Part 19

 Willow was puttering around the house, picking up the toys that the children had left from the night before. Angel and the girls were at the restaurant, making sure that everything was running okay, allowing Willow some peace and quiet. As much as Willow loved her husband and children, there were times when she enjoyed being by herself and she knew that was about to change when the new baby came along.

The new baby. Just the thought of the life in her made Willow smile. She hadn’t been sure about how Angel would react to the news but he made sure to show her exactly how happy he was the night before, making them both extremely tired from lack of sleep and over exertion. Usually, she would have spent the night with Faith and the others while the guys watched Oz, but both decided that they wanted to be together. There was a knock at the door, interrupting Willow’s remembrances and she went to get it. When she opened the door, her happiness turned into apprehension.

 "Buffy," she said simply.

 "Hey, Willow," Buffy returned ,trying to sound cheerful.

"Angel’s not here, Buffy," Willow said, trying to play the part of polite hostess although all she wanted to do was tear into the woman in front of her. Willow remembered what the others had told her about Buffy’s actions since she had come back to Sunnydale and Willow was upset and hurt that someone she had once considered her best friend, was trying to destroy her happiness.

 "I know. I saw him and the girls leave a few minutes ago," Buffy informed Willow. "It’s taken me awhile to get the nerve up to actually come and knock on the door. I thought we could talk." Buffy found herself fidgeting as she waited to see what the red head would do. She hoped that she and Willow could talk things out like the friends they used to be, but she wouldn’t be surprised if she slammed the door in her face.

 "Then I guess you should come in," Willow said as she opened the door and moved aside to invite the blonde in. Buffy entered and looked around the home, taking in everything that she missed the last time she was in. She wasn’t surprised to see how homey it was, complete with children’s toys lying about. Buffy sighed as she realized that Willow really did have the kind of life that Buffy had always wanted with the man the Buffy wanted to have it with.

 "This is nice, Willow," Buffy said. meaning it. Willow motioned for Buffy to take a seat on the couch, while Willow went to sit on the armchair that Angel always used. Buffy could feel the tension rolling off of Willow. She couldn’t believe that this was the same person that she had always thought of as easy-going.

 "What did you want to talk about, Buffy?" Buffy was stunned by the harshness in Willow’s voice, but she knew she should have expected it. Here she was, trying to disrupt the life that Willow had made for herself, why should she expect Willow to not be angry with her.

 "I thought we could talk about you and Angel," Buffy said, hoping that she didn’t come off sounding as if she was being condescending.

 "We’re married and we love each other. Not much else to know that you haven’t been told already," Willow replied.

"So I’ve been told, by everyone that I have seen. Even Xander seems to have accepted Angel in your life," Buffy stated. "I never thought I’d see the day when Xander Harris would defend Angel to anyone, let alone me."

 Willow shrugged, "Yeah, well, Xander always did think with his stomach." Willow smiled as she remembered the first time Xander had tried Angel’s cooking and the instant friendship that had formed that day. "Besides, Xander’s been there the entire time, so he knows exactly what has happened." Buffy flinched as the insult made its hit.

"You’re angry with me for leaving, aren’t you?"

 Willow shook her head, "Not anymore. I used to be. First I was upset because I didn’t know what had happened to you and I knew you had to have been hurting because of Angel. Then I was angry that you didn’t feel the need to at least let us know that you were alive. And then, when Amy and I brought Angel back I was sad because we hadn’t been able to find you yet and so we couldn’t tell you what happened. After awhile, even the hurt and sadness and anger disappeared. I didn’t have the luxury of trying to figure out how to get you to come back because we were going through so much here."

 "So, you decided to go after my boyfriend instead," Buffy stated, a hint of anger lacing her voice.

 "No, I didn’t go after Angel. He needed a friend and I wanted to be that friend," Willow answered. "I was the only one who was able to distinguish between Angel and Angelus and he needed that in his life. He needed someone who he could feel comfortable talking too. Not just about his life as Angel, but also his life as Angelus and his time in hell."

 "And you volunteered, right?" Buffy stood up and went over to the fireplace where there was a picture of Willow and Angel from their wedding. She picked it up, running her hands over Angel’s form. "You couldn’t wait to get your hands on him."

