Summary: Angel is caught between a rock and a hard place. Literally. =0) Willow gets introduced to the AI gang.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, they belong to Joss and Co. I make no money from this so don't sue.
Distribution: NHA, SoG, redsoulmates, Betwitching Angel, and anyone else I post to. Others just ask
Author's Notes: The Title is Gaelic for Introduction. Réamhrá is pronounced (RAVE-raw). Thanks to G for letting me use her as my sounding board. With out her this series would be boring, dull, and not this damn long! lol
Feedback: But of course! And curse those who don't! lol ghoztstarz@yahoo.com
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Such a nice dream. It's been so long since I've had someone in my arms. I kiss her shoulder, slowly making my way to the neck. She's soft, and fits so well spooned next to me, her naked body against mine. A small moan escapes her lips as I nuzzle her neck. She turns in my arms, wrapping her legs around mine and kisses me. Slowly, deeply, soft lips and tongue roaming my mouth. Her hips move against me. I groan at the contact. So long, it's been so damn long.
"Angel," she whispers as she trails kisses along my jawline to my neck. I pull her closer. I can't get enough contact. Her hands comb through my hair and run along my back, down to my waist, and cup me through my boxers. I grind myself into her hands. Her lips come back to kiss me again, nipping, licking, tasting, and taking. I slowly open my eyes.
"Willow?!" I say, shocked. I thought that was a dream. Oh shit. I look around. She's really naked next to me, wrapped around me. I'm clothed only in my boxers. I remember falling asleep in the chair. Why am I not still in the chair? It's still sitting facing the bed where I had set it up earlier. I extricate myself from the tangled mass of limbs.
"I...I...," I stutter. Oh my God. "How? I was...I'm sorry Willow." If I could blush, I'd be crimson by now. I just stare at her. Naked torso exposed to her flat stomach. I groan inwardly at the sight of her. Magnificent, perfect. I have to shake myself out of my revere.
She just looks at me, lust clouding her eyes. How did I end up in bed? In my boxers? I back up slowly, not looking where I'm going, and fall to my ass in the chair. I can't take my eyes off her. She gets up slowly, the satin sheet trailing down her body as she moves, revealing everything she has to offer. Oh God. I shut my eyes tight, and even with them closed I can still see her every curve. When I open them again she is walking seductively towards me, hips swaying with each step.
"Willow," I choke. She stops just a few feet away from me and looks at me, waiting. Her desire clouds the air, the scent thick.
"I...I mean, we...we can't. I'm sorry," I say quickly getting up and practically running for the bathroom. As soon as I clear the door I shut it quickly, lock it, and lean back against it. I breath deeply, even though it's not necessary. What the hell was that?! Shit, shit, shit! Not good. I can't, she's knows I can't. She should know at least. Hell, she's the one that recursed me for crying out loud. What the hell did she think she was doing?
I look around the bathroom. Ah, cold shower. Definitely need one of those. I need to clear my head. I turn on the shower, no hot water added, take off my boxers, and get in. Damn it's cold. I may be a vampire, but we tend to stay room temperature, this is just ice cold. At least I can think now.
Ok, everything's under control. What am I going to do with her today? I can't just leave her locked up here in the room can I? I could, but I don't think she'd stay. Ok, so how do I prepare her for introductions. First thing, clothes. Ok, that's a given. Umm, she needs to feed, a lot. I don't need her blood-lust getting the better of her and she ends up going for one of my friends. A few ground rules are needed as well. One, no biting. Two, let me break the news of her...death.
Her words from the other night echo in my head. 'I think I'm broken.' I shake my head. What does she mean by that? Willow isn't broken. She's just...not human anymore.
I'm dreading all the questions. I really don't want to do this but I have no choice.
I finish washing up and step out of the shower, grabbing a towel to dry off. I forgot to grab clothes. I wrap the towel around my waist and tentatively step out of the bathroom. I sigh with relief. Willow had slipped back into the t-shirt and sweat pants while I was in the shower. Good.
I walk quickly over to the armoire and grab a pair of black pants and a maroon silk shirt and practically run back to the bathroom to get dressed. Her giggling trails behind me. Great.
I dress quickly and prepare myself to talk to Willow. I sigh. I owe this girl so much and I can't even bring myself to go out and talk to her after seeing her naked. How pathetic am I? Ok, here it goes.
I walk out into the room. So far so good.
"Willow, uh, I thought maybe today you could meet everyone. That is, if you feel up to it," I say nervously. I don't know how she will act, nor how the gang will either. Granted, she is tamer then the alternate universe version of her I met her sophomore year in high school, but she lost control last night with the couple. I can't have that happening today.
"Umm, I guess I could say 'Hi'," Willow said. "But, I'm kind of hungry now."
"Of course. I was going to suggest that," I said. I got the mugs, blood, and heated them in the microwave. Sitting at the small seating area we drank our blood in silence.
"Angel, I...I want to apologize, for this morning. I'm sorry. I don't know how it happened. I moved you to the bed and took off your clothes to make you more comfortable. I didn't mean to..." she says trailing off.
