The Ugly Duckling

Author: Emmy

Parts: 11 - 20

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~Part: 11~

Angel, deciding to play the good host, offered Giles and Xander food and drink. Both men accepted a beer and the three of them sat around the kitchen nursing their drinks. Sensing that none of them really wanted to make small talk, Angel opened the conversation, saying, "What have you seen in Sunnydale? What is it that Willow's done that has you worried?"

Xander glared at the vampire. "You first."

Angel shook his head. "Xander, I've already told you that I won't break Willow's confidence. I need to know what you want to know, what you're concerned about, so that I can either confirm your suspicions or put your minds at ease."

Giles nodded. "Indeed. I, for one, have noticed that Willow has been more withdrawn than ever, more jumpy, and even a bit rude at times when asked about her evening plans. All in all, Willow has simply not been acting like herself lately."

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "I noticed all of that, too. Plus, there's this thing with Spike. We'll be at the Bronze and they'll be dancing so ... um, close that even Buffy notices and we all start to wonder if they're together, and then the next day at research they're back to arguing and insulting each other."

Angel settled a slightly cold gaze on both Giles and Xander. "Did either one of you ask her if she was all right?"

"She said she was fine," Xander hurried to say.

"Yes," Giles said. "She would never admit that something was going on. And, I'll be the first to agree that Xander and I handled the situation badly. We should have made more effort to find out what was happening."

"Yeah," Xander said. "But Will could have said something was wrong, too. I mean, we were asking."

"She was, make that still is, afraid that you all will think less of her if she says something."

The other two men looked at Angel in shock. "You're serious?" Xander asked.

Angel nodded, causing Giles to whip his glasses off of his face and pinch the bridge of his nose. "We would never think less of her ... no matter what she thinks she's done."

"She's Willow, though," Xander said, his voice slightly defeated. "It's just part of her nature to automatically think the worst of herself."

Angel got up and pulled three more beers out of the fridge. He passed them around, opening his own. "It seems, then, that we have all three failed her."

Giles glanced up at the vampire. "How did you?"

"Spike was here, as you know," Angel answered. "Things happened. I overreacted. Badly."

Giles nodded. "It is Spike that's the problem, then?"

"Yes," Angel said.

Xander swallowed a mouthful of beer and stared Angel in the eye. "You really won't tell us what's happening, will you?"

Shaking his head, Angel said. "I've already messed up with Willow enough ... I can't hurt her again by betraying her confidence. I will tell you, though, that Spike has not physically hurt her."

Giles flinched. His eyes closed, he took a deep breath. "But mentally? How much damage has he done?"

"Enough," Angel stated. "She's not beyond help, but it will take effort."

"Have you helped her?" Xander asked Angel.

Angel had the decency to look slightly ashamed. "Three days ago my answer would have been different, but no, I don't think I have."

Giles' gaze turned slightly Ripper-ish as he firmly stated, "Yes well, that is going to have to change. For all of us. Willow needs help, and I'll be damned if we lose her to the workings of a bastard like Spike."

***

Cordelia arched a beautifully-shaped eyebrow as she took in the scene in front of her. There were many beer bottles littering the floor, and Angel, Giles, and Xander were all passed out in the lobby of the Hyperion. Giles was stretched out on the couch, and the other two were making use of the new recliners. 'Well, I'm glad I bought those ...' Cordelia thought. 'Now maybe Angel will thank me instead of reminding me of how expensive they were.'

She saw Angel move slightly and walked over to him, standing next to the chair. "Are you awake?"

"Barely," he answered.

"I was about to head over to Wesley's."

Angel's eyes popped open. "Right now?"

"It's after ten, Angel."

"Oh."

Cordelia rolled her eyes at Angel and was about to ask when Giles and Xander had arrived when her ex-boyfriend groaned. "Keep it down, will you? My head already hurts and I'm not even awake yet."

Angel chuckled. "Lightweight."

"Shut up, Deadboy. I can drink. I have no problem handling the drink. I'm just not used to drinking beer, that's all."

"What, you're used to the girlie, flowery drinks that Anya likes?" Angel retorted.

"Yes. There, are you happy? I've admitted it."

Angel just chuckled again as Cordelia looked back and forth between them both. "What's going on? Is this some sort of alternate dimension? Why are you two being friendly?"

"Beer."

Three heads turned to the couch in surprise. "Huh?" Cordelia asked.

"Beer. We drank beer. Quite a bit, if I remember correctly. Beer bridges differences. It's a proven fact."

"Yeah," Xander quipped. "What Giles said."

Shaking her head in dismay, Cordelia turned back to Angel. "Are you sending anything with me?"

The vampire nodded. "Give me a few minutes."

The phone rang as Cordelia nodded, and she automatically headed to answer it. The Seer picked up the phone and said, "Angel Investigations, we help the -- oh. Hello, Buffy."

Xander, Giles and Angel all turned as one toward the desk. Cordelia's face set in a look of grim irritation, they watched her as she listened to the Slayer. Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Yeah well, I don't care, Buffy. I'm sorry if you think I should have called you, but I didn't think it was any of your business who Angel dated. And he's busy at the moment, so no, you can't speak to him."

She paused, listening once more. "No, Buffy. I mean he's really busy. He's preparing an important document right now, if you must know. You aren't the only one who has urgent things to attend to."

Silence filled the room as Cordelia was once again forced to listen as Buffy held up her end of the conversation. "And why should I let you?" the Seer suddenly demanded. "Why do you want to talk to her anyway? Did you not get enough yelling out of your system yesterday? You feel the need to call her more names?"

She listened to the Slayer's response for a moment before narrowing her eyes. "He is not your boyfriend, Buffy. And as far as I know, he's Willow's. And, no, you have nothing to do with their relationship."

Cordelia held the phone away from her ear slightly as Buffy yelled her opinion. "No, Buffy," Cordelia stated firmly. "Angel is not your boyfriend. He hasn't been for a long time. Besides, isn't your boyfriend's name Riley, now?"

Shaking her head, Cordelia hung up the phone. She turned back to the others and said, "She hung up on me."

"Typical," Xander said.

"Yes," Giles agreed. "Her attitude has been rather horrible these last few days ... even before she found out about Willow's new relationship. And I believe Riley broke up with her because of the way she reacted to all of this."

Surprised at their unbiased view of the Slayer, Cordelia simply nodded. Turning to Angel, she asked. "Well, is there going to be any important documentation coming my way anytime soon?"

Rolling his eyes, Angel answered. "I'll be right back, Cordy. Play the nice hostess, will you?"

The Seer mock-sighed. "If I have to."

***

Willow awoke slowly. Glancing at the clock, she was surprised to find that it was well past eleven in the morning. She stretched as she sat up, Wesley's living room coming into view. She smiled as she remembered the events of the previous evening ... and early morning. 'Good conversation, bad movies, and doughnuts; what more could a girl ask for?' she wondered to herself as she rose off the couch.

She walked into the bathroom and grinned when she saw a toothbrush with a note attached sitting beside the sink. Picking up the note, she couldn't help the small giggle that escaped her as she read.

Willow,

Here's the toothbrush I promised you. And, just in case you change you're mind and decide you need something else, look under the sink. All of Wes' girlie stuff is under there. Oh, and there are some of Cordelia's extra clothes in the hall closet. Wes and I have gone for a run. We'll be back soon.

See you then,
Gunn

Kneeling down, Willow snooped through the soaps and lotions Gunn had deemed girlie. She quickly selected the vanilla scented shampoo and conditioner and then began to search through the rather wide selection of body wash. Grinning, she pulled out a peach scented one and a small container of 'Peach-Vanilla Dreams' lotion. 'Peaches and cream it is then,' she thought as she turned on the shower.

'I wonder if Angel would like it?' she thought before she could stop herself. 'Goddess, in just these few short weeks I've gone from thinking almost constantly about Spike to thinking almost constantly about Angel.'

She stepped into the shower and let the warm water wash through her hair. 'I was so happy,' she thought silently to herself. 'For the first time in so long ... I was happy. Then <i>he</i> had to come and ruin it. I wish I just had the courage and the strength to make him go poof! It's not like I can't send fire into a vampire ... I do it all the time! Why then, can't I kill Spike?'

A little voice inside Willow's mind whispered that she couldn't kill the blond vampire because, no matter how much she grew to hate him, no matter what he did to her, killing him would still be murder. 'Even if he is a vampire. He hasn't done anything but mess with my head.'

Willow quickly washed her hair and let the conditioner soak in. Her mind drifted to the relationship she had with Angel and she found herself craving his touch. 'He sets <i>me</i> on fire. No one has ever made me feel as good as he does. And the funny thing is,' she thought. 'It's not just the sex I want. The sex is damn good, but I'm happy just to be with him.'

Her face fell slightly as her thoughts shifted once more. 'But was he happy? No. He was humoring me. The bastard. He used me! Angel used me as a poor substitute for Buffy! And, in the end, I wasn't good enough. Just like Spike said.'

She rinsed the soap off her body and stood under the spray as it rinsed her hair. Her fingers moved through the silky red strands and Willow wondered silently if Angel would ever love her. 'No,' she thought. 'Angel is too self righteous to love a slut. And he made it very clear that, in his eyes, I am just that -- no matter how loudly Wesley and Gunn disagree.'

Tears filled her eyes and slowly began to trickle down her cheeks, the shower washing them away as quickly as they appeared. 'Why couldn't Angel just love me?' she wondered sadly. 'Why is it so hard to love me? Loving me seems to be hard for a lot of people ... Xander, Oz, Angel, my parents ...'

Banishing that line of thought, Willow turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. It wasn't long before she was wrapped in a towel and brushing her teeth. She borrowed Wesley's hair brush and swept her hair into a ponytail, deciding she wanted it off her face for the day. It was only then that she realized that she would either have to put on her dirty clothes, or go sort through Cordelia's extras in nothing but a towel. She turned and opened the door cautiously. "Gunn? Wes?" she called out into the apartment.

When no one answered, she quickly walked to the closet, towel wrapped tightly around her. 'I don't know why I'm so nervous! Even if they did come in, it's just Gunn and Wes,' she thought. 'But then, maybe that's why I'm scared they'll come in and see me like this. They've done nothing to indicate that they are the least bit attracted to me ... maybe I'm scared of changing that.'

Her revelatory thoughts pushed aside, she found the bag of clothes Cordelia had left. Grabbing the entire bag, Willow turned and darted back to the bathroom. She was pulling on a long black skirt and a blue tank top when she heard the front door open. Hurrying to finish up, Willow left the bathroom. She smiled at Wesley. "Morning!"

Wes smiled in return. "Good morning, Willow. Look who we found wandering around downstairs."

Her smile widened to a grin as she saw who was following Gunn through the door. "Xander!" she squealed, running past Wesley, Gunn, and a smiling Cordelia to get to her oldest friend.

Xander caught the flying redhead in a tight hug. "Hey Will."

"What are you doing here?" Willow asked, pulling back.

Xander shrugged. "Long story. You are one very hard Willow to find, though."

Biting her lip, she apologized. Xander held up his hand. "Don't worry about it. Finding you was half the fun."

"Okay," Willow said. "But, I am sorry it was hard to find me, though."

Xander shrugged once more and looked over at the others. "Mind if I steal her away for a while?"

Wesley shook his head. "Of course not. Gunn, Cordelia, and I will begin sorting through this box, though. If that's all right with you, Willow?"

She looked over at Wes and saw that he was holding the box filled with her correspondence with Wolfram and Hart. Nodding she said, "That's fine. I don't think we'll be gone that long, so I'll be back to help soon. Right, Xan?"

He nodded. "That could probably be arranged."

"You two have fun," Wesley said.

***

After saying their good-byes, Willow and Xander headed out of the apartment. Walking to the elevator, Xander glanced at Willow out of the corner of his eye with a grin on his face. Willow noticed and asked, "What?"

"I just can't get over how -- right before we walked out the door -- you let Cordelia Chase drag you into the bathroom to inspect your outfit and put some makeup on you! You, Willow Rosenberg, waited until you had Queen C's approval to leave! What was up with that?" he asked as he pressed the down button on the elevator.

Willow blushed slightly before answering. "Well, I kinda like her opinions ... she has really good taste, you know. And besides, she's changed, Xander. It's weird to say, but I think that she and I are actually friends."

Xander nodded. "I kinda figured."

"Really?" Willow asked as they gave up on the elevator and headed for the stairs.

"Yeah," Xander said as he held the door open for her. "You should have seen her this morning at Angel's. Buffy called and Cordelia handled it perfectly. She never yelled, wasn't even really rude, and she just talked to Buffy. I mean, Cor did tell Buffy the honest truth, but it was still a toned-down version of what it would have been a couple of years ago. But, I knew you two had gotten closer when she stuck up for you. Cordelia was really protective of you, Will."

Smiling, Willow asked, "Really? She stuck up for me?"

He nodded. "Yeah, it was the only time in the conversation that I thought she might start yelling. She didn't want you to talk to Buffy at all. It didn't even matter that you weren't there ... she just wanted to keep you from having to deal with that."

Willow chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. "Well Xander, I think it's official. The 'We Hate Cordelia Club' has officially disbanded."

Xander laughed. "Yeah, Willow. I think it has."

Willow murmured a thank you as Xander held the lobby door open. Taking a deep breath, she asked, "So you were at Angel's?"

"Yeah," Xander said as they walked towards the car. "Giles and I both stayed there last night."

"Giles is here?" Willow asked.

Xander pointed to Giles' car. "He's right there."

Shocked, Willow waved to her longtime mentor who was leaning against his car. Xander took her hand and squeezed. "You hungry? We thought we'd take you to lunch."

"Okay," Willow said quietly.

Xander never dropped her hand as they walked to the car. Giles hugged her tightly when they reached him and Willow swallowed nervously. 'Goddess help me' she thought. 'They know.'

~Part: 12~

Willow laughed nervously as Xander cracked yet another joke about her sleeping with the enemy. She could tell he was just as nervous as she was, and that thought saddened her slightly. 'How,' she wondered, 'did we drift so far apart that making even causal conversation became difficult?'

Giles popped into the conversation occasionally with a question or comment of his own, but mainly, it was Willow and Xander who did the talking. Giles, it seemed, would have rather gotten to the heart of the matter instead of dancing around it. Willow knew this, but still she put off the inevitable turn their talk would take. Spike was someone she did not want to discuss ... no matter how important it was that they do so.

Finally, when Giles could apparently stand it no more, he softly asked, "Willow, are you all right?"

Sighing, Willow lowered her head, unable to meet her mentor's eyes. "I don't know, Giles. I really don't know."

"Shall we start at the beginning? Or do you want to skip ahead to a particular event? Willow, you should know that Xander and I are not here to judge you, or to condemn you in anyway. We are here to understand. We have watched you change over the last several months, and in our stupidity, we allowed it to happen without our interference. We wish to change that now."

"You wish to interfere?"

"Yes."

Willow looked up slowly and made eye contact with both Giles and Xander. Biting her lip, she saw that Giles spoke the truth. She saw nothing but concern in their eyes. Willow took a deep breath and began to speak, saying, "Well, I don't think I could pick out a single event, because that would just be confusing. And I don't really know where to begin, so I'll just start with a question. What do you know?"

Xander reached out and took Willow's hand. "We know that Spike has been hurting you in some way. We just don't know how. Angel refused to tell us."

"You talked to Angel about me?" Willow said suddenly, her eyes wide.

"We stopped by there first, thinking you'd be at his hotel, Willow. When you weren't, and given the state Angel was in, it was only natural for us to ask questions," Giles said. "But, rest assured, Angel betrayed you in no way."

"Right. And I'm the Easter Bunny."

Xander squeezed her hand. "We don't know what happened between you and Deadboy anymore than we know what's been going on between you and Spike. But, I will tell you that he called himself an idiot and really regrets whatever it is he did to you."

Willow was silent for a long time and both men wondered what had come over her. Finally she said, "It's Spike's fault, you know. If he hadn't shown up, things between me and Angel would be fine. But he did, and now Angel and I are having to deal with all these issues ... and granted, we should have to deal with them. They're important issues. But, we would have dealt with them later if not for Spike, and his roaming hands. Oh, and let's not forget his lips in inappropriate places! God, he's such an ass."

