Part 3:  Where are you taking me?

"Where are we going?" Willow asked, trying to keep up with him while
trying to remove the blindfold.  She was following him through some
kind of tourist attraction, she knew this because she could hear the
sounds of people around them.

"You'll see, kitten.  And stop doing that, you won't get it off."  He
scolded lightly, taking both of her hands in his.

"Come on, give me a hint."  Willow cajoled, just a bit.  She was
enjoying herself immensely and didn't really mind his behavior.  Over
the past few months, she'd learned a lot about Angelus, mainly that he
was a bit of a fraud. His reputation would lead one to believe that he
was heartless, but he wasn't.  At least, not with her and the way he
talked about his children reinforced her belief.  He was funny and
just plain fun to be around, yet there was a fierce protective streak
within him.  One didn't mess with anyone he'd claimed, and he'd
claimed her-even if he hadn't bitten her.

Where ever they went, it was like some kind of underworld signal went
out that she was off limits.  No one bothered her, or challenged his
claim. It was a rush for her, having the respect of humans and demons
alike.  She now only feared that he'd wake up and change his mind,
leaving her to pick up the pieces of her life once again.

"Nope, not going to happen.  Relax, trust me.  I haven't lead you
wrong."  Angelus soothed her, ignoring her muttered 'yet' and
continued.  "We haven't reached the point in our relationship were I
give you a beating heart or a dead puppy."

"Very funny."  She scratched his hand, grazing the skin lightly.

"I've always thought so. Now, behave or I'll carry you." He advised,
his tone was slightly menacing.

"You wouldn't dare!"  Willow challenged.

"Wouldn't I?"  He scooped her up and carried her through the shocked
crowd.

"Angelus!"  She shrieked out through her laughter. "Put me down!"

"Let me think."  He paused and wiped her tears away.  "No. I can't
think of another time when carrying a lump of humanity was so
enjoyable."

She gasped and an indignant expression crossed her face.  "245 and
still such a guy."

"And proud of it, kitten."  The sound of rushing water cut of any
reply she might have made and she breathed in the scent of fresh
pines.  They went up a hill before he placed her down in front of him.
"Now, just let yourself feel.  To just be."

She relaxed into his embrace, reaching out with her spirit as he'd
instructed.

He released her and watched as she moved forward a few paces, feeling
her way around the open area.  He smiled inwardly, pleased with her
ability to avoid the rocks and holes in the ground.  "Tell me what you
feel?  What you see?"

"I feel…" she gasped in pain, her body pulling in on itself.  She
crashed into a tree, barely feeling her arm being ripped out of its
socket.  Angelus was at her side, pulling off the blindfold and
holding her securely.

"Are you all right?"

She shivered, curling up into his arms and beginning to feel the pain
in her arm. "I feel extremely cold and my shoulder hurts."

"Yes, you pulled it out.  Let me."   After popping it back into place,
they stood up and began to make their way out of the clearing.  She
stuck by his side for a while before regaining her spirits and dancing
around in front of him, being careful of her arm.  He decided not to
mention the incident in the forest, he didn't want to spoil her good
mood.  Using her magic, she took his leather jacket from him.  "You
imp."

"But you love me anyway."  She laughed at his long suffering
expression, then her green eyes widened upon seeing the falls on their
right.  "Hey, do ya suppose the rangers would let me go over that in a
barrel?"

Angelus laughed at the women around them glared at her while casting
him lustful glances.  She stuck her tongue out at them and he tsked.
"Probably not since it is their job to keep the tourists safe.  You
humans have a tendency to be very cautious about such things."

"Then let's not tell them."  Willow pointed out reasonably.  "They
can't turn down what they don't know about."

"But the barrel would be a give away, my sweet."  He began steering
her towards their hotel.

It was her turn to pout.  "Spoil my fun why don't you."

"It was payback time."  He smiled down at her.  "And besides, don't
you think that one injury is enough for today."

She sighed.  'I suppose.  But that doesn't mean I have to like it."
They walked along in silence for a while before she caught sight of
the time.  "Isn't it almost time for your meeting?"