"It's ok. I wondered how I got in bed. Thank you for the thought. Now, are you still hungry?" I ask. I don't want her going down with even a small chance she will be tempted. She looked disgustedly at her mug. Ok, now I know pigs blood isn't the best. I'll have to think about getting a good supply of human blood from a reliable source.
"Come here Willow," I say. Sire's blood will quench any newborn's thirst. She gets up tentatively and walks over to me. I pull her to sit in my lap and tilt my neck to expose it to her.
"Angel?" she asks.
"It's ok Willow." I pull her head gently to my neck. I wonder who this is harder for, me or her? This is such an intimate act for vampires. I have to use every ounce of my control to keep from groaning out load when she licks along what would be my pulse point. She lays a gentle kiss where she licked. I feel her face change a second before she bites down. I moan despite all my control. She is so gentle, only pulling on the blood when the flow starts to ebb. I instinctively rub my hips against her. No. I've got to stop. I gently push her away from me. She backs up enough to lick her marks. Ok, this feels too good. I can't let it continue. I push her back further. She looks at me from her human eyes, a silent thank you on her face. Some of my blood is still on her lips. Despite my own warnings I lean in to kiss her. My blood on her lips is almost too much for me to handle. I stand up quickly.
We stand there looking at each other for a minute. Both of us licking the blood from our lips. She takes a step towards me, her desire thick in the air. I step back behind the chair, putting it between us.
"Willow, no," I say, putting some command behind my voice. She stops and visibly shakes herself. Looks like we may need to talk about a few other things as well.
"Sorry Angel. I...I don't know what came over me. I just...I don't know," she says looking down.
"It's ok. It's...normal for you to have that reaction to Sire's blood. Don't worry about it," I say trying to comfort her. I am not helping much. This is much harder then I thought it would be.
"How do you feel?" I ask. My blood should have quenched what thirst was left.
"Good. Thank you," she says and give me a small smile. I smile back and walk over to give her a hug. We both kind of need it.
"Ready to go down?" I ask holding her at arms length.
"I guess. I'm not really dressed to impress," she says looking down at her clothes.
"Don't worry. I'm sure Cordelia will be more then happy to go shopping with you. Or for you if you want."
"Probably best if she goes for me right now."
"Ok. I'll send her off after your introductions. I don't think I have to say this but no biting, and let me tell them about your...well, condition."
She nods, walking away from me to grab the mugs and clean them out. I watch her move. She is more graceful now, I notice. Almost lithe in her movements. She finishes putting the mugs away and turns to me.
"Shall we?" she asks smiling and holding out her hand. I grab it and nod. Here goes nothing.
We walk down to the lobby. Cordelia is behind the desk with the obligatory magazine open in front of her. Wesley's in his office, looking at a tome of some kind. Business as usual. Cordelia noticed us first.
"Angel, it's about time you came down...Oh, Willow! Hi! When did you get here?" Cordelia says, coming around the desk to meet them.
"Hey Cordelia," Willow says. She gives her a tentative wave and smiles.
"So, Angel. Is she why you came banging on my door so early this morning?" Cordy asks. Yep, definitely going to be a trying day.
"No, there was another reason. Well, actually, kind of."
Wesley walks out of his office and stops mid-stride when he sees Willow.
"Ah, Willow, what a pleasent surprise," he says.
"Hello Wesley. Nice to see you again."
Awkward silence. Great. At that moment Gunn walks through the front doors.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" he says looking at Willow.
"Gunn, meet Willow. Willow this is Charles Gunn," I say making the introductions. He extends his hand and Willow shakes it. So far no one has noticed Willow's state. I don't know if that is good or bad.
"Hey there Red. Nice to see another pretty face in here," Gunn says smoothly. Willow giggles and everyone looks at her.
"Oh, uh, sorry. Just Red, is a nickname a friend of mine back in Sunnydale uses for me."
Well, so far so good. No one knows yet about Willow's...condition. I really don't know if I can tell them. I mean, Cordelia and Willow went to school together, and Wesley, well...they know each other. Gunn isn't a big fan of me and female vampires since the Darla incident.
"Say, did I miss something?" Lorne asks walking towards the group. I didn't hear him come in. Willow just stared at him. Ok, so a green demon with red horns and a pink suit isn't a common occurrence in Sunnydale. I probably should have warned her about Lorne.
"Willow this is Lorne. He's an empath demon," I say. Lorne jumps right in shaking her hand enthusiastically.
"Well hey there cutie. Where are you from?" Lorne asks a bewildered Willow.
"Uh, hi. I'm...uh from Sunnydale."
"Right, Angel's old stomping grounds. It's not often Sweet Cheeks over here gets such lovely company. Especially not of the vampiric persuasion," Lorne says.
I can't believe it. Oh my God. This is not good. This is not what I had planned. Shit! Everyone is just staring at Willow and I.
"Uh, surprise!" Willow says.