"He touched you?" Xander almost shrieked.

Both Giles and Willow silenced him with a look and glanced around the park they were eating lunch at. Satisfied that no one had heard Xander's outburst, Giles turned to Willow. "Now, while I don't wish to shout it like Xander did, I must second that. Spike has been touching you? Er ... sexually?"

Her eyes wide, Willow couldn't help it, she laughed. She didn't know if it was from relief from finding that talking to Giles and Xander was easier than she ever imagined it could be, or if it was because of the scandalized look Giles' eyes had taken on when he'd said the word sexual. Either way, Willow felt as though a weight had suddenly been lifted off of her and for the first time in a long time, she knew everything would be all right. The looks that Xander and Giles were giving her silenced her laughter, but did not squash her mood. She smiled brightly at them and said, "I really missed you guys."

Xander grinned and Giles blushed slightly. "I mean," Willow said. "Here I was, all worried and scared that you two were going to hate me for the way I have reacted to Spike's um ... attention, and now that I'm actually talking to you about it, I see how stupid I've been. You two aren't going to see this as my fault -- which it's not, by the way -- you're going to place the blame where it really belongs. With Spike."

Giles blinked once before rolling his eyes. "Willow, why on earth would you think that we would ever not believe you, or worse think the entire situation your fault? Spike is a vampire. A demon. You are the sweet and intelligent person we've fought beside for years."

Willow shrugged. "Yeah, well, you'd be surprised what feeling ashamed of yourself and harboring a whole heck of a lot of anger can do to a person..."

"About that, Will," Xander said. "Why don't you begin at the beginning, huh? Tell us what's been going on."

Willow nodded and began her story. She was careful to pace herself, not wanting the two men to become so angered at Spike that they rushed off to kill him before she was finished. Because, despite the fact that Willow was almost sure she hated the blond vampire, she knew that she could have stopped his torment months before. She had chosen to keep quiet about what he was doing, and that alone made the situation partly her fault. She told them everything, even the parts that made her blush as red as her hair, because she wanted the dishonesty to end. When she was finished, she stared into the somewhat shocked faces of her two friends and waited for the fall out.

Xander was the first to react, moving closer to Willow and pulling her into his arms. "It'll be okay, Willow. We'll fix this. You'll see."

"Yes," Giles agreed. "Everything is going to be just fine, Willow."

Willow looked over at Giles, intending to smile at him. The look in his eyes stopped her short of her goal. Keeping her face neutral, she could only stare at the cold eyes of her mentor, and for the first time, Willow got a real glimpse of Ripper.

***

Willow let herself back into Gunn and Wesley's apartment. She had been gone for five hours and hoped that no one thought she'd gone back to Sunnydale with the other two men. She called out a greeting as she walked into the living room. Wesley looked up from a stack of papers on the table and smiled at her. "You look better ... more relaxed."

"Yeah, well ... I just spent two hours playing on a playground with Xander and Giles ... I really wish we'd taken a camera. Pictures of Giles pushing Xander and me on the swings would have been priceless."

Wesley chuckled. "Indeed. You had a good time, then?"

Willow nodded. "Yeah. It was touch and go in places, but we're all good now. They know everything and I don't think that either one of them will be killing Spike anytime soon," she paused. "Though I think that Ripper might lay into him a bit."

Wesley looked at her confused. "Ripper?"

"Giles' alter-ego. It's a long story best saved for another time. What are you working on?"

He gestured to the empty chair beside him. "This is all the correspondence that Wolfram and Hart have sent you. They seem to be more than eager to have you on their team."

"No kidding."

Wesley nodded to a small, wrapped box sitting on the other side of the table. "I'm going to start reading through your research now. Gunn has gone out ... that box is for you, from Angel. Cordelia left it. You can use the bedroom, if you wish."

Willow's eyes widened and she nodded absently. Silently, she got up from the table and took the box into the bedroom, shutting the door. She sat on the bed with the package in front of her and stared at it for what felt like a very long time. Slowly gathering up her nerve, Willow reached out and pulled he envelope off the top of the box and opened it. Angel's perfect handwriting spread out before her, she sucked in a deep breath and began to read.

Dear Willow,

I don't even know where to begin. In fact, in all of my years, I don't think I have ever felt as bad, as saddened, by something I have done than I do right now. What I said to you ... the way I behaved ... was entirely out of line. I was angry that Spike still had that effect on you, despite the relationship you and I had begun, and I reacted in the worst possible way and blamed you. In all honesty, Willow, I was also hurt. There I was thinking that you and I were starting something great, only to find out that you reacted the same way to Spike -- the demon who has hurt you repeatedly over the past months. How I reacted, however, was uncalled for.

You did not deserve to find out that I still have feelings for Buffy that way. I'm sorry. Despite what I said, Willow, I don't think I truly love Buffy. Not anymore. I think I'm more in love with the idea of her, if that makes any sense at all. I'm going to stop this line of thought for now, though, as I believe it to be something we should talk about face to face.

You are not a horrible friend, either. You are one of the sweetest, most selfless, giving creatures on this planet. I'm a bastard for making you doubt that ... for making you think that I don't believe that. I'm sorry.

I don't want to do this through a letter, Willow. Let me see you, please? It doesn't have to be here, at the hotel, but somewhere. Please. Let me see you.

Cordelia said I should give you a gift. I was going to give this to you this weekend anyway, but what I had envisioned in my mind was something completely different. I thought of you the second I saw it. I bought it especially for you ... thinking only of the light you've brought into my life.

Please call me ... let me see you. Please.

Once again, I'm sorry.

Love, Angel

Willow looked up from the letter and sighed. 'Well, the words sure could have been prettier, but at least he was honest,' she thought as she began to open the box.

Gasping as she lifted the lid, Willow felt tears fill her eyes. Resting on a bed of black velvet sat one of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry she'd ever seen. It was a silver willow tree that seemed to sparkle, even as it sat still. At the base of the tree was a black pearl, so dark it could almost be called onyx. Smiling -- despite the few tears that escaped her eyes -- she lifted the necklace from the box and inspected it closer. It's beauty even better, more vibrant, in her hand, Willow reached for the phone that rested on Wesley's bedside table. Dialing quickly, before she lost her nerve, she waited for Angel to pick up.

"Angel Investigations, we help the helpless."

Willow was silent for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Hi."

"Willow," Angel said, his voice coming out in a breath of relief. "Are you all right?"

"I'm getting there."

"Good," he said. "Did you get my letter?"

"Yeah, and the necklace," she said as she twisted the phone cord absently. "Thank you. It's beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it. I intended to give it to you over dinner this weekend, but ..." his voice trailed off.

She paused as memories of him telling her that he still loved Buffy flooded her mind. "Yeah," she said finally. "I understand."

"Willow?" Angel asked, the almost sheer desperation evident in his voice.

Willow struggled with an overwhelming need to comfort Angel, to tell him that everything would be all right. Sighing softly she responded, saying, "Uh huh?"

"Can I see you?"

Silence filled the phone line for a full minute before Willow answered him, her voice small. "Tonight. Pick me up at Wesley's. Around nine?"

"I'll be there."

"See you then."

Willow hung the phone up then, not wanting to say on the line any longer than she had to. The tears that had been threatening to fall since she first heard his voice spilled freely over her cheeks. She never heard Gunn come into the room, but welcomed his hug when he took her into his arms. She cried out all of her relief over the acceptance Giles and Xander had given her. And she cried over the frustration and confusion she felt about Angel and the relationship she had with him.

Gunn held her tightly and never said a word. When all of her tears were spent and she'd collected herself, she squeezed his hand in a silent thank you, and together they walked out into the main room of the apartment to join Wesley.

***

"So, the plan is for me to arrange a meeting with this Lilah person so we can find out more about what they want, but first I'm going to sing for some empathy demon?"

Wesley nodded. "Yes, and you'll take someone with you to the meeting, of course. That is essential."

"Of course," Willow said. "But this demon guy ... is he the same guy that Cordelia was telling me about? The one with the karaoke club?"

Gunn nodded. "One and the same. You'll probably like him. He's nice ... for a demon."

"Okay."

Willow glanced at her watch. "Crap."

"What's up?" Gunn asked.

"She told Angel to be here at nine. It's eight thirty."

Willow swatted Wesley lightly. "You eavesdropper!"

Blushing only slightly, Wesley defended himself. "I didn't intend to do it! The walls are thin and you were speaking in your normal voice."

Gunn grinned at his lover. "Uh huh, sure."

"Oh do shut up."

Willow laughed and excused herself to the bathroom, deciding she needed to freshen up a bit before she had to see Angel. Part of her wanted to run ... to leave the apartment before he got there, but she knew that wouldn't work. She'd never get far enough away for him not to be able to find her. 'And facing your demons,' she decided, 'seems to be the theme of the day.'

***

Angel stood outside of Wesley's apartment waiting. He'd arrived five minutes early and couldn't decide if he should announce himself or not ... he decided on the way over to the apartment that he would try his best not to seem too eager. Finally shrugging his doubt off, he knocked on the door. Wesley opened it almost immediately and joined Angel in the hall. "Evening, Angel."

"Wesley."

"We should talk for a moment."

"All right."

Taking a slow breath, Wesley began. "You've hurt her terribly. And, while I know you realize that, I do not think it would be best to take her out tonight ... you need to talk, not go on a date."

"I know this, Wes. Why are you giving me advise?"

"Because someone needs to. Angel, she has been a wreck since Gunn found her on that bench a few blocks away from the hotel. And we know everything, by the way ... about Spike, the whole of it. I seriously don't think that she could take much more from you right now. She's hurting. And angry."

"I screwed up."

"Yes."

"I'll fix it, Wesley. I don't know how, but I'll fix it."

Wesley opened the apartment door and showed the vampire in. "See that you do."

Both men looked up at the sound of Willow's light laughter. She and Gunn were sitting at the kitchen table talking about something, and it was obvious that the two of them were fast becoming friends. Wesley smiled and spoke softly. "Willow."

The redhead turned and all three men saw her breath visibly catch in her throat. She closed her eyes, but it was still clear that she was fighting off a wave of emotions that had caught her off guard. Angel was beginning to doubt that seeing her was a good idea when she spoke. "I won't be gone long, guys, but you don't have to wait up."

She got up from the table and grabbed a light sweater before joining Wesley and Angel at the door. She smiled at Wes and then met Angel's eyes. "Let's go."

He nodded and led her out of the apartment. Angel couldn't help it when he reached out and took her hand as they walked down the hallway. Simply being near her had both him and his demon in knots trying to think of ways to make things better between them. It was then that Angel realized for the first time how much he truly wanted Willow to forgive him. How much he wanted her in his life. "Where do you want to go?" he asked.

Willow looked up at him with her expressive eyes telling him how confused she was. "There's a park nearby. I went there with Giles and Xander earlier. We could go there."

"I know just where you're talking about."

They walked to the park in silence, and Angel never let go of her hand.

~Part: 13~

"So," Angel said. "How are you?"

Willow shrugged, attempting to get comfortable on the stone bench she'd sat down on. "I'm okay. I had fun with Giles and Xander today..."

"Good, I'm glad. Did they go back to Sunnydale?"

"I think so," Willow said. "Unless they decided not to."

"Right."

An awkward silence fell between them, and Willow rose off the bench, deciding to walk around for a bit. Angel remained seated, but followed the redhead's progress with his eyes. "Did you like your necklace?"

"It's beautiful," Willow said, kicking up a small amount of sand with the toe of her boot. "And thoughtful. Thank you."

Angel got up and walked over to her. "Willow ... I'm sorry."

She nodded. "Of course you are, and I understand. But, Angel, what you said hurt and a necklace isn't going to make up for it."

"I know-" Angel began before Willow cut him off.

"And I'm not Buffy, and I'll never be Buffy, and I thought you knew that. I mean, you said that it would never work between the two of you and that you'd let her go! I thought that you were with me ... I thought we were ..." she paused and looked up into Angel's eyes. "We were something, right, Angel? Or was I just a warm body to keep you company?"

"Don't think that!" Angel almost shouted. "You were never just a warm body! You're beautiful and special, and wonderful, Willow. You could never be just someone who kept me company. Never."

Willow sighed, her eyes filling with tears. "But I'm not enough, am I? I may be special, but I'm still just Willow. Not good enough."

Angel's silence seemed to answer her question, and Willow turned to walk away. She'd only gone a few steps when Angel caught up to her, his arm reaching out to stop her from going any further. He turned her around to face him and tried not to wince when he saw the tears falling onto her cheeks. "Willow ..."

He reached out and wiped her tears away gently. "I don't think that at all. I was angry and hurt, and I lashed out at you. I know I hurt you, and you did not deserve it. I'm sorry."

"I know."

"You forgive me?" Angel asked.

Willow bit her lip in an attempt not to cry anymore. Shrugging, she said, "I'm not sure I can, Angel. I mean, yeah, I can forgive you for what you said, but I'm not sure we can ever be anything more than friends. I don't think I'll ever be able to be with you without wondering if you'd rather be with her."

"Willow, I don't want to be with Buffy."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't lie to me, Angel. Not now."

"Really, Willow. I don't," he said. "Honestly, a part of me will always love Buffy. But, Willow, a part of me -- a big part of me -- really likes you, too."

"Likes me?"

Angel sighed. "That sounded bad, didn't it?"

Willow nodded, saying, "A little bit."

"Can we go sit back down?" Angel asked.

Willow allowed him to take her hand and lead her back to the bench at the edge of the playground. They sat down side by side and Angel once again sighed. "I know what I want to say to you, but I'm not sure how you'll take it," he confessed.

"Just tell me."

Angel took a deep, unneeded breath. "It's like this, Willow," he began. "What I said that night is true in a way. I do love Buffy. I always will, but I'm not in love with her. Seriously. She's a part of my past, just like Oz and Xander are a part of yours. Can you honestly tell me that you don't love them?"

Willow shook her head. "No, I don't even have to think about it. I know that I do love them. Xander is one of my oldest friends and he and I have been through more than your average childhood friends. And Oz ... he was my first, of course a part of me will always love him."

"Exactly," Angel said. "I love Buffy, but I can't be with her. I'm not in love with her."

"So, what? I'm a consolation prize?"

"No, Willow. Not at all."

Willow turned her face towards the vampire. "Then tell me, Angel. Who am I to you?"

His eyes locking with hers, he said, "You're the woman I am in love with."

Willow sucked in a sharp breath. "What?"

Angel reached over and took her hand. "That day you left? God, Willow, I was such an idiot. I just stood there. After I realized that you were actually gone, it hit me."

"What hit you?"

"How much you mean to me."

"Uh huh," Willow said, trying to come to terms with what she was hearing.

Doubt and frustration showing on his face, Angel tried again to tell her what he was feeling. "I think I love you, Willow."

"You think?"

"Isn't that enough? For now at least?"

Willow was silent for a long time. "I don't know, Angel. I just don't know."

***

Willow let herself back into Wesley's apartment as she had done earlier in the day. 'I didn't feel quite so empty then, though ...' she thought. 'Angel has a lot to learn if he wants to compete with Giles and Xander ...'

"Willow?" Wesley asked softly, pulling her out of her thoughts. "Are you all right?"

"Oh sure. I'm fine. Angel loves me."

"Oh right," Wesley said, slightly shell-shocked.

Willow looked up at him, the expression on her face proving without a doubt that she was just as confused by the sudden change as he was. She found herself shaking her head as the weight of the situation began to take its toll. "How can he say that, Wesley? How he, all of a sudden, love me? I mean, just the other day we couldn't even say for sure that we were anything more than a casual fling. We'd decided not to label any of what was happening. And now he loves me?"

Clearing his throat, Wesley struggled for something to say. "Yes well, it does seem quite sudden, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," Willow said, finally moving away from the door and into the living room. "Where's Gunn?"

Wesley sat down on the couch and Willow followed suit. He glanced at the clock, noting the time, and said, "Gunn has gone out to help his friends with a bit of a vampire problem. He'll be back soon, though, I think."

Willow nodded, noticing the very evident concern in Wesley's voice. "I'm sure he's fine, Wes. He'll be home before you know it."

