Site Address: http://angel-soul-mates.150m.com/main/index.html
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I own nothing. All the characters belong to the creator Joss Whedon and Fox Networks, Mutant Enemy, UPN and WB and etc……..
Summary: Willow and Angel meet up unexpectedly in France and finds out some interesting stories about the mansion they are staying in.
Spoiler: Angel Season 5, Shells
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~Part: 1~
Los Angeles
I am a vampire. A lot of people wonder what that means. They think that it is all about jumping from building to buildings with one single bounce, or having unlimited strength and life. It is wonderful to live forever, only if you had someone to share it with. If you are a person that thinks that being a vampire is great, then you are wrong......very wrong. People of this world sometimes want to be a creature of the night, but they do not know the consequences. Vampires cannot walk under the sun. We cringe at the sight of a crucifix and a wooden stake through the heart would kill us. Then there is me, a different type of vampire. I am just like others; I love the taste of blood. But I can only drink pig’s blood, but I prefer the sweet taste of human blood. The smell of fear is intoxicating and actually turns me on. I show my true facial features when I get mad. The difference about me is I am a vampire with a soul.
I have a soul that make me knows right from wrong, a soul that keeps me from killing humans. I have a soul that is taken away from me when I achieve one moment of true happiness. I know now that I can never love again, for if I do, that of my demon self would come forward. The demon side is different from me, yet we are so alike. The difference is that he kills and manipulates for a living, and I save the lives of the people that he wants to kill. We are similar because we both craved fear, we crave blood and we are both evil, even if I do not show that side. I think about being evil and he acts on it, that’s what makes us different. I can hear him everyday, talking to me, telling me of the things that I have missed in life. The people that I could have had fun with, {Correction} the people whose lives I could have destroyed, like Buffy’s.
With all that has happened in my life, I have lost another.............
Angel stopped typing on his computer to look up at his window as a bird flew by. He couldn't finish what he was going to type because he did not know what to say about the loss of his family. The dark hair vampire pushed his chair back to stand. He walked over to the protective glass window in his office, looking out over the city he was being paid to protect.
Los Angeles was worse than Sunnydale. It had more demons, which meant they had more places for them to hide, and that meant more places they had to search. It was almost like hell. Angel could not say that it was worse than hell, because the time he spent in hell was hell. His demon that watched over him made him suffer by showing him the night he and Buffy were together, over and over again. Then and there was when he realized his mistake. He should have never slept with Buffy. A vampire and slayer were never meant to be.
Angel raised his hand, touching the cool glass. The sun was shining bright, making it a perfect day, but his office was in grief over the loss of a love one. Fred was gone, and there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't even write about it. He brought his hand down and walked back over to his computer to save the document he was typing.
Angel looked up from his computer again as he heard a knock on his office door. He really wasn't in the mood for visitors at this time. They had just gotten back from England, trying to restore Fred’s soul to the body that the ancient demon, Illyria had taken over. Once Illyria took Fred’s body, she tried to locate her ancient temple, where she believed she would find her army, ready to help her destroy mankind, but was disappointed when she found that her whole army was dead and her kingdom destroyed.
"Come in," Angel bellowed after the third knock pulled him from his thoughts.
"Here you are, boss," Harmony cheerfully spoke as she walked into his office and handed him the newly arrived mail and a cup of blood.
"Thanks," he replied as he set the cup and the mail on his desk.
"You have a meeting at one and Lorne was here to see you earlier," Harmony delivered his messages.
"Is Lorne still here?" He asked.
"No, he said something about going to a Wolfman & Hart doctor and having something done with his sleep....or something about making him sleep.....I can't remember," she explained.
"Thanks, Harmony," Angel spoke, turning his attentions back to his darkened computer screen.
"No problem," the blonde vampire spoke before turning to walk out of her boss’s office.
Angel couldn't believe how much this company was falling apart since they had moved into Wolfman & Hart’s building. Could it be the forces in the building? Did Wolfman & Hart still want to take him down? The senior partners had tried time and time again to destroy him. Angel wondered, because the senior partners had failed so much, had they come up with a plan to bring him close, just to destroy him? That was something to think about.
The handsome vampire stopped thinking about the senior partners and thought more about the incidents that had happened. Wesley had stabbed Gunn because he was the reason for Fred being replaced with Illyria. One good thing was that Spike was released from the amulet, and now Angel could get a good night sleep without the blond vampire haunting his apartment at night. Angel smirked when he thought back to when he had asked Spike....did he get paid for haunting homes, or was his application denied. He remembered Spike walking through the door, mumbling something about 'bloody poof and wishing he could strangle him'.
After carefully going through his mail, Angel finally came up on a letter. He picked it up and looked at the address. It was from France. Angel wondered why he would be getting a package from France. He carefully opened it, not wanting Spike popping out again. If the blond vampire was trap within an amulet again, Angel wanted him to stay in this time. He carefully opened the letter and began to read it.
Dear Mr. Angel:
My name is Christian Rolland; I am the manager of the Etancourt Mansion. I would like for you to come out and help us with a situation that we are having. We heard that you run top a rank investigating service. We have enclosed a check that would pay for a round trip ticket to France and back. While you are here all expenses are on us.
Angel pulled out the check, looking at it. This was an unusual way to get him to take a case. No one had ever written a letter before. Angel turned his attention back to the letter.
