Buffy POV

I was glad to get home.  Riley had asked how my visit went. I told him
about Angel and Willow. He took it calmly.   We decided to head to Giles
tonight. I hadn't seen him since before Riley and I eloped.  It felt good to
see Xander and Anya.  Giles did not seem shocked by the news of Willow and
Angel.  Xander on the other hand was stunned.  Anya felt the need to jump up
and down in her seat saying, I was right I was right and clapping like she
won something on a game show. I just rolled my eyes. Graham was pissed.
According to Riley, he was working a lot of steam off in the padded room. I
felt bad for Graham.  Forrest could care less.  He though the bunch of us
were bad news anyway.

My mom thought it was sweet that Angel was not with me, but she was more
interested in when she was going to be a grandmother, then the fact that
Willow and Angel were lovers. I was like thanks Mom.  It bothered me that
Giles seemed very preoccupied with something else. I had a feeling that
something else was in LA. Riley and I went to his apartment and fell into a
deep sleep.

I found myself in the mansion on Crawford Street. Dru was setting a second
place for tea. "Join me Slayer." Dru said and gestured for me to take a seat.
I did.  She was pouring the tea. "Things change, let him go, Daddy doesn't
love a naughty slayer like you, he likes his crimson delight." Dru said
giggling. Then I saw Lothos. "Dru, come now, let's get a bite to eat." I felt
fangs break my skin.  I woke up quickly.

Riley must have heard me mumble in my sleep. I woke to see him looking at me
as though he was worried. "Are you ok, Baby?" He asked.  I didn't tell him
about the dream.  I knew he wouldn't understand.  I couldn't fall asleep that
night, I tried counting sheep, I tried reading, I even beat Riley's new
playstation game.   I felt so nervous. When Riley left I began to cry. Maybe
it hit me at once, the reality that I lost Angel. He was my first love, my
jaded knight in shining armor. I don't even remember walking over to the
cabinet, but I found the bottle easily enough. I had one drink, to ease my
nerves. It made me sleepy.

Riley was pissed when he got home and I was passed out in bed. I guess he
tried to wake me up and I wouldn't at first.  He shook me, that woke me up. I
then cleaned the apartment as he graded papers. I had slept good.  There were
no nightmares.  I enjoyed that fact. I was vacuuming when I felt Riley sneak
up behind me. He took me into the bedroom and all bad Willow thoughts
disappeared.

I had told Giles of my dream the other night.  He didn't have much to say.
We had gone to the Bronze later tonight. Riley had bought me a scarlet red
slip dress to wear. Riley felt bad for Graham and his depression that he
couldn't escape from. Riley had told me to dance with Graham that night. At
first I refused to, but then after each dance, I as given a drink. I danced
the night away. I was glad when she saw Xander, Anya, and Oz. "Oz!" I
hollered and hugged him.

We had a good time that night.  I told Oz about Willow and Angel. He took
it relatively calmly. Spike just sneered. We had been dancing when I felt it.
A vampire was near. I had went outside and found the vampire and staked him.
I fought him and won. His last words haunted me. "Lothos misses you."

I headed back inside. I told Riley and he called it a night.  Graham
headed back to our place and we drank more there.
 

Part 18

Giles POV

Things are falling apart as I feared. I don't remember when they began to
fall apart, when I officially stopped becoming a watcher or when college
started.  I worry about Buffy, no longer is she her usual bubbly self.  She
seems so isolated.  Last time I saw her, she looked haggard. I don't think
even patrols anymore. I know she tried hard after Angel left, but she
couldn't ever get over him. I know Riley and the Initiative do her work for
her. Even Riley has changed.  I can't explain it, but something is happening
in their marriage, something bad I think.  Xander said her saw Buffy at a bar
called Champs.  From what Xander said the bar was a dive, Buffy was there
drinking with Graham. From what Xander said, there was more than drinking.
This scares me. I brace myself for the call telling me my slayer has fallen.

I do miss Willow.  She helped me deal with Buffy and her lack of
training. Even now, I think about Willow.  I had quite a crush on her, for a
long time.  I remember when I kissed her.  Kissing her was divine.  I know it
was the bourbon I had been drinking that made me do it.  She never mentioned
it, for which I was grateful.  I could have fallen in love with her.  Now
Angel has her. I knew before Buffy knew about them.  I know that Willow is
bonded to them both now. Because she is bound to Angel, she is also bound to
Angelus.  I knew it the minute she straddled Spike and called him Boy. That
was Angelus, Spike knew it too.  Angel loves her, and worships the ground she
walks on.  I am grateful for her happiness. She was torn up badly over Oz. I
remember her coming to my house on the verge of tears. I held her as she
cried all night. I have told Angel if he hurts her, ! I will kill him.  Angel
gave me a stake and made me promise.

