Part 12

Cordelia pulled up and saw Willow waiting for her on the front porch. As soon as the car stopped, Willow got up and walked over, getting in the car. She put her things in the backseat.

 "So what happened?" Cordelia asked.

 "Just like we planned," Willow shrugged. "As far as I can tell, Oz doesn't suspect a thing."

"But you said that he wasn't happy with what you were wearing right?"

"Oh no," Willow smiled, "not happy at all. Even made a point of asking me to wear my "normal" clothes to school tomorrow." Willow giggled.

"Oh man, is he in for a shock," Cordelia laughed. She and Willow had already discussed clothing choices for the coming week and they were nothing like what Willow used to wear. "So, did he try to kiss you."

"Yeah," Willow grimaced, "it was all I could do not to gag. I had to think of some other stuff so that he couldn't tell how disgusted I was by his touching me."

"Oh, what did you think of?" Willow blushed and Cordelia knew instantly what, or should she say who, Willow had thought of. "Angel." Willow nodded her head.

"Yeah. Do you think that was wrong?" Willow asked.

"Nope. I mean, makes sense to me," Cordelia reasoned. "Angel is who has been there with you through this whole thing and we have already discussed the fact that there are some major feelings there between the two or you, even if neither one of you has yet to do anything about them." Cordelia stopped at a red light and took the time to turn to face the girl next to her. "I want you to know something. I know that this whole revenge thing was mine and Spike's idea, but we don't want you to go through with it if you aren't completely comfortable with it." Willow gave the brunette a smile.

 "Thanks, but I want to. After all, it's not like I'm going to be making out with him again. That's one thing I don't think I could handle." The light turned green and Cordelia made a left hand turn down Angel's street.

"So did you use that line like I said?"

 "Hehehe,oh yeah. You should have seen his face. It was guilt central all the way. I wish I had a camera," Willow laughed.

"Great. I bet it was priceless," Cordelia stated. "Serves the bastard right after what he did. I wonder how Angel is doing with Buffy."

"You mean he hasn't gotten back yet," Willow asked in a soft voice. Cordelia heard it and tried to reassure the witch.

"You're worried that something might happen between him and Buffy right?" she tried to comfort Willow. "They were probably out patrolling. I'm sure he'll be back soon, if not already" Willow nodded her head, knowing that Cordelia was right, but the insecure hacker in her still had her worries.

 "Yeah, you're probably right. Buffy's a lot more aggressive than Oz, so it's probably a lot harder for Angel to get away." Cordelia pulled into the driveway of the house and she and Willow got out of the car. Cordelia walked over and gave Willow a reassuring hug.

 "Don't worry. No matter what Buffy says or does, Angel cares about you. If he didn't, do you really think that he would do everything that he has."

 "I know, I know," Willow replied. "It's just that I'm still a bit nervous about telling him how I feel. I mean how I might have feelings for him." Cordelia pulled back from the hug and smiled down at the small girl in front of her.

 "Don't be. Spike told me that he and Angel had a rather interesting talk after we left tonight and Angel definitely has feelings for you, but he doesn't want to act on them because of everything that happened with Oz. He's afraid that you might get scared." Willow was surprised at Cordelia's revelation.

"I could never be scared of Angel," Willow said strongly. "I know that he'll never hurt me." The girls started walking towards the house, arm in arm.

"Well, then, you have to be the one to make the first move."

"I will, tonight, maybe," Willow told her. Cordelia gave are shoulder a squeeze as the door opened. She smiled when she saw Spike on the other side, waiting for her. "Miss me?" Cordelia teased.

"You've no idea pet?" Spike grinned. "I was wondering what was taking you two so long. I heard the car pull up a few minutes ago." Cordelia went over and kissed the blonde vampire.

 "Just girl talk, Spike. I'll tell you later." Spike smiled as he returned Cordelia's kiss. (I can get used to this.) The kiss was broken off by Willow coughing.

"Will you two get a room please," she teased. "Or in Cordelia's case, a closet." Cordelia grimaced at the reminder of her time with Xander while Spike looked confused.

"Am I missing something?" he asked the girl in his arms. Cordelia just shook her head, her hair falling into her face.

