Confrontations

E-Mail: sundevil48@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: They aren't mine. They belong to Joss and Mutant Enemy. I plan on returning them when I am done, although Buffy won't be in the best of shape and Angel will be a little late.

Distribution: Willow's World, BBA

Spoilers: A:TS-Sanctuary BtVS-WtWTA and New Moon Rising.

Rating: PG-13

Category: Romance, Angst.

Key Couples: W/A T/G S/A

Summary: Way too confusing for one right now.

Dedicated: To kylia, my partner in crime, and everyone else who feels that Buffy deserves all the bashing she can take and then some.

Feedback: Is my greatest reward. Keeps me writing.

Author's Note: Okay, this takes up at the end of Sanctuary, so be warned. I am playing with lots of things here and putting my own spin on things. Tara and Willow, just friends. I hadn't intended this to be multi-parts, but I couldn't help it. I started writing and my brain took over. Hey that's what happens when I can't study for a final because I don't have the notes I need. Oh well.

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~Part: 1~

"I have someone new in my life and I love him. It's not the same kind of love that I had with you, but it's new. Do you want to know what makes it new. I trust him," Buffy spat, never noticing or caring about the pain that she was inflicting on the vampire in front of her.

"Buffy," a female voice cried out from behind the blonde slayer. She turned to face the newcomer.

"Willow, what are you doing here?" Buffy asked her friend.

"I came to see if Angel was okay," Willow explained. "Giles found out about what the council had planned and he wanted to warn him. When we didn't get an answer, I got here as fast as I could." She looked at the girl in front of her and the vampire that stood behind her. She could see the pain in Angel's eyes at what Buffy had just said to him. Willow had heard the whole thing. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked confused.

"I mean, why are you saying the things you are. Are you trying to purposely hurt Angel just because he choose to do something that you don't approve of?" Buffy was surprised at the anger in her friend's voice. "He was doing what he is supposed to do. Helping others. How dare you hold that against him."

"This is Faith we are talking about, Willow. You remember Faith. Girl who tried to kill you. Switched bodies with me. SLEPT with my boyfriend."

"You don't have to remind me of what Faith did, Buffy. I remember all too clearly." Willow pointed out. "But if Angel is willing to help her, then I have to trust that he knows what he's doing. He's been on the road for redemption a hell of a lot longer than either of us has been alive."

Willow went over and stood in front of Angel, her back to Buffy and put her hand on his cheek. "Are you okay?" She asked softly. Angel looked down at the red head in front of him.

"I'm fine. Just been a long couple of hours." Willow snorted at Angel's understatement.

"I bet," Willow smiled. "I'm glad that you're okay. Had me worried when I got to your apartment and found all those cops and broken glass. They told me that they brought you here, in cuffs. Why?"

"They found out somehow that I had Faith. Since she wasn't around, they asked me where she was. I didn't know so I said nothing."

"And they arrested you for aiding and abetting right?" Angel nodded his head. Willow turned to face Buffy again. "And the reason you felt the need to lash out at Angel was?"

"Because it's my right," Buffy told her. "I came here thinking that Angel was in trouble, only to find him protecting the person he should have been wary of. He was holding her. In his arms."

"And did you bother asking him why he was holding her, not like it was really any of your business."

"No, she didn't," Angel answered for Buffy. Willow turned to him.

"Mind if I ask you why you were holding Faith?" There was no trace of accusation in Willow's voice. Just curiosity about the situation.

"A demon had attacked. Faith killed it and got freaked out by the blood on her hands. I was trying to comfort her, nothing more." Willow nodded, understanding completely why Angel had felt the need to hold Faith.

"Okay. Then what happened?"

"Buffy came in and started throwing accusations around and tried to attack Faith. I wouldn't let her."

"He chose that slut over me," Buffy hurled at Angel. "He even hit me."

"Don't make me say it again Buffy. You went after me first. What, I'm not suppose to defend myself. You come into my home, attack my guest and myself and I'm suppose to stand by and act like your whipped little puppy. I don't think so," Angel spat out.

Willow could tell that the anger that resided in him was barely in check and she grabbed his hand to try and calm him. He looked down at her, appreciating the effort and gave her hand a slight squeeze.

"What then?"

"Buffy and I got into an argument, but it didn't go far because Faith and Wesley came down. Right after that, the three hitman broke in and all hell broke loose."

"Where's Faith now?"

"Inside." Angel looked over at his former love, the hatred and disappointment in her written in his eyes. Buffy flinched from the harshness of it. "She's confessing to what she did."

"Then it sounds like you might have gotten through to her," Willow told him, pleased that Faith might actually get the help that she needed. "That maybe she's ready to accept responsibility for her acts."

"Oh please," Buffy rolled her eyes, "can't you see what's she's doing. Its an act. Part of some sick plan she has to get in Angel's good graces, just so that she can get back at me."

"Buffy, have you ever thought, that maybe this isn't about you. You aren't the center of the universe, despite what you may think," Angel told her flatly. "You are not the most important person in the world. I don't even know why you came here."

"I told you. I wanted to warn you about Faith," Buffy informed him.

"You could have used the phone," Angel replied. "Would have been just as effective. Then again, considering that you never even felt the need to tell me that Faith was even awake and on the loose, I guess you couldn't have really cared all that much. What was the real reason you came here? Was it to through your new life in my face? To tell me how you and I could never be together again? Well, newsflash, I already knew that. And, unlike you, I don't have the luxury of finding someone to help me move on. I have to be alone. I have to live with the memories of being with you filling my soul with an ache, not being able to do anything about it. So congratulations on your new life, Buffy. I'm happy for you. But don't you dare expect me to not try and find some kind of happiness for myself."

"But you can't find happiness or else you'll lose your soul," Buffy argued, jealousy at the thought of Angel with someone else creeping into her voice.

"What, you thought I would forget that? You really don't know me at all Buffy. Sometimes I wonder if you ever did." Angel turned to Willow, his voice turning from one of anger, to one of tenderness. "Willow, I want to thank you for worrying about me. And also for accepting the fact that I wanted to help Faith. You do understand why I had to do it, don't you?"

Willow nodded her head, "Of course I do, Angel and I could never fault you for trying to help someone, no matter who it was. That's who you are."

Angel looked back over at Buffy, "I think it would be best if you went back to Sunnydale, Buffy. This time for good."

"Angel, can't you see, I had to do what I did?" Buffy pleaded, not liking the way that the events of the past few hours had happened.

"Buffy, you didn't come here looking to help me. You came here looking for vengeance."

"Don't I have a right to vengeance?"

"Not in my city. Get out and don't come back." Buffy looked over at Willow.

"Are you going to come with me?"

Willow shook her head sadly, "No, Buffy, I'm not. I don't think that would be a good idea. In fact, I think it would be best if I moved out of the dorms. I'll call Spike and Xander and have them pack up my stuff. I don't think it would be a good idea for us to see each other for awhile." Buffy stared, astonished at what Willow had just said.

"Willow, you can't mean that."

"I can and I do," Willow told her. "A lot has been said here, Buffy. Things that can never be taken back. I saw a side of you that I didn't know existed and I don't like it. I don't know who you are anymore, Buffy, and I am sorry about that. You were my best friend, but now, you are someone I don't know."

"So that's it. You're just going to give up on our friendship because of Faith?"

"No, Buffy, not because of Faith," Willow replied. "Faith didn't really have anything to do with it, at least, not for me. This has to do with you. You are the one that can't accept that things change. People change. You just want to see them in the same way that you always have. No in between. Even Angel. You may say one thing, but, underneath, you always have your doubts. I always tried to deny that you were so selfish and self absorbed that you would willingly hurt those that you love, just to make yourself feel better, but I can't. Not anymore. Angel's right Buffy. Go back to Sunnydale. Go back to where it's safe for you. Where you don't have to worry about how the others see you. It's what you know."

Buffy looked between Angel and Willow, not understanding what happened between the three of them, and how she was suddenly on the outside looking in. It wasn't supposed to be that way. They were suppose to choose her, weren't they. Not Faith. But they didn't. They decided to defend the psychopathic killer that had tried to murder both of them. Why? What is it about her that made people want to be with her. Buffy turned and began to walk out of the police station. Just as she was about to walk outside, she turned to them once more.

"I guess Faith wins after all." And with that, Buffy was gone.

Willow let out a breathe she didn't know she was holding. She fell back against Angel.

"Are you okay, little one?" Angel asked the girl in his arms.

She turned to face wrapping her arms around his neck. She pressed her head against his chest. "Shouldn't I be asking you that question. That must have been tough for you. Having to face Buffy like that."

"It was, especially seeing you here." He cupped Willow chin in his hand, "You know, I didn't mean everything I said about not being able to find someone who could help me move on. You know how much I care about you, even if we can't be together in that way."

"I know, Angel," Willow reassured him. "But, hopefully it won't be forever. Tara got a call from her family before I left. They think they might have found a way to make your soul permanent." Angel's face help its first smile in days at the red head's news.

"Are they sure?'

"Not yet, but almost positive. They have your number and are going to call when they know one way or another."

"In that case, I think we better get back to the apartment. I'm sure I have lots of cleaning to do there, anyway." Angel took Willow's hand and they headed for the tunnels that would take them safely back to his apartment.

"Oh goody, nothing I like more than to clean," Willow said, sarcastically.

