Parts: 11 - 14 (End)
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~Part: 11~
Cordy breezed casually through the door of Angel Investigations, prepared for a normal day of mayhem and demon killing. Her stylish handbag had been replaced by an equally stylish weapons bag.
She nodded at Angel, arched her eyebrow at Wes, and smiled slightly at Willow. "It will be alright," the May queen whispered as she set her bag down.
"Are you sure?" Willow asked; her eyes focused on Angel.
Cordelia followed the redhead's line of vision. No secrets had been told, and no explanations were needed. The unadulterated emotion on Willow's face betrayed more than her words ever could.
"Yes," Cordelia assured her. "I mean, come on! He's dated Buffy and Darla for chrissakes. I think that you're a definite improvement over both."
Willow turned her head to look at Cordy, a genuine smile gracing her mouth. "Thanks."
"No problem, but if you tell anyone, I will deny that I was ever nice to you," the barb went without a zing, because of the mirth in the brunette's eyes.
"I won't tell a soul," Willow pushed herself off her chair, approaching Angel cautiously. "Angel?" she asked softly.
"Is he nearer?" Angel asked, overseeing Welsey's preparations.
"I don't know, it's me, not Wisp," Willow felt like scuffing her toe on the tile.
"Maybe you should let her be in control, we could use a heads-up," the vampire turned to go into his office.
"Angel, I don't want to go into this fight without, um, without making peace," Willow murmured.
Angel paused and turned slowly, his dark eyes clouded with hurt. "Willow, I really don't know how to handle what has happened; it's too much to think about. I don't know how I feel," he answered.
"I just want to know, do you hate me?"
The vampire looked into the emerald pools of her eyes and sighed. "No Will, I don't hate you, but I don't know how I feel either," he turned around and disappeared into his office.
Willow stared for a moment fighting back tears. She crept quietly upstairs, snuggling into her bed. Spike's duffel was still beside her bed, and she extracted a T-shirt from it, inhaling its comforting scent. "Oh, Spike. I wish you were here."
****
"So you love Willow too, curiouser and curiouser," Welford commented. He was bored; they had to wait for the sun to set, and Spike's brain was filled with all sorts of interesting imagery.
"Get out of my body, you git," Spike threatened.
"Your threats are pointless. You can't force me out of your body, and I'm not going to leave it. I want Willow, and I will have her. You should be happy that at least, in some way, you'll have her."
Spike didn't answer Welford, choosing indifference.
"Isn't that what you've always wanted? To take a woman from your Sire? To be the victor? To kill him? I'm just granting you your every wish!" Welford paused, "unless, oh, wait, your mind is telling me...HA! You'd rather live in misery as long as she was happy! You call yourself a demon?"
Again, Spike refused to rise to the bait. "Whatever you think, mate," he sneered.
Welford laughed. "Precisely," he chortled, exiting from the building he had taken refuge in. The sun had set.
Deep in the recesses of Spike's mind, he was scared. Scared that Willow was going to get hurt. He wanted to warn his Sire, warn her. As long as Welford controlled his body, he couldn't, he was trapped. Unless, the ghost had a firm grip on him, because he was constantly expecting a fight. If he thought that the blonde had given up...that was it!
Spike let all the anxiety, depression, and sadness leak out of his persona, giving a overall feeling of exhaustion, hopelessness, and defeat.
Welford almost whooped. The vampire was beaten, this body was his. Next, he grinned, spotting the hotel, was Willow.
~Part: 12~
"He is here," Wisp prodded Willow.
The redhead brushed a few stray tears from her face. "What will you do Wisp?"
"Anything I can Willow. Anything I can."
Willow nodded, sitting up slowly into a cross-legged position. She closed her eyes and centered herself in the elements and powers that almost killed her; she drew upon her weaknesses and made them her allies, her strengths. She felt a gentle pressure in her mind as Wisp merged more firmly with her, becoming a part of her, one entity.
Willow opened her eyes, and they shone with a luminous strength.
****
Angel looked up as the doors to the hotel opened, scowling as he saw who the entrant was. "High time you showed up," he growled at his errant childe. So emotionally irate at the day's stresses, he was more than ready to release his tirade on Spike.
"Oy, Peaches, what the bloody hell you talkin' 'bout?" Welford congratulated himself on using the appropriate slang in his imitation of Spike.
Angel paused, frowning even more. "You've been gone since last night, and now, you choose to show up? Do you even know what's been going on?" he vented.
"Should I care?" the blonde asked casually
The elder vampire surged forward grabbing Spike by his jacket. "You miserable excuse for a childe! I should..."
"That isn't Spike," Willow spoke from the top of the stairs, her voice strange.
"Willow?" Cordelia asked.
