Parts: 21 - 22 (End)
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~Part: 21~
In accordance with their new routine, they awoke before dawn with enough time to return to Angel’s penthouse, which brought a new question to Willow’s mind. “Angel? Do you, um, do you want to live together again now?”
He looked perfectly appalled at the question and dropped the sock he’d been unrolling to move closer to Willow and rub her arm reassuringly. “Yeah, I do. I was hoping you’d move back to my apartment. Not that this one isn’t nice, it’s just that mine is a little more convenient. You know, close to work, sun-proof, that sort of thing.”
“Oh, well, ok that’d be nice. I still have a month on my lease here. I guess I can just pay it off. It is a nice little place, but it’s not home. Not without you.”
Before long, they were both home at the penthouse, creeping in quietly to avoid waking the sleeping travelers who were sprawled out around the living room. Giles had scored the couch, probably playing the “I’m the oldest” card, Dawn had curled up in the easy chair, Buffy and Xander were on the floor at opposite ends of the room. If they’d had a party, they had cleaned up pretty well. As soon as Willow closed the door, Buffy awoke, though it had hardly made a sound. She smiled at the two entering and pointed to her ear, “Slayer hearing,” she mouthed, also conscious of the other sleepers.
Still, after so many years on the hellmouth, Angel and Willow found it impossible to get through the room to either of their bedrooms without waking the rest of the gang. As soon as everyone was awake, Giles looked at Angel and said, “Well, don’t you have something to tell us?”
Angel looked around the room, grinning at the expectant faces and announced, “She said ‘yes’.”
For the second time in as many days, Willow was surrounded and smothered by her friends’ hugs. One by one, as they let her go, they shook hands with Angel and offered their congratulations and threats of bodily harm, should he not take good care of her.
Someone remembered presents and Willow soon understood why she wasn’t allowed to have her Christmas presents the previous day. They were all things for her new life with Angel. Opening the packages she found his and hers towels, an iron, a beautiful set of black silk sheets, scented candles, and several CDs of mood music. “Songs to brood by,” as Xander explained.
Everyone wanted to help with the plans for the ceremony, which was a good thing since it was in less than a week. Buffy said, “You so need a new dress. Me and Dawn will take you shopping and help you pick out the perfect one.”
Willow couldn’t remember the last time she’d bought two dresses in such a short time, but agreed that, just this once, it seemed like a good idea.
Giles offered, “Perhaps I could locate and purchase the special items needed for the ceremony. I believe I’m familiar enough with the traditions.”
Xander raised his hand, “I know it’s last minute, but I could throw together a kick ass bachelor party, no problem.” He was immediately beaten nearly senseless with pillows by the three women in the room. Then, looking contrite, he offered, “Or I could check out the bakeries and find a cake?”
While the others were scurrying around to get ready to leave and fulfill their missions, Angel approached Willow. “What do you want me to do?” He asked.
“Show up and look as good as you did last night,” she said firmly. When he gave her a look saying that’s not what he meant she added, “Ok, well, if you know anyone besides Spike who’s good at taking pictures, call them. Later you can help me pack up the apartment and bring Luna back here.”
By the end of the day, the perfect dress had been found for Willow. It was a gauzy, crimson ball gown style, with a layer of loosely woven white lace covering the entire dress. It was long sleeved and cut low in the front. Buffy and Dawn had bought new dresses for themselves too, claiming they didn’t have anything nice enough to wear.
Xander returned, stuffed full of cake samples, but with a rush order placed at a popular bakery. Giles’ mission was technically a success, he did have a bag full of all the required items, but he looked like he’d been through hell and back. His clothes were rumpled, his hair was a mess and his face was smudged.
“Giles, what happened to you?” Willow rushed over to him as he walked in the door and guided him into a chair. All he would tell them is that only the clinically insane would venture into a store the day after Christmas and that he felt he was a good candidate to be committed.
Willow had the distinct pleasure of calling each of her work friends and inviting them to the ceremony. Fred, Gunn, and Lorne all promised to be there, saying they wouldn’t miss it for the world. She called Wesley too, since he had no way of knowing that they’d already picked a date. He was thrilled and relieved that everyone finally knew. They decided to do the ritual for Willow immediately following the ceremony. Now there was just one person missing, if “person” was the right word. She hadn’t seen Spike since he’d visited her when she was recuperating in the penthouse.
