Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own nothin'. Everything belongs to Joss and Mutant Enemy.
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Willow walked confidently into the mansion. "Angel?" She called cheerfully.
"In here, Willow."
When Willow walked into the chamber that served as Angel's living room she found Angel in a hand stand. Slowly Angel bent his elbows and with sudden speed and surprising strength launched into a back flip landing gracefully on his feet.
Willow smiled. "Wow. You're really getting your strength back fast, Angel. Two weeks ago when I first stated coming you never could have done that."
Angel came forward and hugged the hacker who returned the hug tenderly. "I owe it all to you. If it wasn't for you I'd have given up after Buffy left me. You wouldn't let me quit."
Willow pulled back slightly and looked into his eyes. "I'm glad I could help you, Angel. She said smiling warmly.
Willow walked over to the couch and sat down. "We're going to the mall."
"Huh? We are? Not that I wouldn't love to spend the time with you but, why?"
"We're going shopping for you. From the clothes you wore before, I'm guessing that you can afford it and we need to pick out some furniture for this place. Make it more homey. Besides you need more clothes."
"When do you wanna go?" Angel asked, recognizing her resolve face and conceding defeat.
"Now. Get your coat. And while we're there I need to pick up a few things for myself . . ." Willow trailed off and Angel chuckled knowing what a girl called "a few things" normal turned into a truck load of stuff.
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Angel looked around the crowded mall, watching the people scurry from store to store. "Where to first, Little One?" Willow blushed prettily at his pet name for her. "Well, lets get some clothes for you first." They walked into a nearby store where Willow began to sort through clothes rejecting some and giving the rest to Angel to try on.
Willow was surprised at how casually Angel spent money. After visiting three of four stores they had to leave their bags at the Service Center to be picked up later, because it was more than they could carry.
Willow began walking towards a furniture store but, Angel stopped her, pulling her into a lady's department store.
"Angel, what are you doing? This isn't the furniture store."
"No, it's not. We shopped for me, now it's your turn. I'm treating you to a shopping spree."
"But your furniture! And y-you don't have to buy me anything."
"Well, I've been thinking about either buying a new apartment or making major renovations. I'm leaning towards a new apartment because the mansion has too many bad memories."
"So we ought to hold off on the furniture then."
"yeah, now . . ." he said leading her to the window of a store, "do you like this dress?'
"It's amazing, it must cost a fortune."
Angel smiled, put an arm around her shoulders, and gently pushed her through the door. "Lets go see how it looks on you."
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When Willow and Angel went back to the Service Center they were amazed at how much they had purchased. It was like a parade as clerks followed them out to the car, carrying many bags of clothes, jewelry and books.
"Where are you parents at the week, Willow?" Angel asked casually as the climbed in.
Willow sighed as Angel started the car. "In Europe. They're attending some kind of convention."
"Don't you get lonely by yourself?" Angel glanced at the read head beside him.
"Yeah. But it's not too bad. I just go help Giles do research and stuff."
"Don't Buffy an Xander do stuff with you? It hurt Angel to hear the loneliness in her voice.
"They used to." Willow looked out the window as they drove down the highway.
"But things have changed to much. Buffy is distant. There's still resentment over her running away for the summer. Xander is still a little over Buffy not telling us that you were back. And Oz, he's having a hard time dealing with the werewolf thing. He broke up with me about three weeks ago."
Angel looked at her curiously. She hadn't mentioned this before. "Why?"
"it was after that thing with Pete. It just made him so afraid of hurting anyone. He's gotten really quiet. Even for him."
Angel pulled into Willow's driveway, got out, and went around to open her door. As they began to pull out their purchases Angel looked at her.
"It's got to be hard for him, Willow. Three nights of every month he turns into an animal, something capable of killing. He sees himself as a threat to everyone he cares about." Willow used her keys to open the door. "Come on in, Angel." Willow dropped her stuff on the floor and plopped onto the couch. "I just wish I knew how to help. We're still friends. No matter what."
"There' s only so much you can do, Willow. The rest he's got to come to terms with himself."
