Angel sat in his dark living room, staring into the blackness that surrounded him. It always surrounded him. Sometimes it was easy to forget, but still it was always there. Spike. The Hellmouth. Buffy.

He groaned, burying his face in his hands. He’d made so many damn mistakes.

“I thought Cordy broke you out of this broody behavior?”

“Willow... I thought you were asleep”, Angel said quietly.

“I was, but then you weren’t there, and I couldn’t anymore.” The redhead rubbed bleary eyes, looking for all the world suddenly like the
sixteen-year-old her body still proclaimed. She sat on the couch next to him, practically crawling onto his lap, and snuggling into him. She sighed.

“Want to tell me what’s wrong?”, she asked.

“No.”

Green eyes flashed, and Angel smiled sheepishly. “Just woolgathering...”

“About what?”

“Spike, and how I abandoned him and Drusilla when I got my soul. I didn’t do it because they repulsed me with their evil ways Willow. I did it because Darla had rejected me, and I was afraid. I was afraid my childer would do it too, and I couldn’t handle that.”

“Well that’s understandable Angel... Getting your soul back like that wasn’t a gift, the gypsy’s meant to punish you... it must have been so awful”, she said quietly. “And I know I’m understating this.”

Angel chuckled. “Yeah it basically sucked.”

The redhead smiled. “So what did you think about our impromptu meeting tonight with Tara and Spike?”

“Well besides the fact that they both need to get their roots done?”

“Angel!”, Willow giggled, smacking the vampire lightly on the arm. “Bad, bad Angel!”

“I wasn’t sure”, he admitted, “there was a lot going on there.”

“Yeah I know”, the witch said smiling. “They’re in love.”

“Impossible. Spike’s a vampire, a demon. Demons can’t love.”

“Says who? The Watcher’s Council? ‘Cause you know I don’t particularly feel all that highly about what those dweebs think”, Willow said archly. “Besides how can you say that? I mean, I’m sorry but despite the whole evil thing... Spike and Drusilla’s romance is the stuff of legends. Romeo and Juliet have nothing on them.”

Angel frowned. ‘Was it true, could demons love?’ He knew he'd been fond of his childer, but had he loved them? Did he even know what love was? He hadn't when he'd been human...

“I mean think about it Angel. For years people didn’t think blacks had souls. They weren’t human, they were animals and chattel”, the young woman murmured. “Then of course there was the Holocaust.” She sighed. “Besides you know, the jury’s still out on the whole soul thing anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“A lot of people don’t even believe in them. They say what is termed the soul, really refers to the subconscious, the voice of reason in one's head.”

Angel thought about it for a moment. “Which would mean that when I went all grrr, it wasn’t my soul that I lost but my conscience, the ability to police myself.”

“Well I mean its just a theory... but yeah”, she said, yawning slightly. “You were basically one big id running around and doing whatever struck your fancy.”

“Interesting”, the dark vampire said, noting his friend’s weariness.

“Why are you so tired Will?”

“Stopping that bolt from hitting you, took a lot out of me”, the witch said, frowning adorably. “That girl is more powerful than she’s letting on.”

“Was she telling the truth?”, Angel asked.

“Yes and no”, Willow stated, wiggling on the dark vampire’s lap. “Its like she edited out a big important chunk of her story. There’s definitely something she’s not telling us.”

Moments later, the young woman’s deep breathing signaled her return to the land of Nod. Gathering her carefully into his arms, Angel deposited her gently onto his bed. He had to take a shower. Preferably, a cold, icy one. Willow’s wiggling in his lap had him reacting in a rather unexpected more than friendly type way. He didn’t know what was wrong with him... first the kiss and now this. He was scared. Would he sacrifice the strongest and best friendship he’d ever had on the off chance that they could work out as more?

Angel walked to the bathroom, stripped off his clothes and jumped in his shower. Stifling a yelp as icy water sluiced down his body, the vampire couldn’t help but wonder.
 

Part 17

Willow sighed, regrettably coming too moments after the vampire had high-tailed it from the room. A soft blush bloomed in her cheeks as her mind
reminded her, of exactly what had just happened... what, she’d just found out. Okay, so she had hoped, maybe even guessed Angel liked her. She had even considered that perhaps there might have even been a moment in the cemetery, where he'd wanted her. She just hadn’t realized she should have applied those thoughts to moments like the one they had just shared. She shivered deliciously. Moving slightly, she turned her head to the side, listening. Shower. Angel was taking a shower. The young woman chuckled, wondering if that was how he was remedying his reaction to her. He was attracted to her. The proof of it had been pressed against her thigh. The witch couldn't believe she’d caused that reaction in her companion, her friend. Sure he’d almost kissed her, but somehow she’d thought it had been a mistake, since he’d not mentioned it since. But now she knew. Angel was attracted to her.

