Angel's eyelids moved, and he groaned at the pain in his head. Angel took stock and realized that apart from the pain in his head he was feeling quite good. He tried to remember exactly what had happened that he should be feeling so good. Being hung from chains wasn't exactly conductive to happiness after all. It was about then that he realized he was no longer hanging from anything. This led his mind to inform him of the rather warm and decidedly silky feel of another body wrapped around his.
'What?' his mind thought.
Angel opened his eyes and looked down, Willow's sleeping form mumbled a bit and nuzzled closer as Angel's sudden movement jostled her.
'Oh hell.' Angel thought.
Willow's arms tightened around his waist and Angel groaned as a burst of desire shot through him. His mind throwing up images of just what had happened between the two of them. It seemed to take great pleasure in lingering over certain bits and Angel groaned again in frustration.
'Dammit, I can't think of that now. I've got to find a way of getting us out of here.' He thought, his arms holding Willow's form closer as he thought of the danger they were in.
He couldn't be sure of exactly what it was that had caused the both of them to lose total control but he could guess.
"I see you're awake." Victor said, coming from the darkness.
'I wish I knew how he does that.' Angel said, it was all very well and good when Angel did that trick but he hated having other do it to him.
"Yes, would you like to explain exactly what it is you want now?" Angel asked, grumpily.
Victor smiled,
"Why not, after all it's not as if you can do anything about it now." he said, smiling.
Angel merely raised an eyebrow and position Willow more comfortably in his arms. Victor looked down at the petite hacker and smiled,
"She really is quite lovely, you're a very lucky man Angel. If I hadn't needed the child I might have taken her myself." Victor mused.
Angel's eyes clouded with anger, and his face briefly morphed to full vampire mode before he brought himself under control. Victor laughed,
"Yes, I do believe I've chosen wisely. You will protect her and the child until I can return to claim it. You have no other choice, after all you couldn't possible hurt the one you love."
Angel's eyes widened in shock and surprise and he looked down at Willow's sleeping form before looking at Victor again.
"I..."
"Don't bother to deny it to me Angel, you love the girl, it's as clear as day to everyone but you and her. It's really quite sweet in a sickly hallmark card kind of way." Victor said with a smile.
"Exactly what is this in aid of?" Angel asked after a moment, not bothering to deny Victor's musings.
"Tsk, tsk, we are an impatient one, aren't we. This conversation is in aid of informing you that you're going to be a father Angel."
"Stop playing games, vampires can't have children." Angel said, his voice filled with menace.
Victor's grin widened,
"Not normally, but with a little help from the arcane, its amazing what you can accomplish. Don't tell me you've never heard of Dhampir's before Angel." Victor said.
Angel stared at Victor for a long time before speaking,
"How?" was all he asked.
"An ancient ritual, it took me positively ages to find the thing. You have no idea about how well it was hidden. I suppose they were afraid of it falling into the wrong hands, all though why I couldn't possibly say. All I had to do then was find the right situation in which to use it. A situation you and Willow conveniently provided for me. I must thank you for that, I might have gone on searching for centuries if I hadn't found you two."
"You must know that I will never let you near either of them. How do you expect to be able to take the child?"
Victor's form was fading, growing transparent,
"My dear Angel, that would be telling..."
Angel cursed and tried to reach for Victor before he could fade, but Willow's body curled around his stopped him. Willow opened her eyes at the jostling, fully awake now. She looked up at the form of Angel above her, two thoughts coming to her at once.
One, she was curled around Angel in a decidedly intimate manner and two, she and he were both stark naked. Willow blushed, a deep shade of red and immediately began to move away from Angel in search of her missing clothes.
Angel felt Willow move and looked down to find her trying to move away.
He gripped her arm and turned her around to face him.
.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Willow gaped back at him, her mind trying to find words.
"Well, we're I mean, you and I are, well naked, we're naked together." Willow stammered.
Angel grinned down at Willow,
"Hmm, we are? I was wondering why it was suddenly so cold in here." He said with a wicked grin.
