dark and quite. She entered, the light from the windows enough to see around her. She

headed up to her room and took a book she had forgotten when she had packed to go

over to Angel’s. After a quick check around her house, she was content to see everything

was fine, not needing her as she usually felt.

She was about ready to leave, when she saw the small red light flashing on her

answering machine. She sat down on the couch next to it, wondering who could have

called. She clicked on the button and waited for the recording to fill the room.

“Hey, Willow, it’s Oz. I wish you were there instead of me having to leave a

message for you, but it might be easier this way. I won’t be coming back this week, the

band did pretty well on tour and we’ve been invited to play some more out here and since

break is coming up, I really don’t think they’ll be a problem with school or anything.

Um...maybe I should call back to tell you, hopefully catch you. I’ll call you back.”

Willow remained seated, knowing what would come next, the second message

come through, Oz’s voice once more filling the room.

“Damn, I wish I would have caught you. Okay, well, Willow I think we need some

time apart. I’ve had a lot of time to think and I’m not sure where this relationship is going

and I think a bit of time apart will help define it. You have to admit, the past couple of

months have been...unsteady...I’m either touring or your researching and studying. I think

this might be best. I’m sorry.”

Willow remained seated with tears in her eyes. She’d just been dumped by the only

boy that had ever paid much attentionto her. As much as she knew it would hurt, she

didn’t expect it to hurt her this little. Maybe it was something she had expected for some

time, hell, they hadn’t even had smochies for the past three weeks. Not that she missed

them much, but they never did hurt.

She looked back down at the book on her lap and wiped the tears away.

* * * * * * * * * *
 
 

“Willow!”

Willow turned to see Buffy running down the hall with an ecstatic smile on her

face.

“Willow, you’ll never believe it,” Buffy said as she finally got to Willow’s locker.

“What?” she asked, trying to sound excited.

“My dad and mom are going to be spending the holidays together with me!”

“Wow, how did that happen?”

“Well, my mom came with me to see my dad since she didn’t want to miss my

birthday and we spent a lot of time together and one thing led to another, then one

morning I woke up to see my mom wearing my dad’s shirt like she used to. Don’t get me

wrong. The thought of my mom getting some still gives me the wiggin’s, but it’s the good

kind.”

“Then there back together?”

“Sort of, but my dad thought it would be a great idea if we all went to Hawaii for

the two weeks I have for break and we jumped at the chance.”

“Then your mom and dad might get back together, wow, Buffy. I’m so happy for

you.”

“I can’t wait. Two whole weeks without having to worry about vampires, demons,

end of the world prophecy’s. I have to go buy a bathing suit, some nice outfits. We have

to go to the mall tonight, maybe Giles will be nice and give us one night off.”

“Sure, the mall all night.”

“Good, I have to go and report in with Giles, see you in class.”

Buffy left, leaving Willow alone at her locker.

To her hope, no one asked her about her weekend, or seemed to notice she was

not living at home, or seemed to notice her somber behavior. Xander told her of the fun

he had in San Francisco, that was when ever Cordelia left him alone. It seemed no one was

interested in what she had done over her weekend in Sunnydale. The school day was soon

over and after a bit of arguing, the small group had convinced Giles to let them go out for

the night. Cordelia, Xander, and Buffy spoke about their respective trips and what they

would need to buy, leaving Willow much out of the conversation as well as the shopping

venture. For the first time in a long time, Willow felt left out. After an hour into the

venture, she went on her own way, looking for presents, remembering the small bit of

information she had taken about Angel.

She passed by the toy stores and looked at what Nicolas might like. It was in one

of those ventures that Willow saw a familiar face and went to greet them.

“Fancy meeting you here,” she said in back of them.

The baby giggled, as Angel turned with a smile and greeted her.

“Thought you were out with your friends.”

“I was, but I ended up losing them.”

“Is everything all right?” he asked as she took a better look at her.

“I’m okay, just a bit tired I guess.”

“Did you want to go home?” he asked concerned.

The thought brought a smile to her face.

“I’d like that, but not until I see what are in those bags,” she teased.

“I’ll show you myn if you show me yours.”

Willow shook her head, trying to hide the bags in back of her.

“Then I can’t show you myn.”

“Fine, be a meanie.”

Angel gave her the worst fake hurt look she had ever seen making her laugh. His

expression changed traumatically as he looked up briefly then back to her eyes.