He smiled and reached out, squeezing her hand momentarily. "You are quite the woman, Willow. In the middle of your own confusing, slightly surreal, and quite messy relationship troubles, you find the grace to comfort me."

Willow blushed a bright red, ducking her head slightly. "Wesley, you are very British sometimes."

Chuckling, he nodded. "Yes quite," he said as his eyes fell on the necklace around her neck. "Angel give you that?"

Her hand reached up to trace the willow tree's outline. "Yes, he did. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. Willow, forgive me, but I feel I must ask this ... we've been dancing around this subject since you walked through the door, and despite the fact that I rather enjoy your company, I feel we're wasting time. Do you love Angel?"

She looked up, tears pooling in her eyes. "I don't know, Wesley. I think that part of me does, but then, there's this other part that is confused and hurt about the way he treated me, not to mention the fact that he's told me a couple of times now that he loves my best friend. I know he says he's not 'in love' with her, but how am I supposed to believe him after the way he reacted to her finding out about us? I just don't know what to make of any of this."

Wesley sighed. "Willow, I do believe that what you just said is the most honest thing I've heard you say about your relationship with Angel."

"Yeah," she said. "I think you're right. So tell me, oh brilliant Watcher-man, where do I go from here?"

***

Willow woke to the smell of fresh ... something the next morning and her eyes opened instantly to find out what it was. "What is that?" she asked from the couch.

Wesley put down the paper he was reading and smiled at her. "Good morning. I assume you're asking about the smell?"

Willow nodded as she got off the couch and stretched. "Yeah, it smells heavenly."

"It's cinnamon buns ... I just put them in the oven. They'll be ready by the time Gunn gets out of the shower."

Willow grinned. "Yum. You're the best Wesley, you know? I mean, first you let me stay at your apartment, then you put up with my tears and give me advice on how to fix my life, and now you're feeding me sticky breakfast-y goodness. Oh, and now I'm channeling Xander."

Wesley laughed and Willow blushed. "It was my pleasure, really. I think you're the most polite houseguest I've ever had."

Willow smiled again and nodded toward the bathroom. "Think he'd mind if I popped in to brush my teeth?"

"Probably not, but I'd knock first. He's a bit more of a prima donna than people think. He might be primping and we wouldn't want to tarnish his reputation as a macho man."

Willow giggled as she walked over to the bathroom door and knocked. "Gunn, can I come in?"

He called out an affirmative and Willow entered the steam filled bathroom. She quickly found the toothbrush and cleaned her teeth. She borrowed Wesley's hairbrush and ran it through her hair to get rid of the tangles that had accumulated during the night. She grinned as Gunn stuck his head out of the shower to tell her good morning. She got a peak at his tightly muscled chest as he went back to his shower and groaned inwardly. 'Goddess, I am so glad I don't have to stay with these two on a regular basis. Between their good looks, muscles, and charm ... I'd be such a goner,' she thought as she finished up in the bathroom and headed back out to join Wesley at the table.

"So, what's the plan for the day?" she asked as she poured herself a glass of orange juice.

"I thought we'd pop over to the office, if you're up for it, fill Angel and Cordelia in on what we've discovered about Wolfram and Hart, and possibly get Lorne to pop over for a quick reading."

Willow nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds smart."

"Yes," Wesley said. "Not only will we be able to set the ball rolling on finding out what that law firm wants with you, you'll be able to speak to Angel."

Willow bit her lip. "Yeah ..."

"Nervous?"

"A little bit, but not as much as I thought I would be. I know that I need to tell him what I decided last night, but I also know that it's going to be difficult. Probably more difficult than I can imagine."

Wesley regarded her carefully. "How so?"

She shrugged and, as the buzzer on the stove sounded, got up to pull their breakfast out of the heat. Wesley watched her, waiting for her to continue. Willow brought the cinnamon rolls to the table and began to ice them carefully. "It's just that ... well, Angel has this effect on me now ... it's like I can barely be around him without ... um ..."

"You mean to say that it's the sexual attraction that you're worried about," Wesley stated, somehow managing to get through the sentence without stuttering or blushing.

Willow nodded. "I'm not afraid that Angel won't go along with my decision, Wesley. I'm afraid I'll be the one to back out and jump him the first time he looks at me in, you know, that way."

"I understand," Wesley said. "And if that was to happen, you would deal with it. Have a bit of faith in yourself, Willow. Everything will work out."

"I know ..." she said. "I know."

~Part: 14~

The three of them, Wesley, Gunn, and Willow walked into the Hyperion. Willow smiled brightly at Cordelia as she approached the desk, throwing her arms around the other woman in a tight hug. "Hi Cordy. Thanks for the clothes."

"You're welcome, Willow. How are you?"

The redhead shrugged. "A little nervous right now about singing for this demon guy, honestly. But all in all, I'm much better."

"Good. Hi, guys!" Cordelia said, greeting Wesley and Gunn.

The four of them moved over to sit down, chatting about life in general. Willow couldn't help but smile at her old enemy as she told them about her latest audition. The picture in the witch's mind of Cordelia standing on the Sunnydale High School stage belting out Whitney Houston's 'Greatest Love of All' was clean and clear. Willow smiled once again at the Seer, knowing in her heart that if Cordelia truly wanted to make it all the way to stardom, she would do it.

After about thirty minutes of casual talking, Willow excused herself so that she could go upstairs to her room and change clothes. Opening the door to her room, Willow was assaulted by memories of her time with Angel, both bad and good. Sighing, she made her way into the bedroom and towards the closet. She pulled out a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and turned to head to the bathroom to change. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Angel standing in the doorway of her bedroom.

The look on his face was intense, staring at her with expressive and hungry eyes. Her heart sped up, her breathing became shallow, her went mouth dry. Willow struggled to regain control of her body, but the look in Angel's eyes was setting her on fire. "H-hello, Angel."

"Willow," his voice was husky and she reacted to it, her body tightening, becoming more aware of him.

She watched as Angel's nostrils flared, no doubt scenting her arousal on the air. He licked his lips and glanced at the bed before meeting her eyes once more. "You're here," he said lamely as he came into the room.

She nodded, stepping a bit closer to him. "Yeah."

Angel shut the bedroom door behind him. "I missed you."

Willow closed her eyes and willed her body to calm down. She tried to remind herself of the pain she'd experienced when Angel had hurt her; tried to remember the plan she and Wesley had come up with to determine both how she felt about Angel and the truth about the way he felt about her. Nothing was working, however, and with every step Angel took toward her, she felt her control slipping.

She wanted him. She knew suddenly that she had known this would happen when she left the others to come upstairs. She had known Angel would know she was up here, and part of her had expected to see him when she turned around. Willow knew what was about to happen and --even with her eyes closed -- she could see him walking towards her, see the needy look in his eyes.

He was right in front of her now, she could tell that without even opening her eyes. She knew that all she had to do was reach out and he'd take control, take her. Willow felt herself begin to lift her hand out to him and her eyes snapped open. She watched in muted fascination as her own hand worked it's way out in effort to touch Angel's arm.

His eyes, too, appeared riveted to her hand. It seemed to happen in slow motion, and as her hand finally came to rest at his elbow, they both sucked in a sharp breath as they felt a spark travel up their arms. Real or imagined, it was all the encouragement they needed. They were suddenly kissing, their arms around each other, and all thoughts of stopping fled their minds as Angel's hand snuck up the back of Willow's shirt and made contact with bare skin.

They didn't speak. Content to simply feel, they began to rediscover each other. Willow soon found herself naked on the bed, and only wondered for a moment how she had arrived there. Angel was above her, a look of longing and need in his eyes. His mouth descended onto hers as his hands explored her body. Willow's breathing became ragged as his fingers dipped into her core, and she knew she could wait no more. "Now," she demanded softly, not wanting her voice to break whatever spell they were under.

Angel groaned and entered her, setting a brutal pace from the start. Willow met every thrust, but it was still not enough. She needed him closer, and could tell that Angel needed more as well. She pushed at his body, trying to ask for something ... what, though, she didn't know. Understanding dawned in Angel's eyes and he withdrew from her quickly. "Turn around," he instructed firmly. "On your knees."

Willow did as she was told without questioning and screamed his name as Angel plunged into her wetness from behind. He filled her completely, touching her more deeply than ever before, it seemed. It was primal, almost animalistic, but above all, it was natural, and they both knew it. They were supposed to be there, in that moment, lost in each other's touch. It was, for that moment, perfect.

He fucked her hard and fast, their moans and the sound of skin meeting skin the only noise in the room. Knowing he wouldn't last much longer, Angel reached around and began to flick her clit back and forth between his first two fingers, bringing her to a quick, hard orgasm. As he felt her walls contract around him, he gave into pleasure and came, yelling out her name.

Still joined, Angel pulled her up towards his body and clung to her. He kissed her sweaty neck and refused to let her go. "Willow," he said. "Willow."

***

They sat in her room on the sofa. Their explosive round of make-up sex had made it impossible to stay in the bedroom. Willow knew that if they had remained near the bed, they would have continued to 'make up' all afternoon. 'Hell, sitting next to him on the couch is hard enough ...' she thought as she finally decided to tell him what was on her mind.

"Angel," she began. "We need to talk."

He nodded and waited for her to continue. She could tell he was nervous, and she realized then that he thought she was going to end things completely. She squeezed his hand in what she hoped was a reassuring manner, and said, "I'm not leaving yet. I will have to go back to Sunnydale in two weeks, though. I've got school."

"But you're not going home yet?" Angel asked.

Willow shook her head. "No. There's still some stuff that Wesley and I need to figure out, and then there's us ... Angel, we need to resolve some things. Talk to each other, figure things out. Honestly."

"I know," he admitted.

"What happened earlier can't happen again. At least not for a while. Angel, we both know that we're great together in bed, but I want to know if there's more to it than that. I need to know that there's more to us than great sex."

Angel glanced over at her for a moment before lowering his head. "I'm sorry about that ... I never intended to -"

"Don't be sorry. It um ... needed to happen. There was tension. We couldn't explore any other part of our relationship without having done ... um, that."

He grinned. "Yeah."

Willow grinned back and knew at that moment that everything was going to work out; knew that no matter how she and Angel ended things when she left for home, that everything would be okay. "So, Wesley and I have found out some stuff about Wolfram and Hart ... and we think that they know something about me, or possibly about what's about to happen in Sunnydale," she said.

"Really?" Angel asked.

"Yeah," Willow said nodding. "Wes is going to get that empath demon ... um, Lorne, I think, to come and read me."

"Good idea," Angel said as someone knocked on the door.

Willow got up and opened the door, smiling sheepishly at Cordelia. The other woman rolled her eyes and said quietly, "Don't worry about it, Willow. We all understand."

"Thank the Goddess," Willow said jokingly, thrilled that she didn't have to explain herself. "What's up?"

"Lorne's here."

"Already?"

Cordelia nodded. "Yeah. You might want to take a shower before you come down."

Willow blushed as she realized how she must have looked to Cordelia. She nodded and said she'd be down soon. Cordelia lifted an eyebrow and looked at Angel. "Lorne wants to talk to you before Willow sings."

"I'll be down in a few minutes," Angel said.

The Seer accepted that and left the room. Willow closed the door and turned to Angel, still blushing. "How bad do I look?"

Angel grinned at her. "You don't look bad at all, Willow. Quite the opposite, actually. You look beautiful."

"Well and truly fucked, then, huh?"

Angel chuckled. "Like I pounded you into the mattress."

Willow couldn't stop the giggle that escaped her. She walked over to the couch and sat down on Angel's lap, straddling his legs. Cupping his face in her hands, she kissed him tenderly. He responded immediately, tracing her lips with his tongue as his arms went around her, holding her tightly. They broke apart after a minute, and Willow smiled at him. "I'll see you downstairs, Angel."

"I'll be waiting."

She got up and began to walk to the bathroom, heading for her shower. Angel called her name just before he left the room, causing her to turn back to him. "Yeah?" she asked.

"Wanna go to dinner with me tonight?"

"Sure," she said with a smile. "No dancing, though."

Angel nodded. "Just dinner, I promise."

Willow watched him leave and sighed, thinking, 'Goddess, help me. Here we go again.'

***

Willow walked down the stairs silently. She had taken her shower and gotten dressed, all the while waiting for the guilt from her sudden, rushed coupling with Angel to hit her. It never came. Resigned to the fact that it had simply needed to happen, she had left her room and set out to meet the empath demon who had come to see if he could help her.

Her eyes widened as the demon came into view. 'He's green! And he has horns!' she thought as she attempted to get control of her shock.

"You must be Willow," the demon standing outside of Angel's office said. "I'm Lorne."

She managed a smile and held out her hand as she walked up to him. "Nice to meet you."

"Not what you expected, am I, dumpling?"

She grinned and shook her head. "Nope. Not at all. They didn't warn me that you were ... um, so bright."

Lorne looked down at himself and then grinned sheepishly as he met Willow's eyes once more. "Yeah, I guess this suit is a little on the bold side. But at least I didn't wear the one with sequins ... that would have been overkill, I think."

Laughter bubbled forth in Willow's throat and she found herself suddenly relaxed. She had been nervous about meeting him, but after a few moments in Lorne's presence, he'd made her feel comfortable. 'Now if only I can manage to sing for him...' she thought.

Angel came out of his office and smiled at Willow. "Cordelia and the guys have gone to the grocery store. Apparently there is no food left in the kitchen."

"That happens a lot," Willow said with a smile.

"Yes, it does," Angel agreed. "Have you met Lorne?"

The demon nodded. "We've introduced ourselves, Angel-cakes. Now, I don't want to seem rude, but can we get this little show on the road? I've got to get back to the club before it opens."

"Of course," Willow said. "Do I really have to sing?"

Lorne nodded. "Yes. It's the only way I can read people."

Willow shrugged. "Just thought I'd check to be sure. Just so you have advance warning, though, I'm not much of a singer."

"Don't worry about it, cupcake. Believe me when I say you cannot be any worse than Angel over there."

"Hey!" Angel said as they walked into his office. "I wasn't that bad."

"Whatever you say, honey, whatever you say," Lorne said.

Willow watched their exchange with a small smile on her face. She admitted to herself that it was nice to see Angel kidding around with someone. Deciding that the vampire was entirely too serious, she knew that one of the things she wanted them to work on was getting him to lighten up a little bit. She sat down in a chair next to Angel's desk and waited on further instruction.

Lorne smiled at the clearly nervous redhead. "I promise I don't bite," he said handing her a small song list. "These are the tapes I brought. I tried to give you enough of a selection ... I hope you find something you like."

Willow nodded and took the list. She looked it over a couple of times before making her decision. She pointed the song out to Lorne and he smiled. "Excellent choice. Give me just a minute."

She and Angel watched, her from her chair, him from behind his desk, as Lorne fiddled with the small cassette player he had brought with him. Willow fleetingly thought about how long it had been since she had seen tapes used before Lorne handed her a lyric sheet. The music was suddenly playing and Willow's brain kicked into gear. She glanced up at Lorne and he nodded to her. She took a deep breath, listened for her cue, and began to sing.

"We passed upon the stairs
We spoke of was and when
Although I wasn't there
He said I was his friend
Which came as some surprise
I spoke into his eyes
I thought you died alone
A long long time ago
Oh no, not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world ..."

***

Her voice wasn't bad. While it wasn't of professional quality, it was sweet. He could tell she was still nervous, despite all of his efforts to keep her calm. Lorne listened to the small, redheaded witch sing with a smile on his face.

As she continued with the song, a David Bowie classic that he was only slightly surprised she knew, he began to feel the extent of her power. He struggled to remain upright as, in the middle of the second verse, he was struck with the first full wave of her magic. The images, things that would happen in her future, began to come to him shortly after that.

By the time she finished the second chorus, he had forced himself to close his eyes, willing himself to calm down, to hold his emotions inside. He knew that she would stop singing if she suspected something was wrong. And that was something that he did not want to happen just yet. The information the Powers sent to him was still coming.

Lorne managed to smile at her when she finished the song. "Great job, dumpling," he said before looking over at Angel. "Angel-cakes, would you give Willow and I a minute to two alone, please?"

