Friendship

Note: Text enclosed in < > represents thoughts or feelings. 

Willow nodded, "Some place nice."  Tears tightened her throat, it hurt to swallow, to breath.  Willow pushed them back, "Dinner and dancing." 

To Xander's astute perception, Willow seemed self-absorbed.  Xander's attempts to pussy-foot around Willow all day long, to act deliberately casual were wearing thin. 

Buffy explained Willow's odd behavior to Xander as fear of being left out, of losing her friends, now that they were dating.   But Xander suspected there had to be something more bothering his pal, just not what. 

Thursday night, Willow, Buffy and Xander always went to The Bronze.  Together.  Tonight, Willow hadn't wanted to go with them. 

Xander insisted, "Just like old times."  Willow found Xander's determination to make sure that his buddy didn't feel isolated...sweet.  <And annoying.> 

She hadn't had the energy to refuse Xander's badgering.  Willow finally gave in and agreed.  Buffy needed to work on a history assignment for a while, then she was supposed to meet them by 8PM. 

Xander and Willow rounded a corner and crossed the street at the light.  They were almost to The Bronze. 

"After some nice, slow romantic dancing I'm going suggest we go someplace quiet,"  Xander pulled something out of his pocket.  <A jewelry box.> 

"Then I'm going to give her this," Xander offered the box to Willow. 

Willow gingerly accepted the box from Xander.  She opened it. 

Her heart broke...a tear spilled down her cheek. 

A lovely silver heart with a long silver chain lay nestled on black velvet.  The inscription read "I'll love you forever.  -Xander". 

A snarl rang in Willow's ear.  Her blood curdled.  <Behind us!> 

Xander never reacted.  A hard blow between the shoulder blades left him sprawling on the ground like a broken toy. 

Willow screamed.  The jewelry box fell from her fingers_in_unnaturally_slow_ motion... 

The beast grabbed Willow from behind and tossed her over his shoulder. 

He headed up a nearby fire escape with sickening speed.  Willow's head spun dizzily as he rounded each turn on the ladder.  To her relief, Willow saw Xander move below. 

Willow screamed from her soul, hoping someone, <Buffy, Angel, Anyone> heard. 

She gouged the vampire in the back with her fingernails, ripping his shirt.  He grunted in pain.  <Take that, you bastard!> 

They reached the top of the fire escape. 

"Willow!"  Xander, shouting and cursing, followed. 

"Xander go for help!"  Willow felt her heart sink.  Xander kept coming.  <Xander, please go back.> 

The vampire leapt from the fire escape to the roof. 

Willow punched him in the back again. 

"Ouch!"  <Angel??!!!> 

He swatted her butt, "Knock it off, you're hurting me." 

"Angel?"  Willow still disbelieved her ears. 

Angel swung her off his shoulder, shifting his grip.  He didn't set her down.  Instead he held her, dangling, in his arms. 

Angel wore an evil smile.  But... 

Willow exhaled in relief.  <No game face.  He's not out of control...I hope.> 

"Angel, what are you doing?"  Willow didn't even make an effort to sound mad. 

"Taking what I want," he purred, his hands flexed suggestively on her waist.  Angel flashed her a wicked grin, displaying a hint of fangs. 

Fear tightened an icy hand in her gut... 

Angel saw.  His expression instantly softened, "Please don't be afraid of me." 

His eyes, so human, quieted some of Willow's fear, if not her doubt.  <How could a monster have such beautiful eyes?.> 

"Angel!"  Xander reached the top of the fire escape, and recognized his attacker finally. 

"You let her go, you bastard!"  Xander brandished a make-shift stake threateningly. 

Angel unceremoniously dumped Willow over his shoulder again.  Xander left her field of vision, leaving her with Angel's back and concrete. 

"If you think you can protect her, then come and take her," Angel snarled.  <His game face is back.> 

"Angel, please don't hurt Xander,"  Willow pleaded. 

Willow heard Xander's footsteps, running, on concrete. 

Angel hesitated, then spun.  Xander chased them across the rooftop, pursuing with desperate fury. 

<Where are we going?>  Angel's incredible speed left Xander behind. 

He wasn't slowing down as they got closer to the edge... 

<OH GOD!>  Angel leapt off the edge of the building. 

The ground whizzed by below. 

Concrete reappeared. 

Angel's feet connected firmly with the ground, he didn't break stride. 

Willow could feel her heart in her throat.  She looked back and nearly died of relief.  <Thank God.  Xander didn't try to follow.> 

Angel spun again, snatching Xander out of sight.  <I'm going to be sick.> 

"I'm going to kill you if you hurt her!" Xander shouted. 

"Not too likely,"  Angel sounded vicious.  <Like a vampire.>  His fingers slid down her calf, and squeezed gently. 

"Buffy's going to kill you!"  This threat was better. 

"Maybe,"  Angel agreed.  "But it will have been worth it." 

Angel turned and started to walk off, Willow casually slung over his shoulder.  Willow found the thought of being carried off like a captured prize ridiculous. 

"Angel," Willow snapped, losing her temper, "Put_Me_Down!" 

Angel complied so fast the world spun sickenly.  Willow's feet hit concrete and her relaxed muscles would have dumped her in a heap if Angel hadn't held her up. 

Xander remained on the other rooftop, torn between going down the fire escape and pursuing and fear of losing sight of them. 

"Are you going to force me?"  Willow slapped him with the question like a blunt instrument. 

Angel flinched.  "No, Never," his vehement denial soothed the last of Willow's fear. 

"Then what do you think you're doing?" Willow demanded.  "You've frightened Xander to death." 

"Let him suffer,"  the vicious light came back into Angel's eyes.  "He deserves far worse for the way he's hurt you." 

Willow felt herself flush.  Her throat tightened. 

"Wasting so much love is a sin,"  Angel hissed, his fangs showing again. 

"I..."  Willow's throat clenched.  She swallowed dryly.  "Angel,"  she pleaded softly. <Please don't do this to me.> 

"What's gotten into you?" she asked finally. 

The question hit home.  Angel flinched again.  "Coke, or maybe heroin." 

Willow blinked.  <Angel?> 

"I killed again...a vampire.  He'd drained a junkie and embraced a woman," the words were torn raggedly from Angel. 

"I shouldn't have...but,"  Angel's grip tightened painfully on her arms.  "Willow, she  was_Pregnant."  Willow could see Hell in his eyes. 

"Pregnant, Willow,"  he hissed, self-loathing flashing in his eyes.  "Like my wife."