DISTRIBUTION: Just keep my name attached
SPOILERS: Graduation
RATING: PG-13
CONTENT: Willow/Angel, kissing
SUMMARY: At a New Year's Eve 1999 party, secrets are revealed, and wackiness ensues.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine. All characters belong to Joss, and the storyline belongs to me. The song 'Millennium' belongs to Robbie Williams.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
** we've got stars directing our fate and we're praying its not too late 'cos we know we're falling from grace **
Willow sat on the steps of the front porch and stared up at the sky. She'd always enjoyed watching the stars when she was little, but now, with demons, vampires, and other assorted creatures of the night, she never got the chance anymore. She leaned back against the porch and pillowed her head on her arms. The night was silence except for crickets and the occasional frog, which the sound of still made Willow jump. Then her silent revelry was broken when she heard a twig snap to her right. She jumped to her feet, pulling out her cross.
"Who's there?" she asked, hoping she sounded brave.
"Willow," a calm voice replied.
"No, I'm Willow," she teased, lowering her arm as Angel stepped out of the shadows. "Are you coming to the party?" she asked, sitting back down.
"No, actually, I, uh, don't think I'd be welcome," he replied, sitting down on the steps next to her.
"Actually I don't think Buffy'd notice," Willow commented. "She's too busy trying to coral Spike into some semblance of a civilized person."
"There's still tension there, though," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. "I wouldn't feel comfortable, and besides everyone seems to have moved on to perfect happiness," he commented with a hint of sadness in her voice. Willow's eyes took on a mischievous glint.
"You've been spying on us!" she exclaimed with a smile.
"Correction," he held up a finger, "I have been lurking. There is a difference," he stated with a final nod.
"Uh huh," Willow replied. "So how' ve you been?"
"Good. I'm working at a detective agency. With Cordelia, of all people," he replied with a role of his eyes. "And how are you? You and Oz still happy?"
"Oz and I....are no longer Oz and I," Willow stated calmly turning her eyes up to the stars.
"Really? Why?" He thought about his question fro a second realizing he was prying into her life. "That's really none of my business."
"I didn't want Oz to have to go through....what I have to," she replied.
"Willow?"
"I'm dying, Angel," she explained, meeting his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but she held up a silencing hand. "The doctors don't know what it is. It's not cancer; it's not AIDS. They can't identify it. But I know what it is."
"Willow, you can't-" Her hand silenced him again.
"It's the Hellmouth," she explained. "It takes it's toll on everyone. Buffy can never have a life outside of Slaying; look at what happened every time she tried. Giles lost his job as Watcher, his destiny. Oz has the whole werewolf thing. Cordelia got out before it could do any real damage, but her family is in ruins because of this place. Xander has lost everyone he ever cared about; his family was killed, did you know that?" She touched a hand to his cheek. "Then look what happened to you." He took her hand in his. "And now it's taking away the one thing I value most. My life." She sobbed softly, and Angel pulled her to him and held her close while she cried. Faintly the Times Square countdown reached his ears.
*10!*
"Willow, I'm sorry." He looked away from her. "I know that's inadequate, but--"
*9!*
"No, Angel, it means a lot. Really."
*8!*
"I just wish there was something I could do."
*7!*
"Short of turning me, you can't do anything."
*6!*
"I could, Willow, if that's what you want."
*5!*
"No, please, no. I've seen what I'm like as a vampire. I don't want to relive that."
*4!*
"Willow, have I told you you're the only person in this town I've actually missed?"
*3!*
"But Buffy?"
*2!*
"Buffy and I were over before I left; you'll always be my friend."
*1!*
"That is so sweet!"
* Happy New Year! *
As muffled shouts of joy came from the TV in the living room, Angel tilted Willow's head up and brought his mouth down to meet hers. He kissed her gently, parting his lips slightly but making no move to deepen the kiss. When they both pulled away, Willow looked away sheepishly.
"What was that for?" she asked with a smile.
"Tradition," he whispered and pulled her tighter against him in a hug.
"Thank you," she
muttered.
The End