"Not a problem Giles, I will start it tonight." However when she
finished Angel growled.

Hearing Angel's sound of protest, Buffy hit him. "You will let her do
this or I'll have you on permanent Dawn patrol."

Angel conceded but put Buffy in her place. "I`d rather be on Dawn
patrol, then cemetery patrol.  And by the way, isn't that were you
should be right now?"

Spike growled back at him, but Willow hit him "Spike you will let her
go do the slayer thing." She said as both girls laughed.

Giles bid them all a good night and a reminder to Willow to start the
journal. With it being only 11, they all decided to go patrol. It
started out to be a nice, quite, calm night, until they made it to
the cemetery. Buffy and Willow walked ahead of the guys. The
Vampires, having the typical male ego, believed the girls would look
more vulnerable, thus weaker. Plus they got to check out their
women's behinds.  The two girls were talking in earnest about the
pros and cons of patrolling, or fighting any kind of evilness in
boots, when the first vamp attacked. The male vampire about
5'9, `really kinda cute' thought Willow as it went for her neck.

It tossed Buffy aside with determination to get to Willow. "What is
with her and Vampires? They all want her." She complained to the
Vampire "You know a girl could get jealous." She told it as it
exploded in to dust, covering Willow.

"Good job Wills, nice wrist action." Xander said as he walked up to
the two women and their men.  He put his hands on Angel, and Spikes
shoulders and leaned in and whispered, "It's done." Both vampires
nodded upon hearing Xanders comment, and continued to follow the two
women through the cemetery. Xander began asking questions about
Wills' training session. Angel told Xander what he had missed after
him and Anya had `disappeared'. The men got so caught up in
their `manly gossip' as Buffy called it, they lost track of the
girls. They wandered around the cemetery until they could hear the
sounds of a scuffle. As they calmly walked up to the fight in
progress, the only thing they could do was watch how beautiful and
graceful the two women looked engaged in battle. Angel stood to the
side mentally saving the image of Willow. Her hair was blowing
slightly in the soft California breeze, she had a stake positioned in
her right hand, just the way Buffy taught her. Her leg came up
smoothly and formed an elegant circle before hitting a female vampire
in the head. Angel was swelling with pride; she was going to be ONE
hell of a fighter once the three of them were done with her. Willow's
kick had knocked the unspecting vampire down hard on the ground
giving Willow just enough time to plunge her stage through the
vampires left breast and directly into her heart.  It exploded into
to a large cloud of dust and swirled away in to the night air.
Willow looked up to see Angel's eyes focused on her. She felt a rush
of heat envelope her body. She knew that he was studying her in a
teacherly way, but she couldn't help but notice the lust there as
well. The demon in him loved a good fight, and found nothing sexier
than a woman who could exchange blows. When she met his unflinching
gaze, she felt her insides melt. She thought the rest of the world
would just FLOW away.  Neither of them noticed the vampire sneaking
up on Angel from behind.

He turned to face it as Willow shouted " Angel look out!" He raised
his hand to block the punch that was barreling towards his angelic
face.  However he missed by a foot and it slammed down hard into his
jaw. He vamped out and spat his words at the fledgling vampire, " Now
that would have hurt, but not as much as this will." He moved his
body, positioning himself for the oncoming fight. Willow watched as
Angel danced around his opponent. It was horrific and gruesome
watching them trade blows.  However, as she watched Angel she could
not help but to get turned on, even if he was in `grrr' mode as she
used to call it. BUT she was not going to stand there and marvel at
his beautiful fighting technique. She checked to make sure Buffy,
Spike, and Xander were all okay, before she made her way over to
Angel. She began chanting one of the protection spells, Giles had
placed within her 'Book of Shadows', she felt the magic flow out of
her in a peaceful wave, surrounding her and Angel. This shocked the
vampire and he began to look around for the disturbance, his gold
eyes falling upon Willow.

"Didn't they teach you in school to mind your own business little
girl?" He asked Willow snidely.
Angel took that moment to place a swift BUT fluid kick to the
vampires gut. It fell back into Willow's holy water coated hands. As
it screamed and tried to pull away from her hard grasp, Angel quickly
stalked over to it and remarked, "Did they ever tell you red heads
have fury flowing through their veins?" He finished his statement
with a rapid stake to the heart. As the vampire burst into dust
between the two, they moved in closer to each other.

Are you okay?" Willow asked while stroking the ridges on his
forehead. As the appearance of his demon disappeared, Angel answered
her with a bruising kiss to the lips. Willow pulled away minutes
later to tell him they should go help the rest of them, as they
turned around they saw a dust storm.
 