What the hell was she going to do?

'Oh do shut up, hypocrite girl. Like you don't think he's the hottest thing on the planet. Like you don't dream of chocolatey brown eyes and spiky
hair...', her mind whispered.

"Oh boy."

‘Take a cold shower. Oh wait he’s taking a shower. Wonder if it’s cold. Hmm... wanna be water. Yeah, water slipping and sliding over Angel. Yummy,
naked Angel in nothing but a million droplets of water. Shut up, shut up... bad Willow lusting after wet.... wet, naked Angel.’

"This is just not acceptable", she muttered aloud, just as she heard the door to the bathroom open. Her eyes widened slightly and she pushed herself off the bed, heading toward the hall. She wondered exactly what her freshly showered and still damp best friend was doing. ‘Friend?...Yeah Friend’

"Oh boy," she sighed once again, pushing open the door and moving slowly down the hall. Angel’s head came up as soon as she stepped into the room. The dark vampire stood in the kitchen a mug of blood in one hand. As he turned to face her, Willow’s breath caught. 'Okay yeah, I admit it, definite lustful feelings here', she thought as her eyes drank in the sight of his muscular form. 'Oh this is so bad', Willow thought, moving towards him.

"I thought you were sleeping?", Angel scolded gently.

"So did I", she said, sighing softly, "but see there is this problem. I had just fallen asleep, when my pillow decided he didn't want to be my pillow
anymore and got up. And well, I just can’t seem to sleep with out him anymore." The slight wiccan whispered the words, not sure whether bringing
up the bond that existed between them, was such a good idea in light of what else she now was almost sure of.

"I’m sorry", he murmured, looking anywhere but at her. How did he tell his best friend that he wanted more then her friendship? That the demands of this bond were making this new feeling, this desire, more pronounced. Or that every time he touched her, he found himself wanting to linger. It
wasn’t enough any more to simply press kisses to her brow or her cheek. He wanted their kisses to be longer, deeper and against her dusky lips. He
wanted to uncover her tender flesh, wanted to learn every soft, sloping curve of her. But most of all, Angel wanted to shut the bond up, to swallow it up in the depths of a vampiric claim.
 

"Did it help?", she asked suddenly. Her eyes locked on his, the directness of the look sent a new wave of desire through him. Angel shifted, willing
his body, not react to her nearness.

"What?"

"The shower...", her voice was a bare whisper. He stepped closer to Willow, his fingers skimming lightly over her cheek. She shivered slightly beneath the touch, pleasing the vampire. He watched in awe as her eyes deepened becoming the color of evergreens.

"No", he said, mirroring her hushed tone. Leaning slowly closer, his lips just grazed hers. The ensouled vampire slipped his hand gently into her
loose red tresses, cupping the nape of her neck, and gently pulling her more tightly against him. "No", he said again, his mouth moving closer to her
own. "It didn’t help at all", he whispered the words, this time against her lips.

"Angel." His name fell from Willow's lips in a harsh whisper. The vampire drew back, to look into her eyes, his own reflecting hunger coupled with
uncertainty.

'Was this thing the bond?', she wondered even as his lips moved over hers again. She didn’t think so. The slight witch shuddered abruptly. She had
never known anything that could be so innocent yet so erotic. His mouth moved over hers, pressing nearly chaste kisses against soft lips. It was as though he waited to be invited in.

She could deny him nothing. Nor could she deny herself any longer. She wanted this, no needed this. Willow's lips parted on a breathy sigh. She
moaned hoarsely at the first tentative touch of his tongue. He lightly traced the contours of her mouth, memorizing their shape, before skimming
along the seam and slipping inside.

Angel shifted, bringing the hacker closer. 'Honey', he thought, she tasted like honey. 'Sweet, delicious... he couldn't get enough.' He explored her
mouth carefully, leisurely, groaning as the redhead's tongue slid against his own just as her hands met the bare skin at his waist for the first time.

"Willow", he murmurred against the young woman's mouth, pulling himself reluctantly away from the temptation she presented. "This isn't about the
bond anymore is it?"

