You'd only a lilting song,
Only a melody, happy and high,
You were sudden and swift and strong-
Never a thought for another had I
-- Dorothy Parker, The Choice

Willow opened her eyes and squinted at the sudden light that invaded
her vision; she growled softly, pushing herself up off the bed. She
stretched lazily, suddenly realizing she was alone on the bed.

"Angel?" she called out, worry in her voice. When she didn't get an
answer, she stepped off the bed and grabbed a tank top and sweat
pants that were lying on the back of one of the chairs. She pulled
the clothing on quickly, concern for Angel flooding through her mind.
She pulled the curtain aside roughly and stepped into the living;
finding it abandoned she called his name again. Out of the corner of
her eye, she caught a faint flash of movement from the night-filled
garden. She stepped over to the broken door and glanced outside; her
breath caught as she watched him.

Angel stood, shirtless with his eyes closed, in the middle of the
garden, and he slowly brought his arms together in front of him and
moved them to his right in a fluid motion. His left arm moved to
cross his chest as his right arm passed over the left; his arms were
extended to their full length. His right hand clasped the heel of
his left hand as he moved his arms in a broad circle; his palms faced
away from him as he raised his arms and separated them.

Willow smiled softly. < He looks so at peace, > she commented to herself,
deciding not to disturb him. She turned from the patio doors and started
to walk silently across the mansion.

"Willow," Angel's voice called out before she could return to bed. She
turned startled to find her nose pressed against Angel's chest.

"You move too fast," she muttered.

"Sorry," he shrugged, grinning.

"That was...beautiful," she commented.

"Thank you," he whispered, tracing the edge of her jaw with a finger.
"I could teach you...i-if you want." She nodded.

"I'd like that," she smiled in return. He offered her his hand, and
she placed her palm in his. He led her gently out into the garden and
set her down on the edge of the dirt-filled fountain. Her brow creased
in confusion. "Angel?"

"I bought you something," he responded, pulling a small gift bag from
around the edge of the fountain. He handed it to her and watched her
hands as she pried the bag open. She brought the small leather-bound
and her eyes immediately lit up.

"Angel!" she exclaimed, jumping up and wrapping her arms around his
waist. "I've been looking for this everywhere. How did you know?"

"I didn't," he replied, brushing a piece of hair out of her eyes.
"Faith told me you were interested in witchcraft, so I figured--"
The rest of his sentence was cut off as Willow placed a hand on his
neck and pulled him down to her. She met his lips with hers and
kissed him gently.

"Thank you," she whispered, resting her head against his chest.

"Your welcome," he replied softly, stroking her hair. She pulled away
from him and set the book down on the edge of the fountain.

"Are you gonna show me how to do...whatever you were doing?" she asked,
turning to face him and grinning. He returned her smile.

"Just the basics," he replied, holding up a finger to silence her when
she opened her mouth to protest. "I don't plan on spending all night
doing this," he whispered.

"Oh," she responded, nodding her understanding.

"Just follow what I do?" he asked; she nodded again. Angel stretched
his arms high above his head with his hands together; he held that
position as Willow mirrored him. Then, moving as one, they both brought
their arms down, bending them at the elbows; Willow soon lost herself
in the exercises, doing what came naturally. She crossed her wrists
and swung her arms in a graceful arc, watching Angel out of the corner
of her eye. She drew her hands up to her waist and made a half-turn so
that her back was to Angel; she then brought her arms up above her head.
She jumped suddenly as she felt Angel's body mold against hers as his
hands trailed from her elbows down to her shoulders; they crossed her
ribs, his thumbs gently brushing the underside of her breasts. His
hands stopped on the flat of her stomach, pressing Willow back against
him.

"I thought you were teaching me," she murmured as he gently nuzzled
her neck and his fingers started seeking their way under the waistband
of her sweat pants.

"I got impatient," he growled as his fingers found her skin under
the sweats. He gently caressed her curls with a cold hand as she
arched into him.

"Can't you two get a room?" Faith's voice suddenly commented from
the stairs. Willow tensed as she heard Angel growl.

"We have a room," he replied; she relaxed as she recognized a playful
tone to his voice. "You just happen to be standing in it." Willow
choked back laughter as the Slayer rolled her eyes and tossed a Tupperware
container at Angel's head.

"Head's up," she grinned. Angel released Willow reluctantly to catch the
container with one hand. He cocked an eyebrow at Faith. "Something told me
you two weren't thinking about food, and besides, B's looking for Red."

"What?!" Willow cried.

"She's worried, what with you sick again today. I think she was headed to
your place after patrol," the brunette replied. Willow looked at Angel,
opening her mouth to tell him she had to leave. He held up a hand.

"Go," he ordered softly. "But remember, you are coming back." She nodded;
as Faith and Willow headed out the patio doors, he called out, "Be careful."

"I will," she replied, smiling brightly at him.

"I'll take real good care of her, Fang," Faith grinned, putting an arm
around Willow's shoulders.

"That's what I'm worried about," he replied. Faith and Willow both broke
into laughter as they walked out of the mansion. Angel watched the door
swing silently shut behind the pair and then glanced up at the night sky.
He sighed loudly. "I've got a bad feeling," he whispered to the stars
before walking inside, failing to notice the shadowy figure perched at
the top of the stairs.

*FIN*

next