"Well Willow," Giles began slowly " There is a
prophecy, that the council has sent me." Giles stopped to get a good
look at Willow. "It foretells of a young witch," he pauses to gauge,
surprised when he found none.  He begins again, "that...young witch
is marked with a destiny by
the Powers That Be."

"Okay, Giles enough with the dramatics, I can handle
what ever it is you are trying to say." She said to
him, all the while her mind trying to grasp what he
was saying.

"Very well Willow, but there is a history here to tell
and I will tell all of it." He replied to the
impatient teenager.

"Very well." She replied to him trying to sound
respectful.

The rest of the gang just sat and watched, all but
Spike.  He sat with a smirk, waiting to see the witch's
reaction.

"This prophecy, was sent to me by a friend of the
council, a few years ago." He again paused.  If he was
going to tell her this, then he was going to do it his
way.  She was not supposed to know of its existence till her
twentieth birthday. "Willow, I believe this prophecy
speaks of--- you." He sat back and waited for her.

"Giles," she began as she took a deep breath. " I want
to see the this prophesy."

Angel was incredibly curious now. If the Powers That
Be wanted Willow, then chances are, she would be
with him. However, how they wanted her with him was
another story. He knew not to mess with the powers. He
just hoped that they did not mind the growing romance
between them. He also hoped this prophecy would answer
his questions.

"Well Willow, I shall go find the prophecy for you.  However I think
we have had enough truthfulness for one night, and we should do this
in private." He told
her pointedly. Giles knew that she did not believe
him, but it was true. She is the witch that is destined to be with
the warrior on his trip.  It was her reward for saving him.  Giles
did not like the way the powers gave rewards, but Angel did already
seem to care for her a great deal, and also did before he left. When
Angel  left to go to L.A., Giles had thought for a fleeting
moment that he had left more because of Willow, then
the slayer.

"Ok, Giles but you are not getting out of this
mister." She told him playfully, to show him that this
had not affected her.

"Well daddy, are you and ma up for some Bronze?" Willow asked the
parents to be with a smile that showed she was happy for them.

"Sure, auntie Willow." Anya shot back at her.

The two girls hugged, and Willow whispered in Anya's
ear, "Thank you, and I am so happy for you."

Buffy watched the display, before jumping into it too.

Angel, Spike, Giles, And Xander watched the girls with
bemused looks upon their faces.

"Girls why don't we head out and celebrate." Angel
suggested.

"Okay, Sweetie." Spike replied in a high falsetto
voice bating his eyelashes at Angel.

"Buffy can't you control him?" Willow asked

"No luv, she just shags, and listens." He told Willow.

Angel walked over and looked Spike in the eye, as Buffy
came over and drop kicked him. As Spike fell to the
floor he asked, "What was that for?"
The group walked out the door laughing, once again in
Spikes honor.

When they arrived at the Bronze Angel paid the cover
charge, as well as bribed the bouncer to give them all
the over--21 stamp.

When they got inside Angel took drink orders and asked
Buffy to join him at the bar. Willow tensed then
relaxed when she saw them go.  She knew that Angel loved her and just
wanted a minute with Buffy to make sure things were okay with them.

The rest of the gang headed for a table.
 

          **************** Chapter 14 ***************
 

"Ok, why didn't you tell me about Anya being Pregnant?" Willow asked
her best friend.

"Anya thought you might get upset." Xander told her, but Anya gave
him a look of disbelief that everyone caught.

"Okay, I was worried you would be upset." He told her truthfully.

"Why would you worry about that? I want you two to be happy with
each other, and besides this way I get to be an aunt. I love that,
Aunt Willow."

"Yes, dear it sounds good." Angel told her as he returned with her
margarita.

Buffy pulled Spike out onto the dance floor.  "Let's see if you move
as well off a bed." She told him, leaving a very impressed looking
Anya at the table.

" See I taught her everything I know, who says I will be a bad mom."
She said told the groaning group.

Xander took her hand and led her to the dance floor leaving Angel and
Willow all by themselves.

"Well little one, how are you holding up?"  She looked at the love of
her life and said "Fine, but I don't think Giles knows what he is
talking about.  Why would the Powers want me?"
"Well my love, they could see in you, what I see in you." He told her.