“I’ll meet you downstairs at entrance C in five minutes,” he told her.

She took a quick glance in back of her and was about to reply, but he was gone.

She walked over to her friends, who seemed surprised to see her.

“Hey Will, where did you go and hide?”

“No where, just went shopping a bit. I have to get going...”

“But we’ve only been here three hours,” Cordelia complained.

“Have to study. I haven’t been sleeping to good either.”

“Okay, we’ll I guess I can walk you home,” Buffy said a bit disappointed.

“Actually, my mom’s friend is here and she can drive me back to her house since

there’s where I’m staying.”

“Great, thank her for us,” Cordelia said as she took a hold of Buffy and Xander

and pulled them back into the stream of people still shopping.

After a ‘see you tomorrow’ and ‘bye’, Willow left to meet Angel in the lower

section of the mall.

Angel noticed the change in her demure, but did not ask, instead tried to change

her mood. After a quick stop at a cafe to get a mocha for her, the couple went to their

apartment.

By the time she arrived at the apartment, Willow felt better and told Angel about

Buffy, Xander, and Cordelia’s plans for break, as well as the phone message she had

received at home from Oz. After a bit of crying, he carried her off to bed, where Nicolas

snuggled in-between them happily content and asleep.

* * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

“What do you mean Oz wants ‘space’?” Buffy asked surprised.

“He left me a message last night on my answering machine at home. He said he

wanted us to slow down, that we needed space,” she replied.

“God, Will, I’m sorry. Had I known I would have.....”

“You would have what?” she asked curious.

“I don’t know, had you kicked some vampire butt or something. Are you okay?”

“I thought it would have hurt a bit more, but it really hasn’t. We’d been drifting. It

was a matter of time,” she told her sadly.

“Geez, Will, why didn’t you say anything?”

“I guess if I ignored it, then it really wouldn’t happen.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll find someone who appreciates you. Someone that will

worship you.”

“I know...I’ll be fine...”

“You will. We have to research tonight, but maybe we can go out and do some

bronzing tonight, or maybe after we go shopping tomorrow night. Cordy and I have to

finish shopping for our trips.”

“Sure, that sounds like fun”, she replied, trying to sound happy.

The rest of the week went by quickly. Willow went to school, listened patiently her

friends as Buffy talked about her pending trip to Hawaii and how her parents seemed to be

getting closer everyday. To Xander who spoke about how incredible Cordelia was, how

wonderful it was to have spent the weekend with her in San Francisco and how great it

would be to be spending two whole weeks with her in Aspen. Cordelia really only spoke

to her when it was needed or for a casual comment. Her evenings were spent between two

places. The mall with the gang or with Angel and the baby. It always brought a smile to

her face when Angel and Nico waited for her by the mall to escort her home. In the

afternoon she had started calling them from her cell during lunch. She never realized just

how much she looked forward to the night time and her lunch.

She had tried to ask Giles in a round about way if there was a new demon in town

or if he had found a new prophecy or if he had heard or seen something out of the

ordinary. Giles never suspected something was wrong, believing her new found need to

research steamed from the void her friends were leaving. Though that void did exist, it

was quickly being filled by the two new men in her life.

* * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

“Are you sure?” Willow asked him.

“Willow, go. Have fun,” Angel told her as he changed Nicolas’ diaper.

“But.....”

“It’s just a program, Willow. I’m sure they’ll pass it this week again. I can’t see

why they wouldn’t.”

“It was just so last minute and....”

“I want you to go. I want you to have fun. I know that spending all this time with

me and Nicolas couldn’t have been...”

“Don’t you dare say it, Angel. I’ve all ready told you, I enjoy staying here. I do

have fun here....”

“Okay, but you need to spend time with your friends. You won’t get to see them

for two weeks.”

“I know, but....I’m sure they wouldn’t notice if I was there of not.”

“They would, Will. We can plan tonight another night.”

Willow knew she was defeated. Angel had that look on his face that was the

equivalent of her ‘resolve face’.

She nodded and gave him a small smile.

An hour later she was at the Bronze, sitting down at a table alone, looking on as

Cordelia and Xander danced and Buffy flirted with someone she met at the pool table.

Gifts were not exchanged, wanting to wait until they returned from there trips. They

looked like they were having fun, something Willow was not. She looked around club and

saw everyone enjoying themselves, laughing, joking, and smiling. She felt like an outsider

again.

