"Angel?" She walked from the kitchen to the dining room. "Angel?" She walked from the dining room to the den. "Angel?" She walked from the den to the library. "Angel?" She walked from the library to the foyer. "Angel?" She walked up the stairs. ::Creak::
****************************************************************************** ***********
::Creak::
Slowly Willow opened her eyes. She groaned and rubbed her stiff neck; she had fallen asleep sitting up. <Creak? Since when does my bed creak?> Stretching her arms and legs simultaneously Willow fell off the porch swing. Luckily she landed on something soft.
"Ugh& Kindly remove yourself lass." Teig managed to mumble from underneath her.
"Oh! I'm sorry." Willow quickly stood up and commenced babbling. "So you're here. For real. Then that dream& it wasn't a dream. Angel. Wow. The bubble. Wow. Ireland. Wow." She collapsed back on the swing overwhelmed by the memories of what she had seen the night before. <Calm down Willow, remember this guy has a temper. Breath. Relax. Breath. Relax. Good. Now smile. >
"You look like a mad woman, stop that crazy smiling." Teig stood before Willow straightening his sleep rumpled clothes. "You learned a lot last night, and you must keep all that in the front of your mind. There is still a little more to the tale, and then I shall lay before you your task."
"More bubble traveling?" Willow asked hopefully.
"No, the looking glass is not necessary." Teig saw the disappointment on her face. "You are captivated by the glamour, typical halfling reaction. I promise to train you in the essentials as soon as my tale is done. Then you can make your own looking glass."
"I can do stuff? Like you? Magic? Bubbles? You'll teach me?" Willow was bouncing up and down on the swing in excitement.
"Glamour child. Glamour. Yes, you posses the ability. Now let me finish this tale." Teig stopped her bouncing by placing his hands on her shoulder.
"'Kay, I'm listening. Full listening mode here." Willow forced the questions flying around in her head to stop. <I can do stuff! Shh! Yay me! Shh! Sorry. Shh! >
"Shh!" Teig glared at her. "Now, Angel's soul was restored to him, but he was in constant battle with the demon. As the years passed the memories became unbearable to him and he was a broken man. Despite several attempts to reach his son, Angel would not even acknowledge the Fairy King's existence. As his soul lost its desire to continue living the demon grew stronger. As a last effort to keep the demon from taking control he isolated himself from everything mortal or immortal. Living in dark alleys, interacting with no one, the demon cravings were kept in check. Even though his soul remained in control it was devoid of life."
<Poor Angel. > Willow could not stop the flow of tears.
"You cannot afford these displays of pity." Teig snapped. "Pity weakens us. Instead feel love, it will fortify your strength and allow you to succeed in your task." Teig reached out and caught one of Willow's tears. He pulled a small piece of red cloth from his pocket and placed the tear on it. Willow watched curiously as the wetness diffused on the cloth. Teig then closed the cloth in his fist and blew on his clenched hand. When he opened his hand a silver chain from which dangled a tear shaped crystal had replaced the cloth. "This amulet shall help you contain your sadness in you, without draining your strength."
Willow bowed her head towards the fairy and allowed him to place the necklace around her neck. "Thank you."
"You possess too much compassion, which may be seen by many as a strength, but 'tis not the kind of strength you need now." He was pleased to see her tears had stopped. "May I please conclude this tale without further interruption?" Willow nodded, her spirits improved by Teig's wise words and beautiful gift.
With a deep intake of breath he continued. "In despair, King Oberon set out once again to find help for his son. The Kalderash would no longer help so instead he turned to the Demon world. There are many types of demons, though all soulless and innately evil, their difference lies in where they direct their hatred. Eventually Oberon was able to find a small sect of demons whose purpose was to destroy other demons. Angelus' viciousness and cruelty had not gone unnoticed by them, and they agreed to help Angel in his struggles. The Whistler was given access to the mortal plane. He eventually befriended Angel and was able to guide him from the murky depths into which he had immersed himself. Though the demon could not be banished from his body, Whistler instructed Angel on first neutralizing, and then mastering it. Angel learned to use the demon for good in the fight against evil, thus causing the trapped demon to suffer immensely." Teig paused and glanced at Willow, trying to determine if she was following his story.
<This is a test. No interrupting. > Instead of speaking Willow concentrated on reflecting comprehension in her eyes.
"Aye, you are definitely the right choice." He was pleased by her response. "Eventually Whistler and his sect of demons devised a plan to further torture Angel's demon and rid the world of another demonic pest. You know of Acathla?"