 "No, nothing important," she replied, shooting daggers at the grinning red-head.

 "Has Angel gotten back yet?" "Not yet," he answered.

"I'm going to wait in the moon room for him to get back," Willow said. "I'm sure the two of you can think of something to do by yourselves." Spike and Cordelia grinned at the girl before heading off to Spike's room. Willow knew that the two of them were still in the beginning stages of their romance and that nothing had happened other than some serious heavy making out. (Those two are good for each other. I'm glad that they hooked up.)

Willow went to the kitchen and grabbed a soda from the refrigerator before heading towards the back room. She lit a couple of the vanilla candles that were scattered about the room and snuggled under the comforter to wait for Angel. She grabbed a book that she had left on the table in front of her and tried to read, but found that she couldn't pay any attention to the words.

Her thoughts took her back to when she first met the dark vampire, back when her friendship with Buffy was still new. She had been instantly smitten with him, but didn't do anything about it because she knew that Buffy also had her sights set on him. So, Willow did what she always did in the past. She put her feelings aside and watched as Angel and Buffy had gotten closer, all the while, her crush for him became larger. There had been many sleepless nights for the young hacker because of her feelings for her friend's boyfriend. She found herself writing stories on the Internet where she and Angel had gotten together in one way or another. Even after Angelus had come back, she found herself attracted to him. To the danger that he represented. When she did go to sleep, her dreams, which were once full of Xander, had turned to Angel. It was one of the reasons Willow started taking very cold showers in the morning. Now, the knowledge that her feelings for him might actually be reciprocated made her extremely happy and pleased. She drifted off to sleep under the stars, a smile on her face as she thought of how she could make Angel realize that she cared for him.

And that's how he found her. Angel stared at the red-head asleep on the couch and felt this overwhelming desire to reach out and touch her. The entire walk home had been filled with thoughts of the girl who had taken his shattered heart and mended it piece by piece until it was complete again. The two of them hadn't always been close, he was always being cryptic and with Buffy, while Willow was shy and thinking of Xander. After Angel's return from hell, though, that changed. While Buffy and the others didn't immediately trust him, unable to separate his actions as Angelus from his souled version, Willow gave him the friendship that she had always offered. The two of them would talk and he found himself laughing with her at her friends antics. He loved to listen to her voice, never knowing what might be said next. He saw Willow's feet kick off the comforter and he went over to replace it. In doing so, Willow woke up.

 "Angel?" she mumbled softly.

 "I'm right here, Willow," he told her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up."

 "No problem," Willow sat up moving over to give Angel room to sit on the couch. "I was waiting for you."

"How come?" Angel asked, curious.

 "Wanted to see what happened with Buffy," Willow explained. Angel nodded his head, knowing that Willow would be curious about his encounter with his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend. (Just like I want to know what happened with Oz.)

 "It went pretty much as planned," he started to explain. "We went out patrolling and then talked a bit. I never realized how uninteresting Buffy really is until tonight. All she talks about are clothes music and television. It was so boring."

 "And all you did was talk?" Willow said, not quite believing him. Angel smiled at her.

 "Yeah, well, maybe a little more. But only a little. I just couldn't do it." Angel looked away from the redhead.

 "Yeah, same with me and Oz," Willow told him. Angel looked back towards Willow. "I mean, he was all lovey with me and all I could think of was seeing him with Buffy. And the fact that he kept harping on my clothing choices did nothing to endear him to me."

 "What do you mean, harping about your clothes?," Angel asked incredulously. (Willow looks great in her clothes. I mean, she always looked good, but now she is gorgeous.)

"You know," Willow's tone became sarcastic, "how they aren't me and they are too showy. He also doesn't like the idea of my hanging out with Cordelia so much."

 "He said that to you? I don't believe it."

 "Yeah well, like I said. It was all I could do not to hit him instead of kiss him like a good little girlfriend." As she said the last part, Willow had put her hands on her hips causing Angel to laugh.

 "Yeah, well, tell him as soon as he can be a good little boyfriend then you'll learn play your respected role." Angel had to move quickly to catch the pillow that was suddenly thrown his way.