"We're both here," Willow stated, her voice echoing with Wisp's.
"A fully merged possession," Wesley tilted his head. He looked from Angel back to Willow. "Who is that, then?"
Willow's eyes found Spike's, and her mouth set into a firm line. "Captain John Welford."
Angel looked at Spike, dumbfounded. Twinkling blue eyes grinned at him. "Hello, Liam," he snarled, slamming his forehead into Angel's.
The vampire growled and stumbled back. "Start Wes!" he shouted.
The ex-watcher brought a circle into life, and began to chant loudly in Latin. Cordy began sprinkling herbs, watching the scene with wide eyes.
"Going to banish me? What makes you think you can do it that easily?" Welford laughed, circling Angel.
"I did it once, and I can do it again," Angel replied.
"Oh, but you have a soul now."
Angel grinned, crouching low and tackling the blonde to the floor. "I had one then, too."
Willow was mesmerized. Spike, who she knew so well, so swallowed-up by Welford's persona. She wouldn't let him disappear; she couldn't let the ghost win. Angel and Spike traded blows, each trying to best the other, each fighting for her. The redhead raced down the steps, shoving Angel aside.
"Stop it," Wisp and Willow hissed at Welford.
Welford smirked. "Going to give yourself willingly to me this time? I had assumed you'd kill yourself first."
"If it comes to that," Willow eyed Angel getting up of the floor. She tried signaling rapidly to him, hoping that he knew to protect Cordy and Wes in the circle.
"Are you sure? You'd be saving your, Liam, or is it Angel? Whichever it is, and you'd be making Spike happy," Welford grinned.
Willow's gaze snapped to the blue eyes that she knew so well. "What are you talking about?" she growled.
"You don't know? The vampire, Spike, is in love with you. Has been for some time. He's listened to all your prattling about love for Angel. Listened to your sobbing and scheming. He even helped you! He gave himself to me Willow; you didn't give him anything to live for."
Willow gaped, tears coming to her eyes. "Spike," she murmured.
That was the only opening that Welford needed; he lunged forward, landing a punch to Willow's temple, tossing her back into Angel. Cordelia had come forward to her friend's aid, and was knocked against the wall. Welford hurtled one of the books on the floor through the circle, knocking the chanting Wesley unconscious. The circle dropped, and the spell fizzled into nothingness.
Angel steadied Willow, glaring at the ghost in his childe's body. "You now only have one choice," he growled, removing a stake from his waistband.
"There was only one to begin with," he returned.
"Finish the spell," Angel whispered in Willow's ear, darting forward to land a few punches to Spike's face.
Willow raced to Wes and Cordy, checking their pulses. Satisfied with a strong thrum, she looked over the mess that had been a banishment spell. "Shit," she cursed.
"I don't want to hear that!" Angel cried, deflecting blows.
"It's mucked Angel, I can't, there isn't a way I could finish this, unless I had all new materials!" Willow cried.
"I guess Spike and I are just going to have to die! Again!" Welford chortled.
Willow looked up, her eyes glowing, as she surged with energy. She darted forward joining Angel.
"Get out of here!" the vampire hissed.
"No," Willow hissed back, synchronizing her movements with his.
Welford stepped back under the force of two strong blows, his concentration straining. Spike rose up within him, and started to fight from the inside, wresting him for control.
"Ya don't mess with the big bad and think ya win, mate."
"Shut-up," Welford said aloud.
"He's weakening Willow," Wisp whispered, "we can save Spike."
"But, how?" Willow thought.
"I'll take care of it."
"Harder, Angel," Willow grunted, adding magical force to her blows.
Angel nodded, delivering a roundhouse kick that sent Welford crashing back into a marble pillar. His head lolled around, and pathetic blue eyes fixed on Angel.
"Sire," Spike's strangled voice ground out.
"Spike?" Willow gasped, being held back by Angel.
"Sire, kill me, don't, don't let Welford win her; keep her safe," Spike pleaded.
Angel nodded once, and raised his stake.
"No!" Wisp and Willow shouted at once, leaping forward. A silver apparition appeared as both redheads separated. They shared a surprised glance before scrambling, Wisp into Spike's body, Willow to stop Angel's upraised hand.
"Don't kill him Angel, Wisp will free him!" Willow pleaded.
"Get the hell out of my way Willow!" Angel growled, trying to shake her grip from his stake.
Willow held her ground, her green eyes boring into Angel's. "No, look!" she pointed.