Reluctantly, Lorne noticed, the vampire nodded. He got up, placed a kiss on the top of Willow's head and left the room. Lorne had no doubt that Angel would listen from the other room, but he also knew that the girl's lover would respect her privacy and not mention what he overheard. Lorne smiled at Willow, trying to reassure her that everything was all right. "You sing better than you think you do."

Willow smiled. "Thank you, but that's not why you asked Angel to leave. What's up? What'd you see?"

"A lot. Let's start at the beginning, though. Wolfram and Hart."

She nodded, waiting on him to continue, and Lorne said, "They want your power ... to turn you towards the darkness. Simple as that."

"Oh."

Lorne took her small exclamation to mean that she had already guessed as much. He met her eyes. "Willow, there's more."

"With Wolfram and Hart?"

He shook his head. "No."

Willow closed her eyes. "Sunnydale."

"You're needed there. You need to go back. Soon."

She nodded. "I am. For school. I'll go home in two weeks."

"Good," Lorne said. "That should be soon enough. How much do you want to know?"

She was silent for a long time. Finally, she said, "Dawn. What'd you see about Dawn?"

"It was vague," Lorne admitted. "I sensed that there was powerful magic involved, that it was surrounding her, but not much past that. If you want to research it, look into an Order of Digon. I believe they are monks."

Willow digested that information with ease, filing the name away for further use. "Anything else of importance you can tell me? For some reason I think that it's important for me not to ask for many details ... but, an overview might be nice."

Lorne smiled at her. "You're a smart girl, Willow. And you're right, knowing too much could possibly change things, and that might not be a good thing. For some reason, the Powers gave me a lot more information than they usually do. Maybe we'll find out why in the future. But, for now," he said. "Let's talk about three things. Vampires and your magick."

Willow nodded, slightly wide-eyed. "Okay. Shoot."

"First off, you made the right decision earlier with Angel. Continue to take things slow ... it'll be best in the long run."

"Oh Goddess ... um ... how much did you see?"

Lorne chuckled. "The PG version, I promise."

"Thank goodness!" Willow exclaimed. "What about Spike? I assume he's the other vampire in vampires."

"Yes," Lorne said. "The two of you are going to have to come to some sort of conclusion, Willow. You cannot keep dancing around this any longer. Things are about to start happening in Sunnydale and you need to be focused. So does he. Accept help from your friends to deal with him, and be patient with Buffy. She'll come around."

Willow took a deep breath. "And my magick?"

"Keep practicing. Get stronger. And, get involved with that Wicca group again. Specifically a witch named Tara."

"Tara? Tara McClay? We were friends for a while last year."

Lorne nodded. "Be friends again, Willow. It's important."

Silence fell between them. Eventually, Lorne stood up and moved to the door. "I've got to get to Caritas. Friday nights are always busy. Stop in to see me before you go home."

Willow seemed to snap out of her deep thoughts then and smiled at him. "I'll do that. Thank you, Lorne. You've given me a lot to think about."

He smiled and nodded. "One more thing, Willow. Sometimes things -- even bad things -- just have to happen. And, no matter how much they hurt, we're not always meant to fix them."

Her eyes wide from his cryptic warning, she merely nodded and followed him out of the office. In the lobby, they saw that the others had returned and were currently talking to Angel. Lorne quickly bid them all farewell and headed off for his club. He would never admit it to anyone, but the things he had seen in Willow's future made him want to run and hide, to spend the rest of the evening crying over the darkness coming her way. 'She's got quite the rough road ahead of her. I just hope she takes the right road when it comes to making her choices,' he thought as he made his way back to Caritas.

***

Back at the Hyperion, Willow and Angel both excused themselves in order to get ready for their date. Willow had just changed into a nice skirt set when she heard a knock on her door. Opening it, she was not surprised to find Wesley outside. "I was wondering how long it would take you to come up here," she said with a small smile.

"You didn't say much after Lorne left. What he said upset you, didn't it?"

Willow nodded and motioned for them to sit down on the couch. "It's not Wolfram and Hart that he's worried about. It's what's going to happen when I go back to Sunnydale. I was right. Something big is coming. Something dark. And whatever it is, Wesley, it's going to end badly. I can feel it in my bones."

~Part: 15~

~Part: 15~

Giles stared at his Slayer, sighing in exasperation. "Buffy, go patrol. If you refuse to listen to reason, then leave."

"Reason?" Buffy practically shouted. "She stole my boyfriend! And you think how I'm acting is wrong? Willow is the one who's betrayed me!"

"How?" Giles questioned. "How exactly did Willow betray you, Buffy? By going to LA and getting a life that doesn't revolve around you? I'm beginning to believe the rest of us should follow suit!"

Giles whipped his glasses off his face and began to clean them in earnest. He could feel Buffy's eyes on him and mentally braced himself for the onslaught of her anger. He didn't have to wait long. Pinching the bridge of his nose, the Watcher listened to the blonde's tirade. As had become the usual end to their conversations as of late, Buffy raged on and on continually about how Willow had betrayed their friendship by becoming involved with Angel.

"And besides!" Buffy said, for what was probably the hundredth time, "Angel is mine. What could he possibly want with Willow? What could he possibly see in her?"

Giles found himself in a familiar situation. He knew exactly what the vampire saw in Willow, and was torn between telling Buffy the truth and comforting his Slayer. Duty told him that Buffy was his first priority; his heart told him not to betray Willow with his silence. It was, in the end, a very tough position to be in.

Buffy continued on, ranting about Angel. She wondered aloud how he could preach about the two of them being soulmates one minute and then shack up with her best friend the next. Giles sighed once more. "Buffy, Angel and Willow are not 'shacking up,' as you put it. In fact, the last I heard, Willow was staying with Wesley."

The Slayer rolled her eyes. "Your point? Giles, the point <i>I'm</i> trying to make is that Angel and Willow have no business being together. Angel is mine, and he always will be."

"I'm so glad to know you feel that way," a voice said from the door.

Giles flinched inwardly as Buffy immediately began trying to explain to Riley that what she had said was not what she meant. 'My god,' he thought. 'She just keeps digging herself in deeper! Doesn't the girl know how to shut up?'

"See, Riley," Buffy said, her voice haughty. "It's like this, I just don't understand what it is Angel sees in Willow. She's just so ..."

"Beautiful?" Riley supplied, the anger he was feeling evident in the way he spoke. "Smart? Funny? Considerate? I could go on and on, Buffy. I'm beginning to think I picked the wrong girl!"

Shaking his head, Giles watched as Riley stormed out of the shop with Buffy at his heels. 'And she thinks yelling at him for saying that will make it better,' he thought as they left. 'Buffy will simply never learn.'

"Well, that was entertaining."

"Xander," Giles said, turning around. "I completely forgot you were here."

"And a normal person would be offended by that," the younger man said. "I on the other hand am glad. Otherwise you might have dragged me into that conversation to help you make your point."

"Indeed. Though I doubt it would have helped."

Xander nodded. "Buff is being a bit stubborn about this. She'll come around though, right?"

Giles arched an eyebrow. "I honestly don't know, Xander. I just don't know."

~~~*~~~

Spike watched from the back of the Magic Box in silence, his presence remaining unobtrusive as the Watcher and the boy continued to talk. The vampire rolled his eyes as he listened to the two humans discuss the Slayer and Willow's relationship. 'It's over, if I have anything to say about it,' Spike thought. 'Red is mine, and the Slayer had best know that now.'

Life had changed upon his return from LA. He smothered a chuckle as he thought of the look on Buffy's face as he'd told her about Red's relationship with Angel. She reacted beautifully, Buffy had, and Spike had loved every angry moment of it. After the initial shock had worn off, Buffy had violently punched through the wall of her bedroom as fury began to radiate from her. Spike had watched in mute fascination as the Slayer ran through a variety of emotions, all of them returning to anger and feelings of betrayal. She had ranted and raved, and bitched about how Angel was hers. And Spike could not agree more. Because Willow was his.

He had egged Buffy on, telling her that he'd found them in bed together. A lie, but she needn't know that. He'd made a point to remind her that Willow was off gallivanting in Los Angeles with her best friend's true love, while Buffy slaved away on the Hellmouth, slaying every demon she came across. Carefully, Spike built the Slayer's anger up, fueling it beyond what she could have done on her own. And now, Buffy worked herself into a frenzy, completely obvious to anything but what she wanted to believe, what Spike wanted her to believe. No matter what anyone said about the relationship Willow and Angel shared, to Buffy, it wouldn't matter. Spike had seen to that.

The vampire listened to Giles tell Xander about a conversation he'd had with Willow that afternoon. His sensitive ears easily picking up the Watcher's soft tones, Spike discovered that the Pouf had asked an empath demon to give a reading for Willow. Absently, Spike wondered if the demon had seen anything regarding him. The bell above the door interrupted his thoughts, however, and Buffy bounded back into the shop.

"I cannot believe him!" she exclaimed. "He told me to go away, the bastard. After everything I've done for him, he has the nerve to tell me to go away? I should break up with him."

Spike smirked as Giles tried in vain to point out that Riley's anger was Buffy's fault. Slipping silently back into the storeroom, the vampire left the Magic Box without being seen. He'd gathered all the information he needed for the night, though he knew he'd still pay the Slayer a visit before he turned in for the day.

'My plan is unfolding perfectly,' he thought as he walked down the street. 'Red will be home soon, Buffy will want nothing to do with her, and she will fall right into my arms. Just as she is meant to.'

~~~*~~~

They had been forced to listen to Buffy's tirade for an hour before she finally left in a huff. Giles was currently pouring himself a glass of scotch, and Xander sat with his head down on one of the tables. "I miss Willow," the younger man said.

"Indeed, Xander. As do I," Giles agreed.

Xander looked up as Giles sat down across from him. "You know Spike was here earlier, right?"

Giles nodded. "I was wondering if you noticed. I know Buffy didn't."

"He was listening to us talk about Willow."

Giles arched an eyebrow, nodding his agreement. He had been waiting for the right moment to begin this conversation, and finally it had presented itself. Xander's anger at the blond vampire had dimmed, become less of a blind rage, and Giles knew that he could now trust the boy to keep his wits about him long enough to listen to his entire plan. "Willow will be home soon."

Xander smiled. "In a week."

"Buffy's opinion of her will not change in that time, I'm afraid. And, Buffy has made it quite clear that she wishes our loyalty to remain with her."

"I know," Xander said. "I hate being trapped between my two best friends, Giles. I shouldn't be forced to choose. Everyone will be hurt ... I mean, I love Buffy, but I love Willow more. I won't stop being her friend just because Buffy wants me to."

Giles nodded. "I know, Xander. I don't think Buffy will truly take it that far. Part of her knows that we need Willow ... or at least need Willow's magick. She talks everyday about how she thinks something big is coming, and Willow has indicated she feels the same way. I do not think that Buffy will completely shut Willow out for fear that we will need her, but I do think that she will do her best to make Willow's life hell. At least at first."

"Yeah," Xander said, his voice carrying a defeated tone.

"It is Spike we really have to worry about."

Xander's eyes met Giles', holding the gaze. "What are you saying?"

Giles sighed. "Xander, Spike is going to do everything in his power to regain control over Willow. For the past several months, he has almost completely dominated her, and I know he wants that power back. Especially now that Angel is involved. Those two have a very bad relationship ... Spike has abandonment issues, Angel has his guilt, and there is a lot of anger between them. I would think that, in Spike's mind, he feels Angel has intruded on his territory and taken what belongs to him."

"Willow is not his, though," Xander interjected angrily.

"That doesn't matter," A new voice said.

Both men turned to stare at Anya as she walked over and sat down beside Xander. "I should have seen it, and I'm having many feelings of guilt because I didn't."

"What do you mean, honey?" Xander asked.

Anya shrugged. "I was a demon for over a thousand years. I should have noticed what Spike was doing to Willow, and I didn't. But I do know that things will get worse now that she's slept with his Sire."

"Why?"

Fiddling with the necklace around her neck, Anya said, "Because it's the way things work. Spike had laid the groundwork to make Willow a Childe. That's what he was doing, by the way. I don't know how he planned on turning her, but that's not the point. His seduction? His mind games? That was a precursor to turning her. And now Angel has stepped in and messed all of that up, made Willow his. Spike is, without a doubt, very angry about that."

Giles stood up, walking over to the counter to refill his glass. "But what do we do now? How do we protect Willow?"

Anya studied the Watcher. "You have a plan already, Giles. Don't you?"

"How do you know that?"

"You're a man who plans," the ex-demon said simply.