"Well what would it be that you see in me?" She asked in a husky
voice, as she leaned over and captured his lips.

"Naughty, naughty, smooching in public like that." Buffy reprimanded
the couple playfully upon her return from her mating dance with
Spike.

Willow and Angel broke their kiss and Willow gave her the finger.

"Well well well, you are corrupting her, dead boy."  Xander told an
irate Angel.

"Xander use that one more time, then you will be a dead boy." He
growled at Xander.

"Now granddad, behave." Spike told Angel. Angel threw an empty
wrapper at Spike and grabbed Willow's hand to go find a dark corner
and finish that kiss they started.

"Buffy, you are ok with that?" Xander asked her.

"Yes," she said looking at Spike. But her heart did hurt, Angel was
her first love, and Willow her best friend, however she knew they
deserved happiness, and if that meant they were together than so be
it.

"How are you handling it?" Spike asked Xander, knowing that if anyone
would be upset it would be Xander.

"Strangely enough, I am fine with it. I can see the way they look at
each other and I know they are happy, and who I am to deny anyone a
happy?" He said tightening his grip on Anya's hand. "Besides with
Angel around, I won't have to keep paying for your sorry asses. I've
got a kid to think of now."

Angel heard the group laugh as they walked away. He had spoken to
Buffy about her feelings about him and Willow. She had said she was
okay, not sad, mad, or happy, but she was okay. She was with Spike
and she was happy with him.  She thought she might be able to fall in
love with him. He felt the same way she did about her and Spike. But
if she was happy so was he.

Besides he had a Willow to claim.

Chapter 15

As they made their way to the back of the club, Willow's mind was
going in different directions. Angel's hands had that effect on her.
She was thinking about what Giles had said, and about the rest of the
news her friends had shared, she wished they would have just told
her.  She was happy for them all, but was still bothered that they
felt they couldn't tell her. Willow was still in shock over the whole
Spike and Buffy thing, but who could blame her?  He was damn sexy,
but nowhere near as sexy as Angel. And with that thought she spoke to
her love.

" You told Buffy you loved me." She said simply.

Angel laughed, " Of course I did little one, because I do love you."
He told her pausing to look her in the eye before he leaned down and
kissed her.

Willow was in shock the moment those words were out of his mouth, she
knew he was attracted to her, but love. That was something new. She
wanted to ask when, how, but his lips stopped all her questions.

They both got so lost in each other's mouths that they never noticed
the gang leaving. Angel soon broke away because he knew she needed
air and had just forgotten that fact. He let her breathe, and
marveled in the fact she trusted him so completely, knowing what he
was and all. It was a nice feeling for him, to be loved completely,
even if she didn't know she loved him yet. He had time to wait for
her to realize it. Hell, time was something he had a lot of.

He pulled her closer to his body and whispered in her ear " let me
get you out of here." He could feel her shiver in desire; he took
that as a yes. He pulled her up into his arms and carried her from
the club.

Willow didn't care who watched as Angel carried her out of the club,
she was sleepy, and turned on--not a good combo to be walking around
with, at least not for her. Who knew what she might have done, and
she was not ready to do more than they had already done. She liked
Angel, she has had a crush on since she was 15 but what did she
really know about him? He was nice, a damn fine kisser, intelligent,
romantic, looked like a Greek god, felt like one too. He had a soft
side, as well as a tough side, but she didn't know who this Angel
was.  Her old Angel never laughed, hardly ever smiled let alone
talked to her.  She wanted to wait and see how things went if what
Giles had said was true. She was sure Angel was linked to the
prophecy and that meant they would be spending a lot of time
together. They would have time to get to know each other better, and
then she could find out if she loved this new Angel as much as she
did the old Angel.

Angel watched as the emotions played in Willow's eyes. `God, I want
to know what she is thinking about and \what she packed in this
bag, `it feels like a ton of bricks,' he thought. He watched as she
closed her eyes, and felt her tighten her grip on him. He knew the
night's activities would catch up with her, eventually. He just
wished he had more time to talk to her before they had. They reached
his suite; he opened the door, and set her down on the couch as he
went to shut the door.