Things however are slowly looking up.  Faith has been released.  It seems
all evidence of her crimes in Sunnydale has disappeared.  Wesley has not
pressed charges against her.  She is a free woman now.  She works for Angel.
I was ecstatic when Angel had called me and told me she wants to change.  I
nearly drove that night to see her. I liked Faith, she never made me feel
like an old watcher, as Buffy did.  I have seen her progress.  She smiles
now, and looks happy.  I am amazed at how Willow and Faith have become
friends.  I found out Angel has been training Willow.  According to Faith,
Willow is very good.  I am glad that she is strong.

I look at the picture Willow took of Faith and I on her birthday.  Faith
looks radiant in blue jeans and the black tee shirt. I am at a crossroads in
my life again.  I lost Jenny way too early, then by the time I had enough
guts to ask Willow, Tara, then Angel had taken her heart.  Now I find myself
drawn to Faith.  She is very brilliant and has been helpful in translating
some Latin for me. She wants to train in the traditional way. She makes me
feel needed and somewhat desirable.

I look forward to spending this weekend with Faith.  She helps me relax,
helps me forget about my problems.  It was the knock on my door at this late
hour that startled me.   I opened my door and saw her standing there. "Hey,
Giles." Faith exclaimed.

"Enter." I said.  She smiled and walked right in. "Faith, what brings you
back here?" I ask.

"I didn't feel like being at home, and I hate to crash the orgy at Red
and Fang's." She said.

I offered her a drink. She took the scotch and sipped it. We made small
talk.  She told me of the nightmares she had been having.  I listened to her.
 She started crying as she told me about her dreams and the violence. I held
her for a long time.   I ran my fingers through her long dark hair. It was so
soft.  She calmed herself down and we decided to watch the movie that I had
rented. I offered her pajamas and waited for her to change.  I tried to busy
myself with the popcorn and not think about the beautiful woman changing in
my bathroom.  She looked radiant in the mocha colored silk pajamas that I had
given her. We had watched the movie Ghost in silence. Faith was crying again
at the end of the movie.  I felt bad, but I really liked that movie.

"I am sorry to have made you cry." I said to her.

"I want a love like that."

"You will have a love like that."

"I'll probably die before I find him." I comforted her.

When she got sleepy, I carried her into my room. She is truly sleeping
beauty. I have gotten to know Faith very well in the last few weeks, I think
I am falling in love with her. I wonder how many other watchers have fallen
in love with their slayers. Does this make me bad?  Faith is a beautiful
young woman. Against my better judgement, I crawled into bed with her. It
felt good to not be alone for once.  Faith came to me because she didn't want
to be alone.
 

Part 19

Angel POV

Willow has been sad lately.  It seems she told Buffy about us. I have no
regrets about that. I love my Crimson, completely. That Scooby gang has sort
of isolated themselves from her.  Giles is the only one who calls regularly.
Anya at least e-mails her about what a bitch Buffy has become and they talk
about Xander.  It is Xander who has stopped calling.  Xander isn't calling
her because of me. This is not fair to her at all.  She won't admit this to
me, but I know it is bothering her.  Even now, I watch her as she sleeps.
She is a wonderful gift from the heavens.  I need to fix what is broken.  I
walk over to the window and see it is sunset.  I went upstairs.  I told
Wesley I needed to go to Sunnydale for something.  I noticed Faith look up at
me when I mentioned  Sunnydale.  Willow says she likes Giles, a lot. I told
Willow her imagination is runnin! g wild, but now I am not so sure.

Faith ended up coming with me. "Don't kill him."

"Excuse me Faith."

"Don't kill Xander."

I look at her. How did she know Xander was whom I was going to see? "Why
do you think I am going to see Xander?"

"Because, I know you Fang, remember just how alike we are." I smile at
her.  I like the nickname Fang, much better than Deadboy.

"Are we going to see Giles today Faith?"

"Yes, I miss my watcher."

"Indeed."

"What's that supposed to mean."

"Nothing." I say in mock innocence.

"Whatever." She says looking out the window.

"You love him."

"What?"

"Are you in love with Giles?"

"Fang, did you hit your head or something, maybe Crimson beat you too
much with her crop last night, you are delirious."

"Believe me, if you knew what Crimson could do........ I mean she has
this warm mouth and these sweet lips that scream..."

"Stop it." Faith said, holding up her hand with severe attitude.

I love to try and make her blush.  She does blush, but won't admit it.
She reminds me of Delia sometimes, with her pride and denial.  This is a game
Faith and I play. No rules, except Buffy, we avoid that topic.

"I do." Faith says softly.

"Tell him." I know Giles feels the same.

