutting you off. As much as I love to hear you babble, I think it really would be best if we just went inside and then you'll see that nobody in there is going to act weird or judge you. They're your friends, and they're going to be your friends no matter what."
Willow smiled playfully. "So, does that mean every time I begin to babble you're going to kiss me, cause I don't think I'd mind that too much, though I'm not sure if that would stop my babbling. It's kind of like Pavlov's dogs, only this time you're conditioning me to want the reward my babbling brings so I'll just keep babbling all the time in order to get a kiss and then I might never stop talking and."
This time Angel kissed her a bit longer and deeper, cupping her face in his hands. "Oh Willow," he breathed against her lips as they pulled apart. "You don't have to pull any tricks to get me to kiss you. I could do it non-stop for eternity without tiring of the taste of your sweet lips and mouth."
Willow tilted her head, nuzzling her cheek against the palm of his hand. "Well then, maybe we should just head back to your place and be alone." She punctuated the last statement by darting her tongue out to brush erotically against the side of his palm. The moan that escaped from his throat let Willow know she was having the desired effect on her lover.
Trying to hold his desires in check, Angel hoarsely whispered, "Is that all you ever think about?"
Willow tried to look contrite but she had a feeling the lust in her eyes betrayed her. "I'm sorry, but can I help it if I have an insatiable lover?"
Angel smirked, "No, I suppose not, though I didn't hear you complaining last night. or this morning. or this afternoon."
Willow couldn't help but blush at the reminder of the many times they'd made love in the past 24 hours. After finally losing her virginity, and to the man she loved most in the world, no less, Willow had been anxious to do some more experimenting. They'd made love in just about every room in the mansion. It had been, without hyperbole, the best 24 hours of Willow's life. She'd been pretty disappointed when Giles had called asking them to meet at his house that evening. Though Willow did want to see her friends and find out what Giles had learned from the Council, she also hadn't wanted to leave the safety and comfort of the mansion, and Angel's arms. She had needed the escape from reality the mansion and Angel provided, even if only for a little while. Being alone with Angel had made everything so much easier to bare.
Though she knew better than anyone how stubborn Angel could be when he made up his mind about something, Willow couldn't help but wonder if maybe she could use some of her newly discovered feminine wiles to get her way.
Willow pushed open the car door, causing Angel to stumble backwards. Once she had risen, Willow smoothed out the lines of her short, but not too short, skirt with careful, deliberate movements. Glancing over at Angel she knew he had his full attention. She particularly enjoyed the way his lips parted as he stared at her legs, as if he was so captivated by her body he forgot he no longer needed that breath.
Slamming the door shut, Willow proceeded in backing Angel up against the car. She pressed her body up against his intimately. She liked the way her knees and thighs measured up to his, and the way her breasts were crushed against the solid wall of muscles that made up his chest. Bringing her lips to his ear, Willow lowered her voice to a seductive purr and whispered, "Well, now, by my last count we've only done it 9 times so far, and nine is such a lonely number. I think it needs the companionship of double digits to be truly happy. Besides, I've heard it's bad luck if you don't at least do it ten times the first time around." Willow could feel Angel's response to her words and the closeness of her body. What she didn't realize was that Angel had been sporting a hard on from the moment she'd licked his palm.
Unable to resist her touch, let alone the heady mixture of her scent- a combination of her arousal and an underlying sweetness that was pure Willow- Angel wrapped his arms around Willow's waist, crushing her small body against his. "I never was one to refuse a lady." His tongue invaded her mouth, exploring the contours that, by this time, he was beginning to know quite well. As Willow ran her hands over his back and through his hair, Angel pushed the material of her sweater up to her shoulders, giving him access to the satin covered mounds of her breasts.
Willow whimpered out of frustration. His touch sent electric jolts through her, but it wasn't enough. She needed to feel his hands on her bare skin; needed to feel him inside of her, filling her as only he could. Goddess, she was turning into a regular slut. Here she was, pressed up against a car, making out with her lover in the middle of a very public street. As if that wasn't enough, she was half nude and well on her way to stripping the remainder of her clothing and his off their bodies and letting him take her right there against the hood of the car.
