E-Mail: lorelei703@yahoo.com
Characters: Willow/Angel
Rating: NC-17. Under the age of consent? Go away.
Summary: Flu induced schmoopiness. Maybe it’s the Nyquil. And yes, as the title might also suggest, this series is winding down.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They are solely the property of Joss Whedon (clever boy), Mutant Enemy, the WB, and the wonderful, understanding and so kind people at Fox.
Feedback: Why, yes! Thank you for offering. You’re too kind.
Note: 27th in the Obsession Series.
Distribution: The New Place, Calliope's Garden, Willow's Angel, 'Ships That Pass in the Night and everyone else who's asked permission. If you want it, ask first.
Dedication: It’s for Beth, dammit! Like you all already didn’t know that. And Tui, because she does so much for me and gets little thanks. For the Princess, because I’ve been missing her lately for some reason. And always for my Trollops because they’re wonderful in so many ways.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The pounding backbeat of the drums echoed through the Bronze, getting louder and louder, finally melting into the knocking on her apartment door. Willow stretched and slowly opened her eyes, blinking a few times before throwing back the covers on her bed.
“Coming!” She called out.
Woozily, she made her way to the door and peered through the peephole. A funhouse mirror version of Xander peeked back at her. Unlocking the door, she left the chain on and opened it a crack.
“Hey, Xander.”
“Wills! Let me in. Lunch is served.” He held up the take out bags he held in either hand. “Straight from Morrie’s to your door. What more could you ask for?”
Willow eyed Xander as the scent of the food assailed her nostrils. Her stomach let out a growl that Xander could hear in the hall.
“Willow? Morrie’s? Eat now?” He queried.
“Mmmm. Hold on.”
Willow reached over to the stand by the door and picked up the small squirt gun that lay on it. Pointing it at Xander, she squirted his hand.
“Hey! Is that a ‘you need a shower’ hint?”
Willow closed the door, took the chain off and let Xander in.
“Sorry. Holy water. Small precaution that Angel asked I agree to.” She yawned. “Plates and stuff are in the kitchen. I’m going to wash up a little. Set the table?”
Xander rummaged around the kitchen while Willow freshened up. He looked around the small place, amazed. Willow had made it her own. Of course, her computer and file cabinets were set up, but the little things, a knick-knack here, a candle there, made this new place seem comfortingly familiar to him. He’d helped her move some of her stuff two months ago and the contrast between that empty apartment and this cozy one were striking.
Willow wandering back in and the two of them set on silently demolishing the feast Xander had brought. Two barbecued chickens and a half a cheesecake later, the pair were satisfied.
Xander looked at her appreciatively. “You matched me bite for bite. Must be a new record.”
Willow shrugged. “The day after…you know…I’m just a little hungrier.”
“Are you still sticking to that high protein diet?”
Willow nodded, a burp escaping her lips. “S’cuse me.”
“What about sleep? Are you getting enough sleep?”
Willow gave him an incredulous look and then realization dawned on her face. “You didn’t buy lunch for us! Angel did! And now you’re grilling me! What are you up to?”
“I…well…” Xander sputtered.
“Why didn’t he just ask me yesterday? It’s not like we don’t talk when we’re together!” She stood and began to clear the table, her jerking movements betraying her agitation.
Xander grabbed her hand. “Sit down. Let me talk to you.”
“Exactly! Why isn’t he talking to me? What is this? Is he spying on me? Doesn’t he
“Sit. Please.”
Willow finally complied, but the emotions roiling through her were clear. Xander took her other hand and held both of them in his.
Willow sighed. “Why did he send you over? What does he think I’m doing.”
Quietly, he answered her question. “He thinks you’re letting him go.”
Willow sat silently, letting the full impact of what Xander had said wash over her. She’d been hurting Angel and she hadn’t even been aware. “Oh. I’m not! It’s just that I finally…”
Xander cut her off. “I told him that wasn’t what was going on, that there had to be something else. You don’t need to tell me what it is, though. It’s not just that he’s not talking to you, you’re not telling him anything. *You * need to talk to *him *.”
Willow stared at him a minute. He was absolutely right. She needed to talk to Angel and the sooner the better. There was one thing that was bugging her though.
“Why, Xander? Why is he asking you for favors? And why are you agreeing? You two aren’t exactly best friends… Morrie’s free lunch or not.”
Xander gave her a genuine smile. “I figured that we both care about you…and I trust you enough to want to be on speaking terms with the man you’re in love with. That’s all.”
The admission gave Willow a warm, fuzzy feeling. With everything that had happened, with the people that she’d lost, her happiness at his friendship was beyond measure. She didn’t know whether to cry or hug him until he begged for mercy.
Xander broke the moment. “Go talk to him. Now, okay? I don’t want to have him stalking me for a report.”
“Okay. Walk me half way after I shower? You can finish the cheesecake.”
Xander brightened. “Red-headed temptress! You’ve slain me with your evil ways.”
His phrasing triggered an immediate response. “Is Buffy okay? Is she…”
“She’s fine, Will. Oz is fine, too. And *I * know, since I had to show Giles how to use an e-mail account, that you know he’s fine. I also know that he’s being sending you info requests and you’ve been helping Buffy on the sly. You need to…just give it some time.”
She nodded and gave him a quick hug. “Okay. You eat, I’ll shower.”
