** ** **

{{  It's after midnight
And she's on your phone (phone)
Saying come over
Cause she's all alone (lone)
I could tell it was your ex
By your tone (tone)
Why is she calling now?
After so long  }}

** **

The sound of a ringing phone snatched the red head out of her slumber. She
blinked, sitting up in bed and reaching for the phone just as it stopped
ringing.  “Hello?” A deep masculine voice rumbled in the darkness and she
sighed, laying back down. Angel had got it, no need to wake up all the way.

She closed her eyes, drifting back off to sleep. Then she heard ‘the Name’. The
one name in all of the world that she didn’t want to hear that late at night.
The one name she didn’t want to hear at any time of day, actually. It was a
name that she hated and feared with every breath she took. The only person in
all of the world who could even come close to ruining her happiness.

“Buffy?” Angel’s voice was filled with shock.

Willow shot up in bed, her heart tightening. They hadn’t heard from the Slayer
in years. Not since she sent Angel to Hell had she even tried to contact anyone
but Giles. The fragile looking red head closed her eyes, trying to still her
racing heart. When Buffy left it had hurt everyone. They had struggled about,
Slaying as best they could until Faith, the new Slayer, could arrive. When
Angel had come back from Hell they had struck up an immediate friendship that
had blossomed into love over the years, their marriage being only days away.

So why now? Why was Buffy calling now of all times? Last time she had spoken to
Giles the aging librarian had said Buffy had made a new life for herself on the
east coast and was happy.  Willow had tried to be happy for her, tried to tell
herself that it was good that the blonde haired Slayer had finally found
happiness.

But she couldn’t.

Too many nights of laying in bed wondering if her best friend was alive had
jaded her. Countless hours spent fighting demons the blonde Slayer should have
been fighting had hardened her heart to the pretty blonde she had once so
admired. That Buffy found happiness living on the east coast, far from her
sacred duties, was just another slap in the face. The only thing she had to
console herself on was the fact that she had found love with Angel through the
whole ordeal. She had found true love in the last place she had ever expected
it – in the arms of the vampire that had caused Buffy to leave in the first
place.

And they were getting married in two days.

** **
{{  Now what is that she wants?
Tell me what is that she needs?
Did she hear about the brand new Benz?
That you just bought for me
Cause y'all didn't have no kids
Didn't shared no mutual friends
And you told me that she turned trick
When y'all broke up in '96 }}

** **

“What is it you want, Buffy?” Angel almost growled into the phone. Just hearing
the blonde’s voice after so many years was an annoyance to him. She had sent
him to Hell then turned her back on everyone and everything that ever cared
about her.

He would have to hurt Giles for giving her the number.

“I thought we could…you know…talk.”

“What do we have to talk about?” The vampire smirked. His arm reached out to
hold his wife-to-be in the darkness, tracing soothing circles on her bare back.
The small smile she gave him was reward enough. This had to be hard for her,
knowing that his past love was on the phone after so many years. He could hear
the blonde sigh over the phone and hoped that she would take the hint that he
had nothing to say to her.

“Stuff….us…I hear you’re getting married.”

Angel could feel the growl starting before the sound ever became audible.
“There is no ‘us’ to talk about. And yes, I’m getting married. To Willow.” His
arm tightened around the petite witch, trying to reassure her even though he
was still growling. He knew his face had slipped, showing the demon he was
inside. That was just the effect Buffy had on him.

“To Willow.” Buffy’s voice was dry. “You know you still love me. Why even try
with that little mouse?” He heard her laugh and wanted to rip her throat out.
“I want us to try again, Angel. We had something special, something I’d like to
explore again. I’ll come back to Sunnydale if you want. Or you can come here.
Whatever is easier for you. I want us to make things work.”

Angel was speechless. How could this…this…arrogant little bitch, think she
could just call him up and expect him to drop everything and start over with
her? He had a life already. One with Willow. He glanced over at his mate in the
darkness, trying to gauge her emotions by the look on her face. She was scared
and he didn’t blame her.  He had loved Buffy for so long. Even when she had
sent him to hell he had still loved her. It had taken years to get over those
feelings. And now, here she was, wanting him back.