"Angel? Where did you go? It's all cold, and not your cold, but cold
and I don't like it. Where ever you are come back." She mumbled as
Angel stood over her.

"If I come back I am never leaving, do you think you can handle
that?" Angel asked her.

"Umhum, just get your big undead body back here." She replied
sleepily Angel scooped her up off the couch, and placed her back in
his arms.

"Good boy." Willow said teasingly as she opened one eye.

Angel just laughed as he laid her down on the bed. He went over to
her bag and rifled through it to find her P.Js, when he found a blue
tank top, and blue plaid bottoms, he decided that he was going
shopping tomorrow.

Willow sat and watched him go threw her clothes; she was hoping that
he would dress her again.  It was just so erotic, and well she could
get used to someone dressing her.

Angel walked over to her with her clothes in hand, deciding whether
he should dress her, He didn't want to spoil her, well he did, but he
knew that he would rather do the undressing. So that is what he did.

Willow watched as Angel stalked over to her.
 

                       Chapter 16

She saw the desire in his eyes. When he reached her, she tilted her
head up, and waited for his lips to meet hers in a rush of need. When
they did she felt his hands on her back, snaking up under her T-
shirt. His hands on her naked skin were delicious, making her moan in
anticipation.

Angel whispered in her ear, "You are a goddess, your skin is like
porcelain, and your lips like strawberries." Then he pulled her shirt
from her body, making her press herself deeper in to his waiting
body.

He pulled her away form him to get a better view of her flat
stomach, and lacy bra clad breasts. "You leave me breathless." He
said to her.

Willow burst in to giggles.

"What is so funny little one." He asked slightly annoyed

" You are breathless, its no wonder I make you breathless." She
choked out through her laughter.

Angel just didn't know what to do with her.  She didn't know a thing
about romance! Well he was just going to have to teach her.

"Darling, would it be possible to have you stop laughing so I can
ravish you?" he said to her.

Willow shut up and let Angel admire her body, with his eyes and his
hands. She just hoped lips would be included soon. He moved back from
her to remove his shirt, she just sat and watched.

He then ran his hands and body up the length of her. Willow keened as
she thought her body was on fire when their skin touched.  She had
never felt these sensations before, and she hoped they would not
stop.

Angel crushed his lips to hers, as his hands traveled down the length
of her breasts and stomach till he reached her tank top he had left
on the edge of the bed. He picked it up and dragged it up her naked
torso.

Willow groaned when she felt Angel grab her tank top. She knew he was
not going to make love to her tonight.  She was not sure what she
would have to do to convince him that she wanted to make love to him.
She thought that short of putting up a `Now Open' sign above her
head, she would never convince him.

Angel knew that she was disappointed but he wanted to make this right
for the both of them. He pulled her up and slipped the tank top over
her head and said,

"I know this is not what you wanted, but I think it is best if we
wait to see what Giles has to say."

Willow rolled her eyes up at him and kissed him roughly on the lips,
when she broke away she asked him, " is it always business with you?"

He just laughed, at her and reached for the buttons on her skirt, he
smiled at her and said, "I hope this isn't a favorite." Then he
ripped it from her body in one fluid movement.

Willow looked up at him with shock. " Uh," but before she could
finish Angel had his hands on her stomach. He then bent down and
trailed wet slow kisses down the length of her.

Willow just sat back and enjoyed the sensation of his lips and tongue
on her stomach. It was heaven. His cool tongue calmed the raging fire
she felt she was on.
If he wanted to wait then so be it, as long as while they waited he
never stopped this, she thought as she moaned. She found his hair,
and raked her fingers thought it, pulling him down her stomach to her
moist panties.

Angel let her pull him down to her, and inhaled the scent of her
desire. `Got to stop' he thought as he kissed her panty clad heat.

Willow lost it when his lips touched its target. She screamed out his
name in her release. She couldn't believe she had lost control.  She
did not want to come until she had him in her, `but oh my god' she
thought as her body reverberated with her orgasm. When her brain
began to function again her first was `He did this on purpose he knew
it was the only way that he could end this with out it getting
violent'.