"Yes."  Angelus didn't want to go but had to.  This meeting was
important to Willow, though she had no idea of its purpose.  There
were things The Kindred could accomplish, beings they could contact,
that he couldn't.  "I want you to go…"

"Directly to the hotel, I know, Angelus.  I know."  Willow was shooing
him along.  "You've told me enough times."

"But you listening and doing are sometimes two very different things."
His tone was almost parental.  "You have the most annoying habit of
getting around what I've told you to do."

Willow impishly smiled.  "Only when I don't understand the importance
of it, dearest."  She shivered, drawing his coat around her tighter.
A presence washed over her, ripping past her defenses and invading her
soul.

Angelus pulled her into his arms, his superior senses searching the
area but could pick up nothing.  "What it is?"  She just turned in his
arms and held on tighter, feeling the essence just grow stronger and
begin to choke her.  She dimly felt his arms pick her up through the
coldness that surrounded her.  His face had a similar coldness to the
one in her soul on it, even the bravest of people shivered and moved
away.  * I get her home and then this things dies.  No one messes with
what's mine.

Her soft touch on his face brought him out of his thoughts, soothing
his demon.  It made him realize that he'd been growling and his demon
face had emerged.  "How are you?"

"I'm scared, Angelus.  Why does this keep happening to me?"  Willow
cried.  "I'm sorry, I know how you feel about weepy women."  She tried
to stop, fear evident in her eyes.

He silently cursed himself for that fear, even as he rubbed her back.
"Let it out, precious.  I only hate it when the crying has no purpose
other than to get something."  After a few more minutes, she began to
calm down but the feeling wouldn't let her go.  "Are you okay?"

"I believe so."  She curled up in his embrace, closing her eyes.

"What happened?" He didn't believe her, she was still pale and he
could hear her pounding heart.

She yawned a little.  "I don't know.  It was just so sudden, I
couldn't stop it from invading my body.  It just rushed me, ripping
through my defenses, like it was looking for something.  I didn't like
it, Angelus."

"Neither did I.  Come on, let's get you home."

"Yes, for once I'll be glad to get back to that tiny room."  She
opened her eyes and gave him a  pleading look.  "Please, can't I go
with you?  I'll behave, I promise."

Her fear came off in waves, the terror both enticing and angering his
demon.  "I wish you could, kitten, but I'm afraid that the Kindred
won't allow a mortal into their midst, even one as unique as you."  He
felt her shiver and then nod in acceptance.  He carried her into their
hotel room.  He searched the room thoroughly after placing her gently
on his bed.

She curled up on his pillow, breathing in his scent and relaxing.  He
looked at her and felt angry that something had stolen the light he'd
worked so hard to replace in her eyes.  * She looks like a little,
lost child awaiting punishment!  "Willow."  Angelus said softly.

She sat up slowly, knowing he only called her 'Willow' when it was
important.  She started to take off his jacket but his hands resting
gently on her shoulders stopped her.  Her tired eyes met his
concerned, and angry, ones.  Willow flinched when she saw the anger
and he pulled her into a gentle embrace.  "Yes, Angelus?"

"I'm not mad at you.  Okay?"  She nodded, then he continued.  "I don't
want you to go anywhere or open the door for anyone, for any reason
other than an emergency.  All right?"  She nodded and he noticed that
her eyes didn't even have a hint of humor like they did when he
usually made such requests.  That's when he knew how truly terrified
she was.  "Try to get some rest and lock the door behind me."  She
followed him over to the door, he sighed as he heard it lock behind
him.

* Hang the Kindred.  Something's got a hold on my Willow and it will
die before I lose even more of her.  He strode through the dark night,
his stride firm and purposeful.  He came to a rich neighborhood.
"Natalia!"  A lovely raven haired lady dressed in jade opened the door
and began to smile.  "Where's Flora?"  He cut off her words before she
could say anything, entering the house.

"She's in a meeting right now."  Her accented French flowed in his
ears.  "But maybe I can help you."  She purred near his ear.

"I don't think so, it concerns Willow."

"That pathetic mortal you've been squiring around?"  She spat, before
finding herself held above his head and pinned with a vicious glare.

"It wouldn't hurt me at all to end you're pathetic excuse of a life.
I would watch what you say about her."  He squeezed her throat for a
moment more before flinging her into the study.

