This is dedicated to all the wonderful folks who have read and given
me feedback.  It's a wonderful incentive, to keep writing, and makes
me feel good.  Thanks everyone.  --Mystra
_________________________________________________________________
 

~9~

Upon entering the office, Cordelia immediately sees her red headed
friend tapping away on the office computer.

"Hey Cordy, where were you?  You're late, I was starting to worry."

"Sorry Wills, I overslept.  What are you doing?", Cordelia asked,
walking around behind her friend and looking over Willow's shoulder
at the computer screen.

Willow blinked and tried to explain.  "Well, I had a weird dream last
night.  It was unlike any other dream I've ever had and I remember it
really vividly".  The hacker shuddered.  "Boy, it was nasty too, and
in color no less", she continued, babbling.

Cordelia smiled indulgently.  Curious, she asked, "so was it a
nightmare then?"

"No not really", Willow explained, "I knew it was a dream, I didn't
feel any fear-- (at least not my own fear), anyhow it was weird.  In
the dream there was this bizarre green demon with a third eye in its
forehead and these ugly sucker things on its hands."

As she spoke Willow kept typing and searching the Internet.  "Ah-
ha!", she exclaimed.  "Here it is, it's a- um, Tavernier demon.  It
attaches the suckers to the nape of a victim's neck, effectively
sucking all spinal fluid from a victim.  The process is so painful
and stressful on the body, it always results in death for the
victim.  Although there are those who survive paralyzed and comatose
for a couple of days, before they to die."

"Yuck", Cordelia murmured. "So what was that thing doing in your
dream?"

Two of them attacked some people behind a convenience store on Fourth
and Vine.  Willow winced, remembering some of the specifics of the
attack.

At the mention of the address Cordelia turns sharply to face Willow.

"When does it happen?", the ex-cheerleader asked.

Confused, Willow shook herself from her reverie.  "Cordelia, it was
just a dream.  Wasn't it?"

"Willow, have you ever seen a demon like this before?"

"No".

"Have you ever read about it?", Cordelia continued.

"Um, no".

"And how well do you know L.A.?"

Willow stared at Cordelia.  "I don't. I've only been here once
before, for a field trip in middle school".

"So then explain to me how you know about the convenience store on
Fourth and Vine, and how you knew about that Taver- Tavern- Ta--
whatever demon."

The hacker stared at her friend in horror.  "Oh Goddess, you mean
this is something that is actually going to happen?"

Leaning forward, Cordelia grabbed the smaller woman's arms and asked
again.  "When?"

Upset now, Willow closed her eyes, let out a deep breath and
said, "around one thirty in the morning".

Willow's emotions were a jumble.  This wasn't supposed to happen.
Cordelia was the one who was supposed to have visions, and Buffy was
the one was occasionally supposed to have prophetic dreams.  What the
hell was going on?  A strangled sob escaped her and suddenly Cordy's
arms were around her, as the brunette tried to console her.

Cordy knew what Willow was feeling.  The responsibility, the
powerlessness, the confusion.  She'd gone through it too.  "Look on
the bright side Willow, at least you didn't get the mind numbing
pain".

Willow almost smiled.  Despite her tears of confusion and tightly
closed eyelids.

Through her haze of misery, heavy footsteps could be heard running up
the office stairs.