When Angel tore his mouth away from hers to focus his attention on sucking and nibbling the skin of her neck, Willow took the opportunity to speak. "You know, we probably should move this to the backseat before this public display of affection becomes a little too public. I don't think I could handle Giles or anyone else walking out and finding us like this."
Angel merely grunted in response, a carnal noise that sounded incredibly erotic to Willow. Without extricating his body too much from Willow's, Angel reached over to unlock the back door. He then grasped Willow's ass cheeks and hoisted her up. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist and allowed him to carry her over to the backseat. They were forced to separate their bodies in order to comfortably climb into the backseat and close the door behind them, but as soon as they settled down, they sought each other out with their hands and lips. Fumbling fingers undid buttons and zippers, each desperate to see and feel the others bare flesh under their questing hands. Their mating would be frantic but passionate, which Willow didn't mind. She liked the quick, passionate couplings as much as the slower, sweeter lovemaking. Next, she thought she might like to try it against the hood of the car. When Angel entered her, she stopped thinking all together.
*******
Willow stretched her arms above her head, trying to relieve the tension in her muscles. The sex had been good but the backseat of a car was definitely not the most comfortable place for it. She now had a crick in her neck, not to mention a bump on the top of her head from when she'd gotten a little too excited while straddling Angel. She caught the sound of her lover's deep-throated chuckle as she rubbed her head and turned to furnish him with a scowl. She definitely did not find this amusing. "Just wait till something embarrassing happens to you during sex," Willow warned, "Then we'll see who gets the last laugh."
Angel took hold of Willow's hand and pulled her into an embrace. "Sorry, but I don't see that happening. I'm the most perfect lover ever."
Willow sidestepped his descending lips, denying him a kiss. "Didn't anyone ever tell you how unattractive it is for a guy to have a huge ego about his sexual prowess?"
Angel gave Willow his best lecherous gaze. "That's only the case if the guy's exaggerating his skills, but judging from the way I make you scream I think we'd both agree there's no hyperbole in my statements."
Willow growled slightly. "Who knew you had a such an ego."
Angel laughed, then turned Willow's face towards him to give her a quick kiss. "Come on. As much as I love getting you worked up, we'd better get inside. We're late and we don't want Giles sending out a search party for us."
"You mean we still have to go inside!"
"Of course. I never said sex was going to get you out of this." Grabbing hold of Willow's hand, Angel began to drag Willow down the steps leading to the front door. "I don't know why you're being so resistant to this. Giles might have some information from the Council- don't you want to hear what he has to say, not to mention see your friends?"
Before Willow could explain that she was a little afraid to hear what Giles had found out, Angel had knocked on the door. In moments, Giles was standing before them, a relieved expression on his face. "Thank God, I was beginning to get worried, especially when nobody answered the phone at either of your houses. Is everything alright?"
"We're fine, Giles. We just got held up when Willow bumped her head, but I believe she's all better now, right baby." Angel turned to glance at Willow, the mischievous gleam in his eyes matched by the murderous glint in hers.
"I'm fine, it's nothing. Sorry we're late." As Willow stepped forward into the apartment, she was immediately bombarded by the hard, warm bodies of her friends as they flung themselves at her. She was surrounded on all sides as they all threw their arms around her. She fought to keep her balance as she tried to process the jumbled dialogue as everyone spoke at once.
"Willow, thank god, we were so worried about you!"
"Why didn't you call me? You know I'm always here for you."
"Are we hurting you?"
"Do you need to sit down?"
"How about a ring ding? I made Giles buy some. That'll make you feel better."
Willow couldn't help but laugh at Xander. "You think chocolate solves every problem."
Faith laughed wildly. "As we can all tell just by looking at him."
"Hey, what are you trying to say?"
Faith rolled her eyes to the ceiling, doing her best to look innocent. "Oh nothing, Xand-man, nothing at all."
Amy stepped forward, holding her hands to her sides in an attempt to keep Xander and Faith at bay. "Wow, wow, down boy, down slayer. You guys are going to have to refrain from resorting to your usual antics. This is so not the time for your bickering."
Xander folded his arms across his chest. Cordelia stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend, hoping she could have a soothing effect on him. "Amy's right Xander. Didn't we talk about this before Willow got here? You and faith are supposed to have declared an armistice, at least for the night." Xander merely grumbled in response.
