could take a step forward he was engulfed in complete darkness as he fell to the floor.
“I’m sorry,” she softly said as she entered the room behind him and closed the
door, locking it.
Angel was the first to wake as he heard the thud. He looked up to see Amy
hovering over the unconscious body. He slowly extradited himself from Willow’s still
sleeping arms and grabbed his robe. He quickly placed it on and moved over to Amy.
“What happened?”
“Can’t you guys keep the door locked?” she asked through clenched teeth.
“We were....a bit...distracted..” he replied a bit embarrassed.
“Then you should pay more attention,” she advised him.
“Let’s get him out of here.”
Amy agreed as he pulled Xander over his shoulder and walked over to the
fireplace, confusing Amy.
“We’ll take a short cut,” he whispered and pulled the lever needed to open the trap
door.
Amy simply followed, amazed that such things did exist.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Xander awoke with his head pounding. He looked around to find himself in a
strange room. He sat up and tried to focused his eyes on the two figures in front of him,
by the fireplace. The small moan of pain that escaped his lips alerting both women to his
consciousness. One of the women left in a haste, never giving the opportunity for Xander
to see her completely. His eyes turned to the woman walking toward him, happy to finally
see a familiar face.
“Will, what happened?”
“You were hit over the head,” Willow explained, looking at him guilty.
“Why?” he asked confused.
“Merle...she thought you were...a burglar...she didn’t recognize you.”
“Oh...I didn’t see her when I came in...”
“She was in one of the spare rooms...and then heard you and Amy...”
“Oh...where’s Amy?”
“In her room..sleeping.”
“Then she didn’t get hit....”
“No, just you.”
Willow sat next to him on the bed, not sure just how to approach the subject.
“Xander, we’ve been best friends forever...”
“Just about...”
“We’ve never kept secrets from each other...”
“Never....”
“Except the time I caught you with Cordelia....”
“Yeah...” Xander replied, still a bit guilty over his actions.
“And you know that I love you...”
“Will....” he said a bit worried.
“Like a friend, Xander....like a brother...”
“Yeah....we’re the two remaining of three musketeers,” Xander replied warmly.
“When you told me about Cordelia, true, I didn’t listen to you first, but later..I did
and I understood, well tried...then I accepted..and well...”
“What’s up, Willow?”
“I don’t want to lose you, Xander...”
“You aren’t, Will. No matter what,” he explained as he sat up carefully and hugged
her.
“You mean the world to me, Xander...but so does he...”
“Who...Oz?”
“No...it isn’t Oz,” she replied as tears began to fall. “Promise me you’ll try to
understand... please..”
“Your scaring me..”
“Just promise me... pinkie promise.”
Xander pulled back and looked at her worried. This is serious, he thought. He did
as she asked, offering his pinkie to her in agreement. She took a deep breath and looked at
him. Then she began her story.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Angel paced the floor of his bedroom worried. He had already changed the sheets,
cleaned the room, and tidied the bathroom. He had walked throughout the house and
estate and passed by the door to find they were still in a private discussion.
His fears crept up as he moved to the French doors and pulled them open. He
stepped onto the terrace, looking out into the night sky. He turned and jumped into the
room the moment her heard a knock on the door, telling the person to come in.
“Hi.”
“Hey.”
“Wasn’t expecting me?”
“Not really,” Angel answered honestly.
“I was just wondering if you’d heard from them?”
“No...I don’t think they’re done yet.”
“I came to thank you...for the dress...it’s lovely.”
“You’re welcome, Amy.”
“And... no matter what happens..... I think Willow and you are great together. I’ve
never seen her so happy before.... or so sad when she thought she had lost you.”
“Thanks.”
“I should let you rest. I’ll see you tomorrow night. Good luck.”
Amy stepped back out, leaving Angel alone with his thoughts. What would he do if
he lost her? His thoughts were interrupted by his second visitor.
“Come in.”
Xander stepped in, surprising him. He had expected to see Willow step in, in back
of him, but did not.
“We need to talk.”