Chapter 29

"Well, I guess they don't need our help after all." Angel commented,
leaning in to kiss her mouth again. "Okay peaches, let the witch
breathe." Spike jokingly told him. Angel removed his hands from
Willow's fiery locks to give Spike the finger.

"There seems to be a lot of finger flying these days Deadboy. What's
happened to the LOOK-AT-ME-I'M-MR. -TALL-DARK-AND-BROODY GUY" Xander
playfully asked the changed vampire.

"Really Angel. I've never seen you be all for PDA's.  You never
kissed me with an audience." Buffy said with slight jealousy creeping
up in her voice. This prompted Spike to wrap his arm around her
slender waist and pull her tight in to his arms and placing a deep
passionate kiss on her lips. Xander just looked at this display and
muttered " What is it with us and cemeteries?"  He walked away,
heading back to the arms of his pregnant girlfriend.
Angel broke away from his witch's lips, leaving his hand on the small
of her back. "Little one, I think we are done patrolling for the
night," He said as his gaze turned toward the other couple making out
next to them.  "Uhmmm," was Willows reply. As Willow and Angel began
to walk away, Buffy broke from Spike and asked "Wills where are you
going?"  Angel replied "To bed, where it looks like you are
heading."

"Nope, not with him at least." She replied pointing at Spike "It's
girls' night. Come on Will movies, chocolate, gossip." She told her
best friend in a tone that meant Willow was not getting out of it.

"Ah luv, where does that put me? Please say in the middle." Spike
said, both girls with his sexy smirk.  Both girls rolled their eyes
at Spike.

"You will stay with Angel. And Mr. broods no more, don't give me
those looks; Spike will sleep on the couch. I will not let my new
trainer sleep in a crypt with a creaky door and dust bunnies running
rampant, unless you want him in the middle?" She asked innocently,
looking at the two men who thought they had just been sent to hell,
one for the second time. Angel gave her a warning look before she
could look back to her best friend. "Buff, I will go get snacks, and
some clothes and Angel will drive me over and pick up Spike in about
two hours sound good?" Willow asked in her usual fashion, giving
Buffy the feeling of security.  "Sounds good to me, see you then!
AND REMEMBER--don't have too much fun!"  Buffy shouted over her
shoulder.

Willow looked up in to the sad eyes of the man she was beginning to
fall in love with. . "Calm down. It is only one night.  You can live
with out me for one night, right?" She asked hoping he would say no.

"No!  There! Are you happy? I can't live with out for one night. I
just got you AND I don't want to lose you."  He said in a childish
tone. Admitting this to her was a considerable feat for him. He was a
master vampire for god's sake! He DIDN'T NEED ANYONE, but damn if he
was going to be able to sleep without her by his side.
"Ha, I knew you needed me. Big ole vamp, just a baby inside. He needs
his Willow." She teased playfully, walking towards the all night Wal-
mart.

"Willow." Angel said to her in a tone that stopped her in her
tracks.

"Yes?" Willow said her voice full of trepidation.

"Don't tease about my feelings for you. This is something I don't
take lightly. I have loved all of two women in my 250 something years
AND FOR ME IT IS VERY SERIOUS." The master vampire told her sounding
like the Angel she knew long ago.

"Oh Angel, I would never mean to hurt you. It's just that I have
played with love, and learned not to take it so seriously. It is the
most wonderful thing in the world, it needs to be treasured, and
enjoyed. Not moped over AND CERTAINLY not mulled over. There should
be no analyzing, just feeling." She stopped to look at him, to see
his reaction to her words. As she did so she noticed the look in his
eyes that told her he could take whatever she said to him. She took a
deep breath, took his hand and placed a feather light kiss on his
knuckle. " Angel, that is one in a large number of reasons things
with Buffy failed.  You both never just felt. You both questioned
everything, you scrutinized everything down to a kiss, and you
planned everything you said before you said it. I will not do that
and I will not let you do that to me. This love will not be about
pain and longing, this--- us will be like nothing you ever have
done." She finished as they reached Wal-mart.

He just stood outside, and watched her walk into the store.
 

Chapter 30

He needed a minute to pull himself together and wonder how she had
become wiser than he had. Then he stopped himself. She was right, he
did think too much. With a sigh, he walked into the well air-
conditioned store and caught up with her going down the wide aisle.
The vampire caught her and turned her around and pulling her up in to
his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he leaned in and
captured her lips with his. Their lips pressed together in a
passionate battle for entrance into the others warm depths. Angel won
access, and thrust his cool tongue into her warm waiting mouth. They
stood locked in the heated embrace, until they heard " Get a room"
from a clerk at register 12.  They slowly pulled their lips away from
each other. However Willow would not unclench her legs from his body.

