Rated: G
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer belong exclusively to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. I'm just borrowing.
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Dodging the towering demon that swung at her with its sharp talons, Buffy grabbed Willow, shoving her towards Angel as he climbed to his feet near by. "Angel! Get Willow out of here!" Buffy stuck a hand inside her jacket to withdraw a short, slender dagger. "And stay with her!!!"
"But what about you?" Willow protested as Buffy delivered a fierce roundhouse kick into the stomach of the demon.
"I'll be fine!" A swift uppercut from the Slayer as she shouted her response set the demon sprawling backwards. "Angel! Now!"
"But… Where…" Angel asked, grabbing Willow's arm and leading her toward the classroom door.
Buffy shouted back, "Anywhere!!!"
Angel's grip on Willow's arm tightened and he dragged her from the room quickly, bolting down the corridor with the red head close behind him. "What about Buffy?" She asked as she followed him.
"She'll be fine…" The vampire replied, "It seemed to be you he was interested in." Screeching to a halt, he stopped outside the broom closet, tearing the door open and pushing Willow in. He stepped in after her, slamming the door closed behind them. Pitch black surrounded them. "Now…" He stepped back a little from the door, nearly standing on Willow. "Sorry." He mumbled an apology.
The girl tried to giggle at the feel of the vampire almost right on top of her in the small area, "It's kinda cozy in here."
"Yeah." Angel agreed.
And then silence surrounded them.
Willow could barely draw breath as Angel pressed against her in the tiny shroud of darkness. She tried to keep some semblance of control over her rapidly accelerating heart beat, afraid he would sense then heat coursing through her. She was glad for the cover of night, he would not be able to see the roaring blush discoloring her pale cheeks. Clenching her eyes shut, she prayed to whoever might be listening for the moment to end. She longed for his touch, she had for what felt to be an eternity, but she knew he belonged to someone else… And that someone else meant the world to her. She could never betray their friendship. Never.
But…
Sensing the hesitant change in Willow's demeanor, Angel whispered quietly into the darkness, "Willow? Are you all right? I'm not hurting you am I?"
She would have laughed if she'd had it in her. Instead she spoke clearly through her clenched teeth, "I'm okay."
"Are you sure?" He reached a hand through the darkness and rubbed her shoulder. She shuddered at the touch and Angel's concern grew. "Willow? What is it?"
"Nothing." She blurted defensively.
The vampire managed a partial shrug, sending another shudder through Willow. "That's not nothing." His voice was gentle, "Come on, Will. You can tell me." He leant forward, wishing he could see her. If only he could read her eyes… A warm flush of her breath touched his face, and he realized suddenly how close they were. He breathed her in, letting himself feel her closeness. Her breath grew erratic and he knew she realized how close they were too.
"Angel…" Willow whispered, "I'm sorry."
Confused, he asked, "For what?"
She sighed, "For this." Guessing her way through the darkness, she reached out for him, enveloping him in her loving arms . As her hands scooted delicately around his neck, she surged forward, pressing her lips to his. For a brief moment, he did not react, and Willow, terrified she may have upset him, moved to withdraw. But when she began to pull away, his hands darted around her waist and he drew her harder against him, returning the sweet kiss threefold.
Oz… Buffy…
The thought of her boyfriend and her best friend loomed suddenly at her, taunting her, luring her painfully from Angel's arms. She slammed back into the wall behind her, trying desperately to get as far away from him as possible. "Oh God… Oh God… What have I done?" She stumbled over the words falling from her lips, "I'm sorry… Oh God… I am so, so sorry…" Severely embarrassed and horribly ashamed of herself, Willow pushed past Angel and reached for the door handle. "I have to go…"
Angel's firm hands took hold of her shoulders, tearing her away from the door. "Willow, you can't go. It's not safe."
"No… No…" She hurried on, "This… This is not safe!" Hot tears sprang abruptly from her eyes, "Oz… This is twice! Twice now… Oh, Oz… And… And… Buffy! Buffy… She'll be so mad! Shame on me… Shame, shame, shame." She was cut off when Angel clamped a cool hand across her mouth. She reached up to tear his hand away, but it would not budge.
"Ssshhh!!!!" Angel cooed, "Willow, calm down." She continued to struggle with his hand and he sighed, "I'm not moving my hand until you promise to be quiet." Her hand dropped away reluctantly and he smiled to himself, "You promise?" A muffled 'uh-huh' was her reply.
He continued quietly, "Willow, you have nothing to be sorry for, okay?"
"But I kissed you…"
He nodded, "And I kissed you back."
Willow thought for a moment, surprise in her voice. "You did." She paused and then asked worriedly, "You did, didn't you?"
"Yes."
She tried to peer through the darkness, "Why?"
Now it was Angel who was at a loss to form a logical sentence. "I… I… I don't know… It just… It felt…"
Concern marred Willow's pleasant voice, "Wrong?"
A cool hand touched her face softly in the darkness, "Right, Willow. It felt right." Unwilling to let her protest, or doubt herself again, Angel moved toward her, pressing his lips to hers. She melted into him, amazed by the warmth she felt stemming from him and into her through his affectionate kiss.
"ANGEL!!!" Blinding light filled the broom closet as the door ripped open and Buffy's voice flooded them angrily.
Angel and Willow tore away from each other, blinking into the light, Angel's face blemished my embarrassment, Willow's flushed with shame.
"Buffy…" Angel looked desperately to Willow.
"Buffy…" Willow looked desperately to Angel.
The stated flatly together, "We can explain…"
The End