Angel motioned for him to sit on one of the chairs in the room as he remained
standing, feeling for the first time a bit of dread, fearing somehow that he had managed to
change her mind.
“What do you want from her?” Xander asked.
Angel looked at him a moment, then replied.
“I want her to save me.”
“What about Buffy?”
“She’s my past. I don’t regret what I did.....because it led me to her.”
Xander turned to look at him his expression serious.
“Willow isn’t...”
“I love her, Xander.”
“You ever hurt her.... even make her cry..... I will kill you myself....”
“I’ll hand you the stake,” Angel replied with the same tone of seriousness.
He quickly stood up and went to the door, closing it behind him. Angel let out an
unneeded breath and waited. In less then a second, his door flew upon. He walked over,
and closed the door, then lifted her in his arms and carried her to bed, taking off her robe
then discarded his as he joined her, pulling her into his arms, keeping her as close to him as
possible.
* * * * * * * * * * *
“So, how long did you know?” Xander asked as he sat down next to Amy at the
table.
She froze for a moment, hoping that what had begun last night, did not end this
morning.
“Xander, I...I wasn’t...”
“Don’t. You don’t need to explain...,” he reasoned, feeling rather clearheaded
since the whole revelation had begun.
“Is this....whatever we have....over?” she asked, now realizing what it was she had
put on the line.
Xander looked at her for a moment, then took her hand.
“I was actually hoping you’d come to the ball with me.”
Amy couldn’t hold back the tears that fell down her face as she turned to hug him.
“New slate - no more lies - no more hiding,” she whispered.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he replied with a smile.
“I’d love to go with you.”
“Oh...I can take this upstairs...” Buffy interrupted.
“No...I just asked Amy to the ball,” Xander replied, turning to look at her.
“That is going to be so cool. Can’t wait. And.....Angel got me a dress,” she replied
with a smirk on her face.
“He also gave me one,” Amy informed her.
“What?”
“He got me a suit,” Xander added.
“Oh...I thought...that he had given it to me as a present...”
“He gave them to us as presents,” Amy replied.
“Well then... I’m glad that was cleared up .....”
“Buffy, maybe you should start seeing what’s really in front of you....”
“I can see clearly, Xander. I don’t need you or anyone telling what I see with my
own eyes.”
“Buffy, he’s just trying to help you understand.... Angel sees you as a friend
now.... nothing more ...he isn’t going with you to the ball......”
“No, Amy, you don’t understand..... and I already have a date to the ball.”
“Who?” Xander asked completely surprised.
“Oz.”
“Oz?”
“Yep, it’s about time Angel saw what’s his missing,” she replied triumphantly as
she turned around and left the room, popping a piece of fruit into her mouth.
Amy and Xander looked at each other as they shook there heads.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Willow joined the group for lunch outdoors. She had slept through the morning in
Angel’s arms, having told him that he had not lost her.... nor would he ever. She was
surprised to see Oz and Buffy seating contentedly next to each other. She smiled, a small
hope in her being lit. She sat next to Xander and Amy on the blue sheet and grabbed a
banana. She turned to look at her best friend and smiled, grateful she had not lost his
friendship. They had spoken for hours last night and had learned more about each other, as
well as forged a much stronger bond to each other - they’re friendship having suffered a
bit by lacks on both parts.
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be so exciting tonight,” Amy commented as she took a
bite from her sandwich.
“It’ll be a blast. Merle told me that if we need any alterations that we should tell
her so she can call the fitter,” Willow told them.
“Yeah, that suit is about a size too big,” Xander told her.
“It’s nice to see that everyone has someone to go with,” Buffy commented
casually, hoping to spark some interest.
“Who are you going with?” the redhead asked her.
“Oz.”
The couple looked at her intently, wanting to gauge her reaction. What they saw,
they did not expect, she smiled.
“I’m so happy for you too.”
“Um...thanks?” Buffy replied, confused.
“You are you going with?” Oz asked, surprised by her... acceptance.
Willow looked at both them and answered calmly.
“Angel.”