And suddenly, it was Angel who was holding her.  Willow sighed and
burrowed her tear stained face into his chest.  She allowed herself
to take comfort in the arms of the man she wanted, but didn't think
she could have.

~~~~

Angel was confused.  One minute he was drinking his breakfast and the
next, he'd known Willow needed him and had run up the stairs like a
Slayer was after him.  Questioningly, he glanced over at Cordelia
while holding the slight red head tightly to his chest.

As he held Willow, Cordelia explained what had happened.  At least,
she explained Willow's dream/vision and what the hacker saw, not
about her visit to the oracles.  The ex-cheerleader would tell him
that in private.

Listening to Cordelia, Willow calmed herself.  Reluctantly
disentangling herself from Angel's embrace.  Willow kissed his cheek
quickly and began down the stairs.  Calling behind her, she
asked, "are you coming Cordy?"

Happy to have witnessed that bit of affection between Angel and
Willow, Cordelia smiled and winked at the handsome vampire.  Then she
turned and followed the red head to the downstairs apartment.

After the women had left, a bemused vampire touched the spot on his
cheek where Willow had placed her affectionate gesture.  Her lips had
been soft and so warm.  Angel seemed to imagine feeling that warmth
still tingling his cheek.  And it seemed to him that he could
actually feel another piece of the ice he'd packed his heart in, fall
away.

~10~

Determined to find out what was happening with Willow, Angel dialed
Wesley's cell phone.  The British ex-watcher picker it up on the
third ring.

Wesley was glad for the distraction.  He had been at the University
library since early in the morning.  He had needed help translating a
rather convoluted passage in Angel's scroll which was written in some
long dead language even he didn't know.

"Wesley here", the Brit spoke into the phone.  After ten minutes of
conversation and an explanation from Angel about Willow's dream,
Wesley's face was frozen in surprise.  "Is Miss Rosenburg alright?"

Angel sighed into the phone.  "Yes, I think she's fine, just confused
and unsure of what's happening.  But Wesley what's getting me was
that I knew somehow that she was upset.  I just knew.  One minute I'm
in my apartment and the next, I was running up the stairs sure that
something had happened to her."

"Hmm", Wesley muttered, "Willow has a vision while sleeping which was
obviously meant to alert you, and you say you're now feeling some
kind of connection?  Wesley paused in thought.  "Perhaps the scroll
can illuminate us as to what is occurring.  I'm here at the
University getting another part of it translated."

~~~~

Meanwhile, downstairs, Cordelia was getting a crash course in Wicca
101.  "Willow, why do I have to do this?", the ex-cheerleader asked,
becoming impatient.

Willow smiled at the brunette's frustration.  "I want us to be able
to help Angel.  I don't want to be in his way or for him to have to
worry about either of us.  I really think it would be great for you
to at least be able to cast some protection spells."

Cordelia nervously fingered her hair.  "Um, Wills, why do we have to
go?"

The red head continued pulling spell components from her trunk and
answered without turning to look at her friend.  "We were in the
dream too.  Angel's gonna need us."

Nodding mutely, Cordelia told Willow to continue with the lesson.

Time passed quickly as Willow explained the basic tenets of Wicca.
She included in this lesson a prayer to the Goddess, some basic
blessings and two protection spells to be used in emergencies.  After
hours of practice, Cordelia could successfully intone the Latin
phrase which activated the last protection spell while inscribing
into the air with her finger, the sigil with had to accompany the
spell for it to work.  Cordelia had also learned a prayer and some of
the history of Goddess and nature worship.

Now, Cordelia has never been a religious person.  Her parents had not
been, and she knew next to nothing about it in general.  But, what
Willow was showing her, felt comfortable, empowering, even familiar
somehow.  The former May Queen decided that after all this was over,
she wanted to know more.

It was almost eleven when the women climbed back up the stairs to
tell Angel they were accompanying him.

They found Angel and Wesley, pouring over the scrolls.  "See here
Angel, this part is about a new ally for you.  Hmmm, something about
fire or a flame.  Then this part mentions a Queen and uh...oh yes,
another warrior for the Powers That Be.", the ex-watcher explained.

Angel was surprised, there was another.  The thought cheered him, he
suddenly felt a little less alone.

Noticing the girls, Angel could practically smell the magic on them.
The two women smiled in satisfaction, like cats who'd gotten into
cream, as they basked in the after flow of the mystical energies they
had tapped and the Goddess' blessing.

The smile of satisfaction on Willow's face was too much.  The vampire
wanted nothing more than to see it over and over again.  Angel
imagined that this would be the way Willow would look after making
love for hours.  A low growl thrummed low in his throat.

Willow met the bitter chocolate gaze of the ensouled vampire.
Electricity shot through her body.  Somehow she was positive that
Angel was aroused.  Very aroused, and that she'd caused it.  A new
smile bloomed on her face.  This one was very female and as old as
time.

Angel took a step towards the cyber witch, lost in the silent message
being communicated to him in her emerald gaze.

A loud cough echoed through the room.  The witch and the vampire felt
the timeless moment fall away.  Suddenly, they became aware once more
of the other two people in the room.

Blushing fiercely, Willow breathed deeply trying to understand what
had just happened.

Angel looked away as well.  He snuck a look at the little red head,
amazed at her ability to make him lose control.  The dark haired
vampire sat down behind Cordelia's desk quickly, hoping no one
noticed his tented trousers.