Announcing that she was going to look for him earned her an uncomfortable look from Buffy, who she’d briefly filled in on Spike’s condition. Ignoring her friend, Willow left to try searching the offices. Spike had saved her life and been her ally. She wasn’t going to leave him out of her happiness because of Buffy. They would just have to deal with each other.
She found him quickly enough, drifting around, upsetting small items on people’s desks where he could. “What are you doing?” She asked.
“I’m haunting, what does it look like?”
“Why haven’t you come upstairs at all? I’ve been looking for you?”
She had his attention. “Have you now? And why might that be? Got your old gang together up there, don’t you? Slayer’s here, I know that much. I don’t fancy reopening that wound at the moment.”
Willow stood in front of him in the dark hall. She wished she could put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Instead, she just looked at him sadly. “She still cares about you. She just has to do her own thing now.”
Spike shook his head, dismissing the subject. “So then, you were looking for me?”
“Oh! I wanted to invite you to our handfasting. You’ll come won’t you? It wouldn’t feel right if you weren’t there.”
“My! Taking that next step rather fast, aren’t we? Well, well, never thought I’d live to see him settle down. How’d you do it, Red?”
Honest as she always was with Spike, she said, “It’s the only way we can have sex and make sure I don’t destroy the world.”
Spike actually laughed at this. “You two do have a bit in common, don’t you? And how is it that being tied up with Angel helps you?”
“It’s not too complicated. There’s no spell to bind my powers conditionally on the continued existence of another person, but if we had a bond, such as a handfasting, that makes us as one person. Then the ritual can bind my magic to the bond, so that when it’s severed, and I’m just one person alone again, my power will be bound for as long as we specify in the ritual.”
Spike thought about this for a minute. “And you’re willing to “bond” with Angel?”
“I’ve never wanted anything more in my life,” she said.
“In that case, count me in. I’ll be there.”
Extremely pleased, Willow left Spike to his haunting and returned to her friends and her plans.
~~~*~~~
In a white lattice gazebo in the small park down the street from Wolfram & Hart, an altar was set up with the items Giles purchased for the occasion: two white candles, incense, and a willow wand holding the two Celtic rings. The small cake, delivered right on time by Xander, sat to one side. Red and white rose petals were scattered amid the other things on the altar and also around the area where the couple would stand. Large bunches of roses and a variety of red and white flowers were also arranged at intervals along the path Willow would walk down and around the area where the guests would stand.
Willow herself stood in the gazebo, speaking with the Priest and Priestess, making sure that all was ready. In the distance, she could see a few of her guests arriving and ran off to greet them. Giles appeared a little nervous in his black, non-tweed suit and stammered his thanks when Willow told him how great he looked. She showed him where to stand and urged Buffy, Dawn, and Xander up to the front, on the left side of the steps of the gazebo. There were so few guests that everyone would essentially be in the front row.
Fred arrived next, holding a box of tissues, explaining that this sort of thing made her teary. When Gunn and Wesley arrived, the three of them stood to the right of the steps. Willow was relieved to note the thin dark line around Gunn’s head from the surgery to remove his enhancement. They were soon joined by Lorne who looked positively conservative in his deep maroon outfit. Finally, Angel arrived with Spike and a man Willow didn’t know, who turned out to be the photographer.
With a nod to Willow, Spike took his place on one side of Lorne. He was the least dressed up, not really able to change clothes at will. The photographer set himself up in a strategic location and began taking candids of the assembled guests while they waited.
Willow made Angel bend down and affixed a circlet of red roses to his head that matched the one she wore. It was held on quite well by his excessively gelled hair. He looked as gorgeous as ever in a black suit with a crimson shirt and a black tie. He was ushered off to stand on the stairs and Willow signaled to the Priest that all was ready, before hurrying down the path to her place.