Luminous green eyes rose to meet his own. "No...", she whispered in wonder and confusion. "I...", her mouth abruptly shut, she was at a loss for words.

The dark vampire smiled down at his best friend. He knew very well, that although the bond between them accounted for much of their need to touch, the passion that had just arisen between them, was all their own.

The witch's gaze fluttered closed as Angel's fingers skimmed through her hair. Willow was suddenly acutely aware of how his every touch sent tingles of awareness through her very being. 'Had this just happened? Or had she just ignored this attraction for so long that she'd never even recognized it for what it was?', she wondered. The young woman swallowed heavily and leaned against the vampire. His skin was fragrant with the sandalwood soap he used.

What was happening between them, would it destroy their friendship? He was so precious to her. His continued presence in her life was necessary now to her happiness, to her well being. She squeezed him tightly, inhaling the scent she would always and forever associate with his presence. She was scared.

"Angel?"

"Yes?"

"I'm confused, and scared."

The ensouled vampire sighed, resting his chin on Willow's head. "Me too ionuin."

"It's just, too much--"

"Too soon", he interrupted, finishing her thought.

Willow nodded, and stepped away from him, her hand still in his. A blush bloomed in her cheeks, she had completely forgotten for a moment that he
stood there in only a towel.

Angel squeezed her hand reassuringly. "How about I put on some sweats, and we just get some sleep?"

The redhead sighed in relief. "Sounds great." Inwardly Willow wondered how in the world that was ever going to happen now that she knew what she did.
 

Part 18

~Next Morning~

Buffy brushed her long golden hair, slowly and methodically. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, noting idly and with a bit of self disgust that she needed to get her roots done. For some reason the thought made her angry. Angry at herself, angry at her life. The Slayer snorted and slammed the brush on the counter. In the mirror she could see the sound had roused her fiancé from his slumber.

Immediately contrite, the blond walked over and sat on the bed.

"Shhhh... I'm sorry Xander. Go back to sleep, you have another hour before you have to get up."

The young man yawned and reflexively pulled more of the covers up over his form. "Come back to bed."

"Can't honey", Buffy murmured, a small smile on her lips as she once again took in the changes that years and hard work, had brought to the boy she had watched grow up. He was taller now, and broad. His body was muscular. He worked construction, and she appreciated the beauty that his hard work had created. She loved him, she knew that, but then why couldn't she forget about Angel. The thought made her brow furrow. She kissed Xander's forehead, making soothing little noises so that he would go back to sleep.

"Love you Buff", he yawned sleepily, before closing his eyes again and almost immediately falling back into slumber.

The Slayer stood from the bed and walked back over to the bureau. Her gaze was once again drawn to her face as her hand reached for an elastic to tie back her hair.

She could see the effects of time on herself as well. She was in the best shape of her life. She was leaner, harder than she'd ever been. There were no soft curves to her, not really, not any longer. Years of being the longest lived Slayer on record had made that so. Of course she was still
beautiful, but the innocence, the bright dew of youthfulness and childhood, had long since disappeared. She grimaced. How could time have so changed her, but not Willow?

Time had been kinder to the witch, the blond had noted rather bitterly. She still didn't seem a day over sixteen. It had been years since she'd seen
Willow or Angel, and she'd expected and known that the dark haired vampire would be unchanged, but to see the redhead still look as fresh, as innocent as she did, was upsetting.

Why was Willow getting to live the life Buffy wanted? It was all so unfair. The hacker had betrayed her, taken her soulmate right out from under her, moved away from the Hellmouth, made her own life, and still managed to look lovely without even trying. It just wasn't fair.

That was the crux of the matter. The unfairness of it all. She hadn't asked to the be the Slayer, she hadn't asked to fall in love with an vampire, even an unsouled one, but it had happened. So why couldn't she have had that one happiness, that one bright spot? Buffy knew Giles would answer the question with, "Because you are the Slayer. Slayers kill vampires Buffy, they don't fall in love with them. You have a destiny... yada yada yada."

Well if she couldn't, why could Willow? She saw the way Angel and the redhead looked at each other, saw the way they always managed to find
reasons to touch. She had seen it years before, and it was still there. Why couldn't she have had that? And why was she still obsessing over this? She knew she no longer loved Angel. She didn't...

"Damn", the hazel eyed blond muttered darkly. Roughly, she pulled her hair into a pony tail and zipped up her gray fleece pullover. She glanced back
into the direction of her fiancé.