Willow stared at him in shock for a second before her face took on a look of exasperation.
"Angel, this is serious, we just had sex, Buffy's gonna kill me." She wailed.
"No, she won't, she and I are just friends Willow." Angel explained, bringing Willow back into the circle of his arms.
Willow snuggled down against Angel, enjoying the feel of him close to her.
"You mean, that...?"
"Yeah, we decided that it just wouldn't work out between us. We're going to stay friends though. Now, exactly how did you get here?" Angel asked.
"Well, after we were attacked I went to Spike, he promised me he'd help if I ever needed it cause' I saved his life a little while ago." Willow explained.
Angel raised an eyebrow in surprise but let Willow continue.
"Anyway, Spike found out where you were but said he couldn't get in because of the guards. So I started looking on the net to see if there was anything we could find on this guy."
Angel nodded, nuzzling at the side of her neck. He knew he probably should be getting up and finding his clothes but the feel of Willow in his arms was just to nice to let go of just yet.
Willow tried to marshal her thoughts, which seemed to keep scattering as she felt Angel's mouth sucking at her neck.
"So, I was doing some research when the guy just appeared out of nowhere and grabbed me. Spike tried to stop him but.... Hmm, that's nice.... He just threw him off. Then he did some kind of.... Oh, yeah, mmm, Angel don't stop... spell on me and then I remember nothing till I woke up here. Then, well, I saw you hanging from the chains and I couldn't just leave you there so I.... Oh, God, Angel that's the spot... released you, only you sorta fell on me cause' I couldn't hold you up. Then, well I'm sure you remember the rest."
Angel looked up from his exploration of Willow's skin and smiled into her eyes.
"Yes, I do believe I can remember what happened next." He said with a wicked glint in his eyes.
Willow's own eyes widened and she chuckled suddenly,
"I don't suppose that's something you forget, you do know that we're going to have to get dressed. I don't know about you, but I sorta don't want to spend any more time in this place then necessary." She said.
Angel shook his head,
"There's no tunnels from here and its day outside. I can't go anywhere until night time."
Willow smiled and a wicked glint appeared in her eyes,
"Does that mean we have some time for a little replay?" she asked, wickedly.
Angel's smile matched Willow's own.
"I'd say so." He replied.
Back at the library...
Xander paced as Cordelia looked on in disgust,
"For God's sake Xander, having a nerves breakdown is not going to help Willow. Pull yourself together and stop acting like such a child." she said
Xander turned to her and opened his mouth to say something nasty, one look at her face though convinced him not too. Cordelia looked worried, badly scared and as tired as Hades.
"God, I didn't know she even liked Willow." He thought.
Xander crossed the room to where Cordelia was sitting and took her in his arms. Cordelia wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly, small sobs wracking her frame.
"I didn't even get to tell her how sorry I was Xander. I was such a bitch to her all the time and now I won't ever get to tell her that I'm so..."
Xander shushed her and held her against him tightly,
"Its okay Cordelia, she knew... she's always forgiven me for being a stupid donkey's ass so I don't see why she wouldn't forgive you for being one to." He said.
Cordelia broke away from Xander for a second and looked up into his eyes,
"Gee, thanks a lot, now I'm being compared to a donkey's rear end." She said.
Xander looked down at her in surprise for a second, before noticing the slight twitching of her lips into a smile. Xander chuckled softly before kissing her for a moment.
"Cordy, you know, just when I think I've got you pegged you go and throw me for a loop."
Cordelia smiled and winked,
"Of course my love, you don't think I'd actually want you to know everything about me do you? After all, a woman's gotta have some secrets." She said.
Xander laughed and hugged her to him, he knew in his heart that they'd
find Willow and Angel alive. After all, Angel had always kept her safe
before, and Xander wouldn't let himself believe that this time would be
any different.
Willow checked the sky outside and noted that the sun had set fully. Willow turned toward Angel and smiled.
"Looks like it's time we got going." She said.
Angel placed a hand on Willow's shoulder,
"What do you want to tell the others?"