P.S. Along with paying all of your expenses, we will also pay you $100,000 in American money, once the case is solved. If you have any questions, you can contact me at (33)-475-06-03-09.
Thank
you,
Christian
Rollan.
This was certainly not a usual case for him. Angel laid the letter back on his desk. He grabbed his blood, then sat back in his chair. A trip to France could be a great stress reliever. The dark hair vampire wondered what the problem could be that they would contact him in LA just to solve a case. This was a decision not to be taken lightly but he decided to take it.
The telephone beeped, breaking Angel from his thoughts. He sat up and pressed the intercom button.
“Yes, Harmony,” Angel answered.
“Your meeting is in ten minutes,” she replied.
Angel looked at his clock then pressed the button again.
“Thanks,” he said. “Harmony, let everyone know that I have a case that I will be taking up in France.”
"France....Oh my God.....I always wanted to go to France. When do you leave?"
“Call the airport and get me the first flight that is leaving,” he ordered.
"No problem. I will get it to you as soon as possible," she responded, but Angel had already grabbed his coat and gone to the meeting.
New York......
Willow opened the letter she had received in the mail. It was slightly different from Angel’s letter. In her letter, they were asking her to help them build a new computer system. They wanted to get rid of the paper usage. They even offered to pay her the same amount and sent her a check for a free plane ticket, as well.
Willow now lived in New York and owned a small internet company. It wasn’t a problem to go to France; she could run her business from different places. Willow’s business required her to travel mostly anyhow, and she could use a quick trip and the money.
Willow thought about it, reading the letter over and over. One hundred thousand dollars was a lot of money for her to set up a computer network. It wasn't a big job, and they were paying for everything.
"I could use another laptop and scanner," she said to herself. “And they want to save paper, which is a good thing.”
Willow grabbed her cell phone and dialed the airport number.
“Hi, I was calling to find out when your next flight out to France is,” Willow said, after the receptionist greeted her.
The redhead could hear the lady typing through the phone.
“One leaves in two hours and there is another at eleven-thirty,” Willow repeated what she was told. The lady responded with a “yes.”
“Okay, I will be there for the first one,” Willow told her before hanging up.
Willow stood from her desk, then went into her bedroom to pack. She now stayed in a four bedroom home with a guest house. The redhead really had gotten a big house for when Xander, Buffy and the rest of them came down to stay for a while. Xander moved to Illinois when they closed up the hellmouth. Buffy and Dawn had gone with Giles and the other potential slayers to England to practice. Willow didn't see fit for her to go with them, so she went to Rochester, New York. It felt like home to her, maybe because they still had demons running around. They weren’t as active as in Sunnydale or LA, but they were there.
Once Willow finished packing, she made sure to triple check her home and set the alarm. She took a taxi to the airport. The trip to the airport only took twenty minutes, which gave her an hour to check in and get seated on the plane.
“France, here I come,” she mumbled as she sat in the first class seat. Willow pulled out the laptop, checking to see if she had any emails.
~Part: 2~
Angel walked up to Harmony's desk after his meeting, looking at her unease as she chitchatted on the telephone. Harmony didn't know why at first, but she felt as she was being watched. She stopped talking and looked at her boss's penetrating look. The blonde quickly said goodbye to whomever she was talking too and quickly hung up the phone. She looked around on her desk for the information she had written down for him. Once she found it she grabbed the paper with her notes on it.
"What did you find?" He asked.
"The next flight leaves from LA to New York at eight, then from New York to France at eleven thirty. If you take that one you will get there around four or four thirty in the morning. If you don't want that one the next one leaves in two days," Harmony told him.
"Book me for the one at eight, first class," he answered, not looking at Harmony, "And tell the others that I am leaving,” he told her and began to walk off, “Oh! And make sure that Wesley stays away from Gunn while I am gone," he spoke just as he walked towards the elevator door.
"Sure thing," Harmony answered. She picked up the telephone to dial the airport number. It might be good if he got away for a while. Since Fred was gone he was acting more broody with a hint of bitchy. Harmony shook her head as she heard the operator pick up.
Angel decided to head to the basement. He could use the sewers to get home, which would give him enough time to pack and get to the airport. This was a trip he needed to take. He pressed the button for the basement and stood back waiting for it to come.
"Hey big man," Lorne greeted when the elevator door opened.
"Lorne," Angel replied as he walked into the elevator and pressed the
basement button.
“Did Harmony tell you I was looking for you?”
“Yep, anything you want?”
“Not really, I just want to talk to you about something, but since I have already done it, it’s nothing to talk about,” Lorne explained.
Angel didn’t answer. They both stood quietly as the elevator descended to the basement. Angel didn't have to look back, but he knew Lorne was doing that thing he does.
"Stop it," Angel growled.
"What?" He replied.
"Don't.........read.........me," Angel warned.
"I couldn't if I wanted too. You are like a brick house today," Lorne advised.
"Good," Angel spoke just as the elevator reached the basement.
"Is there anything you want to talk about?" Lorne asked.
"Nope," Angel bluntly answered.
The dark haired vampire didn't give Lorne a chance to say anything else. He quickly walked out and pressed the button for the doors to close. Angel walked up to the sewer drain.
"Demons," he mumbled, taking the sewer drain top off. He walked down the ladder until he was down far enough. Angel grabbed the top to the drain and pulled it back over before dropping to the sewer floor with a splash. He headed to his apartment preparing to pack for his trip.
