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.
Summary: This is the final series in my Willow/Angel trilogy, which began with Demon... Angel... and then continued with Friends... Lovers... Angel is about to leave Sunnydale when it occurs to him that he didn't say goodbye to the woman he loves.
Part three in the Hello... Goodbye... Series.
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When Angel had drifted off to sleep with Willow in his arms, she had somehow managed to untangle herself from his embrace without waking him. She pulled on her nightgown and crept from her bedroom. She made her way downstairs, grateful that once again, her parents had vacated the premises for a few days. Something good always comes of them not being here…
In the kitchen, she fixed herself a small breakfast of Orange Juice and Toast, closing the curtains to block out the afternoon sun in case Angel saw she was gone and decided to come downstairs. As she munched on her toast, she couldn't keep her smile away. Angel's leaving me, but not really. Her heart pounded, I know now… Forever. Angel and I are always going to be a part of each other. Always.
She set her toast down, taking a sip from her glass of juice. I should do something for him. Make him a present or something. She pondered for a moment, an idea coming to her suddenly. She put down her glass and left her toast unfinished. And I know just what I'll do too.
Half an hour later, the stereo in the lounge of the Rosenberg house was recording and Willow was seated at the coffee table. Newspaper was spread all about her as she drilled a tiny hole into the small wooden item before her, carefully sanding it back and preparing it for one last coat of varnish.
This gift for Angel had in fact been made a long time ago. When she and Oz… Oz. God, Willow. Don't go there now. When she and Angel had become close friends. Just before the night she had gotten that bump on her head. The bump that had left a tiny scar according to Xander and Buffy, not that Willow had ever bothered to try and find it. How am I supposed to see something on the back of my head anyway? She asked herself with a bemused smile.
She admired the item in her hand. Almost done. She looked around suddenly, now where'd I leave my spellbook?
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Towel wrapped around her, Willow crept into the bedroom. Angel's present was all done. It had taken a couple of hours, but it had been worth it. Now she had showered and just needed to change before the sun went down. Then she'd be able to go with him. To see him off.
"Now that's a sight I don't see often enough." Angel's sleepy voice reached her from the folds of her bed as he sat up, grinning at her. He spotted Willow's blush, motioning toward her to come over to the bed. She did so without hesitation. "Hi." He whispered, kissing her when she sat beside him on the bed.
She smiled, "Hi."
He asked politely, "What are you up to?"
"Getting dressed." He looked puzzled so she went on, "Angel… I wanna see you off tonight. I wanna be there when you go." She asked, "Um, how is it exactly that you're going, anyway?"
"Train. I've got a compartment all sorted. I was meant to take it last night, but no one catches the train here in Sunnydale, so I'm safe." He looked at her intently for a moment and then he confessed, "I'm going to LA" He shrugged, "I haven't told anyone that. But…" He sighed, "I want you to know."
Willow kissed him for a moment, "An Angel in the City of Angels. That fits." She inquired quietly, "So I can come with you, when you go?" He nodded and a flood of relief filled her face. "Thank you."
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Willow cast a long look down the dark train tracks, grateful to see that the train was not yet in sight. She turned to Angel, still clutching his hand tightly, "Okay…" She delved into the bag she carried with her, "Two things." She handed him a brightly colored present, "You're not allowed to open it until you're on the train… On your way." Angel nodded, taking the present from her and eyeing it curiously. She delved back into her bag again, "This one is for now." She pulled from her bag a strangely shaped wooden carving, only tiny, attached to a thin leather strap. She reached her arms around his neck and tied it on. When she did so, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her hard up against him. She giggled, then focused again. "That's for luck. I made it for you a long time ago. I never thought I'd ever get the chance to give it to you. I cast a blessing spell on it. It's to protect you from harm."
He kissed her, "Thank you, Will." His face contorted uncomfortably for a moment, "I didn't get you a gift… I should've."
"You've given me all I could ever want from you, Angel." She smiled, "You love me. That's all I've ever wanted." She ran her slender fingers through his hair, "I know that no matter what happens from here on in… We're together…" She rest a hand over his heart, "Where it counts."
Tears came to her eyes, Angel spotted them and cooed gently, "Don't cry."
"I think tears are a traditional part of the sad goodbye." She whispered as her tears began to escape her.
"Promise me that you won't be sad, Will. Please. I couldn't bear knowing you were upset because of me… Promise me." He pleaded.
Willow barely managed a supportive smile, "I promise."