And only Wesley noticed the approving smirk on Cordelia's face.

Cordelia gave her boss a moment to reign himself in, before telling
him they needed to talk privately.

Willow decided to check her e-mail, and Wesley returned to studying
the scrolls, intent of discovering what the hell it was trying to
tell them.

~11~

Angel stood, following his receptionist into the inner office and
closing the door.

"What's up Delia?", the dark haired vampire asked.

Cordelia smirked and stared at him.  Angel was glad he couldn't
blush.

After letting her boss stew for what Cordelia considered an
acceptable amount of time, she spoke.  "I went to see the Oracles
today", she began.  Angel looked like he was about to interrupt, so
Cordelia continued on hurriedly.  "Before you say anything, let me
finish".

"I asked for you; you know, about allowing you happiness".  Seeing
the emotion in the vampire's eyes, Cordelia looked away.  She stared
at the wall.  "And they told me, basically that it was already in the
works".

Angel started in surprise, that was the last thing he
expected.  "What?", he croaked.

Cordelia continued.  She intoned seriously the prophecy she had
learned.  "The Flame will cleanse the warrior.  White hot, burning
away all else.  The Flame will be his immortal sight, his companion,
a source of joy."  As she recited what she'd been told, Cordelia
watched as Angel stared out his office window at the bright head of
the hacker as she typed away on the computer.

"Angel".  The vampire turned to look at his friend. "Angel", Cordelia
said, "I know who the Flame is".

The dark haired man turned from the window. "So do I", he stated.
And then, Angel smiled.

~~~~

Heedless what was occurring in the next room, and trying her
damnedest not to stare or drool at the gorgeous vampire pacing around
the other room, Willow tried to focus on her e-mail.

Her only e-mail was from Spike.  She smiled, apparently he was bored
out of his mind.  That, combined with a sharpening yen to ram his
fist in Buffy's face while being unable to, was making him
miserable.  To her surprise, Spike asked about Cordelia.
'So how's the cheerleader. I only met her twice, I think.  Got a
sharp tongue in her head, that one.  Quite a looker too.  I'm partial
to brunette's ya' know.'
At that Willow laughed.  Cordelia and Spike!  "Too funny", she
thought. Although they'd certainly look good together.

Shaking her head in bemusement, Willow advised Spike not to kill
Buffy because he'd only end up hurting himself.  'As for you and
Cordy', she typed, 'that would be interesting to say the least. I
miss you Spike, when I get back we need to do a movie night.  You,
me, a cheesy movie, some junk food and some warm pig's blood.  How
about it?'  Quickly, Willow signed off and shut down the computer.
She turned, got up quickly, and found herself against a solid wall of
muscle.

Willow shuddered at the contact.  She took a deep breath, sandalwood
and soap invaded her senses.  Taking a chance, the red head fought
down her urge to flee, and instead brought her arms around the
unyielding body of the man she now considered a good friend.  Holding
on to Angel, Willow looked up into his face, and froze at the naked
need and longing shining from his dark eyes.

Willow realized that they could not run from whatever was happening
between them, not any longer.  Slowly Willow ran her hands up the
vampire's black cashmere clad chest.  Still staring into his eyes,
the red head threaded her hands through Angel's dark hair, and
brought his head down to her own.  Lips met, and fire raced through
her veins.

Angel groaned, his arms automatically coming around the small, warm
female form in front of him.  His tongue darted out to trace her
lips.  Willow's lips parted on an airy gasp.  And then he was inside
the hot recesses of her mouth.  His body thrummed with excitement.
His brain registered her hand's movements on his body as she left hot
trails long his neck, back and chest.

Willow was melting.  Her knees had completely given out.  Angel
tightened his hold.  The kiss, which had started out as a languorous,
sensual exploration became needier, harsher.

Their mouths parted.  Willow's breath came in sharp pants.  She
rested her forehead against that of her companion.  "What's happening
to us Angel?", she asked finally.

Reigning in his body's urges, the vampire leaned down, his mouth
level with Willow's ear as he spoke.  "I think, Flame, that we are
falling in love".

Shuddering in his arms, Willow kissed his cheek and detached herself
reluctantly from his embrace.  Walking slowly to the stairs, Willow
looked over her shoulder.  "Come on we have to stop some demons,
Angel.  We'll continue this later."

"What?", a very bemused vampire growled.  "Who said you were going?"

Willow ignored him and continued walking.

"Willow-- Willow?"

