Sunnydale 1998
Willow spent most of the following two weeks at the mansion with Angel, helping with his recovery. The first couple of days were the toughest for both of them. Angel was still very weak from his time in hell and his sleep was constantly being interrupted by nightmares. Angel never told Willow what the dreams were about, but she had a good idea. Willow did what she could to try and comfort her friend, hoping that when the time came, he would open up to her about his fears.
After a few days, Angel began to come out of his stupor. He began to rediscover humanity. Willow found herself laughing at his reactions when he found something else that he had missed living the life of a vampire. She could still vividly recall his reaction to seeing his reflection for the first time. He had stood in front of the bathroom mirror for over ten minutes, just gazing at his face, taking in every detail. And then when he started making faces, she couldn’t help herself from laughing. Amy came over often, bringing Willow some extra clothes. She also brought some food, knowing that Willow was afraid of leaving Angel by himself long enough to go shopping. Willow hadn’t left the mansion since she and Amy had performed the spell to bring back Angel. Willow appreciated all of the help that Amy provided, but especially the friendship. As much as Willow knew that she needed to help Angel through his transition, she also needed Amy to help her keep her sanity. Amy was someone that she could talk to about everything that had happened, since Willow had refused to tell Giles or Xander about the spell. Amy was also the one running interference for Willow with Giles and Xander, having told the two that Willow decided to go visit a cousin in Sedona.
After one particular therapeutic visit with Amy, Willow went to check on Angel, only to find him sitting on his bed, just staring at the wall. He didn’t seem to notice her entrance, so she went over to him, reaching out to touch his arm. Angel jumped at her touch, as if her touched had burnt him. Willow knelt in front of Angel, trying to get him to focus on her. At first, there was no sign that he recognized her, only the look of deep pain. Willow’s heart went out to the man in front of her. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Angel finally looked at Willow.
"Willow?" he said in a soft whisper.
"I’m here, Angel," Willow replied in her best soothing voice. "Everything’s okay."
"I had a dream." Willow nodded her head, knowing that his dreams often caused him to become disoriented. She was used to his dreams now.
"I know, Angel. But it was only a dream. You’re safe now," She told him. Willow sat on the bed, next to Angel and took him into her arms, as she would a small child waking from a nightmare. She used to the fact that Angel never wanted to discuss his dreams, so when he continued to talk, she was surprised.
"They come to me, every time I close my eyes," he started, sobs breaking in every now and then. "It’s like there waiting for me to go to sleep, just so that they can continue to torment me."
"Who Angel?" Willow gently prodded. "Who comes to you in your dreams?"
"The people I’ve killed. They’re all there. So many innocents. My family. The priest I killed to torment Drusilla. Your teacher." Willow’s eyes watered at the mention of Miss Calender. "That’s one of the ways I was always tortured. Having to see what devastation I had caused by my actions. The demons in hell loved to see my soul tortured by the knowledge of what the demon part of me had done."
"Oh, Angel," Willow cried, "that wasn’t you. Angelus was the one that tortured and killed those people. Not you." Willow noticed Angel about to protest what she was saying. "No, I will not let you think that you had done those things. That was the demon that inhabited your body. When you had your soul, you always helped us. You were my friend when you didn’t have to be. And you’re human now, so I do not want you to sit around brooding all the time." Willow finished, putting her resolve face on.
Angel could only sigh, "Oh, Willow, if only it were that black and white. But you have to understand, I wasn’t exactly the best person before Darla changed me. You wouldn’t have wanted that Angel to be your friend."
"Maybe, maybe not. But I do know that I want this one as my friend. I need this Angel as my friend." Willow pulled Angel into a tight hug. "Your friendship is important to me Angel. I don’t want you to forget that."
"I won’t Willow. I promise."
Willow pulled out of the hug, reluctantly letting go of Angel. "Good. I think now is a good time to introduce you to comfort food, also known as Xander’s normal meal," Willow said, putting a smile on her face. Angel couldn’t help but laugh at her comment.
"And what exactly do you mean by comfort food?" Angel asked, grinning at the small red head now standing in front of him. (How does she always know how to make me feel better?)
"Comfort food is basically any kind of food that makes you feel better, when you feel life generally sucks. Everyone has different comfort foods. Xander prefers pizza. Cordelia likes Godiva chocolates. Giles has his tea."
Angel couldn’t help but ask, "And what is your idea of comfort food, Willow?"
Willow bounced up and down with her response. "Extra thick chocolate milkshakes. Come on," she said as she tried to pull him out of the room. Angel’s grin got bigger as he allowed himself to be led out to the kitchen.
Two weeks later
"Come on, Angel. You have to face them sometime and we need your help," Willow pleaded as she pulled Angel toward the library. Giles had called her an hour before asking her to come in, that there was research that needed to be done. Willow decided, right then, that it was time for Giles, Xander and Cordelia to find out that Angel was back.
"I’m not sure that I’m really ready to see them yet. Not after everything that I’ve done to them," Angel said, his eyes pleading with Willow to let him leave.
"Angel, how many times do I have to tell you that it wasn’t you that did those things. It was the demon," Willow patiently explained again. "Besides you’re human now. No matter what has happened, I don’t think that any of them will be able to kill you in cold blood."
"But how do we know that they will believe that I’m human?" he replied, fear in his voice. Angel knew he had no right to ask any of the Slayerettes for forgiveness. Not after everything that had gone down between them.
Willow refused to let him back down now. "Hello….. The sun is out and we aren’t arriving by the tunnels. That should be a big clue."
Willow then put on her resolve face and Angel knew that the argument was lost. Willow grabbed his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, before pushing open the doors to the library. She saw that she was the last to arrive. Cardelia and Xander were huddled at a table, looking through a book. Giles and Oz were at the computer. There was also a brunette that Willow didn’t recognize. She was the only one to look up at the new arrivals.
"Hey guys, what’s up," Willow said, trying to get everyone’s attention, but failing. "
The brunette girl looked over Willow and then Angel, appreciating his build. "You must be Willow," she said as she carved a stake, "heard about you. I’m Faith, the new slayer in town." Willow and Angel looked at each other trying to figure out what was going on. Faith paid no attention to their confusion. "So who’s the looker with you?"
Angel decided he should be the one to make his presence felt.
"My name is Angel." As soon as he said his name, chaos erupted in the library.