Something wasn’t right. Her mind began to block out the voices around her.

<What am I doing here?>

She wondered as she took one final look at Buffy, Xander and Cordelia now

dancing in front of her. She smiled as she stood up and headed toward the exit.

* * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

“You need a bath,” Angel told the smiling baby on the bed. He pulled the towel

over his shoulder and took the giggling baby in his arms. He got as far as the hallway

before he saw her coming up the stairs.

“I thought you were going to the Bronze,” he said, happy to see her home so soon.

“I did,” she replied as she took off her jacket and put it on the bed.

“But?....”

“It was crowded and loud and I had a headache. So we hung out a bit, decided to

exchange gifts when they returned and then we played pool, then I left.”

“That was quick. You weren’t even out two hours.”

“I had a really bad headache.”

“How’s your head now?” he asked curious as he entered the bathroom.

“Better,” she replied as she pulled up the sleeves from her sweater.

“I’m glad. So did you have fun?”

“A bit.”

Angel placed the talkative baby in the tub and was glad to feel Willow’s hand

cover his around the baby’s waist.

“Your turn to shampoo,” she reminded him with a smile.

After half an hour of bathing and clothing him, they were ready to restart the plans

they had prepared earlier that night. Willow changed into her pair of comfy flannel pants

and cotton oversized gray shirt and headed downstairs with Nicolas to pop some popcorn

as Angel changed into his sweatpants and white v-neck T-shirt.

Nicolas and Angel looked on as Willow spread an array of junkfood on the center

table then settled on the sofa, snuggling next to him, her head settling on his shoulder as

his arm stretched across the sofa. Nicolas was happily seated in Angel’s lap, chewing on

his teething ring.

Willow changed the channel and squealed in excitement as the “Muppet’s

Christmas Carol” began. Though she was half-Jewish, she was also half-Catholic

(mother’s side). Her parent’s had agreed some time ago to let Willow decide what she

choose to be, while her parent’s remained neutral and celebrated neither.

Knowing Angel was Catholic helped her decided what she would do this year. The

couple smiled as the movie began, looking forward to the evening ahead.

* * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

It had taken the small group of friends nearly four hours to realize there friend was

gone. Once they got to her house and found it empty, Xander went to his and grabbed the

emergency key Willow had given him sometime ago. They were surprised to see the whole

house dark and empty. It was after some intensive thinking that they figured out what to

do.

Willow received a call on her cell in the middle of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” After

the fourth ring she had managed to find her bookbag and find her phone.

“Hello?”

“Willow?”

“Yes?”

“What happened to you? We’ve been looking for you? You just left.”

“Xander, I left the Bronze more then five hours ago.”

“Oh...but you didn’t tell us.”

Willow excused herself from the sofa and went to the far side of the room.

“All of you seemed too busy,” she informed him.

“Not for you...”

“That’s why you’re calling me at two in the morning?”

“Wow, two! Haven’t really seen the clock.”

“Was there something you needed?” Willow asked a bit sad.

“We just wanted to know you were safe, you aren’t at home....where are you,

Willow?”

Willow could feel tears in her eyes.

“I told you guys I was staying at one of my mom’s friends house until they come

back.”

“Oh yeah, must have forgotten. Then I’ll let you go back to bed. See you when we

get back,” Xander told her cheerfully.

Before Willow could say anything, the line went dead. She took a moment to

regroup and headed back to the sofa, taking her seat next to Angel on the sofa.

Angel looked down at her, noticing her change in mood. She didn’t know, but he

had heard some of the conversation, had heard her muffle a sob a moment ago.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yeah....they just wanted to....say bye and wish me a good vacation,” she lied.

Angel remained silent, looking at her, then at the movie on the T.V, vowing

silently to make these two weeks the best in Willow life.

* * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

“Sorry,” Willow muttered once again.

“Don’t worry, you really can’t hurt me,” he replied, making her chuckle.

She looked up at him and smiled.

“Let’s try it once more,” he said as he stepped back then to the side.

Willow followed, her hands glued to his shoulder and hand.

“See, all you need is practice,” he encouraged her.