~~~~

Two hours later, two dirty bedraggled and rather sore individuals
stumbled into Angel's apartment.

Willow called dibs on the shower and scampered off quickly.  As hot
water sluiced down her body, she almost giggled, over how anti-
climactic the confrontation with the Tavernier demons had been.

Once Willow and Cordelia had placed protection spells on the demons'
intended victims, the creatures had not been able to get with 5 feet
of them.  As Cordy led the two scared teens away, the frustrated
demons had attacked the witch and the vampire.

The green demons were imposing figures, towering over six and a half
feet, making even Angel seem short in comparison.  It was a lucky
break when the dark haired vampire had managed to stab one of the
creatures in the third eye in the middle of it's forehead.  The demon
had then, seemingly melted, leaving a smelly puddle of slime.  Taking
her cue from that, Willow had attempted to follow suit on the
remaining demon with the old standby, a trusty stake.  The Tavernier
demon had reacted too quickly however, knocking the stake out of her
hands and ramming her painfully into a wall.

Angel had exploded in vampiric anger.  He slammed his sword into the
creature's back forcing its attention away from the fallen redhead.
In disgust at being caught by surprise, Willow concentrated on the
dropped stake.  The piece of wood floated upwards, and with an
accuracy born of frustration, Willow thrust it into the remaining
creature's third eye.  Angel had looked at her in surprise and
respect, his demon's features melted way, leaving his handsome human
face.

Willow sighed, and turned off the shower.  Grabbing a large, black
towel, the red head snorted.  "Hmm, black bathroom, black toilet,
black towels.  I think I sense a theme here.", Willow thought.

She wandered through the silent apartment heading down the hall
towards her room, somehow knowing that Angel was around.  Pausing in
the hallway, Willow peered over her left shoulder.  Staring into the
inky blackness.  "Angel, get clean and then come to me, we need to
talk".

The dark haired vampire's mouth dropped open in shock.  Angel then
chuckled hoarsely.  "What can I say, I still lurk", he joked.

Willow smiled and then walked away, purposely allowing the towel she
clutched to her body to droop, exposing the long line of her back to
Angel's dark gaze.

Angel stared.  Willow's porcelain skin, glowed in the darkness
beckoning to him.

~12~

Taking an unnecessary breath, Angel turned and walked towards the
bathroom.  He showered quickly and efficiently, using scalding hot
water to warm his unnaturally cool body.  Trepidation, mingled with
anticipation.  He was honestly unsure about what was happening.
Learning that his growing feeling for the beautiful redhead were
prophesized, meant to be even, was exciting.  But, it was also
frightening.  It was a chance at happiness with a special woman, but
would she want this?  Would she want to be with a creature of the
night?

Shaking the water from his hair and rubbing himself briskly dry,
Angel put on a loose pair of black sweat pants and strolled to
Willow's room.

The door was open invitingly, casting a warm glow.  Light spilled out
into the darkened hallway.  Angel could smell vanilla candles and
Willow, his Flame.  Walking closer, he leaned against the door frame
and watched her.  Willow was sitting Indian style on her rug, her
eyes were closed.  Angel took this moment to study her.  Her damp
hair was blood red, darkened by her shower.  She had tucked it behind
her ears.  She wore a red silk nightshirt.  Willow was beautiful, and
she seemed to emit a sense of peace and calm which belied the
accelerated beating of her heart.  The dark haired vampire smiled,
and found, that her eyes were suddenly open.  Emerald eyes met eyes
the color of coffee.

Slow flames licked along Willow's nerve endings from the sensual
message she had gleaned from Angel's gaze.  She took a deep breath to
steady herself.  "Sit with me", she requested.

The vampire took a seat on the floor across from the Wiccan.  Silence
filled the room.  Willow didn't know what to say.  It was Angel who
broke the silence.  "I was scared tonight", his voice was hesitant.
The red head was startled.  Both by his voice, and the possibility
that anything could possibly scare Angel.  Unsure of what he was
trying to say, Willow remained silent.

Angel sighed and continued.  "When that demon tossed you aside like a
rag doll, I completely lost control of myself.  My demon just wanted
to hurt it, kill, destroy.  The vampire ran his hands through his
damp hair.  His hair immediately began to stick straight up in spiky
chunks.  Willow watched.  "So that's how that happens", she thought,
tamping down the inane urge to giggle.