She still had hold of his hair as she pulled harder and yanked him up
to her face as she told him " you little cheat, you did that on
purpose!  You knew how close I was and it would put a stop to this
because you have to be all gentlemeny, and wait, you did this on
purpose, didn't you?" she finished panting. Angel tried hard not to
laugh at this moment. He knew she would not like that and the last
thing he wanted to do was unleash the anger known as Willow.

So he told her "Little one would I do something like that? And as for
being all `Gentlemeny, I will not apologize to you about that, it was
how I was raised, so deal with it. And I did not do this on purpose,
I would have liked for it to last hours, I love the feel of you, you
feel like fire under my fingers," He paused to lightly brush her lips
with his finger tips. "I want to hold you in my arms until the end of
time, and I just want you to appreciate that before I make you mine."
With that he reached down and cupped her chin and kissed her lips.
Willow fell in to his chest as he kissed her. He was so sweet. She
could wait as long as he could, she could feel his want, and knew it
would be hard for him to wait much longer.

With that thought, she snuggled into him deeper.

*********************************************************************

                        Chapter 17
 

Angel pulled her closer.  He could not get enough of her closeness.
He didn't think he would be happy until he could pull her into him
and make them one.  He pulled the covers down and settled them
underneath them as he began to stroke her back, he hoped it would get
her to go to sleep. They would have a long day ahead of him if his
suspicions were in fact true.

Giles walked in to the Magic Box the next morning with a feeling of
dread. He had hoped to have more time to train her, and to spend more
time with her before she left them. He had been preparing her since a
friend within the Council had sent the prophecy to him, which had
been right after Angel returned from hell, and then it had been to
late to save Willow. He hoped that she would adjust to this well. The
prophecy was unclear in some aspects but that was the problem with
these blasted things.  Even if you could decipher them in time, then
there were still things that were unanswered. `I am going to miss
her' he thought to himself as he flipped the closed sign to open.

Anya showed up ten minutes later saving him from his thoughts. "Good
morning Giles, how do you feel, any after spell shocks?" Anya asked
him.

"No" he replied, "did you experience any?" God that was the last
thing he wanted, especially since Xander had just gotten his
truthfulness under wraps.

"No, but I had some wicked morning sickness, I told Xander to never
let me eat anything Spike suggested again." She told Giles.

"Yes well, you wouldn't happen to know where Angel is staying would
you?"

"No, why? She asked him curiously.

"Well it seems Willow did not return to the dorm last night." Giles
paused thinking of the lack of discretion he had just used.

"Well good for Willow, somebody needs to be getting orgasms." Anya
told Giles in a strict tone.
Giles just shook his head as he walked into his office.

As Buffy lay in Spikes arms, she drew circles on his well-defined
naked chest. She was amazed at how comfortable she felt in his arms
and at the fact that he had stayed all night. ` It must have
something to do with the fact Angel is in town' she thought to
herself. She was once again surprised with something he had done.
She knew he loved Dru, but never really believed it was love.   She
also never thought he could be so caring towards her and the way he
protects Dawn, he acted like she was his own child. She couldn't help
but think she was falling in love with him, her mortal enemy.

Her thoughts drifted to Willow and what she was going to find out
tonight, it had been hard to keep this from her best friend, and
knowing that Willow was destined to be with Angel had been hard for
her, but that was one thing Spike had helped her with--- deal with
it, as he had said. And that is what she had done.  It had been about
six months since Giles had told her. Things this year had just been
wacky.  First Dawn, then the prophecy--- god she hated them, then
mom, and now Spike.  Who would have thought this would have happened?
She missed the `good ole days' when things had been simpler.  She was
just the slayer, Willow was old reliable, and Xander had been Xander.
Life was good then--well as good as it could have been. Her heart
went out to Willow, and she was going to miss her a lot. She was
about to get up when Spikes arms tighten around her and told
her "move and I will hurt you."
She just sighed and let Spike run his fingers threw her hair, as she
fell back asleep.

