As darkness settled on the town, a demon waited for the one who was to be his immortal bride. He had been searching for her for a hundred years. Finally, the search was over and all that remained was to claim her. There would be no one to stop him this time. Soon....soon she would be his.

Willow stared at the screen of the computer. It was late and she found it difficult to search for the information Giles wanted. She had promised Giles that she would leave the library before sunset but had lost track of time. Normally she would've called Buffy to walk her home, but that wasn't an option now. Buffy was visiting her father. Getting up, she grabbed two stakes and headed into the night.

At last! Nikos finally found the girl alone. Silently he approached and reached out to touch her shoulder. Willow turned in surprise, with a stake raised. He knew that she was observing him and that his appearance was that of an attractive young man. Very few knew his true form.

"Hello, Willow."

"Who are you?"

"You can put the stake down. I assure you, I'm not a vampire."

Willow looked closely at the man. He may not be a vampire, but there was something dangerous about him. Something that made her skin crawl.

"What do you want?"

"I've come for you, my sweet. I've waited a very long time to find you again. Now you'll finally be mine."

The demon grabbed Willow and pulled her into his embrace. Suddenly, the demon was flying backwards, landing hard on the concrete. Willow turned to the man who had saved her....Angel.

"Are you alright?"

Willow was shaking so badly that all she was able to do was nod. Angel stepped in front of Willow and glared at the man lying on the ground.

Nikos jumped to his feet and found the person who dared to interfere. It was then that he found himself looking into the eyes of an enemy.

"Angelus!"

"Nikos. Long time and all that."

"I will not allow you to interfere again. The girl is mine.....now and forever." Nikos yelled.

"Wrong! The girl is once again under my protection. I stopped you once and I'll continue to stop you."

"This isn't over, Angelus. She is my destiny, and sooner or later I will have her."

"Only if you get through me," Angel challenged.

"My pleasure. You have been a thorn in my side long enough. It will end here."

In an instance, Nikos disappeared. Angel turned to Willow, who was looking pale and frightened.

"We need to talk to Giles immediately. Let's go." Angel grabbed Willow's hand and pulled her towards the Watcher's home.

Angel began planning even before he reached Giles' home. He already knew what had to be done. There was no way he was going to allow Nikos to hurt Willow. <If I had destroyed Nikos before, Willow wouldn't be in danger now. I failed before.....I won't let it happen again.> Angel glanced at Willow, who hadn't said a word since the encounter with Nikos. <She looks so fragile.> But he had sensed an inner strength that she would need in the days to come.

Once they reached Giles', Angel knocked on the door. Giles opened the door cautiously, and couldn't hide his surprise at seeing Angel and a distressed looking Willow at his door. After inviting them in, Angel began explaining the run-in with Nikos.

"He'll never give up. He was very particular about picking his bride and he will continue to hunt her until he finally captures her. He's a very patient man, and willing to wait for as long as it takes."

"So, Willow is the reincarnation of the bride he chose. And now he's coming after her again. How do you know him?" Giles inquired.

Angel walked over the window. Closing his eyes, he tried to block out the memories of the last time he and Nikos met. He was silent for several moments before answering.

"I met him shortly after Darla changed me. He had just chosen his bride and I interfered. We have been enemies ever since."

"Angel, if we are going to help Willow, I need to know exactly what happened."

Angel looked as if he were about to argue, but then turned back to the window.

"You've read my history, Giles. You know what Angelus was like. I was arrogant and cruel, but I was also bored. I had heard about Nikos and I suppose I was jealous of the fear his name carried. I hadn't yet made a name for myself. So, when he made his intentions towards the girl known, I saw a way to gain a reputation. I knew the girl didn't want anything to do with Nikos, so it was easy for me to convince her to leave with me. I had intended to keep her long enough to anger Nikos, then kill her. But things got out of hand."

"What happened?" Giles asked.

"Nikos was furious, he demanded I return her. I wasn't about to take orders from him, but I knew I wouldn't be able to hide her away forever. It was then that a man approached me, he wanted to help me humiliate Nikos. The man told me that the only way to stop Nikos from taking the girl was if she was already married. Nikos couldn't claim her then."

"So you married her?" Giles asked, surprised.

"Yeah. Not typical Angelus behaviour. But I wasn't doing it to help the girl, I was doing it to spite Nikos. The man took us to a priest who married us, no questions asked. I couldn't wait to rub it in Nikos' face. I had beaten him and there was nothing he could do. In my arrogance, I never thought that he would retaliate."

"What did he do?"

"I told you, he's very patient. He let me believe he had just disappeared. I dumped the girl back with her family and I took off to create mayhem and destruction. I came back years later and learned that the girl and the man who had helped me had been murdered."

"And now he's after Willow," Giles mumbled. "Maybe I better call Buffy."

