Willow disregarded Xander's question for the moment, turning on her heel and reentering the hotel.  She sighed, and rubbed a the back of her hand against her brow for a moment.  She could hear the footsteps of the others as they followed her inside.

'Its okay my love... You can do this.'

The hacker took a deep breath, absorbing the love and support her mate sent through their bond.  She turned, just in time to see Xander saunter inside. He looked around curiously, eyebrows upraised at the art deco splendor around him.

"Wow, I see you guys are doing real well.  I guess fighting evil for dough, pays more than I thought", the dark haired youth said crassly.

"Okay!", the raven haired Slayer hissed, her hands closing in to fists. "That's it!.. Let me hit him Red... Please!!", she begged.

Wesley grinned, in full agreement with the Slayer for once.  "Its one thing we can do free of charge."

Xander rolled his eyes, his contempt for the former Watcher obvious to all. "When did you get a sense of humor Wussy?"

"Stop it!! All of you, and Xander, shut up!", Willow shouted.  "Goddess, I'd forgotten just how childish and tiresome you can be...", she murmured
tiredly once the cacophony of angry voices calmed down.

Her former best friend quieted immediately. Willow angry was not a good thing, and considering the flush in her cheeks and the brightness of her
eyes, he was dangerously close to pushing her over the edge.  Over the long years they'd know each other, Xander had learned early on that her fury was a thing to be feared.  It was hard to get the redhead to that point, but when she was-- look out.

Xander considered her for a moment, admitting grudgingly that she looked good.  She'd grown out her hair again, currently it was perched haphazardly on top of her head with a pencil.  The combination of the hair and new, surer attitude, made him suddenly realize that little Willow was all grown up.  She was an adult.  And judging by the porcelain glow of her skin, she was a happy, well-loved adult.  He sighed, suddenly exhausted, the false bravado falling away.  He felt very lonely and very out of place.

"I'm sorry", he managed, "things haven't been easy lately."

Willow nodded, her eyes expressing the concern she couldn't hide.  Although Xander had not proven himself to be the friend she'd always thought he would, she couldn't NOT care about him.  He was a part of her, a piece of her childhood, and someone who'd shaped the person she'd become.

"Tell me Xander.  I want to know what finally brought you here to me...", the redhead let the sentence trail off, not wanting to bring up the
sensitive subject again.

"Its about Buffy...", he began.
 

~Part 17~

~That Night~

Angel watched, as a silent and determined Willow packed various spell components and books into a large bookbag.  His mate had said barely a word since Xander had told them all of the hellgod Glorificus, her search for the Key who was in actuality Buffy's mock sister, Joyce's death, and the rather disturbing revelation that his Childe fancied himself in love with the Slayer.

The very thought repulsed him. Hadn't Spike learned anything from watching his Sire's own downfall? It was bad enough he himself had had an actual relationship with Buffy, but at least he'd had an excuse.  The soul's guilt and need for penance, not to mention its desire to piss off the demon.  Now that they were one, his vampiric instincts were nowhere near as easy to discount.  They were truly a part of him. He sighed, and shifted against where he leaned on the doorframe.

"I'm going with you", Angel stated.

"No, you're not!", Willow exclaimed.  Angel started at the intensity of her voice, and noting the hurt in his chocolate brown eyes, the redhead hurried to explain.

"I'm going there to try to get Buffy to let me help her.  She just lost her mother, and suddenly has this sister to take care of, not to mention some
psycho-bitch god after her. You can't come Angel, you're being there will just make it harder for her", she reasoned quietly, her movements stilling
while her eyes pleaded with his for him to understand. Her emerald eyes were filled with sadness, worry and determination. Willow meant what she said.

The dark haired vampire growled in frustration.  Most frustrating of all, was the realization, that of course she was right.  'Damn it.'  He blinked,
his head drooping to his chest.  Buffy would never hear Willow out or accept her help if he was with her.

"But I'll miss you", he whispered.  We haven't been apart since you came here", Angel murmured softly.

She hurried to her mate's side.  "I'll miss you too, but I have to do this Angel."  Her hand reached to cup his cheek tenderly.  "I'll think about you
every minute.  Plus, I won't be there forever ... Sunnydale's only two hours away."

"I know...", Angel sighed, hugging his mate's slight body to his own.  A wicked grin appeared on his face, and his embrace tightened.  "Hmmm... so
seeing as I only have tonight before you leave, I think we need to spend a bit of quality time together", he drawled seductively, his mouth dipping to nibble on the shell of Willow's ear.

