Willow, The Vampire Slayer

Parts: Prologue-3

E-Mail: angelgrrl2@juno.com

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel & Co. belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN and the WB Network. No copyright infringement intended.

Summary: After Buffy's untimely death, Willow finds her destiny.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~Prologue~

...one year ago...

I found out that Buffy died from a drug overdose when everyone else did. I was in the library with Xander, Cordelia, Giles, and Oz when we got the news. The detective had said that the body had belonged to Buffy Summers. The tox screen came back with a high level of alcohol, and confirmed that it had been an overdose from drugs. She had been found in Los Angeles, in an alley. The slayer hadn't died with honor; but alone, with a desperately sad ending. We all seemed frozen; like something inside each of us had died as well .Everyone else was crying, even Giles and Cordelia. Angel!, I thought. He should know. The gang knew that I had found Angel; but they didn't want to believe that he was back. Things had changed since Buffy left. Had left...I'd forgiven Xander because he seemed so lost without Buffy to lead us and Oz, so mild mannered, well that had been the straw that broke the camel's back.

He said he couldn't be with someone who could care so little about themselves.

I didn't really understand. It had only been last week and I was still reeling from that loss. I wasn't sure I could take another. I looked at Xander, my best friend, instinctively for comfort only to find him in the arms of Cordelia and I realized I had no one else. I-I had to leave.

I ran to Angel's apartment through rain that I barely noticed. There were tears streaming down my face; while the sky seemed to cry too. Even the heavens were mourning the death of the greatest slayer that ever lived. I got to Angel's door and knocked... hard. It was still daylight; but dusk was approaching fast. Pounding on the door, I finally heard a groggy "Hello? Who is it? Go away!"

I sank to my knees outside his door as spasms of grief had me doubled over in pain. Desperate sobs were torn out of my throat for the abrupt end of Xander's childhood innocence and my own, for Angel being a vampire living with this loss for eternity, and lastly and overwhelmingly, for Buffy's death.

I never heard Angel come bursting out of the door, avoiding the sunlight, and finding me. I remember him asking me what was wrong, but I was too incoherent and that was the last thing I heard as I blacked out from the anguish. Angel picked me up and whispered how it would be alright. But it wouldn't! Without any slayer, nothing would be all right. The world would go to hell and we'd all die... simple as that.

Angel gently laid me out on the couch and covered me with a blanket. As I came to, my senses were slow to return unlike recent memories; and the sorrow came crashing down again. I whimpered in pain and heard him call my name; but all that I could do was cry. Cry for everything; Thankfully, I drifted off to sleep with Angel hovering over me.

A few hours later, after I had woken up, Angel asked me what was wrong. I answered him. "B-b-buffy...she...she...she died." I blurted out. There...I finally said it aloud and now it seemed all too real and I started crying. I looked at Angel, and I could see the unshed tears. "H-h-how?" he asked shakily.

"A drug overdose, they found her in LA. Alone. Oh god, Angel. Why? Why did she kill her body with drugs and alcohol? I should have been there for her. She needed me. Why? Why did she do it?" I asked, hoping that he knew the answer.

"I don't know, Willow. But, I wish that I did." He said as the tears ran unchecked down his face. "Here, drink this."

I felt a cup pressing against my lips and I instinctively opened up my mouth, feeling a cool, soothing liquid slide down my throat. It had a fruity taste to it, like punch. "What is this?" I croaked.

"Fruit juice. I need to call Giles; he must be worried about you." I heard him walk into the kitchen and then I heard him talking to Giles, telling him how sorry he was. He informed Giles that I was safe at his place and that he would take care of me. I fell asleep soon after that.

I woke up the next morning because I heard voices, I knew it was Angel and Giles because I could hear them talking about something.

"No, it can't be!" I heard Angel's deep voice. It was full of anguish.

What couldn't be? I thought to myself.

"I wish that it wasn't either, but it is. Willow is the new slayer, the Chosen one and we must support her through this."

Oh, that's all...I'm the slay-..."I'm the slayer!?!?!" I gasped aloud as I came fully awake.

"WILLOW!!" the two older men said. It was Angel who pulled himself together first. "I'm sorry, Will. I didn't know."

"Did you know, Giles?" I demanded.

"Umm...n-no, Willow, I didn't. I didn't think it would happen so soon either. The Watcher Council was only able to trace you this quickly due to your close proximity to the Hellmouth and your relationship with...B-b-buffy."

