The Beginning, the Middle & the End

Author: Tequesta A.K.A. Tee

Site Address: http://angel-soul-mates.150m.com/main/index.html

Ratings: PG to NC-17

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All the characters belong to the creator Joss Whedon and Fox Networks, Mutant Enemy, UPN and WB and etc . . .

Pairing: Willow/Angel, Willow/Angelus maybe not in that order. There are also going to be other parings but not sure of whom yet.

Summary: Everyone has a different life that has a beginning, middle and an ending. I will take you through the life of the Sunnydale gang.

Warning: Story may contain rape, female and/or male slash.

Spoiler: Just to be safe lets say from Buffy season 1-7 to Angel season 1-5.

A/N: This is a story that I decided to write because they have decided to cancel Angel the only other show I loved besides Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Special Note: Everyone that has read any of my stories knows that I write in and out of character so please do not write me saying ‘He doesn’t or she doesn’t act or talk like that’ I like to spurs up the story. Also I will be writing from different episodes at different times so that means something may happen in season 7 then back to season 2.

Thanks: To: My betas Jenni and Mistress for all their help. They have a lot of patience trust me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 
 
 

~Part: 1~

Willow sat at her desk quietly during third period as her math teacher, Mr. Jackson handed back another perfect paper.

“Good job, Willow,” he stated as he continued to the next desk.

“Thanks Mr. Jackson,” Willow replied looking at her paper. She wasn't too clear on division of radicals, but from the score she was a good guesser.

“Another disappointing paper from you Mr. Harris,” Mr. Jackson stated as he handed his F paper to him. “Making all that effort to go to Harvard, are we,” the teacher teased making everyone in the class giggle.

“You know it, sir. They say if I keep up this pace I will get in before the next new millennium,” Xander smartly replied.

Mr. Jackson stopped handing out papers to turn back and look at Xander. He was ready to reply to his slick comment, but decided to let his grades do him more justice than he could ever with words. They continued to stare right into each other’s eyes; the ringing bell was what finally broke their eye contact. The students seemed to move simultaneously as they grabbed their books off the desks and started for the exit.

“Class, before you go, you can thank Mr. Harris for your assignment for tonight. Complete every problem from pages 201-203, including the extra practice questions by tomorrow.”

Every student grumbled while giving Xander the 'If looks could kill' look as they headed for the door.

“Thanks a lot, Xander,” Jesse smartly spoke as he walked by Xander's desk.

Xander looked around at all the disappointed and angry faces as his classmates walked out of the class.

“You just spoiled my night to go bronzing,” Cordelia spoke as she walked up to his desk.

“Are you talking to me?” Xander asked as he stood and grabbed his books off of the desk. Cordelia Chase and the rest of her gang were prohibited to talk to anyone that didn't live up to their standards. It was a shock that she was actually speaking to him.

“Yes I am. I bought a new dress and the perfect shoes to wear to the bronze tonight, but now I have to spend my night doing math homework,” she scolded as the brunette turned and walked out of class. Xander watched Cordelia in the short skirt and heels, as her hips swung from side to side as she walked out of the class. His mind began to wonder, but his thoughts were broken by Willow walking up to him.

“Why didn't you just come over last night like I told you?” She asked standing in front of him. She was wearing her traditional plaid skirt with white tights and a white shirt and shoes.

“You know that I would choose goofing off over studying until two in the morning,” he explained as they walked out of the class and headed for the lockers.

“True but......” her words were cut short as members of the Sunnydale swim team grabbed Xander from behind making her yell.

“Hey, what's the problem, fellow student?” Xander tried to speak calmly as he was lifted off the floor by two males. His books hit the floor as he was pulled towards the male bathroom.

“Leave him alone,” Willow yelled while throwing her books in the locker then slamming the door to run behind them.

“Stay out of this, Rosenberg, unless you want the same thing.” One of the players yelled. Willow stopped in her tracks. She watched as they pushed Xander hard through the bathroom door. The door sung back and forth a couple of times before coming to a halt.

The redhead looked down to see Xander’s books on the floor. She bent to pick them up and walked back to his locker. Willow placed the books back into the locker then leaned back, waiting for a soon to be drenched Xander to come out of the bathroom.

***

“Look guys...hey!....I'm sorry about the homework but aren't we getting a tad bit rough for a three page paper?” Xander spoke as they pushed him up to the stall door.

No one replied they only smiled as the five teammates circled Xander.

“Guys I just washed my hair before I came to school this morning. No need to over moisturize is there?”

“Xander,” Pete called out. “We are not here to give you a much needed swirly. We are here to invite you to join our team. We need a good swimmer and you are the choice.”