"Willow, you have become extremely important to me.  Right now you
and Delia are all that are keeping me sane.  But, it's your presence
here that gives me hope for the future.  I've fallen in love with
you.  I think maybe I already was, and just didn't want to admit it
to myself.  I always thought I would be alone.  I always thought I
deserved to be alone".  Angel met Willow's eyes, suddenly unsure of
himself and hoping that he hadn't shocked or disgusted her.  He was
surprised to see tears stream down her cheeks.

Willow reached out and clasped one of Angel's hands in hers.  "I
think I've always loved you," she began in a whisper.  "Long before
Buffy introduced us, I remember seeing you in the Bronze.  I could
feel how sadness followed you like a cloud.  I wanted so badly to
talk to you, to somehow blunt the sharpness of your loneliness, but I
never had the courage."  Willow closed her eyes, and held his hand
tighter still.  Her breath quickened as his thumb traced figure
eights on her hand.

The red head continued to speak, more sure of herself now.  "But,
because of what lay between you and Buffy, I pushed my own feelings
away and wallowed in the puppy love I felt for Xander.  All I wanted
was for you to be happy.  I thought that if Buffy could do that for
you then so be it.  I never thought I would have this chance with
you, that you could possibly love me.  I'm nothing like Buffy.  I'm
not strong or beautiful like her."

Angel shifted, getting on this knees in front of Willow.  Silently he
wiped away her tears with his thumbs.  "Willow, I will never
understand why you continue to compare yourself to others.  No, you
are not beautiful like Buffy of physically strong like Buffy.  You
are ethereally beautiful and strong like Willow.  The wonderful,
generous, courageous Willow, who for so long kept the Slayerettes
together.  The Willow who puts her life on the line every day, not
because it is her destiny but because she is too good not to.  Do you
think Buffy would do that?  My Flame, you are who I want."

As he spoke he placed small kisses on Willow's forehead, along her
hairline.  The dark vampire could hear the blood rush through her
veins.  He moved slowly down the side of her lovely face, and swirled
his tongue along the shell of her ear, eliciting a moan from the
slender red head.

Willow rose to her knees pressing her body to the hard one of the man
in front of her.  The feeling of being pressed against him, ignited a
fire in her belly.  Honeyed warmth flowed from her core, and heat
raced through her veins.

Angel marveled at the ease of her response to his touch.  He reveled
in the trust she showed in him, as she tilted her head and allowed
him access to her throat.  The vampire kissed and licked his way
along the slender column, and pressed his lips to her accelerated
pulse.  Feeling suddenly wicked, he allowed his fangs to lightly
scrape her flesh.

Willow gasped in surprise and lust, she could feel as more moisture
gathered on her thighs.  Angel grinned pleased.  "She liked that", he
thought.

All Willow could feel now was the rightness of this moment.
Uncertainties and thoughts of Angelus fled her brain.  This was meant
to happen somehow, she knew.  When a cool mouth claimed hers, her
brain shut down completely.

Their tongues mated, as Angel's nimble fingers searched and found the
tiny buttons which held closed her red silk nightshirt.  Frustrated,
Angel tore his mouth away.  "Is this shirt a favorite?", the vampire
asked harshly.  Confused and wide eyed, it took a moment for
understanding to flood Willow's brain.  "No", she squeaked. "In fact,
I hate it".

"Good", Angel muttered darkly, as he ripped the shirt open.  Buttons
flew in all directions.  "I'll replace it someday".  He growled his
pleasure at the discovery that his witch wore nothing underneath.
And then once again, his mouth swooped downwards.  This time, he
captured a nipple with his mouth.

Willow whimpered in pleasure.  She breathed his name.  "Angel....
please".  Impatient and determined to touch him as he'd touched her,
Willow pushed him away and climbed to her feet.  She saw the look of
hurt and confusion rise in his eyes, and then watched it fade when
she reached for him, bringing him to his feet as well.

Lingering doubts disappeared in Angel's mind as his redhead trailed
her hands along his cool flesh.  He watched as she smiled, enjoying
the small twitches and reactions in him, her touch caused.