"No, don't involve Buffy. This is one time she can't help. Nikos only shows himself when he wants to. Buffy can't destroy what she can't find."

"Then what do we do, Angel?"

Angel looked at Willow, who hadn't said a word since he began speaking. He already knew what had to be done. Now all he had to do was convince Willow and Giles.

Giles and Willow looked at Angel in shock when he told them his plan. Willow started to protest but Giles realized that this was the only way to protect her. After explaining the consequences, they left the house and headed to the church.

Once at the church, Angel explained to his friend, Father Michael, their situation. He agreed to perform the ceremony that would join Willow and Angel forever. The ceremony ended and Angel placed a ring on Willow's finger. It was a gold band with mysterious symbols etched into it. She realized that Angel now wore an identical ring.

Giles said goodbye to Angel and Willow. He knew the next time he saw Willow, she would be a vampire. But he couldn't dwell on that now, he had work to do. Giles had to make it look as though Willow Rosenberg had disappeared. Willow hadn't liked the idea of letting her family think she'd run off, but it was safer this way. The situation was too dangerous, and she would have to stay with Angel. She had alot to learn about her new lifestyle.

Monday afternoon....

Buffy and Xander came bounding into the library, with Buffy telling Xander all about her weekend with her father. They were both surprised that Willow wasn't at the computer. One look at Giles told them the something had happened.

"Where's Willow? She hasn't been in school all day," Xander questioned.

"She won't be attending classes anymore."

"What do you mean by that? What's happened, Giles?"

"All I can tell you right now is that we did what had to be done. There was no choice---for any of us."

Xander and Buffy looked at each other. Something major had happened with Willow and they were out of the loop.

"Who's we?" Buffy asked.

Giles looked at them, then walked away.

Buffy and Xander were in the library when Willow and Angel arrived.

"Willow, what's going on? Giles isn't telling us anything."

They all sat at the table. Buffy knew there was something going on but the others seemed reluctant to talk about what happened.

Finally, Giles told them everything that had happened. Including the marriage, Willow becoming a vampire, performing the Restoration ritual....he left out no details.

Xander and Buffy stared in shock. None of this had happened---it all had to be a sick joke.

"So, the three of you decided this all on your own?" Xander asked angrily.

Buffy directed her anger at Angel.

"Not only do you marry her, but then you turn her into a vampire. You son of a bitch, I should kill you!"

Buffy pulled out a stake but Willow stepped in front of Angel.

"Buffy, don't. Angel only did what was necessary to save me. Even if Nikos kills me now, he'll never have my soul. I'm bound to Angel now, so Nikos can't claim me."

"Bound to Angel! Oh, that's just wonderful. Now you two can live happily ever after---for eternity. How could you do this to me, Willow?" Buffy yelled and ran out of the library.

"How could you? You stole the man your best friend loves. God, I don't think I even know you." Xander ran after Buffy.

Willow watched her friends leave and finally broke down in tears. <The only friends I've ever had now hate me.> Angel walked over to Willow and put his arm around her shoulder, steering her toward the door.

"Giles, I think it's better if we don't come back for a while. You have my number if you need to reach us. This has all taken a toll on Willow. She needs time to deal with everything that's happened."

"Yes, of course. Willow, it was all a shock to them. Give them time. It'll get better."

Giles watched the couple leave. So much had happened to that girl in 48 hours and her friends abandonment didn't help. Now she would have to live the rest of her immortal life in fear of Nikos' retaliation, unless they found a way to destroy him. Giles went to his books and began searching for anything that would help.

<Damn Angelus! Again he has taken the woman I chose. She can no longer be my bride, that fool had seen to that. But I will make sure you pay, you young whelp. You and your new bride will both pay with your lives. > And it be so much more rewarding this time. Because it was obvious that Angelus had changed in the years since they had last met....and he cared about the girl. It would be very satisfying to kill her while Angelus watched helplessly. <You will watch her suffer and die slowly---and there will be nothing you can do. Then I will get rid of you once and for all.> Nikos then began plotting the demise of his enemies.

It was nearly sunrise by the time Willow and Angel got back to his apartment. Both were too tired to do anything but crawl into bed. They knew they would need all their strength to be able to face Nikos. Lying in bed, Angel vowed to himself that he wouldn't fail again. He hadn't cared about protecting her the first time, but this time was different. He would give his life to keep her safe.

Giles was reading through his books when Buffy and Xander entered. He glanced at them, then returned to his reading. He was finding it hard to forget the way they had treated Willow. After everything she had been through, she needed her friends.

Buffy and Xander walked to the table and sat down. They glanced at Giles as the phone began ringing.

"Angel, is there a problem?"

At the sound of Angel's name, Buffy tensed.

"You're sure? Alright, but you two must be careful. He'll be out to destroy you both now."