It was a long moment before Xander exhaled. He looked at the guys standing around smiling waiting for his answer.

“Well?” He heard one of the guys ask as the last bell rung.

“Sure,” he squeaked. “Why not,” Xander answered not really knowing what to say. He could swim, but never thought about going out for the swim team, but since they came to him he would. The fact that his head wasn't sticking in a toilet was grateful.

“That's my man. Practice is right after school, Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Be there,” Pete spoke as they all walked out of the bathroom behind one another.

Xander didn't move from his original spot off the stall until the last guy walked out of the bathroom. He looked in the mirror once more trying to get his self together before walking out.

Principal’s Office

“You are Buffy Summers, correct?” Principal Flutie asked while he looked through her file.

“Yes, sir,” the blonde answered as she looked at the principal nervously, watching as he read her file.

He read a couple of pages before looking up at her strangely.

“I see you set your home school gym on fire?”

“Yes, but only because it was infested....” Buffy stopped talking before she could say something that would mark her as crazy.

“Infested....infested with what?”

Buffy could not tell him that the school gym had a vampires nest in it and that's why she burned the gym down. She wanted to start with a good reputation at this school.

“Infested...no it was full of asbestos. I meant that I had tried....I ...,” Buffy stopped speaking because she didn't know what to say to get herself out of it.

The principal smiled and looked at her. He tore the papers in half. “We at Sunnydale High believe in a new start. We are opened minded and very understandable. Now take this note,” he directed and started to write, “Then take it to your guidance counselor. She will give you a schedule.”

He stood and handed the paper to Buffy.

“Welcome to Sunnydale High,” he greeted.

“Thanks,” Buffy spoke as she stood then turned to walk out of the office.

“That was easy,” she said to herself as she handed the guidance counselor the paper.

Lockers..........

“Xander, what happened? What did they do to you?” Willow asked.

“Nothing.....they made that big scene just to ask me to join the swim team,” he explained while he turned his lock combination.

“All that just to ask you to join a swim team,” she replied while Xander opened his locker to search for his English book.

“Yeah,” he responded as he closed the locker door and headed for the next period.

“Lunch date?” Xander asked as he looked over to his best friend. He really didn’t want to talk about it right now.

“Sure. I will be under the tree,” she told him as she headed to her science class. Xander walked off in a different direction to go to his English class.

Lunch time…….

As Willow sat and ate, she saw Xander running up to her. She quickly stood, wondering what had him running.

“Xander what's wrong?” She asked wondering if the swim team was after him again.

“There is a,” he spoke taking a deep breath, “new girl . . . here and she is cute,” he finally got it out.

Willow cocked her head to one side and gave Xander a sarcastic smirk as she sat back down to finish her lunch.

“What?” He asked innocently as he grabbed his book bag off his back. He sat down on the ground next to Willow waiting for her to talk.

“Xander, is that all you think about?” She asked as she bit into her turkey sandwich.

Xander pretended to look around as if he was thinking about her question. He nodded a couple of times, and then looked at Willow.

“I came up with a good answer to that,” he spoke as he grabbed his sandwich out of the bag. “Yes that's all I think about.”

“Boys,” Willow spoke. Even with Xander and Willow being friends for such a long time, she always had this fantasy with him walking up to her and just before he tore off all her clothes they look at each other, ready to devour each other, like they were two starving humans.

The redhead shook her head as she continued to eat. Just as they finished their lunch, Xander looked up and went wide eyed.

“There she is,” he whispered making Willow looked back at the approaching blonde. Willow knew why he and the other boys thought she was cute. She had blonde hair that was to her shoulder. She was nicely shaped and had on a short skirt with a tank top. She was dressed in nice heels, and to Willow, she was in fact cute looking. Disappointedly, Willow looked down at the grass, not wanting to see Xander react to the new girl.

“Hello . . . I'm Buffy,” she spoke as she walked up to the tree.

“Hel . . . he . . . hi . . . hey . . . Xander . . . no, I'm Xander,” Xander stumbled out as he stood up to shake Buffy's hand.

Buffy chuckled as he shook her hand and half of her body. As he let go, she noticed how sweaty his hand actually was. The blonde watched as Willow stood up also.

“I'm Willow,” she greeted. “It's nice to meet you Buffy.”

It was a long moment before Buffy spoke. “I'm new here and I thought that I would come over to meet some new people.”

“It's nice to have you here,” Xander retorted. “Where are you from?”

“LA . . . my mom and dad just moved here.”

“I heard LA is a nice place,” Willow spoke.

“Ye . . . “ Buffy began to speak, but was interrupted by the bell ringing.

“That's the bell,” the blonde spoke, pulling out her schedule.

