“Your going with who?!” Oz asked regaining his voice.
“Angel,” Willow replied.
Buffy quickly stood and began to pace.
“Your going with Angel?” Buffy asked in disbelief.
“Yes.”
Oz quickly stood and dragged Buffy with him back to the house, excusing himself from the group.
“Well, that went...” Xander began, trying hard to find a word.
“....okay?” Amy added.
Willow looked at them a bit worried. That was not what she had expected, yelling, maybe even a fight, but not walking away. Xander reached out for her hand and patted it.
“Everything will be okay,” he assured her as best he would.
Willow smiled, her eyes becoming a bit watery.
“Come on, let’s go try on our dresses,” Amy commented excitedly as she stood up and took Willow’s hand, pulling her up with her.
She smiled, her excitement contagious. Both women left hoping the night ahead was filled with promise instead of dread.
* * * * * * * * * *
“I can’t seem to find my dress....” Willow said worried as she rummaged through her room.
“Are you sure you left it here?” Amy asked her.
“Positive,” she replied.
Her eyes fell upon the fireplace, seeing it a bit out of place.
“Amy.... wait here,” she told her as she pulled back the stone statue, opening the passage.
She walked down carefully, trying to remember which door was his. It wasn’t hard to find when he found one of the door’s partly open. She stepped into the dark room and was surprised to see it empty. As she stepped deeper inside her eyes strayed to his bed. Her mouth fell open as her hands rushed to touch the delicate material. She traced the outline of the beautiful dress as her eyes moved to look at the rest of the items on the bed.
She was taken by complete surprise and squealed in delight as she felt two familiar strong arms wrap around her.
“Hope you like it,” he whispered into her ear.
“It’s gorgeous....but, I already have a dress...” she reminded him.
“Well, actually this is it. I wasn’t sure I could get it here in time so I had ordered the black one you saw last night.”
“But Angel, this is too much...... all this....is...”
“Not enough for you,” he replied as he turned her around in his arms and kissed her.
Willow melted against him as she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.
“I want you to be happy,” he muttered against her mouth.
“I am, as long as I’m with you,” she replied.
She shivered as she felt his cool hands move under her shirt.
“What are you doing?” she asked playfully as his hands moved to her bra.
“Thought you might want to try it on,” he replied quickly, his mouth moving down her neck.
She pulled away, kissing him quickly.
“Nope, I’m sure it’ll fit, if not then we can return it.”
“I always wanted to return to Milan.”
Willow’s eyes widened.
“Go get ready, before I cancel the party to spend the rest of the week with you in bed.”
Willow giggled and turned to take hold of all her new gifts and was sent on her way with a smack on her butt.
* * * * * * * * * * *
“I’ll be right back, I have something that will go great with your dress,” Willow said as she left the room and headed to her room.
The walk was cut short as she bumped into Buffy.
“Getting ready?” Buffy asked her, remaining calm.
“I’m helping Amy right now,” she replied as she took a swallow.
“That’s good. Well I should get my dress. I had it altered a bit.”
“Well, if you need help later,” Willow offered.
“If I do, I’ll call you. Have to get going. Don’t want to make Oz wait. He’s taking me out to dinner,” she mentioned.
Willow smiled and walked down the hall to the room. As soon as saw her turn the corner she rushed in.
“So what did she say?” Oz asked as he pulled Buffy into his room from the hallway.
“Nothing, absolutely nothing. She looked surprised though.”
“Good, then it looks like its working.”
“Do you really think they’re going together because their jealous about us?” Buffy asked, doubting a bit.
“Come on Buffy. If you were in her shoes and her boyfriend just told you he was going to go with someone else, while she had no one then, what would you say?”
“Yeah. Just remember the plan then.”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
“We’ll make them see just exactly there missing,” Buffy told him with a smile.
“Let the plan begin.”
Willow looked at the herself in the mirror and almost didn’t recognize
herself. She placed the mask firmly in place and stepped back. She was
scared to pinch herself and realize this
had all been a wonderful dream. It was hard for her to think of it
as anything else.
She placed the mask in place and smiled. She make a quick turn, loving the way the material flowed around her.
“Wow.....” Amy trailed off as she looked at her friend.
Willow turned around and echoed the same words.
“Not bad at all is it,” Amy commented as she looked down at herself.
“It feels like a dream sometimes....” Willow trailed off with a smile.
“Think we’re ready to make our dates drool and worship the ground we walk on?” Amy asked.
Willow would could only smile and turn to take one more look in the mirror.
“Why don’t we surprise them instead?”
Amy couldn’t help but giggle.
“We have a short cut,” Willow told her as she took her hand and led
her to the fireplace.