A battery operated tape deck began to play a soft melody as Willow, escorted by Giles, made her way back up the path. Friends standing on either side smiled and winked at her as she passed. Fred was kind enough to share her tissues with Lorne, who was all but bawling his eyes out. When they reached the steps of the gazebo, Giles placed Willow’s hand in Angel’s and moved back to stand next to Buffy. Hand in hand the couple climbed the steps and stood before the altar. The song ended and the Priest lit the candles and incense. This done, both the Priest and Priestess came around and stood in front of the altar, facing the couple and the small congregation.
The Priest began, “May the place of this rite be consecrated for the Gods. For we gather here in a ritual of love with two who would be handfasted. Angel and Willow please come forward and stand here before us, and before the gods of nature.”
They took a step forward and Angel stood in front of the Priestess, Willow in front of the Priest.
The Priestess continued where the Priest left off, “Be with us here, O beings of the Air. With your clever fingers tie closely the bonds between these two. Be with us here, O beings of Fire. Give their love and passion your own all-consuming ardor. Be with us here, O beings of Water. Give them the deepest of love and the richness of the body, of the soul and of the spirit. Be with us here, O beings of Earth. Let your strength and constancy be theirs for so long as they desire to remain together.”
”Blessed Goddess and Laughing God, give to these before you, we do ask your love and protection. Blessed Be.”
Everyone responded, “Blessed Be.”
Priestess and Priest held up the wand between them with the rings upon it. Willow and Angel moved to place their hands over it.
The Priestess said, “Place your right hands over this wand and your rings his hand over hers. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones. As time does pass, remember:
Like a star should your love be constant. Like a stone should your love be firm. Be close, but not too close. Posses one another, but be understanding. Have patience each with the other, for storms will come, but they will go quickly. Be free in the giving of affection and warmth. Make love often, and be sensuous with one another. Have no fear and let not the ways or words of the unenlightened give you unease. For the Goddess and the God are with you, now and always.”
There was a pause to let the words sink in. Then the Priestess continued, addressing Willow, “Is it your wish, Willow, to become one with this man?”
Willow looked at her love and responded, “Yes, it is.”
The Priestess faced Angel, “Is it your wish, Angel, to become one with this woman?”
In a forceful voice, he declared, “Yes, it is.” The rings were removed from the willow wand and tenderly, Willow and Angel slid them onto each others fingers.
“Do any say nay?” Asked the Priestess. A tense silence filled the air.
“Then, as the Goddess and the God and the Old Ones are witness to this rite, you have witnessed the promises made by Willow and Angel one to another, and the exchange of the symbols of their union. They are now connected to experience together whatever life may bring them.”
She smiled and brought her hands together, giving the signal. Angel swept his love into his arms and they shared the first kiss of their bond. It was sweet and lingering, but not too sensual. The pulled apart as the applause died down and turned to grin at their friends. They came down the steps to shake hands and hug everyone. After a few pictures, the Priest and Priestess excused themselves and Wesley brought Willow back before the altar.
He lay down his dusty old book and lit the extra candles he brought. Taking Willow’s hands he recited the ritual in Latin, which roughly translated said, “Behold, this witch binds herself to another. As she is bound, so bind her power, should this bond fail. Bind magic to grief and let not one return till the other has passed.”
He let her go and smiled. “Well, that ought to do it. I trust you will stay and have some cake with us before, ahem, cementing the bond?”
Willow looked from the cake, back to Angel who was mingling. She knew which she’d rather have, but also knew there would be time for both. “I guess the cake looks good too. Thanks for your help, Wesley.”
Cake and wine were served and Willow found that it was rather good. Only Spike abstained, but he didn’t seem to mind. She saw that he was in good spirits, teasing Dawn and catching up with her. The other members of Team Angel were more interested in catching up with Buffy and Giles.
All in all, it was a quiet little party, but Willow thought it was absolutely perfect. Everyone she truly cared about was there and they were all happy for her. At one point she did notice Buffy and Spike step away for a few words. She couldn’t hear what they said, but it looked fairly intense. Still, when they rejoined the group they seemed content, if a little less exuberant.