“I have Ms. Calendar next,” she stated.

“That’s great, me too,” Willow spoke. “I could walk you there.”

“We could,” Xander quickly jumped in.

Willow looked at Xander. “You have to go to gym, which is on the other side of the school, Xander.”

“Right gym . . . well . . . nice to meet you Buffy . . . Hope to see you later,” Xander replied as he grabbed his bag off the ground and put it on his shoulder.

The girls giggled a little as they heard him mumble something about 'spoiling people's hustle' as he walked off. Willow stopped giggling and grabbed her bag off the ground. The two girls then made their way to computer class, neither one of them noticing the glares from the other students.

***

“So is there some place to go to have fun?” Buffy asked as they walked into the class.

“Fun . . . yeah . . . We have lots of fun here in Sunnydale,” she replied. “We go to The Bronze.”

“The Bronze?”

“Yes, The Bronze,” Cordelia Chase interrupted their conversation as she sat next to Buffy. The two girls looked at Cordelia as she sat down. “It's where all the cool kids hang out, and occasionally a couple of dorks get in,” she stated referring to Willow.

Willow tensed and sat back in her seat, knowing not to say anything to Chase or her group. Buffy turned just in time to see the way Willow reacted and knew why she acted like she did. The only reason a girl would act that way at her old school was because they were treated as nerds, freaks, and/or geeks. Buffy hated when people treated others that way, and when they did she had the right plan.

The blonde turned to look back at Cordelia, ready to speak, but was stopped by the brunette. “You know that when you hang with their kind you are scarred for life. You will never be popular here. You can come to the Bronze with the more popular group and I can show you around.”

Buffy smiled and looked at the brunette. “Exactly what kind is she?”

Cordelia leaned up as to make sure Buffy could hear. “She is a nerd. Willow Rosenberg and that boy Xander are the worst thing to happen to this school and if you are caught hanging out with them you will receive the same fate they do.”

Willow closed her eyes, not wanting the tears to fall in front of the entire class.

“She’s a geek?” Buffy asked, pointing to Willow, making the red head feel a little worse.

Cordelia nodded.

“And you are considered ‘Popular’ here?” Buffy inquired looking back at Cordy.

The brunette once again nodded.

“How many of you are considered popular?” Buffy inquired again trying to aggravate the brunette.

“Five . . . why?” Cordy asked falling into Buffy’s plan.

“And how did you all figure that out? Wasn’t it pretty hard adding all five of you up on a calculator with your head up one another's asses?” She smartly replied with a smirked then turned back to Willow smiling.

The entire class ‘oh’ as Cordelia looked stunned at the blonde.

“So, Bronze tonight, around eight is good?” Buffy asked a chuckling Willow as the last bell rang while Ms. Calendar walked into the class.

“You will get yours, new girl. I tried to warn you,” Cordelia spoke as she turned in her chair to look up front.

Buffy completely ignored her and the rest of the class as she waited for Willow to answer.

“Well . . . eight or not?”

“Yeah eight is good,” Willow responded quietly. “But you don’t have to.”

“I want to . . . I will meet you there at eight,” Buffy spoke as the teacher started to talk.

~Part: 2~

Sunnydale Alley………Night Before

Angel stood after hearing someone walking up behind him.

“God, are you disgusting,” Whistler spoke as Angel turned to him, ready to fight.
Angel calmed down a bit and looks around himself.

“This is really an unforgettable smell. This is the stench of death you're giving off here. And the look says, uh . . . Crazy Homeless Guy. It's not good,” Whistler spoke as he turned up his nose in effort to forget the smell coming off of Angel

Angel looks at him angrily. “Get away from me,” he pleaded.

“What are you gonna do, bite me?” Whistler asked as he gasps and jumps back, “Horrors! A vampire!” He teased Angel, making the dark vampire look at him in surprise.

“Ah, but you wouldn't bite me, on account of your poor,” he spoke, feeling sorry for the way Angel was, “tortured soul. It's so sad, a vampire with a soul. It's so poignant.”

Angel was getting tired of him talking.

“Who are you?” He asked.

“Let's take a walk, Angel my boy.”

Angel didn’t know if he should go or not, but he didn’t want to miss out of something important. The two of them walked along the sidewalk for a few paces and then turned into the street to cross to the hotdog stand on the other side. Angel wasn’t paying any attention to the traffic, so Whistler grabbed his arm to stop him.

Whistler asked, “What are you eating?” He let go of Angel's shoulder and they continued across the street. “Like, a rat once a month?”

Angel strayed and almost walked into another car. Whistler grabs him again and pulls him back in time, making the car honk their horns for them to get out of the way.

