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Part 1
Willow sat hunched over a book in Sunnydale Public Library. She had
an history essay due, and the
school library offered too many distractions - own hellmouth and all.
She frowned as she looked at her
watch and realised that the sun had set about an hour previously.
She glanced around the room and
spotted only one lonely figure sat by the doors. Gathering her books,
she was walking towards the
shelves when she heard her name called.
"Willow?" A familiar voice asked.
Willow spun around and found herself nose to well-muscled chest with a dark-haired vampire.
"Angel? What are you doing here? No - that sounded rude.
I..I mean I didn't expect to see you in a
library - not that you can't read or anything - I think I'll just hit myself
on the head with this book..."
As Willow raised her hand, Angel reached out his and removed the book from
her grasp, gently
brushing her fingers in the process. Willow shivered at the contact
and dipped her head to hide the
redness that crept up her face.
"Sometimes I need a change of scene." Angel offered. "What
about you - one Library not enough?"
Angel placed the book carefully back on the shelf.
"Well...homework...not research...you know...actually, do you know?
Did you have homework when
you were alive? Not that your dead, except technically you are -
feel free to shoot me anytime now."
Willow was panting from lack of breath by the time all her thoughts had
been expressed.
"I never did any." Angel confessed as they walked towards the exit.
"Can I walk you home, miss?" He
asked, holding out his arm. Together they set off through the dark
streets of Sunnydale.
Part 2
Willow found herself drawn to Sunnydale Public Library every evening just
before sunset. She had
long ago finished her essay, but convinced herself that it was good to
immerse herself in literature. In
reality, however, she wanted to immerse herself in Angel. He met
her each night after sunset, and they
discussed their favourite books in hushed tones to avoid the Librarian's
disapproving glare. Angel
always insisted on walking Willow home, and they continued their discussions,
which often got quite
heated once away from the confines of the Library.
"I'm telling you, Angel - you have to read something written after the
nineteenth century." Willow huffed
one evening, beginning to tire of Tolstoy and Shakespeare.
"You find me a decent book and I..." Angel's voice trailed off as he sensed vampiric activity.
"What is it?" Willow squeeked, fighting the urge to grab his hand.
"Vampires - five I think - right ahead." Angel grasped her arm and
pulled her across the street. With
Willow with him, he thought it best not to fight. Instead he made
a dash for his new apartment.
Willow ran as fast as she could, but after a block and a half her legs begin to give way.
"Angel...I can't keep up." She panted, pulling on his arm.
With one graceful movement Angel swept her off her feet and into his arms.
He continued to pound
down the street until he came to a converted warehouse. He unlocked
the door and banged it closed
behind them with one hand. Even though they were safe he kept Willow
in his arms, snuggled tight
against his chest. As he moved up some stairs to his apartment he
heard Willow mumble against his
chest. Releasing her slightly she grinned and repeated her statement
-
"I could write a book worth reading - vampires, demons, Xanders..."
She broke off into hysterical
giggles, and Angel realised it was a reaction to the stress of being chased
through Sunnydale by five
vampires.
"Sit here." Angel commanded as he placed her on the couch.
He retreated to the kitchen and found a
bottle of brandy. He poured a small measure and walked back into
the living room. He handed a
giggling Willow the glass and she knocked it back in one go. The
alcohol burned a path from her throat
to her stomach and she grimaced at the unfamiliar taste.
"Thanks." Willow whispered, hiding her face behind a curtain of red hair.
"No problem. It was a stressful experience. I'll go check outside
and see if they've gone." Angel
disappeared the way they had come in.
Willow stared around at the sparse furnishings, and looked at the art work
dotted around. The small
amount of alcohol had given her courage a boost, and she wandered into
the kitchen to wash her
glass. Spotting the brandy bottle she checked to make sure Angel
had not yet come back before half
filling the class. With a cheerful grin she tipped the glass and
swallowed it in one go.
"Willow!" Angel's shocked voice made her jump, and the glass dropped from her hand.
"Oops. Naughty Angel - you startled me." Willow admonished in a sing-song voice.
"Why did you drink all that brandy, Willow?" Angel stooped to pick up the broken glass.
"Wanted to feel all warm and tingly inside." Willow began to spin
around the kitchen and Angel had to
reach out an arm to steady her.