"How is that for just feeling?"  Angel asked a breathless Willow.
 

"Umm, not bad for a first time." She flippantly replied tracing her
lips with a single digit.
"You know it will be slightly hard to push this cart with you
attached to me." He said with slightly sexy undertones in his voice.
Willow giggled. She could feel how hard it would be, as something
firm pushed against her stomach.  She jumped down and waited for him
to walk before she jumped onto his back.

"Piggyback ride. That is what I want." She whispered into her vamps
ear.

Angel felt the shiver that delighted his body. She could have
anything she wanted.  "Okay little one," He said shifting her into a
more comfortable position. "Where to first?"  She told him the candy
aisle.

After a half an hour of wondering around and dealing with the
strange stares, they checked out with their goodies and walked the
block to their hotel room. When they arrived, there were a few
messages waiting for Angel. He collected them and noticed they were
all from the same person--- Cordelia.  Angel decided to call her
tomorrow. It was a little late and Dennis hated it when the phone
rang after midnight. Angel had no intention of antagonizing Cordy's
ghost further.  Willow went it to their bedroom and rooted around in
the closet to find some clothes to take to Buffy's.  When she emerged
triumphantly, she threw it all in her backpack, and headed to Angel
who had grabbed all her odds and ends.

They grabbed all the bags and headed out to his car.  Once seated in
the passenger's seat, Willow's excitement had begun to fade. She had
just realized that she and Buffy were going to be alone, and they had
yet to talk about all that had transpired in the last few days.
Before now they just hadn't had time. Willow knew that Buffy had
talked to Angel briefly about the romance between the vampire and the
witch, but Willow knew how the slayer was about what she considered
hers. That talk was one that scared Willow senseless. Not to mention
how Willow had repeatedly hit on the slayers new toy. How was she
going to react to that? `Not smart Wills, nope not too smart.'

Angel watched the play of emotions on his loves face, KNOWING what
she was thinking, She was excited at first but then the realization
as to why Buffy had suddenly announced that it was girls night hit.
The slayer wanted to have `girl talk', and that thought TERRIFIED
Willow, as it should. Buffy tended to not take things lightly when it
came people that the slayer considered hers. And Willow had not been
TOO smart tonight when she was playing games with Spike. However
Angel knew he needed to calm her down before they got to Buffy's.
"Sweetheart, you need to calm down. Buffy is not going to bite your
head off." Angel soothingly told the witch he loved.  Willow looked
over at Angel with a look of gratitude that quickly turned to a one
of surprise.
 

Chapter 31

"How did you know what I was thinking?" She asked incredulously.

"I could read your mind." He said with a smirk, never taking his eyes
off the road.

"What?" She asked shocked. "You can what? Great that was completely
selfish of me to think I would be the only one to gain cool powers
from this guardian stuff. Now you will always know what I am
thinking, not fair I TELL YOU! I never know what YOU'RE thinking and
I can't read your mind. That is totally not fair. Just like the
powers to give you the power to read my mind! But could they grace me
with the insight? Nope, not for Willow! She is just to watch and
guard, like a damn dog. What is it with people thinking of me as a
dog?" Before she cold continue with her diatribe Angels bellowing
laughter interrupted her rhythmic babble. "What do find so funny,
you big growly bear? What do you think that people thinking of me as
a dog is funny?"

Angel had to calm himself now, before this got anymore out of
control. "Little one, I can not read your mind. AND after that
little tantrum, I am thankful for that, let me tell you. I knew what
was going through your head because your face IS an open book, and I
know Buffy as well as you do." He stated simply.

"Oh I see. Play a little trick on the witch, as if we didn't get
enough persecution. I was starting to feel bad about sticking you
with Spike for the day and night, but not anymore." Willow said
hitting her mark. She knew that in his fun he had forgotten that he
was going to spend time with his grandchilde.

As his witch's words hit him, the smirk on his face slid into a frown
and all the sparkle in his eyes faded into a hooded den for his
emotions.

"Hey, don't hide from me. I know what YOU'RE thinking, AND I know a
part of you is loving the idea." She told him.
She was right. His demon loved the idea of a night alone with Spike.
It wanted to have fun with the other vampire. Memories of nights of
mindless spoken torture, and the games that often followed excited
the demon hidden in the depths of Angel. Yet that part would never be
free again, ever. No, the only thing that would happen between the
two male vampires would be monotonous slung insults. That thought was
painful to Angel, but he didn't have time to peruse those thoughts
because they had pulled into the Summers driveway.