Finally, after casting one too many gazes of longing at each other over the heads of their guests, Willow and Angel decided it was time to go. The former Sunnydale gang had hotel reservations for the night and an early flight out in the morning. Everyone came forward for one last hug or word of congratulations. Spike approached Willow and asked her to stand still. She did, curious as to what he planned. He stood very close to her, close enough to make Angel glare at him, and after a long moment, he was able to give her a kiss on the cheek. Then he grinned at Angel and promised to stay out of the apartment.
Handfasting ceremony from A Book of Pagan Rituals by Herman Slater, Editor, 1978, Samuel Weiser Inc. NY, NY.
~Part: 22~
They practically ran back to the penthouse. It was only a block away but Willow thought they might not actually make it there without ripping each other’s clothes off. At last they were stepping off the elevator. Angel picked up Willow and carried her over the threshold, into their apartment. She thought of it as “theirs” again. Or she would once she got other things off her mind.
In Angel’s room, they had outfitted the bed in the new silk sheets and it looked very inviting. He insisted that they take things slow and have a nice evening together. He moved about the room, lighting some candles, and put one of their new CDs in the stereo. Willow could never understand what he didn’t like about her suggestion that they strip naked and go at it like rabbits. Still, she played along and tried to keep herself under control.
He sat her on the bed and knelt before her, removing her red satin shoes. Then he reached up under her dress and slid her stockings down her legs, one at a time. Feeling his hand on the bare skin of her thigh, Willow shivered and had to stop herself from grabbing his hand and pulling it higher. He stood and removed the circlet of roses from her head, taking off his own as well. He laid them aside and surprised Willow by leaving the room.
Her confusion soon ended when she heard the water running in the bath. A little movie played in her head on a constant loop. Angel, walking from the bathroom, into this room, water from his hair dripping down his back, wrapped in that darn towel. She briefly considered throwing out all the towels in the place.
A moment later, Angel returned and pulled Willow to her feet. His arms circled around her back and he bent to kiss her lips. His mouth was cool and soft on hers and she reacquainted herself with the taste of him, now accented with wine and cake. It was dizzying to realize she could kiss him like this all she wanted and get him worked up into a frenzy, and this time, there would be relief for them both.
He had a hold of her dress and was tugging on it without much result. She reached back and untied the various laces holding it tightly to her body. As she raised her arms, he brought it up over her head and tossed it away. Now she stood before him wearing only a crimson bra and panties. He reached around to unhook the bra, but she batted his hand away. He still wore a full suit and that was not fair at all.
He stood patiently while she unbuttoned his jacket and pushed it off of his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor with a soft whoosh. He helped her remove his tie, but she grabbed it from him when he moved to toss it aside and instead placed it on the bed. He raised an eyebrow at her, but she would only grin and kiss him again. She took her time, unbuttoning his shirt, one button at a time, and placing light kisses on the skin revealed by each. Pulling the bottom of the shirt out of his pants, it soon joined the jacket on the floor. Willow ran her fingernails gently down his chest and back up, tracing over his hardened nipples and tickling around his navel.
This time when she went for the buckle of his pants, he didn’t stop her. She crouched on the floor to pull them down around his ankles and sat back to let him kick them off into the growing pile of discarded clothes. She kissed his knees and up the insides of his legs until she met the ends of his boxer shorts. Still on her knees, she reached up and yanked them off so that he was revealed to her completely.
Sure, she had seen him naked before, but never this close up. Impressed, she reached out and took him in one hand, sliding it up and down his shaft. Angel closed his eyes and groaned, putting his own hand over hers and guiding her motions. She allowed this for a few minutes and then stopped, holding him at the base and moving in closer to flick her tongue over the tip of his cock. His eyes flew open as she took his head in her mouth, swirling her tongue around it before pulling him in farther.
He was gasping now as he moved his hips in time to thrust in and out of her mouth as far as she could take him, guided by the hand still wrapped around his base. When she began to rub his balls with her other hand, Angel ceased his motions and took both of her hands with his, pulling away from her gently, and urging her to stand. Pouting slightly, she obeyed, one eye still on the straining erection. He quickly relieved her of her bra and panties and, after a few moments where he stopped and did nothing but stare at her, during which Willow realized it was the first time he was seeing her completely naked, he guided her into the bathroom and the waiting tub.