"Oh", she gasped, "really?"

"Yep.  As I recall, there was a matter of punishment."

Willow licked her lips, Buffy suddenly the furthest thing from her mind.

Moving swiftly, Angel draped Willow over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.  He enjoyed her squeal of surprise, and felt his erection strain
against the zipper of his slacks, as her scent thickened the air around him with her excitement.

Grinning, Willow eyed the tight, muscular ass she suddenly found at her eye level.  "Nice view", she quipped.  She jerked in shock as a heavy hand
swatted her own behind.

"You've been a bad, bad girl my little witch."

"Ohhh", she moaned, as his hand connected with her butt again.

"Interrupting my fun with the Moron ... you'll have to pay for that."

Turning, Angel started down the hall toward their room.
 

~Part 18~

~Downstairs, Hyperion Hotel~

Glad for a way to rid herself of Xander Harris' company for a while, Cordelia pointed out the phone to the him.  Apparently he had to call Anya, or he'd never hear the end of it.  The former vengeance demon hadn't exactly been thrilled when Xander had elected to travel to L.A. to get Willow.  Los Angeles was where Cordelia was, Cordelia was the ex-girlfriend, thus, Anya was less then happy.

Shaking her head, the Seer walked over to where her friends stood whispering.

"I can't believe you actually dated that guy", Gunn groaned.

"Oh gawd, don't remind me.  I plead temporary insanity", Cordelia replied hastily.  Shooting Faith, an evil look, she spoke again.  "Anyhow, maybe I
did, but at least I", she stressed, "didn't sleep with him.  Now Faith here... well, that's a different story."

Wesley and Gunn turned to face the raven haired Slayer.  Gunn had a smirk on his face, while Wesley looked--  well frankly, he looked stricken.

"What?", Faith said defensively.  "Can't I use the temporary insanity plea too?"

"Nope", the Seer grinned.  "Only one per night.  House rules."

"That's dirty Cordy."

A noise overhead caused the group to look up.  They chuckled when the chandelier overhead began to sway.

"Looks like Angel and Willow are up to their old tricks", Gunn quipped.

Xander had just hung up with his girlfriend and started walking back toward the group when he heard Gunn's last comment.  Startled, his eyes followed their gazes and landed on the swaying chandelier.  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"DON'T!", Cordelia warned.

"Don't what?", Xander asked.

"Don't say anything about that."

"Why shouldn't I?", the dark haired youth muttered.

"Because you know nothing about it", Wesley stated, his voice deeper and stronger than Xander had ever heard it. "You know nothing about their
relationship, or how much they love each other.  You also don't know the things they've been through together.  Don't you dare put that down, or I will put you down."

The blithe retort Xander had on the tip of his tongue, died, the minute he got a good look at Wesley's face.  Ice would have been warmer.

"Willow's happy Xander, I would think you would let it be and be happy FOR her", Cordelia said quietly.

"I-- I ...  I want to be Cordy.  I really do.  But we were supposed to be together forever you know.  Friends til the end.  She's supposed to be happy with me, not happy with him", the Slayerette said, eyes sliding to stare at his sneakered feet.

Faith stared at Xander uncomprehendingly.  "You just don't get it Xander. Willow's still your friend, she'll always be your friend, you're a part of her", the dark Slayer volunteered.  "You're the one who dumped the friendship.  That's on you, not her, and I'm betting the only reason you're putting yourself in the running for 'Asshole of the Year', is because you know that, and now you feel like a creep."

The Slayer grinned smugly when everyone turned to look at her in mild surprise.

"Wow, Faith's got layers too", Cordelia whispered.

"Quite", Wesley said quietly, pushing his glasses back up his nose, a smile on his face.  "Very insightful observation Faith."

She shrugged dismissively, even as her stomach warmed with the praise.

"Makes me look at him in a brand new light", Gunn commented.  "I mean before she said that, I just thought goofy boy there WAS an asshole."

"Look guys, I'm sorry, really.  I didn't mean to come in here with guns ablaze... its just one minute I was standing at your front door looking for
Willow, and the next minute I've got a huge, heavy dead guy pounding me into the ground", Xander said.

Faith chuckled, and Cordelia arched an eyebrow.

Xander paled.  "... And that definitely didn't sound so totally homoerotic in my head", he stammered.

"Got it Xan-man, we're five by five.  I remember you were never too keen on Fang."