Spike's body was convulsing on the marble floor; his back arching, his body twisting in a rictus of pain. He threw his head back and screamed in agony; his hands clutching at the air in front of him. Willow rushed to him and threw herself down beside him on the floor, speaking in low tones, desperately trying to comfort and calm him. She placed her hands on each side of his face, tears coursing down her cheeks and dripping onto his black T-shirt. He continued to scream, his voice becoming more rough as the pain became more intense; the convulsions more violent. His eyes rolled up into his head. Suddenly, his body collapsed and became completely still. The room began to spin; thick, cloudy smoke filled the air, obliterating everyone and everything. When it cleared, a rich, green landscape surrounded them.
Angel's eyes got wide in recognition. "Galway."
Willow stood up next to Spike, pulling a shape from his body, until Wisp stood in her ghostly essence beside her. "Where is Welford?" she asked gently.
Wisp wavered slightly, just faintly there. "Inside me, and soon we both have ta go," she whispered as if very tired.
"I will miss you," Willow murmured.
"I am always within you," the ghost returned, turning her sad eyes to Angel.
"As I am wi' ya, my Liam," she let her hand trail over his flesh. Turning, she looked down at where they were standing. Over her grave. "Visit me sometime?" she asked.
"Yes," Angel replied gruffly.
Wisp looked into the sky, then back at Willow and Angel. "I have ta go, don't forget," she whispered, fading away, and with it, Galway.
As the lobby faded back into existence Willow and Angel stared at each other a moment, till a groan at their feet broke the mood.
"Spike!" Willow cried, dropping to the floor and throwing her arms around him. "I thought I lost you!" she sobbed. Still holding Spike tightly, she turned and looked up at Angel…who was no longer there; he had walked away.
~Part: 13~
Playground school bell rings again
Rain clouds come to play again
Has no one told you she's not breathing?
Hello I’m your mind giving you someone to talk to
Hello
He had lost her. He had lost her, again. Angel looked out at Los Angeles, willing his anger and misery to cloud the sky. "As if we haven't had hellfire and brimstone already," he muttered.
If I smile and don't believe
Soon I know I’ll wake from this dream
Don’t try to fix me I’m not broken
Hello I’m the lie living for you so you can hide
Don’t cry
"Hellfire was always so pretty though," Spike said sarcastically, easing out of the rooftop doorway. His lighter illuminated his face for a moment; the blows inflicted by Willow and Angel had already healed.
Suddenly I know I’m not sleeping
Hello I’m still here
All that's left of yesterday
"Where's Willow?" Angel tried to ask casually, though his heart clenched. The past two days she had been one place, with his childe.
"Downstairs, trying to work out."
"Trying?" Angel questioned. Willow had never to try. She had such passion, when the motion fueled her; she was gone, into grace.
"Seems the chit has it in her head that you despise her."
"I…what? How?" Angel turned from the scenic skyline to his childe.
Spike snickered,"dunno Peaches, could be the fact that you were angry at her for letting your dead lover possess her, and then after she leapt in front of you to stop you from killing me, you told her to get the hell out of your way. We win the battle and you've been avoiding her, stomping up here every time the sun sets. So, why do you think she is upset?"
Angel was numb. "But, she has you."
Spike rolled his eyes. For someone over two hundred years old, he was an imbecile at times.
"That she does Poof, and don't you ever forget it. Yet, for some reason, she still loves ya Angelus. That's beyond my comprehension. But, it was because of that love that she came here, was possessed, and hasn't left. For you, you ponce."
Angel cursed. He had been wallowing in his own self-pity, thinking that because she cared for Spike, that she didn't want him any longer. He *was* being a ponce. "She loves you, and me?"
How could such a woman exist? So selfless, strong, and loving? What did he do to deserve her love?
“Who the hell are you? You’re a *demon* man, a poofy one, but still, a demon! Go talk to her!” Spike snapped when it looked like Angel was going to swoon and burst into tears.
The dark vampire was still hesitant. “How do you feel about all this, Spike?”
Spike’s eyes yellowed. “Understand this, I love Willow. I will do anything for her,” he paused, tossing his cigarette over the ledge, “but if she wants and needs you in her life, then I’ll deal. But, ya hurt her Peaches, and I swear; my spikes will have a comeback.”
Angel reached out and tilted Spike’s face up to his. “Thank you,” he said softly, kissing his childe. He turned around and disappeared back into the hotel.
Spike froze for a moment. "That’s all well n’ good Poof, but you stay away from my arse.”
Angel’s laugh carried up through the stairwell in answer.
“Oh, hell,” the blonde cursed, digging in his duster for another smoke.
~Part: 14~
She had come so far. She had lost so much. She had abused the sacred laws of her Goddess; had abused life itself. She would've ended life, if she hadn't been saved.
I tried to kill the pain
But only brought more
I lay dying
And I'm pouring crimson regret and betrayl
I'm dying praying bleeding and screaming
Am I too lost to be saved?
Am I too lost?