There were candles all around and the water was bubbly and warm. Angel got in first and pulled Willow down onto his lap. She twisted so that she was facing him, her legs on either side of his, her arms wrapped around his neck. They kissed for a few minutes in this position, pressed naked against each other for the first time.
Angel eased her back slightly and picked up a bar of scented soap and rubbed it between his hands. When they were good and sudsy, he placed them on either side of her neck, then smoothed them down the tops of her arms, and back up the undersides, which made her squirm and giggle. He glided his hands back up towards her shoulders and down over her breasts, pausing for a moment to circle her nipples with his fingers until they responded and hardened. She arched her back and leaned into his hands, placing her own hands over them.
He promised her more attention there later and ran his hands over her stomach, around her sides and up her back. She leaned forward so he could reach, rubbing her soapy chest over his, trying to make him forget what he was doing. It almost worked, but Angel had more practice being patient than she did. Soaping up his hands again, he returned to her back then slid down to her ass and back to the front to slide along her thighs. He couldn’t get any lower since she was sitting on her legs.
Holding onto her hands, Angel dipped her back into the water to rinse and wet her hair. He took a palm full of shampoo and worked his fingers into her hair, gently massaging her scalp until she moaned and closed her eyes. When he was done, he dipped her back again for another rinse. Then it was his turn.
Willow reached for the other bar of soap, this one unscented, and locked eyes with Angel while she rubbed it between her hands, generating a good lather, then began to rub his chest. Her fingers moved over every contour of his pectoral muscles, down over his abs, and back up his powerful arms. He sat forwards so she could slide her hands around on his back, kneading him with her fingers. She scooted back so that she sat further down on his legs and could reach more of the front of his body.
Her hand slippery with the soap, she stroked his cock a few more times, loving how smoothly it glided through her fingers. She reached lower between his legs, on the pretense of a thorough washing, only to tease him further. Before he could object, she had moved on, smoothing the suds over his thighs and stretching behind herself to find his lower legs and feet.
Satisfied that he was as soapy as he could get, she slid back up his legs and splashed his chest playfully to rinse him. He grinned wickedly and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her tight against him again and kissing her hard. While she was distracted with his lips, one hand slid back down in between them and surprised her by suddenly rubbing between her spread legs, sending shocks of pleasure throughout her body. She gasped against his mouth but he only renewed the kiss and rubbed faster until she was moving against his hand, moaning for him not to stop. He did stop and she opened her mouth to complain until she felt him slide a finger inside of her and resume the rubbing movements with his thumb.
Willow had switched from kissing him to sucking on his neck in between gasps of breath. After a few minutes a second finger join the first inside of her and she groaned and winced, not sure if it felt really good or hurt a little. Either way, she was sure that she liked it. She knew Angel was trying to get her aroused enough that he wouldn’t hurt her when they finally moved back to the bed. It had been years since she’d had a man inside of her and she was almost virginally tight.
Now with his fingers working their magic she was sure she could handle it. Her body would remember what to do. ‘Just like riding a bike,’ she thought wildly, pressing down on him, wanting him to fill her even more. He finally seemed to catch on to her obvious desires and withdrew his hand from her. The water was cooling off anyway, so they climbed out and dried each other off. Angel wrapped his towel around his waist and started to tuck it in. Willow seized it in one hand and ripped it off his body, tossing it to the ground, looking almost angry.
Angel held his hands up in surrender and walked naked back to the bedroom with her. Willow lay on her back on the bed expecting that she would finally have what she’d waited so long for. Angel, as it turned out, had other ideas. He lay down on top of her, but only to kiss her lips and neck, then her shoulders and breasts. His lips were cool on her burning skin and she could feel where they’d been for minutes after they had moved on and down her body. Soon he was positioned with his head between her legs, her knees bent on either side of him. He met her gaze briefly and gave her another of those wicked grins. Then she could feel his tongue, cooling her where she was hot and making her hotter still.
She didn’t think she could possibly want him any more, but when she whimpered and reached for him to draw him back towards her, he took her hands and held them away. He lapped at her moisture, adding his own to it, making her wetter than ever. He worked his fingers into her again, this time getting up to three. By now, the redhead was thrashing against the bed, cursing him for not giving her what she wanted. He continued the rhythmic movements of his hand and his tongue, using his free hand to cup one of her breasts and massage her nipple.