Angel leaned down and brushed her lips with his own. "Well, cleaning is just one option. Besides, I want to know what happened with Oz."

Willow looked up in surprise at Angel. "How did you know?"

"I can smell him on you. It's faint, but it's there. "

"What the hell is it with you men and your smelling people on me," Willow asked. "You can smell Oz on me and he could smell Tara. Hell, he accused me of having an affair with the poor girl."

"How did she react to that one?"

"Not well, let me tell you. Didn't help that Buffy and the rest all assumed it to be true." Angel looked down at Willow.

"Why?"

"Well, because of all the time I spend with her," Willow told him. "I guess they just assumed that we were together. I mean, considering how much time Xander spends with Anya and Buffy spends with Riley," Willow spat out the last two names, "maybe they just think it's the same thing."

"If only they knew how many of those nights you spent in her room was because you were with me while she and Graham were together," Angel said.

"True, or that you and Graham actually get along. Remember, Graham works with Riley in that damn Initiative. But, at least, he isn't as bad as the others. He has been able to stop some of the experiments and he is working on finding a way to help Spike," Willow pointed out. "That will make Anya very happy."

"Anya?" Angel exclaimed. "I thought she and Xander were still together. What happened?"

"Oh, that's right," Willow said, "with everything that has been going down, I haven't had a chance to tell you. Apparently Anya and Xander got into a fight. Well, while Anya and Spike were commiserating over their lack of nasty demon status, Xander ended up flirting with some chick. Anya was not happy about it and Spike was there to help her out. The only reason I know about it, is because I saw the two of them sneaking out of his crypt one night. Should have seen their faces when they realized they were caught. Priceless." Willow and Angel laughed at the images of Anya and Spike caught by the small red head.

"Well, I have to admit, they do make an interesting couple. I just hope it works out for them."

"So do I. Angel, what are you going to do about Faith?"

"I don't know. I think the next step is up to her. She took a big leap today when she came in to confess. I just hope that she continues to make progress."

"She will as long as she knows that there are people who care about her on the outside. People like you and me."

"Willow, I can't ask you to help me with Faith. I know how hard it is for you to trust her after everything that she did to you."

"Angel, you aren't asking me, I'm volunteering for the job. Besides, she hasn't done anything to me, that she hasn't done to you."

"Well, in that case, what do you think we should do?"

"Do you think I can talk to her tomorrow?"

"I'll have to talk to Kate, who isn't too happy with me right now, but I'll try and arrange it. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Do you think there is a chance that she can be redeemed?" Angel nodded his head. "Then yes, I'm sure. Tomorrow I'll talk to Faith, but tonight I am all yours."

Angel squeezed Willow's hand in his. "Not just tonight."

~Part: 2~

Willow entered the police station, looking around trying to find Kate. While she had never met the detective, Angel had given her a complete description of the woman and Willow was sure that she would be able to spot her in a minute. And she did. Willow walked over to the blonde detective, tapping her on the shoulder. Kate turned around to face the red head.

"Yes, may I help you?"

"Are you Kate Lockley?" Willow relied.

"Yes. Who are you?"

"My name is Willow Rosenberg," Willow informed the detective. "I believe Angel told you I was going to come down to speak with Faith." Kate looked over the girl in front of her.

"Yes, he said you were coming down to speak with her. Right this way,"

Kate said, the tone of her voice not quite as neutral as she had hoped. She began to lead Willow towards the holding cell where they were keeping Faith. While she was doing so, she decided to try and find out some more about Angel and the girl that he was harboring. "So, have you known Angel for long?"

"Almost four years. Met him my sophomore year," Willow told the woman.

"His ex-girlfriend and I used to be best friends." Kate drew in a quick breathe at Willow's last comment.

"That would be the blonde from last night right?" 'That would explain all the hostility that I had felt coming from the two of them.'

"Yes, Buffy," Willow said curtly.

"I take it things didn't end well between the two of them," Kate observed.

"You could say that," Willow replied, not going into further detail. Angel had told her that Kate knew about his being a vampire and her reluctant acceptance of it. He had also told her about what Kate had said after her father had died and that put a huge black mark next to the detectives name.

"What about this Faith person? How do you and Angel know her? And why was he trying to protect her?"

"We met Faith last year when she came to Sunnydale. She helped us out for awhile," Willow explained. "Something happened and she lost her way.

Angel's been there before and just wants to help her find it again."

"And so he decided that hiding a known murderer was the way to handle things?" Kate asked. "Excuse me if I don't buy that. There has to be something more to this than him wanting to help her. She's accused of killing someone."

Willow arched her eyebrow as she turned to face Kate, "You know Angel's past. You know what he's been through. He understands what Faith is going through now and wants to help her."

"And what about you?"

"I want to help her too. Because of Angel, but also because I think that there is a good chance that maybe Faith can change."

"Are you sure about that Red?" Faith asked from her cell. In the middle of their conversation, Willow and Kate didn't realize that they had arrived at Faith's cell. "I've done some pretty evil things in my past."

"So you regret them?" Willow asked the brunette slayer, already forgetting that Kate was still there.

"Some. I mean, okay, I can't exactly say I regret trying to hurt Buffy, but I am sorry for what did to you." Faith snorted. "Damn, starting to sound like Fang. He said I had it in me to apologize."

"He was right," Willow smiled. "You're stronger than you think, Faith. You've had to be. You haven't exactly had the best life."

"And you have?" Willow shrugged her shoulders.

"You took a big step last night Faith. You could have taken off when those guys showed up. You didn't. You came here and confessed, possibly saving Angel's life since the sweet detective that is still by my side threatened to put him in a cell that would get plenty of light." Willow didn't even bother to hide her contempt at that thought. Faith looked at Kate.

"Really? Bitch." Kate was flabbergasted at Faith's audacity. Here she was, being held for killing someone and she calls Kate a bitch for threatening a vampire with the sun.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Faith replied. "How dare you threaten Angel, he didn't do anything. Who the hell do you think you are?"

"A police detective who was arresting someone for aiding a fugitive. I was doing my job."

Faith rolled her eyes, grinning at Willow. "Oh please, you were just upset at the thought that he might have been involved with someone other than you."

"I don't know what you mean," Kate huffed.

"Oh please, you know green isn't really your color," Faith said. "Besides, if you were jealous it was of the wrong woman."

"Oh, are you saying that Angel is involved with the blonde that was with him last night?" Kate inquired, wanting to find out as much as possible about Angel, without actually asking him.

"Who, slutty?" Willow giggled at Faith's name for Buffy, having heard it from Spike also. "Please, his taste has definitely improved since he left Sunnyhell. I'm talking about Red over there." Willow looked at Faith surprised.

"How did you know?"

Faith shrugged, "He left me alone in the apartment. I snooped. That man is one hell of an artist. He should put some of his stuff in a gallery."

Willow blushed as she thought of exactly what kind of pictures Angel might have lying around his apartment, having posed for some of them.

"You didn't say anything to Buffy," Willow stated. "Why?"

"None of her business really. Figured there had to be a reason why you were keeping it a secret. Guess I was wrong when I told your friend that you were hitting for the other team, huh?" Willow blushed.

"You weren't the only one," Willow commented. Faith arched her eyebrow.

"Apparently, Oz could smell her on me and assumed that we were together.

And then Buffy and the others became to think so too, just because of how much time we spend together. If only they knew."

"The wolf is back?" Willow nodded her head. "Does he know about you and Angel?"

"No," Willow replied. "And neither does Buffy, Giles or Xander. Tara knows because she's been covering for us. As does her boyfriend. Anya and Spike found out last week after I caught the two of them together. Decided that I needed to tell them so that they didn't feel as bad about sneaking around."

"What about the curse?"

"Still there, although, hopefully, the clause will be gone soon."

"Bet you can't wait for that to happen?" Faith grinned. Willow blushed at the comment.

"Let's just say, we have standing reservations in Catalina for the celebration." Faith laughed out loud.

"I bet."

"Excuse me, but it's time to go," Kate interrupted, having become frustrated as she lost track of the conversation between Faith and Willow.

She knew about the curse on Angel's soul, but what was this clause they were talking about? And who are Spike and Anya?

"Fine," Willow said. "Faith, you take care okay. We'll find a way to help you."

"You don't have to Red, You and Fang have already done more than you should," Faith rebutted.

"Faith," Willow admonished, "we're going to help you so just accept it, okay? Faith nodded her head and watched as Kate lead Willow away from her.

Sunnydale

Tara and Graham were making out on her bed when they heard a knock on the door. Neither moved to answer it, hoping that whoever it was would just go away. The pounding on the door became more insistent. Reluctantly Tara pulled from Graham's embrace.

"Who is it?"

"Tara, it's Buffy. I need to talk to you?" Tara looked at Graham, motioning for him to hide in her closet. Once he shut the door, leaving only a crack, she went to answer the door. As soon as she opened it, Buffy stormed into her room.

"Won't you come in," Tara said, sarcastically.

"Willow's in LA," Buffy informed Tara. Tara nodded her head.

"I know. He told me she was going to see Angel. Wanted to make sure he was all right."

"Oh yeah, he's all right. Now that he has Faith and Willow protecting him," Buffy spat out. It was all Tara could do to hold back her laughter.

"What do you mean?" Tara asked innocently.

