QUE SERA, SERA (20/?)
 

"I love it," Willow said, smiling as she looked at Angel.
 

"I'm glad," he said softly, watching her face. He moved from the doorway as
he entered the villa, shutting the door behind him. "I haven't been here in
so many years."
 

She glanced at him, hearing the wistful sound of guilt in his voice. She
grabbed a pillow from the couch and threw it at him, laughing as he glared at
her. "No brooding! This is a vacation. We're meant to get away from
everything."
 

"I was not brooding," he said, looking at the pillow and then back at Willow,
a calculating look entering his dark eyes. "Merely remembering the past."
 

"And brooding," she teased, putting her duffle bag on the floor beside the
couch. She sat down, a smile on her face. "I can't believe Cordelia and
Xander are going to get married."
 

"They seem happy," he said.
 

"Yeah, they do," Willow said, her voice envious. She and Angel had spent the
night wandering around Rome, him showing her his version of the town. They
had gotten home at dawn, finding the house quiet and empty. Then, early this
afternoon Cordelia and Xander had come downstairs, looking flushed and happy
and bubbling over with enthusiasm. She had heard their news, surprised and
yet not. She was happy for them, but she also envied their happiness. She
knew that Angel must have sensed that because after he had heard the news, he
had invited her to visit an old haunt of his in a small town outside of Rome.
She knew it was because he thought she could use the time away. She had
jumped at the idea, telling Cordelia and Xander that she wanted to give them
time alone. So, now she was sitting on a sofa in a nice villa in some small
town with Angel watching her with those dark eyes. "You know, I wonder where
Faith and Wesley disappeared to. Last I heard they were going to some council
thing."
 

"I'm sure they're fine," Angel said. "I believe Faith mentioned retrieving
some book. They probably got side tracked or split up. With those two, who
knows?"
 

"Yeah, who knows?" Willow said, knowing that the slayer had not gone back
home the night before. Her room had been empty that morning and she hadn't
been back before they had left at dusk. She also knew that Faith could take
care of herself and that the council had all sorts of projects in mind for
their retreat which most likely explained where the girl was. "So, this is
your place?"
 

"It was Darla's actually," he replied lazily, sitting down and watching her
face. "She loved Italy."
 

"Oh," Willow nodded, understanding that. "So do I."
 

"And there the differences end, we hope," he replied, mentally comparing his
redhead with his sire. There were few similarities, but not many, thank God.
 

"I'm sure they do," she replied with a smile. "Well, this is a lovely place."
 

"Yeah, it is. Spike, Dru and I spent a few summers here during the late
1800s. It is beautiful this time of year. The fragrance in the air. Well,
you'll smell it as you sleep tonight," he said, smiling softly.
 

"It's very romantic," she said, smiling before she felt her face flush. "I
mean, for other people. Not us, cause we're just friends and romance doesn't
mix with friendship and I should stop now."
 

"You're right," he said, his eyes looking into hers, searching for something,
anything that would allow him to believe she felt half of what he did.
 

"I am?" she whispered, her eyes looking towards the floor at his soft words.
She knew it was stupid to ever think someone like him wanted her. He was so
out of her league.
 

"It is romantic," he said quietly, his hand reaching out to touch her face.
 

"Huh?" she looked up, her eyes wide. She saw his hand pause in midair and it
fell. She looked at him and frowned, wondering why he had stopped reaching
for her. She looked into his eyes, seeing emotions that surprised her yet
also made her feel a small flicker of hope.
 

"I'm sorry. I was stupid to bring you here," he said, moving to his feet and
starting to pace. "This setting? I didn't plan to seduce you. Damn, who am I
kidding? I'd die to seduce you. To taste your lips and feel your skin. I need
to take you back."
 

"Wait a minute," she said, getting to her feet. "You wanted to seduce me? You
want me?"
 

"I'd have thought it was rather obvious," he said, sighing as he glanced at
her. "I'm sorry, Willow. I never meant for this to happen. I didn't plan on
falling in love with you or making your life even more complicated. I'll
understand if you want me to leave you alone."
 

"No brooding," she said, her mind reeling from his words. She slowly began to
smile, her confidence growing as he ran his hand through his hair. She moved
towards him, taking a reassuring breath. "Angel?"
 

"Yes?" he asked, looking up and pausing as he saw the smile on her face and
the look in her eyes.
 

"You didn't ask me," she said, stopping as she stood in front of him.
 

"Ask you what?" he asked slowly, holding a breath he didn't need as he waited
for her words.
 

"You know," she said, chuckling as she moved her hand along the buttons of
his shirt. She could do this.
 

"Tell me," he demanded, his voice husky as she moved her hands higher. It was
taking all of his control not to push her down and sink into her warmth there
and then.
 

She licked her lips, watching his eyes darken at her gesture. She moved her
fingers up his neck and began to trace the outline of his lips, not believing
she was actually doing this. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't real. She
saw him stiffen as her finger moved along his lips, saw the restraint in his
body. She was doing that to him. "Seduce me, Angel," she whispered as she
stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his.
 

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