"You'll have to stay here tonight. Where are your parents?"
"Don't know - somewhere, nowhere - oh! I know - somewhere over the rainbow..."
As Willow began to sing Angel propelled her towards the bedroom.
Sitting her on the bed he removed
her shoes and socks, shaking his head as Willow began to examine and count
her toes.
"Angel? Why do I have eleven toes?" Willow looked quite concerned,
and it took Angel a minute to
supress the urge to laugh.
"You only have ten - trust me." Angel replied as he swung her legs under the covers.
"Are you gonna seduce me?" Willow asked as Angel tucked her in.
"Not right now Willow." Angel replied with a chuckle.
"I wouldn't mind, you know." Willow said sleepily. "I might even help..."
With a last look at Willow, Angel went to sleep on the couch.
Part 3
Willow wondered when exactly she had set out to sea. The boat she
was on didn't seem very
seaworthy, and she only had a fifty metres swimming badge. Opening
her eyes she saw that she was
in fact situated in the middle of a large bed. The fact that she
was upside down worried her slightly, but
she was relieved not to be in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
"How are you feeling?" Angel's voice cut through Willow's silent musings.
"You really don't want to know." Willow escaped from the covers and dashed for the bathroom.
"Probably not." Angel shouted after her retreating figure.
Willow managed to shower, get dressed and into the kitchen without further
incident. She was drinking
a glass of juice that Angel had conjured from somewhere when she caught
sight of the clock.
"Oh my goodness. I'm late for school - why didn't you tell me?"
Willow alternated between frantically
searching for her bag and berating an amused looking vampire.
"It's Saturday, Willow. Anyway, your in no fit state to go anywhere.
What got into you last night?"
Angel's tone shifted from light to serious, and Willow began to fidget.
"I just wanted to feel confident - and happy..." Willow couldn't continue.
"Why aren't you happy, Willow?" Angel asked softly, taking her hand.
"I don't know. It's just I feel so lonely sometimes - even when I'm
with Buffy and Xander. I feel like a
third wheel." Willow spoke quietly and picked at her sweater.
"I understand Willow, I really do. If you ever need someone - I'm
here. By the way, did you mean what
you said last night?" Angel hoped that he could lighten the tone
slightly.
"You mean it wasn't a dream. Ack...oh..." Willow began to make
vowel sounds and Angel realised his
mistake.
"You were under the influence Willow - please don't feel bad."
"But...but...I threw myself at you - why would you want me? I really
should go now." As Willow walked
towards the door, Angel grabbed her arm.
"You didn't throw yourself at me - you were lying down. Of course
I'd want you - your stunning,
intelligent and perfection itself. I didn't want you to do something
you'd regret. I mean, I am a
vampire...and last time I had a relationship I..." Angel was taken
by surprise by Willow throwing her
arms around him.
"Angel - you have a permanent soul now. I know I'm not Buffy, but..."
It was Willow's turn to be cut off
as Angel swooped down and kissed her.
"I'm glad you're not Buffy. That turned into an obsessive relationship.
I want a love affair, Willow - with
you."
Angel kissed Willow again, showing her the love and passion he felt for
her. Slowly he teased her lips
with his tongue, willing her to open for him. She gladly obliged
and let out a moan as his tongue
stroked hers, demanding a response. Slowly, Angel moved his lips
from Willow's and kissed his way
down her neck. He began to unbutton her shirt as she moaned from
the contact of his lips on her skin.
"Are you sure?" He felt the need to ask before going any lower.
"Yes!" Willow nearly shouted the words, regretting the loss of his lips.
Angel grinned and carried her into the bedroom. He set her on her
feet by the bed and continued
to kiss and suckle her neck. He finished with the buttons on her
shirt and slowly eased it off to reveal
the milky flesh below. His lips trailed lower, down to her collar
bone, and it was Angel's turn to groan as
he felt her warm hands untuck his shirt and begin to glide over his back.
"Take it off." Willow's voice sounded thick with passion. Angel
glanced into her darkened eyes and
ripped his shirt off. Willow's hand rubbed over his chest, brushing
his nipples, making them harden with
desire. Angel reached around Willow's back and undid her bra, watching
with rapture as her breasts
were released to this gaze. He slowly brushed the underside of her
breasts, and Willow thrust her
chest into his hands, willing him to touch and caress her. Angel
dipped his head and captured a nipple,
and Willow moaned in ecstasy. As Angel continued teasing her nipples,
his hands unzipped her skirt
and let it fall to the floor. Angel removed his mouth to Willow's
protests, but he silenced them with a
quick kiss on the lips as he moved her over to the bed.