"I mean, that when I got to Angel's he was holding Faith. Then later, before I left, Willow yelled at me for the way I acted. The way I ACTED," Buffy yelled, still amazed at her best friend's behavior.

"Well, did you say or do anything to provoke her?"

"No," Buffy replied. Tara, who was standing next to her closet heard Graham smother a laugh. "I was telling Angel about my life when Willow showed up and went postal on me. I think you had better talk to your girlfriend. I think she's confused about where she should be."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that she is going to stay in LA for awhile. Doesn't even want to be my roommate anymore. Can you believe it? I mean, we're best friends and now she doesn't even want to be in the same room with me."

'Neither would I after the things that you said,' Tara thought. Willow had called her friend earlier that day, telling her what had happened between her and Buffy. Not to mention the things that Buffy had said to Angel.

When Tara had repeated the conversation to Graham, he became furious that the blonde could be so selfish as to through her relationship with Riley in Angel's face to try an hurt him. It made him wonder if she really cared for Riley or if she was just using him to try and forget Angel. But, considering the way that Riley had been acting since he hooked up with the Slayer, Graham couldn't bring himself to feel sorry for his friend.

"Well, if Willow wants to stay in LA for awhile, what do you want me to do about it? I mean, she's her own person and can do whatever she wants," Tara informed the blonde. "I have no say over that."

"How can you be okay with her being in Los Angeles? I mean, I thought the two of you were together," Buffy questioned.

"We're friends, Buffy. We told you that. Yes, Willow is special to me, but not in the way that you think," Tara replied, tired of the girl's speculation on Willow and hers relationship. Tara walked over to the door, motioning for Buffy to leave. "If you don't mind, I have a final I have to study for." Buffy walked over to the door, turning to face Tara.

"If you hear from Willow, tell her that she is more than welcome to come back. All she has to do is apologize." With that, Buffy left, Tara slamming the door shut behind her.

"Apologize my ass," Tara said as Graham exited the closet. "Can you believe the nerve of that girl?"

"No, but I've been saying that for awhile now," Graham replied as he enveloped Tara in his arms. "She's completely clueless. I can't believe that it took Willow this long to finally figure it out."

"She's known for awhile. Just didn't want to admit it," Tara wrapped her arms around Graham's waist. "I just can't believe that she actually thinks that she did nothing wrong. I mean, she threw her relationship with Riley in Angel's face and doesn't understand why Willow would be upset."

"Well, I just wish I had been there when Willow ripped into her. Would have been interesting to say the least." Graham and Tara chuckled at the image of the red head losing her temper at the blonde.

"Things are going to be interesting for the next couple of weeks, to say the least," Tara said. "Especially if Angel still plans on coming down here to help with the whole Adam thing."

"I know," Graham sighed. "We'll just have to wait and see what happens. I'll tell you one thing, though. Buffy better start thinking straight and telling the truth. I don't know what Riley will do when he finds out the whole story of her relationship with Angel. And Buffy will go ballistic when she finds out about Willow and Angel. I hope they can handle it."

"They will. They love each other," Tara replied. "Besides, they'll have us backing them up. Not to mention Spike and Anya. I'd say we'll make a formible team for whatever comes our way. Even if it is in the form of a blonde nympho and her farm boy lover."

"You are evil, my little witch," Graham told her, kissing her.

"And you love me anyway," she teased back.

"Yes I do." With that, no more words were spoken between the two, knowing the time would come soon enough for the confrontations that were sure to take place.

~Part: 3~

"Spike, Anya, what are you doing here?" Buffy asked the pair that had knocked on her door.

"We came to pick up Red's stuff," Spike said. "Xapper couldn't come so Anya got stuck helping me."

"Yeah, lucky me," Anya snorted. Actually she and Spike were thrilled that Xander had to deliver pizzas and wasn't able to help them. It gave them some more time together, even if Buffy was around. It also gave them an excuse to leave town for a few days in order to deliver Willow's things to her in LA. She and Angel had decided that she would transfer to UCLA after she took her finals. She had already arranged to take them via the Internet with her teachers.

"Willow asked you to pack up her stuff?" Buffy asked, unable to believe that the hacker had really meant it when she said that she didn't intend to be her roommate anymore.

"Are you deal as well as stupid, Slayer," Spike scoffed. "I just told you that she asked us to pack up her stuff." Spike dropped one of the boxes he was carrying and began to pack up Willow's things. He made it appear as if he was just throwing things in the ox, when, in actuality, he was very careful about what he was doing.

"Did she say where she wanted it sent?"

"Told us to bring it to Angel's," Anya replied, happy to see the pain that was on Buffy's face. "Said something about staying with him for awhile while she tried to sort things out."

"Oh," Buffy sat on her bed. She knew that Willow had been angry with her over the things that she had said to Angel, and now that she had some time to think about he she had acted, Buffy had to admit that she was wrong about throwing her relationship with Riley in his face. But, just because she knew she was wrong, it didn't mean that she was willing to call the two of them and apologize. "I didn't think she would actually leave."

Spike and Anya looked over at Buffy, surprised at the defeated tone that was in her voice. If they hadn't have already known what had happened between the Slayer and Willow, they would have actually felt sorry for her. Well, almost.

"Well, I've never heard Red so angry, not even last year when I had kidnaped her and the moron," Spike informed Buffy. "I don't know what happened between the two of you, but it hurt her something fierce." Buffy could tell that Spike was actually concerned about Willow, and was touched.

"Why do you care?" She asked him. "I mean, you've always made a point of saying how much you hate all of us." Spike shrugged.

"Yeah, well, Red's a bit different than the rest of your little gang," Spike answered. "She actually treats me like a person. She's willing to have a conversation with me. One that doesn't end with my being threatened to be staked."

"As for me, she's been willing to help me work out my feelings toward Xander," Any added. "She lets me vent, which is more than I can say about any of the rest of you. And she doesn't judge me." Buffy flinched from Anya's pointed accusations.

"Did Willow give any indication of how long she would be gone?"

"Nope, and even if she did, I wouldn't tell you," Spike stated. "Really obvious that she wants to be away from you. Can't say as I blame her. I can't wait to get on the road to LA and away from Sunnyhell myself, even if it means I have to deal with Peaches."

"Watch it, blondie," Anya warned. "Willow already told you that you had to be on your best behavior while we're there."

"Wait a minute," Buffy interrupted, "are you saying that you're taking Willow's stuff to her?"

"Yes," Anya answered, "she needs some of it to study for her finals. And I need to get away from Xander and his whining about our relationship. Spike has a car. Perfect arrangement." And the fact that it meant the couple would have time together made it even better. Buffy was about to say something else when there was a knock on the door. She went to answer it and, when she saw who was on the other side, threw herself into his arms.

"Hey there, Buffy," Riley said, "what's going on?" Riley saw Spike and Anya in the room, packed boxes around them. He glared at the vampire and former demon. "What did you do to her?" Spike returned Riley's glare with one of his own.

"Certainly not what I'd like to do to her, you wanker, considering the bloody chip you and your friends put in my head." Spike picked up two of the boxes that he had filled. "Anya, ready to go?"

"More than," Anya replied, taking the other two boxes and following Spike out of the room. Buffy and Riley watched them leave. Riley turned to look at Buffy's tear streaked face.

"What happened? What were they doing with Willow's things?"

She asked them to bring her stuff to Angel's," Buffy replied.

"Your ex's? Why?"

"I told you about what happened when I went to LA," Buffy reminded him.

"She apparently has decided to stay with Angel fro awhile. Riley, she doesn't even want to be my roommate anymore. We're suppose to be best friends. She's not supposed to stay angry with me. Why won't she even call to talk to me? To work things out?"

Riley held his crying girlfriend, trying to soothe away the pain that she was feelings at her friend's rejection. Riley didn't know exactly what had happened when Buffy had gone to Los Angeles to warn Angel about Faith. He was still trying to figure out why Buffy hadn't just called him with the news. Buffy always seemed to change the topic of conversation whenever he asked about her former boyfriend. There was something about the way that she acted whenever something concerning Angel came up that bothered Riley, but he was so enamored with her that he was more than willing to overlook it.

"I don't know why Willow is acting the way she is," he told her. "It doesn't sound like the Willow I know. Is it possible that maybe, the two of them are involved somehow?"

"No," Buffy nearly shouted. "No way. Willow would never do that to me. Besides, she isn't Angel's type."

"But if Willow chose Angel over you, isn't it possible, even if its not probable, that she cares for him?" Riley prodded. "I mean, she's not all that bad looking, so it isn't really a stretch that he might have feelings for her."

"Even if he did like her, which he doesn't," Buffy retorted, "he knows that he can't do anything about it. As he so eloquently reminded me, he isn't able to find someone who will make him happy."

"Why not?"

"That's a long story that I don't want to talk about," Buffy told him. "I just know that Willow and Angel wouldn't risk getting together because they won't risk making him happy." Riley wasn't happy with Buffy's reluctance to talk about her ex-boyfriend, not to mention the jealousy that was in her voice when he mentioned the possibility that Willow and Angel were together.

He hoped, for Buffy's sake, that he was wrong. He wasn't sure what Buffy would do if they were, no matter how sure she was about him not allowing himself happiness. 'And why can't he be allowed to be happy?'

"Spike, Anya, wait up,"Tara called as she saw the couple walking to the vampire's DeSoto. The pair turned to see Tara and Graham rushing to catch up with them, both carrying a duffel bag.