***
Willow had drifted off to sleep once she had finish checking her email. She was awakened by the flight attendant telling everyone to place their seats in the up right position and fasten their seat belts. Willow yawned as she let up her seat. She glanced at her watch noticing it was eight. She grabbed the seat belt, clicking it together.
Once the plane had landed, Willow released herself and grabbed her laptop, heading for the exit. The trip wasn’t so bad. Now the thing was learning how to say ‘I need to go to the Etancourt Mansion’ in French. She had only got through the first year.
“Boy I hope they speak English,” Willow mumbled as she walked up to the baggage area, waiting for her bags to show up.
The redhead got her bags and made it to the front of the airport in no time. She waved down a taxi as it drove up. The man looked at Willow strangely as she walked up to the taxi.
“Bonjour monsieur, je dois aller au manoir d'Etancourt,” Willow spoke hoping she just said she needed a ride to the mansion.
“Oui Madame. Je peux vous porter au manoir d'Etancourt sans le problème. Mettez juste vos sacs dans le camion,” the man quickly spoke.
Willow looked at the man oddly.
“I’m sorry…..I don’t speak French well….ummmm…… Je suis désolé que....I ne parlent pas français bien.
“Ah! You are from America aye. What I said was...‘Yes madam, I can take you to the Etancourt Mansion with no problem. Just put your bags in the trunk.”
“Merci,” Willow thanked and put her bags in the truck. She walked around and got in the back seat.
The driver waited until the door closed and drove off. The scenery that she could see was beautiful. Willow couldn't believe she was in France and couldn't speak a word of it.
"This is going to be a trip to remember," she mumbled while sitting back into the seat as the sun descended and the moon began to show.
It took her an hour to get from the airport to the Ethcourt Mansion. They drove through a maze up to the front door. The cab pulled up to the mansion and the driver got out, helping Willow get her bags out of the trunk.
"How much do I owe you?" Willow asked as the driver put her bags by the front door.
"Nothing," the man looked at Willow with an unusual smirk on his face.
"What do you mean nothing?"
"This trip is free, Miss. Rosenberg," he replied then turned and headed back to his car.
Willow on the other hand stood frozen in one spot. She began to wonder how this man knew her name. The wind began to blow making her shiver; she turned to grab her bags and screamed out when a butler was standing behind her.
"Sorry....Miss Rosenberg. I didn't mean to frighten you," the older creepy man answered.
"It was my fault," she replied as she watched him bend over and grab her bags. She thanked God that they were speaking in English.
"This way madam."
Willow hesitated for a second then walked in the direction the man went. The inside of the mansion was gorgeous. The floor had black tiles on it. The windows were made of different colours, shapes and sizes, each one different. Willow could make out a hallway on the left as they walked up to two flights of stairs, one to the right and on to the left. As she followed him up the stairs Willow couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, but how does everyone know my name?"
The butler stopped where the stairs connect and turned to look at Willow. With a creepy smile on his face he answered, "We were expecting you to come. You are known for your computer work in New York and we don't have many people here with red hair," he told her, then turned and continued up.
Willow followed him as he made a left. Willow looked towards the right and it was a hallway of doors. They continued to walk straight and made another left at the end of the hallway.
"Hope I don't get lost," she mumbled as she came up on a room.
"This is your room," he spoke as he opened the door.
Willow walked in wide-eyed. The room alone was bigger than her house. It had to be a double king size bed under a window with thick drapes on it. The room had red carpet and its own fireplace. She watched as he walked over to her bed and sat her bags down on top.
"This is your closet," he spoke as he pointed to a door beside the bed.
He walked to the left and opened a double door. "This is the bathroom."
Willow walked into the room and saw a big spa in the middle of a blue tiled floor. The bathroom was painted dark blue and peach. It also had a shower, sink, toilet and a lounge chair in it.
"This is my bathroom or am I sharing?" The red head witch asked as the butler turned the lights off.
"It's all yours, madam," he answered. "Ms. Rollan is out and probably won't be back until tomorrow around noon. I will let her know of your arrival. If you want anything there is a phone, just dial zero and tell them what you want. We were hoping to get some computers installed in here so that you just place your order, or let us know what you want or need and we will try to get it for you."
"Oh! That shouldn't be too bad. Once I get the main server set up, then the only thing you will have to do is get the lines installed and viola, it's ready," Willow explain looking at the now confuse man.
"Sorry, thank you and if I need something I will call," she told him.
"Your welcome madam," he replied as he walked out of the room.
As soon as the door closed Willow rushed over to the bed and jumped on it, landing on her stomach. "This is too nice," she said as she rolled unto her back looking up at the ceiling.
***
What Willow didn't know was that Angel was in a cab on his way to the mansion.
As they pulled up, the same driver helped Angel and told him no charge. Angel got the same scare with less screaming from the butler. The vampire was just two doors down from Willow and didn't even know it. Angel had settled in and decided it was time to do some investigating. The butler only told him that a demon or ghost was haunting the mansion, scaring off the guests. They needed him to find out what they wanted and give it to them so they would leave and the mansion could reopen. Angel also wanted to visit the computer genius the butler told him about. He said she was a smart girl that was going to help them build a computer system so that guests wouldn't have to leave their rooms for anything.
That was someone that he was sure that Willow would love to meet. Maybe she could show Willow some things. The problem was that he didn't know where any of the Scooby gang was. Not Buffy or any of them. Angel shook that thought away before it went too far. As he walked out, he remembered the butler telling him that they knew he was special and if he wanted anything to drink they had it. Angel knew that they knew he was a vampire.
