Disclaimer: Characters don't belong to me. They belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's Note: This story takes place during the current timeline, but the past events have been changed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Willow walked into the dorm room, a huge smile on her face. Buffy looked up from her book. She smiled at the look of joy on her friends face. Ever since Willow had started dating Graham, she'd been so happy.
"I take it you and Graham had a good time?"
Willow flopped down across her bed. "Oh, Buffy, he is so sweet. We had such a great time."
"I'm kind of surprised you came back here tonight." Buffy teased.
Willow threw the pillow at her friend. "I could say the same about you. Where's Riley?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Initiative business......need to know only. And obviously girlfriends don't need to know."
The girls sat talking
about the men in their lives until they fell asleep late in the night.
Graham got back to his room, and reached out for the phone. But before he could make his call, a knock came on the door and Riley walked in.
"Well, you're home early, Casanova."
"Very funny, Riley. Willow and I aren't jumping into anything, unlike you and Buffy."
Riley rolled his eyes. "Sure, whatever you say. We've got a meeting with Walsh in the morning. Said something important is coming up."
"I'll be there."
Graham waited till he was sure Riley was out of the area, then picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"It's me." Graham replied.
"How's it going?"
"Everything's according to plan. Willow and I have hit it off, and Buffy doesn't suspect anything. No one does."
"Very good, Graham. Do you have the directions?"
Graham leaned his head against his hand. "Yeah, I know where it is."
"Then make sure you have Willow there on Friday."
Graham didn't say anything. He was picturing the redhead, and envisioning what she would face at the hands of his employer.
"Graham!?"
"Is it necessary to involve her? Why not just grab the Slayer?"
"Don't you dare go soft on me now, Graham. You had no problems with the plan when I outlined it for you six months ago. Now it's too late to back out. Willow is an integral part of this plan. Don't screw up!"
Graham pulled the phone away as the phone was slammed down on the other end. He hadn't had a problem before, but now that he'd gotten to know Willow, it was hard. But, Graham knew he had no choice. He'd given his word that he'd help with this plan, and he would. {Forgive me, Willow.}
End Part 1
Willow stood in front of her closet, trying to decide what to wear. Graham said he had someplace special to show her, and she wanted to look nice.
"So, are you trying to memorize everything in there?"
"Very funny."
Finally deciding on slacks and a blouse, Willow began changing as Buffy did the same. "Are you guys coming to the frat party tonight?"
"I don't think so. Graham is taking me someplace special."
"Really? So, does this mean I shouldn't expect you back tonight?" Buffy asked teasingly.
Willow shrugged. "You never know. Let's just say, if I'm not back don't worry. Graham will take good care of me."
Buffy smirked at the double meaning. "Yeah, I just bet he will. Well have a good time, and I won't wait up. But one thing."
"What?" Willow asked suspiciously.
"When you get back, I want the complete details."
"We'll see, Buffy. Don't you have someplace to be?"
Buffy grabbed her
jacket and headed out. Willow finished getting then left to meet
Graham.
Graham made sure the blindfold was secured around Willow's eyes as he drove to his destination. He refused to think about what was about to happen.
"Where are we going, Graham?"
"We're almost there, Willow. It'll be a surprise you'll never forget."
Once he stopped the car, Graham got Willow out and led her inside. He stood to one side as he saw the man approach. The look in the man's eyes sent shivers down Graham's back, even though he'd seen the look many times before. For some reason, this was different.
"Graham? Can we take the blindfold off now?"
Graham looked at
his colleague, who nodded his head. Slowly, he reached up and took
off the blindfold.
Willow blinked to accustom her eyes to the lights, then her eyes widened at the sight ahead of her. She tried backing up but Graham was there. "Graham, run!"
Graham's arms came up to grip Willow's arms when she tried to run, holding her firmly in her spot. "Surprised to see me, Willow? Guess Graham forgot to mention me, huh?"
Willow turned her head to look at Graham, who was staring straight ahead. The truth hit her when he refused to look at her. She'd been set up by the man she loved.
Willow turned back to glare at the man in front of her. She'd be damned if she'd let either of them see her fear. "What do you want Angelus?"
Angelus stepped forward, grabbing Willow harshly by the hair. "Revenge.....poor and simple."