Angel woke up first the next morning with his arms around the
beautiful woman sleeping on his chest. He couldn't believe he had
gotten so lucky. He knew he had a lot to atone for, but good things
just kept happening to him, not that he minded, he guessed he must be
doing something right, he thought. He placed Willow down on the bed
and got up, he watched as she snuggled deeper in to the bed trying to
make up for the loss of his body, it made him smile. He grabbed some
clean clothes and headed to the bathroom to shower and get ready for
whatever Giles had to tell them.
 

**********
Chapter 18

Willow woke up when she realized that she was no longer in Angel's
arms. She heard the shower running and thought about joining him and
trying to get him to finish what he had started last night, but her
stomach decided for her. As she got up, she noticed the time flashing
on the clock beside the bed. `That can't be right' she thought. The
clock told her that it was five o'clock. She had slept all day!  She
never slept that long.
`Angel is a bad influence' her mind shouted. `Well so much for
breakfast' she decided.

She lifted the phone and ordered a well-done burger, and a salad with
ranch dressing. She rarely ate red meat but she was craving it. She
heard the shower stop running and decided to wait for her food in the
living room.

Angel walked out of the shower to find their bed empty.  He knew she
had woken up and called for food, but he did not think she would
leave him to get dressed by himself. Maybe that was her payback.
Leave him wondering, yeah that was good pay back. He got dressed and
walked out in to the living room as room service was arriving.
He laughed as he saw Willow heading to the door in just her tank top
and her underwear.
"Willow love, don't you think I should be the only one to see you
like that." He said as his eyes traveled her body.
Willow blushed when she felt his eyes burn in to her. At that moment
she realized she was half naked.
"Will you get that for me? I am just gonna go put on some clothes."
She said as she backed in to the bedroom.

Angel just laughed as he opened the door to get her food. "Its safe
to come out half naked now." He said to her in a deviant tone.
"Ha ha." She said as she walked out fully dressed.

Angel watched as she devoured her burger.  He just sipped his blood
and waited for her to finish eating. When she finished he looked at
her and asked, " Are you
ready to go speak to Giles?"
"No, yes. I don't know what he is going to tell me. I'm kinda scared,
however I feel excited. Does that make sense?" She asked him.
"Yes it does.  There is a prophecy about you and your future.  It is
normal for you to be excited and scared. I am scared as well. I don't
like prophecies, and I am not sure I like the idea of there being one
about you." He told her truthfully.

She just nodded and got up, she leaned over and kissed him and
said, "I will go finish getting ready, then we need to go find out
what is going on."  Ten minutes later they were walking out of the
hotel, and towards the shop and Willows future.
 

"Xander, I told you not to call me that." Giles told Xander when he
walked in to the shop. "I thought I told you all that I wanted to be
alone with Willow tonight, as well."
He said,  "Well Giles, I will be here.  You have been keeping this
from all of us and if it has to do with Willow, then it has to do
with ALL of us." He told the man who was his mentor.
Giles just sighed and couldn't say what he wanted to at that moment
because Willow and Angel walked in together. `Does no one understand
what the word alone means?' he thought. `Well at least Buffy listened
to me' he thought, but could not finish that thought because her,
Spike and Dawn strolled in as well.

"Well I guess no one is going to listen to me, but it is up to Willow
if you all stay." Giles said slightly angry that no one listened
him.

"They can stay as long as they are quiet." Willow answered him.

"Very well, then here is the prophecy." He said as he handed her a
paper that was nothing more than an email--- no less Yahoo at that.
 

  Chapter 19

The one of the flame, visually and literally who held the grace of an
Angel in her hands will have a path set before her. The course she
takes will place a task of returning a monster to glory. And as
reward she will be gifted to become his guardian. Upon her ascension
into adulthood, she will join and aid in this warrior's crusade to
save and gain humanity. Once she has taken that path, they will be
destined to guard and protect each other till the end of time.

Willow gasped as she read it, she was in shock when Angel took it
gently from her hand and read it as well.

"Damn the Powers! I will not have Willow risking her life to protect
me." He said handing it to Xander.

"Neither will I." said Xander, " I had no problem with them hooking
up, but I do have a problem with the fact that she and Dead boy are
destined. I don't care what the Powers That Be have planned for her,
she is needed here."