"Well WE'RE here. Guess I should go in." Willow said not wanting to
understand the look in Angel's eyes.

"Not so fast little one," Angle said as he drew her up into his arms
and kissed her. " I am going to miss you tonight, and tomorrow, and
the thoughts of what we could be doing will keep dancing in my
head."
That was when she remembered what she was trying to accomplish with
the Spike game tonight. Tonight was supposed to be the night, but no
her best friend always did have the best timing.

"You and me both." She said wistfully as Spike walked out of the door
and sauntered to the car.

"The queen requests you now." Spike said as he interrupted whatever
moment Peaches and the little witch were having. With the spell
broken, Willow leaned in for one more lingering kiss opening the door
and beginning her death row walk towards the Slayers door. Angel
watched as Willow SLOWLY walked up to Buffy's door. He looked at
Spike who was about to open his mouth again and said "Whatever you
were going to say, save it for someone who wants to hear it." As he
put the car in reverse he thought to himself `this is going to be one
long night.'
 

Chapter 32

Buffy heard Angel and Spike pull away but THERE WAS no Willow. Buffy
knew her best friend she was probably worried that she was going to
stake her, so she opened the door and pulled the red head into a big
hug.  "Let me help you with those bags." Then Buffy proceeded to yell
at the top of her lungs for Dawn.  Her younger half appeared and took
the bags from Willow with a smile.
" Hey you! What goodies did you bring?" Dawn asked with excitement.

  Willow replied with a smile. "Chocolate, lots of it.  It's not
Godiva, but it's the best Wal-Mart could offer."

"Good, let's put it away so it won't melt, and then get into our
P.J.'s. OOH! And I have a present for Wills." She told her best
friend with a smile.

"Okay Buff." She said as she walked up the stairs flanked by Dawn and
her big sis.
 
 

**************************** Back at the hotel***********************

"Nice pad Peaches. I'm sure Willow loves it." Spike said as he
walked into the room. He took in all the deep blue and green silks,
the overstuffed couch, the mahogany table, and the dark green velvet
curtains. The bleached blond vamp was not surprised to find such lush
curtains. It was SUNNYHELL after all. He walked over to the windows
and drew the curtains open. The view was spectacular.  It overlooked
the park in the middle of the one horse town. He opened the door
and pulled out a cigarette. Spike started to walk outside to smoke
but decided to play with his grandsire. He stood in the doorway and
lit his smoke.

Angel watched the man who was once the `big bad', SURRPRISED AT the
changes in him. Yes he still had the cutting remark for every thing,
but he was kinder and gentler. The dark vampire was musing over the
changes as Spike lit the cigarette, `yup, this is the Spike he knew.'
The mentally laughing vampire thought.

"You know this is a non smoking room, and since you seem to be
drooling over my view, why don't you go out side and smoke." He said
with disinterest, knowing Spike was just trying to get a rise out of
him.

Spike blew the smoke in Angel's direction and said,  "Thanks for the
invitation but I am good right here."  He said using the same tone
Angel had used.

  Angel waited a minute before answering, "Fine suit yourself. It's
not like I am going to die, but if the sprinkler systems goes off you
get to pay for damages."   At that remark Spike jumped out the door,
mumbling something about "always takin my fun away Bloody poof."

Angel just smiled and flipped on the TV while he called down to room
service for a bottle of Jack Daniels. He had a feeling they were
going to need it.
 

****************************** Casa De Summers********************
 

The girls were dressed in an array of plaids and neon colored tank
tops sitting on the couch with a box of chocolate open in front of
them.  Buffy had put Willow's present on the floor, hidden from her
view. She was itching to give it to her friend but also wanted Dawn
in bed before they started the vamp talk. "OK, DAWNIE, bedtime.  It's
late and you have school in the morning."

"But Willow was going to show me how to do a spell and we haven't
finished the box yet." She whined. her pleas fell on deaf ears and
she was soon off to bed.
After Dawn was upstairs, Buffy pulled Willows present out from its
hiding place. "I know you gave me something like this once, and by
the way I HAVE never told anyone, just like you asked. But here it
is," she babbled as she pulled out a basket wrapped with blue and
orange cellophane. Inside the basket were an  assortment lotions, and
bath goodies.

"Oh Buffy, you didn't have to do this. Its so sweet, and nice, and
Angel will love it." She told her best friend with a big Willowy
smile on her face.

"That is the point. Angel to like it. Spike and I went to this store
and had the scents picked out according to both of your
personalities. Strangely enough it came out coconut and raspberries."
She said with a giggle, and then she continued with a more serious
tone,  "I want you to be happy Wills, if Angel makes you happy then
so be it. I know you make him happy cause I've never seen him like
this before. And I don't mean fighting with Spike, that I have seen,
but the way he looks at you and touches you," she paused and thought
about the necklace he gave Willow. "Will, he is crazy about you," she
finished with a smile.

