* * * *
"I'm starting to think you break it on purpose,
Angel." Willow smirked at the dark haired vampire
looking over her shoulder. This was her
second trip to LA for the month and both times had
been to fix Angel Investigation's computer.
"Would I do a thing like that?" His dark eyes were
shining with laughter. The computer had honestly
broken both times that month, but Angel wasn't really
complaining. His friendship with Willow was a joy to
him that he often felt he didn't deserve, and he
enjoyed every moment she spent visiting. "So you gonna
stay the weekend?"
The red head grinned up at him. "I was actually
hoping you could put up with me a little longer than
that. Say...for the week?" Willow had
no desire to go back to Sunnydale any sooner than she
had to. Demonic activity was at an all time low,
leaving her with little to do while her friends
went on dates.
Angel's face broke into a genuine smile. "Little one,
you are welcome here as long as you like."
"Good. My bag is in the car, " She returned his
smile.
"Bag?" Cordelia asked, walking in the door. "Staying
for a while this time?" She took in the cozy sight in
front of her - Angel's hands resting lightly on the
hacker's shoulders, smiling and content. {They're so
cute together its almost sickening.} The brunette
smiled inside.
"Just a week. I need some time away from the gang."
{Not that they will even notice I am gone...} Willow
pushed the sad thought from her head.
"I don't blame you. If I had to see them on a regular
basis I'd want to get away too." The ex-cheerleader
smiled, displaying her usual lack of tact.
Willow found herself laughing and talking with the
brunette, still aware of the closeness of Angel's body
behind her. She leaned into his hands unconsciously,
enjoying the cool pressure they provided. Her mind
flashed quickly on other places those hands would feel
good. {Bad Willow! This
is Angel. Your *friend*!}
"Angel?" Willow was pulled from her embarrassing
thoughts by the arrival of a woman stepping into the
offices.
"Kate." He glanced at the blond haired woman with a
mixture of worry and concern on his face. "Is
something wrong?"
Kate looked at the vampire in front of her. He seemed
to be pretty comfortable with the tiny red head in
front of him. She felt a wave of jealousy wash over
her. "Can we go in your office?"
"Sure." He motioned her towards the door, finally
removing himself from Willow. Turning at the doorway
he called back to her. "Go get dressed -
I'll take you to dinner when I'm done with Kate."
Willow smiled weakly. Was that Angel's new love
interest? Probably. The woman had been beautiful. {How
can I compete with that?} She stopped in
mid thought. {Compete? I'm acting like I want Angel
for myself.} She paused to consider the thought. {Well
don't I?} Aloud she asked Cordelia, "Who's that?"
"Who? Oh, *her*," the words was laced with scorn.
"Just some cop that comes to Angel for help. She
doesn't seem to be able to do her job on
her own." Cordelia smirked. "Either that or she enjoys
spending time in the company of everyone's favorite
vampire."
Willow smiled. So the woman wasn't Angel's girlfriend
- yet. Still plenty of time to make a move. "You
don't like her?" Willow raised her
eyebrows with fake sincerity.
"Is it that obvious?" The brunette rolled her eyes.
"He could do so much better." {C'mon Wills, admit you
want him.}
"Hmmm. Like me maybe?" The hesitant words were almost
whispered. She braced herself for Cordelia's taunting.
It never came.
"You'd be very good for him." Cordelia smiled at her
friend. She was glad she had taken the time to get to
know the girl after high school. She was a good friend
and Cordelia meant it when she said she thought she'd
be good for her brooding boss.
"You mean it?" Cordelia nodded. "Oh...but he wont
want me. I'm just his friend. I'm..."
"Willow, stop. The two of you are already close. You
just need to work on making it more."
"Will you help me?" The red head's voice was soft.
She hoped Angel couldn't hear them. Stupid vampiric
hearing and all.
"Of course. We'll start operation 'Get That Vamp'
tonight." The brunette smiled. {I hope Kate doesn't
make too much trouble when Willow starts moving in on
her 'territory'.}
* * *
Angel sat behind his desk listening to Kate ramble on
about some case she was working on. He had yet to hear
any good reason why she needed his help on it. "So..."
He cut her off in mid sentence. "You think the culprit
is something supernatural?"
Kate nodded, her blond hair falling from behind her
ears to frame her face. {Actually, I'm 99% sure its
just a normal sick human being.} She
thought to herself. She felt absolutely no guilt in
telling this one small lie to the vampire. After all,
it meant she could spend more time with him.
"Ok. I'll see what I can do. Come back tomorrow
afternoon?" {I wonder how she got this far without my
help.}
"Oh. Tomorrow." Kate's voice held a small tinge of
disappointment. {He's going out with the girl tonight.
Isn't that was he said to her before we came in here?}
"I was sort of hoping we could start tonight. Before
he kills anyone else." She watched with grim
satisfaction as he considered her words, knowing he
would never go to dinner when someone innocent could
be getting hurt.
Angel steepled his fingers in front of his face,
briefly closing his eyes and praying silently that
Willow would forgive him. "Fine. Let me tell
my friends and we can go to the station." {Hopefully
this wont take that long.}
The object of his recent thoughts looked up as he
entered the room, her green eyes sparkling and a small
secret smile on her lips. {Wonder what they were
talking about...} "Willow, I'm going to need to
reschedule dinner. Kate needs some help down at the
station." He saw her face fall and his annoyance with
the woman behind him deepened. "I'm sorry."
"Its ok." Willow gave him a fake smile. "We can go
tomorrow." She smiled at the dark haired man. {Why
does Kate seem so smug?} The blond haired woman was
watching her with a look that could only be
attributed to gloating. {She doesn't need his help
tonight.} The thought hit her like a ton of bricks.
{She's just doing it to spoil our plans.} Willow felt
like growling. {She wants to play? Fine.}
Angel stared in shock Willow walked towards him,
embracing him in a warm hug. He returned it with
enthusiasm, enjoying the feel of her warm body
in his arms, and never noticing the smirk she gave to
Kate.
"We can talk when you get home tonight?" A look of
jealousy passed over Kate's features. {She didn't know
I was staying with him. Too perfect.}
"Of course." The dark haired vampire felt slightly
lost, as if something was going on he wasn't aware of.
He gave her another smile, brushing a chaste kiss
across her forehead. "I'll see you when I get
home."
Willow smiled with satisfaction at the look of anger
that clouded the normally pretty woman's face. {I bet
she has never gotten a kiss from him. Forehead or
not.} As the cop moved past her to follow Angel Willow
once again found her voice, purring, "It was a
pleasure to meet you, Kate."
Cordelia grinned as the door slammed shut. "Willow. I
didn't know you had it in you." She was pleased that
her friend wasn't going to let
Kate's interference get in her way. "She's acting like
its a game to her - 'see who gets Angel's attention'."
Cordelia smirked.
"Well..." The red head turned to her friend. "If this
is a game then I'd just say I won the first round."
****
End Part One