She followed the path of her hands with her lips.  Glancing upwards
she saw that Angel's head was thrown back.  Smiling and determined to
shock him, Willow grabbed the waistband of his sweatpants, and
brought them down to his feet in one fast movement.  She whimpered at
the sight of his cock, proudly jutting forth from his body.  Willow
breathed on his manhood, allowing hot puffs of air to trail across
his distended flesh.  The red witch watched in satisfaction as it
jerked in reaction.  A feeling of purely feminine power came over
her.  She could feel her body moisten further with every growl and
moan Angel made.  With a sudden move, Willow took the broad tip of
his cock in her mouth and swirled her tongue along his small slit.

Angel jerked in disbelief.  "Sweet mother of God!", he
thought, "Willow Rosenburg was going down on him."  He couldn't
believe it.  His knees felt like jelly, and almost gave out when she
relaxed her throat and took him almost fully into her mouth.  She
then pulled back to lightly scrape the sensitive tip with her blunt
teeth.  Her mouth was hot, he didn't care if she scalded him.

Knowing he wouldn't last long if she continued, Angel pulled the
lovely red head upwards and plundered her mouth in a searing, needy
kiss.  He lifted her body slightly, and Willow locked her legs around
his waist as he backed them up toward her bed.

The move caused Willow's hot, moist core to come in direct contact
with his hard length.  The both gasped.

Heat sped along Angel's cock and along nerve pathways throughout his
body.  He was on fire, he wanted more.  More of her heat, her fire.
The dark haired vampire growled, the vibrations of which Willow could
feel where her head rested on his shoulder.

Willow felt as he knelt, laying her gently on the smooth silk
sheets.  And then his large body covered hers.  The spell caster
mewed her happiness, scratching and digging her fingernails into his
back.  Willow was ready, she wanted him now.

"Angel", she murmured.  "Hmm", the vampire moaned, unwilling to
release the small hard nipple he worried with his teeth. "Angel", the
witch repeated louder.  "Yes", he hissed smirking as he noticed the
sheen of perspiration decorating her skin and the way her lower body
kept arching up towards his.  "Take me", Willow almost screamed in
sensual frustration.

"Willow we have all night", came his slightly smug rejoinder.  "No",
she growled surprising herself and Angel.  Suddenly, the vampire
found himself on his back staring into the dark green, passion filled
gaze of his witch.  "Right now", the red head growled.  Small, hot
hands reached for his shaft and positioned him at her opening.  Dazed
Angel stared up at Willow, noticing her 'resolve face' for the first
time, and groaned as she proceeded to take him.  "Wow", he
thought, "my kind of woman".

Angel watched as their lower bodies merged, his long hard length
disappearing inside of her, as his Flame slowly lowered
herself.  "Jesus, Mary and Joseph", Angel thought.  She was so hot,
so tight.  They fit so perfectly.  Unbidden, the thought that she was
made for him, only for him, surged through his fevered brain.  He
bucked underneath her.

Willow screamed her pleasure at his movement, and found herself once
again pinned beneath Angel's body.  She noticed idly that his body
actually felt warm now.  Sweat poured off of them both.  Slick skin
slid against slick skin.  Angel's hard cock moved inside of her in an
ever increasing tempo, until he was jack hammering into her body,
pounding Willow into the mattress.  "Yes!", she moaned.

The dark haired vampire was on fire.  Every undead cell in his body
was being consumed with heat.  And he didn't care, he didn't care if
he actually combusted and disappeared into ash.  All that mattered
was this moment, Willow and their love.  Every part of his body
pulsed in ecstasy and pain.  He was close.  Angel opened his eyes,
determined to come with his Flame.  He wanted to see her, he wanted
to be looking into her eyes when she climaxed.  Willow's eyes shone
with light, as if fire itself dwealt within her.

Willow moaned, her body tensing as she neared her orgasm.  Angel's
eyes were glowing, she saw.  "Angel!!", she screamed as she came,
hard.  The silken muscles of her vagina, catching and holding him.

The vampire's human face fell away, his demon demanding his mate's
blood.  Angel lunged for her neck.  The connection was complete.
Angel lost himself in the force of his own release and went up in
flames at the taste of Willow's blood.

From both their eyes flashed a bright, golden light.  Angel felt
something shift in his body.  His last thought was about his demon,
and then blackness overtook both lovers and they knew no more.

~13~

It was 7 a.m. when the phone rang, waking Willow.  Feeling a large
male body pressed intimately against her back, Willow sighed in
remembrance.  The phone rang again.  Unconcerned with her nakedness,
she got up to answer it.  "He's already seen it all", Willow
mused, "why be shy now?"  She giggled.  "Who knew morning wood was a
problem for vampires too?", she thought.

