"You go anything to eat?" Faith asked.
        "The kitchen is downstairs to the left, help yourself."
Willow said weakly.
"Are you alright?" a concerned Faith asked.
          "Yeah, I just want to take a shower." Willow said.
"Make it a quick one, we're due at the library soon, another
research party." Faith said and Willow nodded.  Taking off her
clothes, Willow stepped into the shower and let the hot water calm
her. <Maybe it was just a dream, I probably botched up the spell. >
Willow thought, turning off the water and wrapping herself in a big
yellow towel.  Stepping out, she saw there was steam all over the
mirror. Willow wiped a
spot off so only her eyes reflected in the mirror. Green eyes, her
eyes, Savathri's eyes?
     "Red, you okay you've been in there for a while." Faith said.
"I'll be out in a minute." Willow said, changing into jeans and a
fuzzy red sweater. She opened the door to find Faith sitting on her
bed.
         "Faith, could you please not tell Giles I fell asleep while
doing a spell? He would be kinda mad." Willow asked.
      "Red, did you break a rule?" Faith said with a smile.
"Um, yeah, I guess." Willow said.
        "It's about time! Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."
Faith said, getting up.
"It's almost five, we have to leave now." Faith said.
           Willow didn't even notice the walk to the school. She was
too caught up in the vision.   She was now remembering more than the
vision, she was getting flashes of memories. Growing up in the palace
as an imperial princess, playing with Mira, sneaking out of the
palace, meeting Arthur for the first time.  It was all coming back to
her. <Was I  really a Slayer? > Willow asked herself. There was a
Slayer next to her, and she wasn't anything like her. Faith was
tough, quick, strong and resourceful, if she came across a demon her
first instinct would be to kick it's ass.  Willow's first instinct
would be to run and research.
     "Hey Wills, you weren't class, you okay? That's very
unWillowy."  Was the first thing Xander said as they entered the
library.
    "I'm fine, I just over-slept." Willow said.
       "All day? Xander must be rubbing off on you." Cordelia
replied.
"At least I'm on time.  G-man where's Buffy, Oz and Amy?" Xander
asked.
      "Amy and Oz called they will be here later to help with the
research." Giles said.
"Giles, could I talk to you?" Willow asked, stepping into his
office.
       "Of course. What's on your mind?" Giles asked.
"Do you have any old Watcher records?"
       "Not the original ones. They're kept in England but I have
copies.  Why do you ask?"
      "Have you ever heard of a Slayer named Savathri?" Giles nodded.
               "Of course, every Watcher has.  She was one of the
best Slayers, if not * the* best." He said with admiration in his
voice.
       "Really?" Willow asked.
"She was a princess in ancient India. She killed many demons and
saved the world a number of times. I have the records if you want
them." Giles said, pulling out a book.
      "Thanks." Willow stepped out and sat down at the table and
began to read. A few minutes later the doors opened.
      "Willow, I'm glad you're here. Do you have the notes from
history class?" Buffy asked as she came in.
    "She wasn't in school, B" Faith said.
"Oh, really? Never mind then." Buffy said. Willow was slightly
annoyed that her best friend hadn't noticed she was missing.
      "Buffy, Faith is going to patrol tonight so you can train."
Giles said, preparing for her usual response.
       "Why do I have to train? I did some yesterday afternoon."
Buffy whined.  This was often the argument between them.  Buffy
wanted all the advantages and privileges of being a Slayer but none
of the responsibility or work.
       "You still need to do more. We don't know what the Mayor is
planning and we have to be prepared."
  "I know. You are talking to a Slayer here."
          "I'm perfectly aware of what you are." Giles said.
"Exactly, you know that I already have super speed and strength: I
was born with it. I don't * need * to practice. I'm the Slayer."
Buffy said. At those last words Willow's head snapped up.
      "Buffy, shut the hell up." She ordered. Everyone turned to
stare at her.
"Yes, you are the Slayer which is exactly the reason you have to
practice. You are the protector of the innocent, the one who shields
others from the darkness. Not only that you are a * warrior *.  The
one who fights evil with discipline, strength and honor. Without
these things you are absolutely useless.  If you can't see this then
you have no right to call yourself a Slayer." Willow said, standing
up, memories of constant and harsh training with Arthur comming back
to her.
      "Go Red." Faith cheered under her breath.  Buffy blinked a few
times and then shrugged.  " Fine, I'll practice. Let me go home and
change."  Buffy replied.  Realizing everyone was still staring at
her, Willow blushed.
"I have to go." Willow said, picking up the book and almost running
out of the school.
    "Willow!"
"Angel?" she said turning around.
      "What are you doing here? Not that I-we don't want you here,
cause I'm sure we do. And um-Buffy just left." Willow said blushing
even more at her babbling.
    "I can see why. That was better then 'get the hell out of my
library!'" Angel said.
              "Well, I have to go home now." Willow said.
     "Let me walk you home." Angel said leading her out the school
like a bodyguard.
"Don't you want to see Buffy?" Willow asked.
       "She left." Was all Angel would say.  What more did she
expect? Angel was never much of a talker.
After he came out of hell, Angel avoided all contact with them.  He
just appeared whenever they needed backup or information and then he
would take off.  <I'm so glad he's here.> Willow thought.  Before
turning into Angelus, Angel had been her friend.  After the usual
baddie was killed, he would be the one to walk her home.  They would
talk about things, about everything and anything.  It was the only
time Willow saw Angel smile. She was the only one who could ever
differentiate Angel from Angelus.  The others couldn't see the
difference, even Buffy.
Now * she * was a mistake, with Buffy it wasn't love he was looking
for, it was redemption.  If he, one of the most feared vampires of
all time, could get a Slayer, of all people, to fight against the
forces of evil with, then he * must * be worthy of redemption. When
Buffy started to develop feelings for him, he took it as part of the
redemption process. He couldn't tell her that he wasn't interested
because that would emotionally distraught her. And both he and the
Slayer needed to be in top condition to
fight off evil. It was all to get his redemption.
         With Willow it wasn't about that.  It was about Willow; she
wanted to be his friend and so she was nice to him and he was nice
back, and a friendship was born.
It was that simple.  Something so simple that made him lose his
soul.  While he was with Buffy, Angel thought about Willow and how he
walked her home so she could be safe.  Willow would be grow up and be
safe because he would always be there to protect her. Willow would
get to be happy because of * him *.  With that thought the soul was
gone.
       Angelus's thoughts were the exact opposite.  The night at the
school was just a part of a game he was going to play with Willow.
He was going to break her down until there was nothing left. He would
then re- make her into a vampire who would do his bidding in
and out of his bed.  Angelus never planned to open the gate to hell,
he just wanted the option.  The gang over reacted and Buffy came
running down with the sword and sent him to hell.
In a way, Angel supposed, that was a good thing. Willow would never
know the truth now, about the effect she had on him.  The effect she
* still * had on him.  He wouldn't make the same mistake he had with
Buffy though.  Willow couldn't comprehend his overwhelming need for
redemption.  She was too pure, too innocent, too * good *. She just
wouldn't understand.
 

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