"The demon who would suck the world into hell with one breath." Willow whispered, overwhelmed by the emotions sweeping through her at the mention of the demon that had caused so much havoc in their lives. Absentmindedly she rubbed the crystal tear around her neck. The crystal radiated heat at her touch and instantly her sadness dissipated. Instead she felt the warm emotion of love sweep through her, and with it a renewed sense of strength.
"Aye. Well these demons found a way to bind Angel's blood to the resurrection of Acathla, who was prophesied to reawaken in the near future at the Hellmouth. Whistler tempted Angel with the Slayer, and taking the bait he moved to the Hellmouth to be near her. He never knew of the prophecy, the demons saw no need, as long as Angel's soul was in control he would help defeat the demon when the time came. However, prophecies, by nature, are not given to full interpretation until after they occur, thus allowing them to adjust to changing circumstances. No one expected Angel's demon to reemerge and bring forth the demon he was also destined to destroy. The happiness clause was known only to the Kalderash, and what transpired as a result was the sad comedy of errors you witnessed."
<The end? > Willow let the thought go after a minute of silence from the fairy.
"Aye, the end of the tale." Teig took a mock bow. "Now we must change it."
"Like give it a happy ending?" Willow crossed her fingers. <Please say we're going to bring Angel back. Buffy would be so happy. Everything would go back to normal. >
"And beginning. And middle."
"Huh?" Willow could not hide her confusion.
"When Oberon heard his son had regained a semblance of humanity he wanted no more than to seek out his son and try to rekindle the friendship they had shared centuries earlier. Queen Titania, who in all this time had never stopped hoping Oberon would return to her, cast a curse on the King." Teig paused for dramatic effect. <I do love telling these tales>. "If he ever left Ireland he could only take the form of a frog."
"A f-f-frog? Eww! He's not coming to talk to me next is he?" She couldn't hide her repulsion.
"Unfortunately that is impossible. You see, after Angel's soul was once again lost, and then regained only to be sent to Hell, the King lost all will to live. He gave up his two and a half century battle, and turned himself to stone." Teig then pulled a small stone frog from his pocket. At the sight of the very realistic looking frog Willow slid off the swing and crawled backwards, to the other end of the porch.
"What are you doing child?" Teig followed her, holding the hand with the frog sitting on it in front of him.
Reaching the far end of the porch Willow had no where left to go. "F-f-frog bad. Help. Go. Take. Away." Her fear was so great she could not formulate a coherent sentence. She tried again using thought, hoping the fairy was tuning in. <Fear of frogs. Can you put it away? >
Teig burst out laughing. "This frog is made of stone silly girl." He came closer, stopping when the hand with the perched frog was inches from her mouth. "Now, give King Oberon a welcoming kiss and I promise your fears shall be no more." He nudged his hand closer.
"Eww & please no, I can't. F-f-frog." Willow was frozen in fear.
"KISS THE FROG!" He lost his patience with her. The added fear of the enraged fairy before her propelled her forward. Holding her breath and squeezing her eyes shut she kissed the stone frog lightly. Instantly her fear of frogs disappeared. Not only was she no longer afraid, she was having a hard time containing an outpouring of love. Willow grabbed the stone frog that would be the Fairy King out of Teig's hand and proceeded to caress the still figure.
"Look at you. What a precious thing you are. Silly to ever be afraid of something so adorable." She was cooing.
Teig promptly snatched the frog away from her ministrations. Willow whimpered in protest as the object of her affection was carried back to the swing. She followed reluctantly.
As Willow regained her seat on the swing the fairy placed the stone frog back into his pocket and continued talking. "This complete loss of the Fairy King has caused much disorder and confusion among the fairies. Even though our King has not served in Tir-Nan-Og he has always been out guiding light. Now his light has been extinguished. The only thing that can return him to us is retrieving his son."
"We're going to bring Angel back from Hell." She could hardly contain her excitement.
"Even better lass. We are going to ensure he never gets sent there in the first place."
"I don't understand. How? What can I do?"
"Mab, in retribution for her part in this tragedy, has provided a solution. You, as her youngest and most gifted descendant posses the power of time travel. It is this ability that will allow you to right this wrong." Teig watched as the young redhead digested the information.
"Time travel? You want me to go back in time and do what? Are you sure I have this ability? All I've ever done is Angel's soul restoration spell. But it drained me. How can you say I am so gifted?" The questions came pouring out.
"Your powers have always been inside you, in your blood. Unfortunately, due to your halfling status they need to be awakened. You have felt your power stirring, but at your age they are mostly attributed as hormonal. As your body reaches maturity, and the surge of power doesn't fade, that is when you, as most halflings, discover the gift. Do you not often feel particularly receptive to the feelings of those around you?" He asked.