Natalia rubbed her bruised throat and eyed him warily.  "I meant no
harm.  What is the problem with your friend?"  She smiled and sat down
on a velvet couch, patting the space beside her.

"You better not have."  Angelus shook his head.  "Something has
invaded her twice today, the first time she pulled her arm out of the
socket.  I want to know what it is and how to stop it."

"Meaning you want to kill it, mon amour?"  A new voice entered the
room.  In came a dainty lady with long amber colored hair.

"Fauna."  He nodded, both in greeting and agreement.

"It can only be killed while in the mortal form."  Fauna told him as
she sat down.

"Thank you."  He turned to leave but paused, "How do I …"  A scream he
recognized as Willow's tore through his mind and he left the room,
being pulled by it him towards her.

Natalia looked over at Fauna and shrugged.  Flora walked in then, her
short hair sparkled in the evening light.  "Was that Angelus?  I do
hope he finds that charming child.  She is one of us, you know."

"No!"  Fauna exclaimed.

"Really?"  Natalia asked.

"Yes."  Flora sat down.

"Shouldn't we help them?"  The two girls asked.

"All that can be done, has been done."

Part 4:  Where's Willow?

Angelus headed straight to the hotel, hoping that his instincts were
wrong.  He was appalled to see all the commotion outside, seeing the
police heightened his worry and he ran through the police line.

"Excuse me, but you can't go in there.  There's been a bomb threat
and we have yet to check the third floor."  An officer said then
pulled out his gun and aimed it at Angelus when he just continued to
move.  "I said…"  Angelus broke the gun and shoved the officer away.

"Stay back if you want to stay alive, boy."  He growled before
entering the hotel.  Angelus ran up the stairs, taking them three or
four at a time and broke down their door.  He saw the shattered window
and the scent of something otherworldly hit him.  He went towards the
window and jumped out.  "Why did I leave her alone?  Hang on, kitten,
I'm coming."

He went to Whistler's house.  "Where is she?"  He bellowed.

Whistler took one look at him and knew it was Angelus.  "Drusilla?"
He asked and found himself with a broken and bloody nose.

"My Red, you drunken idiot.  If you can't help me, take me to someone
who can."  Angelus glared at him, daring him to refuse to help.

"All right.  Just let me get my coat."  Whistler got up and grabbed
his jacket, leading the way to another house.  "Hey, Doyle, get that
second sight of yours in gear!"

"And help find that charming, redheaded lass?"  Another Irish voice
answered as a dark haired, blue eyed, half demon emerged.  "But of
course.  Anything to help a damsel in distress.  She's this way."

Part 5: Just Who Do You Think You Are, Anyway?

Willow awoke in a dark, cramped cell.  Her head was pounding and the
fog in it began to clear, but barely.  She tired to remember what had
happened and groaned, looking down at the open wounds on her cut
hands.  She'd had another attack and smashed the window, then
something grabbed her as she began to fall out the window.  Angelus
was not going to be pleased.  She sighed, this was not a good thing.

Suddenly, a beam of light entered the darkened room and she closed her
eyes.  "Ah, I see that you've awakened, my sleeping beauty."  A deep
baritone entered the room and bounced off the walls, causing her head
to ache even more.

She held in the gasp and glared in the general direction of his voice
as she slowly got off the ground.  "I wasn't given much choice, so
you'll have to forgive me if I'm less than thrilled to make your
acquaintance."

"You have spunk, how I hate that."

"Well, look and see me not care."  Willow flipped her hair over her
shoulder before casually leaning against the wall and closing her
eyes.  A stinging slap across her face almost caused her to open them
but she resisted.  * Angelus!  She silently called out to him.  "I
really must talk to the management about the bug problem. They seem to
think that my face is a restaurant."

Whoever her captor was hissed in displeasure at her continued
defiance.  "Why you insolent, willful brat.  How dare you ignore your
lord and master like that?"

She snorted and opened one eye to study him.  He was a tall, slender
man with long, dark purple hair and opaque eyes.  * Definitely not
hard on the eyes but he's no Angelus.  She closed it again and sighed,
as though bored.  "Sorry to burst your happy little bubble but you
don't look anything like Angelus.  And I only answer to him.  Now, run
along like a good little fellow."  She waved a hand, dismissing him.