She loved Xander, she knew that. But it wasn't the same. It wasn't exciting and dangerous to love him. Instead it was comforting and stable, and that was good, he was always there by her side. He was her rock, the person that kept her grounded, and pulled her away from the darkness when being the Slayer, overshadowed being Buffy. Still, it just wasn't the same.

Ruefully she shook her head and grabbed her purse. She had to hurry or she was going to be late to teach her gym class. Mentally pulling herself away from her earlier train of thought, the petite Slayer decided she would stop by her hairdressers that evening. She really did need to get her roots done.
 

Part 19

Willow clicked the mouse once more, blinking as she tried to concentrate on the computer screen in front of her. Her mind refused to cooperate,
continuing to replay in vivid color and detail, the moments she’d spent the night before with Angel’s lips pressed against her own.

The redhead frowned, and shook her head. This would never do. She couldn't focus. Guiltily, she glanced out of the corner of her eyes at Giles. She started in surprise, realizing her mentor's eyes were on her.

"Willow is everything quite all right?"

She sighed. Giles had noticed. Damn it. 'What do I tell him? Gee Giles, Angel kissed me and now I can’t stop thinking about it.' She forced terse
lips into a smile.

"Everything is fine Giles, I am just a little out of it, that's all. I think I’ve found what we are looking for, though", she said a little too cheerfully.

"Is Angel going to be coming by this afternoon?", the ex-watcher asked. Willow felt her cheeks flush, at the mention of the vampire who'd been
haunting her thoughts and bemoaned her pale complexion once more.

"Ye...yes, he is", she managed to utter haltingly. Idly, the witch wondered if she was going to be reduced to a stuttering idiot for much longer. She
hated that such a simple thing, had thrown her off so completely.

Giles nodded in response, and Willow looked away, clicking the mouse faster and quickly scanning pages for information. The site she'd found was pretty informative, and the hacker was surprised that someone from the Daybreakers hadn’t had it removed. It had far too much information on it as far as she was concerned. Information that in the wrong hands could cause serious harm.

However, she had only found one vague reference to a ritual that whoever was committing the murders, might be attempting to perform. Why they would be doing it, was still a mystery to her. The type of power that would be released by the Hellmouth if opened in this fashion, would be devastating. Of course, maybe that was the point, since it wouldn’t harm demons, and those people involved in the circle would be protected. The other, even more disturbing possibility, in the redhead's mind, was that they where sacrificing these people to raise something.

It was possible and it wouldn’t be the first time. The trick would be finding one of the actual sites of the killings. The bodies where found dumped elsewhere. The murder sites had yet to be found, and in order for Willow to get a good idea of why this was happening, she would need to see
where. 'There!', she thought pleased, 'I managed to actually think for five whole minutes without once thinking of Angel.' She blinked in realization.
'Damn.'

Willow looked up, surprised when the door of the shop banged open and shut in rapid succession. Her heart beat faster, he was here early. Flushing, the hacker quickly looked down, fighting the urge to run to him and be swept into his arms. She had to control herself.

Giles was watching them, she realized, as she stood a little stiffly, and walked over to the dark haired vampire. Knowing that they had to touch, she allowed herself to be enfolded in his cool embrace. She felt completely out of sorts, and utterly uncomfortable. As if sensing this, the watcher stepped out of the room. Willow stepped back, out of Angel’s arms, but the vampire’s fingers tightened on her hand.

"Hey", he whispered.

"Hi", she whispered back.

He leaned down and tenderly pressed a kiss to her forehead, and Willow sighed, hated the part of herself that wanted him to kiss her properly, the
way he had the night before.

"Did you find anything yet?", he asked.

She shook her head slowly, leading him toward the computer to show him what she little she had found.

Giles watched the two curiously from just outside the backroom door. He glanced at the store front every so often, ensuring that he didn’t appear to be ignoring anyone. Tara would be in soon. She’d asked for the morning off and Giles hadn’t had the heart to tell her no.

He watched them. It only took a few moments for realization to dawn in his mind. Obviously, the witch and the vampire had finally realized what he’d known all along. That they where attracted to each other. The thought almost made him smile, it was adorable in a highly annoying way. How Willow would look away and blush prettily whenever Angel glanced her way.

Giles shook his head sadly, he doubted they had time for this right now. He knew for sure, that if he had noticed it so easily, then the others would as well. It would be safer for both Willow and Angel if they just got over the awkwardness, and continued on like before. They could not worry about their need to touch, they could not change their behavior this radically and expect no one to notice.