End Part 1
A slight nuzzling roused Angel from a deep sleep. The fiery mouth enveloping his soft member was like a half-forgotten dream of sunshine and green fields, evoking warmth and comfort. He moaned, rousing himself completely and looked down at Willow as she expertly brought him to full erection. His hand found its way to her head, caressing a moment, then reluctantly lifting it.
“Willow…”
Willow crawled over his body and silenced him with a kiss, slipping his cool hardness into her welcoming heat with practiced ease. Her movements were deft and were quickly bringing him to orgasm. Sliding an expert hand between them, he found her clit and stroked it with his thumb.
Angel could tell she was resisting her own pleasure, but his skill wouldn’t be denied. As the pressure in his sac intensified, his assault on her increased and both of them came with gut-wrenching gratification.
Angel winced as she pulled herself away. Panting, Willow rolled off him and curled next to his side. He petted her back for a moment, waiting for her to recover.
“That was supposed to be just for you.” Willow whispered, still catching her breath.
“You should know by now, little girl, that it’s never going to be good for me if it’s * just* for me.”
He felt her stiffen slightly at his usual term of endearment for her and pulled away, lifting her chin so she was forced to look in his eyes.
“Are we going to do this now?”
There was a tinge of sorrow in his voice and Willow mentally kicked herself for causing him pain.
“Yes. Now.”
She sat up, pulling him with her so that they faced each other on the bed, legs crossed in front of them, holding hands. She took a deep breath and began.
“Just let me say this, don’t interrupt until I’m done. Okay?”
Angel’s voice hitched slightly. “Okay.”
“Good. First, stop worrying. I love you and I’m always going to love you and I’m not going anywhere. We’re together and that’s it. Got it?” Her question was answered with silence and she prompted him. “It’s okay to answer if I ask a question, you know.”
Relief already had flooded his features. “Okay. I got it. I love you, too.”
She smiled at him. “I know. And I want it to stay that way. The reason…the reason I have my own place is pretty simple. You know how you call me little girl?” He nodded. “Sometimes I feel like a little girl.”
She paused, trying to find the words. “Angel, I went straight from the bed that I used to read Winnie-the-Pooh in to your bed. I was under my parent’s care… and I went straight to your care. I’ve never had a chance to find out that I’m adult. I’ve never had the chance to see if I can stand on my own…to really grow up. I need to do that. I need to take care of myself, just to know I can do it. Not because I don’t trust you to do it, I just have to know I can. Because I’m never going to be the person you’re going to want in the future if I don’t.”
“I could never not want you.” Angel interrupted.
Willow nudged him gently with her foot. “Shhh. You don’t talk yet.”
He grinned at her and nodded again.
“I know you want me now, but what is it going to be like twenty years from now when I don’t know how to… to… change a fuse, or where the shut-off is on the toilet…or… I don’t know! Just everything. I need to do this. I have my own apartment. I’m paying the rent, I’m buying my own groceries, making my own food, deciding that I’m not going to make my bed if I don’t feel like it and not brushing my teeth if I don’t want to.”
Angel grimaced.
“Okay, I’m brushing my teeth, but you get the point. I’m being independent and I like it. I’m doing on-line research for a law firm and they’re paying me pretty well and I got the job without any help from anybody. I can do it, see?” She waited.
“What about school? Are you going to keep up with school?” Angel asked.
“Of course! I’m going to do it all. By myself, for myself… and for you, too. Because I can. You understand, don’t you?”
“Willow… yes. If it makes you happy I’m all for it… I think.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “It’s not about Buffy, about how she feels about us?”
Willow patted his cheek lovingly. “No. It’s not always about Buffy. It’s about me…and us. What’s going to make us work now and always.”
Angel scooted around and rested his back against the headboard and pulled her into his embrace, her back flush with his chest.
“So, how does * this* work? Do we only date on weekends? Are you going to sneak out of my bed and go back to your place at four in the morning?” Angel’s tone was light, but Willow knew he was really concerned about the prospect. She leaned back into him, snuggling into his arms even tighter.
“No, no sneaking anywhere. I figure we’ll see each other about as much as always. Except sometimes you’ll sleep over at my place and sometimes I’ll be here. Just like any normal relationship.”
“You said once that you didn’t expect a normal relationship with me, Willow. Are you changing your mind?”
She shook her head. “No. But there’s no reason it needs to be completely abnormal. We’ll play it by ear. Sometimes here, sometimes at my place. Except for once a month… I’m not sure how thin the walls in my apartment are… we don’t want to scare Mrs. Groudman in 3b.”
Angel chuckled. “No, that wouldn’t do.” He paused. “Does this mean I can’t call you ‘little girl’ anymore?”
“You can call me whatever and whenever you want… I love you… and I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“It’s okay. Just talk to me next time, okay?”
“Okay.” Willow agreed.
“So, do you want to go over to your place and have a nice normal date that consists of renting a nice normal movie and then have nice normal sex?” Angel asked.
Willow rose from the bed and started to dress. “Yes! Except… I was thinking instead of nice normal sex we could play naughty hygienist and the timid dentist.” Willow half-giggled, her relief apparent in her teasing.
Angel’s eyes flashed with amusement as a number of bawdy comebacks danced through his head. Instead, he answered in mock indignation. “I am shocked young lady! Willow, are you sure you’re doing research for a law firm?”
The End