Willow sighed,
"I don't know... it wasn't as if we were in control."
"Not the first time." Angel said gently.
Willow smiled,
"I don't want to make it hard for you Angel. The others..."
"Can deal with it. I want..." Angel said.
Willow smiled and brushed a hand across his cheek,
"I know, we'll just take it slow is all. I guess we might as well go and get it over with."
Angel nodded, he wouldn't tell Willow about what Victor had said not
until he was sure it was true.
Later at the library...
"YOU WHAT?" Xander yelled, looking wildly from Willow to Angel and back.
Xander's face had gone pale and if Willow hadn't been so annoyed with him, she might have been concerned.
"We had sex Xander, it wasn't as if either of us had any control over it. Victor cast a spell on me; it affected any vampire within range. If Spike had been there it probably would've been him." Willow snapped.
Spike raised an eyebrow and smirked, Willow caught the look and glared at him as well.
Willow and Angel had met the Slayer and her entourage on their way back from the Warehouse. Buffy and Giles had been so concerned about Willow that they hadn't thought to ask how they'd gotten away until they'd reached the library.
'Well that could've gone better.' She thought as Xander merely glared at her.
"Xander, chill, anyone would think you were Willow's father. If I didn't know better I'd say you had feelings for her that would make me very unhappy." Cordelia said.
"What? Cordelia, of course I... she's my friend... she.... Angel.... Argh." Xander said, throwing his hands up in the air and walking out of the library.
Cordelia winked at Willow,
"Don't worry about him Willow, he's just having to deal with the fact that his best friend grew up. I think it's a kind of male thing... Just give me a few days and I'll have him back to normal." She said with a smile.
Willow smiled, during the months that had passed since Buffy left and her subsequent return, as well as her casting the spell that set Angel free. Willow and Cordelia, had become, if not friends, at least comfortable in each other's presence.
Cordelia exited the library, leaving only Angel, Willow, Spike, Buffy and Giles within. Willow sighed and turned around, noting that Angel and Buffy seemed to be having a conversation, Willow only caught the last of it.
"I swear if you hurt her Angel, there won't be a hole deep enough that you can crawl into." Buffy said, turning away from him and walking towards Willow.
Buffy smiled as she got closer to her friend and then reached out and hugged her.
"I'm glad you're okay Willow, I was scared I wouldn't have you around to talk to, or keep me on track when I get a bit wacky."
Willow smiled, and hugged her friend. She'd been so scared that Buffy would be angry with her.
"Hey, I wouldn't go away without saying goodbye." Willow said softly.
Buffy smiled and released her friend,
"Piece of advice, don't let him get away with that cryptic guy routine to often. Oh, and watch out for those former girlfriends of his, they can be killers." Buffy said with a wink.
Willow laughed and Buffy chuckled before walking past Willow and out of the library. Looking over her shoulder, she called out,
"You coming Spike? I think we have some things to discuss, like why you're back in Sunnydale when I told you what would happen." Buffy said.
Spike smiled darkly and walked over to where Buffy stood,
"Whatever you say love, just lead the way." He said.
Buffy raised an eyebrow and then walked out with Spike in tow. Willow watched the two go with a calculating expression on her face as she thought about the possibilities. True, Spike was evil but Willow was sure the Slayer could more then handle the vampire.
Angel walked over to Willow and looked down at her, Giles was watching the two with an intense look on his face.
"Angel, if you don't mind I'd like to have a word with you tomorrow night." He said.
Angel looked up at Giles, searching his face for any information on what he could possibly wish to talk about. Finding none Angel merely nodded an affirmative.
"Fine, I think perhaps you should see Willow home now, and make sure she doesn't get into any more trouble." Giles said.
Willow smiled at that,
"Don't worry Giles, I'm not about to go looking for any more trouble this night." Willow said.
"See that you don't, use the wards I showed you. They might help if this Victor person decides to return, I'll see what I can do about finding some stronger ones tomorrow." He said.