Giles drank steadily from his glass, draining its contents. Slowly, he turned back to the other two, setting his glass down on the counter, his eyes cold. "I'll handle Spike. What I need the two of you to do is, when Willow returns, keep her as far away from him as possible."

~~~*~~~

Riley watched from outside the Magic Box as Giles, Xander, and Anya talked. Buffy, he noticed, was nowhere in sight. The former soldier stood hidden in the shadows, his mind awhirl with conflicting thoughts and feelings. Since Buffy had discovered the relationship between Willow and Angel, Riley's life had been flipped upside down. 'All because she can't let him go,' he thought, thinking of Buffy's views on Angel.

Riley was smart enough to know that his girlfriend still loved her former lover; he'd seen enough not to doubt that at all. But what he didn't understand was her almost violent attitude toward Willow, her supposed best friend. 'Maybe I'm not meant to understand,' he thought as he began to walk home. 'Maybe this is the sign I've been waiting for. Maybe Buffy and I really aren't meant to be together.'

In truth, Riley had been wondering about that for weeks. Unable to know for sure that his girlfriend loved him as much as he loved her, he had begun to grow restless. And hearing the words come out of Buffy's mouth ... hearing her say that Angel was hers and always would be, that had been the fatal blow, so to speak. He'd simply had enough.

Riley knew, though, despite the fact that he was going to break up with Buffy, that he could not abandon the others. He could not simply walk away from the 'good fight' over a bad breakup. Deciding it was time to tell Buffy the truth, to lay all his feelings bare, Riley headed toward her house.

As he walked up the driveway, he noticed that his lover was not alone in her room. His eyes narrowed as he realized who was with her. 'Spike!' he thought as a foul taste filled his mouth. 'What the hell is he doing in her room?'

The brunette stood by the tree in the middle of the yard and gazed up at Buffy's bedroom window, his quest to tell Buffy the truth forgotten. He watched as Buffy nodded enthusiastically and wished he could get close enough to hear what the vampire was saying. "Climbing the tree is out of the question, though," he whispered aloud as he realized that trying that would lead to both Buffy and Spike discovering his presence. "Damn supernatural hearing."

Riley watched in silence then as Spike and Buffy continued their conversation. The two of them spoke for about ten minutes longer before Spike turned to leave. Riley took his cue and walked purposefully up the steps to the front door and rang the doorbell. Dawn answered and quickly informed him of Spike's presence just as Buffy and the vampire in question walked down the stairs. Buffy glared in Riley's direction, saying, "Why the hell are you here?"

"Just came to get my stuff, Buffy. Tomorrow's laundry day," Riley answered pulling an answer out of thin air.

The vampire smirked at him as he walked past him and out the door. Riley rolled his eyes and looked at Buffy expectantly. She shrugged before huffing slightly and heading back up the stairs, "Yeah, well, let's get your crap so you can leave. I've got better things to do with my time tonight than to hang around with rude, mean people who tell me to leave them alone."

Riley smiled at Joyce as the older woman shot him a sympathetic glance, following Buffy upstairs to her room. He shut the door behind him and sat down on Buffy's bed. "What was Spike doing here?" he asked.

Buffy shrugged. "He and I have a lot in common right now. He understands me."

"You have a lot in common?" Riley asked, outraged. "He's been stalking and harassing your best friend for months! What could you possibly have in common with him?"

"Willow asked for it, I'm sure! And besides, she is stalking and harassing Angel as we speak! <i>Spike</i> understands that, unlike some people I know."

"Willow asked for it? She asked Spike to stalk her? Buffy, do you hear yourself?"

"Get your stuff and get out. I don't want to see you again until you're ready to apologize for being mean to me. I mean it, Riley. Go."

"Fine," he said, getting up from the bed. "You let me know when you come back into your senses."

Neither one of them said another word to each other as Riley gathered up his clothes and left. Riley let himself out of the Summers' house and only realized after he was halfway back to the dorms that he had not broken up with Buffy.

~Part: 16~

Willow hung up the phone with a smile on her face. Anya, while still very literal and blunt, could be very funny at times. And laughter was just what the witch had needed to get rid of the nasty taste the day had left in her mouth. She looked up as Wesley walked into the lobby and sighed, the brief moment of relief washed away by the sight of the former Watcher. Willow felt like lowering her head to the desk and crying; the day had been that bad. It had proven to be one of those days when all the sins of the world become apparent, and there was absolutely nothing Willow could do to change it. No spell could fix it, and she hated that. She hated not being in control.

"Ah, Willow," Wesley said, pulling her from her thoughts. "Did you get in touch with Rupert?"

Willow shook her head. "No, but Anya will tell him I called when he gets back from patrol with Buffy."

Nodding, Wesley said, "Wonderful. I am very eager to hear his opinion of Cordelia's latest vision. It was quite disturbing."

Closing her eyes, Willow thought of a hundred words that could describe the vision Cordelia had been forced to endure. disturbing was only about halfway down the list. "Wasn't it?" she agreed finally. "It scared me and I didn't even have to see any of it. How's Cordy doing, anyway?"

"Angel's getting her settled into a room upstairs. Near yours, I believe."

Willow nodded, but it was clear to Wesley that she was lost in thought. No doubt thinking about the vision that had rendered Cordelia a shrieking mass on the floor. Wesley watched Willow for a few moments longer before leaving her alone with her thoughts. Willow didn't even notice him leave.

Cordelia's vision had been horrible. It had occurred in the middle of the afternoon, and the Seer had been alone in the lobby at the time. Willow had come running out of her room as soon she'd heard Cordelia screaming, not in pain, but in terror. The sound was piercing, radiating, as it filled the hotel. Willow had found Cordelia, her head cradled in Gunn's lap, Wesley kneeling beside her, as Angel tried to soothe his Seer. Angel's voice, though soft, reached Willow as she walked toward the men, and even she was surprised at the level of concern contained within his tone.

///

"It'll be all right, Cordy. Just breathe," Angel told Cordelia.

The vampire looked up as Willow reached them and held her gaze. Willow searched his eyes for a moment for a clue as to what was going on, but found nothing but worry in the brown depths before her. Kneeling down next to all four of them, Willow reached out and took Cordelia's hand. "Cordy?"

Cordelia shot up out of Gunn's embrace and practically flew into Willow's arms. The witch held her tight, stroking her back as the others looked on, confused.

"Willow," Cordelia said softly in her ear. "I need ... that vision ... you and me ... talk alone."

Sorting through the other woman's broken sentence, Willow pulled back out of their embrace slightly. "Was your vision about me?"

Cordelia shook her head, and it was then Willow noticed the tears in Cordelia's eyes. Standing up, Willow held out a hand. "Come on. We'll use Angel's office."

Cordelia took her hand and stood up. Willow looked over her shoulder as the two of them began to walk away. One look at Angel let her know that he was going to listen in on their conversation. Shaking her head once to try to discourage him, Willow entered the office behind Cordelia and shut the door. "Cordy? What's wrong? What'd you see?"

Cordelia looked over at Willow, tears streaming down her face, and said, "The vision ... there's two of them. A demon and a vampire working together. The demon can pass for human. They lure women away from bars, Will. Then they ... and then they ... rape them."

Willow gasped, her hand flying up to her mouth. "Oh my god."

"Will, I felt it. I felt what they did to this woman."

///

That had been hours ago, and still, Willow couldn't get it out of her mind. The very idea was horrible, but the fact that the two villains had gotten away with it for months before the Powers decided to step in ... that was mind-boggling. Willow didn't understand. Wasn't the point of having Cordelia be Angel's Seer to prevent innocent people from being hurt? Weren't the women these two ... things ... had already raped and left for dead innocent? Her mind just refused to accept the situation.

"Willow?"

Angel's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Yeah?"

"You okay?"

She looked up at him. "No."

He sighed heavily. "We'll get them. I'll get them. I promise."

Closing her eyes, Willow nodded. "I know, Angel. It's just ... I feel violated just thinking about it."

"I know."

Angel walked over to the desk where she sat and hopped up on top of it. Willow's eyes widened, and she smiled. "Wow."

"What?" Angel asked.

Shrugging, Willow answered, saying, "I just didn't know you could do that ... you know, look so casual."

Angel shot her a grin. "You've seen me much more relaxed than this and you know it."

"Yeah," Willow conceded. "But not down here."

Angel glanced around the lobby. "Gunn and Wesley have gone home. Cordelia's asleep upstairs ... it's just you and me ..."

Willow sighed. "Angel, we talked about this."

"It's been almost a week, Willow. And you're leaving in a few days. I miss you."

"I miss you too, but that's not the point. The point is that our relationship seems to be based entirely on sex ... I want to find out if there's more to it than that. And I thought you did, too."

Angel looked over at her, his eyes holding a hint of hardness. "That's not fair. I've not pressured you at all about your decision."

"But you haven't helped, either. Angel, I want you. You know I want you."

Angel grinned. "And I want you. What's the problem here?"

"Angel ..."

"Willow."

Looking over at him, Willow saw that he'd leaned over so that his lips were hovering mere inches away from hers. She'd not kissed him all day. In fact, it had not been since they'd run into each other before dinner two nights before that they'd last had any intimate contact. Just looking at his lips made her own lips burn, despite all the promises she'd made to herself about needing to get to know him better. She still wanted, no needed, him just as much as ever.

"Angel..."

"Just kiss me, Willow."

Their lips met hesitantly, Willow barely giving in at first, but soon she found herself standing between Angel's legs, her arms wrapped around his neck as they began to lose themselves to passion. Her hands gripped the material of his shirt, bunching it up under her hands, enjoying the feel of his muscular back under her finger tips. Angel ran his hands over her back, reaching down to cup her ass, to pull her closer as their kiss grew deeper.

All thoughts of Cordelia's vision and demon rapists were pushed aside as Willow and Angel gave themselves over to lust. Reaching between them, Willow unbuckled Angel's belt, loosening his pants just enough to untuck his shirt. Angel, following her lead, began to unbutton the Oxford she wore, slowly working his way down to reveal the pale skin underneath.

They broke their kiss only to allow for Willow to breathe, and for the actions that absolutely required it. Such as the ten seconds it took to get Angel's shirt over his head, giggling as Willow's hands hindered more than they helped.  Heat, passion, lust ... neither one of them could name exactly what they were feeling, but they knew they wanted more. Willow could see it in Angel's eyes, could see that he wanted her just as much as she wanted him.

She tried to ignore the nagging little voice inside that was telling her it was too soon. The voice telling her that she wasn't ready. Because, even in the position she was in ... with Angel making her weak and wanting more, she knew she'd believe it if she listened. And Willow didn't want to believe it. She just wanted Angel.

His hand cupped her breast, the other reaching around to rid her of her bra, and Willow arched into his touch. Seeking out his lips once more, neither one of them made any effort to stop when the phone next to them began to ring. The little nagging voice inside of her, however, grew ever more persistent with every ring. And, Willow noticed, began to sound more and more like her own voice, the voice that made sense. It reminded her ... she reminded herself ... of all the reasons she'd decided on, all the reasons she was distancing herself from Angel. The voice was beginning to get louder. And it was reminding her that independence would not be found in Angel's bed.

Angel began to suck on her neck as the answering machine switched on, and Willow tried to pull away.

"Ignore it," Angel told her, pulling her close once more.

Willow opened her mouth to say something when Giles' voice began to fill the lobby, informing the machine that he was returning Willow's phone call. She shot Angel an apologetic look as her hand reached out and picked up the phone. "Giles? I'm here."

Willow watched as Angel glared at her before jumping off the counter and heading to his office, slamming the door behind him. Flinching, she said, "No, Giles, everything is fine. Today's just been stressful."

She picked up her shirt. Slipping the white Oxford on, she fastened a few buttons. "Cordelia had a vision that Wesley and I wanted your input on ..."

***

"Angel?" Willow knocked on his office door.

He didn't answer, but she knew he was in there. She'd not seen him leave. Opening the door, Willow went inside. Angel's chair was turned, its back to the door. "Angel?"

"What did Giles have to say?"

Willow flinched at his tone, but answered him anyway, saying, "He's going to check out a few sources, and then he and possibly Xander will come up this weekend to help find them."

"One big party."

"Angel..."

Slowly, Angel turned the chair to face her. They stared at each other for a long time, neither moving or saying a word. Finally, Willow lowered her eyes. "Fine. Good night, Angel. I'm going to bed."

He nodded very tersely. "All right. Good night, Willow."

She closed her eyes. "Angel ... please."

Ever so slowly, Angel rose from the chair and walked toward her. He stopped right in front of her and reached out, barely tracing the line of her jaw. "Please what?"

"Please don't let me leave like this."

"Angry?"

Willow sighed. She knew he knew what she was talking about. He had to. "Angel, please ..."

Leaning down, Angel drew her mouth to his, their lips meeting briefly. "My poor little witch."

Willow gasped as Angel ripped her shirt from her shoulders, the two buttons she'd fastened flying out into his office. "So timid," he said, cupping her breasts. "Too afraid to ask for what she wants."

Reaching between their bodies, Angel placed a hand above her denim covered core. "Whatever will we do with you, Willow? When will you learn to just take what you want?"

Angel turned without another word, leaving Willow panting, wanting, in the doorway of his office. And she knew she could follow. She knew he wanted her to follow.

But she wouldn't.

Because she was no one's plaything.

Not any more.

~Part: 17~

Willow woke to the sound of screaming coming from down the hall. Rising out of bed quickly, she threw on her robe and rushed out her door, heading straight for Cordelia's room. She saw Angel enter the room just before her and almost returned to her own room instantly. Just seeing his back made her blood boil a little.

She still couldn't believe the way he'd treated her earlier in the evening, how cold, how Spike-like, he'd been. She stood outside of Cordelia's door, the events of the day replaying in her mind. 'It all started with that stupid vision,' Willow thought. 'Then snowballed from there.'

She hadn't even really turned Angel down. She knew that, he knew that, and yet somehow they had left each other angry and nsatisfied. But Willow knew it was more than that. She knew it had been days since she and Angel had been together, but that was his fault, too. He'd told her he still loved Buffy. What was she supposed to do? Just fall back into bed with him? Let it go? Willow knew it wasn't that simple. Nothing ever was.

He was frustrated. She was frustrated. And their tempers? Willow sighed. 'This is such a huge mess,' she stared at the light coming from Cordy's room.

But the way Angel had treated her tonight ... Willow shuddered. It was like Angel had channeled Spike for a few minutes. She closed her eyes. In her heart, Willow knew that, as long as he had his soul, Angel was nothing like Spike. Not really. But he did still have that demon inside of him, just waiting for the right moment to come out. She wondered if tonight had been one of those moments ... if his demon had been frustrated by the lack of sex, too. She shook her head. 'Not going to answer a question with more questions, Rosenberg,' she thought to herself. 'That's just a waste of time.'

Still though, her mind raged on. Why had Angel behaved that way? Was it a vampire thing? Did they all turn into bastards when they were denied sex? Willow nibbled on her bottom lip as she wondered if the real reason could be her ... that somehow she had made Angel act that way. Was there just something about her that made vampires, made men, become controlling, egotistical meanies?

Was there just something wrong with her?

"Willow? In or out?"

Angel's voice, slightly annoyed, penetrated through her thoughts. Willow jumped back and stared at him. "Crap, Angel! You scared me," she whispered urgently.

He just blinked at her. Willow sighed. "Um, what was your question?"

Angel shook his head, as if shaking himself out of a bad mood, and smiled. Willow gaped at him, wondering what had triggered the smile, but Angel just kept on smiling. "You," he began, "get lost in your thoughts more than anyone else on the planet."

Willow stood there with her mouth hanging slightly open. Suddenly, he didn't sound mad at all. Not even the slightest bit upset. It was a complete turnaround and it baffled her completely. Finding her voice after a moment, Willow decided to push all of her personal issues with Angel aside for the moment and get back to the matter at hand. That was what was important, after all. Deciphering Angel's mood swings could wait. At least for the time being.

"Is Cordy okay?"

Angel nodded. "She had a nightmare ... never did fully wake up from it, but she's okay now. Calm, at any rate."

"Good," Willow said. "That vision really shook her."

"I know."

Turning, Willow began to head back to her room. "Angel?" she called.

"Yes?"

She licked her lips. "Are, um, are you still mad at me?"

Angel took three steps and was at her side, gazing down at her. "Is that what you thought?" he asked. "That I was mad at you?"

"Weren't you?"

"Frustrated, Willow. I was frustrated."

She closed her eyes. "And that made you act all mean?"

"I was mean?"

Willow's eyes snapped open and widened as she took in Angel's _expression. The vampire truly looked shocked. She glared at him. "You're a very good actor, Angel, but come off it. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

He sighed. "Look, Willow, I'm sorry. I was frustrated, and you got me all worked up, and then you just stopped to take that phone call ... and yeah, I guess I got a little angry."

Willow stared at him. "It was an important call."

"You could have called him back."