"Your pants." Willow breathed.
"Of course."
Angel quickly removed the offending garment, and lay down at the side of
Willow. His lips briefly
brushed hers before sliding lower, teasing her, never remaining in one
place for more than a moment.
As he reached her thighs Willow lifted her hips and he slid her panties
down her legs.
Angel continued his teasing before gently running a finger along her length
and touching just the tip of
his tongue to her clit. Willow arched up off the bed, and Angel pressed
a hand against her stomach to
keep her still. As he teased her, he could hear the moans spilling
from her lips, and he knew she was
ready. He removed his boxers and felt wildly proud as he heard her
startled gasp.
"Do you want me?" He asked, half teasing, half serious.
"Now, please..." Willow's words were cut off by Angel's lips pressing
against hers. He gently thrust into
her and stroked her face as she felt the sharp pain that signified the
loss of her virginity. As the pain
passed she began to move, and they fell into the rhythm of lovers throughout
the ages, bringing each
other pleasure, and perhaps more importantly, a sense of belonging.
As the lovers lay side by side, hands entwined, Angel leaned over to Willow and whispered in her ear
"Where did I leave that brandy?"
Willow merely blushed.
Part 4
Willow awoke to an empty bed. As the sleepy haze cleared from her
mind, she began to panic. Giles
had insisted that Jenny Calendar had removed the happiness clause from
the spell, before her death,
but this did not ease the sense of dread that crept into her heart.
"Hi sleepyhead." Angel's voice cut through her mounting panic, and a huge sigh of relief escaped her.
"Where did you go? Why did you go? I thought your soul..."
Willow was silenced by a surprise kiss
from Angel. The tension left her body, and tears slid silently down
her face.
"I went to feed. I didn't want to wake you - I'm sorry baby.
I really didn't think." Angel held Willow
tightly, giving her the reassurance she so desperately needed.
"Hey - am I not enough for you?" Willow questioned, blushing deeply
when she saw Angel's smirk.
"I...um...I mean my blood." She clarified, touching the mark on her
neck. "Gees...you know more about
the double entendre than Shakespeare..."
"I could show you more of my knowledge." Angel's smirk widened as Willow's blush deepened.
"Not right now - bathroom." Willow broke free from his grasp and
set off at a run when she realised she
was naked.
"I washed your clothes, and ordered breakfast!" Angel shouted after her with a hint of pride in his voice.
A fully clothed Willow made her way to the kitchen and the huge breakfast
that Angel had ordered. She
found that the 'events' of the previous day and night had left her not
only exhausted but hungry as well.
"Where does a tiny thing like you put all that food?"
"Well...we...I...workedupanappetite." The words came out in a rush,
and it took Angel a minute to
decipher them.
"That we did - and I had a snack along the way." This caused
Willow to roll her eyes and turn beetroot
red.
"I have to be going soon - I promised Giles I'd find something on the computer
for him. I've been
neglecting my role as research girl." Willow started to put her shoes
on.
"Are you going to tell them about us?" Angel's question was softly
spoken, but Willow heard it from the
otherside of the room.
"I thought I might tell Buffy about...er...certain developments.
You know I can't lie to her - even with the
coffee excuse."
"Certain developments - that's an interesting euphemism. You just
remember that we ended it mutually
- and I'm with you now." Angel kissed her passionately, his touch
conveying his feelings better than
words.
"I will. Are you gonna be at home tonight?"
"I thought I might do a spot of light reading." A smile teased Angel's lips.
"Good. 'Cause I love books almost as much as you." With that
Willow stood on tiptoes and placed a
kiss on his cheek.
Angel watched her leave with a bemused expression on his face.
Part 5
Willow was sitting in front of the computer in the Library when the doors
swung wide and Buffy breezed
in.
"Hi Will! Where's Giles? God, you've gotta help me with that
trig homework." Buffy pulled out a file
and began shaping her nails.