Willow nodded and looked over at Angel, Angel nodded that he was ready to go and they both said goodbye to Giles before exiting the library.
Giles watched the two go and then went to stand before his desk in the
little office he'd made his own. His heart was troubled, he hoped to God
Willow hadn't become pregnant. If she had, he would have to take steps
to abort the child; a Dhampir was not to be allowed to enter this world,
not after what happened last time.
The hall was dark and lit only by a single candelabrum, placed on a table halfway along its length. A voice could be heard, drifting towards Willow from where she stood at the top of a grand staircase. The voice, was a sweet baritone that moved across Willow's nerves like silk. Willow moved cocked her head to the side, trying to make out the softly sung words. She was to far way.
Moving silently, Willow tiptoed down the hall, as she grew closer she could finally make out the words. They were Gaelic, and Willow smiled as she softly pushed open the door to the room from whence they came. Willow leaned against the side of the door, drinking in the image before her.
Angel hadn't heard her come in, and he stood beside the open glass French door's that led onto the balcony that adjoined his room. He was singing to Sera, the infant held snugly in his arms, as he rocked her every now and again. His eyes were filled with such joy, that Willow felt a lump catch in her throat, and her own eyes start to tear.
'He looks so good. How did I know that he would make a great father? It was worth the pain, is worth the pain. I know that now, just to see him like this, it's worth everything.' She thought.
Willow looked up and met Angel's eyes. Angel smiled,
"I heard her crying. My mother would always sing that to me when I was upset. She said it always put me straight to sleep."
"I would've liked to meet your mother Angel, she raised a wonderful son."
Angel's eyes darkened but he smiled,
"She would've loved you Willow, they all would've." He said.
"You've been holding out on me. You never said you had such a beautiful singing voice." Willow admonished.
She leaned her head against Angel's back and wrapped her arms around him and their baby.
"You never asked, have you thought about what I said Willow? Sera deserves a name." He said.
Willow sighed, closing her eyes,
"Sera has a name Angel, mine."
"Why won't you marry me Willow, why do you keep pushing me away?" Angel asked, his voice pained.
"It's not that Angel, I love you, I do. It's just, I.... What if Victor comes back? I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want Sera to get hurt."
Angel turned moving a hand under Willow's chin and lifting her eyes to meet his.
"You know he won't Willow, he's dead."
"What if he isn't? What if he comes back and.... And... I can't take that chance Angel, I won't. You can't go where I need to go to protect her. Don't make this so damn hard."
"I can't let you go Willow, I can't let her go... You know that, I love you both too much. Please, Willow, don't leave me."
Willow looked into Angel's eyes, tears falling freely.
"Damn you Angel, damn you for making me feel like this."
"I'm already damned Willow. You were my salvation, will you kill me again?"
Willow awoke with a start, her face damp from tears. She curled into a ball and sobbed. Willow couldn't remember the dream, only that whatever it had been about, it had felt so damn bad.
Angel awoke suddenly and looked over to see Willow curled into a tight
ball, crying. Concerned, he reached over and drew her into his arms. Willow
felt Angel's arms go around her and for some reason it only made her hurt
more. She turned around in his embrace and buried her face in his shoulder,
the sobs tearing at her petite frame.
Angel rocked Willow, not knowing how to help her, not even knowing
what was wrong.
"God Willow, please don't cry." he whispered.
Willow sniffled, trying to calm the sobs that still wanted to come.
"I hurt Angel, I hurt so bad and I don't know why."
Angel brushed his hand against her hair, stroking it softly,
"Shh Willow, I'm here, I'll always be here." he said.
Angel wondered how he'd come to care for this girl so quickly. It seemed
that one day he'd just turned around and found her occupying his heart.
Angel smiled, he couldn't think of anyone he'd rather have there then Willow.
Four weeks later...
Willow looked in shock at the results from the home pregnancy test.
'Oh God, how am I going to tell him?' she thought.
Willow remembered the conversation she'd had with Spike, about how Victor had been looking for a way to create a Dhampir.