She had no idea what to say. Not ten minutes before, she'd gotten out of bed to check on Cordelia, who was clearly still distraught over the vision. And Angel was upset that she'd stopped their playtime to take a call that might help find the demons who'd been raping all those women? Willow blinked. "Do you hear yourself?"

Angel just looked at her. Willow shook her head, saying, "You'd rather have had me fuck you right there than get the information to Giles? Where are your priorities?"

"Where are yours, Willow? You were still hot and ready before I went upstairs."

Willow glared. "Yeah. *After* the phone call."

Angel said nothing, and Willow was suddenly struck by how tired she was. Opening the door to her room, Willow slipped inside, looking back over her shoulder, saying, "Good night, Angel."

"That's it?" he asked. "You're just going to bed? Alone?"

"I'm tired, Angel."

"Fine."

Willow's eyes closed as she saw Angel begin to turn away. She couldn't watch him walk away from her right now ... she just couldn't. Tears welled up behind her eyelids and she hurried to her bed. Suddenly, simply remaining upright was asking too much of her. Burying her head in her pillow, Willow cried herself to sleep.

***

Willow walked down the stairs after finding Cordelia's room empty. Her first priority of the morning being to make sure that her friend was okay, Willow hurried down to the lobby. She found the Seer five minutes later, having breakfast with Gunn and Wesley. After snagging a piece of toast for herself, and making friendly conversation for a few minutes, Willow excused herself to go wake Angel. It was time for the two of them to talk ... to work out their issues, and Willow didn't care what the vampire thought of the matter. It was time, plain and simple.

Upstairs, Willow knocked on his door four times before turning to leave. He was either not there or doing a damn good job of ignoring her. She was halfway to her room when she met Angel on the stairs. "There you are!"

She grinned, realizing they'd both spoken at once. "I was looking for you."

"I just came from your room," Angel told her. "I wanted to talk..."

"Me too."

Willow watched as Angel open and shut his mouth several times, and tried not to giggle at the fact that he couldn't figure out what to say next. She was still upset with him, but sleep had dulled her anger. Reaching up, she placed a hand on his mouth. "I'm sorry, Angel."

"You have nothing to be sorry about," the words tumbled from Angel's mouth. "I am the one who should be sorry, and I am. God, Willow, I'm sorry. I was an ass."

The look on his face, in his eyes, told Willow he meant what he'd said. She closed her eyes. "Yeah, and I've been unfair to you."

She leaned into his touch as Angel placed a hand on her cheek, then reached up after a moment and took that hand in hers. Opening her eyes, she asked, "You wanna go somewhere and talk?"

Angel grinned as he took her hand and led her upstairs. "You read my mind."

Hearing Cordelia's voice behind them, Angel shook his head when Willow tried to head to her room once they'd reached the third floor. Willow looked confused. "It's just Cordy..."

Angel shrugged. "I want privacy."

Willow nodded and let him lead her up the stairs one more floor, leading her down the hall to an empty room, and soon found herself sitting in a nice, albeit a bit dusty, suite. Angel, she had discovered in the time they'd been there, could babble just as well as she could. Apparently, he just needed the right motivation. So far, he'd apologized profusely, to the point that Willow was considering yelling at him to shut up, that she'd received the point loud and clear. He was sorry. Finally, unable to take anymore, Willow held up her hand. "I get it," she smiled. "You're sorry. And I'm sorry, too."

Angel shook his head. "No. You don't have anything--"

"I pulled away from you," Willow interrupted. "I'm sorry I pulled away from you."

"It was an important call, Willow. I let my ... I was not thinking with my brain last night."

Willow grinned. "Yeah, but ... see, Angel, it was an important call. I know that, you know that, we all know that. But ... I'm sorry I pulled away from you in the first place. You know, before last night."

Angel got up and knelt beside her chair. "You did what you needed to do, Willow. And until last night, I respected every second of your decision. I just ... god, Willow, I wanted you last night. I could almost taste it, taste you. And when you pulled away from me, I went a little crazy."

Willow nodded, understanding. "I miss you,"

He reached up and cupped her face. "I'm right here."

Willow was moving before she realized it, out of the chair and into his arms. Angel caught her and pulled her into a passionate kiss, wrapping his arms around her tightly. She kissed him back with fervor, leaving no doubt in either of their minds where things were leading. Standing and easily lifting her up, Angel walked over to the bed and sat down with Willow in his lap.

"Missed you so much," he murmured as he pulled her shirt over her head. "Seeing you every day, not being able to touch you ... god, I missed you, missed this."

Willow shivered, more at his words than because of the cool air that hit her bare skin. She pressed herself further into Angel, her hands refamiliarizing themselves with his body as Angel laid them down. Willow moaned loudly as his lips found one of her breasts, and she cried out even louder as his hand snaked into the knit pants she wore, past her panties and into her wetness.

Gripping the material of his shirt, trying to get him to take it off. "Angel," she panted. "I want to feel your skin."

He grinned at her and stood up, causing her to cry out at the loss of his touch. "Thought you wanted me naked."

"Didn't think it through," she grinned. "Hurry up."

Stripping quickly, his erection pointing proudly, hard and thick, he pulled off her pants and underwear before moving back onto the bed. Willow reached out and pulled him to her, finding his mouth once more. Reaching between them, she grasped his cock and began to stroke, as Angel slipped two fingers into her tight channel. Their moans, evidence of their pleasure, filled the room, and Willow soon found herself on the edge, teetering there, almost ready to beg for release. "Angel," she managed. "Now. No more teasing. Take me now."

"Thought you'd never ask," Angel said, moving above her.

He slipped inside her easily, and they both moaned at the feel of it. Clinging to each other, they moved together, never stopping for a moment, until they both found release. Willow screamed out his name as she came, raking her nails along his back, the slight pain sending Angel over the edge. He held her to him, each of them riding out the waves of their orgasms, and whispered her name over and over in her ear.

***

Two hours later, after showering in their borrowed room, Willow and Angel walked down to the lobby, hand in hand. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, Angel swept Willow up into his arms and kissed her soundly before asking, "You sure we have to be down here already?"

"Oh, I'd say it's pretty important."

Neither Angel nor Willow moved for several seconds. Slowly, Angel lowered Willow to the ground and she turned in his arms to face the group of people that had suddenly appeared behind them. Buffy, Giles, Xander, Anya, Riley, and Spike; they were all there. The looks on the faces of the rest of the AI team proved that none of them had had a thing to do with it. And if Cordelia's face was anything to judge by, Willow knew that none of them were happy with the guests that had apparently just dropped in. Finding his voice, Angel said, "Hello, Buffy. This is a surprise."

The Slayer smiled smugly. "There's a big bad in LA. Giles told us all about it. We've come to help."

"We tried to warn you," Wesley began.

"Yeah," Buffy interrupted. "They checked your rooms."

The 's' on rooms was heavily pronounced, and only one of the people in the room missed it. Angel's arm circled Willow's waist once more, pulling her close. "We weren't in our rooms."

"But," Cordelia said. "You were together, right?"

"Yes," Angel said firmly. "We were together."

Angel tried his best to pull Willow's attention away from the vampire he knew she was looking at. But he knew, without a doubt, that his actions were met without luck. His gentle caresses, his hands on her waist, nothing could pull his lover's gaze away from Spike. And he knew he had to get her out of there. Soon.

***

Willow heard them talking, knew she should have been paying more attention to what they were saying, but she couldn't. In fact, she couldn't breathe at all. Spike was standing barely ten feet away from her, watching her with that heated gaze of his, and she couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Her muscles were tense, her blood was beginning to pump faster and faster, and she seriously couldn't breathe.

The way Spike was staring at her ... Willow shivered. His eyes were so cold, so hard, and yet so hot at the same time. She wouldn't have been able to describe it to anyone except to tell them he was angry. And boy, was he angry. The redhead had no doubt of that. Her breathing became even more shallow as she watched the blond vampire tap a finger to the tip of his nose. Her eyes widened. 'He knows,' she thought frantically to herself. 'He knows what Angel and I have been doing!'

The thought didn't bother her so much as ... she closed her eyes and tried to pull herself together, trying to force herself to believe that Spike knowing she and Angel had once again made love didn't bother her. She struggled for breath, struggled to look around, to look at anything besides Spike. She forced her eyes away from him and only saw Buffy. Her supposed best friend was glaring at her. Willow's knees begin to buckle and she gasped for air, softly, but a gasp all the same.

Angel tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her even closer, supporting her. "Rupert, Xander, why don't you and Cordelia join us in my office and we'll discuss the vision in detail?"

Willow allowed Angel to lead her into his office, the others following. The door was shut as soon as they were inside, right in Buffy's face. Cordelia saw to that. Willow, however, didn't notice. She did, though, notice when she was lifted up and placed on top of Angel's desk, her lover's concerned face appearing before hers. He cupped her cheek. "Willow," Angel whispered. "Willow, you have to breathe. It's all right. Everything is fine. But you have to breathe."

She blinked a few times, trying to do as he told her, but she couldn't quite seem to manage it. Angel pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, as he continued to whisper in her ear. "It's all right. I'm here. I've got you. I swear, Willow, I will never let him touch you. Never let him hurt you. Never again."

Slowly, as Angel's words finally began to penetrate, Willow began to calm down. Her arms went around him, pulling him even closer as she clung to him. Her breathing began to return to normal, and no one spoke until she and Angel had pulled away from each other. Blinking yet again, Willow looked at Xander and Giles, taking in their concerned faces, before glancing at Cordelia. The Seer just seemed angry.

Raising her hand, Willow waved. "Hey guys. Good to see you."

~Part: 18~

Buffy could not believe that Cordelia had just slammed the door in her face, or that Angel had let it happen, for that matter. She knew he'd seen her behind them as he'd whisked Willow away. Buffy scowled. 'What the hell was up with her, anyway? She didn't even say hello! Very rude, if you ask me.'

The Slayer turned around to see Spike leaning against a wall, staring at her intently. She rolled her eyes. He was annoying sometimes, even if he did understand the pain Willow had caused her by stabbing her in the back. Buffy looked around the room and saw Wesley talking to another man. She took a few steps toward them before saying his name. "Wesley."

Her former Watcher looked up. "Yes, Miss Summers?"

"I thought I could get settled into a room. Somewhere near Angel."

Wesley blinked. "Right. Of course. Gunn, would you mind helping me carry everyone's bags upstairs?"

"Sure thing, Wes," The other man said. "Let's get this done."

Buffy smiled her brightest smile. She loved it when men jumped to her attention. "Thanks guys! You're the best!"

Looking over at Spike, the two of them exchanged a look. The vampire nodded, and Buffy moved to help Wesley and Gunn with the bags. As the three of them disappeared up the stairs, Buffy turned at the last second to see Spike move closer to Angel's closed office door. She smiled. Spike would tell her what was being said in there. Buffy just knew it. His being a vampire had perks.

That's why she kept him around.

***

They had been talking quietly for several minutes about random, unimportant things, while they waited for Willow to fully relax. No one rushed her, and for that, Willow was very grateful. She answered their questions about how she was and even asked Giles and Xander how things were going in Sunnydale, but she never once let go of Angel's hand. She knew that everything was okay, everything was going to be fine, as long as he was with her. She could feel it in the way he was touching her. She knew Angel would make it all better.

"So," Xander said finally. "Sorry to just turn up like this. Buffy, uh, wouldn't be stopped."

"Yes," Giles added. "She and Spike both were quite eager to come to L.A. as soon as possible."

"I can imagine," Cordelia said scarcastically. "Since they are always so willing to help us out and all."

Xander smirked. "Nah ... that's why me and Giles tagged along. Not so sure about Buffy."

"And Spike?" Angel asked finally.

"Better to have him in sight, I'd say," Giles took off his glasses, "than to wonder what he's doing alone."

Angel nodded. "Good point."

"This vision that Willow and I spoke of ... have there been any new developments? Do you know who is behind it? Have you learned anything new?"

"Only that they're sick bastards who won't stay the hell out of my head!"

Willow and Angel both reacted instantly at the sound of the pain in Cordelia's voice. Willow was at the Seer's side within seconds, holding her hand as the vision took hold. Angel was on his feet and opening the door just as quickly, only to have Spike tumble into the room. He growled at the blond vampire. "Go away. Now."

Spike backed off slightly, but everyone could see that he didn't go far. Angel looked over at Giles and Xander. "Go find Gunn and Wes. Please. Now."

They hesitated and Angel growled again. "Go!"

Giles and Xander left the room quickly, Angel following suit. Willow pulled Cordelia into her arms and stroked the Seer's hair, trying to ignore the blond vampire walking into the office. "Red."

"I don't have time for this, Spike."

"You always have time for me, girl, and you damn well better remember that."

She glared at him. "Don't you see that she's in pain?"

"Doesn't concern me none. She's Angel's problem."

"You are a bastard."

Spike took a step closer. "And that is no way to greet me, Red. You never did tell me hello properly. Best be correcting that, little girl."

Cordelia screamed then and Willow tightened her hold on her. She glared up at Spike. "Leave. Now."

"Don't make me angry, Red."

Cordelia's screams grew more urgent, and the brunette began to claw at Willow's hands. The terror Willow could see in Cordelia's eyes was enough to remind her what was really important at the moment and she pushed all the fear that Spike was attempting to invoke in her aside. "I told you to leave."

"And I told you to greet me properly."

Willow tossed her free hand into the air and sent Spike flying out of the office with a bolt of magick. Cordelia was still screaming with the angry vampire tried to rush back into the room, but Willow was ready. She held up her hand. "Thicken."

With the magickal barrier in place, Willow finally turned all of her attention to the screaming woman, pulling Cordelia's head to her chest and cradling her in her arms.  Willow called out her name and tried repeatedly to calm her down, but it seemed Cordelia was beyond reach. Willow heard Angel, Gunn, and Wesley calling out her name and she concentrated enough to let the barrier fall. The three men were at her side almost instantly and Angel took Cordelia from Willow's arms, slipping something into her mouth.

The screaming soon stopped, and it took Willow a few seconds to realize it was because Cordelia had passed out. She looked at Angel. "What'd you give her?"

"Just a mild sedative. She'll wake up in an hour or two."

"What happened?" Wesley asked.

"Vision," Angel and Willow spoke at the same time.

"Bad one, apparently," Gunn sounded concerned.

"I wonder what she saw..." Wesley mused.

Willow looked over at him. "I'm not sure I want to know."

***

It was an hour later, after all the excitement had died down, that Willow found herself in her room. Gunn, Wesley, Giles, and Xander were flipping through the stations of her much unused television trying to find something good to watch while she tucked Cordelia into her bed. Willow didn't know where Angel was, but somehow she knew that was okay. She knew he'd come back to her soon.

She walked back out into the main room. "Find anything good?"

"Not a thing," Wesley said.

"Ah, too bad."

Willow sat down on the couch between Xander and Gunn, snuggling into her best friend's side. Xander wrapped his arm around her. "Saw what you did."

"Huh?" Willow asked.

"We were coming downstairs when you, uh, evicted Spike from Angel's office."

"Oh," Willow said. "Wait ... you'd barely even left to go find Wes and Gunn."

"Ah, well we were on our way back down, actually," Wes said.

"Cordy's screaming kinda let us know that something was up."

Willow nodded at Gunn. "She was really loud."

Giles cleared his throat. "The point is Willow, that you stood up to Spike."

She nodded. "Yeah, I did. But I also made him really, really mad."

"Yeah," Gunn said. "But here's the thing, Will. I saw you with my own eyes, girl. I watched you toss his ass out of that office, and that, in my mind, means you don't want nothing to do with him."

"I don't."

Xander pulled her closer. "We know."

Willow blinked as she finally realized what they were trying to tell her. "Guys..."

"It's simple, really," Wesley said. "You don't want to see him. We don't want him to see you-"

"Willow," Giles broke in. "What this lot of older brothers is trying to tell you is ... we're not going to let Spike near you. At all."

Tears filled her eyes. "Thank you."

"Wow."

Willow looked toward the bedroom and smiled. "You're up."

"And you have adoring fans."

Gunn was on his feet and walking over to Cordelia instantly. "Aw, come on now, Princess. You know we love you, too!"

***

Angel glared at Spike. "I said leave."

"I'm here with Buffy, grand-sire."

"That's right, Angel. I don't know what the big deal is," Buffy said. "It's just Spike."

"Hey!"

Buffy shrugged. "You know what I mean."

Angel sighed. "We don't have time for any of this shit. Do either of you even know what's going on around here?"

"Demons are raping women. A vampire and a demon, to be exact."

Angel blinked. "Well, Buffy, at least you know that."

"I'm here to help, Angel. I told you that."

"Then prove it. And leave Willow the hell alone. Both of you."

Buffy walked toward him. "I haven't even said a word to Willow, Angel. Not really."

"Buffy..."

He didn't know what to do. Part of him was, as always, glad to see her. Part of him wanted to kick her ass for invading his town, and yet another part of him wanted to make sure that she stayed as far away from Willow as possible. More than anything, he wanted to make sure that Willow was okay. "It's late. You should both get some sleep. We'll start tracking these things tomorrow."