"No, he will go away.  Diane died after I told her I loved her.  Angel, I
am the kiss of death." Faith says.

"I won't kill Xander. I just don't like how he is shunning Willow.  I
know it is because she is with me now."

Faith chuckles. "Just don't tell him how kissable Crimson is, or about
that trick she does with her tongue."

"What trick?" I ask. Faith knows I am insanely jealous of Willow. I
became aroused at the mental image of my Crimson and Faith in a passionate
kiss. Maybe Faith was still just a tad evil, she certainly made things
interesting.

"You know what I mean. The one that takes your toes tingle.  I mean
Crimson is such a hot kisser..."

My growl silences her.  I think Faith is only joking, but they do spend a
fair amount of time together.  I haven't smelled Faith on her, I put that
away for future reference.

"Makes me glad I don't have to breathe." I say. Faith just grins. She is
one crazy girl, but crazy in a good way.  She has been much better since
Giles and I have helped her. I pull the car into Giles house.  We both
knocked on the door. Giles smiled when we came in.

"Faith, Angel, what do I owe this visit?"

"Fang is gonna give Xander a piece of his mind." Faith blurts out.

"Really?"

"Ever since Buffy visited and came back here, Xander has not once called.
 That was over a month ago Giles. I know he hates me. But he shouldn't hate
her as well."

"Anya is there, she will invite you in." Giles said.

"Thanks, can you Faith-sit for me? She has been a bad girl and needs a
good hard spanking." I said.

Faith turned red. Giles noticed it as well.  "Don't trip over anything
sharp, pointy, wooden things Dearest?"

"You left your mascara in the car right?"

"Don't make me show you why I am a slayer."

"Just like Spike, my girl, all talk."

"Giles, can I kill him?"

"No, Faith, Willow would be upset and turn you into a rat."

"Damn, just make him go away, uninvite him or something."

"I will back in a hour or so." I then left. I went to Xander's apartment.
I knock and Anya opened the door.  Both the demon and I like her. Unknown to
Xander, we spent many hours reminiscing about our glory days.  I like her, we
have a mutual respect for each other and the damage we caused. I knew of her,
she heard of me. I remember Master comparing me to her, in a complimentary
way.

"Angelus."

"Anyanka.  May I come in?"

"Will you eat me?" I chuckle at her bluntness.

"I don't bite."

"Come in. How is she?"

"Willow is good.  She is coping well with things.  Her nightmares are
less frequent.  She is bound to me now.  She has seen everything Angelus has
seen."

"I figured as much. How are you?"

"Still human, I want my powers back."

"Why?"

"I miss them.  I had no fear." Oh, yes, Anya we were so alike. We caused
fear, not suffered from it.

"And now?"

"I have some.  Are you here to talk to Xander?"

"Yes,"

"Will you hurt him?"  I find her affections touching.  Never, did either
of us, meaning Angelus, ever think we would have affections for humans.

"No, I just want to talk to him."

"I will wake him up, he is naked as we speak."

"Thanks for the visual there, Anyanka."

She smiled. Willow has taught me to appreciate Anya's bluntness. It is
refreshing. It was a grumbling Xander that exited the bedroom.

"What do you want?"

"I want a favor."

"What is it?" Xander asked annoyed that I was even here.

"I know you hate me.  I do too at times.  But what you are doing to
Willow is wrong."

"What about what you are doing to her? Feeding off of her?"

"Willow is my mate, I bit her to show ownership to other vampires. Is the
reason you don't call anymore have something to do with the fact that Willow
and I are in love?"

"She can call me."

"Some friend you are Xander, you have been Willow's friend all her life.
You knew her long before any of us did. And you toss that friendship aside
because you hate me."

"Bullshit."

"Is it?  You haven't even e-mailed her.  It is tearing her up inside."

"It doesn't concern you."  My face changed and I grabbed him, hard. Anya
said nothing as I held the boy against the wall. It would be so easy to crush
his windpipe.

"Wrong boy, anything that concerns her, concerns me. I am not asking you
to like me, I am asking you not to lose the best friend you ever had."

"I can't." Xander was on the verge of tears.

"Why not? Give me one reason why you can't continue to be friends with
her."

"She stopped being our friend." He said in a soft voice.

"When?"

"When she bedded you." His anger took me by surprise.

"Excuse me?" This made no sense.

"She is sleeping with the enemy." Xander said in a voice that said he
didn't quite believe the line he was giving me.

"Who told you this?"

Silence.  I was ready to kill him. Maybe Buffy, I am willing to bet it
was that bitch. If at first you don't succeed.........................

"Who. Told. You. That?"

"Initiative."

"You a commando boy now?"

"No, they keep the streets safe."

"Did Buffy tell you that?" I was trying to keep my demon in check.