* * * * * * *
Angel went back to the bathroom and grabbed his bottle of cologne. He
knew Willow loved the smell and placed a tab on his neck and wrist. He
looked down at himself once more,
making sure everything was right in place. He took the mask that was
on the counter and placed it over his face. His senses were immediately
drawn to a new fragrance in the room.
It was the smell of lavender he loved to smell in Willow’s hair. He
stepped out, and froze the moment he saw his heavenly creature in front
of him.
The golden shiny satiny material of her dress made her red hair shine
deeper, making her creamy white skin look so delectable. The top of her
dress was short and tight, the double
spagetti strips holding up the dress over her bosom. His eyes darted
down, his eyes sparkling at the look of the top of her breasts teasing
him. He traveled lower, the material soft
and silkily where the simply silver diamond design hugged her upper
torso. Her waist was emphasized by the interloped design of circles
making a sort of belt. The material flowed
freely down, flaring all around her.
He looked back up, her piercing green eyes darting out at him from the
golden butterfly mask that hide part of her angelic face. She had swept
up her hair, parting it in the middle and
somehow managing to roll the hair inward, creating a lower crown in
the back. The headpiece he had chosen for her laid on the top of her head,
the delicate
v-shaped rose lying just above her forehead. Her neck was bare, showing
of the curveness of each side. The only other piece of jewelry laid by
her right forearm, the golden band
covered with smoky quartz and onyx. She had simply captivated him in
silence and struggled to regain his voice.
Willow nearly fainted. She wasn’t sure it was possible for Angel to
look so.....much more gorgeous... so much mre sexier.... so much more dreamy....
Without clothes, his hair
tossled.. he looked like a God from Olympics.... but now.. in front
of her.... fully clothed... she just had trouble breathing since he had
made her forget just how.... he had decided to
sport a suit instead of a tux which was of one color, jet black. His
slacks weren’t too loose or too tight, just right, which made her wonder
just how good his ass most look. He had
selected a button down black dress shirt with a shiny back tie covered
over by a black three button suit. His usual spiky hair was now slicked
back, making him more dangerous and breathtaking as ever... dear God,
she needed to sit but her body refused to move as her sense picked up the
cologne, making her body
tingle..... <I can take him.... more then sure I can.. right here....>
Angel couldn’t help but return her hungry, lust filled gaze. It was the knocking on the door that broke the trance they had placed over each other.
“Angel, all the guests are here,” Merle informed him behind the closed door.
“We’ll be right down,” Angel answered in a slight growl.
Willow blushed and smiled, making Angel move an inch from her body and kiss her. He pulled away reluctantly, placing a final kiss on her nose.
“Shall we join the party, my lady?” Angel asked deeply as he extended his hand to her.
Willow graciously accepted the invitation and left hand in hand with
the man that meant the world to her.
* * * * * * *
“Where are they?” Buffy asked growing inpatient as they sat on one of the blush sofas in the grand ballroom.
The ball was in full swing, most of the visitors employees from many of Angel’s successful business as well as some predominant figures that remained low key.
“Maybe they’re having second thoughts about coming together..” Oz reasoned.
“I hope so... it’ll make it all easier for us...”
“Come on.... they should see us dancing..” Oz told her as he stood up and offered her his arm.
Buffy smiled and was joined him on the dance floor.
Meanwhile, the two couples met in the hallway, all commenting on their choose of attire. Amy was glowing next to Xander, and Xander couldn’t seem to stop smiling.
Amy and Xander were the first to walk down the staircase and join the party. Before, Willow and Angel entered, he pulled her in and kissed her tenderly.
“Ready?” he asked.
“For anything,” she replied with a smile, kissing him.
They walked down the staircase, hand in hand, unwaivered of the pair
of eyes on them as they made it to the bottom.
* * * * * * *
The evening went as smooth as it possible could. Oz and Buffy tried
their best to act into each other and ignore just how Angel and Willow
looked together. Xander and Amy just
rolled their eyes at the attempt and continued to have a fabulous time
together.
But the biggest surprise of the night did not come from either couple,
though the dresses alone from Buffy and Willow, as well as just how good
Angel looked turned many faces, it
was actually just how great Merle and Giles looked together. The small
group looked on in complete amazement as they saw Giles transform in front
of their eyes. There was no
stuttering, nor was there any fidgeting. His glasses seemed to disappear
from hand and his suave moves left them stunned.
It was by the middle of the night that the tempo of the party changed. As Angel and Willow danced, they were bumped from behind.
“May I cut in?” Oz asked as the couple halted.
Angel looked at Willow for a moment and saw her nod. It was now or never.
“Only for a dance,” Angel replied and let his Willow go.
And then the surprises began.