After toes that Angel was grateful would heal in a bit of time, he continued

showing her the basic steps of the west coast swing. Nicolas looked on attentively from

his playpen, giggling when he saw his parents laugh or step on each other. After two hours

of practicing, the sun had set and with only a few days left ‘till Christmas, they decided to

suspend the lesson and head to the mall. After two showers and a complete change of

diapers and bottles and clothes for Nicolas, the happy couple left the house.

They shopped, separating only twice, needing to purchase items separately. After a

couple of hours of walking, talking and about ten shopping bags, they decided to call it a

night. As they walked down the pathway to the main level, they were too engrossed in

their conversation to notice the couple ahead of them that were preoccupied with each

other as well. That was until Nicolas’ stroller bumped into the couples feet, making them

all stop and look at each other in complete shock.

“Willow?”

“Faith?”

“Angel?”

“Giles?”

* * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

The four adults sat at the table in complete silence in the food court. The only one

who seemed unaffected by their chance meeting was Nicolas who was falling asleep in

Angel’s arms as he suckled on his pacifier.

Faith was the first to break the silence.

“So, what are you guys doing here?”

Giles turned to look at her, surprised at her question.

Willow looked at Angel , then at her and replied.

“Shopping.”

“Us, too,” she replied, hoping the conversation ended there.

It was times for Willow’s curiosity to get the better of her.

“Are you two here... ‘together’?”

Giles looked at Faith, then felt her hand on his under the table.

“We are.”

Angel and Willow couldn’t hide the surprise on their faces.

“We’ve been ‘together’ for two months,” Faith told her happily.

“Wow....does anyone know?” Willow asked.

“No...we thought it might...be best if we...kept it low profile..” she replied.

“For now...” Giles added.

Faith smiled at him, then looked back at Angel and Willow.

“What about you guys? Is he yours?” Faith asked as she motioned to the baby in

Angel’s arms.

Willow and Angel looked at each other, not sure just how to explain.

* * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

“He’s so cute,” Faith remarked as she played with him on the counter.

“I know,” Willow replied proudly.

“He actually looks a little like...”

Before Faith could finish her comment, Giles interrupted her as he came out of his

office with Angel, carrying books.

“He was just left at the mansion for you to find him?” he asked once more

surprised.

“With a letter asking me to protect him,” Angel replied as they made there way to

the table.

“And you say you never saw the face of the demon that wants the baby, Willow?”

“No. It was there, telling me Nicolas needed to die. I never saw it’s face, Giles.”

“I can’t see why anyone would want to hurt him, let alone kill him,” Faith

commented in disbelief.

Their conversation at the food court had ended abruntly once Willow and Angel

began the story of Nicolas. Giles was fascinated as to what the child might mean as well as

the opportunity to shift everyone’s attention from Faith and himself. They headed to the

library to do some research.

Giles relationship with Angel was still fragile to say the least. It was hard for him

not to look at him and remember the brutality that was inflicted upon him, but somehow

with Faith now at his side, his outlook was changing slowly. He remembered the countless

times Willow stood up for him, even after they had found out he had come back from

Hell. To have seen Angel care for Nicolas these past hours had helped to change his view

on him. Angelus was gone, Willow had some how managed to banish him forever. Now it

was time to heal. That was something he would have to thank Faith for. As reckless as she

was, the friendship of the rest of the small group and his own affection for her had

changed her.

“Second changes are a gift. I’m happy to have had one,” Faith had once told him.

Perhaps it was his time to do the same. And so the group had gone to the library to

find a way to help the couple. That would be there start, for all of them.

Faith and Willow joined the men at the table, the women taking seats next to there

men. Ideas were tossed, that lead to an hour researching, until the yawning began as well

as the cries from Nicolas. Everyone took turns carrying the baby, but it was obvious to the

group that the Hellmouth was affecting him even with the spell around them. Angel was a

bit skeptical in letting Faith or Giles carry him, but Nicolas never cried, but smiled or

giggled or stared intently. He had a good feeling about the small group in the library as did

the rest. It was soon time to leave, with promises of a phone calls tomorrow and perhaps

even a visit.

“Did you need a ride?” Willow asked as they exited the school.

“Giles is taking me home.”

“Okay, well have a good night.”

“You too.”

Giles and Faith left hand in hand and went across the street to his car as Willow

and Angel followed in toe the same.

* * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

“They make such a good couple,” Willow commented as they pulled back the

covers from the bed. It was four in the morning, Willow having adjusted a bit more to his

time frame as he had to hers.