"What's up?" Anya asked the two as soon as they caught up.

"Willow said that you were bringing her stuff to Angel's," Graham replied.

"Wondering if we could hitch a ride."

"Why would we give you a lift?" Spike asked, still not completely trusting of the commando. He knew that Graham was actually trying to help Spike by trying to find a way to deactivate the chip in his head, but Spike wasn't ablt to get over the fact that Graham was part of the group that had captured him in the first place.

"Because we come bearing gifts for you and Angel," Tara smiled. Spike leaned against his car. "We found a permanent curse. No more happiness clause."

"So the poof and Red can be together?"

"In every sense of the word?" Tara said.

"That means that he can have plenty of orgasms and not risk anything," Anya commented, causing everyone to just roll their eyes. Spike wrapped his arms around his girlfriend and placed a kiss on her head.

"That's right, pet, lots of orgasms." Spike turned back to face Graham. "So, you have a gift for Peaches. What's the one for me?" Graham held up a computer disk and smiled.

"How about a way to get rid of that pesky little implant in you head?"

Spike's face broke into a huge grin.

"Really," he stated. "Then what are we waiting for. Let's get to LA."

~Part: 4~

Willow and Angel were sitting and discussing Faith's case when the door opened, admitting their friends from Sunnydale. While the pair had been expecting the arrival of Spike and Anya, they were surprised to see Tara and Graham come in behind them. And the grins that al four shared let them know that something big had happened.

"Here's your stuff, Red. Everything you need to live with the great Poof," Spike said.

"Spike," Tara warned, "behave or else."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," the blonde vampire pouted before breaking into another grin. "I promise to behave. But how I behave is a whole different matter." Everyone laughed as they came and greeted each other.

"Same old Spike," Willow said affectionately as she hugged him. "Glad to see that some things will never change." She turned to Tara and Graham. "Okay, not that it isn't great to see you two, but why are you here? And, before I forget, sorry for all the trouble that I am sure Buffy has been causing since I left."

"Don't be," Tara told her fellow witch. "It was kinda fun seeing her so upset. That girl is so clueless she still thinks she did nothing wrong."

"And, of course, Riley was there backing her up completely," Graham added.

In the two days since Buffy and Willow had fought in Los Angeles, Riley had done nothing but talk about how it had affected the Slayer. And about how much he hated the effect that Angel still had on his girlfriend. Graham had gotten so tired of listening to his friend that he had basically moved in with Tara in her dorm room.

"Did you expect it to be any different?" Angel asked the commando. Graham shook his head.

"Not really, although I was surprised at the hate in his voice when he talked about you," Graham told the vampire. "I think he sees you as a threat to his relationship with Buffy."

"Why?"

"Because of the way that she talks about you. Not to mention, how jealous she sounded when she told him about finding you with Faith. Not very pretty if you ask me. Makes it pretty obvious that she still has feelings for you."

"She sure has a funny way of showing it," Willow stated.

"Well, its nothing I really want to worry about right now," Angel told everyone. "Why don't we take Willow's things down to my apartment and get something to eat. I'm sure you are all pretty hungry after your drive."

"You know it," Tara replied, answering for all of them. Everyone loaded into the elevator which took them downstairs.

"Tara, just out of curiosity, what brings you and Grham to LA," Willow asked her friend. "I mean, don't tell me it was for the sparkling conversation in the car."

"Well, we have a couple of presents. One is for Spike, compliments of Graham."

"You found a way to deactivate the chip," Willow said excitedly, guessing at the surprise. While she knew that there was every chance that Spike would turn evil again once he got his bite back, Willow was pretty sure that he wouldn't hurt any of them.

"Yup," Graham replied, putting his arm around Tara's waist as they stepped out of the elevator. "That's my gift to Spike. The other surprise is for Angel, compliments of Tara." Angel and Willow looked over at the young witch, surprise and hope on both their faces.

"The curse," Willow questioned. She felt Angel wrap his arms around her and she looked up at him.

"My family is planning on fixing that pesky clause as we speak." Tara smiled at the happiness on her friends' faces. "They'll let me know when it's done, although they sad that there was a good chance that Angel will be able to tell." Willow fell back against her love, both shocked at the news that Tara had brought. While they had both hoped that a permanent curse would be found, they hadn't even dared to dream that it would happen.

"Oh my goddess," Willow whispered, as Angel kissed the top of her head.

"I don't believe it," Angel said, holding Willow close to him. "This is almost to good to be true."

"Well, believe it," Graham told him. "I was there when her grandmother called and told her."

"Peaches, it looks like you and Red can be truly together, although I still have to question her taste in choosing you as a mate. Then again, you are an improvement over that damn wolf," Spike taunted his sire, who refused to rise to the bait. Willow went over and gave Tara a big hug.

"Thank you," she whispered to her friend.

"Anytime."

"Okay, enough of this gratitude fest," Spike sad. "Didn't someone mention food?"

"Come on and I'll get you something to eat." Angel moved into the kitchen and fixed everyone an omelet. He and Spike even had some of the eggs. The conversation around the kitchen consisted of making arrangements to deactivate the chip, Willow and Graham would do it: arrangements for Angel and Willow for when they come back to Sunnydale, they would stay in Tara's room: and discussing what had happened with Faith. All talk stopped when Angel suddenly fell to the floor, clutching his head in pain. Willow raced over to him, kneeling down and wrapping her arms around his shaking body.

"Angel," she cried. "What's happening?"

"It's the demon. The curse. It's fighting him, pet," Spike explained to her.

"Isn't there anything we can do to help him?" She questioned, worried about her boyfriend. Just as suddenly as they started, the convulsions stopped. Everyone watched as Angel lay silently on the floor, Willow next to him. Silent tears started to course down her face. "Angel, honey, are you okay?' When there was no answer from the vampire, she rocked him gently. "Angel, answer me please." Angel's phone rang and Tara went to answer it. She spoke softly and quickly to the person on the other end, before rejoining the others. Graham raised his eyebrow, questioning who had called.

"That was my grandmother," she told them. "The ritual is complete. Angel's soul is secured."

"Then why isn't he waking up?" Anya asked, concerned about the souled vampire.

"The battle with his demon took a lot out of him," Spike said. "It may take a little while for him to recover, but he will. Bloody poof s too stubborn to give up."

"Let's get him into his bed," Graham suggested. "Make him more comfortable." Spike nodded his head and he and the commando picked up the unconscious vampire from the floor. Once they set him on his bed, they watched as Willow tried to make him more comfortable. "Willow, don't worry, he'll be fine."

'I know, but I think I'm going to stay here until he wakes up. I don't want him to be alone," she informed her friends. They nodded their heads in understanding and slowly filed out of the bedroom.

"Your family wasn't kidding when they said that Angel might be able to tell," Anya said to Tara. "I was feeling the pain just by watching him."

"I know," Tara replied, going over and sitting on the couch. "I hope he's going to be alright."

"You heard Spike, he'll be fine," Graham assured her.

"How will we know it worked?" Tara asked, innocently. The other three people in the room just stared at her and she blushed. "Never mind, don't think I want to know." All four people laughed.

"Okay, who threw a party and didn't invite us?"

"Hey there Cordelia," Anya greeted the former cheerleader. She saw the man behind her. "Hello Wesley."

"Anyanka," he said stiffly. He looked around the room at the odd assembly of people. "Spike, Tara, Graham, to what do we deserve the honor of your presence?"

"Came to bring Red her stuff," Spike replied, smiling at Wesley's obvious discomfort with the presence of the four people in the room. "And to give that poof of a sire his foul."

"Wait a minute, you mean no more clause?" Everyone shook their head at Cordelia's question. That's when she noticed the absence of Angel and Willow. "Don't tell me they're already."

"No, no orgasms yet," Anya answered. "The spell took a lot out of him. He passed out."

"But he's okay?"

"I'm fine, Delia," Angel replied from his bedroom doorway. Everyone turned to see him standing there, partially supported by Willow.

"So, how do you feel Peaches?"

"Like its not a fight to keep my sanity." When Spike opened his mouth to say something, Angel added, "Don't even think it Blondie." Spike promptly shut his mouth again. Angel looked over at Wesley and Cordelia. "Where were you two anyway?"

"We went over to the police station," Wesley replied. "And had a long talk with Faith. Also, we got a good look at some of the evidence against her."

"And?" Wesley and Cordelia looked at each other. Angel knew how hard it must have been for the two of them to see the rogue slayer after everything that she had done to them and was pleased to see them trying to be supportive of her.

"We think we may have found a way to get her off."

~Part: 5~

"What do you mean you might have found a way to help get Faith off?" Willow asked Wesley and Cordelia as she helped Angel over to his couch, where Anya and Spike moved to make room for him.

"Well, we got a good look at the evidence against her and I noticed some things about it. Now, most, if not all of her crimes in Sunnydale were performed while she was in the employ of the mayor," Wesley reminded the group. "And, because of this, any records of those crimes have disappeared."

"Then what are they holding her on? I mean, the cops were interested in her long before she came to LA," Anya questioned. "I mean, weren't they looking for her before she even arrived?"

"Exactly, which made me more curious, so I had Cordelia dig a bit." Wesley pulled out a file and laid the papers enclosed on the coffee table, giving everyone a chance to look over them.