"Giles?" Willow queried. "He's in the stacks. I...I can't
help you with the trig tonight." Willow closed the
browser and logged off.
"You got a hot date? 'Bout time you got over Oz." Willow paled
at Buffy's insensitivity. Oz had left her
for a groupie halfway through senior year, and the wound was still pretty
raw.
"I...um...I really need to talk to you Buffy." Willow began pacing back and forth in front of the table.
"Yeah Willow, spill - who is the new lovebunny?"
"It's funny really - not funny ha ha, but..." Willow trailed off.
"Not Xander! Will I'm so happy! He finally..."
"No!" Willow interrupted. "It's...I met him in the Library...not
this Library - Sunnydale Library, and I sorta
already knew him well, from this Library..." Willow began rambling,
unable to force herself to tell Buffy
everything.
"I'm sensing a book theme." Buffy laughed. "You wanna give
me a clue, Will? A name or something
would be nice." Buffy's eyes sparkled with amusement.
"It's Angel." Willow whispered, and Buffy's smile faded along with the colour from her cheeks.
"My Angel?" It was more of a statement than a question, and Buffy felt the fury building deep inside.
"You haven't been together for months, Buffy." Willow reasoned, placing
a tentative hand on Buffy's
arm.
"That doesn't mean you can just take him." Buffy spat as she pushed
Willow away with her Slayer
strength. Willow landed awkwardly on the floor and cried out, more
from shock than the pain.
Buffy looked at Willow sprawled on the floor and felt nothing but contempt.
"He's supposed to love me!" She wailed.
"But...he...you've dated others." Willow began to get up off the floor.
"That's no reason to steal what's mine!" Buffy turned on her heel and sped out of the Library doors.
A solitary tear leaked from Willow's eye as she watched her go.
Part 6
Willow flopped onto her bed and curled herself into a tight ball.
She had searched for Buffy for an hour
after their confrontation in the Library, but the Slayer had disappeared
into the night, probably in search
of a vampire to take her anger out on. A tap on her doors roused
Willow, and she turned her head to
see the large figure of Angel looming.
"Come in." She called in a shaky voice.
"Hi. I thought we had a date with 'Othello' tonight?" Angel
remarked, kissing her forehead. "What
happened?"
"Buffy happened. She's kinda annoyed about us - and that's a definite
understatement." Willow swung
her legs over the side of the bed and took Angel's hand in hers.
"What did she do? She didn't hurt you, did she?" Angel looked
Willow up and down, checking for
marks.
"She pushed me." Willow saw Angel's expression darken, and she squeezed
his hand. "It didn't hurt.
You should have seen her eyes - I don't think she's ever going to accept
us."
"She doesn't have a choice. I love you. I want to be with you
- you feel the same don't you?" Angel's
voice betrayed his insecurity.
"Of course I do. It's just that Buffy and Xander are my best friends
- well really, they're my only friends.
Xander's always busy with Cordelia, and I don't want to be alone...and
now Xander will side with Buffy,
because he still loves her...oh everythings such a mess." Willow
sobbed out the last words.
"You'll never be alone again Willow, I promise. If Buffy and Xander
are worthy of your friendship, it will
survive." Angel held her close, his reassuring touch backing up the
promises he made with his words.
"I want you to know that I love you." Willow hugged Angel tightly, her head resting on his shoulder.
"That means more to me than you could ever know Willow." Willow blushed
at his words and held him
tighter.
"I thought we had a date with Othello?" Willow attempted to lighten
the mood as she pulled back from
Angel and walked over to her bookcase.
"We'll have to cancel - I've got something a bit more physical than Shakespeare
in mind." Angel's hand
darted out and grasped her waist pulling her around to face him.
They fell to the bed together, and
Angel's hand snaked up her shirt. Just as he touched her bra, the
door burst open.
"I so don't need to see this!" Exclaimed Xander from the doorway.
For once, Willow didn't blush. Instead, she paled beyond recognition.
Part 7
The silence in the room was palpable. Willow simply stared at Xander,
her face blank. Angel was
struggling to keep his human visage in place and prevent the growl forming
in his throat from breaking
free.
"Wanna remove your hand from up my best friend's shirt?" Xander finally broke the tension.
Willow blinked rapidly, unable to believe that Xander was speaking quite
calmly, indeed, she thought
she detected a hint of humour in his question. Angel did indeed remove
his hand, a low growl escaping
as he sat up on the bed.