** **

{{ - What'cha gonna do
When you can't say no
When her feelings start to show
Boy I really need to know
And how you gonna act
How you gonna handle that
What'cha gonna do when she wants you back}}

** **

Willow held her breath, watching her lover’s face with anxious eyes. He had
grown awfully quiet and she could tell by the distant look in his eyes that he
was thinking about something. She knew what the phone call was about. Just by
looking at his face she knew it was the call she had always known would happen
yet prayed never would.

Buffy wanted him back.

Hot tears formed at the corner of her eyes, spilling silently down her face.
Was this it? Was this the end of the wonderful relationship she had spent the
last few years cultivating? She looked again at the face of the man she had
given her heart and soul to and felt that heart break. He was seriously
thinking about something – thinking about what Buffy had said no doubt. Her
chest constricted and suddenly it was painful to breathe, painful to even think
about existing without the creature sitting so close to her.

He didn’t even realize she was crying.

Sitting only a foot away, Angel was so wrapped up in his own inner debates that
he didn’t even notice she was crying. It hurt to know that one call from the
blonde bitch was all it took. One call and he had already left her, if not
physically, mentally. Harsh sobs racked her body, the cries falling from her
lips. There was so much to do. She would have to call all the guests and let
them know not to come. Call the florist, call the priest, call the caterer.
None of it was necessary now. There would be no wedding – not now that Angel’s
ex was back in the picture.

In her mind, without even knowing what her lover was thinking of, Buffy had
already ruined what was to be the happiest day of Willow’s life.

** **

{{  There's no need to
Reminisce about the past (past)
Obviously cause that shit did not last (last)
I know how a woman will try to game you (you)
So don't get caught up
Because baby you'll lose }}

** **

Angel heard Willow crying, heard her gasping for air as she tried to breathe
around the grief-stricken sobs coming from her mouth through the haze his brain
had been in and reached out an arm to hold her. There would be time later to
console her, time later to let her know he was never going to leave her. But
for now, the dark haired vampire was still speechless from what his ex had
said.

“Are you still there?” The annoyingly chirpy voice came over the line again.
“Who is that crying? Is it Willow? Tell her I said ‘hi’. She’s going to be mad
at first, but we’ll all be friends again. Just like the old days.” He heard her
sigh and opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off by another torrent of
words. “I’ve been thinking about the old days a lot lately. That’s why I
called. I realized I was wrong to leave. We were perfect for each other.
Remember all the fun we used to have together? It will be just like that. I
forgive you for being with Willow while I was away – I’ve been with others and
it wouldn’t be right for me to expect you to have stayed single. “

“Buffy…” Angel finally cut off the rambling blonde. His mind was jumbled with
thoughts and emotions he was used to pushing aside. Things like rage and hate
had worked their way to the surface. All directed at one little bundle of
blonde bubbliness thousands of miles away.

“Yes?”

The vampire took a deep breath, casting his mate a small reassuring smile
before continuing. He felt his face again slip into its demon countenance as he
let lose all the emotions the Slayer had made him feel. The anger and hate came
rushing to the front, the strong emotions giving his demon more power than he
usually liked. It was good for this, though. Maybe if he was cruel enough Buffy
would get the picture.

It was doubtful, though.

“There is nothing, and I repeat, nothing between us. There hasn’t been for a
long, long time and there never will be again. You are the most conceited
creature I have ever met in all my life. To think that I would leave the love
of my life for you?” Angel snorted, the smirk on his face and his tone of voice
sounding so much like Angelus that Willow winced. He was deliberately being
mean and a part of her –liked- it.

“But, Angel…” He heard the whining voice of the Slayer stammer and his demon
roared defiantly, wanting to hunt her down wherever she was and kill her for
hurting its mate.

“But, but, Buffy…” Angel rolled his eyes, imitating the whining voice of the
blonde so well that Willow couldn’t help but laugh. He grinned at her before
continuing, the smile softening the features of the demon that were still
present. “Obviously those times we had together back in the ‘good old days’
weren’t so good or we’d still be together. We *just*  *weren’t*  *meant*  *to*
*be*.” He emphasized every word as if talking to a small child who’s parents
told them they couldn’t have a new toy.

And still she kept whining.

** **

{{Tell me why she on the phone?
In the middle of the night
Tell me why she in your life?
Trying to get what's mine
She don't know me
She's about to know me
I'm in your life
That's how its gonna be
I've seen the broke ho
She ain't even all that }}

** **

Willow almost laughed when the vampire tilted his head to the side, eyes closed
as he listened to Buffy ramble on with reasons as to why they should try again.
He was doing his best impersonation of a sleeping man and, she had to admit, he
was doing it rather well. She could hear the whining voice of her former best
friend blaring through the line and her own blood began to boil.