"I don't recognize half of this stuff," Willow said as she glimpsed at the evidence against Faith. "And some of it wasn't even her. According to this, she is suspected of things that happened before she even came to Sunnydale. This makes no sense."

"It does if it was planted," Wesley pointed out, "which is exactly what I suspect has happened."

"Planted? By who?" Came the question from a few people.

"My first guess would be the Watcher's Council," the former Watcher informed them. "We've already seen the lengths they would go to in order to get Faith out of circulation. She's an embarrassment to the whole organization and her continued existence annoys them to no end."

"So's Buffy, but they haven't done anything against her," Angel pointed out, "even though she told the Watcher's that they could all go to hell."

"Umm, well, yes," Wesley stuttered, remembering all too clearly the altercation that had led to Buffy leaving the Council. "It's my theory that, while Buffy is no longer working directly for the Council, the reason they have not moved against her is because she is still fighting evil. In effect, she is still doing her job as a Slayer, whereas Faith went rogue.

She turned her power into a source of evil. Something that went completely against the Council and, as we all know, the Council is not exactly known for giving second chances."

"So they'll set up Faith since they haven't been able to capture her,"

Willow finished, disgusted with the lengths that the Watcher's Council would go to in order to stop Faith.

Great little group you used to belong to, mate," Spike quipped.

They weren't always like this," the Englishman defended. Cordelia placed her hand on Wesley's knee.

"It's okay, Wes. Besides it's not like your a part of them anymore," she said the man. "You turned your back on them when they offered you your old job back because you couldn't live with the terms that came with it. As much as I hate to say this, I don't think that would be something Giles could, or would, do." Everyone in the room nodded their heads.

"Back to Faith," Willow said. "Okay, we can work around any evidence mounted against her from Sunnydale, but what about her recent activities?"

Cordelia took that question.

"I talked to a lawyer that I know and explained the situation, including Faith's almost year long come. According to him, that could work in her favor." At everyone's confused look, she continued. "He told me that it could be argued that she was so aggressive because she was confused by all the changes that had taken place while she had been asleep. Everything that she had cared about was gone. The mayor. Her apartment. The school. And, add in the fact that it was a supposed friend that had put her in that come, then it would only make sense that she would feel the need to lash out at the people around her."

"Bloody hell, that's marvelous," Spike commented.

"It might actually work," Graham added.

"But won't Buffy and the others argue that Faith had always been unstable?" Anya asked."

"Buffy's credibility will be left as something considered quite questionable," Wesley informed everyone. "Considering her visit here and how she reacted to finding Faith and Angel together. She'll come off sounding as if she is just saying things against Faith because she's a jealous ex-girlfriend."

"Then let's get to work," Angel suggested, standing to his feet, steadier than before. Willow was by his side in a minute.

"Are you sure that you're up to this right now," she asked worriedly. "I don't want you to overdue anything." Angel chuckled at that red head's concern for him, appreciating it for what it was.

"I'm fine," he assured her. "Besides, we need to take care of this before we go back to Sunnydale. We might need Faith's help with Adam and her being in jail isn't really going to help her get the help that she needs to get better."

"Not going to help me either," Spike mumbled.

"What are you bitching about now, Blondie," Tara asked good naturedly.

"Let's see. Peaches here has a permanent soul now, which I'm sure he and Red can't wait to test out."

Willow blushed as Angel looked down at the floor at Spike's comment. "We're going to get the damn Slayer out of jail and we all know how much I love Slayers and yet I still have that stupid chip in my head." Anya wrapped her arms around her boyfriend.

"Ahhh, does the big bad vampire think we won't help him?' She teased, causing Spike to growl and everyone else to laugh. "Don't worry, sweetie, we haven't forgotten about you."

"Spike, Graham, Anya and I will work with you to remove that chip while everyone else deals with Faith, okay?" Willow told the younger vampire. "I know how much you want the damn thing out. You keep reminding us every chance you get."

"Well, now that we have an agenda, I guess we better get started," Angel said. "Willow, why don't you guys work down here and we'll go up to the office to do the research."

"Okay. It shouldn't take too long to remove the chip, so we'll come up when we're done," Willow said. Angel nodded and kissed Willow before leading his groups upstairs. Willow turned to the remaining three people.

"Let's get to work.".

~Part: 6~

"When are they getting here?" An impatient and nervous Tara asked for the tenth time in as many minutes.

"Whenever they get here," Spike growled, finally losing his own patience with the witch. "So quite your worrying. Anyway, I don't see why you're so bloody nervous anyway. I'm the one that she'll probably stake on sight."

"Spike, she already had a chance to stake you when she was in Buffy's body," Anya pointed out. "But she didn't. Instead she decided to talk dirty to you and get you all hot and bothered before walking away." If it was possible, Spike would have actually blushed at his girlfriend's reminder of what had occurred at the Bronze not that long ago.

"Don't remind me," he said. "I still can't believe I let her actually get to me like that. For a minute, I was actually excited by slutty and that's something I would like to forget. Hell, it took me three days of constant showering before I stopped feeling dirty about it."

"Well, I promise to do my best to give you better memories," Anya promised, giving the blonde vampire a deep kiss.

"You know, I think they have the right idea," Graham commented as he pulled Tara into his arms and did the same to her.

"Geez, we can't leave you guys alone for a minute before you start making out, can we," a teasing voice called from the stairs, pulling both couples apart. They looked over and saw Angel and Willow on either side of a nervous Faith. "Everyone, I 'd like you to meet Faith, the Vampire Slayer."

Willow introduced the brunette girl. "Faith, you've met Tara and Spike when you were Buffy. Anya I think you knew back in Sunnydale from last year. And the guy standing by Tara is her boyfriend Graham." Faith nodded a greeting to each person in the room.

"Hi," Faith said, a little self conscious at the attention she was receiving from this particular group of people. Other than Sunnydale's mayor, she had never had anyone go out of their way to help her and she didn't know how to react to it, so she said the first thing that came to mind. "Umm, thanks for helping me get out of jail."

"I've already told you that we didn't have a choice," Willow admonished the taller girl.

"You could have left me to rot there, especially after everything that I've done to you," Faith told her , still not able to believe that the two people she had tried to kill had been so instrumental in getting her out of prison.

"I know that you friend Kate would have preferred it that way."

"Yeah, well, Kate would prefer a lot of things that just aren't going to happen," Angel stated. "She can deal with one more disappointment." Angel looked around the apartment, noticing two very notable absences. "Where are Wesley and Cordelia?"

"Some guy named Mike called and said he had that item you were looking for, so they went to pick it up," Graham answered. "They should be back soon."

"What item?"

"Just something that I ordered," he replied cryptically. "Nothing to worry about." There was something in his voice that made Willow look at him strangely. She knew he was covering something up, but also knew that whatever it was, he would tell her soon enough. "So have you figured anything out about how we can defeat Adam?" Graham shook his head.

"Not yet," the commando said. "We're still working on what exactly Walsh did to make him. Whatever records she kept are really hidden within the computer. I was hoping that maybe Willow would have better luck than us."

"I can try," the red head turned towards Faith. "Why don't you go take a nice, long shower. I bet you could use the chance to relax after everything you've been through and when you're done, we can order something to eat."

"Works for me," the brunette Slayer said. She headed towards the bathroom.

Just as she reached the door, she turned to face everyone. "Umm, okay, I'm not really good at this, but I want to thank you for helping me. All of you. I know I have a lot to make up for, but I want to try if you'll let me." With that said, she went into the bathroom and shut the door.

"Are you sure that's the same girl that terrorized you lot last year?"

Spike questioned once he heard the shower start to run.

"Same girl, different attitude," Angel commented. He put his arm around Willow's shoulder. "I think she may just turn out to be all right."

"As long as Buffy and the others don't try and do something stupid," Willow said.

"And that would be different how?" Anya asked sarcastically.

"True, pet. The Slayer and her friends have never been known to consider the consequences of their actions."

"Hey, remember I was one of those friends, Blondie," Willow huffed. Spike gave a slight bow in the hacker's direction.

"Present company excluded, of course Red," the blonde vampire amended.

"Besides you've always been different than Slutty and the moron. I still don't know why you ever chose to hang out with them." Willow shrugged her shoulders.

"No one else wanted to hang out with me. Besides, they weren't always so bad." A beeper went off and everyone looked over at Graham, wondering what was going on, knowing that it only went off when there was trouble. He looked down at the number calling him and groaned when he saw who it was.

"Angel, can I...." The vampire signaled that it was all right to use his phone. Graham dialed the number that had appeared on the pager. "This is Miller, what's going on?"

"Hey Riley, what's up?"

"I'm in LA."

"Personal business."

"No I haven't seen her. I don't even know where she's staying. Why?"

"No I won't go talk to her. I already told you I'm not going to get involved with that. This is between your girlfriend and Willow. If Buffy's that upset, let her call."

"Well, that's her problem. Now did you call me to bitch about your girlfriend's problems or is there something else?"

"Adam? What about him?"

"He did? When?"

"Okay, I'll be there. See you in a few days." Graham hung up the phone.

"Stupid bastard," he swore under his breath. Tara walked over to her boyfriend.

"What happened sweetie? What did Riley want?" The group had only heard part of the conversation, but it was enough to intrigue them.

"Wanted to know where I was. Seems he just noticed that I've been gone," he commented dryly. "Took him long enough. We've been here a week."