Angel headed for his door when he heard the clock ringing, letting him know it was six in the morning. He would have to wait to snoop until tonight. He walked back into his room to unpack. Afterwards, he took a quick shower, then laid down for bed.
~Part: 3~
Willow woke up around ten the next morning. When she opened her eyes, she looked up at the ceiling and yawned. She had fallen asleep last night and didn’t even get a chance to try out the big tub. The redhead knew she didn’t have much time to take a bath and eat before noon. That was when Ms. Rollan would arrive. She decided to take a quick shower, but ordered herself something to eat first.
She got up and walked over to the telephone, pressing the zero button.
“Bonjour. Comment peux j'aidez-vous,” Willow heard a woman answering the telephone.
“I want...to place...an order,” Willow spoke slowly, hoping that would get them to understand. “I want food...to eat...you know eat.” Willow huffed when the women didn’t respone.
Willow started to hang up, but heard the young lady howling over the phone, “Karen, pourrait vous viennent prendre cet ordre. Je ne comprends pas ce qu'elle veut.”
“Ello, my name is Karen. How can I help you?” Willow heard the lady speaking English.
”Thank you, I tried to tell the other lady I wanted to make an order.”
“No problem. Ellie doesn’t speak English. She told me that she didn’t understand you,” Karen explained to Willow. “What do you want to order, Miss Rosenberg?”
“Just some coffee, black and an egg sandwich, if that’s not too much.”
“No problem. Your food will be up in a few minutes.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Karen replied and hung up the telephone.
Willow placed the receiver back on the phone and walked into the bathroom. She walked up to the huge shower and turned it on. Willow waited until it began to fog before undressing and getting in.
After showering, she wrapped herself in a big, white, fluffy towel, and walked back into her room. She placed her dirty clothes in the bag and went into the closet. She stood, thinking that she only needed to put on something that she didn’t mine getting dirty.
The witch put on a pair of Levis jeans and a red shirt. She grabbed her socks and tennis shoes, and then put them on. She was interrupted by the tapping at her door.
“Come in,” she answered still sitting on the bed.
“Hello, madam. How did you sleep?” The butler from last night greeted as he walked into the room.
“Great,” Willow answered with a smiled. “What about you?”
“Fine madam...here is the breakfast you ordered.” The butler pushed up a tray to Willow. ”Ms. Rollan will be expecting you in an hour. She will be in the parlour.”
“Right...parlour...and that would be where?”
“Go back to the stairs, but instead of going back down to the front door keep straight. Once you make it to the end of the hallway, use what used to be the servant’s stairs and go down. At the bottom there are two doors, one to the right one to the left. Make a right and it’s the door at the end of the hallway. That is the door to the parlour.”
Willow could only bite her bottom lip trying to remember the directions.
“If that is it, madam, I have to serve the gentlemen down the hall from you his breakfast,” he told her.
“Sure. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you from your work.”
“No problem, madam,” he spoke and nodded his head as he walked out of Willow’s room, closing the door behind him.
After quickly eating, Willow headed out to find the parlour. She was getting lost just thinking about finding the first flight of stairs, let alone the servant’s stairs. “Was that one right or two rights I have to take to get back to the stairs?” Willow mumbled as she closed the door to her room.
As she walked, trying to find the parlour she got a vibe when she passed by Angel’s door. She shivered, but passed it off as just the mansion.
Willow made it to the first flight of stairs and almost kissed them. What stopped her was the man dusting the paintings hanging on the walls and a maid vacuuming the floor and her dignity.
The redhead continued straight, she made it to the servant’s stairs and went down. She made a right and walked up to the door. She knocked. Willow heard a woman say come in.
“Aye, you must be Willow,” Christian Rollan greeted as she stood up from the table.
“Yes I am,” Willow greeted.
“Thank you for coming. How was your trip?”
“It was wonderful. I love the mansion.”
“I am glad to here that. Have a seat.” Christian suggested as she returned to her original seat.
Willow sat in front of her as she began talking.
“As you know, I am Christian Rollan. I am the assistant manager of this mansion. The original owner wanted to turn it to a hotel. We have over two hundred and fifty rooms. There is a parlour as you can see; a weight room and we will be turning the other rooms to different things also. This place has a dinning hall and a conference room. We always have staff on call when you want something. Now, for the reason I brought you here. We need you to help set up a system. We use paper for everything and we want to cut back on it, so for check-ins and outs, ordering, complaining, I would like to have a web site built. We want to use computers for everything.”
Willow nodded, understanding what she wanted, but two hundred and fifty rooms was a lot. Seeing Willow looking a little overwhelmed, she decided to free some of Willow’s mind.
“We have a computers coming in tomorrow, and they will be set up by the company in every room and the kitchen. The only thing you have to do is set up the main server, which will be located in the electrical room. If you can, I would like a web site set up. After that you will get paid one hundred thousand dollars in America money.”
Willow smiled, thinking that this would be the easiest money she ever made. She almost felt bad about it…*almost*.
“That shouldn’t be so hard, but did you say tomorrow?”
“Yes. Sorry to not have the computers here sooner. I hope you don’t have plans, or that you have to leave.”
“No, I just don’t know what you want me to do until then.”
Christian chuckled and leaned onto the table. “As the manager would say…go to the pool…enjoy the room, and if you want, we even have American satellite in your room only.”