“Look, you're skin and bones here! Butcher shops are throwing away more blood in a day than you could stand. Good blood,” Whistler spoke as they reach the far side. “You lived in the world a little bit, you'd know that.”

Angel stops and looks at the Whistler as he stops walking. “I wanna know who you are?”

“And I wanna know who *you* are.”

“You already do.”

“Not yet. But I'm looking to find out. Cause you could go either way here," Whister speaks as they continue to look at each other.

“I don't understand you,” the dark hair vampire replies.

Whistler let out a small chuckle. “Nobody understands me. That's my curse.”

He steps over to the street vendor and pulls out some cash.

“Dog me. Mustard,” Whistler ordered.

He watches the vendor get out the hotdog and squirt on some mustard.

He looks over to Angel. “My name's Whistler.”

“Here you go,” the vendor spoke.

Whistler takes the dog. “Thanks,” as he hands over a bill, then turns to Angel

“Anyway, lately it is.” He takes a bite. “Mm.”

Angel looks down, “You're not a vampire.”

Whistler confesses, “A demon . . . technically. I mean, I'm not a bad guy. Not all demons are dedicated to the destruction of all life.”

Angel looks at him. “Whadaya mean, I can go either way?”

“I mean that you can become an even more useless rodent than you already are, or you can become someone. A person. Someone to be counted.”

“I just wanna be left alone,” he tells him as he starts to walk away.

“Well, yeah, you've been left alone for, what, ninety years already,” Whistler speaks, making Angel turn back to him, “And what a package you are. The Stink Guy!”

Angel was getting a little annoyed at his line of teasing. “What do you want from me?”

“I want you to see something.”

He gives Angel an intense look. Angel just stares at him.

“We'd have to leave now. You’ll see, and then you tell me what you wanna do,” Whistler explains.

Sewers Sunnydale..........Following Day

"This is the place," Whistler stated as they stood in the sewers.

"Where is here?" Angel asked weakly.

The dark vampire had been living on nothing but rats for the past years. He was weak and filthy. Angel didn’t know what to do when Whistler came to him explaining that he is needed to help someone. Angel didn't want to, at first, but with his kind heart, he knew he couldn't say no.

"We're a couple of miles from Sunnydale High," Whistler explained. "The young lady should be getting out of school soon and she will be approached by her Watcher that will tell her of her destiny. It's going to be hard on her Angel," he explained.

Angel nodded.

"The car is in a shaded area right above here. The windows are already painted and the key is in. Meet me back here tonight and let me know what you want to do."

"All right," Angel agreed. He turned to climb the ladder to make his way up to the surface. Whistler turned and walked away.

***

After class, Willow waited outside of the school for Xander to appear.

"Hey Will's," Xander greeted as he walked up behind her.

The redhead smiled as her crush walked up to her.

"Ready to go?" He asked.

Willow nodded. He smiled as they started to walk home. The walk was the usual walk. Joking, playing, pretending to fight as they walked home.

"I forgot to tell you what happened in computer class," Willow said as she pulled her book bag on her shoulder.

Her best friend turned and looked at her as they continued to walk.

"Before class started Buffy was asking . . . ," she was cut off by Xander repeating Buffy's name.

"Buffy . . . what about Buffy?"

Willow shook her head at her friend's enthusiasm.

"Well, Mr. Impatient, she asked me ‘where do we go to have fun,’ and I said ‘The Bronze.’ After I said it, Cordelia came in and told her about not hanging with us because we are not 'popular',” Willow explained.

"Well I guess that's the last time she will talk to us," Xander pouted. Xander felt that once people learn who are considered 'Popular' and who are considered 'Non-Popular' people they stop hanging around with them.

"No, she actually told Cordelia off, and the whole class didn't know how to react. After she told her off, she asked to meet her at the Bronze tonight at eight."

Xander looked wide eyed, as if not to believe what he had just heard.

"Are you serious?" He asked, surprised.

Willow nodded her head.

"What time?"

"At eight," she repeated. "I will meet you at the corner at seven, then we will go from there."

"Okay," he replied as they made it to her front porch. She turned and he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek like he does every day before walking off.

Willow blushed as she unlocked her door and walked in. To her, Xander was playing a dangerous game and didn't know it. She was in love with him, but he didn't know that she was, and that friendly kiss was all she needed to ensure that someday they would be together.

School grounds...........

Buffy Summers waited on the bottom step for her mother to pick her up. She sighed, knowing that things were going to be different now. Things were different, better here in Sunnydale.

"There she is, girls," Cordelia Chase spoke as her, Harmony, Joy, Amber, and Jessica walked up to Buffy.

Buffy stood, getting ready for anything they had coming.