 "No, Buffy," Willow told the blonde, not moving from her chair, "I didn’t volunteer. He was my friend, even after what happened with Angelus, and I always help my friends. If you remember nothing else positive about me, remember that. I helped you enough back then. Usually when you were moping about Angel."

 Buffy put the photo down, picking up another one. This time is what a family portrait that must have been very recent. "I always knew that he would have beautiful children. And that he would be a wonderful father," she said wistfully.

 "He is," Willow told her. "He loves Jenny and Kathryn with all his being."

 "And now he thinks that he is about to be a father again," Buffy stated flatly, turning to face a surprised Willow. "I overheard you tell him yesterday that you were pregnant. Really, Will, are you that desperate to hold onto him that you felt the need to fake a pregnancy. This isn’t Guiding Light you know."

 Willow was outraged. What right did Buffy have to come into her home and accuse her of lying to her husband? Then she realized what exactly Buffy had said. "You were spying on us, yesterday, weren’t you? In the park?"

 "Yes," Buffy replied, refusing to be sorry for her actions. She felt that she was only doing what she had to in order to make things right again. "I saw you and Angel and the girls and decided to get a better view of the family togetherness."

 "Then you know that Angel and I are happy. That Angel is happy with the way his life has turned out," Willow stated, finally rising from her seat. "That he is truly over you."

 "No, Willow," Buffy told her, "that’s not what I saw at all. Yes, I’ll admit it, Angel does seem happy with the girls and, even you. But I still don’t think that it is anything like what he and I had when we were together."

 "Of course it isn’t Buffy," Willow admitted. Buffy smiled as she heard Willow agree with her, but that smile quickly disappeared as Willow continued to speak. "What you and Angel had was a forbidden love. One that people always wish they had, but when it comes around, they find it never works. The two of you were too different. Your relationship was doomed to fail.

"Angel and I on the other hand, found love that formed from friendship. That’s the best kind. That’s the kind that is real. Tangible. That will last the test of time. So you’re right, Buffy. Our relationship is nothing like the one between the two of you," Willow finished.

 "Then why the lie about the pregnancy?" Buffy asked.

 Willow shook her head, "It’s not a lie, Buffy. I am pregnant. If you don’t believe me, feel free to stick around for the next couple of months and you can see for yourself," Willow offered.

 Buffy shook her head, "No thanks. Think I’ll skip that."

 "Yeah, you’re good at taking off, aren’t you Buffy?" Willow said. Buffy winced at the comment. "You’ve been doing it since you were seventeen."

 "I couldn’t handle it. I had to send Angel to hell, you have no idea what that did to me. It tore me up inside. I had no other choice but to leave. Why can’t you understand that?" Buffy’s voice had gotten considerably louder with every word out of her mouth until she was practically screaming.

"How can I understand it, Buffy?" Willow yelled back. "You didn’t give any of us a chance. All you could think about was what was best for Buffy. Well maybe if you stayed around we could have helped you. Just like we helped Angel when he got back. But you took off and we couldn’t find you. We did what we had to do in order to survive. To move on. If that doesn’t sit well with you, well then that’s too damn bad. But I will not let you come into my home and insult my intelligence by acting like the poor little victim."

 "Of course not, because then maybe Angel will see what a bitch you really are and leave you. You know he’s going to do that anyway. He’ll come back to me because we were meant to be together," Buffy insisted. "Sure, I made a mistake by taking off, but I am back now and I will get back what you took from me."

 Willow just shook her head and took a deep breathe, calming herself. "I didn’t take anything from you Buffy. I just picked up the pieces that you left behind. And you will never have Angel. He and I are together and that is what was meant to be. I will not let you tear apart my family just to make you feel better about the choices that you have made for yourself." Willow walked over to the door, opening it. "I want you to leave, Buffy. And please, don’t come back here. I think we have said everything that has needed to be said."

 Buffy walked over to the door, and stopped just before she left the home. She turned to face Willow, a determined look on her face. "You’re wrong Willow, I will have what was mine. You can be sure of that." With that said, Buffy left the house. Willow slammed the door shut and walked over to the couch, a determined stride in her step. She knew that Buffy wouldn’t give up in her quest to gain back Angel’s love, but Willow was equally determined that Buffy would fail in that attempt.
 
 
 

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