“You didn’t do it for me, did you?” Willow asked. She didn’t want them to go though all that trouble for a two-day job.
“No, it was the manager room until she left and put me in charge.”
“Where did she go?”
“Somewhere…” Christian stopped. “Don’t worry about that, Miss Rosenberg. Have fun, and I will let you know when every room has been set up.”
Willow smiled and stood up. “No problem.”
Christian smiled as Willow turned and walked out of the parlour.
“Now to look around a bit,” Willow mumbled as she walked back up the servant stairs and down the hall. She went down the first flight of stairs and looked around. There was a picture hanging up on the wall, but it was covered. She didn’t notice it yesterday. When she made it to the bottom of the steps, she saw a man mixing some paint. That was probably why the painting was covered.
The man stood and smiled. “Hi, my name is Louis.”
“I am…” Willow started to speak, but was cut off.
“I know who you are, Miss Rosenberg,” the man spoke. “It’s nice to have you here,” he greeted.
“Thanks, but you can call me Willow.”
“No problem…Willow. It’s nice to meet you.” The man smiled. Willow smiled back and walked off to let him finish his job.
***
By eight, Willow had explored some of the mansion, taking in it beauty. She had lunch in the dinning hall and sat by the pool for hours. Willow had counted up to one hundred rooms on the second floor alone. She didn’t even try the third floor. She finally found her room again and walked in opening the tall cabinet on the other side of the wall to find a 62-inch television hidden in the wall.
“Thank you…thank you…thank you,” she cheered as she turned on the television. It asked what country. Willow presses America and she was once again looking at her all time favourite show from New York, Sex and the City.
***
Angel was awakened by a knock at his door around nine. He pushed the covers back and stood. The dark haired vampire opened the door and was greeted by the butler.
“Hello sir…sorry to wake you, but Ms. Rollan wanted to meet you in the parlour in an hour.
“No problem,” Angel answered.
“Here is your dinner, sir.” The butler handed Angel a cup of blood, and turned to walk away, but Angel stopped him.
“I’m sorry, but where is the parlour?”
“Go back to the stairs, but instead of going back down to the front door keep straight. Once you make it to the end of the hallway, use what used to be the servant’s stairs and go down. At the bottom there are two doors, one to the right one to the left. Make a right and it’s the door at the end of the hallway. That is the door to the parlour,” he repeated the directions to Angel.
“Thank you,” Angel replied.
“Your welcome, sir,” he spoke and walked out of Angel’s room.
Angel quickly drank his dinner, then took a quick shower and headed to the parlour.
***
Willow turned off the television around twelve and decided to check her messages before taking a shower and going to get something to snack on. She didn’t like ordering over the phone when there was a beautiful hotel to look at.
***
After talking to Christian, Angel decided to explore the mansion. It was indeed a beautiful mansion. He decided to head to the front and work his way back. Christian had told him that there were some ghosts or spirits haunting them. She wanted him to get rid of them so that they could open the mansion back up when they re-decorated.
Angel carefully walked down the empty halls. He made it to the front door and looked out. When he turned, he almost jumped out of his skin. There were two spirits dancing together in the middle of the floor, they where both dressed in white. Angel stood quietly, waiting to see what they would do. All Angel could figure out by looking at them was that it was a man and a woman. Angel saw the couple stop dancing and the male figure went up the stairs and disappeared while the female went toward the kitchen.
The vampire took an unneeded breath. He would need Wesley’s help. He would have to call him and ask about ghosts. They had dealt with demons, vampires and Gods, but never a ghost.
Angel decided to follow the female. She seemed to glide on the floor as she walked down the hallway.
***
Willow wrapped her hair and decided to walk to the kitchen to fix a snack. The mansion was a little creepy at night with no one around. She walked down the hallway and to the stairs, chuckling, thinking about how she was beginning to remember her way around the mansion. She made a left at the bottom step and walked down the hallway to the kitchen.
***
Angel followed the spirit into the doors at the same time the doors to the other side of the kitchen opened. The spirit seemed to scream as Willow flicked on the lights and looked across the room.
“ANGEL, what the hell are you doing here?” She screamed.
~Part: 4~
Angel’s eyes narrowed as he heard his named being called. The voice was familiar but she didn't look the same to him. This wasn't the young girl he left in Sunnydale, this was the woman she grew up to be. Her hair was half way down her back and redder than before. She looked as if she had been working out and had been taking care of herself.
"Willow," he whispered.
"Yes, it's me," she advised. "Who else would it be?"
Angel walked, almost running across the tiled floor over to the red head. The smile that was on his face was priceless. He didn't speak. The handsome vampire just grabbed Willow in a hug. It shocked both of them. They were never in the touchy-feely relationship. It was more of a hiya and that was it. But it was good to see each other after so many years. The feeling that went through the both of them was what made them separate.
"Sorry Willow," he apologized. "I am glad to see you."
"I'm glad to see you, too," Willow replied.
They both stood in silence until Willow decided to break it.
"Do you live here Angel?"
"Umm live here......no......I just got here. Ms. Rollan told me of a ghost problem they were having."
"You think you can get rid of it?"
"Not without the help from Wesley or someone back at the office," he answered looking in the redhead’s eyes. "I was following it in here."
"That's what that was?"
Angel nodded his head.
"What about you Willow? What brings you here?"
"I’m here to set up their computers."