"I tried to show her the right way, but she wanted to hang out with the lower classmen," she spoke as the other girls took in her appearance.

"She isn't that great looking anyhow," Harmony spoke, making the others giggle.

Buffy still didn't speak. She really wasn't ready to get into another argument. The blonde didn't know when her mom would pull up and she didn’t want her to see her arguing.

"Not much mouth on her now," Cordelia spoke.

Buffy couldn't take it one more second. "Look, you want-a-be's, I don't have time to write down my comments and that’s a shame because you wouldn’t understand what I am going to say in the first place. As for my looks, I am what I am, and some of you won't know exquisiteness if it fell from the sky and landed on your faces. I can get any male I want anything and have an intellectual banter that doesn’t include nails or hair as the theme," Buffy stopped and looked at their faces, which had complete shock and confusion on them. "If I lost any of you with that, then I have just proven my point."

The blonde stepped down the last step when she saw a man walking up to her.

"Oh no she didn't," Cordelia replied. The girls all turned and walked off.

"Are you Buffy Summers?" The mysterious man asked.

"Yes," Buffy answered, getting a little impatient with her mother's tardiness.

"Hi, I am here because I need to speak with you."

"Is this about the old gym because . . . ," she blurted out but was stopped by the man holding up his hand.

"No, this is about your destiny," he told her, looking in Buffy’s eyes.

"Destiny," she repeated. "What destiny?"

The man smiled making Buffy feel a little uncomfortable.

"You have the dreams, don't you?"

Buffy was shocked at his question. First of all, she wasn't supposed to be talking to a stranger. Second, how does he know what she had been dreaming?

As Buffy plundered the question, she never noticed the black car with black painted windows coming up to the school. Angel parked on the other side and watched Whistler's prediction about a man coming to talk to the one come true.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Then you are ready," he stated.

"Ready for what?"

"To fight the vampires of Sunnydale," he told her.

"Vampires . . . shit not here too," the blonde cursed, looking off from the man.

"Yes here. Sunnydale needs you to rid this place of evil."

"I don't think so," Buffy answered.

"Buffy, be at the cemetery at seven tonight," he completely ignored her respond.

"Seven, I told Willow I will meet them at eight."

"You will still have time for your engagement. I just wanted to show you that you were destined to help Sunnydale."

"Whatever," she spoke as her mom pulled up.

Buffy said her goodbyes as she walked up to the car.  Soon after Buffy pulled off, Angel drove off as well.

***

"How was your day, honey?" Joyce asked.

"Fine," Buffy blurted, a little disappointed in what she had just been told.

"Fine?" Her mother repeated. "Just fine?"

"It was ok. I met a girl named Willow and was asked to come to the Bronze tonight at seven," she answered, but lied about the time.

"That sounds fun. What is the Bronze?"

"It's a local teen hangout. Nothing much."

"Are you going?"

"Yeah, I told her I will be there and I will," Buffy explained.

"That's great," Joyce replied as she turned the corner to go toward their house.

Buffy sat back in her seat as she wondered how long it will take to say 'no' to the guy and how long will it take to get to the Bronze.

Later That Night…..…

Buffy landed on the ground with an ‘Oof!’

A vampire props himself over her, growling menacingly. She is very frightened, and looks around frantically for what to do. Angel watches from behind some gravestones. Buffy spots her stake, but can't reach it, so she just gets her hands underneath the vampire and pushes him off. He flies off of her and lands hard on his back.

“Oh, God . . . ,” Buffy whines.

She rolls onto her hands and knees and scrambles on all fours to retrieve her stake.

“Oh, God . . . Oh . . . Oh, God . . . Unh!”

She grabs the stake and quickly gets to her feet. She looks at it, unsure of what to do next. The vampire gets up and lunges at her. Reflexively, she grabs him, sidesteps him and sends him flipping over to the ground again, dazed. She looks at the vampire, amazed by what she just did. She glances back at the Watcher, down at her stake and then makes her move to dispatch the vampire. She quickly gets to her knees, raises the stake above her head and plunges it into him, but gets him in the gut instead of the chest.

“Oh! Not the heart!” She speaks frantically.

Angel watches, concerned. Buffy plunges the stake into the vampire again, and this time hit her mark. An instant later the vampire bursts into ashes. Buffy is caught by surprise, and she screams, jumps back, landing on her butt. She just stares at the ashes on the grass in wide-eyed shock. Behind her the Watcher steps up.

“You see? You see your power?” Her Watcher speaks as he walks up to her.

Buffy stood a little exhausted as she watched her Watcher. Angel continues to look at her.

“I am your watcher and I will be training you,” he explains. “Your training starts tomorrow.”