"That's a good idea. Wesley and ... Gum put me in the room next to yours on the third floor."

Wesley had done what? Angel knew instantly that the Watcher had put her next to Willow's room. Angel fought off a smirk. Wesley was a smart one. With Buffy thinking that he was on the third floor, he and Willow could have at least one more night of peace in his real room on the second.

"Is that all right?" Buffy asked. "And what kind of name is Gum anyway?"

"It's fine," Angel shook his head. "And it's Gunn."

"Whatever."

"I'm going up now if you two want to-"

"Actually, Peaches," Spike cut in. "Thought the Slayer and I could work in a quick patrol, get the lay of the land and all that."

Angel did not miss the angry look Buffy shot Spike, but he also noticed that she didn't argue, either. "Fine. There are weapons in the lobby. I'm sure you can find them. Be careful."

"Aw, Daddy!" Spike smirked. "Didn't know you cared!"

"I was talking to Buffy."

Angel realized his mistake when Buffy shot him a bright smile. She instantly offered him the chance to come with them, but Angel shook his head. "I'm going to check on Cordelia."

He walked away then and didn't look back. Angel did notice however, that Buffy's heartbeat never faded. They had not left the building. He sighed as he wondered if they ever intended to. The two of them, his ex-girlfriend and his bastard of a grand-childe had a secret. Angel pushed the thought of the two of them out of his head as best he could though. He couldn't worry about whatever it was Buffy and Spike were planning now. He'd do that later. After he spoke to the others.

He found them in Willow's room, laughing at some movie on TV. He stepped into the room and met Willow's eyes. Smiling softly, he mouthed a quick hello. She smiled back and pointed to Cordelia. Angel nodded. "You okay?"

Cordelia looked up and tears filled her eyes. That reaction not being the one he'd expected, Angel just stood there for a second before slowly extending his arms. Cordelia rushed forward, hugging him tight. "It was like that Vocah demon," she said. "It was like Vocah."

Angel tightened his grip. "I know."

He held her and looked over at Wesley, holding the other man's eyes. Wes nodded. "There are no marks that I can see, and Cordelia assures me there are none in places I can't. We cannot rule out the possibility, however, that they are up to something and have set these two demons loose on the town to distract our Seer."

"They?" Giles asked.

"Wolfram and Hart," Willow answered. "But would they do that? Could they?"

"They've tried before," Cordelia pulled away from Angel. "I was in the hospital for a while with all these visions. One right after the other, just as bad as the one I had today. Though that time they were trying to keep Angel away from a ritual."

"It's a long story," Angel said. "The point is, we can't put it past them to be behind this. I think it's time to pay Lilah a visit."

Wesley nodded. "Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Angel questioned.

"Well, it is two in the morning now, Angel. Even blood sucking lawyers need sleep."

"Oh," the vampire sighed. "Right."

"Sleep would be a good thing," Xander agreed. "Do I have a room? Or am I sleeping in the lobby again, like last time?"

"Gunn and I put you right next door to Cordelia, down the hall. Giles, you're right across the hall from here."

"And Buffy?"

"Right next door to you," Gunn said. "Thought English and I could bunk here, if you don't mind."

Willow nodded. "Okay."

Ten minutes later, while Wes and Gunn saw to getting Cordelia settled into her room, Angel pulled Willow aside. "We're sleeping in my room."

She smiled. "I know."

He grinned. "Just making sure."

Willow licked her lips. "She thinks this is your room, doesn't she?"

Angel nodded. "Wesley bought us some time. Spike will know it's not really my room, but he won't come looking for us tonight. And Wes will make sure your stuff is safe. That's why he and Gunn are staying here."

"Figured."

"Missed you."

Willow smiled, reached out and took his hand. "Missed you, too. Thank you."

"For what?"

"Calming me down this afternoon."

"Oh," Angel pulled her closer. "That was nothing."

"Was something to me."

Angel leaned down and kissed her then, pulling her even closer. The kiss grew deeper, more passionate, and continued to do so until someone cleared their throat. Willow and Angel broke the kiss but did not move away from each other.

"I'd say get a room, but it seems you're already in one."

"Ah, stow it, Xan."

He grinned. "Giles and I wanted to make sure you were okay. He sent me when he thought there might be kissing."

Angel chuckled. "Tell him to get used to the kissing."

"I'm kinda getting that."

Willow blushed. "Stop it, both of you. And you can tell Giles I'm fine, 'cause I am."

"I can see that."

"Do I have to throw something at you?"

Xander held up his hands. "I'm going, I'm going. Um, Angel?"

"Yeah?"

"You're going to keep her safe tonight, right?"

"Damn straight, Harris."

"Good. Now, the two of you had better go make yourselves scarce if you don't want Buffy to know where you're going. She and Spike are back."

Angel nodded. "Right, though I'm not sure they ever left."

Willow frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I didn't hear them leave ... Buffy's heartbeat and the, um, signature she has because she's the Slayer, never changed."

"So they just stood downstairs and talked?" Xander asked. "Great. They've had another meeting."

Angel looked at Xander. "They've done this before?"

"All the time since they found out about you two."

"They're plotting against me."

Both men looked at Willow. The witch shrugged and wrapped her arms tighter around Angel. "And after what I did tonight, to Spike, I bet they move soon."

"Don't worry about that, Willow," Xander said. "We'll protect you. All of us. Even from Buffy if we have to."

"I never thought I'd say it," Angel began, "but I agree with Xander."

Willow giggled. "The world is ending."

"Not yet it's not! I haven't ridden the new roller coaster at Disneyland yet!"

Willow giggled at her friend's antics. "You're never gonna change are you, Xan?"

"Nope. Never."

"Goodnight, Xander," Willow smiled. "Sleep well."

"Night, Will," Xander called as Angel pulled her out of the room and down the hall. "You too."

***

Willow smiled as Angel took her hand and led her to the back stairs. Spike watched in disgust as the older vampire led his witch to the roof. He followed them silently, sticking to the dark, and his eyes narrowed as Angel led Willow to a small blanket under the stars and they sat down. The wanker, Spike realized, had this all planned. He kept to the shadows, out of sight, and watched the scene unfold.

"This is a pretty view," Willow said softly. "I wasn't expecting anything special tonight."

Angel smiled at her. "I set this up while you were taking your shower before we ever went downstairs. I didn't see a reason to change our plans just because we had some unwelcome guests show up."

"I'm glad. This is nice."

"Are you really okay?" Angel asked.

Willow nodded and leaned against him. "I am now."

Slipping his arm around her, Angel pulled her close. "Good. I was afraid ... I was afraid that this afternoon wasn't enough, you know?"

Spike's eyes narrowed at Angel's words. Perhaps there was trouble in paradise after all. He smirked. All good things revealed themselves in time, he reminded himself as he focused on listening to Willow's response.

Willow fingered the necklace around her neck and shook her head. "It was more than enough, Angel. It was just ... seeing Spike surprised me."

Angel chuckled. "Well, throwing him across the room sure as hell surprised him, too."

She grinned. "That was fun."

"I bet."

"He'll be angry, though."

"Doesn't matter."

"He'll-"

"I love you."

Willow blinked. "What?"

"You heard me," Angel pulled her closer. "I love you."

"Oh..." her eyes wide, Willow kissed him quickly. "I love you, too.  I think I have for a while now ... but today kinda sealed it."

Spike's demon emerged and a soft growl escaped him before he got himself back under control. Anger flooded his veins as he heard his witch, <i>his</i> Willow, tell Angel that she loved him back. This was not good. Spike's elongated fingernails dug into the skin of his palm, but he didn't feel the pain. He just watched, listening to the traitor and the whore before him as they professed their love for each other. Listened and watched as their arousal scented the air.

Angel smiled. "I know exactly what you mean. Seeing Buffy, seeing Spike, seeing how they're acting ... it just makes me want you and nothing but you."

Willow grinned. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Willow, you're mine. The sooner they figure that out, the better."

"Am I? Am I yours? Really yours?"

Angel turned his head once more and claimed her lips in a kiss. Leaning forward, he lowered her down on the blanket and deepened the kiss, his tongue seeking out hers. Willow moaned and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer, encouraging his kiss. His hands trailed over her body, easily making her tremble. Willow, caught up in the moment, reached for his belt buckle and tried to unfasten it without breaking the kiss. After several attempts, she broke away giggling. Angel grinned at her. "Having trouble?"

"Stop being difficult!"

"Difficult?" he grinned again. "Me?"

Willow groaned and pushed against him until he was lying on his back beneath her. "There," she smirked. "That's better."

Watching Willow take control was almost too much for Spike. He wanted it to be him underneath her body, him she stripped naked, him she touched. Not Angel. His body betrayed him, watching her. He grew hard as he watched her kiss and stroke Angel, and Spike hated every second of it. Angel had intruded on his territory. And there was nothing Spike could do about it.

"Got me where you want me now?" Angel's voice was husky.

"It's a start." Willow said, smiling.

Spike hated that smile. She was supposed to be smiling at him. Not Angel. Willow was supposed to be his to take this way. Any way he wanted. Willow was <i>his</i>.

Angel grabbed her hips and pulled her over him, Willow easily straddling his body. Leaning down, she kissed him as she made quick work of unfastening his belt and pants. Angel tugged at her shirt and Willow let him pull it over her head. She unbuttoned his shirt quickly as he tugged her skirt down over her hips. Naked under the stars they gave in to passion.

And Spike watched in silence, his anger growing even more. He could smell how aroused Willow was, could almost feel how turned on Angel was. Hard and aching himself, he watched in agony as his true Sire began to take the witch.

"Oh!" Willow cried out as Angel rolled her over and slipped his fingers into her wet folds. "Angel! Yes!"

She reached out and began to stroke his cock as he worked her to a quick, powerful orgasm. She screamed out is name as she came and eagerly spread her legs guiding him inside of her. He thrust hard and fast, Willow's hips rising to meet each movement. Angel fucked her harder and faster, making her cry out with each thrust. Willow wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer to her.

Spike, still watching in mute, disgusted fascination, suddenly knew what was going on. He saw the glint of fangs seconds before the smell of Willow's blood filled the air. He heard Willow's scream of absolute pleasure as she came, probably harder than ever before, and just before he disappeared into the night, his anger driving him away, he heard Angel whisper the words that would echo in his ears for the rest of the night.

"Oh yes, Willow. You are mine. All mine. And no one can take you away from me now."

~Part: 19~

Angel knew what he'd done. He had absolutely no doubt in his mind exactly what he'd done. He had claimed Willow. Angelus had claimed Willow. And Spike had watched. Angel had known Spike was following them as he and Willow walked through the hotel to the roof. Angel knew Spike continued to watch them as they talked, as they kissed, as they touched, and as they'd ... Angel sighed and looked at the woman sleeping in his arms.

He wished he could honestly call what he'd done with Willow during the night making love. He wished he could say that, from his end of things, he'd been as completely into the moment as she had been. But, as much as he hated to admit it, he knew it wasn't true. Knowing Spike was watching them had turned it into something ... primal for Angel, and he had fucked Willow, whether she knew it or not. Angel knew, without a doubt, that Spike had seen him claim Willow as his own, and that was all that had mattered to his demon at the time. Now Angel needed to figure out was whether he'd really meant to claim Willow, or if he had just used her like his bastard of a Childe would have.

Oh, Angel knew as he stroked the bare skin of his lover's back that his demon had no regrets. He also knew that he, his soul, was extraordinarily happy and content with this new turn of events. But he also knew that the relationship he and Willow shared was complicated, new, and rocky at best. And claiming someone ... that changed everything in a stable relationship.

Claiming was serious. While it didn't have to be permanent, it usually was, and he'd done it without even discussing it with Willow first. Angel knew though, that in this case, it was likely permanent. He and Willow loved each other. They'd said so last night. But, Angel also knew that there were outside influences at work. Spike had been planning something. Angel knew his grand-childe had had his eyes on the witch, but the younger vampire was still not vampire enough to place another claim on Willow, stealing her right out from under his nose ... was he? And Willow ... she wouldn't want to do a spell to reverse it, would she?

Angel looked at her, sleeping with her head resting on his shoulder, the warm air making it possible for her to sleep comfortably outside, on the roof. He'd not bothered her since she fell asleep, except to stroke her back, or smooth away a stray hair here and there. He was perfectly content to stay just as they were and cursed the impending sunrise that would soon force him to wake Willow up.

Spike was long gone, for now, though Angel knew the younger vampire would be back soon, ready to make as many waves as possible for him and Willow. And it was with that thought in mind, plus the nagging reminder from his internal clock that dawn was approaching, that Angel gently woke Willow up.

"Willow, sweetheart, it's time to get up."

She sighed softly. "But I don't wanna."

"The sun'll be up soon."

"We're still outside?" her eyes snapped open.

Angel smiled. "You didn't know that?"

She grinned. "I'm comfortable. We're snuggling. What's not to like? I just thought we were comfortable and snuggling in a bed somewhere, not on the roof still."

"Ah ... well, we can go get comfortable in a bed, and I can guarantee there will be much more snuggling in your future."

"Promise?"

Angel licked his lips. "I promise."

Willow smiled at him and leaned up on her elbows, kissing him softly. "Well, then, let's get inside."

Angel nodded. "All right."

The two of them made quick work of dressing. Willow slipped her shirt and pants on smoothly, foregoing undergarments, and helped Angel fold up the blanket they'd slept on. She smiled when he held the door open for her, and walked into the building before extending her hand to him. Angel took her hand in his and led her silently down the stairs to his room. Standing outside of the doorway, Willow stood on her tiptoes in order to place a kiss on Angel's cheek, allowing the vampire to catch a glimpse of his mark emblazoned on her neck. Growling softly, Angel swept Willow up into his arms and carried her into the room.

Their lips met, and Willow's hands went around his neck, pulling him closer. Angel held her in one arm as he closed the door, tugging on the blanket and the clothes she carried, forcing her to drop them to the floor. His lips found the mark and Willow shivered, calling out his name as he traced it with his tongue.

All thoughts of the complications to come fled the vampire's mind as he carried his lover to bed. Complications could wait. Willow, loving Willow, could not. And he needed to love her. He needed to show her exactly how much he cared for her. That was all that mattered.

***

Spike heard them come back inside, heard them go to Angel's real room, heard them almost instantly begin shagging again, and he kicked the wall closest to him. He could not believe this had happened. He could not believe things had gotten so far out of control that his own grand-sire had stolen a woman out from under him. Though that, Spike reminded himself, should not have surprised him. This sort of behavior was perfectly typical of Angelus. Angel, however, with his pretty little soul ... Spike hadn't expected this at all.

"What are you doing out here? If Angel sees you, our cover is so blown."

Spike looked over at Buffy and rolled his eyes. "You honestly think your precious Angel is in that room over there?"

"It is his room."

Spike chuckled. "No, Slayer, it's not. Angel's room is downstairs. Second floor. He and Red are currently shagging like bloody bunnies in his bed."

"They are not. Angel wouldn't do that with me here."

"You're delusional, pet. He fucking claimed her on the roof tonight. Claimed her all right and proper. She's his now."

Buffy shook her head. "No. I don't believe you. I am his. You'll see. I am Angel's. No one else can have him."

Spike wanted to rip out her idiotic spleen. She had no soddin' idea how the world of vampire customs worked. She had no idea how stupid she sounded, either. She was right annoying, and Spike had no idea why he put up with her.

She tilted her head to the side. "You seem tense."

'Oh right,' Spike thought. 'This is why I keep her around. Entertainment.'

He looked at her. "Tense? Is that what you call this?"

Buffy took a step closer to him. "I've been up all night, waiting on Angel to come to me. To come to my bed. He never came."

Spike rolled his eyes. "That's because, Slayer, he's been shagging Red senseless. You don't catch on too quick, do you?"

"You watched them."

Spike was tired of this game already. He knew what she was doing. She'd been trying to do it for days. Ever since her boyfriend, Captain Cardboard, finally dumped her. Couldn't have one vampire so she was trying for another. It was enough to make Spike sick ... even if it was entertaining. "So what if I did?"

Buffy licked her lips. "Did he turn you on?"

"Sod off."

She stepped even closer to Spike. "Or was it Willow? Did Willow get you hot? I'm thinking it was Angel, though. Did it bring back memories?"

"Do you hear yourself?" Spike asked with a grin. "You're talking about the love of your bloody life bedding another woman. A woman, by the way, you have professed to hate."

Buffy backed Spike up against the wall. "Maybe. But I'm turning you on, too, aren't I? Look at you. All hot and bothered. You need a cold shower ... or something."

Spike couldn't deny it. Seeing Red, naked and glowing, riding his Sire had been quite the fantasy come to life. He had to admit that, no matter how pissed off he was that Angelus had once again stolen what was his, and hearing Red's moaning coming through the floor, combined with Angel's masculine groans, was no help, either. Spike was turned on. Hell, he'd even go so far as to say he was aching for something ... anything ... just to relieve the pressure building inside of him.

But the Slayer? He wasn't that hard up for a fuck.

"Go to bed, Buffy. You're way out of your league."

He said nothing more, pushing away from the wall and heading to the room he'd so graciously been given. With any luck, he'd still have time to jerk himself off to the sound of his witch coming.