"Xander, calm down, it will be all right," Buffy began "And Angel,
she will not get hurt, we think it means she will become immortal, if
she isn't already." Buffy finished looking at all of the people at
the table.

Willow looked shocked, Anya jealous, Angel apprehensive, no and Spike
was smirking at her, and Xander was in pout mode.
Willow knew she should say something but could not.  She was destined
to be with Angel that was good she thought. And she would restore his
soul again, if given the chance to redo what she had done all those
years ago, knowing what she knew now. She thought she was in love
with him, and she was really considering going to L.A. with him when
he left but now that the choice was taken from her she was angry.
Angel was having the same thoughts. It was just not fair of the
Powers to do this to her, no matter how much they thought this was
a `reward' for her. It was not right for her at 21 to take on what he
did, he hated that Cordy got his visions and that Gunn had to give up
his life to willingly help him, and Wes. He was not worth the
trouble. He would just have to go tot the powers and demand that they
break her of this. "When I get back I am going to go to the Powers
and ask them to stop this before it starts." He told table of brave
teenagers.

"You will do nothing of the sort," Willow told him angrily "And
Xander you will not lose me, I will be here for everything important,
and you can get in the Xandermoblie, and visit. As for you Mr. the
world is terrible, the women I love has to be my guardian, woe is me,
calm down! I have been trying to tell you I am powerful, and I am
getting more powerful.  And when this thing kicks in it sounds like I
will be more powerful." She said as she planted them in their seats
and took from them the ability to speak--- all but Giles.

"Willow, I know we have a few days till your birthday. I have been
trying to train you as best as I can but you have passed me in your
magical abilities. I can train you to fight, as well as Buffy and
Angel." Giles said liking the fact that no one could speak but the
two of them. He added to her " before you leave do you think you can
teach me how you just did? I think it might be useful after you
leave."

Willow just giggled and asked if she could undo the spell. Giles
nodded and she snapped her fingers and the spell was undone, Spike
was the first to speak

" What the bloody hell did you do that to me for, I was being
silent." He said to her in a childish tone.

Angel just sat in shock. Buffy had a smile on her face.  She knew
Willow was going to be good at being a guardian.  Xander was just as
shocked as Angel, Anya was just bored and Dawn was in awe.
 

Chapter 20

Giles got up and went over to the counter and pulled the book Willow
saw him hiding the other day.  He walked over to the table and handed
it to her. "I was going to wait till your birthday to give you this
but it would be useless to wait now. You might want this." He said as
he placed the book in front of her.

Willow was shocked.  It was a book of shadows, containing a bunch of
protection spells, healing spells, and defensive spells. She was
touched.  She looked up at Giles with tears in her eyes " Thank you
Giles, I will need these and every time I use it I will think about
you." She said as she went to hug him.

Giles accepted her hug, and was about to tears as well.  He was
losing another person he loved, and he knew she was just going a few
hours away, but still things would never be the same again.

Angel didn't know what to say, but he knew that this was not the last
of it.  If she thought he was going to sit back while she risked her
life to guard him then she was mistaken. He knew what the damn thing
said about `till the end of time' but it never said if she was
immortal, and he did not plan on taking any chances, let alone take
the things from her.  She deserved things like a family, a chance to
have children, and to have a normal life, not one with a 240
something vampire.  No matter what the powers said, he was going to
find a way to give her back all that the PTB had taken form her.

Willow watched Angel as Xander apologized to her; she knew he was not
going to give this up easily. That was not who he was.  He could not
just accept this like she had, or be happy.  That was his problem, he
thought that a normal life would make her happy, but she lost any
hope of a normal life the day she met Buffy. It would take a miracle
to convince him that this would make her happy, but she could and
would make him see it.

Angel looked up from studying the table to see Willow watching him.
He realized that she had been doing just that since he met her.  She
had taken this on long before the prophecy had been found.  He was
still not going to give up, but he would really love to have here
with him for all eternity.
Spike looked around the table and said "you people need to cheer up!
Red's not going that far, and she will have the poof! And look on the
bright side, at least we don't have to solve this thing." He said in
a joking tone.

The gang picked up the books lying around the table and threw them at
him.
 

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