Willow watched as Angelus motioned to Graham, who pushed her into the house. She tried to struggle, but it was no use. Graham led her into a small room, then pushed her to the corner. As he turned to leave, Willow called out to him.
"Why? Why did you do this to me?"
Graham stopped but didn't turn around. "Because I owe him......and I gave him my word. I'm sorry, Willow."
Willow slid to the
floor as the door locked behind Graham. She pulled her legs against
her chest, and let the tears fall.
Back at the dorms, Buffy and Riley were blissfully unaware of what had happened.
End Part 2
"Now, make sure you give Buffy my message as soon as you get back."
"You do realize the Slayer's going to kill me when she finds out I'm connected to you."
Angelus shook his head. "If she does anything to you, she'll never see her precious Willow again."
Graham ran his hand through his hair. "I don't see why you don't just send one of your lackeys."
"Because, she needs to be convinced that I'm back. You can do that. Now, go!"
Graham grabbed his
jacket and stormed out of the mansion. He hadn't seen Willow since
the night before, but he knew Angelus had been in with her. Graham didn't
want to know what had happened.
Buffy and Riley looked up as they saw Graham approach them. "Hey, you're back. Where's Willow?"
Graham took a deep breath, then looked at them. "Not here."
"We can see that. Is she back at the dorm?" Buffy asked.
"No. She didn't come back with me."
Buffy and Riley exchanged glances. There was something strange about Graham's behaviour. "Graham, where is she?"
"With Angelus."
The blood rushed from Buffy's face as she jumped to her feet. "What did you say?"
"I think you heard me, Slayer. She's with Angelus."
Riley stared in shock at his friend. He couldn't believe that Graham was talking so calmly about the fact that Willow was with a killer. "My God, you set her up, didn't you? You set us all up!"
"Very good, Riley."
Buffy grabbed Graham, slamming him back against the building. "You son-of-a-bitch! Willow loved you!"
"Get your hands off me, Buffy."
"Or what?" Buffy asked angrily.
"Or you never see Willow again." Graham answered.
Buffy backed away from him, fighting to control her anger. "So, where is she?"
"The place where you last saw Angelus. But you go alone. If he sees anyone else, including Riley, he'll kill Willow."
"Fine. When I'm done with him, I'm coming back for you! Riley, don't let him out of your sight."
Riley grabbed Buffy's arm. "You can't go after him alone, Buffy."
"I have to, Riley. This is between him and me, and it's time I end this once and for all. Just make sure Graham's here when I get back."
Riley watched Buffy run off, then turned back to Graham. "Since it looks like we'll be keeping each other company for a while, why don't you tell me why you did it? What did Willow ever do to you?"
Graham leaned back against the wall. "Angelus and I go way back. He asked me for help, and I gave him my word that I would. I didn't know anything about Willow."
"But after you two started dating, which I'm sure was part of the plan, you knew her. Christ, she'd fallen in love with you. How could you hand her over to a killer?"
"I told you, I gave him my word." Graham said.
"So because you gave a vampire your *word*, you're willing to let an innocent young woman die? God, I don't think I ever knew you, did I, Miller?"
Graham leaned his
head back and closed his eyes. He wouldn't let Riley see how his
words were affecting him.
Buffy rushed to the mansion, but stopped in her tracks as she saw Angelus.....holding a knife to Willow's throat.
End Part 3
"Let her go, Angelus. It's me you want."
"So we meet again, Slayer. I'm glad you've decided to accept my invitation."
Buffy looked at Willow, trembling with anger as she saw Willow's bruised face. "How could I refuse?"
"Exactly what I thought. But now that you're here, we can proceed to the revenge part."
"Which is?"
Angelus gripped Willow's head as the knife neared her throat. "Making you stand there helplessly as you watch your best friend die. Then when you try coming after me, I kill you......slowly."
"She's not a part of this, Angelus. Willow's never done anything to you."
"True, but she's a friend of yours. Guilt by association."
Buffy saw the tears run down Willow's cheeks and knew she had to do something quickly. She was about to say something when she noticed movement behind Willow and Angelus. Her eyes widened as she saw Riley.......and Graham, moving in on Angelus. What was going on?