Willow couldn't take it anymore. " Buffy, I hope you're right. I love
him and he says he loves me but but I wonder. He won't make love to
me even thought it is totally safe 'CAUSE he has his soul permanently
and SO THAT MEANS NO EVIL, MEAN ANGELUS. And when he touches me I
forget to breathe, ANDIT'S LIKE I CAN'T MOVE, ALL I CAN DO IS FEEL."
She finished with a sigh.

"IT'S okay Will, calm down and breathe." Buffy paused and put her
hand on Willow's arm. "He does love you. He wants you but that is who
Angel is. He is old fashioned, and takes things slow.  He wants to
work you up to it, make sure it is perfect, but real. And you just
have to wait for him. Don't push, just feel.  Can you do that?" She
asked her best friend in a teasing  tone of voice.
"Yeah I think I can do that, but I am still so scared," Willow
began.
 

**************** A bottle of Jack Daniel's later***********
 

"You mean you haven't taken her yet?" Spike watched a tipsy Angel
shake is head no. "You are a bloody Poof! No wonder she came running
to the Big Bad." He said laughing and popping a cigarette between his
sinful lips.  "How did we get to be so damn good looking? I know we
used to have no problems with the ladies in our day, but now it's
even easier. They just don't make us like they used to." He said with
the air of confidence that only comes from a drunken thought.

"Yeah totally. How they hell did we get so lucky?  You have Buffy.
You do have her right?" he paused waiting for an answer.

"Damn right I do, and you will do well to remember that." SPIKE said
more to himself, still unsure of his sire's heart. "Don't worry
CHILDE, I am so happy with Willow. Gods she is perfect. That hair and
her smile and damn that babble she has is right sexy." He said
slipping into his brogue.
Spike knew he was asking for trouble but damn this haze.  "That she
is mate. That ass is pure heaven. HMMM, I wonder if it's as firm and
juicy as it looks. You know I wanted to turn her, but this damn chip
stopped that thought."
Angel wanted to get up and hit Spike over the head for his comment
about Willow's ass but
couldn't. He was right, it was heaven in its purest form. He couldn't
help what popped out of his mouth next.  "It's better than Buffy's.
Softer, yet still firm, more womanly. WILLOW is the epitome of pure
womaness."
 

**************************Juicy girl talk  **************************
 

"I mean he has so much experience! Those hands can do things that I
have never felt. I have only been with Tara and Oz, and those weren't
much of an experience.  Oz left before it could really start to get
good, and my experiences with Tara, were wonderful, but WITH ANGEL
IT'S SO OUT OF THIS WORLD. I mean totally different anatomy not much
help there, but let me tell you it was good."  She finished with a
far off expression.

   "Willow, hellmouth to Willow." Buffy waited for her best friend to
give her that sheepish look, and continued " I know so totally know
what you mean about those hands.  When he touches you, you feel like
you are going to explode. But you just have to relax and let him do
his job, he likes that." She then found herself in Willow's shoes
thinking about the past.

"I am sorry Buffy. I am sure you don't want to hear about my lack of
a sex life with your ex, but I am more than willing to talk about
that hunk of burning bleached love." She said with a giggle of her
own.

Buffy sat back and looked at them in the mirror behind Willow. They
both looked so happy, normal and carefree, BUT looks can be
deceiving. She did want to hear about Will and her former love, but
she had her mind on that stupid former bad ass that had some how
stolen her heart.  "Will, I don't know.  It's so confusing. He has
all this passion and kindness. It's hard sometimes to see all that it
makes me wonder IF ITS real AND which part of him is real. Is it the
part that holds me and brushes my hair at night or the part that has
killed thousands of people? And if they both parts are him, how do I
overlook that killing and maiming part. Cause I want to OVERLOOK
it. I want to love all of him, I could never do that with Angel, but
I want to with Spike. I want to know all of him, love all of him."
She finished popping a piece of the forgotten chocolate in her mouth.

Willow was impressed with what her best friend had said. She really
wanted to accept Spike for all that he was, that was a good step. She
wanted to formulate her words of advice before she spoke them. " That
is a good thing because, I know this may hurt but need to hear it,"
Willow said slipping into her teaching tone, " you can't truly love
him till you embrace all of him. Spike is in a good place right now,
and even without the chip I know he would be doing this. He came back
for more than JUST to kill you, we both know that. He really cares
deeply for you and has been there when the rest of us have not. He is
not going anywhere, which leaves it up to you.  Can you do this?  The
only way is to let go and learn about him.  Don't be the Slayer, be
Buffy and look at it this way. If he hurts you can just dust him,"
she said with a smile trying to lighten up the deep mood she had set.
 