"I'll wait for you downstairs." Xander made a tactical withdrawal,
careful to avoid pushing Angel over the
edge.
"You okay?" Angel touched Willow gently, trying to ground her.
"Yeah, lets go and talk to him while he's still rational. Then I
think I'll pass out." Willow actually did
sway as she got to her feet, and Angel held her arm as he helped her down
the stairs.
"So Buffy isn't on drugs then? It's true?" Xander asked as Willow sat next to Angel on the couch.
"Well...we're kinda together...but I didn't steal him from Buffy...and
he doesn't hurt me...and Ilovehim!
Willow finished in a rush, and Xander raised a hand to quiet her.
"Woah! I know you didn't steal him from Buffy, Will, and I'm pretty
sure that you wouldn't let someone
you didn't love do what you were about to let him do upstairs." Xander
smiled as the colour came back
to Willow's face in a rush.
"Your okay with this?" Angel asked, as Willow seemed incapable of speech.
"I'm not sure." Xander confessed. "For some reason I seem to
be dealing with this. When Buffy told
me, I wanted to stake you, but I have a feeling Willow would be angry with
me if I did. Plus, your bigger
than me."
"Xander...mature...ack...dream...wake up soon..." Willow began to
babble, and Angel had to grasp her
shoulders to steady her.
"Came as a shock to me too." Xander told them with a smile.
"I thought you hated me." Angel stated, still holding Willow but facing Xander.
"So did I. I think it was the whole Buffy thing." Xander looked
puzzled, as he began to account for his
own actions in his mind. "Hey Will, you got any food? This
new found maturity is making me hungry."
Willow nodded dumbly and moved into the kitchen. Xander moved towards
Angel and stood in front of
him.
"I'm accepting this because I love Willow..." Xander was interrupted by
Angel's growl. "As a friend,
Deadboy, as a friend." Xander hastened to clarify as Angel's eyes
flashed yellow.
"Could you not call me that!" Angel uttered the totally ineffective
reprimand to a grinning Xander who
shrugged.
"I promise you this Dead...er...Angel." Xander caught the look in
Angel's eye and decided not to push
his luck. "You ever hurt Willow, I'll make you wish you were dealing
with Buffy and Cordelia with PMS."
Xander turned as Willow entered the room and gave her a lopsided grin.
"Thanks Will!" He shouted
over his shoulder as he left the house with a box of cookies in his hand.
"That went well." Willow muttered, raising a hand to her forehead.
Angel was busy wondering about a fate worse than Buffy and Cordelia with
PMS and therefore failed
to notice Willow faint behind him.
Part 8
Willow wondered when exactly her head had grown to twice its normal size,
and then she remembered
the events of the night before. She pressed a tentative hand to the
back of her head and groaned
when she felt the bump.
"Thank God your awake. I was beginning to think I should have taken
you to the hospital." Angel
replaced Willow's hand with a cool compress.
"I told you I'd pass out." Willow tried to smile, but managed only a grimace.
"I was expecting a bit more warning. You scared me - you've been
out for an hour." Angel pressed his
lips gently against the bump.
"It's all better now." Willow sighed, easing herself into a sitting position as Angel rearranged her pillows.
"You better not show Xander that bump - he'll think I ignored his warning."
"What warning?" Willow's curiosity was roused.
"Just not to hurt you - as if I would." Angel smoothed the hair from
around her face and tucked it behind
her ears.
"School in the morning - I need sleep." Willow glanced at the clock as she laid back down.
"When do you graduate?" Angel asked, covering her up.
"With Buffy after my head, it's probably more a case of 'if' rather than
'when'. If she doesn't kill me, it's
next week. Why do you want to know?"
"I'm interested in everything about you. Don't worry about Buffy - I'll protect you."
"And Xander." Willow smiled, remembering Xander's new found maturity.
"If Buffy's on the offensive I have a feeling he'll be hiding behind you,
Will." Angel chuckled and
brushed a kiss across her lips.
"Probably. Will you stay? My parents aren't coming back...and
the curtains are thick...you don't have
to...you can go home..." Willow's rambling was stopped by Angel's
lips pressing firmly against her own.