This might not have been what she wanted, but it worked anyway. Grabbing onto his head, Willow yelled as she climaxed, “Oh, yes! Angel. Ohhhhhh!” And promptly collapsed. Angel crawled back up so that he lay over her. She could feel his cock brush the hair between her legs and knew that she could finally have him. Only now she didn’t want him. She wanted him to suffer a little the way she had. She pushed him off of her and over onto his back.
He looked at her, surprised, but stayed put when she waved a finger at him. “You’re gonna pay for that,” she told him. Locating the black tie he’d been wearing, Willow went into Angel’s closet and found the red one as well. She approached the bed, grinning, and holding one tie in each hand. Getting the idea, Angel began to smile as well.
He soon found each of his arms tied to the bedposts and Willow standing to one side, examining her handiwork. She knew perfectly well that he could tear free at any time, but he wouldn’t if he knew what was good for him.
Willow climbed back up on the bed and straddled Angel’s shoulders on her knees, facing his feet. She leaned forward, her ass raised and poised above his face, giving him a fantastic view, and began to kiss his thighs and stomach. Running her tongue along the creases between his legs and his groin, Willow enjoyed how Angel shivered and wiggled his hips, encouraging her to shift her attentions.
She ignored him, instead swirling her tongue around his navel and kissing his sides, delighted to discover he was ticklish there. “Willow, stop that,” he laughed, trying to squirm away. After making him half-heartedly strain at his bonds for a few more minutes, she took pity on him and sucked his cock into her mouth. She pumped it in and out with one hand until Angel’s moans told her he was getting close to exploding and then stopped and pulled him out. Then she simply licked it up and down the sides, driving him crazy for as long as she dared.
She considered turning around right then and having him, but she couldn’t resist the urge to test out for herself what she’d heard about vampiric recovery time. So, instead, she began to suck him again, giving him the friction of her lips that he needed so desperately. It was only a few minutes before he roared her name, finding his release.
Willow moved off of him and removed the ties holding his arms. He immediately grabbed her and pulled her to him kissing her deeply for a moment before his hands began to roam over her body. He paused for a moment. “Are you getting tired?” He asked, concern tinting his voice.
“Tired? I’m just getting started! Come on, after how long we’ve waited? I could go all night,” she informed him.
“Me too.”
Willow pulled back a little and raised an eyebrow at him. “Yeah? Except you really mean that don’t you?”
Angel nodded, managing to look sheepish and smug at the same time. Then he rolled her over and knelt between her legs. Willow was gratified to see that he was already hard for her again. She watched him gently push himself into her, a little at a time. She groaned as he stretched her, tormenting her with his slow entry. Unable to stand it a moment longer, she lifted her hips and thrust herself onto him. Angel gave a small gasp of surprise and then pulled out of her a little and sank back in, causing them both to sigh in satisfaction.
Willow tugged him down by the arms so that his body covered hers and they began to move together, easily finding a common rhythm as if they’d been doing this for years. The tension mounted and they moved faster, Angel thrusting down harder on her, making her bite into his shoulder to keep from screaming her pleasure. She clawed at his back, raking him with her fingernails. She had a moment to realized she was living out a fantasy she’d had months ago in the fog of a hangover, and then the present returned. Angel’s mouth was on hers and she was rubbing against him as he drove into her, pushing her over the edge and catching her screams with his lips while waves of ecstasy washed over her.
Angel followed a few moments later, ending their lovemaking with a few long, deep strokes and then disengaging and rolling over to take his weight off of her. They lay side by side, kissing each other lightly and murmuring soft words while they rested. Willow was pretty sure that when she was ready for more, Angel would be too. For now she was content to just be in his arms and know he would always be there for her.
Willow was disturbed from her comfortable position when Angel shifted to look at something over her head. Following his gaze, she noticed the bedside clock which read, 12:00 am. Looking back to her lover, she saw him grinning at her.
“Happy New Year!” He said.
Dragging her green eyes down his silk sheet covered naked body and back up, she returned the grin and said, “Mmm, yeah, it is.”
End