"What did you tell him?"

"Told him the truth. That I was in LA on personal business and then he asked if I had seen Willow."

"Why?" The girl in question asked.

"Seems he wants me to convince you to make up with Buffy," he told her.

"Apparently she's still extremely upset over your fight."

"Not enough to call herself and talk to me," she observed. Graham nodded his head.

"Which is exactly what I told Riley to have her do."

"Did I hear you mention Adam?" Angel inquired.

"Yup. Seems he attacked one of the frat houses on campus. Killed three guys before the Initiative got there and chased him down," he informed everyone. "They followed him to a series of caves under Sunnydale. They think that's where he may be hiding but they don't want to go in until they ring in more people. They're calling in everyone."

"When do you have to go back?" Tara asked.

"A few days. They want to get as much information as possible so that they can be better prepared, but I have a feeling that, no matter how much preparation they have, it won't be enough."

'Well, we were already planning on helping defeat Adam," Angel said. "I guess we could go back to Sunnydale a little earlier than planned."

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

"Okay, what's going on in here?" Faith asked as she came out of the bathroom. "You all look like you've just signed your death warrants."

"Just something that came up rather sooner than we expected," Angel told her.

"Is it anything I can help with?"

"It involves going back to Sunndale and, possibly running into Buffy and the others," Willow said. Faith was silent for a minute before making a decision.

"So what's the sitch and when do we leave?"

~Part: 7~

"Willow, are you sure its okay that I stay here?" Faith asked as she watched Willow put her bags in Willow's old room. "I mean, what will your parents say?"

"Nothing considering their in the south of France until the end of July," the red head answered. "Relax, Faith, everything will be fine. Angel and I will both be here, as will Wes and Delia. Besides, this is really the best place for you to stay. I mean, Buffy and I aren't exactly on speaking terms and none of us have even mentioned that we were going to be back in town."

"But what about Graham?"

"What about him?"

"How do you know that you can really trust him not to tell Buffy or her farm boy about us all being here?" Faith inquired. "I mean, granted so far he's kept your secret, but that doesn't mean that he won't accidently say something."

"Trust me, Graham won't say anything," Willow assured the Slayer. "He hates how Riley has been acting ever since he hooked up with Buffy, not to mention that Graham and Angel are friends. He doesn't want to see anything happen to any of us. And, anyway, Graham is planning on spending as little time as possible with Riley outside of the Initiative." Faith nodded her head.

"Okay. Just out of curiosity though, why is Graham helping you. I get that he and Tara are together and that you and her are friends, but he's basically turning his back on everything that he was taught by those commandos," Faith wondered aloud. "Why?" Willow took a deep breath."It isn't really my story to tell," she answered. "It's something that should come from Graham."

"But he isn't here," Faith pointed out. "You are. Besides, if I'm supposed to trust this guy, I want to know more about why he is helping us and not his friends."

"She's got a point, Red," Spike said from the hallway. "She has a right to know. Besides, I'm kinda curious myself." Willow sighed as she made herself comfortable on the bed.

"I guess you do have a right to know." Willow looked back and forth between Faith and Spike. "Graham was recruited by the Initiative as soon as he came to Sunnydale. Apparently his father was some kind of major player in the formation of the Initiative and they decided that it would be a good idea for Graham to join up with them. They told him their mission, or at least an edited version of it, and pointed out all of the benefits to mankind it would have in ridding the planet of the demons that inhabited it."

"And he bought it," Faith said. Willow nodded her head.

"The Initiative can be very convincing, especially when his girlfriend at the time was Maggie Walsh's number one operative," Willow explained.

"Graham was told that all demons, no matter their origin, were evil and that the world needed to see them exterminated. It didn't matter whether they were evil vampires out to rule the world, or suck it into hell. Or if they were peaceful beings that were just trying to live their lives like every other human on the planet. It only mattered that they were different."

"Stupid wankers," Spike growled.

"Well, anyway, Graham was convinced that what the Initiative was doing was right."

"What changed?"

"A lot. He and his girlfriend broke up, and not prettily might I add. That was last year. Than Riley met Buffy and that was when Graham's world was turned upside down. You see, the Initiative had heard of the Slayers, they just assumed they were another myth," Willow explained. "And Buffy blew them away. They had no idea what to make of her, or any of us for that matter. Then Buffy and Riley began spending more and more time together, kinda shoving me and Graham to the side, and we bonded."

"Better not let Peaches hear you say that," Spike teased.

"Hush," Willow admonished the blonde. "As I was saying, Graham and I bonded. I told him about my life as a Slayerette and he told me about the Initiative. Then he mentioned a demon that the Initiative had captured through some very hazy means."

"What do you mean hazy?"

"Well, apparently there have been demons that have just been delivered to the Initiative labs," Willow stated. "Graham saw one of these deliveries. They usually take place in the dead of the night when the labs are almost empty. He said it looked as if the deliveries were being done by demons, but he didn't think that was possible."

"Okay," Faith drawled, "the Initiative is using demons to capture other demons. I could see where that could make Graham question their motives, but not why he completely turned on his friends."

"That was because of the demon that I was telling you about," Willow continued. "You see, by this time, Graham and Tara had already gotten together, and he had even met Angel, although he didn't know that Angel was a vampire. Or even that Tara and I were witches, so Graham felt comfortable talking about the Initiative stuff with us, because we already knew so much about it. He described the hostile, and Angel and Cordelia completely freaked out. I never saw them like that before. They started bombarding Graham with questions faster than he could answer them. Finally they asked him if he knew the demons name and Graham said it was Doyle."

"Wasn't that the guy that..." Spike started to ask, Willow nodding her head.

"Yes, it was that Doyle." Willow turned to Faith in order to fill the brunette in. "You see, before Wesley joined Angel and Cordelia, there was another guy. He was half Brakken demon. He also had visions that came to him from the Powers That Be. Angel and Delia had thought he had been killed back in November by a group of neo-Nazi type demons, so needless to say when they heard that the Initiative had him they were not of the glad. That's when we let Graham in on some of the secrets that had been kept from him, including the one that not all demons were evil, especially Doyle."

"I take it that didn't please him," Faith observed.

"Not in the least. At first, he was shocked that he had been spending so much time with a hostile, which is what the Initiative calls all demons, let alone one as old as Angel. And he was completely dumbfounded that, not only did I know of Angel's nature as a vampire, but that I was completely accepting of it. I think it was one of the reasons that he was so willing to listen to us, instead of turning us over to his commando friends. He agreed to help us get Doyle out of the labs but..."

Willow stopped talking as tears began to fall down her face. Spike went over and wrapped his arms around the young girl while Faith looked on, unsure of what to do.

"Shhh, it's okay pet," Spike cooed to the hacker. "Everything's going be fine." Spike looked over at Faith.

"You don't have to tell us anything else if you don't want to," she told the red head. Willow shook her head into Spike's chest.

"No," she hiccuped. "I need to talk about this. I have to talk about it."

Spike could feel Willow pull herself back together and didn't fight when she pulled away from him. Willow looked over Spike's shoulder and saw Angel standing in the doorway, and she could tell that he had been there for awhile. She held up her hand to him and he was by her side in two quick steps. She looked back over at Faith.

"Graham went back to the Initiative labs. We had figured out a way to get Doyle out safely, but it had to be done quickly. He had already been there for two weeks and they were not known for keeping captives alive much longer than that." Tears continued to stream down Willow's face and Angel wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back towards him.

"Unfortunately, we were too late. They had moved up their plans for him and by the time Graham had gone in to get him, Doyle was already dead," Angel finished, his voice soft. "All that was left was a corpse that had once been my friend. And even then, I could barely tell it was him. Whatever they had done had killed him while he was in demon face, which he hated. They had pulled the spikes out his face, and all that was left was a bloody mess that was unrecognizable." Blood red tears began to fal down Angel's face as he remembered the sight of his friend. It had taken all of his control over his demon not to go out and destroy every member of the Initiative that he could find to pay for what they had done.

"It was seeing this, this," Willow searched for the right word, "atrocity that truly opened Graham's eyes. He saw that, no matter what the Initiative and Maggie Walsh, told him, that they were the truly evil ones. That they were the ones that had to be stopped before they could do more harm. Ever since then, he's been helping us. Including getting us the information we needed to get the chip out of Spike's head."

"Wow," Faith finally said. Her respect for the commando had just risen quite a bit with the telling of how he became a member of Angel's little group. Faith looked over at Willow and Angel, both of whom were no longer crying and her heart went out to both of them, and to Cordelia for having to lose a friend twice. "I'm sorry about Doyle."

"Thanks," Willow said. "Now you see why Graham is helping us and why you can trust him." Faith nodded her head.

"If you trust him, that's good enough for me," Faith comment. "Besides, if you all can look past my faults, who am I to judge." Willow gave the slayer a small smile.

"We trust you Faith," Willow told her. "We just have one little favor to ask of you and Spike."

"What?"

"Don't mention to Cordelia anything we just told you," the witch asked. "We never told her about Doyle because we didn't want to get her hopes up. The two of them were kinda involved and well,...."Faith nodded her head.

"Gotcha. "

"I won't say a word Red." The doorbell rang, bringing any further conversation to a standstill. Willow went downstairs to the door and, opening it, was surprised at who was there.

"Buffy!"