Faith ran a hand through her dark main, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "Don't worry Cordy. Xand and I aren't going to do anything. We just figured Red would appreciate a business as usual scene for her arrival. Make her feel right at home. Did it work?"
Willow's own green eyes were dancing with laughter as well. "Of course. What would a night at Giles' be without you and Xander at each other's throats like cats and dogs."
Faith wrapped an arm around Willow's waist, leading her over to the couch. "I am so happy to see you, Red. I've missed having you on patrol with me. I mean, not that Amy and Cordelia aren't fine fighters in their own right," she lowered her voice, whispering conspiratorially, "But they're not quite as good as you. Besides, they don't do the after slayage pig-out as well. Well, Amy's not as bad as Cordelia, who's too concerned with her figure to relent to allowing even one cookie pass her lips.. She's kind of uptight about her weigh, as we all know."
"I heard that." Cordelia warned as she and Xander moved to sit across from the couch in an armchair.
Faith ignored her, instead hugging Willow again. "It's so good to see you. We were really worried and I missed you. I wish you'd called me."
Willow hugged her friend back, her lips curled in a genuine smile. She couldn't believe she'd been nervous about seeing her friends again; afraid they'd act weird around her. She should have known better. "Thanks. And I'm sorry. It's been a hard couple of days but you're right, I should have called you."
Faith pulled back and gave Willow a disapproving look. "Aw, Red, now don't be silly and start feeling all guilty. I was just teasing you. You know I understand. I was just worried. After all, that's what a best friend's job is."
Willow scooted over to make room on the couch for Amy, who had come over to join them. Willow absently noticed Giles and Angel were still standing by the door, whispering to each other. Before she could wonder what they were talking about, Amy wrapped her into another hug. As they embraced, Amy whispered in her ear, "Don't you dare think you're gonna get out of here tonight without dishing the dirt about you and Angel. We girls want details. Faith and I have already formulated a plan to get the guys out of here so we can have some girl time later. Let's just say it involves a carefully planted prophecy and a far away location across town."
Willow laughed as wildly as Faith had earlier. "Don't worry," she whispered back, "I promise to tell you guys all the details."
"So," Xander interrupted, "We hear you're gonna be immortal Will." Cordelia jabbed Xander in the side, ironically attempting to chastise him for his lack of tact, but heforged on, utterly oblivious. "Man, who would have thought my best friend would not only live forever but would be the head watcher. Hey, that makes you Giles' boss doesn't it. Does that mean you can order him around and stuff?"
Giles, overhearing Xander's loud inquiry, glanced over with an annoyed expression on his face. "Xander, I don't really think this is the time, now do you."
"Of course it's the time. I mean, didn't we all get together tonight to discuss Willow's upcoming position as Immortal Watcher. You know, G-Man, I never did tell you how wrong it was for you to keep that information hidden. I mean, you should have seen how worried Angel and I were the other day. We really thought something was wrong with Willow. To think all that worrying could have been avoided with just some good old fashioned communication. Sometimes I think you take the watching part of your job a little too seriously."
Giles joined the gang in the living room, his glasses in one hand, handkerchief in other. "Thank you Xander, for your chastisement. Perhaps when you are Watcher you will not botch things up as horribly as I have." The girls hid their smiles behind their hands, enjoying the sarcasm in Giles' tone that always seemed to appear when Xander said something to annoy him, which was pretty often. "However, you are right about one thing. We aren't here to discuss my watcher abilities or anything else, but to discuss Willow's immortality. Now, Angel, if you would join us over here, I can fill you guys in on the latest from the Council."
Amy immediately relinquished her seat besides Willow, giving Angel a knowing smile as she passed him to grab a stool from the kitchen counter. Willow imagined Angel might have blushed if his vampiric nature didn't make that action impossible. He took his seat next to her, his hand immediately seeking the warmth of Willow's delicate one. Faith smiled from the other side of Willow, poking her friend playfully in the side and winking as she turned towards her. Unfortunately, Willow was still able to blush.
Once everyone was settled down, Angel began the questioning. "So, Giles, what did the Council have to say?"
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