"Let her go, this is your last chance."
"Not very persuasive, lover. But, her death will be quick....unlike yours."
"NO!!!!!!!!"
Angelus turned at
the sound, caught off guard as Graham rushed towards him. Riley pulled
Willow to safety, just as Graham attacked Angelus. The vampire quickly
regained his balance, fighting with Graham for the knife.
Buffy grabbed the stake as she watched Graham and Angelus fighting, then watched as Graham dropped to the ground. Angelus turned and ran into the night, with Buffy chasing after him. Riley went to his friends side, then rolled him over, gasping at the sight of blood on his shirt.
"Shit, Graham."
"Is.....is Willow okay?"
Riley turned behind him as he saw Willow slowly move closer. "She'll be fine, Graham."
"Tell her......tell her I'm sorry."
"You can tell her later. After we get you help." Riley said.
"I'm dying, Riley. We both know it."
Graham turned as he felt a hand on his cheek. He saw the tears on Willow's bruised face as she knelt on his other side. "I should've stopped....him, Willow. Should've never......agreed."
"Shhhh, don't talk now." Willow said.
Graham reached up to grasp her hand. "Whether you believe it.....or not. I did love you, Willow."
Willow cried out
as Graham's eyes closed, and his hand went limp. "NO!!!! Don't you
die on me, Graham."
Buffy ran back into the mansion, stopping when she heard the scream. She rushed into the room to find Riley and Willow kneeling next to a fallen Graham. Buffy walked over and knelt behind Willow. It was then she realized that Graham had died.
"I'm sorry, Will."
"He.....he died saving my life."
Despite everything Graham had done, he had tried to make up for his mistakes. "He couldn't live with himself for what he'd done. That's why he brought me here. Willow, he was trying to make amends." Riley said.
Buffy saw the tears in her boyfriend's eyes, and knew he was hurting. She pulled Willow to her feet. "We need to go, Willow. Riley will take care of Graham."
Willow's eyes never left Graham's body. "Where's Angelus?"
Buffy looked at Riley when she spoke. "He got away."
Willow took a deep breath and turned to face Buffy. "Then we find him......and make him pay. I won't let him get away with what he did to me.....what he did to Graham."
Buffy and Riley both watched Willow walk out of the mansion. They'd never seen that look of cold determination on her face before. She was deadly serious.......and Angelus had better be watching over his back. Because Willow would hunt him till one of them was dead.
End Part 4
Willow knelt at the grave and laid fresh flowers by the headstone. "It's over, Graham. Angelus paid for what he did."
It had taken her over five years, but she'd finally found Angelus. And with help from her friends, she had destroyed him. She'd made him pay in the way she knew he'd hate the most.......she'd given him back his soul. Angel was back....permanantly.
"A part of me feels sorry for the pain Angel's going through, but I know deep inside Angelus is suffering even more. The spell I used is irreversible. Angelus can never be free again."
Willow gently traced the inscription on the stone. "I don't know if I know how to move on, Graham. Vengeance has dominated my life these last few years. Now that I've accomplished what I set out to do, what do I do now?"
"You put what happened in the past, and concentrate on the future."
Willow spun around at the intrusion. "Angel, what are you doing here?"
Angel moved forward slowly, cringing slightly when he saw the spark of fear in Willow's eyes. "Buffy told me I'd find you here."
"I think.....I think I came here to say goodbye."
Angel nodded. "You need to let go, Willow. Don't let what happened in the past drag you down anymore."
"I don't know if I can."
"You've already made Angelus pay for what he did. The only thing left is forgiving Graham for what he did. If you can do that, then you can move on."
Willow thought about the fear and anger she'd felt when she learned Graham had betrayed her. A part of her had been unable to forgive him for that. But looking back on it now, she could finally release those emotions. Graham had made serious errors in judgment, but in the end he'd done the right. He'd given his life to save her.
Willow turned back to the grave. "I do forgive you, Graham. And despite everything, a part of me will always love you. Rest in peace now."
Willow walked to Angel, the tears falling down her face. Angel held her tightly, silently giving her his support. They'd both been through alot in the last few months. But now, the healing could finally begin. The ghosts of the past were gone.
The End