He grabbed her arm and jerked her towards the door.  "Listen to me
because I'll only say this once, you'll forget that name and answer
only to me, Luxor.  And if you're a good girl, I may even let you walk
the grounds alone."  They were rapidly moving down the hall and came
to a set of double doors.  "Otherwise, you'll spend time in here."  He
flung the doors open and shoved her in.  He was surprised when there
was no reaction at all upon entering the torture chamber.

"Nice place, could use a bit of summer though.  All this black and
grey creates such a dull, boring glow."  The rest of what she was
going to say was cut off when he threw her onto a table and strapped
down.

"You've got quite a tongue on you, missy.  Let's see what I can do
about that, shall we?"  He sneered at her, waiting for the fear and
begging to begin.  He flipped a switch on the panel by the table.

Willow rolled her eyes at him and began to laugh.  "What are you?  A
throwback to the caveman days?  Me, big smart man.  You, scared
spitless female.  Sorry to tell you this but you definitely need some
work on your intimidation abilities cause they do absolutely nothing
to me."  While she had been talking, the table was heating up, Willow
felt the heat searing her skin and forced herself not to gag.  "What?
You wanted to see me do a lobster impersonation?  Your sauna broken or
something?"  The pain intensified but she met his eyes, not allowing
the pain inside to show.  She wouldn't give him that satisfaction.

Luxor growled in rage, what kind of person was this who continued to
deny him her pain and fear.  * Soon you will fear me.  I have many
toys to use on you.  Soon the hours blended into one continuos round
of torture, he was amazed by her strength.  Not once had she given in
to an urge to scream or beg for release.  She continued to defy him.
Her body was a mass of bruises, just covered in blood.  He was about
to give up when the door shattered against the wall and one enraged
vampire entered.

Angelus saw her and she grinned.  "What took you so long?"   Willow
passed out then, finally allowing herself to give in.

He grabbed Luxor by the hair and hissed in his ear.  "Take this down,
no one touches what's mine and lives.  Say good-night, boy."  He then
used that long hair to strangle him.   Angelus picked up Willow's
beaten body and strode out the door.  Before they left, he torched the
room and watched it burn to the ground.  Angelus looked at Whistler
and Doyle, nodding his thanks before he and Willow disappeared into
the night.

Angelus paced the hospital room, watching Willow breath with the help
of the machines she was connected to. It had been six months and,
except for that first night when she woke up screaming for him, she
hadn't moved. The Kindred had cleared things for him, he had been
rather harsh in his words but they got the point. They were more
afraid of his anger than staying out of the public eye. It had been
six months since he'd seen her smile, heard her voice, and seen her
beautiful eyes. He just wanted to pound something.

( Well I'm shameless when it comes to loving you / I'll do anything
you want me to )

Willow was just too quiet for him, he missed her more than he ever
thought possible. He had moved in to the room with her, because he
needed to be near her. The doctors hadn't objected, her prognosis
wasn't good. The fact that she had made it this long, stunned them.
He knelt down by the bed, holding her hand and tracing the bones with
a gentle finger. He climbed into the bed, holding her close, her head
tucked under his chin. He felt so helpless and afraid, feelings he
wasn't used to and hated. "Don't you dare leave me." He growled,
almost as if he could wake her up by issuing that order.

(I'll do anything at all )

"See, I told you daddy needed us." Said a familiar voice. Angelus
looked up and saw his two children standing there.

Spike was behind Dru, he sniffed the air. "The chit's still human.
Why haven't you killed her yet?"

"Because my Angel likes her that way." She smacked his head. "You're
lucky he's not totally aware about what's going on yet, he'd trounce
you for that remark."

Spike looked at Angelus and saw the look in his eyes, knowing that his
Dru was right. "Right then, let's get this over with."

( And I'm standing here for all the world to see / Oh, baby that's
what's left of me / Don't have very far to fall. )

Angelus finally found his voice. "I'd say that I was glad to see you
but you'd know I was lying. What are you doing here?"

"Dru here had a vision, said you and mummy there needed our help."
Spike shoved Dru into the room, the scent of the slayer filled the
building. He shut the door behind them. "There's a slayer here.
Would you just do whatever it is that needs to be done while I go
distract her." The blonde vampire took off, his duster flying behind
him.