Sewers Same Night…

“I wanna help her,” Angel speaks as Whistler walks up to him. “I want . . . I wanna become someone.”

“God, jeez, look at you. She must be prettier than the last Slayer,” he speaks, making Angel look away. “This isn't gonna be easy. The more you live in this world, the more you see how apart from it you really are. And this is dangerous work. Right now, you couldn't go three rounds with a fruit fly!”

Angel speaks with resolve, “I wanna learn from you.”

“All right.”

“But I don't wanna dress like you,” he replies as he starts to leave.

Whistler follows Angel. “Again, you're annoying me. You're lucky we need you on our side.”

***

After Buffy's spoke to her Watcher she promised that she would meet with him tomorrow  night. As she walked out of the cemetery, she looked at her watched and noticed that she had less than five minutes to get to The Bronze. So running was an option.

The Bronze…

"I knew not to trust someone like her," Xander pouted.

"Xander, she said she will be here, so you will just have to wait for her to get here before you start drooling again," Willow teased.

"I don't drool."

"Well, the water is having trouble staying in your mouth when she's around. That is what is considered drooling," she advised.

Xander rolled his eyes while picking up his drink.  They both looked up at the same time to spot Harmony and Cordelia coming their way.

"Here comes another bad episode of 90210," Xander spoke. Willow on the other hand looked in a different direction, not wanting to be bothered tonight. This was a night she wanted to relax and enjoy her self. Maybe even get some smooches from Xander.

Harmony and Cordelia stopped right in front of the table.

"Well . . . well . . . if it isn't the rejects," Harmony teased, making Cordelia chuckle as she listened to her friend put the less popular people down.

The band started to play a delightful slow song as Buffy walked through the door around 8:15 p.m. She looked around and spotted Willow and Xander sitting at a table and a smiling Cordelia and Harmony standing around them.

"Don't they ever learn?" Buffy mumbled as she stormed over to the table.

Harmony's next comment was stopped as Buffy walked up to the table.

"Hey Buffy," Willow greeted.

"Hi Willow . . . Xander . . . Skanks," the blonde greeted.

"We are so outta here," Harmony replied to Buffy greetings.

"Before you two ladies leave I want you to know something," Buffy stated standing in front of them.

"What," Harmony bellowed.

"I don't care how things were before I came, but you can lay off Willow and Xander," Buffy told them.

"Whatever, new girl," Harmony spoke.

"No!" Cordelia screamed, walking extremely close to Buffy. "Just because you are new doesn't give to the right to take over."

"Cordelia, I sooooo see your nose broke right now," the blonde spoke, balling up her fist as she felt the anger going through her.

Cordelia rolled her eyes to her comment. Xander and Willow both watched, surprised at the event happening in front of them. They never thought that Buffy would be sticking up for them the way she was. Willow expected Buffy would start hanging out with them and start treating her and Xander the way the “popular” group did.

"I don't have the right? You don't have the right to treat people the way you do. Now, I am letting you know this only once more. Lay . . . Off . . . My . . . Friends," Buffy spoke smiling.

Both Harmony and Cordelia walked off. Buffy turned to Xander and Willow, smiling as she sat down in the seat.

"Hiya guys," Buffy greeted again.

"Hey," the both sung, a little shocked at what just happened.

As a fast song began to play, everyone jumped up out of his or her seats and started to dance. Buffy pulled both Willow and Xander by the hands onto the dance floor.

Willow was always shy and usually sits and watches, but she knew Buffy wasn't going to let her do that tonight. They all laughed as they jumped and danced to the song. After three songs, the trio walked back to the table.

"That was fun," Willow spoke.

"Yeah," Xander replied.

"I haven't had this much fun in a long time," Buffy said as she sat down next to Willow.

"I could use a drink," Xander stated.

"Ditto," Willow agreed.

"Me too," Buffy replied.

"Drinks are on the way, ladies," Xander agreed as he stood to go and get the drinks.

"So, this is The Bronze?" Buffy asked Willow.

"Yeah. It's a nice place to hang out when you want to relieve yourself from the real world," Willow replied, looking around.

A guy walked up to Willow as soon as she stopped talking.

"Hey, want to dance?" He asked. The redhead blushed as the handsome man asked her to dance over Buffy.

"I . . . I," was all she said.

"Go ahead, Willow. You have to exert yourself," Buffy stated.

Willow thought about it. It was time for her to stop being shy, nerdy Willow, and start being fun and exciting Willow.

"Okay," Willow replied taking the man's hand.