Buffy smiled at Angel as seductively as possible, her eyebrows raised
a bit, her mouth glistened with red gloss. She placed herself in Angel’s
arms, plastering her breasts to his
chest, giving him a eyeful with her low cut bodice.
With the new alterations to her dress, Angel was surprised to see she
could still breath. Once a lovely black flowing gown had turned into a
second skin. The bodice had turned
into a deep v-neck, deep and tight enough to place much emphasis on
her breasts, held up by two stapes around her shoulders. Her lower body,
completely
wrapped tightly around her body down to her ankles, occasionally
bumped into him, trying to create some
form of friction between them. Unfortunately for her, Angel was unmoved.
“Nice party,” Buffy commented.
“Yeah.”
“You look great, tonight.”
“You look nice, too.”
“Having a nice time?” Buffy asked him, looking up, flitterin her lashes at him.
“Great time, actually.”
“Oh......”
That hadn’t been the answer she had been looking for. She looked to the side and hoped Oz was having better progress.
“You look beautiful,” Oz commented as she squeezed her a bit.
Willow pulled back, not wanting him so close to her.
“You too, look nice, I mean. So does, Buffy.”
“Yeah, she looks nice..... anyway... having a nice time...”
“A lot, Angel’s great.”
“Oh.... we’ll I’m having a great time with Buffy too.”
“Are you really?” Willow asked him.
Oz wasn’t sure how to answer. <Stick to the plan>
“Yeah...”
Willow smiled, then hugged him.
“I’m so happy for you. I never thought about you or Buffy as a couple but you both look so happy and look so cute together. I’m happy you found each other, Oz. It really does.”
“What?” Oz asked a bit confused.
“I want you to be happy, Oz. Be as happy as I am.”
“Happy?”
“I can’t wait ‘till I tell, Angel. Now we can all move on.”
The music ended and she placed a kiss on his cheek, then left, leaving a confused Oz behind.
Meanwhile, Angel was trying as hard as possible to disentangle himself from Buffy, but somehow her arms seemed to find a way around him.
“You know... you would be happier with me tonight... Oz would understand.”
Angel looked at her a bit confused.
“Buffy, I am happy. Happier then I’ve ever been.....”
Buffy quickly changed her approach.
“So, am I, you know. Oz is great with me... and..”
“I’m glad, Buffy. You deserve to be as happy as I am. Now you can let go and love someone with all your heart and soul..... just like me.”
Buffy stopped moving and looked up at him, completely stunned.
Angel took the opportunity and pulled Buffy away from him.
“Thank you for the dance.”
She remained on the dance floor as she saw him walk away from her, disappearing
in the group of people around her.
* * * * * * *
Angel found Willow by the terrace looking out into the garden. He wrapped his arms around her, not caring anymore who saw them.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” she told him as she turned around and kissed him.
The sound of the music began and Willow placed her head on his chest
as they moved to the new song that spilled out onto the terrace from the
room.
I came along way
From out of nowhere
I stand before you
All alone
Like a wolf’s cry in the distance
I heard the calling
Of your soul
Oh.... I hear you cryin’
Angel held her a bit tighter as the song guided them from side to side.
He buried his nose in her hair, his hand moving hers over his heart.
With your love
Show me how to live
‘Cause you are made of me
And I am made of you
With your life
Show me how to give
you are made of me
and I am made of you
Willow’s heart began to fill with tears, her heart telling her to take
the chance... to take the risk........
We’ll walk together
Through the fire
Through the darkness
to the sun
Like two raging rivers full of passion
at the ocean
Becoming one
Oh.... I hear you cryin’
Her cheek remained on his strong chest as she followed her heart.
“This may be too soon... but I need to tell you.....” Willow began.
With your love
Show me how to live
‘Cause you are made of me
And I am made of you
with your life
Show me how to give
you are made of me
and I am made of you
“So much has happened... so quickly...”
I am made of you
You are made of me
And everything you are
Is what I’m meant to be
I am made of you
You are made of me
and everything I am
Is what you made me
Oh... Oh I hear you crying
Oh..... through the darkness
To the light.......
Angel listened, holding a breath he did not need, his heart and soul
full of hope..
With your love
show me how to leave
cause you are made of me
and I am made of you
with your life
show me how to give
you are made of me
with your heart
show me what is true
And they both spoke, echoing the same words.
“I love you.”
They pulled away slightly, looking deep into their eyes. Angel could
see the shaky smile on her lips and glistering eyes, but then he was sure
she saw her own reflection painted on
him.
He swept down and captured her lips passionately, their bodies halting
as they song sang it’s final chords.
‘Cause you are made of me
And I am made of you
With your soul
Walk my spirit through
You are made of me
And I am made of you
Oh... I hear you cryin’
Through the darkness
To the light........