“I think they’ll make each other happy,” Angel replied as he placed Nicolas in the

middle of the bed. He seemed contented to look from parent to parent as they talked.

“I think so too. I just hope the others don’t make such a fuss about it,” she replied

climbing into bed.

“I don’t think that should matter. Happiness is something that doesn’t come often.

You have to take it when it comes and defend it till the end.”

“Give yourself completely,” Willow added as she turned on her side to face him.

“I think you have to. I think that’s what love is.”

“Is that what you had with Buffy?” Willow asked in a whisper, regretting the

words that had slipped from her lips. “I didn’t mean to...I’m sorry Angel..it just...it

came..”

Angel stared at her for a moment, making Willow more uncomfortable. She hadn’t

meant to say anything about Buffy, knowing it most likely still a sore topic to touch. Then

to her surprise, he replied calmly.

“No, it wasn’t like that. What Buffy and I had was lust...hormones...with a bit of

love...but more of an urge of the forbidden...”

Willow looked at him confused for a moment, not sure just how to take his

response. Seeing her confusion, he began to explain.

“Have you ever been in love, Willow?”

“Yep.”

“What kind?”

“Friendship kind of love.”

“What kind of love do have for Oz?”

At that question, Willow froze, not sure just how much to share with him. But if

she was to trust him completely, she needed to tell him, but the odd thing was that she

wanted to tell him.

“I loved him.”

“How?”

“It started as a friendship sort of love, then it moved a bit more, but it wasn’t that

kind of love that you read in books or in poems.”

“Neither was myn with Buffy.”

“But she loved you....”

“We loved each other in the moment, Willow. What it turned into was obsession,

jealousy...things my demon wanted, not me. I remember a talk I had with my mother once.

She told me that I was a womanizer, that I saw women as conquest and when I saw

something forbidden, dangerous, that I might not be able to have, I would make it into a

challenge, a challenge once I won, I would let go. It was true and I hated that. What I

truly wanted was just love, pure and innocent, caring and passion filled. Love can be lust

as well, but in the good sense.”

“So you haven’t changed much,” Willow mumbled, embarrassed she had let that

slip out.

“Not until I spent 100 years in Hell. I had a lot of time to think.”

Willow looked up, genuine compassion for him and his ordeal. Angel smiled and

continued his story.

“My grandfather Nicolas once told me that I would find that love I envied. The

love my grandparents shared. It was beautiful because everyone could see it. There eyes

spoke to each other, there bodies seemed to be connected in some way, as well as there

minds, hell they would even finish up there own sentences,” he said, remembering the past.

“It seemed like you loved your family very much...and were loved back very

much,” she told him, her voice cracking a bit.

“I was. They were my entire world. I just took that for granted. I never thought I

could lose them. In all my years since then I’ve never felt so alone.”

Willow knew that feeling all to well and looked at him and for a moment envied

him. He had what she had always wanted. She couldn’t help but let a tear fall.

“Willow?...” he asked worried.

“I’ve never seen that kind of love, I’ve never been treated that way. My parents

love each other I think, maybe more on a professional level, but in all my years, I don’t

think I’ve ever felt loved...I can’t even remember the last time they told me they did....I’ve

never had what you had.....not even a fraction of it,” she replied as she wiped her tears

away.

“I didn’t mean to.....”

“No, Angel...you didn’t do anything. I want to hear more about your life...as a

vampire and as a human....I guess I reflected a bit to much on mine.”

“Is that why you stayed with Oz that long?”

Willow nodded, her tears drying a bit.

“You were scared of being alone.”

“I think everyone is,” she simply replied.

“Yeah...but you aren’t alone Willow...you have Buffy and Xander...”

Willow couldn’t help but let out a small snort.

“If not them Willow, you have me and for now Nicolas....and even when all this is

over....you’ll still have me,” Angel told her with a soft look on his face she had never

before seen directed at her.

Willow smiled happily as a few tears fell.

“Thank you.”

Angel got up from the bed and placed his pillows along his side, effectively

forming a safe barrier for a sleeping Nicolas. Willow looked on as she saw him move to

her side and pull back the covers, settling next to her and taking her in his arms. Willow

had never felt so happy or...loved before in her life. Angel held her, her back settling

against him perfectly. Willow took his hand in hers and softly whispered her vow to him,

before drifting off to sleep.

“No matter what, what ever happens, I will always be here for you, for as long as I

live.”