Buffy watched as the two walked over to the dance floor. The blonde didn't feel it at first, but now she did as she watched them. That man was giving her a really bad vibe. Buffy turned in her seat to watch as Willow and the man danced. To Buffy, the music faded and she couldn't see anything but Willow and the strange man.

"Where's Will's?" Xander asked as he sat back down, breaking Buffy's concentration.

"What . . . oh dancing," Buffy spoke, turning to Xander, then back to the dance floor. "Where did they go?" She asked standing.

"I don't know," Xander replied taking a sip. "Willow won't go anywhere with anyone."

"Probably not, but I just told her to be exertive and now it's my fault," Buffy stated. She ran through the crowd, looking for Willow and the man.

Once she made it out of the crowd, she noticed the door to the back was opened. Glad she had come with a stake. Buffy was pretty sure that the man was a vampire. Xander was close behind Buffy, wanting to help find Willow.

When Buffy went through the back door, she saw two people standing on the side of the wall and she could here Willow's pleas to stop and let her go.

"Hey, nice night tonight," Buffy said trying to get their attention.

"Go away, lady. Me and my girl here is just having a little argument," he lied.

“Buffy,” she heard Willow whimper.

"Well if you are her man, she hasn't mentioned you at all," the blond told him, getting a good grip on the stake.

"No one ever listens," the man replied, changing into his game face, hopping it would scare her away.

"You know they have creams for that," Buffy joked as the vampire growled and charged at her.

In a blink of the eye, Buffy pulled out the stake and pierced his heart. The vampire looked at Buffy, shocked before turning into dust.

Both Xander and Willow were shocked at what they just saw.

"Did you just . . . what happened?" Xander asked walking up to Willow. The redhead just shook her head as she hugged Xander.

"That was a vampire," Buffy explained.

"They are real?" Xander asked, now holding his frightened friend.

"Yes," Buffy tried to explain.

"And that makes you?"

Buffy took a long breath. "I am a vampire slayer. Well, that's what I learned earlier from my watcher."

"Okay," was all Xander could say.

"Let me walk you two home and I can explain the little bit I know about them," Buffy offered.

They all walked out of the alley and headed toward Willow's house first. Buffy tried her best to explain what was going on in Sunnydale, but was a bit clueless herself. Once Willow was safely home, she made sure Xander made it home safe, then she made her way home.

~Part: 3~

The next day Willow and Xander walked to their lockers, still trying to grasp what happened last night.

"Do you believe . . ." Xander stopped his question as he closed his locker door.

"Nope . . . still not computing right. I thought all that talk about vampires was false," Willow stated as she grabbed her math book from the locker then closed it.

Willow and Xander both exhaled in an effort to loosen their bodies and ease their minds. They headed to their math class knowing that neither of them had done any of their homework assignment last night. Who could do homework after seeing something like that?

***

"Look Rupert, I know it is a last minute change, but that girl's Watcher was killed last night after she left the cemetery," the Watcher Councilman explained to Rupert Giles while he unpacked his things in the Sunnydale High library.

Rupert Giles was called to come to Sunnydale weeks ago to help, aid, and learn from Buffy's Watcher, whenever she arrived. The fact that he was now dead made Giles her new Watcher.

"I just . . . just got this job. I am not ready to be a full time Watcher yet," he explained.

The Councilman looked at Giles with anger in his eyes. He knew Giles could do whatever he wanted to, as long as he put his mind to it.

"You are a great Watcher, Rupert, and you will be a great teacher for this girl. She is new just like you, so that means you both will learn together."

Giles nodded as he opened another box.

"I will do as I am told. I just hope that I don't steer this Slayer wrong," he replied.

"You won't. Her name is Buffy Summers. She is a blonde, thin, built girl," he tried to explain, "Very pretty . . . you can't miss her."

The man stood from the chair. "You have our number if you need any help," he stated as he headed for the doors.

Giles took a long breath as he finished unpacking his things.

***

Buffy had woken this morning with some back pain. That vampire really gave her a run for the money last night. She turned her head as she looked into the bathroom mirror once more to make sure she didn't have any facial bruises.

The bell rang for the next class, which meant she had her study hall, so she decided to go to the library to goof off. Buffy decided to check how Willow and Xander were doing during lunch. Buffy turned and headed out of the bathroom.

***

"You mean to tell me that Ms. Rosenberg doesn't have her homework?" Mr. Jackson announced to the class as Willow quietly answered his question.

"I forgot sir," she spoke making the class look at her strangely. They begin to whisper to each other about Willow. This was not normal for her not to have her homework done.

"You must have been hanging around Mr. Harris too long," he teased making the class giggle.

Xander gave the teacher a 'Kiss my ass' look as he looked up at him.