They were quiet for a few moments, snuggled into each others arms, kissing from time to time, savoring the emotional passing between them. When the loud whistle of the train sounded, Angel pulled away from Willow slightly, looking into her eyes. "Willow… If you ever need me… For anything ever… I'll know. And I'll be here." He whispered, "I give you my word." He hugged her tightly as the train came to a halt and its doors creaked open.
"You should go… You'll miss your train again." Willow kissed him, "We can't have that." He nodded, "I'll see you again, right Angel?"
He smiled, stepping away from her, his bag now in one hand, her present in the other. "Count on it."
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Angel settled into the plush seat in his small compartment on the train after laying his things out on the seat opposite him. He looked up, smiling broadly at the girl on the other side of the glass. She smiled back at him, stepping closer to the window, a soft hand resting against it. The vampire leaned forward, resting his hand on the opposite side of the window. "I love you." He whispered through the glass.
Reading his lips, Willow felt rapturous tears spill from within her. She whispered back, "I love you, Angel. Forever." She pulled one of her wooly jumper sleeves and wiped the glass before her roughly. Clean enough. She smiled and kissed the window earnestly, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, Angel's eyes were glistening with uncried sorrow. "Don't forget me."
Angel shook his head, "Never."
The loud blast of the train's whistle filled the air both inside and outside of the train as its engines came to life. Without taking her eyes away from him, Willow walked alongside the train as it slowly began to move, her hand still against the window, Angel's hand on the other side. She followed him until the platform ended, and then, regretfully raised her hand to wave madly at him.
Before she disappeared from his view of the dimly lit platform, he saw her blow him a final kiss, and somewhat innocently, he pretended to pluck it from the air. The last thing he saw of the woman he loved was her beautiful smile as she laughed.
A few lone tears escaped the vampire, and as he brushed them away, his eyes fell on the neatly wrapped parcel Willow had given him on the platform. He picked it up, eyeing the brightly colored paper curiously. He heard Willow's sweet voice explaining to him, 'You're not allowed to open it until you're on the train… On your way.'
Well… He shrugged, I'm on my way now.
He opened the package carefully, surprised to see a box inside. He read over the box, it's a Walkman! He opened it, pulling the Walkman from within it quickly. A letter fell from inside it and he hurried to open it.
'Angel… God, I miss you already and you're still here, fast asleep in my bed. I just want you to know… I don't regret anything. You were worth it all. I love you. Willow. XOXOXOX PS: Look, another song that applies to us. Whenever I hear this, I'll think of you.'
Angel smiled, I was worth it? Her image filled his mind. You were worth it… More. I miss you too, Will. I don't know how I'll ever manage to survive now I know what it is to have you in my life.
He looked at the Walkman for a moment, putting the headphones on. He pressed play and the sweet music filled his ears.
'Something in your eyes Makes me want to lose myself Makes me want to lose myself In your arms There's something in your voice Makes my heart beat fast Hope this feeling lasts The rest of my life
If you knew how lonely my life has been And how long I've been so alone If you knew how I wanted someone to come along And change my life the way you've done
It feels like home to me It feels like home to me It feels like I'm all the way back where I come from It feels like home to me It feels like home to me It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
A window breaks Down a long dark street And a siren wails In the night But I'm all right Cause I have you here with me And I can almost see Through the dark there is light
If you knew how much this moment means to me And how long I've waited for your touch And if you knew how happy you are making me I never thought that I'd love anyone so much…'
Angel grinned, listening to the final chorus of the song. Willow was right, as usual. The song applied. He knew perfectly well that all the reasons he had left Buffy behind, all the reasons he had *still* left Willow even when he loved her, they still applied. But that didn't matter. He loved Willow, she loved him. He told himself honestly, that's all we need.
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Willow delved into her bag, searching for her keys so she could get back into her house. She pulled out a handful of other things instead. A stake, a crucifix, oh look! Holy water! She shook her head, God, anyone would think *I* was a Slayer with the collection I've got in here.
Her fingers touched a small piece of paper. Curious, Willow pulled it out and unfolded it. An exhilarated grin touched her face as she read the words in front of her aloud, "I'm staying with my friend Whistler for a while. If you need me, you'll find me there. He's even got a phone. Call me on 555-9867234 if you *ever* need to, Will. I mean it. No matter what it is. I want to hear your voice. Lots."
Fresh tears touched her eyes as she read the last line, "I love you, Willow."
Willow glanced at her watch in the pale light coming from the security light at the front door of her house, the phone number ringing through her head. She asked herself curiously, her smile brighter than it had been since Angel had pretended to pluck the kiss she'd blown him at the train station from the air, how long does it take to get to LA from Sunnydale?
"Angel," she whispered, "You're going to hear my voice all right." She grinned cheekily, "Lots!!!"
The End?