"Well, look what we have here, if it isn't a reject from the bad
fashion patrol." Spike announced, leaning casually against the wall,
eyeing the dark haired slayer who was there.

She whipped around and looked up at him, her slayer senses kicking in
immediately. "Not right now, blondie. I'll take a rain check."
Faith knew she should fight him before he hurt anyone, but couldn't
bring herself to do it.

"What kind of attitude is that for a slayer to have. Better be
careful, it might get out that the slayer is slipping." He taunted,
trying to get her to react. She did, but not in the manner he was
expecting, she started to cry. Spike stood there for a moment and
sighed, ignoring the urge to just kill her and be done with it. He
walked over and awkwardly patting her shoulder. "Hey, none of that.
It isn't the end of the world, you know."

"Much you know." She sniffed. "You vampires don't care about the
lives you destroy, the people you kill. You all go about your merry
little destructive way, leaving behind shattered lives. What did we
ever do to you?" Her fists started flying, hitting his chest
repeatedly until she stopped and cried on it.

He wondered what it was about him that made these women-especially
slayers-cry on his shoulders? Do I have a sign saying that I enjoy
it? He looked up and saw Dru standing in the doorway, with a look on
her face he could only describe as teasing. But her eyes were sad.
"Not one word, pet." He mouthed, face drawn up in a frown. The body
in his arms went limp, he looked down and saw that she was sleeping.
He put her on one of the couches and left. "Well, is peaches happy
again?"

"Be nice." She scolded, then pouted when she thought of what Angelus
had told her. "Daddy won't do what I told him to do, he won't bite
the little girl. Said he made her some kind of promise."

"Well, I'll be damned." Spike whistled.

"You already are." Dru reminded him as they climbed into the DeSotto.
"If he doesn't make a move soon, he's going to lose her."

* And wouldn't that be a shame. Spike thought but didn't say
anything. Personally, he could care less about what happened to
Angelus and his redheaded tart. "He'll change his mind, Angelus is a
rather selfish creature."

"I wonder." Dru mused, pushing down on the pedal and speeding down
the road. "I just wonder."

Back inside the hospital, Angelus thought about what Dru had told him.
"My Angel, all you have to do is exchange your blood with hers. This
will create a bond between you two and help her heal faster. And it
won't even have to a lot." She hurried on when he shook his head.

( And I'm changin' swore I'd never compromise / Oh, but you
convinced me otherwise / I'll do anything you please. )

"Dru, I can't do that to her." He pulled Willow closer to him, sad
that the warmth he felt belied the fact that she wasn't all there.
"If that means that I might lose her, then that's a chance I'll have
to take."

( You know now I'm not a man who's ever been / Insecure about the
world I've been livin' in. )

"But she won't mind, I'm sure once you explain it to her..." Drusilla
came closer to the bed.

"No." His voice was firm.

"I don't understand." She knelt on the floor, looking into his
chocolatey sad eyes.

Angelus sighed, trying to find a way to explain it to her. "I
promised my Willow I wouldn't bite her. I can't break this promise
for anything, I owe her."

They stayed in silence for a while before Dru slowly stood up, shadows
in her eyes. "If you're sure?"

"I am." He knew it was out of character for him to deny himself,
but... "Thank you, Dru. I appreciate what you and Spike have tried
to do for me."

( I don't break easy I have my pride / But if you need to be
satisfied. )

She got up and waltzed to the door. "Are you going to be all right,
my Angel? No, I don't think you will. But, daddy, I know the little
tree won't mind." She softly answered her own question before closing
the door behind her.

He sighed as a nurse walked in to check on Willow. He went to the
window and watched the DeSotto drive away, a hand pressed to the
window. * I can't do that to her. Willow was special to him, she
trusted him in a way that no one ever had-even Buffy hadn't trusted
Angel this much. He wondered if this was how Spike felt about Dru and
that was why he could put up with her high maintenance schedule. *
Maybe I should send him a card of apology for what I did to her.