'Dammit, I should've thought of this.'
Willow cleaned up her bathroom and then walked out into her bedroom and picked up the phone.
"The only way to do it is to be blunt, I wouldn't be able to keep this
from him for long anyway."
Angel's place....
Angel groaned and rolled over. An insistent ringing seemed to be coming from somewhere nearby. Angel groaned again and sat up, realising that the ringing was coming from the phone.
Getting up slowly, Angel was not a morning person. He reached for the phone and brought it to his ear.
"Who is it?" he grumbled.
"A-Angel, I've got to talk to you. C-Could you meet me somewhere tonight?"
"Willow, what's this about, are you in some kind of trouble?" Angel asked, concerned, noting the nervousness in her voice.
"N-No, nothing's wrong, what could possibly be wrong? I just need to talk with you, I think we need to discuss a few things." Willow said.
"Okay Willow, I'll meet you outside your house at about eight o'clock then. I'm sure we can find somewhere we can talk." Angel said.
"Great, I-I'll see you then."
Willow hung up the phone before Angel could say anything else and sat down on her bed. She'd meant to tell him over the phone, but she'd chickened out.
'Why is this so hard? Why couldn't I just come out and tell him.' She wondered.
'Because you're afraid.' answered a small voice in her mind.
Willow nodded, yes she was afraid. Willow and Angel had been avoiding each other lately. It wasn't intentional, just that they both realised they needed space to deal with what was happening. Willow had been feeling strange since that night, she still couldn't remember what the dream had been about but it had left her feeling afraid.
Angel for his part seemed confused, about Willow, about his own feelings. Willow knew that he was finding it hard. The last person he'd loved he'd almost destroyed. Willow knew that he needed time to deal with that, but now with what she'd just found out Willow also knew she couldn't give him that time. Willow needed to know how he felt.
Then other things were keeping them apart. Oz had come back three weeks ago. Willow still winced when she remembered the little talk they'd had. Oz had reacted badly to the news that Angel and Willow were together. She'd tried to break it to him gently, tried to say that they'd still be friends.
Oz had been belligerent to say the least. He'd started yelling and that had set Willow's temper off. In the end, they'd both said things they didn't mean. Angel had reacted badly when Willow told him. As if what had happened between Oz and her had been his entire fault. Willow had informed him that it took two to have sex. Frankly, Willow didn't have it within her now to care about Oz's feelings.
They'd been drifting apart even before what had happened. It would've been only a matter of time, or at least that's what she told herself. It felt bad, Oz had always been there for her when she needed him. Yet, she couldn't help what she felt, and Oz should've been able to understand that.
It was all a complete mess and now that Willow knew she was pregnant on top of that, it just made it so much worse. Willow hoped that Angel would be okay with this.
'If he's not, then I suppose I'll just have to leave town. I'm not going to get rid of this child and I wouldn't be able to stand being in the same place as its father if he didn't want it.' Willow thought.
Willow huffed out her breath once in a determined sound and went to
get changed.
Later at school lunch...
Willow walked into the school cafeteria and spied Amy sitting on Oz's lap.
'When did that happen?' she wondered, slightly surprised.
Oz looked up and caught Willow looking at them, he looked guilty for a second but Willow smiled at him brightly and after a moment, he smiled back. Willow saw him whisper something to Amy and she looked up at Willow before nodding and getting up.
Oz stood up and walked towards Willow, standing in front of her he fidgeted for a bit before speaking,
"Willow, I-I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean..."
Willow smiled,
"Oz, its okay, we both said things we didn't mean. I wasn't exactly the most tactful in telling you about Angel and I anyway. You were right in what you said, I shouldn't have treated you like that." Willow said.
Oz shook his head,
"No, you couldn't help what you did. I knew things weren't going well for us that you were drifting away. I guess the spell was the best thing that happened to us. It stopped us from holding onto each other when we both knew it wasn't working out. I'll always love you Willow but lately it's been more as a friend then anything else." Oz said.