"Well yeah, but I thought that was just because I'm so sensitive. Like a caring person type, not a half fairy type. And time travel, I mean that's much more serious than sensing people's moods. Are you sure I can do that? Will you teach me? To when am I going to go? What will I do to make things better?" She stopped the stream of questions. <Gotta give him time to answer. >
"You can do this, and you need no guidance. When the time is right your heart will guide the way. The dreams Mab has sent you, they have ensured your love for Angel. You and he are forever bound in the world of dreams, as husband and wife. You shall stop Angel's embracing, this way preventing all that happened as a result." Teig explained.
"My dreams, they're from Mab? But Angel plays such a small role. I do feel intense love for him in my dreams, but it is our daughter that captivates me, what does she have to do with all this?" <She wasn't in my last dream, and I couldn't find Angel.>
"Mab does not determine the course of your dreams, she can only guide your emotions. Love for Angel is what she has forged in you. That is all that matters." He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You have the strength and the ability little one, Mab has merely given you the passion and desire."
Willow was speechless but the thoughts raced around her head. <I need time to think. I can't do this. How can I stop Darla? Is this really Angel's only chance? Why me? I must do this for Buffy. I don't understand? A halfling? Me? God, I'm hungry. >
"Willow child, look at me." The fairy broke into her thoughts. "Hunger is a sin against the body, please go nourish yourself. I shall return this evening, and we will explore your glamour. I will answer all questions, as best I can, at that time." He leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. Willow just stared at him, but he could hear her thoughts as they whipped through her mind at a staggering pace.
Teig reached into his pocket and once again pulled out the stone frog. "Here." He placed the figurine in her hand. She immediately clutched the small frog to her chest. "Oberon doesn't talk much these days, but he's a great listener."
With a final nod
of his head Teig vanished, leaving Willow to sort through the jumble in
her head.
~Part 7~
After Teig left, Willow sat on the swing holding the frog that would be king in her right hand while absentmindedly stroking the tear drop necklace with her left. As the events of the past twelve hours swam around her brain, she experienced a huge rush of emotions until finally, with the necklace glowing a bright white, everything clicked into place and Willow embraced the one feeling most prominent in her sea of emotions, love. Love for the world, love for her family and her newly discovered heritage, love for her friends, love for herself, and above all, love for Angel. It all made sense, and as she swung back and forth on the swing Willow accepted and embraced her upcoming mission. “I can do this. I can save Angel and give him his life, as a human. No more brooding tortured vampire with a soul. No more vicious psychotic killer.”
A calm descended on Willow for almost three seconds before another thought broke free and started swimming for shore. Preventing Angel from becoming a vampire would mean keeping him and Buffy apart. Her positive mood immediately faded. She had always considered Buffy and Angel to be star crossed lover’s, destined to be together, yet fated to be kept apart, and it looked like this time it was her that would be keeping them from being together. Willow groaned audibly.
“If Angel never becomes a vampire, then as a halfling he will not stray far from his homeland and Tir-Na-n-Og. The two would never cross paths, and their ill-fated love affair shall never come to pass.” Willow spun around searching for the source of the counter argument.
“Um, hello? Teig is that you? I thought you were leaving.” Willow bent over and looked underneath the swing, still unable to locate the fairy.
“Sit straight child, you’re making me dizzy.” This time Willow jumped out of the swing and flailed her arms around as she stomped her foot down in a mini-tantrum.
“Show yourself.” A croak and a groan and something that sounded awfully like a ribbit greeted her demand. Then it hit her. Opening her right fist she stared at the stone figure in her hand. “King Oberon?”
“Yes child.”
“But, but Teig said you don’t talk.” Willow studied the stone frog that sat unchanged in her hand.
“I’m not talking, ‘tis a mental projection through our fairy link.”
“Oh, so you’re speaking in my head. Neat. Strange, but neat. Does anyone else know you can talk? I mean, project? Do you know how much everyone misses you? You should pop into their heads and just say hi every once in a while, make them all happy.”
“I have chosen not to communicate with anybody until now, ‘tis a self imposed silence. But you, lassie, you are so full of power, and your love for my son is so pure and innocent that I felt it proper to help you decide on the correct path for all. It is an important decision that lies before you, and the consequences and ramifications will remain unknown, as they do to any and all actions, until they come to pass.”
“Tell me about it. This is the biggest decision I’ve ever had to make, and boy is it a whopper. Most people get to start with little big decisions, should they highlight their hair, should they spend two hundred dollars on a pair of uncomfortable shoes they’ll only wear once. Not me, I get the big one. I get the ‘save the fairy world’ one on my very first time around the big decision wheel.” As her ramble came to a stop she noticed small jolts of electricity running through her. She turned a questioning eye to the King.
