Distribution: Angel of Mine, TNPWFLD, Fever of Fate, Witch Fan Fic anyone else please ask first.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Angel, Willow and co. do not belong to me. They are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB. All characters are used without permission. No copyright infringement intended.
Feedback: Emma + Feedback = Happy!!!
Summery: Is Angel starting to get better?
Spoilers/Warnings: Becoming. Oh, and Angel returned from hell and Buffy from LA while it was still the middle of the summer.
< > Indicates thoughts.
Authors Notes: Part six of the Images, Dreams and Feelings Series.
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When Willow woke up after she had finally managed to get some rest, it was not because of Angel's nightmares, which had caused her to wake up several more times as he thrashed about on the bed, trying to escape whatever was plaguing him.
Glancing over at him though, she was please to see that he was sleeping soundly, and couldn't help the smile that formed on her face. He looked so peaceful at that moment in time, like none of the events that had happened recently had even taken place, like it was all just a bad dream itself.
As she watched him sleep, she felt his hand sub-consciously tighten around her waist, where it had been draped after he had finally found sleep only a few hours before, Willow letting it rest there, too afraid to move it just in case he woke up again.
After a few more moments, she heard her stomach begin to rumble reminding her that she hadn't eaten since she had arrived at Angel's. That combined with the loss of blood she had suffered made her acutely aware that, if she wanted to be able to continue to take care of Angel, she had to re-fuel first.
Removing Angel's arm from around her, Willow got out of bed making as little movement as possible.
Seeing him stir after she had gotten up, Willow stood at the doorway with her breath held, letting it out slowly in relief when she realized that he wasn't going to wake up after all.
Walking out of the room and into the hall, the first thing that hit her was how cold the stone floor was against her bare feet. Freezing in fact. Walking past a covered window, Willow noticed the few particles of light that had crept in underneath and realized that it must be daytime.
Walking into the living room, Willow hurried over to the couch and sat on it, bringing her feet up with her to avoid the cold floor.
Retrieving her bed from next to the couch, she delved inside and produced a bar of chocolate from within. Opening the wrapper, she leaned against the couch back and began to eat her food.
Checking her watch, she noticed that it was only ten past eight and that Angel would probably still be asleep for a few more hours and that when he awoke, the chances are he to would be hungry.
Finishing off her snack, Willow got off the couch and headed into the bathroom to retrieve her clothes. Pleased to find that they were now dry after Angel's bath encounter, she folded them neatly and placed them on the counter.
Striping out of the shirt she was wearing, Willow stepped into the shower and turned it on, letting the warm water run over her, only slightly worried that Angel might wake up and walk in on her. However, in his current condition, that seemed highly unlikely.
When Willow had finally showered and dressed, she walked back into the bedroom to make sure Angel was still okay. Only to find he was still fast asleep.
Walking back out and into the main room, she retrieved her bag and headed to the front door. Opening it, she was just about to head out the door when she stopped in her tracks.
Turning around, Willow walked back into the room slightly, reluctant to leave Angel, just in case he needed her, or woke up and thought she had abandoned him.
Realizing however that Angel would need to feed when he woke up, and that she could not keep giving her own blood, plus the fact that she needed to get some items for herself, she headed out the door, and closed it behind her, hoping she wouldn't be too long.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Willow finally arrived back at the mansion servral hours later, it was almost mid day.
Struggling through the door with the numerous bags she was carrying, Willow managed to find her way into the kitchen without tripping her own feet.
Dropping the bags in her hands on the table, and the ones over her shoulders on the floor, she slumped against the wall, exhausted.
After she has caught her breath, Willow pushed herself away from the wall and went to check on Angel.
Entering his bedroom, she was glad to find that he was still sleeping comfortably.
Satisfied that he was still okay, she went back into the kitchen and started to unpack what she had brought with her.
Not only had she managed to pick up some pigs blood from the local butchers for Angel, but also some food for her, enough to last up to a week.
Putting her own food into one of the empty cupboards in the kitchen, Willow reached into one of her other bags and took out the few plates, glasses and cutlery that she had brought with her from home. Considering as Willow had found out the day before that Angel had no dinnerware other than a mug, which made sense since he didn't need to use any.