Cordelia opened her mouth to comment, but nothing came out.  Abruptly, her scream rang out in the lobby.  The tall brunette's head jerked back, and Xander watched in horror and incomprehension as Gunn lowered her lovingly to the floor.  The handsome black youth held her as her body jerked and flailed.  After several long minutes, whatever was happening stopped. Except for Cordelia's sobs, there was silence.
 

~Part 19~

Willow gasped, taking huge gulps of air through her mouth as she tried to catch her breath, and slow down her galloping heartbeat.  Angel chuckled. She could feel the rumbling of his quiet laughter beneath her, as her sweaty head, currently rested on his chest.

"I'm going to be feeling that for a week", she moaned, smacking the smug vampire lightly on the arm.

"Good."

The hacker closed her eyes for a moment, reveling in the sensation of being in her mate's arms.  She grinned.  What they'd just done certainly hadn't felt like punishment.  A small giggle escaped her.  Her ass would probably be red for a week, but boy, had she ever enjoyed the process involved getting it there.

"Willow", Angel sighed softly, his voice carrying a singsong lilt.

"Hmmm?"

"I heard you giggle."

"Mmmm hmmmm."

"Girls who've just been punished shouldn't giggle."

Willow's grin widened.  "Didn't feel like punishment", she mumbled.

"I guess I may have to work on that angle, huh?", Angel intoned very seriously, causing Willow to erupt in a brand new set of giggles.  After a
moment the redhead quieted.  The hotel was silent.

"Wow, its so still all of a sudden", Willow noted.

Angel frowned, extending his supernatural senses to their limits.  He heard nothing.  No voices.  No heartbeats.  "They must've have gone somewhere, I don't hear anything either."

"I think we should check, cause I mean, well... Where's Xander?  You know neither Cordelia or Wesley, were going to invite him home with them.  I
figured he'd end up staying here in one of the empty rooms", Willow said.

The dark vampire nodded agreeing.  Not that he particularly wanted Xander Harris in his home, but because his mate did.  He knew there was even less chance the youth had gone anywhere with Gunn, not only because Gunn could usually be found at Delia's home, but because the street fighter had apparently developed an intense dislike for Xander in about two minutes flat. So he wondered if it was possible, his crew had actually taken the moron with them?

Angel shrugged into his pants and handed Willow his silk shirt.  He knew there was no one down there, but one could never be too careful.  Willow was his.  No one else was getting any eyefuls of his witch's charms, unless he got to rip their eyeballs out afterwards.

Hand in hand, the vampire and the hacker, climbed down the stairs.  Alert eyes quickly found the note that had been taped to Cordelia's computer
screen.

'Hey you two,
Got a vision.  We're all going to kick scaly green butts.
Have fun.

-C'

"Shit", Angel said quietly.

"They'll be fine, they all work really well together", Willow said comfortingly.

The dark haired vampire arched one eyebrow, and met his shorter mate's gaze with his own.  "I know.  That's true... the only problem is, this time they took Alexander Harris."

Willow blinked.  "Shit."
 

~Part 20~

Faith took the keys out of Wesley's hands and opened the front door to the Hyperion.  He'd been fidgeting with them for two minutes.  The Englishman frowned but nodded his thanks to her, all while trying to maintain his balance.

Xander rushed forward, intending to help him.

Faith immediately intervened.  "Leave him alone Xander.  I think you've helped enough tonight."

Wesley managed the first step, only to wobble on the second. Instantly, Faith was at his side, supporting his weight, as he tried to get the hang of
his crutches.

"God Wesley, I'm so sorry", Xander said for the umpteenth time.

"Yes Xander", the injured man sighed tiredly, "I heard you the first twenty-eight times... Apology accepted."

The dark Slayer, grinned silently at the sarcastic, slightly snippy tone Wesley was using with the youth.  She doubted Wes even knew he was doing it, or that Xander was even catching it.

Helping the tall former Watcher to the plush seat in the center of the lounge, Faith helped him sit.

Wesley groaned, turning to sit down involved his hopping on one foot. Inadvertently, he'd whacked his sprained ankle on the bloody crutches.

"Thank you Faith."

"No prob Wes", Faith replied, tucking some dark hair that had escaped the confines of her ponytail, back behind her ears.  Her dark eyes scanned the lanky man appraisingly, finally noticing the tightness around his eyes.

"Are the meds wearing off?  Do you want me to get you a glass of water to wash some more down?"

The former Watcher grimaced at the idea of taking any more pills.  He shook his head and leaned back against the comfortable seat.  "I hate taking
pills", he said quietly.  "Could you get me some ice?  Maybe that will help."