Willow stalked into the kitchen, ignoring the cold chill of marble
tiles against her sensitive feet.

Silently, the dark haired vampire watched his Flame walk out of the
room.  He admired her pale, lithe body and way her red hair shone
like satin against her porcelain skin.  Licking his lips in
anticipation, he quietly followed her into the kitchen.  He pressed
himself against her back as she stood talking on the phone.  Willow
moaned appreciatively.

"Its seven o'clock in the morning, Darwin or whatever your name is.
No, we're not interested in vinyl siding.  This is an apartment you
nitwit.  People are trying to have sex over here.", Willow snapped.
The vampire chuckled silently, his head on her shoulder.

Willow petted her vampire, tangling her fingers in his hair as she
slammed the phone down.  She felt the hard length of his arousal
against her lower back, and turned in his arms claiming his mouth in
a kiss made harsh by her little temper tantrum.

"Frisky this morning, aren't we", Willow said throatily.

The dark haired vampire growled low in his throat, golden eyes
staring into green as he grabbed her arms with one hand and held them
above her head.  He pulled the red witch close, breathing in the
scent of her arousal and their previous lovemaking.  Her body was
slammed into the refrigerator.  Willow groaned.  "Fuck me..."

"You don't have to ask me twice, my Flame", the vampire muttered
darkly, wrapping her legs around her waist and slamming home in one
smooth movement.

"Angel!", Willow screamed.  The vampire continued to slam into her,
using his free hand to caress her breasts and pinch her nipples.  He
whispered his love for her over and over.  The gentle words
contrasting with the deliciously brutal way he was fucking her.
Willow was incoherent with pleasure.

Heat was building within him again.  She was setting him ablaze with
her throaty moans.  He couldn't last much longer, and reached between
their bodies to flick at the sensitive bundle of nerves at the crest
of her femininity.

Willow ceased to breathe as she felt herself tumble into the abyss of
her climax.  Dimly she heard Angel roar his own release and felt his
fangs bury themselves in her neck.  Somehow this rocked her into a
second orgasm, and suddenly the redhead felt as if she would faint.

The witch grabbed the vampire's dark hair, pulling him away from her
neck.  "That's enough", Willow said.

The vampire pulled away from the wounds, licking at the tiny rivulets
of blood.  Suddenly unsure of himself, Angel looked into Willow's
eyes.  "Mine?", he questioned.

In response the redhead dug her fingernails into his chest, raking
open a scratch.  She licked at the few drops of blood which appeared
on his skin. He moaned appreciatively.  Finishing her task, Willow
looked up into his dark eyes, and said firmly, "and mine".  Angel
began to purr.  Willow giggled.

~~~~

The vampire carried his tired Flame back to her bed, and they
snuggled under the covers together.

"So", Willow said brightly, "are you Angel or Angelus?"

The dark haired vampire started at the question.  "Both", he said
thoughtfully.  "Its as if we've merged, the demon is strong within me
and yet, so it the soul.  Like i'm finally whole.  I'm pretty sure
though that you have ultimate control, though," Angel remarked
remembering how she had been able to calm his vampiric urges
immediately in the kitchen.

Willow contemplated what he'd said and knew somehow that he was
right.  She'd looked into his eyes and seen neither the perpetual
sadness of Angel, or the psychotic brightness of Angelus.  "So is the
name Angel still okay with you?"

Angel chuckled darkly, "Yes, I've always appreciated the irony of
that name."

Willow pondered everything that had happened since she'd come to
visit; the dream/vision, Cordelia's lack of visions lately, and the
consummation of her and Angel's relationship.  "Well", she said
finally, "since I take it all this isn't exactly normal, there must
be some prophecy involved.  Am I right?"

Angel nodded and wrapped his arms tightly around Willow, slightly
apprehensive as to what her reaction would be.  Slowly, Angel told
Willow about Cordelia's visit to the new oracles.  How the ex-
cheerleader had gone hoping to find a way to secure his soul and
allow him a share of happiness.  "They said that you were the key.
That you were my Flame, my companion, my joy."

Willow nodded.  "So we're meant to be, I take it".

"Apparently, yes", the vampire replied happily nuzzling the redhead's
neck.

"So my dream was part of it".

Angel paused in his ministrations thinking it over.  "I would assume
so, I guess you're like my seer, the prophecy mentioned the Flame
being my immortal sight."

Willow started in surprise, "Immortal?", she squeaked.

Angel nodded overjoyed.  And that's when Willow fainted.

~14~

Spike was pissed.  "Stupid Whistler demon", he muttered.  "You've
been chosen to be a warrior for The Powers That Be, he says.  Like I
want to follow in Daddy's bloody footsteps."

Spike growled and slowly gathered his few belongings.  Some jeans and
t-shirts, a few cartons of cigarettes, and a sketch Angelus had drawn
a century ago of Spike and Druscilla.  All these things went into a
battered old bag.

The vampire waited until nightfall and then headed to the bus
station.  He missed his beautiful DeSoto.  Spike hate getting on a
bus like a plebeian.  As long as the PTB took the chip out of his
head, he'd go along with whatever they wanted.  "Besides", he
thought, "beating the crap out of demons was actually quite a bit of
fun.  It couldn't be so hard if the bloody Poof was doing it.  Now
could it?"

Spike wondered idly who the hell this Queen he was supposed to work
with was.  He hoped it was an actual woman and not some cross
dressing nancyboy.  Although he was a firm believer in 'to each his
own', he didn't think he'd be able to deal with that on a daily
basis.

Reaching a seat at the back of the bus, the vampire pulled out some
headphones and a Type O Negative cd Red had given him recently.  It
had been a gag gift, she thought he would enjoy.  He smirked, "L.A.
here comes Spike".