How *dare* Buffy call two days before her wedding and want Angel back in her
life? How dare she assume that Angel would come crawling back to her and never
think twice about the life he had shared with her?

“Stuck up...conceited…arrogant…assuming…trashy…good for nothing…skanky little
HO!” Willow growled, drawing Angel’s attention. He grinned at her, seeing the
fire in her eyes and knowing that he was going to be a lucky man when it came
time for her to get rid of that aggression. “Give me the phone, Angel.”

Raising his eyebrow in shock, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips,
the vampire handed the phone over to his witch. He wrapped his arms around her
as she put it to her ear, holding her trembling body against his and let his
human mask slide back into place. He could hear the blonde still babbling, his
vampiric hearing letting him in on every little nuance of the conversation she
was holding with an empty phone.

“If you’re worried about Wills, don’t.” Buffy was saying when Willow held the
phone up to her ear. “She’ll get over it. All that matters is me and you.”

“Hate to break it to you, Buffy,” Willow purred, proud of herself for being
able to mask her rage. “But poor Angel fell asleep five minutes ago. I guess
listening to you does the same thing it always did.”

“Willow?”

“The one and only. Soon to be Mrs. Willow O’Conner, by the way.” The red head
smirked knowing that Buffy had never had the pleasure to learn Angel’s last
name and certainly had never been put in a position to be the wife of said Mr.
O’Conner.

The blonde snorted. “As if he will stay with you when he can have me. Face it,
you have him on borrowed time now, little girl.”

Willow almost dropped the phone as laughter bubbled from her lips. It was a
purely happy sound, filled with no worry. Angel wasn’t going to leave her. Not
for this wretched creature on the phone, not for anybody. She stifled her
mirth, kissing him quickly on the lips before returning her attention to the
obviously irate blonde on the other end of the phone. “Uh huh. Sure, Buff.
Whatever you say.” She rolled her eyes, winking at her dark haired lover. Her
voice dripped with sarcasm and hatred when she continued. “Since I have him on
‘borrowed time’, though, forgive me if I don’t spend it all talking to your
worthless ass. I’m gonna go fuck him senseless. G’night, Slutty.”

** **

{{ So if you want her back
You can take her back
Cause game recognize game
I could do the same thing
Get it right, change
Or take back this ring }}

** **

Angel watched as his mate slammed down the phone, her green eyes glaring at it
as if she expected it to ring again at any moment and spoil the quietness of
the night. Finally, when it was obvious it wasn’t going to ring, the red head
turned to look at him. He could see the tear tracks still fresh on her face and
wished more than anything he could turn back time and make it so that she had
never cried. “I love you,” he whispered, tucking a strand of her long red hair
behind one of her ears.

“Only me?” Willow whispered, her insecurities coming back now that the
excitement of telling off Buffy was over. “You don’t want to be with her, do
you? Because if you do, go ahead. There’s the door. I won’t keep you where you
don’t want to be….”

The vampire watched in amazement as the girl started to cry anew, her hands
fumbling for the engagement ring she kept on her nightstand. She held it up to
him and he felt his heart break. She honestly thought he would leave her.
Taking the ring from her trembling fingers, the vampire swung his legs over the
side of the bed, kneeling on the floor next to her. He fingered the two-carat
diamond ring before taking her shaking hand in his own and repeating the words
he had said to her months before.

“Willow Anne Rosenberg, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Happiness flitted through the red head’s heart, chasing away any shadow of
doubt that might have existed. He wasn’t going to leave her. She had given him
his way out of the whole mess and he wasn’t going to take it. Even when he
could choose between her and Buffy, he still chose her – simple, shy, little
Willow. She smiled brightly, extending her finger for the ring. “Of course,
Angelus O’Conner.”

Angel smiled, slipping the ring onto the young woman’s finger. In two days she
would be his bride and there was nothing that was going to change that. No
ghosts from their past, no bitchy little Slayers – nothing. He pulled her head
down, kissing her firmly on the lips. When they finally parted, his eyes were
glazed with passion.

“Now…what did you tell her about fucking me senseless?”
 

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