Willow sighed, snuggling against him and Angel instinctively draped an arm over her shoulders, pulling her even closer to him.
Angel kissed the top of her head affectionately. "He has to learn to trust himself again."
"you know you should take your own advice. You and Oz have some things in common."
Angel snorted. "I guess we do. It never occurred to me how much alike our problems are. I just hope he never has to deal with the guilt I do."
Willow chewed her lip thoughtfully.
"It's not fair that either of you have to suffer like this."
Angel jumped when Willow jumped off the couch and began pacing.
Angel eyes her warily, no knowing what to expect.
"it makes me feel so helpless, Angel, to know that you're both hurting and not knowing how to help. I feel so useless."
Angel jumped to his feet, catching her in his arms. "Never say those things about yourself, Willow. You help whether you realize it or not. Just the fact that you care, that you want to help, must mean the world to him. And never that that you don't help me. You make me laugh, you're the only one who cared enough to stick around."
Angel hugged her tightly. "I would do anything to show you how much you've helped me."
When he released her Willow took his face in her hands. "Oh, Angel. I'm so glad that I have helped you. I just wish I could do more."
"Willow Rosenburg." Angel's tone was firm but affectionate, "you do more than you realize. More than any ones expected to do. You are sunshine and warmth. You are the embodiment of love and compassion."
"Angel, I . . ." Willow trailed off suddenly unable to focus on anything but his soft lips and the way his body was pressed intimately against hers.
She raised her chin in an ageless, female beckoning.
Angel's eyes met hers and his world seemed to stop. "Willow?" He asked uncertainly. Her eyes seemed to glow with an inner light and his lips moved closer to hers with agonizing slowness.
When their lips met, it was sweet, tender, and passionate.
Slowly they separated. Willow blushed and backed away.
"NO! No. It's me and it's bad Evil!" Willow's voice rose to a shriek as she tried to bring her raging hormones under control.
"I have to go. No . . . it's my house. I can't go. You go."
Angel sat quietly through her tirade. He loved the way her skin flushed with excitement and how her fiery mane shone in the light.
"You look beautiful when you're embarrassed."
"Really? No! Go! You're hot." Willow slapped a hand of r her mouth. "No, I didn't mean that, well, yes I did but . . . Buffy . . . her vampire. I'm a bad, bad person!"
"Willow! Calm Down!" Angel's stern tone stopped Willow mid-rant. He grabbed her, crushing his lips against hers.
Despite herself Willow submitted to his will, pulling him even closer, if that was possible
Slowly after an eternity Angel broke the kiss, leaving Willow gasping in his arms.
"Was that evil, Little One?" He asked seductively.
Willow shook her head. "No. But . . .Buffy, she loves you. We can't . . .it's wrong!"
"The Hell with the Slayer! She gave up all rights to me Willow! She abandoned me when I needed her most. She told me that she didn't blame me for what Angeus had done. But she did. I could see it in her eyes. You never did. All you have given me is love and understanding. We deserve this chance, Willow. Don't take it away from us." His voice became pleading and his eyes held warmth and affection.
"Please, you want it as much as I do. I could feel it in your kiss."
Willow began to sob openly. "But Buffy's my best friend, I can't do this to her!"
"Sshh. Please, don't cry. I'm sorry. What can I do to make it better? Just tell me, Willow and I'll do it."
Willow took a deep breath trying to regain her composure. "I want you to stay away from me. But only for a week!" Willow added the last hastily, seeing the hurt and devastation in his eyes. "Please . . . I need time to think."
Angel nodded. "If that's what you want." His voice was husky and full of emotion. Angel turned to go. Willow caught something in his expression as he turned; he had taken her words as a rejection of his feelings for her and his friendship.
Blind with sudden panic over the thought of never seeing him again, she grabbed his arm, pulled his head down to hers and kissed him firmly on the lips. "You had better come find me in a week, Angel, or I'm gonna come find you."
Angel smiled and walked out into the night.
The End
read the sequal 'Evolutions and Devious Plotting'