~~~~

It had been 2 days since the change in Willow and Angel's
relationship and Cordelia was overjoyed.  "Angel was so happy, he was
almost lively", the ex-cheerleader snorted at the thought.

The brunette walked towards the coffee maker, intending to get
herself a cup of coffee.  She wondered why it suddenly tasted so much
better now that Willow was making it.  Half way there, pain and light
flooded her senses.  "Ugh!", she screamed, "Vision!", as she slid to
the floor of the office in a boneless heap.

Willow and Angel ran out of the inner office to their fallen friend.
They looked at each other in confusion, they'd assumed that with
Willow having the dreams, Cordelia's visions would stop.

"My bag", the Seer groaned.  Willow retrieved the article and watched
as Cordelia searched for the healing balm Willow had given her.  The
brunette rubbed some into her pounding temples.

"Delia what was the vision about?", Angel asked, helping his
receptionist up off the floor.

Feeling the pain immediately recede, Cordelia said, "It's not for
you, Angel.  The visions for another warrior, he's coming for me.
We're to go to New York."

Wesley nodded in understanding.  He'd just come upstairs from Angel's
apartment after preparing himself some tea.  "Angel", he said
excitedly, "remember the rest of the Flame prophecy?  That you would
also get some new allies?  Well it seems our dear Cordelia is the
Queen."

Groaning in disbelief, Willow remembered the old high school
nickname.  "That's right, back in high school we all called her Queen
C. Well, among other things", she quipped.

Unable to fully grasp the situation, Cordelia cursed the Powers That
Be, and then began to laugh.

"What?", her friends all turned to ask.

Gasping to try to catch her breath, Cordelia said, "At least I can
still pursue acting there.  I mean, have you seen some of the people
they put on soap operas?  I am like, ten times better then most of
them."

Trying to get the conversation back on track, Angel asked, "But if
she's the Queen, who's the warrior?"

And with that, the door to Angel Investigations banged open loudly.
A leather clad bleached blond strolled in. "'Allo people, missed me?"

"Spike!", they all cried.

Willow started to laugh.  She watched as Spike appeared to mentally
undress Cordelia.  Angel looked over at his Flame in disbelief.  "She
found this funny?", he wondered.

Turning to her lover, Willow tugged on his sleeve so he would bend
over and she could whisper.  "This is going to be interesting", the
witch snorted.  Then indicating Spike and Cordelia, she asked
him, "Don't you see it? They would look good together, and anyways
Spike's already got a little crush".

Looking over at his wayward childe and his ex-seer, Angel sighed.
The dark haired vampire pinched the bridge of his nose and started to
quietly curse in Gaelic.

Spike watched Red and the Poof.  "So Peaches, Red's me mum now, huh?"
The only response he received came in the form of a growl.

*The End*

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