Part 7
 

Willow was rudely roused from her post-codial blissful nap by the fact that Angel had lept, gasping, from bed.
"Angel? What is it? Ohmygod!" she screamed, realizing what was happening. Panic spread through her body. She rushed to where his naked form was crouched.
"Willow,"he gasped. "Get away. . .please, get out." Images flashed in his mind of what sort of torture Angeleus would put her through.
"No," she wept. "I'm not leaving you." She sobbed as his body writhered in pain. When he raised his head, his face was the demon's. "No!" she shrieked,desperate, then used the part of her mind that she floated pencils with to delve into her lover's brain.
***
It hurt. Inside Angel's mind, the demon had already torn loose and every bit of his psche was cut and bleeding. <Oh, Angel,> she thought. <Is this what it's like for you?>
She paused for a moment, mentally shutting her eyes. She could sense the demons shadows all around her, but she narrowed in on the focal point of the power. <Angeleus,> she thought.
She got back the mental version of a chuckle.
She ignored it and opened herself up to the rush of power she felt in her mind. . .
The demon screamed.
Willow laughed.
Somewhere in all of it, inside the white light pouring out of her heart, she felt the demon retreat and Angel regain control. But she wanted more than that-- she wanted the damn thing dormant. She wanted it dead.
She came close, too. She had it pushed back as far as it would go, and she kept fighting it, to a point where she almost lost control. It was Angel's voice that steadied her.
<Willow, Willow, stop. If you kill it, you'll kill me>
<He's right,> she realized. <It's the source of his immortality>
Weakly smiling, she withdrew from his mind.
***
When Willow woke up, she was back in bed--and alone. < Oh, Goddess,> she thought <Angel. . .> she scrambled out of bed and threw Angel's clothes on. <I'm going to have to go home today. I can't wear Angel's underwear forever.> She hesitated before leaving the bedroom, though. This was it. The Morning After. She and Angel had hardly had time to discuss their feelings last night, and while it had been ecstasy for her, it had been her first time, and she worried about Angel's. . .<Well, it couldn't have been too bad, Will. He lost his soul over it, didn't he?>
<Wow> she realized. <That's kind of like, the ultimate compliment, when you think about it.>
Feeling minutly less worried, she stepped out into the living room.
***
Angel turned at Willow's touch.
"Good morning," he said as she slid her arms around his waist.
"How do you feel?" she asked.
Confusion clouded his eyes. "I. . .Willow, what happened last night?"
She stopped smiling. <Does he mean the. . .or the. . .>
"What do you mean?" she asked. Realizing the source of her worry, he drew her closer.
"Not that," he whispered into her neck. "That was beautiful, Willow. I mean, afterwards. I don't remember. Did I. . ."
She shut her eyes and nodded.
"Oh, God." he said, and held her tighter. "Willow, I'm so, so sorry. Whatever I said, whatever I did. . .oh, God, Willow, did I hurt you?"
"No, calm down. I--I stopped it. Before the demon could take control. I just kind of dove in and I. . .stopped it."
Self-hatred filled his face. "I'm sorry. I should never have taken advantage of you like that...I lost control. It won't happen again." He withdrew from her embrace.
"No, Angel," she said. "I think. . .I think I really did stop it. I think I hurt it enough that it kind of. . .went to sleep...I think--"she hesitated before saying her next words."I think that, maybe, it's weak enough,and that you really can be happy."
He turned around and looked at her, almost horror stricken.
"That's not possible," he whispered, but realization began to dawn on his face.
"No, it's not," she said, feeling light headed. "You feel it don't you?" she laughed half-hysterical. "You do don't you?"
He gave a shaky laugh, and it sent chills down her spin, because. . .she'd never heard him laugh before.
"Willow,"he said, dumbfounded. Then he threw his arms around her and began to spin her around the room. "Willow!" he laughed whole-heartedly.
"Thank God you were strong enough."he said, setting her down.
"Well, somebody had to do it. If it kept up, you might have developed a complex," she said, kissing him joyfully.
***
Willow stepped out of the steaming shower and back (yet again) into Angel's clothes. <I really can't wait to have clothes that fit. Drawstrings are getting old.>
In the living room, she heard Giles's voice. Towel-drying her hair, she stepped out to meet him.
"Hey, Giles," she said casually.
"Willow," he said."Angel has just been telling me. . .your telepathic powers certainly seem to be improving."
Willow looked at Angel. <Did you tell him?> her eyes demanded.
Very slightly, he shook his head.
<Good> Having Giles know any kind of detail about her sex life definatly gave her the wiggins.
"It's amazing, really. Extrodinary. That kind of power . . "The gidy look came up again."I need to research this more. I'm going back to the library," he said, gathering his books up.
Angel yawned smugly. "I'm going to bed," he said, glancing at Willow. She shot him a Look.
"Giles," she said sweetly. "Would you mind dropping me off at my house? I need clothes."
***
"Yes, well, we'll meet back at the Library around 7:00," Giles said, as Willow go out of the car.
"Great," she said. "See you then"
Willow slid her house key into the lock, and entered the darkened house. As usual, her parents were at work. They probably hadn't even noticed--
"Willow Ophelia Rosenberg!" her mother said sharply. "Where have you been?!"
***
"Mom." she said startled."Um, School!"
"Your finals ended last week, young lady!" <wow>, willow thought. <I didn't think she'd noticed> "Besides, you've been sleeping at school? for two nights?"
<Lost points there, Mom. It was three nights> "Um, you didn't let me finish. School. . .Trip! yeah,uh, for the seniors. Camping trip over the week-end. I left you a note."
Her mother didn't look quite convinced.
"I just. . .needed to get away, Mom," she said playing the sympathy ticket. Her phsychologist mother softened. "And I did leave a note." <Well, no, but you wouldn't have noticed anyway.>
"Of course, dear. If you'd like--"
"And remember, I'm leaving again tonight. uh, Amy and I, her cousin goes to UCLA and we're driving over to look at the campus," <wow, that was impressive. Way to free up the next week for saving the world.> "So, I'll, uh, see you in a few days or so. Love you" she said, kissing her mom's cheek and running up the stairs before she was struck with a bolt of lightening.
Shelia Rosenberg shook her head. Her baby was growing up. But. . .What had she been wearing?!

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