Summary: Just as the title says...Angel and Willow come face to face.
Author's Note: This is part 4 in the To Hell and Back series.
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"Xander Im fine really, there is nothing to worry about." Willow looked at Xander and knew she had been worrying him. But she couldnt get Angel out of her head. She cared for him. She felt responsible for everything that had happened to him, and she had to help him, no matter what the cost.
Xander knew something was wrong with her. She had been withdrawn from the group, always making excuses for not being with them. And when she was her mind was somewhere else. "Just let me know if you need anything. Im here for you Wills. All you have to do is say the word and Ill be at your side in an instant."
Willow pulled Xander into a hug. "I know you will. Youve always been there when it counted." Willow pulled him closer, feeling all the emotions she had bottled up since coming back from hell bubble to the surface. Xander pulled her even closer to him and she lost it.....an anguished cry broke loose and soon her body shock with violent sobs. They fell to the floor in a heep, Xander rocked her back and forth while making soothing sounds in her ear. "I'll make this better Will, I promise. I'll make it better."
Outside a figure detached from the shadows, tears running down his face. "God what have I done? I'll make it right. I'll make everything right."
Willow looked up at the huge mansion before her. She knew she had to make peace. Not only with herself but with Angel. She had tried time and time again to bring him back, and she had failed. She walked into the room where Acatlha once stood, knowing this would be her last trip here. "I'm sorry Angel, Im so sorry for failing you." Silent tears rolled down her face as she said her good-byes.
"No Willow, I'm the one who failed you." Willow turned at the sound of his voice, not believing her eyes she could only stare at him, half expecting him to disappear. "God, Will, what have I done?" Blood tears streaked his face, he held a stake in his right hand. "I'll make it right Will, I swear it."
Willows senses came back to her in that instant, she knew what he was going to do, even before he started to raise the stake. "Angel no! You can't leave me now! You can't!" Willow ran to him and threw her arms around him, in a desperate hug. "Please Angel, I cant lose you again."
Angel pulled Willow closer and wept, he didnt deserve her forgiveness, he didnt deserve her at all. But here she was in his arms begging him to stay with her. "It feels so good to hold you, to know you're safe." Angel pulled back to look in Willow's eyes, eyes full of tears, tears for him. "I dont deserve to exist, not after what I've done."
Willow looked deep into his eyes, all she could see was anguish, nothing more. She couldn't bear to see that look in his eyes. "Angel you didn't do anything, it wasn't you. You saved me. You saved me from hell, the very thing I tried to save you from. How can you say you dont deserve to exist. You more than anyone deserves that, at the very least."
"That was me Will, it still lives in me. It will forever be a part of me, the only way to destroy it is by destroying myself. Can't you see that?"
"No Angel, I can't. All I see is a good man, someone who would die for the people he cares about. That's rare now, people are so involved in themselves they rarely ever see beyond that. You see outside yourself, you see the people scared in the night and you protect them with nothing to gain in return. You are better than half the people in this world and you suffer for it. I wish I could make it better." Willow leaned in and kissed Angel on the cheek, then put her head on his shoulder. "You'll get through this Angel, I promise, well get trough this."
Angel held on to that promise as tightly as he held on to her. If she said it would be all right, then he knew it would be. As long as he had her.
The End