Willow smiled,
"Thank you Oz, I know you didn't have to be this nice. You could've refused to talk to me ever again and it wouldn't have been anyone's fault but mine. I see you and Amy seem to be getting along."
Oz grinned like a little boy,
"Yeah, we are. I sorta asked her out on a date yesterday, and Willow, I never would've not talked to you ever again." He said.
Willow grinned and gave him a hug,
"Thanks Oz, I'm glad we're okay again. I missed you." She said.
It was true, Willow had missed Oz, she might not love him like that anymore but he'd always been there when she needed someone to talk to.
"I missed you to Willow, I'll call you tomorrow and tell you how the date went." He said.
Willow grinned,
"Just remember to watch out for the vampire's." Willow said.
Oz laughed,
"With Amy as a date they'd have to watch out for us." He said.
Oz walked back over to Amy and Willow walked across to where Buffy, Xander and Cordelia were sitting. Willow might've been surprised to see Cordelia there a year ago but she'd changed a lot since then.
"I see you and Oz are talking again. Decided to give dead-boy the boot?" Xander said.
Cordelia jabbed Xander in the ribs,
"Sometimes Xander, you can be so clueless. Can't you see that was the lets be friends talk?" Cordelia said.
Willow looked at Cordelia in surprise,
"How did you know that? I didn't think we were speaking that loud?" she said, sitting down.
Cordelia smiled,
"It's all in the body language. I've seen the friends speech enough to know what it looks like." She said, smugly.
"So are we bronzing it tonight?" Buffy asked, looking at her food as though it might move.
"Sorry guys, I've got something to do tonight." Willow said.
"Oh?" Xander asked.
Cordelia looked over at Buffy's food,
"What exactly is that supposed to be?" she asked in disgust.
"I think it's supposed to be lasagne, It could be an alien life form though." Buffy replied.
"I can't believe they expect us to eat this stuff." Cordelia said, looking down at her own plate of food.
"Guys, like I was trying to find out where Willow's going tonight." Xander said.
Cordelia looked at her boyfriend,
"I know that Xander, why do you think we started talking about cafeteria food? It's none of our business where she's going unless she chooses to tell us. So just, contain your burning desire to know where Willow is twenty-four hours a day." She said.
Xander threw up his hands in a consoling gesture,
"Okay, okay, I was just wanted to know okay. It's not like this is the safest place to be. I was doing the concerned friend thing."
"Well just do the minding your own business thing." Cordelia said.
"It's okay Cordelia, I was going to tell you guys anyway. I'm going to see Angel tonight, I thought it was time we stopped doing the avoiding each other thing." Willow said.
"I've been wondering when you two were going to like, get a clue." Buffy said.
Willow looked at her friend in surprise.
"Well, you've been like, doing the guilt thing for ages now. None of us blame you for what happened, even Oz has come around. So you can both stop doing the angst thing and actually be happy now." Buffy said, nonchalantly.
"Buffy, you said he was your true love." Willow said, softly.
Buffy looked at her friend, her eye's grave.
"He was, but that was before. I can't forget Angelus Willow, every time I looked at him I'd remember. I sent him to hell, I can't ever forget that either. I need to move on Willow and well, I've sorta been, scouting the local talent of late." Buffy said.
Willow smiled at her friend,
"Thanks Buffy, I guess I needed to know everyone was okay with this."
Xander made as if to say something, but Cordelia jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow again.
"Ow, hey like I bruise easy you know." Xander protested.
"Then you'll just have to learn not to put your foot in your mouth." Cordelia said sweetly.
"I didn't say anything." Xander said, a hurt expression on his face.
"Yeah, but you were going to." Cordelia said.
Outside Willow's house that night...
Angel watched Willow walk down the steps toward him. He moved, pulling her into an embrace. Willow clung to him and buried her face in his shoulder, her body shaking. Angel looked down at her in concern, brushing her dark red-brown hair away from her face.
"Willow, what's wrong?" he asked, noting her tears.
Willow stepped away from him and shook her head,
"Not here, lets...lets just walk for a bit, okay?"
