Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer belong exclusively to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. I'm just borrowing.
Part four in the Friends... Lovers... Series.
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"That's *so* not funny…" Willow was unable to contain her fit of hysterical laughter, despite herself, at the face Angel was pulling across the table from her. His nose was scrunched up, his eyebrows pressed together, his eyes crossed and his lips pouting as his mouth contorted in a curious squiggly shape. She leant back in her chair, trying not to look at him. "Angel… Stop it!"
Unable to hold the awkward face any longer, Angel smiled, "I love it when you giggle like that."
"Oh no, that wasn't giggling." Willow grinned wickedly at him, "That was me scoffing at your silliness."
"Me?" Angel feigned bewilderment, "Silly?" He got around the side of the chair in the rounded booth, moving nearer the sweet red head in his company. "I'll show you silly." His hand darted out, his fingertips gently prodding her hips.
Willow squirmed in her seat, "Stop it…" She slapped playfully at his hands, "Angel, cut it out. A-Angel!!!" Her lovable laughter filled the booth, drawing the attention of the clientele filling the busy café. Spotting the rash of disapproving looks from some of the more straight-laced customers, Willow whispered, "Uh, Angel… We're getting the *look.*"
His hands dropped away from her as he glanced around the café, smiling, "The look! Oh no!" He moved back around the opposite side of the booth, watching Willow as she straightened in her seat, flicking a few rebellious strands of hair from her face.
It had been weeks now, almost months, Angel noted, since he and Willow had taken to *hanging out* together. They'd become the closest of friends, and he felt more comfortable with her than he'd felt with anyone in longer than he cared to remember. She brought out a side of him he still wasn't sure he'd ever get used to. With her, he could smile and laugh and be silly… I've never done that with anyone before.
Willow observed the vampire across from her, subtlety transfixed. He was, quite obviously, lost in thought, his gaze distant. It was, she realized, so Angel of him. In the time they had been spending together, she'd seen a much happier side of him, but his dark, brooding self never lurked far beneath the surface. One minute he'd be laughing and joking with her, and the next, he'd be his usual self. He could only forget the sadness that constantly marred his heart for so long.
Catching himself, Angel's eyes fell on her, "Sorry…" He smiled, "I…"
She nodded, "It's okay. I'm used of the whole zoning out thing." Willow winked at him, "All part of your charm." She cast a quick look at her watch, it was almost midnight. "I suppose I should start heading home. School day tomorrow."
"Want me to walk you?" Angel offered, pleased when Willow nodded furiously in response. He got up out of the booth and extended his hand. She took it gladly and let him lead her through the crush in the café and out into the night.
This particular café had become their *place* so to speak. Willow didn't feel comfortable meeting up with Angel at the Bronze. The run ins they'd had with Buffy the first few times they'd met there had proven a little too awkward for both their likings. Although Buffy was always happy to see them together. "I have you guys," the Slayer had once told her, "Angel would have no one if it wasn't for you."
As they walked, still hand in hand, Willow flashed the occasional glance at Angel, unable to keep the smile from her face. After breaking up with Oz she'd assumed that her life would be miserable… She'd felt terrible, nursing her wounded pride at the realization maybe she wasn't as good a person as she'd always hoped she was. But when she and Angel had started spending time together, her life had improved dramatically. For the first time in her life, she felt she had someone she could share *everything* with. Even with Buffy, she would simply choose to not mention things. With Angel, every word came easily. Granted, for a start she struggled to make conversation, but as they grew more comfortable with each other, the more effortlessly it all flowed together.
"Do you want a hand with that history assignment sometime this week?" Angel asked, interrupting her train of thought.
"Sure do… It always helps to have someone who was actually alive during World War I." She grinned at him, "Being friends with a Vampire has certain advan…"
Willow's toe caught in a crack in the concrete and she stumbled forward, more than surprised when she landed safely in Angel's arms. She glanced up at him as he held her, "You were quick."
"I couldn't let you fall." He smiled at her.
She tried to laugh as she straightened in his arms, their eyes meeting, and locking. Willow felt a crimson red fill her pale cheeks, and she almost wanted to look away… But the feeling swimming in her stomach was stronger than she was.
Angel looked so deeply into her eyes that he could almost feel his heart kick start at the tenderness surging from within her. He ran his slender fingers through her soft hair, caressing her cheek cautiously. Longing filled him, and more than anything in the world, he wanted to lean forward and press his lips to hers. And he could see it in her eyes… She wanted to kiss him.
"Willow…" He whispered. What am I doing? His mind screamed at him, Look what happened with Buffy. I can't do that to Willow… I've hurt her enough. He pulled away from her, letting go of her hand. Grief filled Willow's face, and she could do little to hide it but stare down at the pavement beneath her feet. Sensing the hurt immediately, Angel reached a hesitant hand out to pat her shoulder, "I'm sorry." He sighed, withdrawing his hand from her shoulder, "Willow… We're friends. Really, really good friends. I don't want anything to spoil that."
She nodded, "I understand."
Not sure he believed her, he queried her, "Are you sure?" When she looked up at him, he almost stepped backwards, so potent was the distress on her face.