"W-why me? I'm not strong. In fact, I'm very puny. Yeah, puny! Teeny tiny. Couldn't hurt a fly. That's me. Probably couldn't hold my own at all." I babbled as my world was turned upside down.

"Willow, attack Angel."

"What?!?!" I said absolutely stupefied. That was the last thing I expected Giles to ever say to me. I can't do that to my friend!!"

"Just do it, Willow, please." said Angel. "It's important."

Seeing that they weren't about to let this go any time soon, I squared my shoulders and said, "O-okay, but promise not to hurt me, okay?"

"If this is true, it's me we should be worried about."

I lunged at him, and knocked him to the floor. Oh...my...gosh!!! He quickly flipped us so that I was on the bottom and grinned at me. It was that superior male grin that he used to throw at Buffy so effectively. "Get up. Knock me off you, Willow."

"I'm not that strong!" I said deeply in denial.

"Trust me, you are."

"Umm...here goes nothing." I pushed him off me as hard as I could and he went flying into the bed. "OH ANGEL! I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry!"

He was just laughing. "It's alright, Will. I'd have to say that you are the slayer." Sobering thoughts of slayage and Buffy's demise quickly wiped the grin off his face.

"B-b-but I'm not like Buffy! I'm just me, mousy, geeky, gawky Willow!" I sniffled, thinking of Buffy.

"You are not. You are Willow, the Vampire Slayer. And that is enough." said Angel.

"But, won't I be betraying Buffy's memory? I don't want to betray her! She's the slayer, not me!" I said, practically screaming and starting to get slightly hysterical.

Angel took a deep breath to fortify himself and said, "Buffy is dead...You are the new slayer, the chosen one. You have no choice, neither did Buffy.

You must accept it."

"Angel and I will help you practice. I'll deliver the news to everybody else." Giles added as if that settled it and everything would go back to the way it was except that I'd be doing the slaying and Buffy was still gone.

"Don't." I said. "They shouldn't know about me being the slayer. I want to leave Sunnydale." I said trying to keep my world from collapsing.

~Part: 1~

Los Angeles...

Angel and I had been in LA for about a year. We left the day after I found out I was the Slayer. My parents thought that I ran off with a boyfriend; someone they didn't know. I hated lying to my parents, but I had to. I emailed them every once in a while to let them know I was well and they learned to be content with at least that.

Angel taught me how to fight and learn tactics and strategy. My chess skills came in handy. He said that I was becoming very powerful; that I was coming into my full slaying power. I was strong; plus, I could use witchcraft. Not suprisingly, Angel had some friends that helped me learn to use it better. He didn't want me to get seduced by black magic. But to give the craft the respect it deserved.

***

While patrolling one night, Angel and I were walking through the cemetery.

Both of us were deep in thought. A group of vampires attacked us and caught us by suprise. The leader was strong; too strong to be a normal vampire.

I started to get a little anxious. There were too many and we were overwhelmed. While I was distracted and outmaneuvered, a couple of the vamps ganged up on Angel and hurt him badly. I screamed his name and desperately used some magic to stop them. It worked and they backed away from Angel involuntarily. They tried to attack us again, but it held strong. The spell that I had used put a shield around us. Angel had never been hurt by any vampires since we came to LA. It was a terrifying thought.

The possibility I could lose him had never occurred to me. I thought he'd always be there to rely on.

The leader was saying something about me being stronger than all the rest. I told them that I wasn't; that Buffy was the strongest slayer.

They just said "The old slayer? She was a mouse compared to you." I refocused on Angel who was unconscious and bleeding on the ground and was about to transport us back to our place when I thought of something.

"What's your name?" I asked the leader.

"The name's Azafata, Willow. I'd remember it... because I'm going to be your worst nightmare."

"Funny, that's what my saying used to be, until I grew up."

The last thing that I heard them say was that I'd be seeing them real soon.

When we got back to the apartment, I put Angel on the couch, tended his wounds and cleaned him up. Then, I went to research the vampire, Azafata. I was not successful.

I looked over at Angel and saw him turn in his sleep. He had been having nightmares about Buffy lately, about how he couldn't save her. I wasn't surprised because he still hadn't really let himself accept the full truth of Buffy's death; neither of us had and it was beginning to affect our slaying. I wondered how long it could remain repressed.

I sat down next to him. When he cried out Buffy's name, I brushed the hair off of his forehead in a soothing gesture and tucked in the blanket more snugly. "Poor Angel", I murmured.