Giles hung up the phone and continued his reading.

"Are you planning to tell us what that was all about?" Buffy inquired.

"Do you care?"

"What's that supposed to mean, Giles?"

"Come now, Buffy. After the way you treated them, I wouldn't think you cared."

"She married the man I love!"

"You and Angel haven't been together since before the curse was broken. Even after his soul was restored, you kept your distance. Besides, it's destiny."

"What do you mean by that?" Buffy questioned.

"Angelus failed to protect her before and she was killed. So the pattern was replayed. If he fails again, Willow will be reincarnated and Nikos will come after her again. When Angelus interfered all those years ago, he bound himself to her. The cycle will continue until either Angel or Nikos is destroyed. Angel and Willow together must defeat him. Or they will be hunted by him forever."

"I'm going over there."

"No, Buffy. They need this time alone. They need to create a bond that will be unbreakable. And Angel needs to teach Willow to control her bloodlusts."

Over the next few weeks, Buffy and Xander pondered everything that had happened. Xander couldn't accept that his lifelong friend was a vampire, and Buffy couldn't accept that she had lost Angel. He was with Willow and that wasn't right. Buffy knew Angel loved her, and there had to be a way to get him back.

"Xander!"

Xander turned to see the Slayer rushing down the hallway.

"Where's the fire?"

"Angel and Willow are going to meet with Giles tonight."

"How..."

"I eavesdropped, of course."

"Angel, I don't know if I'm ready for this."

Angel looked at his wife. In the past weeks, he had fallen in love with her. He finally admitted to himself that he had always had feelings for her. But he had blocked them out because of his relationship with Buffy. Now they had created a bond that no one could break---not human or demon.

"Willow, it's just Giles. We need to find a way to defeat Nikos. We have our whole lives ahead of us, and I don't want to keep looking over my shoulder all the time. This has to end."

Willow walked into her husband's embrace. In his arms she felt safe and loved.

"Okay, let's go."

Willow and Angel had just gotten to the library when Buffy and Xander walked in. Angel could feel Willow tense and he gripped her hand.

"Well, if it isn't the newlyweds. Have a nice honeymoon?" Buffy asked sarcastically.

"Buffy, that's enough." Giles reprimanded.

During this exchange, Xander was quiet. He watched Angel and Willow together and got angrier. This wasn't his friend anymore.

"Xander?"

"What!?"

"You haven't said anything to me."

Willow walked over to Xander and touched his arm. He backed away.

"Xander, please. You're my best friend."

"Not anymore. My best friend died a month ago. My best friend isn't a vampire!"

"Xander..."

"Stay away from me. You and dead boy make the perfect couple. Have a nice eternal life." Xander turned and left...not once did he look back.

Willow dissolved in tears. Angel walked over to comfort her. <How can that boy turn his back on his lifelong friend? With friends like that, you're better off alone.>

Buffy stood silently and watched the pair embrace. From the way Angel looked at Willow, Buffy realized that he loved Willow. <When did that happen?>

"I've lost him, Giles."

"Yes, but you knew it could never work. There's something I need to know, Buffy."

"What?"

"Will you be there to help them defeat Nikos? Or are you going to turn your back on Willow like Xander did?"

"I can't answer that now. I need time to think."

Giles watched Buffy leave and turned back to Willow and Angel. This meeting had drained Willow. They sat and finished discussing their options. Then Angel and Willow prepared to leave.

"Willow, could you check that idiot box and see if there's any messages. Angel, may I speak with you?"

Willow went to the computer and let herself relax.

"What is it, Giles?" Angel asked.

"I don't know if we'll be able to count on Buffy."

"It's obvious that Buffy and Xander have issues to deal with but we don't have time to wait around for them. Willow and I will have to defeat Nikos on our own."

"I'll do all I can."

Angel nodded and shook Giles hand. Giles had more reason than anyone to not trust Angel, but the Englishman had stuck by them through the whole ordeal. He had proven to be a loyal friend.

Nikos' first attempt at Willow was almost successful. She was at the library with Angel and Giles doing research and they had gone into the stacks while she worked on the computer.

"Hello, my dear."

Willow turned just as Nikos put his hand over her mouth. She fought with all the supernatural strength she had, but he was stronger. <Angel!!!> Her mind screamed his name.

"Where's Angelus? Don't tell me he left you already?"

"I'm right behind you. Let her go, Nikos. Now!"

Nikos spun around with a stake poised above Willow's heart. "I don't think so. You stole her from me. You shouldn't have interfered. "

Before Nikos could react, Angel sped forward and grabbed Willow's hands. Together they brought their arms upward, releasing Nikos' hold. Then they turned to face him.

"This is only the first battle."

Then Nikos disappeared.

Angel held Willow as though he was afraid to let go. He had come so close to losing her. He had nearly failed....again.