"Sure… I understand perfectly… Y-you don't wanna mess up us being buddies, and I'm all up with that… B-but you were *friends* with Buffy before and then you got all smoochie with her and…" Tears spilled from her eyes, "I'm not Buffy." Unwilling to even give Angel a chance to respond, not wanting to hear him tell her how different she and Buffy were, and how Buffy was prettier and stronger and better, she pushed past him and disappeared down the street.
Looking on, tears filling his own eyes, Angel groaned angrily at himself. Why did I do that? Why did I push her away? He ran his hands through his hair, And now she's walking home alone in the middle of the night, through a town sitting on a Hellmouth. He snapped at himself heatedly, "Nice one, Angel."
He hurried down the street after her. He didn't know what he'd say to her if he caught up with her, but he just wanted to be sure she got home all right…
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Willow tried to wipe her tears away with the sleeve of her sweater, still sobbing quietly. I should have known… She cursed herself, Angel loves Buffy, and I'm not Buffy. I'll never be Buffy… First Xander, now Angel.
"Hey, little girl." Willow ground to a halt as an overbearing mountain of a man stepped in front of her in the dimly lit street. The moment she looked up at him, she knew he was a Vampire. Backing away from him, he chuckled smugly, "Aren't you that little friend of the Slayers?"
She shook her head, "W-who me? No… No, I don't know any Slayer… Really, I know nothing and no one and…" She turned on her heel, bolting back down the street. Of all the nights *not* to have a crucifix with her…
She hadn't gotten far when the vampire had pounced on her, wrestling her to the ground. She tried to scream, but he clamped a hand over her mouth, picking her up like she weighed nothing and carrying her into the nearest alley. He slammed her against the wall, pinning her above the ground as held her tightly by the arms. She grimaced as pain tingled its way into being under his grip. She felt warm wetness trickling down the back of her head from where she'd hit when he slammed her into the wall.
The vampire sniffed the air, "Ooohhh, I do believe you're bleeding. That just helped my appetite a whole lot!" He leant forward, nuzzling her hair away from her neck…
A loud *clunk* echoed through the air as a board smashed across the back of the vampire's head. Willow fell to the ground as he tumbled away from her, holding his head and whirling to face his attacker. He grinned wildly, "Angelus? I heard you'd gotten your soul back. What a shame."
"I don't think so." Angel snapped the board in his hand over his knee, breaking a long, thin chunk free of it. The vampire rushed toward him, and Angel sidestepped him easily, whirling to kick him in the back as he passed him. He pounced on him the moment he landed on the ground, jamming the make shift stake through his back and into his heart. The vampire hadn't even had time to turn to dust when Angel had hurried to Willow's side.
Her eyes fell on him as he reached her, and despite herself, she started to cry. She wasn't sure why. "A-Angel…" She whispered weakly.
"It's okay, Will." He knelt down, "Where does it hurt?" Angel glanced over Willow's body, looking for cuts or bruises… Anything to explain the pain in her voice and the tears in her eyes. When she reached out, lifting his hand away from her and pushing it gently back toward him, he looked up, his eyes meeting hers. "What is it?" He asked worriedly.
Willow sighed, "I'm fine, Angel. No cuts. No bruises. I'm boo-boo free…" She tried to smile reassuringly past her tears, but the look on his face was too set in concern.
Angel couldn't keep his confusion from his voice, "Then why, Will? Why are you crying?"
She lifted her hand over heart, more tears escaping her eyes, "Because this is where it hurts." He lowered his eyes. If he'd still been human, his face would have flushed with shame. "It's okay, Angel." Willow's voice was meek, tired, "You saved me from that eicky vampire… And you wanna be my friend… Those are good things." She battled to keep the sob building up inside her hidden, "I understand." She slowly climbed to her feet, her muscles a little stiff from the awkward landing and her head was spinning. He still knelt before her, his head lowered. "Thank you," she whispered, turning to go…
He couldn't stop himself. Angel's hand had darted out to grab the girl before he'd been fully aware of what he was doing. But he wasn't sure he would've stopped himself anyway. He pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her waist, burying his head in her tiny stomach. "I'm sorry."
Dropping her arms to his shoulders, hesitantly moving her arms around him, Willow fell to her knees before him, pressing her head into his shoulder. She held him tightly, unsure if the moment would last.
But last it did. For minutes, Angel kept her close, burying his face in her silky red hair… He pulled away suddenly, "You're hurt…"
"I'm okay." She whispered. "Just…" She snuggled closer to him, unsure what else there was to say.
Angel drowned his face in her hair again, wanting nothing more at that moment than to hold her. He listened to each breath that filled her lungs as though it was a poem, reading her heart without even opening his eyes. Eventually he leant back, tilting her face toward his own, and running a dirty hand over her tear stained cheeks. He whispered, sincerely apologetic, "I always hurt you…"
"No." Willow shook her head, never taking his eyes from his, "You've never hurt me, Angel. And I know you never will." Nervous, she leaned closer to him, letting her soft lips caress his for the briefest moment. She pulled away quickly, scared she might have made him angry.
The look on his face was anything but…
Angel smiled at her, hesitating for the slightest second, then pulling her against him and kissing her, softly, barely letting their lips touch, and then slowly allowing tender force to fill the embrace.
Willow let her soft hands run smoothly around his neck, running her fingers through his thick brown hair, praying to something, someone, to let the kiss she'd been dreaming about every night for years last forever. And even though she knew it wouldn't, she was grateful all the same.