"You.....you are the computer genius they were talking about?" Angel spoke then chuckled.
"What's so funny, buddy?" Willow asked, getting a little annoyed at his reaction.
"Nothing....Nothing...I was hoping to meet this person, because I thought that you would love to talk to her. Come to find out it's you."
Willow smiled up at the vampire.
"What were you doing down here this late?" Angel asked.
"I came to get something to snack on, but I have lost my appetite."
"Can I escort you back to you room then?"
"Yep, after seeing that ghost you don't have to worry about me walking around at night again.
Angel looked at Willow as she turned off the light and headed back to her room.
The dark haired vampire didn't know why, but he felt something strange and unusual going through him. It started when he saw the ghost, but was now stronger with Willow.
{Okay Angel. Willow looks great and it's been a while; that’s all it has to be.} He thought as he continued to follow the nervous witch to the room.
***
"An..Angel would you stay in here with me for a while? I don't know why, with all the vampires and demons around, I am sort of afraid of a ghost," she spoke as she walked down the hallway to her room.
"Not a problem, Willow," Angel answered, not really hearing the question. He was glad she asked.
Willow unlocked and opened the door.
"Wow, Willow, your room makes three of mine," Angel stated as he walked in and closed the door behind him.
"Thanks. Have a seat," Willow suggested as she gestured to him to sit on the bed. She walked around to the other side, grabbing the remote.
Angel walked over to the bed and took off his jacket. That left him with a tee shirt on. He sat on the bed. Angel watched as she grabbed the remote control and pressed a button. A big screen television appeared from behind a wall. "And I have a nice big television that gets American channels," she teased, looking over at his chest then quickly turning away before she could turn red.
"I can see that," he replied.
"Is there something you want to watch?" The redhead asked as she sat back on the headboard.
Angel watched her comfortableness around him. He liked that she felt that she could trust him. Willow was the type of girl that would fidget when he was around and always left if he got too close to her.
"No, I don't watch it much, but you can watch whatever you want."
Willow turned the television to a random channel. They both watched as time passed by. Sometime around morning, both Angel and Willow had fallen asleep. Angel was lying on his back while Willow lay on Angel shoulder and he held her.
***
The redhead was the first to wake the next morning. She yawned then stretched, but couldn't move.
{What the....} Willow thought as she slowly opened one of her eyes. {Okay nice smooth arm holding me.........mmmmmm......no heart beat......} Willow moved to get a little more comfortable and felt a little aroused. {Mmmmmmmmm.......nice} She giggled in her mind, making her chest jump.
Willow finally opened both of her eyes and looked at a very amused vampire.
"Comfortable?" He teased. Angel could smell her arousal. It was not strange for a woman to get aroused around him. She wasn't the first.
Willow jumped up faster than he could react.
"I'm sorry," Willow apologized as he sat up in the bed.
"No need to be."
Willow heard a knock at the door. She stood and walked over to answer it.
"Sorry to bother you, Miss Rosenberg, but Ms. Rollan has told me to advise you that the computers wont be here until the middle of the week," the butler explained to her.
Willow looked back at Angel as he got out of the bed and grabbed his jacket.
"That shouldn't be a problem," she replied, looking back at the butler.
"She will be thrilled to know that," he answered. "By the way, Ms. Rollan has asked that you and the gentlemen down the hall from you, Mr. Angel, have a small get together tonight."
"Why is that?" Angel asked from behind Willow.
"Ohhhhh....Mr. Angel, I see that you have met Miss Rosenberg," the shocked butler answered.
"Yes, we are friends from Sunnydale."
"That's great. Well since you two know each other, there is no proper introduction needed. But there will be a nice dinner waiting in the dinning hall at nine o'clock sharp."
"Nine it is," Angel spoke as Willow looked back at him. "Would you mind going on a small but very important date with me?" Angel teased holding out his hand.
"I would love to," Willow played along, grabbing his hand as the dark haired vampire bowed..
"We will be there on time...with bells on, my good man," Angel spoke in his British accent as he let go of Willow’s hand.
They both looked at the butler as he turned and walked away, shaking his head slightly at the joking couple.
Both Willow and Angel giggled as they let go of each others hand.
"Since there is nothing for me to do, I am going to order something to eat, then I am going by the pool to see if I can get a tan," Willow explained. "I will see you at…what time was that?"
"Nine," Angel answered. He almost didn’t hear the question, as he was imagining Willow by the pool in a two piece bathing suit.
"Nine it is," she repeated as she watched Angel step out of her door.
~Part: 5~
After a long day of doing nothing, Willow and Angel both sat at the dining table talking what had happened in Sunnydale after he left. There were candles everywhere, and now the rug had been taken up in the dining hall. You could see the hard wood floors, and in the middle of the floor was a big circle with a sign of a bird hugging a tree. Neither Willow nor Angel paid any attention to it as they were led to the table. The mansion was going through a series of changes.
As dinner was served, Willow really wasn't hungry, but she tried to eat something. They had prepared a feast for a king when it was only one person eating. Angel was sipping on his wine mixed with blood as Willow caught him up on what everyone had done and where everyone had moved too.
"Angel, why do you think they did all of this?" Willow asked sipping on her own glass of wine.
"Don't know, but I am sure they are being hospitable."
"I guess you are right."
They both sat at the huge table, talking a laughing as the waiter continued to serve their drinks and soft music began to play.
Angel took another sip of his drink, then looked over at Willow at the other end of the table.
