Author: Katie
Disclaimer: The BtVS and Angel characters don't belong to me, but to
Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc.
Rating: PG - British System
Feedback: Oh Yeah! I need it - I can't write if I don't know that
someone is reading!
Distribution: If you want it, just let me know.
Dedication: To Krys for betaing this. To all those who wanted it.
Notes: A sequal to 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Vampire'.
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"Get out," Angel hissed, his eyes flashing yellow.
"But..." Buffy trailed off as Angel advanced on her, and took
an involuntary
step backwards.
"Angel, please," Willow pleaded. Angel stopped abruptly,
and turned to
face her. Willow let out a gasp as she saw that he was in full
vampire face.
"Willow, I really didn't mean to...please..." Buffy took advantage
of Angel's
momentary distraction to move further into the room.
"Please what, Buffy? Please forgive you? Please forget?"
Willow held out a
hand to Angel, who watched in satisfaction as Buffy visibly flinched
at
Willow's tone.
"I wasn't aiming for you," Buffy wailed in anguish.
"No, you were aiming for Angel." Willow gripped his hand tightly.
"That's what I can't forgive."
"I was confused." Buffy rubbed at her eyes, smearing her mascara
across
her face.
"Confused? You were homicidal!" Angel scoffed, as he held
Willow's
hand and hovered protectively next to her bed.
"You betrayed me, and I didn't know what to do," Buffy asserted,
straightening her shoulders and standing a bit taller.
"I fell in love with your ex-boyfriend, so you stuck a stake in my side."
Willow looked Buffy straight in the eye. "And you talk about
betrayal?"
She finished in a disbelieving tone.
"I said I'm sorry." Buffy moved closer to Willow's bed.
"Stay back, Slayer." Angel placed himself between Buffy and Willow.
"Willow?" Buffy begged.
"There's nothing left to say, Buffy." Willow sounded resigned.
She
slumped into her pillows, her present exertion and earlier blood loss
leaving her exhausted.
"Just believe me, then," Buffy inched closer.
"I do. I believe that you're sorry that you're all alone now,
but I can't
believe that you're sorry for what you did." Willow turned her
head
away. "I'd like you to go now."
"But..." Buffy began.
"You heard the lady," Angel growled as he held the door open for
her.
She glared at him, and then stormed out, hair flying.
"Are you okay?" Angel turned to Willow as soon as Buffy left.
"I'm just tired." Willow closed her eyes. "And sorry."
"Sorry? For what?" Angel asked.
"Sorry that Buffy did what she did. That it had to end this way."
Willow felt a tear make its way down her face.
"She's the one who needs to be sorry." He reached out and caught
the
tear with a fingertip.
"Maybe she will be really sorry," Willow said hopefully. "Eventually."
"Maybe." Angel smiled. "You should get some rest."
He kissed her
forehead and sat in the chair beside her bed as she closed her eyes
and slowly drifted off to sleep. As her breathing evened out,
he dropped
his head to their joined hands and wept silently.
He had nearly lost her again. Willow was everything to him, and
she had
come so close to death. Death at the hands of Buffy. With
a sigh of grim
determination, he dashed away his tears and kissed her hand before
laying it gently back at her side. He left the room silently,
determined to do
whatever it took to ensure that Buffy wouldn't hurt Willow again.