 

***************************Guys will be Guys**********************
 

"She has the softest curve to her body, and those damn freckles on
her tummy get me every time. I just want to suck them all into my
mouth and eat them…" He got lost in his lustful thoughts before he
could finish his thought.

Spike was disappointed. He wanted to hear more about Willow's body.
Not that he wasn't happy with the slayer, but she did at times lack
that bit of gentleness that a woman could have. Buffy just had
hardness to her he was not accustomed to. Dru was very soft and
womanly.

"Her body isn't the only thing that gets me. It's her mind. When she
looks up at me with those huge questioning eyes I want to tell her
everything. What gets me is she really wants to know, she's not just
asking to make me happy. That is more of a turn on than anything." He
said to the slightly jealous vampire sitting in front of him.
 

Chapter 33

"I wish I had that with Buffy. I want her to be able to look past
all I've done, and love who I am now, not what you made me. OH GOD!
Listen to me I am sounding just like--- who could it be, oh yeah---
You." Spike said trying hard to forget the emotion he just showed to
his sire. He lifted the new bottle to his lips and waited for the
poof to give him the advice had just asked for. Angel sighed and
thought about how to tell Spike what he was thinking. It's so much
harder after all this JD' he thought with a sheepish smile. "Spike
my boy, you need to listen to what I am about to tell you, and listen
good. This is the key: you need to tell her about your past. Make her
listen, don't hide it from her, but don't sound TOO proud of it or
gloat about it. Don't hide from her what you are, but also don't
threaten her with it or you're likely to get staked."

Spike trying to get the spotlight off him said, "So Red has freckles
on her tummy?"
 

After Spike's comment on Willow's tummy, he and Angel simultaneously
passed out on the plush carpet next to each other.
 

*************** Chocolate filled sleepy girls nite*********

Buffy yawned, while thinking about what Willow had said. "Willow,
thanks for the advice. That's what I will do, but right now these
tired slayer bones are headed to bed. You gonna join me?"

Willow nodded and followed her best friend up the stairs, glad that
they had talked about everything.

********** The morning after *********

The girls were woken up by the sound of Dawn loudly singing aloud to
Dido in the shower. Well more like screeching thought Buffy. The
blonde slowly climbed out of bed. She didn't want to wake Willow yet.
She needed sleep, besides it was Buffy's job to get Dawn off to
school.
She sat down on the floor and began to center herself like Willow had
taught her, and proceeded to stretch her sore muscles.

Willow woke up and found Buffy on the floor meditating. "Good
morning." The red head sad to her best friend. Buffy looked up and
smiled as they
Both heard the shower shut off, and thankfully Dawn's singing as
well.

"Well, I'm going to go down and make breakfast. Pancakes?" Buffy
asked walking toward the door. "Sounds awesome! I'm gonna go take a
shower. I'll be down in a few." Willow said to her best friend's
retreating back.

*****AFTER WILL'S SHOWER****

Willow followed the smell that wafted into the hallway. Once she
reached the kitchen the scene that greeted her was a peaceful one.
Dawn sitting at the island in the middle of the kitchen with a
gigantic stack of pancakes in front of her, while Buffy retrieved the
o.j. from the fridge.

Willow pulled up a stool next to Dawnie and asked "Where's mine?"

"Blind much?" Buffy said pointing to the plate next to the sink.

Willow turned and said "Oh" as she grabbed the plate, beginning to
devour the maple syrup drenched stack.
 

Chapter 34

"So Willow, I take it you will be going to L.A. with Angel huh?"
Dawn asked with the innocence of a 14 year old. Buffy and Willow
shared a look one of a sadness. Neither girl had thought about Willow
leaving. Well Willow had, but not without a lust filled haze.

Willow was unsure how to answer that now. She loved Angel and wanted
to be with him but she would be leaving everyone here. Could she do
that? She had been with Xander since birth and Buffy meant so much
to her.
Who would they all turn to, who would be thier rock? Could Giles even
operate a computer?

Buffy could not handle this talk yet so she just shhhed Dawn and
told her to get ready; they were leaving in a few. As Dawn turned and
trudged upstairs, she wondered what she had said.
 
 

"Wills I am sorry. Dawn shouldn't have asked that." She told her best
friend.