"I don't usually dance, but may I have the pleasure?" The dark haired vampire asked the now shy redhead. He stood and pushed his chair back, walking towards Willow.
"Sure," she answered, standing to take Angel's hand.
Angel led her to the middle of the floor. He placed on hand on her shoulder and the other on her hip. Willow did the same as Angel. The couple started to dance to the slow and unusual music. They both closed their eyes while they let the music lead them. As they danced, nither noticed the two ghosts that were dancing before, now standing behind each of them, smiling. The female was behind Willow and the male behind Angel. Neither Willow nor Angel stopped dancing once the song stopped and another didn't start. It was like they were in a trance.
Angel and Willow’s eyes opened with a start as they heard a spooky woman’s voice say, "Et laissez-le soit connu," which meant, "And let it be known." Angel was the only one at that time to know what was said, but it was too late for him to do or say anything as the two ghosts entered them both.
They both fell to the ground unconscious. Christian and the butler walked over to the fallen pair.
"You get him and I'll get her," she explained as she bent down to picked up Willow and the butler did the same for Angel.
They carried them both back to Willow's room and laid them on the bed. They both looked at the sleeping couple once more before heading out of the room.
~Part: 6~
The next morning, everyone waited patiently on the pair to wake up. Around ten in the morning, Willow yawned. She felt as if she had just gotten off of a wild ride. She looked over to Angel and jumped up, causing him to automatically jump into a sitting position.
"Willow, are you alright?" He asked, looking over at her.
She smiled and looked over at him. What caused her to jump was that she couldn't remember what happen after the dance last night. She didn't know if she got drunk or what. The smiled on her face faded into a more serious seductive look.
"I am fine, lover," she purred and leaned over to Angel. Her lips slowly touched his. Angel groaned and returned her kiss. The kissed felt like he hadn't kissed her in years and the only thing he wanted was her, but he didn't know why.
Angel quickly pushed Willow down onto the bed, never breaking the kiss. Willow hands weren't being still as she began to unbutton the front of his shirt, as he did the same to her dress. After the first couple of buttons on the top of her dress were undone, he quickly slipped his hand in her dress, pushing her bra up and grabbing her breast.
Willow moaned into his mouth as he continued to kiss her. The feelings they had for each other was nothing like before. This was a love that both of them missed.
"Angel, please," he heard her beg as he stopped kissing her and moved to her neck when he knew she needed air.
"Don't beg baby. I will give you want you want," he whispered then kissed her on the lips again.
What made both of them stop was when they both opened they eyes and looked at each other. Angel looked down at Willow, wanting nothing more than to devour her. It had been so long since he had touched her. But why did he want her? Why did she want him all of a sudden? He withdrew his hand from her dress and sat up in the bed.
Willow sat up and looked at Angel, wanting nothing more than the feel him again. It had been so long since he had been inside of her.
"Angel what happened?" Willow asked.
"I don't know, Willow?" He replied as a knock came from the door.
Willow quickly fixed her dress. Angel buttoned his shirt as he walked over to the door.
"Hello, Angel, may I come in?" Ms. Rollan asked from the other side of the door.
"Yes," he spoke and gestured for her to come in.
Angel closed the door and walked behind Christian as she made her way up to Willow, who was still sitting on the bed.
"Sorry to interrupt," Christian teased as she could see what was going on. "But I thought you probably wanted to know what happened last night."
"Yes," was all Angel said as he stood by the fire place.
"It a long story," Christian explain.
"Make it as short as you can," Angel demanded.
"As your memories return to you both, you will remember both timelines. The first was about two lovers meeting in Sunnydale. A witch and a vampire. They fell in love and were happy for years. After they helped close the hellmouth, they moved to the Etancourt Mansion. It was a run down place, but they rebuilt it to what you see today."
"We met and fell in love?" Willow asked. "I don't remember.....what about Buffy?"
"Ah yes....Buffy Summers.....Buffy was the one that did this to you. She was so jealous of your love that she did a time spell. A powerful spell that took away your memories and made Angel fall in love with her instead of you when he came to Sunnydale. That spell ruined a lot of things. Whistler wasn't even suppose to be in the picture, but he was."
"But...I don't....how did you....so there wasn't a ghost?" Angel asked a little short on words.
"No," Christian answered. "When Buffy did the spell, your love for each other was so great that your memories where preserved here for years. We, on the other hand, weren't affected by the spell; only the people from Sunnydale that Buffy knew. The night the spell was cast, you two had disappeared from the ballroom. You were dancing and having a good time, then in the next moment, you were gone with the symbol of a bird and a tree imprinted on the ground."
"That's why they were dancing," Angel spoke.
"Yes, and the only way that we could reinstate your memories was to cast the spell with you two on the very spot that you disappeared. Once the memories re-enter your bodies, it would only be a day or so before you remembered both time lines, and once you let Buffy know that you know, everything will go back as it was. It will be as if you never left," she spoke and looked at Angel. "He would have never slept with Buffy. The only problem is that we can not bring back the dead, so everyone Angelus killed will still be dead, but probably killed by someone else."
"But Buffy didn't even stay with Angel once he turned into Angelus," Willow stated.
"That's why he turned into Angelus. Buffy and he were never meant to be, and once they slept together they triggered something and Angelus was once again walking the earth."
"Does that mean that he never had a happy with me?" Willow asked a little insecure with herself.