( You see in all my life I've never found / What I couldn't resist
what I couldn't turn down. )

"Mr. Angelus?" The pretty nurse asked him, admiring his dashing
looks. "Are you okay?" She was new to the hospital and hadn't yet
realized that he wouldn't be drawn away from his redhead.

"How is she?" He asked, ignoring her question and flirtatious smile.

"The same. Why don't you join me for a cup of coffee since I'm off?"
Her hand rested on his shoulder, stroking it lightly.

"No, thank you." His answer was short, shrugging off the hand. He
went back over to his kitten, pulling up a chair and taking her hand.
He caressed her hair and face, silently pleading with her to wake up
for him.

The nurse waited for a moment before shrugging her shoulders, she went
to the door and turned around. "If you change your mind, I'll be in
my room." The same scene had repeated itself for two months, but this
time the door closed with a frustrated bang behind her.

Angelus sat in silence, then asked her. "What is this power you have
over me? I kill demons for you. I can't function without you. What
have you done to me, kitten?" He rested his head on the bed, tucked
up by her stomach. The smell of her rich, innocent blood enticed his
demon and Dru's words came back to him. * Just a little blood, it
doesn't have to be much. I could...no, I can't.

( I could walk away from anyone I ever knew / But I can't walk away
from you. )

He got up before he could give in and walked out the door, he went
outside and sat on a bench, staring blankly at the grass. The green
of it reminded him of Willow's eyes. There was so many possibilities
in them, such innocence. Then again, he thought, everything reminds
me of her. She was such a contradiction and so fascinating. They
could talk on a level he'd never found with anyone before, their
opinions were so similar. He sometimes found it hard to tell where he
began and she ended.

( I have never let anything have this much control over me / I work
too hard to call my life my own. )

His pager beeped and he laughed, remembering when Willow had teased
him into getting it. Then his face fell as he realized that it would
only have gone off if something had happened to her. He ran back to
the hospital, throwing open the doors and speeding down the hall.
There was a crowd of people outside her door, he pushed his way in and
heard the dull sound of the heart monitor flat lining. "No! Willow!"
His voice was shocked, horrified, and he fell to his knees, a strange,
unknown pain spreading through him.

( And I've made myself a world and it's worked so perfectly / But
it's your world now I can't refuse. )

The doctor covered her, then turned to look at him, his eyes saddened.
"I'm sorry. She's gone. There was nothing we could do." One of his
assistants turned off the machine and helped the doctor herd the group
towards the door. "We'll leave you alone." He shut the door behind
them.

( I've never had so much to lose / Oh, I'm shameless. )

He growled, angry with her for leaving him. He leapt onto the bed,
throwing the covers aside to see her. Her face was almost like marble
in its whiteness. Angelus shook her in an attempt to wake her up.
The scent of life still clung faintly to her, though the death's
stench was slowly strangling it. The demon within seized control and
he bit her, drinking her cooling blood, his tears falling onto her
gown. He regained control enough to remember to pull away and give
her some of his blood.

"Angelus?" Her heard her voice in his mind. "What are you doing?"

( I'm shameless, oh, honey I don't have a prayer / Every time I see
you standin' there / I go down upon my knees. )

He looked around and found her standing a short distance away from
him, green eyes focused on him. They widened in surprise when he
rushed towards her, taking her down to the ground as he hugged her
tightly. He nuzzled her ear, his hands running through her hair and
over her body as he tried to reassure himself that she was real. Then
they wrapped around her, holding her close enough that he could feel
the fast beating of her heart. She's alive. He thought in relief.

( You know it should be easy for a man who's strong / To say he's
sorry or admit when he's wrong. )

"Angelus?" She whispered, scared by his odd behavior.

( I've never lost anything I've ever missed / But I've never been
in love like this. )

His eyes met hers, glowing softly, possession in their depths.
"Mine." He growled fiercely, taking her lips with his in a brutal
kiss, cutting them. It softened almost immediately when he recognized
the scent of her rising fear. He knew fear, it was the same fear he
had felt the moment she left him alone.

( It's out of my hands / I'm shameless, I don't have the power now. )

His hold instinctively tightened at that thought. She gasped, coming
abruptly out of her thoughts, and he deepened their kiss, learning the
territory inside her mouth. He felt her hands tentatively come around
him to stroke his back, one of them finding its way into his hair.
His lips left hers, trailing down her throat where he found the strong
pulse, his fangs sank into the soft skin, enjoying her innocent blood.