“You have too much energy child. I had to return some.” He explained.
“It’s nervous energy. I don’t think I can do this on my own. I need advice. I need help. I need research. Yeah, research. Giles. Giles can help. He’ll know what to do. I’ll ask Giles.”
“Now listen child, Teig omitted one very important detail.”
<Why am I not surprised>?
“Bending time changes the future for all inhabitants of the realm in which the change has happened, except for those aware of the fold. You will be aware of both versions of history, and you must preserve the one that prevails. If not, and you compromise a truth of the current reality with a past truth of the previous one, it will result in a tear in the fabric between both worlds, causing paradoxes and doublings that would destroy much of the human realm. As such, it is important that no mortal is made aware of what you are about to do.”
“Figures, so I’m on my own. How can I do this on my own?” Willow’s face fell.
“If you encounter any immortals, feel free to ask them for help and guidance, as they are not native to this realm, and can not be affected by your actions. That is why I have awoken child, to help you, to guide you, to support you.”
“No offense your majesty, but you’re kind of biased here. Angel was, is, your son. I love Angel too. I miss him. I dream of him every night, and spend all day thinking about him. But I know Mab sent me the dreams. I know they’re not reality. Now is the time to deal with the real.”
“Your dreams are reality. They are the reality of your heart. Always be true to your heart lass, and your heart will always be true to you. Following your instinct is the only way to achieve happiness and contentment for us fairies. Worrying only makes us age, and if you’re immortal the last thing you want is to live forever with wrinkles. Do you see what worrying has done to me, I have so many wrinkles they turned me into stone. Let me advise you dear, learn from my experience. On my honor, I shall be neutral.”
“Fine, I’ll bounce some of my concerns off of you.” Willow sat on the swing once more and placed the frog statue on her lap. “Isn’t what we are proposing to do selfish? I know that Angelus did a lot of bad things when he didn’t have a soul, but he also did a lot of good when he got it back. What happens to all those people who don’t have him around to save them?”
“When my sons soul was restored to him he became a useless thing to be pitied. What drew him out and allowed him to once more enter society, albeit disfunctionally, was his desire to help the Slayer.”
“But that’s a good thing, because without his help we would have all died a long time ago.”
“You don’t realize how evil and vicious the demon that inhabited my sons body is. Angelus, the vampire, was the direct or indirect cause of many of the more dangerous events that you have encountered. He forged the relationship between Darla and the Master. He sired both Spike and Drusilla. And let us not forget his last act, awakening Acathala. Without his vampire existence those problems shall not come to pass.” The King’s voice sounded in her mind.
“But what about the demon? If the demon doesn’t inhabit Angel, then he’ll just find some other hapless victim and then he’ll be free to wreak havoc.”
“You must understand that an inhabiting demon must mesh and mingle with the soul of that body. The soul loses control, but it is still in place. It is the darker elements of the soul that the demon feeds off of and brings to the surface, but the demon cannot create the evil, it must exist prior. Fairy power walks a thin line between light and dark, and the most powerful fairies are tapped into both and know how to maintain a safe balance. The weakest tend to fall to one side or the other, most likely to the dark for its pull is more tempting. As a halfling my sons soul incorporated both human and fairy light, and to balance this his dark side was more powerful than any purebred human or fairy could ever be. The chance of the demon finding another halfling host is minimal.”
As a wave of nausea swept through Willow she attempted, once again, to absorb all the information swirling through her mind. Closing her eyes she fingered the teardrop pendant. The group of children across the street stopped mid game to watch the light show on the Rosenberg’s porch. The necklace that before had only glared white was now flashing through the full spectrum of colors in an attempt to redirect its owner’s passion. As the queasy feeling slowly abated Willow felt her mind clear. The necklace once more beamed a bright white light. Out of the calm sea of Willow’s mind one figure emerged, Angel as she had seen him through the looking glass, Angel before he became a vampire. And as she stared at the human Angel in her mind she knew that this was the Angel she had dreamt of, this was the Angel she loved above all else. This was the Angel she was willing to give up life, as she knew it, for. As she opened her eyes the necklace, having done its job, lay dormant around her neck once more.
“I’ll do it. Of course I’ll do it. How can I not?” When no answer came from the King, Willow glanced at the stone frog in her hand. She could have sworn a smile that hadn’t been there before now graced the figurine.
Breathing a deep sigh of relief, happy that the burden of the decision had been solved, Willow went into the house.
Burrowing deep under the covers after a long hot shower, Willow closed her eyes and fell asleep. She dreamed...
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