"What? W-w-willow? What happened? Are you alright?" Angel cried, starting to slip into his game face instinctively.

"Ssh... everything's fine. I'm fine. You were hurt. Don't worry, your vampiric healing abilities will have you in better shape in no time." I said slightly babbling, picking at the edge of the blanket, unable to meet his eyes.

"Willow."

"Hmmm?"

"You're hiding something from me..."

I gave up with a sigh. He knew me too well and I never could keep anything from him for long, especially now that we had grown so close. "Angel, what do you know about a vampire named Azafata?"

His eyes widened just a fraction before he blanked all expression from his face. His shoulders tensed and he winced as his muscles pulled on a cut that had yet to heal. "Stay away from him, Willow. He's even more evil than the Master was. Please, don't go near him. I don't want to lose another slayer."

"Slayer? A slayer? Is that all I am to you?" I said softly as a sharp pain went through my chest. I tried to rise from the couch. Angel sat up and grabbed my wrist. The covers fell, revealing his bare torso covered in bandages. He said, "Wait..." so gently I could barely hear it and I let him pull me closer to him as he sat up. "You know you're my closest friend Willow. You're my only confidant. I'm just worried."

"Okay, Angel. I promise that I won't go near him," I said, but that doesn't mean that he won't go near me, I thought to myself.

I started to get up and turn away. Angel saw the hurt in my body language and tightened his grip on my arm and said, "Willow, we need to talk."

The dreaded words I didn't want to hear. "Since Buffy..." and his voiced trailed into silence. He took a deep breath and tried again.

"Willow...I...Will-"

"Yes," I said.

"I've done you a disservice. We are supposed to be a team. You think of everyone else first and yourself last. I let you down. You could have been killed-"

"But Angel, it w-..."

"Hush," he said gently as he put his fingers to my lips. "Let me finish." His knuckles grazed my cheek and then his hand moved to touch my jaw and he redirected my face until I was looking into his deep brown eyes. He gazed at me for what seemed to be forever, looking right into my soul. "I made you a promise that I would not let you be alone...ever. I've been so busy blaming myself for Buffy and everything I should have done that I shut you out. I almost got you killed. We need to...we need to accept that she's gone and try to live the way she'd want us to. Strong and directed. I'm sorry...will you forgive me?" I was getting angry listening to Angel take on all the blame.

"Forgive you? You've done nothing to be forgiven for. It wasn't your fault. And you're right it wasn't my fault either. Buffy chose her fate and we should respect that no matter how much we miss her. She would never have let us mourn so long if she was here." I said as my eyes burned with anger that Angel was so hard on himself.

We stared at each other. Each of us finally absolving ourselves of blame. Realizing that we were doing the best we could and that it was enough. I went into the kitchen and looked back at Angel laying on the couch. He was watching some B-rated horror movie with Vincent Price in it. Every once in a while a chuckle would escape his beautiful mouth. I found myself staring at it in utter fascination. He was so sexy I thought as I felt my face flush.But...no!...I couldn't be falling for him! H-he was Buffy's Angel, not mine. Bad Willow... bad! Besides, I could never compare to Buffy.

He would never be mine. Not in that way. He told me he's dedicated to helping me save the world. What he didn't know was that he was my world. My shoulders slumped and I decided I needed some comfort so I put some hot tea on the stove, my favorite flavor, spiced apple. I got out a mug, and then I looked back over at Angel, he was a bittersweet sight. He had fallen asleep and he truly looked like an angel.

I walked over to him, drawn by his inner and outer beauty, and brushed his hair out of his face with his fingertips. I turned off the TV and silence fell over us like a shroud. Angel lay there peacefully and without thinking, acting on an impulse, I leaned over and lightly kissed him on the lips. "Willow...," he murmured and felt for my hand. He curled around my hand and fell asleep again.

I looked at him in shock; at my behavior and his response. Then I thought and tried to rationalize it. He was probably concerned with me being stalked by Azafata. Yeah, that was it. I had to believe it. After all, I was never the one boys... no... men fell in love with. That was always someone else's role. Even though, I was disappointed.

A few nights later, Angel and I were out hunting looking for some vampires to stake. It was a strange night and we were acting like a pair of teenagers. There were none out that night that we could find; but we decided to sweep the park anyway. Who knew what could show up. I was thinking about Angel and everything we had discussed so intently that I didn't even hear the vampire come up behind us. He knocked Angel over and grabbed me. He had gotten the advantage and I was terrified. Angel quickly got up and saw me with a knife to my throat. I swallowed, my mouth going as dry as a cotton ball.