"NO Buffy, it's okay. I do need to think about it. I had told Angel
I would go to L.A. with him but now that I really think about it,"
She let out a long mournful sigh " I guess just forgot about it since
he doesn't seem in a hurry to leave. But I guess the time is coming
and now that I have to face it. I don't think I can leave. You guys
need me too much and well, I need you guys." She finished with
another sigh and a gloomy look on her face.

"You have to go! You and Angel couldn't be this far apart. It's your
duty to guard him remember. You cannot, will not, shirk your duty;
you have been giving me for years the `I am the chosen one speech'
and now it is my turn. You are the chosen one, the one girl in the
entire world to guard a sexy, broody, tall, and wonderful vampire.
It's your duty you are the only one." Buffy finished with a smile and
a roll of her eyes.

"But Buffy, you need me and Xander needs me! And who will cast the
spells? And help Giles with the computer? And make sure you have your
chocolate intake? And… and… who will listen to you talk about Spike?"
Before she could go on Buffy raised a hand to silence the babbling
witch.

"You're right. We do need you, but as you told Xander, we can come
to you and then you can come here to visit. As for the rest of it, we
will manage. This is your duty. Do I need to do that `you're the
chosen one' speech again?" Buffy asked with her stern mom expression
firmly fixed on her pretty features.
 

Willow looked to her best friend with a defeated look that marred
her beautiful face. " You're right. This is my duty and I am the
chosen one. I just hope Angel can wait till my birthday. I've never
spent a birthday away from Xander."
 
 
 

Buffy nodded her head and suggested that she discuss it with Angel,
before heading to hop in the shower before she dropped dawn off at
school.
 

*********** On the road again********

They had just left Dawn at school and were headed to Angel's hotel
to spend the day with their vamps. The scene that they found was
funny yet, slightly disturbing.
 

Angel and Spike lay on the floor together intertwined. Spike's head
was on Angel's muscular bare chest and Angel's arm was slung over
Spike's leg. The arm that Spike was not laying on, was holding on to
Angel's mid-thigh. To top it off, empty bottles of Jack Daniels
littered this peaceful scene.

"Well I guess they didn't kill each other, I think. It would be more
helpful if they were breathing." Buffy said picking up an empty
bottle.

Willow could not stop laughing, which soon woke up the two
slumbering vamps.
 
 

Angel slung his arm around the body that was rested on his chest and
sighed contentedly. `It was so nice waking up with her'. As soon as
that thought hit his brain he sat up with a jolt, sending Spike
tumbling across the floor.
 
 

"Bloody hell, what was that for?" Spike asked massaging his well-
sculpted ass.

"You were asleep on me." Angel said sitting, up not noticing the
girls sitting at the table behind them.
 

"You didn't try anything did you? Thank god the girls weren't here to
see that one." Spike said with his eyes squeezed shut trying to
recall the previous nights activities. His contemplation was
interrupted by a very familiar voice.
 

"Uh, been here ten minutes watching you two cuddle bunnies." Buffy
said prompting a bellow of laughter from Willow.
 

Spike and Angel whipped around to see the two women of their un-
lives staring back at them, smiling with matching knowing looks.
Angel just stood up and gave Willow a sheepish smile and a kiss good
morning. " I missed you little one."

She looked up in to his soulful brown eyes and said "You looked like
it, all cuddled up with Spike."
 

In that moment Angel knew he was never going to live this down.

"You two did look awfully cozy down there." Buffy commented
mischievously looking directly at her guy, who had yet to come kiss
her good morning.
 

Spike was sitting on the floor pouting. He knew as well that they
two of them were in for a fair amount of teasing over this fiasco.

"It was all Peaches! He got me liquored up and then tried to make a
pass at me. I must have passed out trying to fight him off." He said
trying to take the heat off himself.

"Uh huh. That's why your hand looked so comfortable on Angels thigh."
Willow told him with a smile.
 

"Oh bloody hell, sod off! I am going to take a shower." He stood up,
placing a kiss on the slayers lips and pulled her toward the shower
with him.
 

"Well I guess we won't see them for a while." Willow said longingly.
 

"That's okay we need to talk." She informed the sexy vampire whose
face took on the "uh oh" expression that men get when a woman informs
them that they need to talk.
 

"Ok little one. Let me go change first." He said as he walked toward
 

Chapter 35
 

Willow let out a breath she did not realize she was holding and sank
down into the lush couch. A few moments later, Angel walked out as
they heard a squeal coming from the bathroom. They both shared a look
of distain. Willow yelled to the two of them to get a room just as
the door was opening.  Buffy walked through a cloud of steam to
remove herself from Spike's torment. "Uh Wills?" Buffy called from
down the hall. "Yes Buffy?" Willow replied her eyes never leaving
Angel's. Buffy walked into the room thinking `I could use a knife
right about now, the tension between those two is way killer.' Angel
noticed that Buffy was soaking wet. The bottle blonde noticed the
look she was receiving from the undead population of the room. "Spike
tried to pull me in the shower, however all he succeeded to do was
making me soaking wet." She told the former love of her life with a
embarrassed smile. "Wills, Giles called on the cell. He wants us to
come to the shop. He thinks he might have something on the guardian
gig."