"Of course I'll stay, I want to stay. Besides, you have head trauma
- I'm not leaving you till I know your
okay." Angel pulled Willow into his arms and cradled her against
his chest.
"Will you read to me? Just till I go to sleep?" Willow handed him the book she had dropped earlier.
As Angel's deep voice brought the world of 'Othello' to life, Willow let
sleep claim her.
Part 9
Willow pushed open the Library door and anxiously scanned the room for
signs of Buffy. Seeing only
Xander, she heaved a sigh of relief and stepped into the room.
"Hey Will! How you doing?" Xander jumped off the table as Giles came out of his office.
"I'm...er...I'm good...I think." Willow shook her head, trying to
clear her thoughts. She stopped abruptly
when the bump at the back started throbbing.
"Yes, well, good. Buffy told me about your...um...relationship with...um...Angel."
Giles took off his
glasses and began to polish them.
"She did?" Willow queried. "What did she say?"
"Well...er...she said a lot of...er...things. Most of which I can't
repeat in...in a school environment."
Giles replaced his glasses and began stacking books on the table.
"I take it she didn't calm down then?" Xander asked, reminding the others that he was still present.
"Calm was not a word I would use to describe Buffy, no."
"What do you think Giles?" Willow asked quietly.
"It's not really any of my business, Willow. However, as long as
he doesn't hurt you, it's okay with me.
I'm concerned about Buffy though. In her emotional state there is
no telling what she might do." Just as
Giles finished, the topic of their conversation entered the Library.
"Giles, I need to talk to you - slaying matters. Can we lose the
civilians?" Buffy's tone was business
like, but her eyes showed her continuing anger.
Xander began to splutter, and Buffy glared at him. He stood up and
walked around to Willow, standing
next to her. Willow smiled at him, gaining strength from his support.
"We should get going, Xander. Don't want to be late for class." Willow started towards the doors.
"That is on my list of things to avoid for today." Xander confirmed
as he grabbed his books and
followed her out.
Buffy stared after them, mentally cursing. She turned to Giles and
was surprised to see the office door
slamming behind him. The room was empty - just the Slayer and the
books remained. Alone.
Part 10
Willow bypassed the Library and another inevitable scene with Buffy.
Instead, after a little detour, she
went straight home after her last class. She slipped quietly up the
stairs and stood in the doorway to
her room, a smile brightening her face. Angel was stretched out on
her bed, shirtlesss, clutching her
old teddybear to his chest. She moved quietly towards him, and gasped
in surprise as he suddenly
reached up and dragged her down to the bed.
"Ow!" Willow rolled over and landed on the bear.
"Sorry." Angel smiled sheepishly and deposited the bear at the end of the bed.
"Should I be jealous?" Willow asked, pointing to the bear.
Angel answered her with a kiss that left her
breathless. "So that's a no, then?" She panted.
"How was school?" Angel's attempt at changing the topic of conversation
did not go unnoticed by
Willow, but she let it slide.
"Well, Buffy kinda didn't speak to me...but I'd say she still wants to
stake you and possibly break every
bone in my body..." Willow trailed off, considering that possibility.
"Xander and Giles are okay with us,
though." Willow's face brightened as she thought of her friends.
"Buffy will come round, eventually. It's not like she has a lot of
support in her one woman quest to rid
the world of Willow." Angel's words became muffled as he started
to nibble on her earlobe.
"She will if you don't stop that and let me do my homework. It's
due tomorrow." Willow wriggled free
from Angel's grasp and made her way towards her desk.
"I know you said you love books almost as much as you love me, but this
is taking it to extremes."
Angel argued as Willow pulled three huge text books from her bag.
"You tell the teachers. Would you put your shirt on? It's kinda
distracting having you stood there half
naked." Willow pointed out.
"Maybe I plan on distracting you." Angel reasoned.
"Plan on sleeping alone if you do." Willow smiled as a look of horror appeared on Angel's face.
"Tease."
"And you love it." Willow responded. "Here, I got you something
today." Willow handed him a
package.
"A present? For me? You shouldn't have." Angel tore the wrapping
like a toddler at christmas. As the
book emerged, the smile melted from Angel's face.
"You really shouldn't have." He mumbled as he looked into Willow's smiling face.
The copy of 'Computers for Dummies' remained clutched in his hands.