"I don't even want to think what his idea of being the good little girlfriend is. I'm guessing someone who never changes or does something unexpected," Willow said, grinning. "I mean, he just kept telling me how I wasn't the type of person that does this or that. Like he would know who I am."

 Angel suddenly became serious, "Willow, you have to just remember that he has no idea of the type of person you are." She looked over at him. "You are someone who is loving, caring and giving to those that choose to accept that friendship. You give a person the most precious gift possible, acceptance no matter what. I am truly sorry that he had to hurt you like he did, but it just proves that he was not worthy of your love."

 "I know, Angel," Willow conceded. "It's just tough you know. Oz was the first boy who ever saw me as something other than a tutor." Angel took Willow into his arms and held her, stroking her hand in a calming fashion. (Damn that boy for doing this to her. Willow is a wonderful person who does not deserve to be hurt by anyone let alone an idiot teenager with raging hormones.) Finally Willow pulled away from Angel and looked at him, a slight smile on her face.

 "So, if you didn't want to kiss Buffy, how did you manage to?" Angel looked at the girl in his arms.

 "I thought of something much more pleasant," he replied.

"Same here. I mean, with Oz," Willow said. Angel was curious as to what would help Willow get through her night with the boy that hurt her.

 "Really, what?" When Willow didn't answer right away, Angel wasn't sure she would tell him. Then he noticed a blush beginning to creep it's way onto her face. "Willow?"

 "Ummmm, well you gotta promise me that you won't be mad, because if you get mad then it might ruin our friendship and I would really hate for that to happen," Willow babbled. Angel chuckled at the quick speak that he had grown fond of.

 "I won't get mad Willow," Angel promised.

 "Okay," Willow took a deep breath, realizing that it was now or never, "I kinda imagined that it was you that I was kissing." Willow's gaze went immediately to the floor, so she didn't see the shocked look on Angel's face. (Me! She imagined she was kissing me.) Slowly, the shocked look turned to one of joy. Angel took Willow's chin in one of his hands and lifted it, forcing her to look at him.

 "It's okay Willow." Willow saw that Angel meant it and immediately relaxed. (Thank the Gods, he isn't mad. But now what?) "I have a confession to make too." Willow didn't say anything, waiting to hear what Angel wanted to say. "When I was kissing Buffy, all I could do was think about was kissing you instead of her."

 "Really," Willow said weakly.

 "Yes, really." Willow and Angel just looked at each other, not sure of what the other wanted. Finally, as if on cue, they moved into each other until they were curled up together, limbs entwined. Neither said a word for a long time, but the silence was finally broken by Willow.

 "Okay, so where do we go from here?"

 "I don't know Willow," Angel admitted. "A lot has happened in the past couple of weeks and I know that you are still upset about Buffy and Oz."

 "True, but I also know that I do care for you, a lot," Willow countered. "We've been friends for awhile and you've always been there for me."

 "So, what do you think we should do about whatever is going on between us," Angel quietly said, taking in an unneeded deep breath. Willow thought a moment.

 "I think we need to see what is happening and not be afraid of it," Willow told him. "I like being with you Angel and I hope you feel the same about me." Angel nodded his head, silently telling Willow that he did feel the same. "In that case, I think we should do what comes naturally. But, take it slow. We've both been hurt and I don't want that to effect whatever we may have."

"That sounds like a perfectly good plan, Willow. I just have one little question about it," Angel said.

 "What?"

 "Does taking it slow mean that I can't kiss you?" Willow turned and looked over at Angel and smiled. (He wants to kiss me. Gotta thank Cordy for encouraging me to do this.)

 "I think kissing could be allowed." Angel grinned as he leaned in to brush his lips gently against Willow's. He continued kissing her in this fashion, not willing to deepen anything until he knew that she was ready. After a few minutes, something happened that he didn't expect and he laughed out loud.

"Tired, little one," he teased Willow who was trying to cover the yawn that escaped her. She just nodded her head. "Well, then, let's get you to bed." Angel stood up and lifted Willow in his arms. She wrapped hers around his neck and leaned her head against his shoulder.

 "Angel?" she mumbled into his chest.

 "Yes."

 "Smoochies good." Angel grinned as he carried Willow into her room.
 

Next