"Azafata asked me to deliver a message", said the vampire. I looked at Angel, who had his game face on, and I knew he could smell my fear. He growled, "And that would be?"

"That if you try to kill any of his minions; he'd kill your girl here."

"You won't touch her!" Angel snarled as all vestiges of humanity fled his face. His hands involuntarily curled into claws.

"We won't kill her as long as you keep away from us. But you can see how easy it would be. But, maybe we'll play with her first." He slowly ran his hands down my stomach suggestively and he tightened his grip. He let me go and I collapsed to the ground gasping for breath. I was shaken and weak from lack of air and sheer terror. I curled into a ball, withdrawing into myself in self defense. The vampire left, laughing.

"Are you all right, Willow?" Angel asked, trying to calm himself as he ran to me. He was obviously very concerned and began fussing over me and examining my neck. It helped me gain some self-control.

"Yes, I'm fine." I managed to say without stuttering. Brave Willow!

"Okay, let's get you home." He picked me up and settled me against him possessively and I snuggled against his chest, enjoying the feeling. He paused and took a deep breath, surrounded by my scent of fear. His anger increased at the thought of what might have happened and his arms tightened around me assuring himself I was in one piece. Soon I fell asleep to the gentle rocking motion and feeling of safety being in his arms.

~Part: 2~

I slowly woke up to find a familiar weight pressing against my body. As consciousness returned I found Willow laying asleep in my arms. She was curled up into my chest, her warm body against mine. Her shirt had scrunched up to just above her belly button. She was mumbling something about vampires, and turned into my neck. She breathed into my neck and slowly woke up. The feeling of Willow against my bare skin, her breathe warming my throat, a place no vampire let's anyone but a loved one near, it was almost my undoing. Willow instinctively smiled and then looked at me.

Her eyes widened as she noticed she was looking and laying on most of me. She gave a little yelp and color flamed into her face. As she took a trembling breath, Willow looked at me uncertainly. "Hey." I said softly, not wanting to spook her, and pushed a loose strand of hair from her face.

"Hey yourself. What time is it?"

"Time to get up."

"Nooo...," she said and turned her face into the pillow. "Don't wanna."

"Come on, sleepyhead. Get up." I scolded as I rubbed small circles on her back trying to refocus Willow into the now.

*

I turned and lifted my head up and found what had to be THE best looking chest on this tiny little planet staring me in the face. Oh my gosh...W-what...I thought as I looked down to see who it...whoa, Angel!

He had been trying to wake me with that silky voice of his and I started think, maybe I didn't need to get out of bed this morning...yeah, I could stay right here and I could...and then he could...and then I looked into his eyes and I knew I was going to catch fire. Angel's eyes had gone all dark and intense and he had this sexy grin on his face like he knew exactly what I had in mind and...and I gleeped...Bad Willow, very bad!... I blurted out that I needed to go take a cold shower to get these thoughts out of my mind.

"What?", Angel asked, now completely bewildered.

I bolted from his embrace and said, "I-I'm gonna take a shower," leaving a confused Angel behind me. After my shower,...hot, couldn't do cold, it was too...cold, I wiped the condensation off the mirror. I looked at myself and shook my head. I sternly announced, there will be no more throwing yourself at Angel...Bad! Not of the good! When I was done hiding in the bathroom, I walked into my bedroom, but couldn't find a clean shirt to wear. Too bad laundry doesn't wash itself. I'll have to borrow one. I went into Angel's room, to find him talking to someone on the phone. He saw me and said goodbye to the caller. He looked at me with his resolve face, mixed with a big splash of cryptic guy. "Will, we need to talk."

"I'm listening," I said starting to feel a little nervous.

"Um...last night I got a phone call."

Last night? When did he have time to get a phone call? He was with me...Ooh...That phone call.

"Willow...pay attention"

"I'm guessing it's bad?" I said, trying to make a joke. He gave me a look saying This Is Serious. I immediately sobered up, ready to listen to whatever he had to say.

"I got a phone call last night. And...It wasn't good. It was from a...friend," he said with a slight hesitation.

He said that there was a prophecy that was just rediscovered. It basically says that there's a Slayer that has red hair, green eyes, baby soft skin, and a power within her that will help defeat the darkness."