The resigned nod on Xander's face told me yes.

"I thought you were a friend of hers. I was wrong.  But let me give you
something to think about.  Do you love Anya?"

"Yes."

"Anya, while human now, was a demon. She was the enemy.  You are bedding
your enemy." I did love to use people's own words against them.

"She has changed."

"Xander, as Angelus I was only in the killing fields around one hundred
and seventy years. Remember how bad I was?"

"Yeah."

"Anyanka was in those same killing fields for over eleven hundred years.
I sure she has shared her stories of violence and bloodshed with you."

"Where is this going?"

"Willow is my seer. She is linked to me and to Angelus. She has our
memories. She has to deal with my demon. Don't you think she could use a
friend?  Do you know what it is like hearing her scream in her sleep because
of her visions?  I am there for her as often as I can be. I never asked she
be cursed with my memories, no one should. All I am asking is you that don't
shut her out because of me. I am leaving. It was nice seeing you again
Anyanka."

"Always a pleasure Angelus."

I really wanted to kill somebody or something. I was walking back to
Giles when I heard the scream. I ran in that direction and found Tara running
from two vamps. "Angel?"

"Tara?" So this was the girl I stole Willow from.

"Hide behind the stone, I will take care of it."

She nodded and hid. The two vamps growled at me. I growled back.

"Who the fuck are you?" One of them said to me.

"You're the dweebs friend. Have you seen my diner?" Harmony asked.

"She is not your dinner."

"We have been tracking her, she is ours." The other vamp said.

"Sorry, you lose." The vamp attacked me. I killed them both quickly
enough.

I then ran to Tara. "Are you hurt?"

"You killed Harmony.  Thanks mate." I looked up to see Spike.

"Sorry, she was .."

"Going to hurt the resident witch of the scooby gang. I know."

"I am heading over to Giles. Is your place that way?"

"Yeah." She said.

"Would you like an escort?" Spike asked her.

"Promise me Spike."  Tara said.

"Spike or I can walk you?"

"Peaches, where is Red?"

"Home, I think. I needed to stop up on business.  I have a girl to fetch
from Giles." I said.

"Pretty little brunette chick?  They were looking pretty cozy on the
couch."

"I knew it."

"Spike can walk me home." Tara said.

"Tara, if you ever want to call Willow, or just talk, she is around.  She
misses you. I guess I kind of suck at magic."

"Among other things." Spike said.  Sometime I will kill him.

I watched as they headed off in the opposite direction. I could see my
childe's eyes dancing as he looked at Tara.  Her eyes were enjoying him as
well.  I was glad to see Tara has moved on. I felt guilty about taking Willow
away from her. I got to Giles' and found Giles sleeping on the couch.  His
head was on Faith's lap and she was playing with his hair. She was smiling.
She gently woke him up and said goodbye.

"Did we have fun with Giles?"

"Did we kill Xander?"

"We really thought about killing Xander."  I told her what he had said to
me.  Faith wanted to beat the crap out of him and Buffy. I told her to let it
die.  I didn't tell Willow I was coming here, I know she will find out.

I tried to keep a strait face as Faith hurled out quite a long list of
insults at both Xander and Buffy.  She made me laugh so hard, my ribs ached
and she was crying by the time we got back to the office. Willow, Wesley and
Kate were staring at us.  Willow noticed Faith wiping her eyes. Willow ran up
to her.

"Angel, what did you do to make her cry?" my Crimson asked me.

"He wouldn't let me see Giles."

"You did go to Sunnydale." Willow said.  I noticed the color of her eyes
change.  I was in trouble.

"I did." I admitted.

"Why? " She asked.  She looked like she was about to cry.

"Faith wanted to see Giles, and I went to see and old friend." I said.

"You went to see Buffy?" she insinuated.

"No, I went to see Anya's new apartment."

"I see." Willow said. She then left the room.  I went downstairs and
found her curled up in bed, on her side. This was the go away body language.

I climbed onto bed with her. "Imzadi, what is wrong?"

"Nothing."

I began to touch her hair. "Imzadi, something is wrong, I can tell. Are
you going to make me mind meld you?"

We could read parts each other through the bond we shared. "Why did you
go see Anya?"

She was jealous, did she think I would ever touch Anya? "Because, when I
find Anya, usually Xander is nearby."

"Did you hurt Xander?"

"No, I wanted to, I mean I really wanted to."

She rolled over to face me. "I love you."

I pulled her closer to me and kissed her. I missed being in the same room
with her. I then slid a hand underneath her shirt, finding a semi-erect
nipple.  She pressed herself against me.  Things were good with us.  I knew
that since Oz hurt her, Willow was very sensitive.  I do as much as I can to
reassure her, but she still worries.
 

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