Xander leaned against a desk watching as Faith went off to fulfill Wesley's request.  There was a thoughtful look on the youth's face, and the older man wondered briefly if that fact should frighten him.

"You really were holding your own with those demons Wesley", Xander blurted out.  "I mean it took me a while to see that... I really thought that one guy had you there for a minute, that's why I tackled you that way.  I didn't see the other one... at least not until we fell on him", his voice trailed off.  "I didn't have any idea you could use a sword like that."

"It was part of Watcher training.  We were all supposed to be able to handle a few different weapons."  Wesley shifted, in his seat, trying to get more comfortable.

Xander's mouth twisted in sympathy, when he spotted the other man's quick wince.

"The sword was the one thing I was actually passable with, I'm an atrocious shot with the crossbow...  Cordelia's actually quite good with that thing though, you'd be surprised", Wesley said quietly.

"Not after tonight, I wouldn't", the dark haired young man responded.  "I underestimated all of you.  I know that the Slayerettes have all changed,
we've grown, matured.  We can take care of ourselves now... But for some stupid reason, I couldn't picture you or Cordelia doing the same."

The former Watcher looked at the boy in mild surprise.

Xander sighed, noticing Faith emerging from the kitchen with a dishtowel and a plastic zip-lock bag full of ice.  He gestured to her, with his head.  "Or Faith, she's so different.  I mean, I know she did some time in jail and stuff, but I can't believe she's really trying to turn over a new leaf."

The British man, followed Xander's eyes.  "Yes, she really has made an admirable effort.  Don't get me wrong, she still enjoys a good, bloody fight, but now she's finally sure what side she's on."  Unable to help himself, Wesley's gaze traveled down the beautiful girl's ripped tank top, to the snug black leather pants she wore.  Catching himself, he tore his roving eyes back up to her face.

'Lord, she was lovely', he thought, almost falling out of his seat when she smiled at him.  A real smile, not one of her usual, cocky grins.

"Boy, you guys sure got quiet all of a sudden", Faith said.  "Why do I get the feeling I was the topic of conversation?"

"'Cause you were", Xander said.  "We were just talking about how much things have changed."

The raven haired Slayer nodded, before ducking her head to avoid the two mens' eyes.  She wrapped the plastic bag with the dishtowel, to keep it from dripping and then knelt at Wesley's feet, placing the makeshift ice bag against his injured ankle.

Wesley gasped, and then took a deep breath.

"Does that feel any better?", she asked.

"Yes, actually.  I think, a little more, and it will finally go numb. Then you can take me home.  I think under the circumstances, my bike is out of
the question", he replied.

"Bike?", Xander asked.

Ignoring the youth, Faith replied to Wesley's statement.  "Nuh uh, you're staying here, where I can keep an eye on you."

The ex Watcher frowned.  "I'll be fine Faith, honestly."

"Wes, please, okay?  You took care of me.  Besides, you're apartment is a walk up.  You can't navigate all those stairs on your crutches.  Here you'll not only have less stairs, but me to help you", she persisted.  Faith wasn't entirely sure why she was pushing so hard, all she knew was that the thought of him trying to manage alone, really bothered her.  What if he fell again? What if Wolfram and Hart went after him while he was incapacitated?

"I guess you have a point", Wesley said hesitatingly.  He searched his brain for some legitimate reason, his staying at the hotel with her would be a bad idea, and came up blank.  What in the world was he going to do?  'It was hard enough trying to control his body's increasingly intrusive reactions to Faith's presence now', he thought, trying as casually as he could to drape his hands over his pelvis.

"C-c-could you stand up Faith?  You don't have to stay on the ground, I can hold the ice bag", Wesley stammered quickly.  The sight of the Slayer at his feet was just too much.

Faith blinked and nodded.  Feeling a bit hurt, that he didn't want her help, she turned to the oddly too quiet Xander.  She frowned when she was he had a rather goofy look on his face.

"Were you checking out my ass?", she said suspiciously.

"Nope."

"I was noticing something else entirely.  Oh and I ask again-- bike?"

"Whatever", the dark Slayer sighed.  "And no, we don't mean a two wheeler, we mean motorcycle, genius."  Shaking her head, Faith headed up the lobby steps.  "I suppose I have to find you a place to sleep too.... great. Follow me Zeppo", she said.  Then looking over her shoulder, "don't move
Wes, I'll be right back for ya'."

Wesley nodded.

Xander walked up behind Faith.  "Although you really do have a very nice--"

"Say it at your own risk Xander", she interrupted, her dark eyes hardening.

Xander abruptly shut up.
 

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