"So, you're guessing it's me?!?...Y-you think I have baby soft skin?" I asked getting distracted. He smiled and nodded sheepishly.

"There's more."

"More?" I said flushing.

"The other signs fit too well. It prophesizes that this slayer won't have a watcher, only a demon to guide her."

*

Willow's eyes widened and understanding dawned on her face...Her eyes were so expressive you could get lost in them. I wonder if she knew how much they gave away. I looked at her, not knowing what she would say. I didn't want to tell her the part about her falling in love with a demon, that would freak her out too much. And, if I was the demon that she was supposed to be in love with...well... I wouldn't think about it. Besides, how could she ever love me? She's too good. Too...everything.

"Does this have to do with Azafata?"

"Yes. The prophecy also says that there will be a vampire stronger than any other. Which means Azafata." I took a deep breath and admitted, "I don't want you getting hurt. You're my only friend, Willow." We just sat there and looked down for what seemed like forever until she finally spoke up.

"Um...I-I-I came in here to borrow a shirt. Mine are all dirty." I got up and walked to my closet, and pulled out a black T-shirt. "Here. I'll meet you in the living room, okay? Just let me get dressed, then I'll come out and we can train."

"Okay." She said it really quietly and clutched the black shirt as if it was a life force. Friends, she thought. Hmm.

I walked out to the living room, where Willow was moving the couch so that we could have more room to train. "Here." I said and helped her push the couch to the wall.

"Thanks. Okay, now where are the 'staffs?"

"The quarterstaffs are in the basement, m'lady," I said, sweeping down into a bow, "Will you please go get them while I change the music?"

"As you wish, sir," she said while giggling.

I changed the music on the CD player to a tribal dance song that I had gotten from a friend. It had a fast pace and a good beat that we could move to. She came out with the 'staffs and thew me one. "Get into position." I said. She got into the regular fighting stance that resembled Buffy's.

She held the quarter staff in a horizontal position. I put mine lateral, so that ours formed a cross. "You know the rules, no making contact, except to knock someone down."

"Got it, boss." Willow's internal dialogue continued, Friends... Ha! She went to hit me in my side, but I blocked it. I went for her legs, trying to knock her down. She jumped up and faked a hit to my head, then went down to a crouch, sweeping my legs out from underneath me. I fell on my butt...hard and she stood over me. "Too much for you, old man?"

"Ha ha ha, Will, really."

"I know."

"What does her majesty want for lunch?" I asked in a teasing voice. When he talked to her like that Willow could hardly think much less be mad.

"Her majesty, ahem, wants pizza. With onions. And pineapple. And bacon. And olives, black and green-"

I interrupted her. "The usual?" "Exactly." I picked up the phone and pressed speed dial numero tres. "Yeah...I'd like to order 2 medium pizzas. Yup, the usual, Tony. Delivery, of course. See you soon. Bye."

"Tony's working today?"

"Yeah. They let him back on the job."

"I can't believe that they let him back. I thought that he'd go broke."

"Tony? Go broke? Ha! Never gonna happen, darlin'."

"Ha, ha, very funny, dead-boy."

"I try."

"Can we go shopping tonight?"

"For what?"

"Clothes of course, silly!"

"Why do you need more clothes? We just went shopping 2 weeks ago."

"Because," I said, stretching the word out as if annoyed, "ever since we started this slayer gig, all we do is patrol. Then we fight. Then we slay. And the bad guys always seem to shred my clothes before they get staked." Willow ended with a pout. She chanced a quick look at Angel to see if he'd take the bait.

Recognizing the signs of a female in clothe distress from Buffy and Cordelia, I quickly and gracefully folded. "I see...sure. We can go shopping tonight. Besides, who knows what baddies might go hunting in the mall."

At this thought, I perked up considerably.

"Slaying? At the mall? This is gonna be hell..." Willow said miserably.

It was hard enough to keep Angel entertained long enough to get the basics, forget actually looking for outfits.

"Hee, hee, hee...I have you now, my pretty. Hee, hee, hee." I cackled as I rubbed my hands together with glee.

"You need to stop watching the Wizard of Oz."

"You're the one who introduced me to The Wonderful World of Technology. Which includes The Wizard of Oz, Lady and the Tramp, and-"

"Angel?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

"Good idea." The doorbell rang and I answered it. "Hey, Tony."

"Hey, Angel. Hey, Willow."

"Heya Tony. Got the pizza?"

"As always. Here ya' go. That will be $16.99"

I handed him the money and he left. "Pizza's here!"