Once she had unpacked her things in the kitchen, Willow picked up the remainder of her bags and headed to the bedroom. Passing the living room on her way, Willow dumped her backpack by the couch one again, where it came to rest under the table next to the couch.
Continuing her journey Willow entered Angel's bedroom and walked over to his dresser. Pulling out the drawers one by one, Willow finally found an empty one and started to unpack the clothes she had brought over.
Once she was done, she pulled her laptop out of the bag and placed it on top of the dresser, and placed a clock on one of the bedside tables, then tucked her empty bags under the bed.
<At least I don't have to worry about my parents, > Willow thought as she sat down on the bed beside Angel. <For once I'm actually grateful that my parents are away for a month. And what with Cordeila and Xander away for the summer, and with Oz busy with the band, I doubt that anyone will even notice I'm gone. And Buffy's been so preoccupied lately now that's she's back, she hasn't had any time for me before so I doubt she'll miss me. >
So trapped in her negative thoughts, she didn't notice when Angel started to stir beside her, until she heard a low growl emanate from him.
Looking down, she found Angel staring up at her, his eyes glowing yellow and fangs bared.
Not prepared to come face to face with a semi vamped out Angel, Willow involuntary moved back a little before forcing her heart to slow down, realizing that the chances were low that Angel was going to harm her, and was instead most likely just hungry.
Moving back over to him, she reached her hand up and started to gently stroked his face in a calming manner, until the glow in his eyes faded and turned from yellow back to brown.
Smiling down at him reassuringly, she decided to go and get him something to eat.
Moving away from him, she was about to get off the bed when Angel's hand reached out and grabbed hers.
Looking down at him, she wondered what he wanted.
Moving her wrist up to his mouth, she saw a hint of fangs peaking out from underneath his lips and understood what he meant.
Moving her arm away from his mouth gently she said, "Oh no Angel, it's okay. I've brought you some blood so you don't have to have mine anymore. It's in the kitchen, I'm gonna go get it okay."
Even though she didn't not get a verbal response from him, or even a look of understanding in his eyes, he did however released her wrist, indicating that he understood at least some of what she had said.
Once again getting off the bed, she walked away from him and the bedroom and into the kitchen where she produced a bag of blood from the fridge.
Not sure if he would want it warmed, or even how long to warm it for, she decided to give it to him cold, after all blood was just blood right, and in his condition, she was sure he wouldn't be too fussy.
Opening the bag, Willow poured the blood into the one mug that Angel did own, trying not to gag as the smell of the blood overwhelmed her senses.
Quickly disposing of the now empty plastic bag in the rubbish, she picked up the mug and a nearby towel and headed back to Angel.
Walking into the bedroom, she found Angel still lying in bed, watching her intently. Noticing the way his sniffed the air as she walked closer to him, and how he had shifted into full game face, she presumed that she had guessed right and that he was hungry.
Walking over to him, she placed the mug on the table beside her, careful to block his path to it by sitting on the edge of the bed so he didn't try to grab it.
Moving closer to him, she helped him sit up, propping the spare pillows up behind him to make him comfortable.
Reaching over, she picked the mug up in her hands and gave it to Angel.
Noticing the shaking of his hands as he brought the cup to his mouth, Willow covered his hands with her own and steadied his movements, helping him raise the mug to him lips.
Sniffing the contents before he drank, he looked at her dubiously. Nodding her head that it was okay, he tentatively took a sip of the red liquid and swallowed.
Satisfied that it wasn't going to hurt him, he started to greedily gulp down the contents, causing blood to dribble onto his chin.
Reaching for the towel she had brought with her, she waited till Angel had finished and lowered the cup and brought the towel up to his lips, and started to clean him up.
Once she was done and Angel was cleaned up, she headed into the bathroom and threw the towel in the laundry basket and washed the mug and left it to drain beside the sink.
Walking back into the bedroom, she started to help him lay down when he stopped her, looking at her for the first time with the slightest of recognition in his eyes.
"Willow?"
The End