"Willow, are you alright?"

Willow nodded but continued to hold on to Angel. "He was so strong. I couldn't move. He covered my mouth so I couldn't call for you."

"I heard you anyway. Your heart and soul cried out to me. Then I knew you were in trouble. I was so afraid I wouldn't get to you in time."

"Shhh, I'm okay. You saved me."

"This time."

Angel turned to Giles, never loosening his hold on Willow.

"We need to find a way to end this before he can try again."

"I think I may have found a way. If you're able to lure him back to Europe....back to the place this all started."

"Okay, let's lay the trap."

Over the next couple of weeks, the three of them begin to plan. To end the chain of events, Nikos must be destroyed at the place where it all started. That was the only way the spell that Giles had found would work.

"If we're not back within the month, you'll know we failed."

"Don't even think that way. You and Willow are stronger then he is. You'll be able to defeat him."

Giles said goodbye to the couple and watched them leave. <Godspeed, my friends.>

"Giles!"

Giles turned to see his Slayer enter the library with Xander. The two of them hadn't been around much since the confrontation with Willow and Angel.

"Look, we've been talking and we both realized we behaved badly, but we were hurt. We need to talk to them---to apologize. And I'll do whatever I can to help them."

"I'm afraid it's too little too late."

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked worriedly.

"They've already left. I found a spell that should be able to limit Nikos' power. That should put the three of them on an equal playing field. But they needed to go back to where this all started."

"How will you know what happened?"

"I already know. Angel called a couple days ago."

"Well?" Xander asked impatiently.

"Nikos was destroyed. Even with the spell, he proved to be hard to destroy. The battle lasted for quite some time. Willow nearly died and they are both extremely weak. They have found sanctuary and will remain in Europe until they have healed. Then they plan to travel. They don't plan to come back here."

"But this is their home. They need to be with friends."

"Buffy, they don't feel that there's anything here for them. Angel doesn't want Willow hurt by constant reminders of the life she had to give up. And the two of you made it clear how you felt."

"But, we were wrong. Angel must have given you a way to contact him."

"That's right, he did. But, it's only to be used for an emergency."

"Giles, please...."

"I'm sorry Buffy. You made your decisions and now you must live with them. They deserve some peace."

Giles walked away from the Slayer and her slayerette. Where there were once four---only two remained.

Buffy flopped on her bed. <What have I done? I pushed away my best friend when she needed me the most. My jealousy clouded my judgment. Will I ever have the chance to apologize?> For the first time in years, the Slayer cried. <Forgive me, Willow. Forgive me, Angel. I'll always love you both.>

Xander sat in his room looking through photos from his childhood. Almost every picture included Willow. His mind replayed every horrible thing he had said to her. She had always been there for him, but when she had needed him, he turned his back on her. <God, Will! I'm so sorry. I've been such a jerk. I can only pray I have the chance to tell you how sorry I am.>

Giles looked at the pager number Angel had given him. Angel had made it clear that it should only be used if Giles needed their help. Living on the Hellmouth, it wouldn't be long before they would need the help of two friendly vampires. Until then, he would give them the privacy they needed. <Take care of yourselves, my friends.>

In a cottage in Switzerland, Angel and Willow relaxed and found a peace they hadn't known for a long time. They sat in front of a blazing fire, Willow snuggled into Angel's side. It had taken time for them to heal, but they were finally both healthy and strong again.

"How are you feeling?"

Willow didn't answer. She'd begun to have doubts. Now that Nikos was gone forever and the danger had passed, did Angel still want to stay with her?

"Willow?"

Angel looked into his wife's face. She was worried about something, but what? He put a finger under her chin and raised her eyes to his.

"Please answer me."

"Are you sorry?"

"What are you talking about, Willow?"

"Now that we're free of Nikos, are you sorry that you're stuck with me?"

Angel starred at the woman beside him. She looked like a seventeen-year-old girl but she had an inner fire that had been the key in the destruction of their enemy. But there was still a part of her that was fragile.

"No, I'm not sorry. You're my wife and I love you. We can now look toward the future....together."

With those words, all her doubts vanished. She knew she would be happy anywhere as long as they were together. And when the time came to return to Sunnydale, they would face Buffy and Xander together. In the meantime, Angel was exposing her to so many new experiences. For the first time since the nightmare started, she was having fun. Willow knew that no matter what life threw at them, they would fight and survive together.

Willow curled up in the protective embrace of her husband and drifted into a peaceful sleep. Angel watched her sleep; she looked so innocent. He knew they would have to return home one day and would have to face the dangers of the Hellmouth. But for right now, they could forget about everything---and everyone---and concentrate on each other. Real life would intrude soon enough. Angel glanced at his pager, silently praying that it would be a long time before it beeped.
 

Read the sequal 'Home Again'

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