He saw the way the dark vampire would reach out to touch her, and then draw back. It was almost as though he feared his touch was somehow no longer welcome now that desire played a part in it. Giles closed weary eyes. For someone over two centuries old, Angel was behaving remarkably like a green boy on his first date.

Giles sighed. Willow, he could understand acting like this. He had a feeling she had not had many relationships. And she certainly had not entertained this change taking place, even though Giles could have told her it would. Just about anyone with eyes could have told her it would. Friendship like theirs easily became love.

The Englishman stepped into the room. He had to put a stop to this. The situation between them was affecting their research. Neither of them had
done more then steal glances at one another, and turn unread pages, in the last fifteen minuets. That was enough wasted time. He paused, standing in the center of the room, and catching both their eyes. The witch blushed, the vampire looked worried.

"Are you two quite done?"

"Giles?" Willow asked. She actually looked perplexed. He almost wanted to laugh.

"Willow, you’ve only been half present since you got here this morning, and Angel, you’ve been turning pages you haven't even read for the past fifteen minutes, your eyes on her rather than the book. I did the math", the former watcher said, trying to hide the grin that wanted to form on his lips.

"Giles, we’re sorry... we didn’t mean to... it just..." she stammered and flushed, her green eyes becoming alarmingly moist. Giles shook his head
realizing she thought he was upset with the change.

"That's not my concern Willow. I just want both of you to be able to concentrate on the work in front of you", he said, refraining from telling the witch to just calm down.

Willow knew there was only one way that would happen.

The watcher watched in bemusement as the hacker came to a stand stiffly, and ambled slowly over to the vampire. His eyes widened as noticed something he hadn't before. Angel’s hands shook with fine tremors. Giles realized suddenly that witch and vampire had been fighting the need to touch for a very long time, too long apparently. He watched almost in relief, as they embraced. This one tighter and lasting much, much longer than the one they'd initiated earlier. Angel pressed quick butterfly kisses to Willow cheeks, and eyelids, clinging to her almost desperately.

That’s when Giles really understood what must have happened. They had gotten too close, and overstepped old boundaries. That had seemingly scared them into overcompensating for their "breach", by avoiding their bond. Not touching, had taken it’s toll on them. He was sure that now that they'd stopped the nonsense, they would be fine in a short time.
 

Part 20

Xander stared up at the Magic Box's storefront and took a deep breath. He was pretty sure Willow was in there and he really needed to talk to her. It had been two days since she'd returned and they hadn't seen each other since that first, short meeting. The dark haired youth frowned, remembering how that hadn't exactly gone too well either.

A light touch on his arms, made him stiffen. He looked over. Tara stood there, large eyes boring into him. Her blond hair was in a ponytail and she
wore a bright, silk screened t-shirt and green jeans.

"Tara."

"Hey Xander", her said quietly. "Are you coming in? Or are you just going to stand there all afternoon?"

He shuffled his feet, suddenly a bit embarrassed. "Yeah I'm coming."

The blond witch eyed him thoughtfully, taking a sip of the Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee she held in her right hand. "Okay then", she said turning to the shop's door. The bell jingled overhead, as he held the door open for her.

Apprehension knotted his stomach, and as entered into the shop he found himself surreptitiously wiping sweaty palms on his torn and dirty 'work
jeans'.