Gods below, he hoped he got that lucky.

***

Giles waited until he was absolutely sure the hallway was empty before he opened his door. Stepping out, he was relieved to see that his senses had been right in telling him he'd be alone upon leaving his room. He sighed as remnants of the conversation he'd just overheard came floating back into his mind. Glancing across the hall, he sincerely hoped he'd not be interrupting anything when he knocked on the door.

His light knock was followed with a polite, "Wesley?"

The door, to his surprise, was opened almost instantly, a fully clothed former Watcher greeting him with a smile. "Mr. Giles. I must say I wasn't expecting company this early, but do come in."

Giles smiled softly at Wesley's politeness. "Call me Rupert, you ponce."

Wesley grinned. "Right. I always seem to forget that part."

Giles shook his head. "Indeed. Sorry to bother you so early, but I've just overheard the most interesting conversation and I do believe we have a problem."

Wesley blinked. "Well, that seems to happen quite often around here. I'll put on some tea."

Giles nodded. "Excellent. I trust I'm not intruding on ... anything."

Wesley smiled as he put water into an electric kettle and plugged it in. "Oh, no. Nothing of the sort, actually. Charles is still asleep. He tends to remain that way until the day is nearly half over."

Giles chuckled. "Yes, Buffy and Xander are normally much the same way."

"Not today though."

"Very astute of you," Giles commented. "Buffy, it seems was up most of the night awaiting Angel in her bed."

"He did not join her."

Giles shook his head. "No, he did not. And, if Spike is to be believed, Angel and Willow spent the night up on the roof, not quite as alone as they most likely believed."

"Spike observed their ... er, activities?"

Giles accepted the tea cup Wesley offered him and let the tea brew. "Yes. And, therein lies our problem."

"That Spike observed them?"

"No," Giles said, trying his best not to picture the activities in question. "Not in the act of observation. It is what he claims to have seen."

"Oh, really?"

Giles removed the tea bag from the cup and stirred the dark liquid. "It seems that Angel has placed a proper claim on Willow."

Wesley's spoon clattered to the saucer, and he turned wide eyes toward Giles. "You're serious?"

"If Spike is to be believed, and I've no reason to think he would lie to Buffy at this stage of their little game."

"Oh," Wesley said. "Oh, dear."

Giles nodded and sipped his tea. "Indeed. You see the problem, of course."

Wesley nodded weakly. "This changes things."

"Yes," Giles agreed. "It certainly does."

***

Willow collapsed into Angel's arms, her body still shaking from the orgasm that had taken her so violently over the edge. She could still feel Angel inside of her, moving swiftly, and wished she had the energy to thrust back against him. As it was, she merely moaned loudly with every thrust and cried out Angel's name as he flipped them over and began to pound into her. He slipped his hand between them and Willow quickly found herself coming again, screaming out Angel's name as he cried hers out in turn. The vampire crushed her to him and she shivered against his chest.

Angel, after a few minutes, reached down and pulled a blanket over them, an act for which Willow was very grateful. She snuggled closer to him and finally, after what seemed like a very long time, found her voice. "That was ... wow."

Angel chuckled. "Uh huh. It was really, really wow."

"It's never ... I've never ... I came so hard."

Angel smiled and kissed the top of her head. "It's all a part of the claim. You feel more through me, you feel more of what I feel, I feel more of what you feel. It helps us to ... become more aware of what the other wants."

Willow looked up at him. "Claim?"

Angel's eyes widened. "Uh ... yeah. Um, Willow, we need to talk."

Willow's hand went instinctively to the bite mark on her neck. It wasn't the first time she'd realized Angel had bitten her, but it was the first time she'd considered that it might be more than just a bite. Even touching it sent shivers down her spine, and Willow had no doubt that it was definitely more than just a bite. She sat up slowly, her legs curling up underneath her. "Angel ... what did you do?"

The vampire met her eyes. "I made you mine."

"Made me yours?"

"Yes. Willow, you are mine. No other vampire, no other man, no one at all, can touch you without my permission. No one will ever touch you. You are mine."

Willow blinked. "I'm yours."

"Yes."

'Oh,' Willow thought. 'This is certainly something I didn't expect. I mean, what about Buffy? What about Spike? What about that guy my parents are always after me to marry?'

"Angel?" she asked softly.

"Yes, Willow?"

"Is this a permanent thing?"

Angel pulled her to him, their eyes mere inches apart. "Yes, Willow. It is a forever thing. You are mine and mine alone."

Even as he said the words, Willow wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. It was just all too absurd. She couldn't belong to a vampire. She couldn't belong to Angel. She wasn't even sure she belonged to herself. She didn't even know for sure if she knew how to define who she was as a person who could be called herself.

"Well, this is a surprise," she whispered.

~Part: 20~

Anger, Spike realized, was not a simple emotion. It was more than that; it was also a force of nature in its own right. It was something that consumed, overwhelmed, and isolated a person. He’d seen many examples of that fact in his many years on earth. He’d lived it himself, tasted the beauty of the red hot emotion. Anger drove people to commit murder, to destroy lives in the heat of passion. The volatile feeling drove people to madness. And for a demon, anger most often became such a driving force that it took on a life of its own. It became a presence that could be felt -- almost seen -- by everyone around.

Spike was currently very angry. He stalked down the halls of the Hyperion, his emotions written clearly on his face, his demon crying out for blood. He needed a violent kill or a brutal fuck; something to satisfy the hot, fiery fury that flowed through his veins. If he couldn’t have the pleasure of being in his Sire’s bed -- or Willow’s -- then he wanted to hear the cracking of bones, smell the scent of freshly-spilled blood, to see his hands coated in red. Knowing that his Sire had taken Willow away from him, made her untouchable, left Spike literally craving violence.

Imagining the Slayer’s death, however, left him cringing in pain, the chip firing a warning not to harm humans. It was highly unsatisfying not to be able to fantasize about killing the one Slayer he’d never quite been able to beat. His demon howled in fury every time he would suppress all thoughts of Buffy, screaming as she died in agony. Spike closed his eyes briefly. ‘Damn chip.’

Shifting his thoughts as he walked down yet another hall, he pictured Angel, bloody and broken, chained to a wall as he thrust his cock inside his Sire’s tight passage. Pleasure soared through him at the new fantasy beginning to play out inside his mind. Angel, chained to the wall, completely at his mercy, unable to stop him from doing anything he wanted. Anything. Spike shivered at the thought. To be able to take his Sire and strip him of dignity, to take from him what Angelus had long ago loved to take from William …

“Now that would be fun,” Spike said aloud, trying to ignore the voice in his head that reminded him of the fact that not everything Angelus had done to him had been bad. Trying to ignore the voice inside that reminded him that some of the things he and Angelus had done had been quite … pleasurable.

All thoughts of fantasy fled his mind, however, as the sounds he was trying to escape reached his ears yet again. His jaw tightened. ‘Buggering hell,’ he thought. ‘I have to get out of here.’

He turned another corner, trying to escape the sound -- the smell -- of his Sire and his witch fucking yet again. ‘No,’ he corrected himself. ‘Not fucking. Willow does not fuck Angel. She makes love with him.’

The bitter tone of his thoughts did not register with the vampire. Instead, he once again cursed the sun that kept him trapped inside the hotel. He needed to escape, to find a fight, to kill something. He needed it more than he was comfortable admitting … the all-consuming anger flowed though him and Spike just wanted to kill something. ‘Or let it kill me,’ his mind echoed. ‘That’d work, too.’

Finally finding a back stairway, Spike threw the door open and headed down the stairs. He knew there had to be sewer access somewhere.

And damn if he wasn’t going to find it.

***

Buffy stood just outside of Angel’s bedroom door -- his real bedroom and not Willow’s on the third floor. Angel was inside the room, his room. With Willow. The Slayer closed her eyes and tried to rationalize what she was hearing, trying to deny it.

They were having sex. Together. Buffy looked at the door. Willow and Angel. Having sex. ‘This is not happening,’ the Slayer thought miserably. ‘This cannot be happening!’

Yet it was. The slightly muffled sounds of pleasure coming through the door left no doubt about that. But Buffy wanted nothing more than to deny reality. Her mind rebelled against the idea of her one true love taking her former best friend into his bed. And she completely rejected the idea that Angel was enjoying it. No matter what her ears told her. Slayer enhanced hearing, however, made what was going on inside the room sound like it was in Dolby surround sound, and that was hard to ignore.

Hearing the rhythmic thump, thump, thump of the headboard hitting the wall, the muffled squeaking of the bedsprings, combined with Willow’s soft moans and Angel’s whispered endearments, painted a clearer picture of what was going on than Buffy wanted. Much clearer. She sighed softly. ‘How can this be happening? Angel is supposed to love me. Me. Not Willow!’

“Willow!” Angel’s voice, cried out loudly, causing tears to fill Buffy’s eyes.

She heard Willow cry out moments later, and then Buffy couldn’t help but cringe as their whispered vows of love reached her ears. A hot tear ran down her cheek. Angel knew she was outside his door, he had to. Vampire senses would have alerted him to her heartbeat, and his demon would have instantly recognized the Slayer vibe, even if Angel had forgotten what she smelled like. Buffy turned and ran toward the stairs. She could not let Angel hear her cry.

She simply could not.

***

Even from the basement, Spike could hear Angel and Willow fucking. Or his demon imagined he could, at any rate. He could hear the creak of the bedsprings, the moans, the growls, the soft declarations of love…

But above it all, Spike could hear Angelus’ voice ringing out, claiming Willow for his own. “Mine!”

Spike tried to imagine what the shouted claim would sound like from inside the bedroom the two lovers shared. Would it echo from the walls? Would Willow agree with Angel? Did she cling to him and tell him that, yes, she was his and only his? Spike imagined her moving, shuddering, underneath Angel as she came. Imagined her calling out his Sire’s name instead of his. Imagined his Sire calling out her name instead of his.

He could see, in his mind’s eye, Angel lowering his fangs, piercing Willow’s neck, and wondered what her blood would taste like. Would the witch’s power explode over his tongue as he had long fantasized it would? Would it be sweet? Slightly sour? Had she sampled his Sire’s blood? Would she taste like Angelus? Spike closed his eyes in a feeble attempt to block out the images, the questions, the fantasies playing through his mind. ‘She should be with me, not him,’ he thought, even as his demon countered with, ‘He should be with me, not her.’

A war was raging inside of Spike; anger and a strange sense of betrayal mixed with the sounds he heard. Every noise -- real or imagined -- that he heard coming from Angel’s bedroom served to be another reminder that it was not him in Willow’s bed. That it was not him in Angelus’ bed. His Sire had claimed another. A human. The cycle had started all over again … though Spike knew Angel would deny it until his face turned a proverbial blue.

It was all very clear to Spike though. Angelus had once claimed William. Right under Drusilla’s nose, he had. And now … he had done it again. Spike didn’t know what he was more angry over; Willow had been his to claim, but Angelus was his to begin with. Or had been at one point.

Now…

The sound of Willow’s laughter reached Spike’s ears, and this time he knew he wasn’t imagining things. When Angelus’ laughter followed, the blond vampire growled, thinking of all the many ways his life was not how it was supposed to be. She was supposed to be his. He was supposed to be his. No matter how much he hated him now, that was never supposed to change. Angelus claimed *him* first. Not her. Spike hit the brick wall in front of him. Not her! ‘Me,’ he thought. ‘Me. I belong to him. The claim on *my* neck proves it.’

He shuddered a bit as he tilted his neck from side to side, trying to relieve the pressure building up inside of him. His demon was wailing, rattling inside of him in a way it had not done in a long while. The demon battled with his mind, and Spike struggled to keep straight what it was he was angry about. ‘Willow is mine,’ he thought, then blinked as his demon roared again. ‘Angelus is mine. I belong to Angelus.’

He didn’t know what to think, what to believe. But he did know what he felt: anger, hurt, betrayal, rage … that was all too clear. “Mine,” he growled aloud, still not knowing which one of them he spoke of; not caring which one.

“No,” a voice spoke from the shadows, causing Spike to turn away from the wall. “Not yours. Angel’s.”

Spike sighed. He was not in the mood for this. At all. “Go ‘way, Watcher. Leave me the buggering fuck alone.”

“Buggering fuck?” Giles asked, amusement evident in his voice. “You truly are hard up for one aren’t you?”

His demon howled as the human insulted him, but the vampire could do nothing more than glare at Giles, his eyes closed. “Back off.”

“No.”

Spike felt a twinge of pain as the chip warned him to be careful, to watch himself and his thoughts. “What do you want?” he asked. “To gloat over Angel claiming Red? Be done with it, then.”

Giles walked over to him. “I do not wish to gloat, Spike. I would never gloat over the fact that Willow has been claimed by a vampire, even if it does mean you can no longer have her. I intend only to warn you.”

“Warn me? Oh, that’s rich.”

Giles met and held the vampire’s eyes. “You’ll only get hear this once, so I suggest you listen to what I have to say.”

Spike did not look away. “I’m waitin’.”

“Leave Willow alone,” Giles stated. “We all know what you have been doing to her, we know what your intentions toward her were, and we will not allow you the chance to hurt her again.”

Spike noticed the hardness in Giles’ voice but he did not back down. “Slayer don’t care.”

“Buffy,” the Watcher began, “is not the only one of us that can wield a stake. Nor is Willow the only magick user among us. Leave her alone, Spike. This is your only warning.”

The vampire watched in silence as Giles turned and left the basement, heading back upstairs. A fresh wave of anger soared though him as he thought of the man’s nerve - telling *him* what to do. His emotions beginning to overwhelm him, Spike remembered why he’d come down to the basement in the first place and grabbed an axe.

He still needed to kill something.

***

Willow smiled happily. “That was … wow.”

“All I did was give you a foot massage.”

“I know,” she said. “But it was a really good foot massage. Besides, that’s not all we’ve done today…”

“That is true,” Angel said as he crawled back up the bed, stretching his naked body above Willow’s, then bending his head to kiss her. “You need a nap?”

She smiled yet again. “No. Why? Do you?”

Angel smirked. “Nope.”

He lowered his head once more, capturing her lips as his hands ran easily down her sides, over the curve of her hips, and back up. He caressed her breasts, tweaking her nipples, making her moan softly. He kissed his way along her jaw line, down her neck, across her collar bone, and then back up to her neck -- to his mark -- and laved the tender flesh with his tongue. Willow arched off the bed, her hip pressing into Angel’s growing arousal. Slipping her fingers into his hair, she pulled his lips back to hers, and kissed him again before breaking the kiss and pushing at his shoulders. Angel didn’t hesitate, simply rolled over as he knew she wanted him to do.

Willow began to kiss her way down his body, peppering kisses along his chest, his torso, and then up again. Her tongue took over, trailing along his muscles, tasting him, and he groaned as her hands moved up and down his sides. Willow traced her fingernails over his nipples before raking them lightly down his stomach, then repeated the action with a little more pressure. Angel closed his eyes and licked his lips, his body growing tense with need. She leaned over him again, kissing her way along his collar bone, moving up, and he knew he needed more … had to have more.

“Willow,” he managed.

She nipped at his neck. “Uh huh?”

“Go down on me. Please.”

She bit his neck lightly, pulling some of his skin into her mouth before releasing it and soothing the slight sting with her tongue. “In a minute.”

He wanted to tell her not to wait, to touch him -- taste him -- right then, but he knew she was enjoying the small amount of control she had. He welcomed her kiss as she lifted her lips to his, opening his mouth and welcoming her tongue inside. She drew his tongue into her mouth after a few minutes, sucking on the muscle gently, mimicking what he hoped she would be doing to other parts of him soon. He groaned as she ran the tip of her tongue over the tip of his. Her hand finally stopped moving teasingly up and down his side and wrapped around his erection. Angel bucked against her hand, moaning into her mouth, and Willow chuckled. “So eager,” she smiled, breaking the kiss.

“Tease,” he said, pouting a little.

Willow simply giggled and began to work her way down his body once more. She took her time, savoring every second of it, every single kiss, every single swipe of her tongue. And when her lips finally closed over the tip of his cock, Angel cried out, wanting nothing more than to thrust into her hot mouth. “Willow!”

That was all the encouragement she needed, and Angel soon lost himself to her touch, her heat. Nothing in the world mattered except for the two of them. Nothing and no one.

***

No one, Buffy noticed, paid any attention to her when she walked out of the Hyperion. Cordelia never once looked up from the magazine she was reading. Wesley never looked up from the book *he* was reading. And Gunn … he was so focused on the broad sword he was cleaning that even the short black skirt she was wearing didn’t catch his eye.

It was like she wasn’t even there, Buffy concluded. ‘And I came here to do them a favor and everything!’

Her anger -- at the way Angel was treating her, at Willow, at Giles and Xander, at everyone -- fueled her pace, and she was several blocks away before she realized where she was. Looking around, Buffy’s eyes widened as she looked from building to building, from street sign to street sign.

‘Wow,’ she thought, her thoughts racing. ‘I lived here. When I ran away … I lived here.’

Little revelations came to her as she walked down the street, as she noticed the things that had changed from when she’d last been there. Curiosity winning out over anger, Buffy the Vampire Slayer set out to discover exactly what all *had* changed in the neighborhood that Anne the nobody had called home.

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