Angel looked over to Willow, feeling the love for her more and more.
"I was....am very happy with you," he cut in, making both women look at him. "You made me very happy, Willow. You made me happy in every way possible. Can't you feel what I feel.....I know you can feel the love we have and the love we made, because I can feel it myself."
Willow felt it and other things that had to wait while they had company.
"I do," she spoke through her teeth.
Christian looked back at Willow. "When the Gypsies cursed Angelus, it wasn't really a curse. It was only to restore his soul. But when Buffy did that spell she messed up the timeline. They were never meant to be, and someone made sure of that. The people that were killed by Angelus were all Buffy's fault. I myself know that Angel made you very happy and you made him happy as well."
Both Willow and Angel stood, shocked as the memory came to them little by little.
"Now the only question is, what do you want to do now, boss?" Christian looked at Willow.
She smiled, feeling the things coming back to her. Willow had plenty of plans for the place. It was going to be a hotel for anyone that wanted the luxury life. They would be pampered in anyway that they wanted, and anything they wanted, if they had, they could get.
"Continue with the plan and after I handle some unfinished business. First then I want a plane ticket to England as soon as possible."
"Why England?" Angel asked.
"That is where the slayer is and that is where I want to go," Willow explained.
"Now, if you would excuse us, Christian," Angel spoke. "I would like to make up for missed time," he teased.
Christian quickly stood and headed for the door. She knew that they would be preoccupied for a while.
~Part: 7~
Around twelve mid-night both Angel and Willow walked up to Watcher Council building in England.
Willow knocked and stood back. A British gentlemen answered the door.
"May I help you?"
"Yes, I am Willow and this is Angel. I would like to see Buffy Summers please."
"And you are?"
"Friends from Sunnydale," Angel replied.
The man smiled. "This way please."
The man took them through plenty of rooms before they came to a lovely one. It was big and had plenty of places to sit.
"Have a seat and I will get Miss. Summers for you."
"Thank you."
Angel and Willow waited, both a little pissed at what Buffy had done, and a little aroused at what they had done before they left the mansion, what they did on the plane, and what they tried to do in the cab drive over.
Buffy tore the door off when she burst through. Giles was walking, smiling behind her.
"Oh my God, what are you two doing here?" Buffy asked, hugging Angel first and quick, then Willow.
Once Buffy let go, Giles gave her a big hug, too.
"Hello Giles," Willow spoke as he let go.
"Hello, Angel," Giles spoke looking at the two. Willow had change to be a beautiful woman.
"Rupert."
"Guys what are you doing here?"
Willow looked at her best friend with hurt in her eyes.
"We came to get the truth," Willow spoke.
"Truth? What truth?" Buffy asked.
Giles only stood, trying to find out what was going on. He had never seen Willow with that much hurt in her eyes.
"Buffy, you are my best friend," Willow spoke quietly. "Now tell me that you did not do a spell to take Angel from me?"
Buffy could only go into shock. Giles’ head snapped towards Buffy, trying to figure out what was going on.
The slayer opened her mouth three or four times, but nothing came out.
"Buffy," Willow asked. "Why?"
"I don't know, Willow. I wanted what you had....I...I don't know what happened, but when I did the spell, they said you would lose you memory of each other and Angel would fall in love with me and I would be the only one to remember," she began to whine.
"Buffy, how could you," Giles spoke.
"I wanted what she had and Angel wa....was the only man that I knew that I wanted and didn't want me, so I made him."
"You are right, Buffy, you tried me plenty of nights in the library when Willow went out and everyone was half sleep....I remember now."
Buffy hung her head in shame. "And you turned me down every time. That hurt me more than anything. You were so in love and I wanted to feel it. But when I did the spell, they never told me that Angelus would come back if we slept together."
"Who are they?" Giles asked.
"Some demons that wanted to walk around Sunnydale freely, and if they did the spell for me I would let them."
Willow only listened to her friend explain.
"I'm sorry, Willow, but that's why I was able to send Angel to hell so easily. I knew that I still couldn’t have that love, but I tried to find a spell to make things go back to the way they were, but I couldn't."
Giles looked at his slayer with hate. "How did you two get your memories back?"
"My friend Christian Rollan, the assistant of my mansion, found our memories just running around the mansion and called us both back to have them reinstated," Willow explained.
Willow stood up and walked in front of a now crying slayer.
"I am so sorry, Willow," the blonde pleaded for forgiveness.
"The bad part, Buffy, is that in a few minutes, when we walk out that door, you won’t even remember our visit or us being here. I hate that you can't suffer more for the pain you put us and Sunnydale through. You broke up a love meant to be."
"I know and I am hurting because of it."
"Don't worry, Buffy, we won't remember either. We have to go, and the
next time we will come to visit it will be a friendly one," Willow spoke
and walked towards the entrance. Angel walked behind her not saying a word.
Buffy and Giles only stood there as they watch them leave.
***
As Angel and Willow both sat on there private plane back to the Mansion, Willow could feel the memories leaving. She looked at Angel with confusion in her eyes.
"Baby, where are we coming from?" She asked.
"I don't know. I guess we passed out again from making love to each other," he teased.
Willow laughed.
"I guess you are right. When we get back, I want to have a nice long soak in the tub. Care to join me?"
"No one knows me better baby," he teased kissing her slightly on the cheek.
They both sat back and took a short nap while they headed back from where ever they were or what ever they were doing. They were just glad to be together.
The end.