want to leave Nicolas or Willow alone too long. Unknowingly, he immersed himself in his
thoughts, still not able to believe what was happening or why Willow was willing to help
him out so much.
He was finally getting a change to know Willow Rosenburg. He barrated himself
for not thinking much of her before, not able to see beyond the witch, the researcher, and
more importantly, Buffy and Xander’s friend, because now she was becoming his. His
thoughts were interrupted as he heard the sounds of scuffle. He moved quicker, passing
through the tress and finally reaching the battle, finding Faith staking a vampire. The
brunette looked up, sensing another one around. She put down the stake as soon as she
noticed who it was.
“Late for the fun,” she commented.
“It didn’t look like you were having any trouble.”
“Been a quite night, boring actually,” she told him a bit disappointed.
“That should be good.”
“Yeah, but a little more couldn’t have hurt,” she replied with a smile.,
As if upon her wishes, seven vampires jumped from the tress and began to attack
the duo.
“This is more like it,” Faith yelled, making Angel roll his eyes.
The attack began, four attacking Angel as the other three went after Faith. Angel
soon dusted one, but abruntly stopped his attack, feeling a dreadful fear wash over him.
The vampires took the advantage and jumped on him, delivering punches to his head,
stomach and chest. After a moment of reflection, Angel re-grouped, finding an inner
hidden dosage of energy and began fighting, dusting one of the vamps quickly as he began
to struggle with the other two.
Something was wrong, he would feel it. With a deep desire of going to his family,
Angel quickly dusted both vampires and left, never looking back as Faith yelled her thanks
for his help.
He ran across houses, streets, and yards, taking every possible short cut he would
think of that could get him to the house faster. Once he reached the warehouse, he took a
secret passage way inside, sensing the danger closer with each step. He slipped his “game
face” firmly into place, using all his senses to find them. He was amazed at how quickly he
detected them, and ran up the stairs, two at a time, up to the third floor.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Willow sensed the creature near, but not close enough to hurt them. It hide in the
darkness of the sky, feeling it around her, but not on the ground. She held Nicolas closer
to her body, trying to shield him better. She stayed close to the glass door, hoping it
would open.
“Are you willing to give your life for someone that you do not even know?” it
hissed at her.
“Yes. I’ll protect him.”
“Not even you, witch, will stop me. I shall find a way,” it said angered.
Willow remained quiet, processing its words. To her relief she heard the door
opening and turned to see a vamped out Angel growling at the unseen threat. He
automatically pulled her inside, placing her behind him.
“This is far from over Demon. I shall have the child.”
Before Angel would reply, the danger was gone. The source had disappeared. He
carefully stepped outside, making sure everything was fine. He turned to see Willow
shaken, tears in her eyes. His mask fell back into place, his arms reaching for her.
“I’m sorry...I never should have come out here...I didn’t....”
“Sshh....This isn’t your fault, Willow.”
“But...Nicolas...it could have....”
“But it didn’t. Your both safe, that’s what matters,” he said softly as one hand
stroked her hair and the other touched Nicolas’ covered head.
“But if it wasn’t for me this never would have....”
“No. This could have happened to me, too. It didn’t take him, now all we have to
know is why.”
“I think it was the spell. It needs to be invited in, that would explain why it didn’t
take us when it would.”
“Then see, you saved him.”
“Angel,......it knows I’m a witch. It told me,” she said a bit frightened.
“It also knows I’m a demon. We have to find it what ‘it’ is and how it knows us.
Now at least we know Nicolas is safe in the house.”
“It wants to kill him, Angel. It wants Nicolas to die,” she told him as a tear began
to fall.
Angel’s hand trailed down to her face and wiped away the tear with his thumb.
“It won’t. I’ll protect him, I’ll protect you both.”
“So will I, Angel.” Willow added.
They both looked down at the baby and smiled as it seemed to agree with a soft
glee of slurred words. Angel turned Willow around and with one arm firmly around her
shoulders, led her back inside. He locked the door in back of them and led her to the
bedroom.
After a quick check around the apartment and outside, Angel returned to the
bedroom with Nicolas and Willow already under the covers. He quickly joined them,
thanking Willow for everything she had done so far. She soon feel asleep, followed soon
after by Nicolas.
Angel remained awake, looking at them in there slumber. It had been close. He had
almost lost the two more important people in his life. It would never happen again. He
silently vowed to protect his family against all, no matter the price.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Willow was the first to wake a little after dawn. After a quick shower and some
light breakfast she was ready for school. She made sure her cell phone was charged and
went to look over at the two men in her life. She smiled as she looked at how peaceful
they looked in their sleep. She moved over to her side of the bed and placed a kiss on
Nicolas’ cheek then moved over to Angel’s side. She was hesitant to wake him, but knew
she had to. Her hand found is shoulder and began to shake him a bit. Her hand soon
moved up to cup his cheek as she saw how he awoke in a rush to shake off the veil of
fogginess.
“Angel, it’s okay. It’s me, Willow. I just wanted to tell you I’m heading to
school.”
Angel focused his eyes on her smile and nodded his head in agreement to what she
had just told him.
“I’ll call you by lunch. If you need me, call, I’ll have the phone on.”
With another nod from his head, her hand reluctantly left his face and saw Angel
roll over to his side, spooning himself around the baby, protecting him.
Willow left the apartment, prioritizing. She would talk to Giles this morning,
hoping he could give her more insight on the creature that had tried to attack them last
night, but first she needed to get her story
straight and hoped it sounded truthful.
* * * * * * * * * * *