My God my tourniquet
Return to me salvation
She smiled slightly at the chorus. She may not personally believe in 'the God', but the song meant more than just faith alone. She sobered, resuming her hard jab and her litany. After trying to end the world, she had gone to Giles.
Do you remember me
Lost for so long
Will you be on the other side
Or will you forget me?
I'm dying praying bleeding and screaming
Am I too lost to be saved?
Am I too lost?
She had lain in bed, wracked by pain, by the forces that she had unleashed on the hellmouth, returned in threes upon her. A coven member from the local Wiccan population was always beside her, anchoring her in love. Willow began to become stronger, and the pains no longer plauged her. She knew that she had been given a second chance.
She went back to Sunnydale, and with the help of her friends rebuilt her life. Willow could not give up magic in the way a person could quit smoking. She just needed more control. Buffy had suggested martial arts, and Willow found herself blossoming under the tutelage of the Sensei. And then, a phone call from Los Angeles. Angel. She had never admitted her feelings for him to anyone, and they had intensified over time. Spike only complicated her feelings by taking a large piece of her affections.
My God my tourniquet
Return to me salvation
My God my tourniquet
Return to me salvation
He had prayed for so long. He had hoped for an angel, a sign of his redemption, of salvation. He knew now, that even in humanity, even with a soul, such prayers were in vain. He could only do his best, save who he could, and be worthy of the love of his friends, and hopefully, this woman.
She was so beautiful, spinning, moving to the music. She wasn't excercising her body, she was dancing, floating like a, "stop being a poof Angel," he said to himself.
He moved forward, coming up behind Willow to catch her leg as she spun in a kick. She looked at him in shock, flipping backwards.
"Hi," she breathed heavily from her crouched landing.
"Hi," he said.
Willow waited for a moment,unsure. Standing up she turned slowly to shut off the stereo. She paused, closing her eyes, willing her heart to slow. "I guess we'll be leaving soon."
Angel crossed his arms. "Why?"
"I thought it would be best, considering...everything."
"Willow, I'm not going to tell you that I wasn't upset by you letting Wisp possess you. I'm a very private person, and I don't share things about my past easily."
"I understand," Willow began, feeling like a chastised child.
"Wait," Angel held up his hand, "but, I understand why you did it."
Willow looked up in surprise. "You do?"
"Yes. It's because of my being such a private person that you felt that you couldn't talk to me about it, but Willow, why didn't you tell me that you were in love with me?" Angel asked softly, approaching her.
Willow snorted, "Like I told Spike, 'what am I supposed to say to Buffy's soulmate? I have potentially naughty-in-love feelings for you’, and ‘hey, your soul is permanent?’"
"My soul is what?" Angel whispered, approaching her warily.
The redhead bit her lip slightly. "Permanent?"
Angel grinned and picked her up and spun. "Forever?" he asked.
Willow laughed. "Forever," she assured him.
They stared at each other, reveling in the happy moment. Willow looked down first.
"Angel, I'm sorry for not coming to you, I was afraid, but I loved you, and," she took a breath.
"You love me?" Angel tilted her chin up, staring into her eyes.
Slowly, Willow nodded. Angel leaned forward and claimed her lips in a smooth, soft kiss.
"I love you too," he whispered against her full lips.
"Isn't that sweet?" Spike asked sarcastically from the doorway; he smirked, his eyes narrowing, and turned to go.
"Spike?" Willow called.
"Luv?" he turned; hope apparent in his voice.
"I love you, just as much as I love Angel. You belong here," she held out her hand, smiling softly.
The Big Bad grinned, sliding his palm into hers, and Angel welcomed him into their embrace. "I love you too, Red." He kissed her softly, then grimaced.
"What's wrong?" Willow asked, horrified.
"Taste like the Poof," Spike stuck out his tongue.
Angel laughed, nudging his mouth close to his childe's neck. "You used to like the way I tasted," he purred.
"Oh, hell!" Spike cursed. He pulled Willow between them. "You stay on your side, Peaches, and I'll stay on mine," he nuzzled Willow's neck.
Angel just laughed, pulling his childe in for a kiss that he didn't resist.
Willow smiled, her eyes shining. Her life had had loss, gains, and now, love. She didn't know how this relationship would work; looking into brown, and then blue eyes, she knew that *how* didn't really matter. The redhead blushed. The only *how* question was...
"Someone's thinkin' naughty thoughts," Spike admonished, quirking his eyebrow.
Angel rumbled deep in his throat, tossing Willow over his shoulder, both he and his childe racing up the hotel steps to the suites. Willow's laugh echoed off the high ceilings, cementing her happiness.
A small silvery apparition, unnoticed by the trio, smiled in satisfaction.
***THE END****