E-MAIL: saint.angelus@usa.net
DISTRIBUTION: The New Place, Fever of Fate, Willow's Guys, anyone else, please ask.
SPOILERS: Revelations
RATING: G
CONTENT: Willow/Angel friendship [for now ;]
SUMMARY: Willow shows up at the Mansion (for lack of a better summary)
DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Joss's. I am not Joss.
NOTE: Part 1 of the Nightly Visitations Series.
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One hand Reaches out And pulls a lost soul from harm While a thousand more go unspoken for They say what good have you done By saving just this one It's like whispering a prayer In the fury of a storm -- Garth Brooks, The Change
He was staring at the wall.
He'd been staring at the wall since the awkward silence had descended on the small group that had fought in the living room. He kept staring at the wall even as the group began to file out the door one by one, and he just stared harder has Buffy left without even a goodbye.
He wanted to cry, desperately. He wanted to scream and throw things; he wanted to shout out at the top of his lungs that he loved Buffy. But he didn't. He just kept staring at the wall, wallowing in self-pity.
He would have remained there if it hadn't been for a loud rapping at the Mansion's front door. Without even thinking about what he was doing, he stalked over to the door and yanked it open with a low snarl.
"Angel?" Willow squeaked, stepping back from him.
"Willow," he greeted, his features relaxing as he stepped aside and waved her in. "What are you doing here?" he asked as she entered the room and stood silently in the center of it.
"I, uh, wanted to thank you," she replied. "For saving my life," she clarified at his confused expression.
"You're welcome," he replied, "But you shouldn't be here." A flash of pain danced in Willow's eyes.
"You don't want me here," she stated, walking past him and heading for the door. He reached out and touched her arm, halting her exit.
"It's not that," he muttered, turning away from her. "After all the things I did...."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, looking down at the floor.
"For what?" Angel asked, turning around.
"Not finding the curse sooner," Willow replied, meeting his eyes.
"It wasn't your fault," he commented.
"I'm gonna go," she stated, taking a step towards the door.
"Willow?" Angel called out, and she turned to face him. "How can you trust me?"
"Hey, you saved my life," she shrugged, grinning for the first time since arriving. "Kinda makes me like you again." He smiled in return, and she headed out the door. He watched her walk down the front steps.
"Willow!" he called out again. "You're always welcome here." She grinned widely and nodded her thanks.
Suddenly Angel no longer wanted to stare at the wall.
The End