~Part: 8~

"What are you doing here, Buffy? How did you even know I was here?" Willow asked the blonde Slayer, who was nervously shifting her stance.

"I saw the lights on in your room. I thought we could talk."

"About what?" Buffy looked down at her feet.

"About what happened in LA," she answered. "I wanted to.....well, things were said..." Willow could see how difficult it was for Buffy to try and find the words for whatever she wanted to say. A part of Willow was glad for the discomfort that Buffy felt, due to the way that she had treated Angel, but a larger part, the part that always wanted to see the good in people, wanted to let Buffy know that it wasn't too late to make amends and try to salvage their friendship.

"It's okay, Buffy," Willow told her friend. "I know you didn't mean what you said to Angel. That you were only acting that way out of anger." The blonde's head shot up.

"I meant every word of what I told him," she retorted. Willow was shocked by the anger in Buffy's voice. She had been sure that Buffy was there to apologize.

"Then what were you trying to say. Weren't you trying to apologize for what happened?"

"Hell no," Buffy shouted. "I was trying to tell you that I understood why you felt the need to defend Angel. I know that you only did it because he's your friend and you always defend your friends when they are attacked. Although, I still think you went too far in having Anya and Spike pack up your things and bring them to you." Willow just stared at the blonde, unable to comprehend how the Slayer could be in such a state of denial over what had happened. Finally she shook her head, realizing that Buffy would never be able to admit that she had been wrong in throwing her relationship with Riley in Angel's face.

"Buffy, I asked Anya and Spike to bring me my things because I needed to get away from you for awhile," the red head said. She felt Angel come stand behind her, Buffy shout having drawn him to the door where he stood just outside of her scope of vision. He placed his hand discreetly on Willow's lower back and she closed her eyes for a moment, reveling in his presence, and taking comfort in his nearness. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes again, her calmness taking over again. "Buffy, I think it might be the best for all involved if you and I don't see each other again for awhile. We're never going to agree on anything concerning Angel, or Faith for that matter, and I don't want either of us to say something that we can't take back."

"Come on, Wills. You know you don't mean that," Buffy nearly pleaded. "You and I are best friends. We've been through so much and come out with a smile on our faces. We can get past this. It's not a reason to throw away our friendship."

"No, it's not and that's why I think that we need time apart. But, Buffy, you have to admit, that you and I haven't exactly been best friends this year," Willow informed the blonde. "You don't know anything about me. About what's happened to me this year. How I've changed since graduation. You've been too involved with your life and Riley." When Buffy went to say something, Willow held up her hand to silence her. "Buffy, I totally understand you wanting to spend time with your boyfriend, and I'm not saying that the distance between us is all your fault. I know that who time that I was dealing with Oz leaving didn't exactly leave you wanting to spend quality time with me. All I'm saying is that you and I haven't exactly been hanging out a while lot lately. Hell, we've barely even talked to each other before Oz came back and you assumed that Tara and I were in a relationship."

"Speaking of Oz, he's back in Sunnydale and looking to get back together with you," Buffy told the witch. "He doesn't care if you are involved with Tara. He wants to win you back." Willow heard Angel stifle a chuckle and she quickly smacked him with the hand that was on the door frame.

"Have you even listened to a word that I've said?" Willow asked sarcastically. "Tara and I aren't involved. We are friends, that's it. And, as for Oz, I am so not interested in whether he wants me back or not. I've moved on with my life and there isn't any room in it for him. E's left me twice now and I refuse to set myself up for another fall.

"What do you mean, you've moved on with your life, but not with Tara?" Buffy questioned, suspicion in her voice. There was something nagging at the back of her mind. Something that she couldn't quite grasp. "Is there someone else?"

"Yes," was Willow's only answer. Suddenly, the thought that was fighting its way to the forefront of Buffy's mind, broke through as sudden realization came upon the Slayer. Buffy looked coldly at Willow.

"Angel." Willow could see the understanding in the blue eyes of the Slayer and nodded her head. "You're in love with Angel. That's why you were in Los Angeles," Buffy concluded as she tried to rationalize Willow's actions of late. "You weren't just there to check up on a friend and make sure that Angel was okay. You were there to make sure that he and I didn't get back together. You were hoping that if I was out of the picture than that would mean that you would have a chance with him. But what makes you think that he would ever be interested in you? I'm the love of his life."

"Wrong Buffy," Angel said, as he came out of hiding behind the door. "The reason that Willow thinks she stands a chance with me is because she knows how much I love her. She's the love of my life." Buffy looked between her friend and her ex-lover, a mixture of shock, denial and anger flooding her features. Finally she just stared at the souled vampire.

"I didn't know you were here Angel."

"Obviously," he answered. "You never were all that good at detecting me with your Slayer sense were you, Buffy?" Angel wrapped his arm around Willow's waist and placed a kiss on her lips. "Are you okay, kitten?"

"I'm fine."

"So you and Angel are together," Buffy sneered looking at the couple and despising the tenderness that was between them. "So, when exactly did this happen?" Willow decided that since Buffy already knew about her and Angel, that they might as well tell her everything.

"It started back in November, at Thanksgiving time, when Angel came back to town. We ran into each other at the coffee shop and started talking," Willow explained.

"That's when you came back because your friend had that vision right? About me being in danger?" Buffy asked.

"Doyle. Right." Willow could feel the pain that shot through Angel at the mention of the half demon. There was still a raw wound inside of the vampire at the lose of his friend. She squeezed his hand giving him some slight comfort. "Like Willow said, we started talking and ended up spending the night just getting to know each other. After that we would call each other or email, and our relationship grew from there. I started coming down every couple of weekends, or Willow would come up to LA, and now I am proud to say that Willow is the one person that I love completely and with everything that I am." Willow looked up at Angel, tears in her eyes at the love that was in his voice. She had known that he loved her, she never doubted that, but he had never professed his emotions like that before and she realized how much she truly loved him also.

"And Angel is the best thing that's ever happen to me," Willow said, continuing to look up at him. "He's the reason I get up in the morning. Everything I am is because of him." Willow turned her attention to a stunned Buffy. "I love him Buffy, and I'm sorry if that bothers you, but it's the truth and I won't let anyone tell me that it's wrong."

"But, what about... I mean..the curse," Buffy stammered.

"My soul is anchored," Angel assured his ex-lover. "Tara's family made sure of that, and Willow and I have tested it quite often." Angel chuckled as he saw Willow's face grow bright red. Buffy stood in the doorway, stunned at everything she had just learned. 'Angel and Willow together. This can't be. I'm the one that Angel loves. He and I were meant to be together. Sure I told him that I was with Riley, but that doesn't mean that I want Angel with anyone else.'

"What about Oz?"

"What about him?" Willow shrugged. "He and I are over. Have been for awhile, even before Veruca. I just didn't want to see it. I'll always care for him, but there can never be anything between us. Not anymore."

"Because of Angel," Buffy stated.

"Yes." Willow looked over at the blonde and felt sorry for her. She could see how much it obviously hurt to know that the man that she couldn't be with was now with her best friend. She hoped that Buffy would be okay with her and Angel's relationship, but prepared herself for t to end. "Buffy, are you going to be okay? I mean, with Angel and me being together."

"Do I have a choice?" Buffy asked. Willow shook her head. "It's just going to take some time to get used to. I mean, my best friend and my ex-boyfriend together. It just sounds like something I would expect to see on Springer, not actually have to deal with in my life. But, I guess you are better than that psycho Faith." Willow gave Buffy a tentative smile.

"Well, I, um, better get going. Have to do a patrol before meeting Riley. Ummm, yeah. See ya." Buffy quickly turned away from the couple, leaving the two of them alone. Willow shut the front door, leaning against it. Angel wrapped her in his arms, giving her a huge, comforting hug.

"That went better than I expected," Willow stated.

"Wait til it sinks in," Angel told her. "I have a feeling that this was just shock. That Buffy's reaction will come a little later."

"You don't think she'll do something to try and hurt us, do you?"

"I don't know, little one. I just don't know."

Meanwhile, as Buffy started patrolling, hoping to find some unwitting vampire or demon to kill, she was plotting to break up Willow and Angel. She wasn't sure of what was truly going on between the vampire and hacker, but knew that it was nothing when compared to the love that was between the vampire and the slayer. Buffy was going to make sure that Willow would pay for stealing Angel from her, and Buffy knew of just the right person to help her. She was just glad that the full moon wasn't for another two weeks.

~Part: 9~

"Buffy, what are you doing here?" Oz asked as he opened his door a little wider, allowing the blonde Slayer to enter. "I thought you were going over to talk to Willow."

"I did, that's why I'm here," Buffy answered, turning to face the musician that had broken her friend's heart. 'Ex-friend,' she amended. "I've got some news and you're not going to like it." Oz could see that whatever had happened between the hacker and the Slayer was bad and had affected the girl in front of him greatly. "There's someone else in Willow's life and she says she's not willing to risk that relationship for you."

"I know," Oz reminded her, having already been introduced to Tara and recognizing her scent as the one he had smelled on Willow when he had come back the last time.

"Tara." Buffy only shook her head.

"Not according to Willow," Buffy smiled sadly. "It's Angel." Oz stared in shock at the blonde. He couldn't have heard what he thought he had. It didn't make any sense.

"Angel?" He repeated. "As in your Angel? The vampire with a curse?"

Buffy just nodded her head to Oz's questions. "Are you sure?"