Willow sighed and removed herself from the comfy couch, grateful for
the distraction. "Darling, I guess we will have to finish this
later." She said to a relieved Angel.

He had no idea what she wanted to talk about but he learned one
thing about women. When they said `we have to talk' it was not
something he wanted to be present for. "Promise." He said with what
he hoped was a sincere smile. He leaned in and gave her a slight kiss
on her wanting lips and told her to go see what Giles had found.

The two girls walked out of the hotel room just in time to miss
Spike belt out the lyrics to a Britney Spears song. Angel shook his
head at the antics of the wayward vampire. As was glancing downward,
he noticed the stack of messages Cordy had left for him and decided
it was time to call her. He was sure that she was going crazy not
knowing what he was up to.  The vampire picked up the phone and asked
the front desk to connect him.  He drummed his fingers idly on the
table while he waited for someone to pick up the ringing phone.
 

Cordelia was examining her nails as the phone rang, sighing as she
reached for the phone. "Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless."
She waited to hear some old woman crying about the loss of her cat.

"Cordy, it's me." Angel waited for the long diatribe he was sure to
follow.

"That's nice." She said in an indifferent tone. `Damn Vampire. Who
does he think he is?  Not call and fill me, his best friend in. The
nerve of him'.
 

Angel sighed and knew this was worse than the angry Cordy. This
would take some suave handling if he wanted to get out of this one
cheap.

"I'm sorry I haven't called things have been good, bad and
hellmouthy here. I'm sure you want to hear about this, so I'll tell
you. Or I could tell you then give you my American Express card." He
waited to hear her response.

Cordy tried to hold in the squeal that was in her throat; barely
succeeding "I'm listening."
 

Angel could hear the excitement in her voice, no matter how hard she
tired to hide it. "What do you want first? The good, the bad, or the
hellmouthy?"
 

"How ever you want to do this Angel. I do have a business to run
here, and let me tell you it's been hard without our muscle." She
told him not meaning it but she had but she had to punish him for
leaving her out in the cold for days.  And she had waited a while
before she called the first time, though the next nine had been
fairly frequent.  But he deserved whatever she dished out.

"I'll start with the good, and then work my way through the bad and
the hellmouthy." He spent about thirty minutes filling her in.
 

"So Willow is moving here?" Cordy asked no longer able to keep the
excitement out of her voice.

"I think so." Angel replied hesitantly.

"What do you mean you think so Angel?" The edge to Cordy's voice
noticeable "You did asked her and not demand that she moving here
right? No, please tell me that you've talked to her about this."

"Yes Cordelia, I have asked her." He told her firmly.  "But we never
had the chance to finish talking about it." He finally admitted to
his seer.

"She told you she wanted to talk to you this morning right?" she
asked Angel, continuing before the vampire could answer her.  "Well,
that's what she wants to talk about. She just realized that moving
here would entail leaving Sunnydale." Cordy finished saying with her
unusual pearl of wisdom.

"You're right. You're always right. How do you do that?"
Angel asked awestruck.

" I know, it's hard to be this perfect." She said in the old
Cordelia way. "When Willow gets back, sit her down and talk to her.
Convince her 'cause man, would it be nice to have another girl around
here!"

Angel could only smile. Then he remembered the surprise party Xander
was planning for Willow's twenty-first birthday. " Do you want to
come here for her surprise birthday party?" Angel asked the woman who
had become his best friend and almost like a little sister.

"Who's planning it?  No, wait.  Xander, right?" She paused, trying to
figure a way out of whatever her ex would call a party before
remembering that it was for Willow, not herself. "Wouldn't miss it
for the world." She said somewhat surprised she meant it.

Angel told her the date and told her if she wanted to bring Gunn and
Wes than she could. It would do them all some good to get away from
the evil of L.A. Even if it was to come to the Hellmouth.
The two said their goodbyes as Spike was walking out of the bedroom
clean and changed.

"Hey, was that the cheerleader?" he asked with a slight leer.
Angel noticed Spike's suggestive expression and chose to ignore it,
and Spike for that matter. He got up and walked to the shower. This
was going to be a long day and he didn't want to reek of Jack Daniels
for the rest of it.
 

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