Xander felt a moment of relief as he spotted a solitary customer wandering the magick shop. 'I guess they're in back', he thought. He ducked through the door to the back room quickly, unaware the blond clerk's eyes followed. Shaking her head almost sadly, she took another sip of her iced coffee.

~~~~

He spotted Willow almost immediately. He almost sneered, it wasn't as if he could've helped noticing her, considering the redhead was currently
ensconced in Angel's arms. The vampire's arms were tight across her midsection and his head lay on her shoulder. His mouth was dangerously close
to her neck in Xander's opinion.

Shocked disbelief sped through his system. His brown eyes narrowed. Anger soon replaced the shock, and Xander stalked to the couple.

"What the hell are you doing?! Get your mitts off of her Deadboy!", the construction worker hissed, trying to ignore the bright stab of fear Angel's
yellowed eyes inspired.

"Xander?", Willow whispered in surprise, her hand automatically reaching to caress Angel's cheek as the dark vampire growled. The sound was deep and resonated through the witch's body. Her touch soothed and quieted him.

"Willow", he answered, pulling her out of the ensouled vampire's arms. "We need to talk." The redhead glanced appreciatively at Angel, knowing that if he hadn't allowed it, Xander would not have been able to budge her. Neither she nor Xander failed to notice as Angel's growls began again. It was apparent that he didn't like the way the much younger man was practically shoving Willow into a far corner of the room.

The spellcaster scowled at the man the boy who had been her best friend had become. "You've mentioned that before Xander, but I really don't see us having all that much to talk about."

"Damn it, Willow! How could you have done it? How could you have chosen him over us, over your friends.... over me?", he finished finally, his voice
suddenly softening.

The witch gasped. "How dare you turn this around on me, and still manage to make yourself the injured party!", Willow ground out harshly. "You have some nerve."

Xander frowned. "Are you denying that you left Sunnydale, completely disregarded years of friendship--"

"Don't give me that Xander. All I did was be a friend. That's all I was doing, all along", she said, green eyes flickering towards the tall, dark haired vampire pacing near the computer.

"Right", the construction worker said sarcastically, noting the direction of her glance.

Willow wanted to scream. She stomped her right foot in frustration instead, taking deep cleansing breaths, in an effort to calm herself. "Alexander
LaVelle Harris, you are going to shut up and listen to me..." One look at her deadly bright emerald eyes and Xander closed his mouth, cutting off a
remark which had been on the tip of his tongue."

"I will say this once, and only once, so listen good", the wiccan said in an intense, quiet voice. "Five years ago, I was here. I was the best friend to
the Slayer and to this goofy kid, I'd known since I was like five--"

"Willow--"

"Shut up Xander, I'm speaking right now", she said, a frown marring her brow. The dark haired man blinked in surprise, before once again falling
silent.

"Anyhow, suddenly one of these two friends accuses me of something. Somehow, mistaking friendship for something else, my good 'friend' the Vampire Slayer accuses me of having moved in on her boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, whatever", she sighed abruptly, before continuing, "... the ensouled vampire, no less. But did my other best friend defend me? Did the boy I'd practically consider a brother, stand by me?"

Willow paused, her slender body becoming rigid. "No, you didn't."

The bitterness that laced Willow's voice took Xander aback. Moving to the defensive the young man spoke. "Well what I walked in when I got here looked a bit more than friendly Wills, forgive me if I don't just roll over and believe you."

The witch's hand moved quickly, connecting with his cheek with a resounding slap. He closed his eyes at the stinging sensation. He'd deserved it and he knew it.

"Things change, Xander", she said coolly, before turning and beginning to walk back towards dark haired vampire. The concern and caring, he saw in Angel's eyes directed towards the hacker, made his shame deepen.

"Wills", he gasped. "Wills please, it just came out. I'm sorry."

The redhead ignored him, her face pressed into Angel's broad chest as sobs wracked her body. Xander walked closer. He reached out a hand to touch Willow's shoulder, only to elicit a powerful, feral roar from the vampire who held her. The sound caused the downy hairs on the dark haired man's neck to rise, and Xander backed up.

"I think you should leave now Xander", a British voice said calmly.

The construction worker blinked, he wondered how much the older man had seen. "But G-Man..."

The former watcher didn't even react to the hated nickname. Instead, he gestured to the door, his face immutable, like rock. Xander hesitated, his
head swiveling back to the girl in the vampire's arms. His mouth opened as if to say something.

Angel's eyes abruptly blazed yellow, his true face falling into place. "Leave, Xander. Leave now", the vampire commanded.

His heart heavy, he did as he was told. He honestly felt Angel would have torn his head off if he hadn't.

~~~~~

Tara closed her eyes sadly for a moment. She had an idea what had happened in the back room. Even without the spell to sharpen her hearing, she could quite plainly hear Willow's muffled sobs.

Taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders, the blond witch entered the backroom and cleared her throat loudly. Blinking back tears, Willow turned her face toward the other girl.

"Umm... ", Tara began hesitatingly, "I know this isn't the best time. But... uh, there was another killing last night."

Giles stared at the young woman. "Since I haven't really discussed the particulars of this with you Tara, may I assume you know more than I had
originally thought?"

The blond flinched, the former watcher's parental tone struck a chord. She nodded slowly, and then glanced at the red witch and dark vampire in
surprise. She'd honestly thought they would have told him about what happened the night before immediately. She wondered why they hadn't.
 

next