"I just left the two of them at Willow's house," Buffy informed the stunned multi-colored hair boy. "Trust me when I say it was quite a shocker to discover that my best friend and my ex-boyfriend were together."

"But what about the curse?" Oz tried to reason, trying to convince himself that Buffy had to be wrong. That Willow couldn't possibly be with Angel. "Willow would never risked letting Angelus loose again."

"Apparently Tara's family found some way to get rid of the clause." Oz watched as Buffy held back the tears that threatened to fall. He knew how much pain she must be going through at the thought of the love of her life involved with someone else because he was going through it too.

"And?" Oz was almost afraid to ask but knew he had to.

"And it's gone. His soul is permanent," Buffy sighed. "And they made a point of mentioning that they've tested it many times already." Oz sat there silently, his emotions a jumble. Buffy looked at him, wondering what was going on in his mind, afraid of what he would do.

"That bastard," Oz swore, surprising the Slayer whom wasn't used to the musician swearing. "That goddamn bastard."

"It's not his fault," Buffy defended Angel. "I'm sure little miss pure and innocent convinced him that she was the one for him. She's always been jealous of what I had and she probably figured that she could get the one thing that I wanted most of all."

"Please," Oz sneered. "Like that son of a bitch wouldn't have been able to say no if he wanted to. And I just know that he didn't want to. I'm sure he was more than a willing participant, if not the instigator in the first place. Willow just didn't know what hit her." Buffy was ready to fight Oz over just who was to blame for Willow and Angel becoming a couple when she realized it defeated the purpose she was there in the first place.

"Look, Oz, I don't care whose fault it was," Buffy tried to reason calmly. "All I know is that apparently the two of them are together now and we have to figure out some way of breaking them apart." Oz looked at Buffy and saw something there that he liked.

"You have a plan?" Buffy smiled evilly as she proceeded to tell Oz exactly what she thought the two of them should do. "I like it. Let's do it." The two conspirators shook hands, preparing themselves for the upcoming battle.

"So slutty knows about you and Peaches," Spike observed as everyone was sitting around Willow's living room. "And she seemed okay with it?"

"Well, she didn't freak out if that's what you mean," Willow replied cautiously. While she was glad that her friend seemed to be taking the news that Willow and Angel were now a couple, she hadn't completely ignored Angel's advice about waiting to see what happened. "She just said that she would need some time to get used to it."

"Well, that could be a good thing," Cordelia cautiously replied. "Normally Buffy is the type to hit first, ask questions later."

"But what about Oz," Tara interjected. "You said that Buffy told you that he was back in town, determined to get you back." Willow shrugged her shoulders as she thought of her ex-boyfriend.

"Like I told Buffy, I don't care what Oz wants," Willow explained. "I'm not in love with him."

"And I'll be damned if I let him hurt Willow anymore," Angel added, holding the petite red head close to his chest. "He had his chance with Willow and was too stupid to know what a wonderful woman she was. I have no intention of making that same mistake."

"So if Oz and Buffy decide that they want you back," Graham felt the need to ask once more.

"They have a surprise coming to them." Willow looked around at the assembly of people in the room. "Make that a few surprises. They only know about Angel and me. They have no idea the rest of you are here." Suddenly Graham's beeper goes off. The blonde commando goes over to Willow's phone, dialing in the familiar number.

"This is Miller."

"Where?"

"I'll be there." He hung up after the brief conversation, his face serious. Tara could tell that something had happened to upset her boyfriend and went over to him.

"What is it?"

"A group of vampires have apparently taken over a sorority," he told her, holding her close to him. "They've got about 20 hostages."

"That doesn't sound like the usual vampire mo," Angel stated. "Any idea of why they have them?"

"It's believed that they are under Adam's orders, Graham informed everyone.

"No one knows exactly why though. Riley just told me to meet him at the lab."

"Are you going to need any help?" Faith asked, wanting to get in some action. Her anger at what Buffy had said to her friends needing a release.

Graham looked at the brunette slayer gratefully, only shaking his head. "We should be okay," he told her. "One of our men has a girlfriend in the house so we have a good idea of the layout. Besides, this is our job." He headed to the front door, Tara close behind him.

"Be careful," she whispered. Graham looked down at his girlfriend, placing a gentle kiss on her lips.

"I will be." With that, he was gone. Tara turned back to her friends.

"That's it," she started to say. "I want to take Adam down and get the hell out of this town."

"I second that," Cordelia said.

~Part: 10~

Anya and Willow were making their way to Giles' townhouse, discussing everything that had happened recently, from the removal of Spike's chip to the permanence of Angel's soul.  Willow's happiness over the new closeness she had with the souled vampire was apparent to anyone who knew the two of them and what they had gone through to be together.  Anya envied the red head for the happiness she had found with someone who loved her as much as Angel did.

"Willow, when did you know that you loved Angel?"  The former demon asked her friend, who shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't really know," she said.  "Maybe, in a strange way, I've always known, even if I didn't admit it to myself.  Angel was always Buffy's and I was just plain Willow.  I had always thought they were meant to be together.  That they were soul mates."

"What happened to make you change your mind?"  Willow stopped to think about her answer.

"I think it was when I found out he was in LA with Cordelia.  She told me that he was helping people and that made me happy.  We had all assumed that Angel would go back to being alone and, here he was, helping people who needed it.  It made me realize how special he was.  Then when he came down at Thanksgiving to help us and saw Buffy talking to Riley, I could see how much it hurt him to know that she was moving on.  That's when we started talking.  We had talked before, even sending each other emails, but this was the first time we really talked.  It was nice and I looked forward to our conversations."

"But when did you realize that you and he were meant to be together?"  Anya protested.

"I really can't pinpoint any one moment," Willow explained.  "All I know is that one minute, Angel and I were laughing about something over the phone and then, the next, I was telling him that I loved him.  I thought I was dreaming when he told me he loved me back.  He came down from LA that night and, with a little help from Tara, we spent the weekend together, exploring our feelings.  We've been together ever since."  Willow looked over at Anya, wondering about her questions.  "Why do you want to know about this?  Are you trying to tell me that you're in love with Spike?"

"No, Spike just gives me orgasms," Anya answered.

"Then why do you want to know about me and Angel?"  Anya looked away from Willow and started walking again, the red head quickly catching up with the former demon.

"It's just that I was a vengeance demon for so long that all I ever saw was the harm that men did to women," Anya told her.  "I forgot what it was like between men and women and the differences between innocent flirting and all out cheating."  Willow nodded her head, suddenly understanding Anya's reasons for her questions.

"You're thinking that maybe you overreacted to Xander's flirting with that girl at the party, aren't you."  Anya nodded her head.

"It's just that I never actually saw him do anything other than talk to that girl," Anya tried to say.  "And we had just had a fight because I had shown up with Spike. I knew that would bother him but I did it anyway."

"Why?"

"I don't know."  Anya was silent a moment.  "No, that's not right, I do know why.  I wanted to make Xander mad.  I wanted to get a reaction out of him to see if he really loved me like he said he did."

"I'd say you got a reaction, all right," the hacker commented.  "I saw Xander right after the fight and he was so hurt.  I think that's why he was flirting with that girl.  I think he wanted to know that there wasn't something wrong with him.  You know how insecure Xander is, especially considering how his family treats him."

"Because I came with Spike," Anya stated flatly.  "That doesn't make any sense.  Why would you flirt with someone if you weren't interested in them?"

  Willow didn't say anything for a few minutes, searching for the right words to explain to Anya the weirdness that was mortal relationships.

"Okay, well, you have to remember, whatever I say isn't exactly from use or anything.  Other than Oz and Angel, I've never really had someone interested in me."

"What about when you and Xander were kissing?"

"That wasn't so much attraction, I don't think," Willow said.  "It was just friendship taken too far.  I had always had a crush on him and I think, that night at the dance, he finally saw me as a woman instead of the five year old girl that he had first met.  The kisses should never have happened and if either of us could take them back, we would.  But that isn't what I wanted to explain to you."

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't be," Willow rushed to add.  "There isn't anything to be sorry about.  Sometimes we forget that you're still new to this whole being human thing.  But what I wanted to say was that sometimes when you're in a relationship, you play mind games with the other person."

"Mind games?"

"You know, you try and make the other person do or act a certain way without actually telling them what you want the to do.  You did that when you brought Spike with you to the party.  You wanted to make Xander prove something to do."

"But it didn't work," Anya pouted.  "Xander just got angry and flirted with that other girl instead of telling me how much he loved me and how he didn't like me being with someone else."

"Anya, you have to understand something about Xander.  He grew up with people trying to play mind games with him.  He's become the best at it. When you started them, he just one-upped you.  There was no way you were going to win."  At this point, the two girls had reached Giles home and Willow turned to Anya once more.

"I need to know something.  If you could work things out with Xander, would you be willing to give your relationship another chance?"  The blonde nodded her head. "Then I'll do whatever I can to help you."

Willow knocked, tentatively, on Giles' door, unsure of the reception she would receive from the Watcher.  The red head was sure that Buffy had already told the former librarian about what had happened the day before at her home and was afraid that he would also condemn her relationship with the souled vampire.  Giles' door opened, revealing the worried man who looked at Willow and ushered her and Anya into his home, where they noticed that Xander was also there.  The two girls exchanged looks, wondering now if all their secrets were going to be revealed.

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