"FOOD!!" Willow immediately took one of the pizzas and put it on the counter. "Yummy."

She took a bite of her pizza, and I put mine on the counter next to hers.

"Do we have to go slaying at the mall? I mean, come on!!!"

"I think Tony likes you."

"He does not."

"Does too."

Forgetting about her pizza, Willow shouted, "Does not!"

"I love it when you get angry." I just smirked at her.

"That's it, you...you!!! You're gonna get it now!!!" She lunged at me and I quickly scurried to my bedroom and locked the door in mock terror.

"You can't stay in there forever!!" She threatened.

"I'm immortal, remember? I can stay in here for as long as I like!" I could just imagine her face, how it crumpled up when she got mad. She was so cute when she got mad!!

"I'm going out." I heard her grab her coat. I had to decide between swallowing my pride and stopping her, or staying in here and letting her get off the hook and not training for her full 2 hours. Swallowing my pride won out.

"Wait," I said.

She was about to walk out the door, but alas, she was just faking it and grabbed a piece of pizza instead. "You came out!! Victory is mine!!!" Willow crowed, her smile gleaming triumphantly.

I just smiled at her. So, this had all been a set-up just to get out of practice. Well, it's not gonna happen. Especially now. "Yeah, yeah. Come on, we've still got to finish training."

She walked over and gave me a hug. "Thanks," Willow said.

"For what?"

"Being my friend." We practiced for a few more hours, then took a nap.

We fell asleep on the couch, watching "Interview With A Vampire". All in all, it was a pretty good day, until we received the phone call.

~Part: 3~

Sunnydale, California Sunnydale High School Library

I couldn't believe that Willow, MY Willow, was the Slayer! It had been nearly a year since Buffy had died, Willow had become the Slayer, and Angel and her took off. Giles had said that she "Didn't want to betray Buffy's memory." Screw Buffy and her memory! I needed Willow, Dead-boy did not!

Cordelia and I had managed to become friends after I had started obsessing over finding Willow. We found out that Oz had broken up with Willow about a week before everything happened. I can't believe she didn't tell me. Me! Her BEST friend! She went to him. Th-That undead Romeo. Always has to have his way with the women. Why does it have to be the ones who can breathe? Can't he find his own little vampira to live happily ever with? I looked at the yellow gown and cap in my hand. I was surrounded by friends. BUT NO ONE WAS WILLOW The demons had basically left us alone after Buffy died and Willow left. Buffy's mom moved away less than a month after her death. I guess she finally had enough of Sunnydale. I had cried like a child at Buffy's funeral, leaning on Cordelia. Giles had been busy searching for the new Slayer, since Kendra and Buffy had died. Death. That word seemed to destroy my world. First Jesse, then Kendra, and most recently, Buffy.

Because of those deaths, I'd seen more than ever.

Cordy and Oz are standing next to me. Where they belong, with me. Why couldn't Willow see she should be here too? Oz hadn't met his graduation requirements so he had to repeat his Senior year. I had matured over the last year, we all had. Yes indeedy, we were practically adults. I could even vote!

Giles still wouldn't tell us where Angel and Willow had gone. He said that if they wanted to be found then they would've called us. I tried to find Willow, to get her to come back to us, to come back to me, but it was no use. None of us except Oz even knew how to turn on a computer; so it was a no-go. Willow was the only one that could hack into anything.

That is, until we found the number. It was on a plain piece of white paper. It's remarkable how the simplest thing changes everything. It had 2 letters and then a number sign. It said:

W & A # 555-1620

Cordelia figured it out first. W was for Willow and A was for Angel. We wanted to call, but we didn't. At least, we wouldn't until Giles went on his trip. He was going to go to Colorado, because that's where the Watcher Council thought that that was where Kendra's replacement was.

The survivors of the scooby gang sat around the main table in the library. We were going to call Willow in an hour; 1 hour after Cordy, Oz, and myself graduated. This was supposed to be the best time of our lives, instead it was a year filled with loss, sorrow, and anguish. One friend had died, and another had become something that we would never wish on our worst enemy. MY best friend had become the Slayer. She was the Chosen One.

Willow and Buffy hadn't deserved this. Damn Fate!! Why did it have to choose them?!?! Why did it have to choose her? Could they see I was nothing without her. I looked at the gown and wished that Willow was here. She was my confidant, my companion, my other half. How had I lasted these past hours, days, months without her? She was my life, and I would get her back.
 

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