"Angelus." Her voice was soft but effective, it cut through his hazy
mind.

( I don't want it anyhow / So I got to let it go. )

Angelus groaned and reluctantly pulled back, letting her catch her
breath. He looked down at her, admiring the flush on her cheeks and
tousled hair. Then he stood up and took her hand, pulling her up,
hugging her to his side. He started to walk away, surprised when she
didn't move. "Kitten?" His hand gestured for her to come to him, her
head shook. "We have to go."

"No." Willow's voice was soft. "Don't make me go back."

"Baby, he's gone." He approached her.

"I know. But I'm not going back." She sat down, knees drawn up under
her chin. Her eyes on the ground. "Something bad is going to happen.
They are going to ask us to come back to Sunnydale and help them."

He snorted. "They can ask till they're blue in the face, we don't
have to go."

"I can't say no."

"But I can." He countered.

Willow looked up then, her teary green eyes on him. "They'll take you
from me."

"They can try."

Her head shook, revealing what she had learned. "You won't be able to
stop it. Ms. Calendar was able to translate the old texts, she will
restore your soul."

Angelus stiffened, then pulled her into a tight embrace. He held her
chin and forced her to meet his eyes. "If you don't leave this place,
I won't leave either."

"That's not fair. You have to leave, you are needed." She argued.

"By who? That slutty vampire slayer? My children? The only one who
needs me is you. Come with me." He commanded.

"Do I have a choice?" She teased, before yawning. "Angelus, why does
my neck hurt?"

"Go to sleep, I'll explain later." The world faded around as her head
fell onto his shoulder.

( Oh, I'm shameless, shameless as a man can be. )

"Sir?" A hand rested lightly on his shoulder, his head nodded in
response while he tried to control his features. "Are you all right?"

"Does it look like I'm all right?" He growled, startling the nurse.
"I just lost my kitten, my little Willow. What do you expect me to
do, run through the halls, singing at the top of my lungs?" That's
when he felt the hand lightly caressing his chest. He looked down in
surprise and saw her sleepy green eyes.

( You could make a total fool of me / I just wanted to you to know. )

"Shut up, you stupid idiot, some of us are trying to sleep." She
yelped when he tightened his hold and rained kisses all over her face.

The nurse heard her voice and pressed the panic button, bringing in
some of the same group from earlier. The doctor approached the bed,
apologetically. "Excuse me, sir?"

Angelus glared, tightening his hold.

"We need to examine her, see if everything's working correctly."

Willow squirmed, trying to get comfortable in the tight embrace. "Are
you always this touchy feely?" She complained, smacking his arm. "I
can't breath when you do that."

"Go away." He growled.

( Oh, I'm shameless / I just wanted you to know. )

"Sir, I know how you feel but we must check her." The doctor was
firm.

Angelus wanted to refuse but one of the aids spoke up. "The fact that
she woke up is great but there might be some problems with her motor
skills."

"Fine." He growled, slowly letting her go.

"Oh, please continue to talk about me like I'm not here." Her voice
was harsh with disuse. "Why would I want to get some sleep when I
could spend the evening being treated like a pincushion cause once
wasn't enough for me."

"Willow." Angelus warned softly, choking down his laughter. "Behave.
The sooner they do this, the sooner we can get going." He crawled off
the bed, staying by her side.

"Then by all means, poke away." Her hand waved, as though giving them
royal permission. "But your hands better not be cold or I won't be
responsible for my actions."

After a few hours, the doctors left, scratching their heads in
confusion. She was dead, they couldn't understand how she had come
back. And Willow hadn't cooperated with them at all. She hated all
the poking and prodding they had done to her.

Angelus thought about what had happened after they exchanged blood and
wondered if it had been a dream or if it had been real. Then he
decided that he just didn't care. She was back, right where she
belonged, with him. Although he would have to explain a few things to
her. "Angelus? Go to sleep, you're making my head hurt." Willow's
voice was soft with sleepiness. He just nodded.

( Oh, I'm shameless / Oh, I'm down on my knees...shameless. )

The End.
 

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