Angel nodded, wondering what Willow could be finding so hard to tell him. His heart gave a sick thud, could...could she want to tell him it was over? Angel shook his head, no, he wouldn't think like that. Angel took a hold of Willow's hand and started walking, enjoying the warmth of it in his.
Willow kept her head down, peaking up at Angel's face every now and again.
'Why are you stalling Willow? Why don't you just tell him?' Asked a small voice in her head.
"I love him, I can't...can't lose him now." Willow thought back at it.
They came to the park and Angel sat Willow down on one of the benches. He looked at her, his eye's grave.
"Willow, I know there's something you've got to say to me. You don't have to worry about hurting me, I think I can take anything you have to say." He said gently.
Willow closed her eyes briefly, gathering courage,
"I'm pregnant." She said simply.
Silence...Willow didn't dare open her eyes; she didn't want to see. Finally, she felt Angel's hands on her face. God, they were so soft...She felt the touch of his mouth against hers, and she sighed softly, and returned the kiss. It only lasted a moment, and when Willow opened her eyes, she knew she shouldn't have been afraid.
"Angel I..." she started to say.
Angel put his finger to her lips,
"Shh, I know, I love you to Willow. I'm going to look after you now, you and our baby." He said, his voice filled with emotion.
Willow looked into his eyes and smiled, they were so filled with wonder. Willow wondered how she could've ever doubted that Angel would want this baby. Willow lifted her arms and wrapped them around him in a tight hug.
"Angel, I don't think I could ever love anyone more then I love you." Willow whispered.
Angel stroked her hair gently, closing his eyes at the feelings it moved deep within him.
"I'm never going to let anyone hurt you Willow. I'll never let anything happen to either of you."
Willow smiled and snuggled into him with a sigh,
"I know Angel, I know."
Library...
"I can't believe you're letting her out alone with dead-boy." Xander grumbled.
Buffy aimed another kick at the practice dummy, frowning in irritation.
"Xander I am not letting her do anything. Willow's old enough to go out without a minder. Besides Angel would never let anything happen to her. Xander, like just chill okay."
Xander sliced the knife downwards hard on the stake he was making,
"I can't believe you're so cool with this. I mean it wasn't long ago that you two were like, the Romeo and Juliet of Sunnydale." He muttered.
Buffy landed an uppercut to the dummy,
"Yeah well Xander, news for you Romeo and Juliet died. I don't know about you but I don't plan on going down that road more then twice in any lifetime." She said.
Xander finished the stake and picked up another one. Cordelia walked into the library and raised an eyebrow as she saw Xander's petulant look.
"Don't tell me you're still obsessing over Willow and Angel." She said.
Xander looked at her in irritation,
"It just gets me at how easily everyone's forgiven him. I mean, hello he killed Ms Calendar for God's sake." Xander said.
Buffy and Cordelia looked over at Giles office, where he appeared to be pouring over yet another book of prophecy. Cordelia looked at her boyfriend angrily,
"Would you not mention that near Giles, don't you have any class at all?" she hissed.
"No, I'm a teenage boy, the two are mutually exclusive." He said sarcastically.
"How about showing some then? I swear if I hear you bitching about Willow and Angel one more time or talking about you know who near Giles I will..." Cordelia said, her voice cool with anger.
Xander looked over at Buffy for help, but her eyes were equally as angry.
"Fine...I won't mention it again, God, you just get a little concerned and everyone comes down on you like a ton of bricks."
Buffy and Cordelia snorted in amusement,
"I think it has less to do with your worry over Willow, as it does to do with how much you dislike Angel." Cordelia said.
"Aren't you supposed to be defending me? I mean you are my girlfriend." Xander said.
"Why defend a lost cause?" Cordelia said with a smile.
Xander rolled his eyes,
"Whatever...So what are we going to do tonight?"
Buffy's answer was cut off by Willow and Angel's entrance into the library.
"Guys, we've got something we need to tell you." Willow said.
End Part 15