Angel smiled, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

* * * * * * * * * *
 
 

“So how did it all start?..” Willow asked her.

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean, buster.....who...asked who?”

“I did,” Faith replied as she finished off the carton of ice cream.

“When...I mean did it just come out one day or what?” she asked, her cheeks

turning red.

“It was after me and Buffy finished training one night. I got kicked out of the

motel...I was broke. The Council still hadn’t finished processing my “paperwork” and I

needed a place to stay. I didn’t want to ask any of you...I wasn’t sure you guys would

have been cool with it. I ended up going to the youth hostile, but what I hadn’t realized

was that Giles way home was on the way and he saw me. He came in and got me, asking

me what had happened and told me to crash at his place.”

“How long were you there?” she asked in complete surprise.

Faith looked down at the empty carton then up at her again, with a tint of red on

her cheeks, taking Willow by complete surprise.

“I haven’t left.”

Willow’s eyes grew wide.

“OH..Oh...”

“It’s been a surprise for me too...I’ve never stayed that long with anyone

before....never stayed in one place so long.”

“But you belong here...” Willow began to tell her.

“I never thought I would belong anywhere, Red, but here...I think I can.”

“Good, now I know why Giles hasn’t been bombarding us with so much research,

why he even seems happier since....” Willow abruntly ended, not sure how much Giles had

told her.

“Since Jenny Calendar.”

“Yeah...”

“Giles and I have talked about her...about what happened....about what might

happen.”

“And what might happen?”

“We can’t keep it a secret for too long and I really don’t want to. This might be

the guy, you know, that sweeps you off your feet,” Faith told her in all honesty.

“I’m happy for you two. It least Giles makes you less...”

“Crazy?” she asked with a chuckle.

“Well, I was going for insane, but.....”

“Ha ha. He has that effect on me. I’m actually listening to him, the watcher side. I

have a lot to learn.”

“You will. Giles is a great teacher.”

“A lot more than that....So, what about you and Angel?”

“What about Angel?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t see it?”

“See what?”

“God, Red, you are blind.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know, maybe the way you look at him or the way he looks at you...”

Willow blushed, somewhat knowing what she meant.

“It has crossed your mind,” Faith commented happily.

“Thought...but not acted...” not sure where her revelation came from.

“I don’t really think he’d mind..” Faith told her.

Biting her lower lip, Willow wasn’t sure how to act.

“Take it from me, Red. When you find someone that can make you happy, don’t

freight about it...life’s too short.”

Willow looked up, knowing what she meant.

“Come on, if were going over to visit you Christmas day, we have to find gifts for

each other.”

With that said, both women left the food court and began there shopping.

* * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

Willow entered her home just before the sunset. She was happy to see no one

around as she walked up the stairs. She rushed over to a near by closet and carefully

placed her shopping bags inside. To her surprise she found no one on the main floor and

was more surprised to see no one on the second floor. She saw a soft glow coming from

the stairs that headed upstairs and took the stairs to the third floor. To her complete

surprise she saw a bare topped Angel in front of a canvas, painting.

Willow carefully made herself over, taking a look at the other paintings on the

floor. They were beautiful landscapes of what she was sure Ireland must have looked like

and then found one of the most striking she had ever seen.

“They’re my family.”

Willow turned her head to see Angel right in back of her, looking at the panting

she was looking at intently.

“That’s Marie, she was handful, but her smile could light up anyone’s soul....She’s

Beatrice, the serious one of all of us, but had one spot in the back of her ear that made her

go into a laughing fit.... Then that’s Eliz, the most nurturing of all of us. When ever one of

us was sick, she’d be the first to take care of us..... Sean, my only brother. We’d wrestle

and horseplay, fight for my mother’s attention all the time....... That’s my mother,

Elizabeth. She was wonderful..... next to her is my father, Henry...... I miss them so

much,” he muttered, a red tear falling.

Willow turned around and wrapped her arms around him, comforting him as best

she could. Angel laid his head on her shoulder, grateful for her embrace. Reluctantly he

began to pull away from her, far enough to look at her and what he saw there gave him

hope. His head was inches away from hers, there hands still wrapped around each other,

the moment sweeping them away.

Their heads inched forward, there lips meeting to taste each others.

They remained frozen in time, never hearing the sliding door open and seeing the

two pairs of eyes that looked at them.
 
 

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