"Okay class I must admit that I gave a little more homework than expected, so I came to this conclusion...only because Ms. Rosenberg could not complete it herself. Now I will accept the assignment tomorrow with a five-point penalty or Monday at the latest with a ten-point penalty," he explained as he walked toward his desk.

"Ms. Rosenberg," he called as he walked up to his desk, "Please meet me after school," he told her making the class 'ohhhhh' thinking she was in trouble.

Willow responded with a quick nod.

"Okay class, open your books to page 205," he began to teach as he saw Willow's confused response.

***

"Hello," Buffy called out as she walked into the library. She crept around looking. The slayer stopped in front of the desk when she saw a book with the title 'Mystical Demons' on the cover. The blonde, being the person that she was, wanted to open the book but thought more about why a school library would have a book on demons.

Buffy was just getting ready to open the book when Giles stood from behind the counter scaring her.

"Oh My God," She screamed.

"I'm sorry I didn't hear you when you came in," Giles apologized. "You are?"

"Buffy . . . Buffy Summers," She replied. "I have study hall this period. Which looks like I am the only person," She stated looking around the library and noticed that no one was in there but her.

"No you are in the right place. I am Rupert Giles . . . your new," he looked at Buffy not sure how to say it, "Watcher."

Buffy jumped in shock, "You are my what?"

Giles cleared his throat, "Watcher."

"What happened to my old Watcher? Don't tell me that I get a new Watcher every day."

"No, no, no your Watcher….well a vampire got to him last night after you left," he explained.

Buffy felt badly about leaving in such a hurry last night, she knew it was her fault.

Not the one to argue any more about her destiny she looked at Giles and asked, "Well where do we start?"

Giles looked around searching for the right box.

"By reading your Slayer handbook here," Giles told her, pulling a book from one of the boxes.

He walked back over to hand it to her.

"A . . . book?"

"Yes, that's the first step to learning about being a Slayer. Second, we will begin training right after school."

"Is there going to be a test after the training or before?" She asked smiling.

"No test, just something for you to know," he explained. "I have some things already set up for you and once you master the basics then we can work on your strength."

Buffy nodded understanding what was needed of her.

"Okay right after school," she answered walking toward the library doors.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat making Buffy turned back around. "You can't tell anyone about your identity."

"OH!" Buffy quickly spoke. "See um . . . no . . . I did tell . . . see what happened . . ."

"Buffy you didn't," He answered getting a little upset.

The blonde dug her nails in the book a little, "Well I protected my friends last night and they saw the whole, me dusting a vampire thing."

Giles felt that he was already failing as a Watcher.

"Friends?" He asked.

"Only two."

"Make sure you read chapter three of your book, titled, 'A Slayer Must Never Identify Herself'," he suggested.

Buffy put her right hand over her heart, "I promise to not tell another living soul."

The slayer turned and walked out of the library just as the first bell rung. Giles shook his head and continued to unpack.

Lockers.......

"Hey guys," Buffy greeted as she walked up to the lockers.

"Hey Buffy," Both responded.

"Where are you having lunch today?"

"Cafeteria," Willow answered.

"Yeah, you tend to forget to pack a lunch when you are thinking about vampires that live in Sunnydale," He replied a little too loud for Buffy.

"Xander! We have to keep this a secret. Now the new librarian is my Watcher. I have to train today so I can't walk home with you guys."

"Oh man I almost forgot about swim practice after school," Xander replied closing his locker.

"That means I have to walk home alone?" Willow asked feeling a little left out.

"No you can come to the library and I'll walk with you later if you don’t mind waiting," Buffy suggested.

"Yeah Will’s you can do that right after you meet with . . . 'The Teeee . . . achhhh . . . eeer," Xander teased.

Buffy looked around as Willow began to blush.

"Who is the teacher?" Buffy asked.

Since Willow didn't speak Xander decided he would, "The teacher is every sophomore's dream man. He teaches tenth grade Algebra and everyone wants to go to his class and everyone has a crush on him because he is handsome and looks like he lifts weights," he made a gagging face of the last part.

Buffy turned to a now redder than her hair Willow.

The conversation stopped as Cordelia and the four girls walked past them. Neither one of them stopped nor even looked their way as they walked passed them.

"That was . . . different," Xander spoke.

Buffy smiled looking as the group walked down the hallway, "Yep all it took was a little threat and they are all chicken at heart."

"Everyone has a teacher crush Willow. Do you know what he wants?" Buffy spoke deciding to bring back up the joke.

"No he just wants me to come after school."

"Well after lunch you can tell me all about him in computer class," Buffy advised as she grabbed Willow around the neck and walked her towards the cafeteria. Xander followed closely behind in efforts to hear some juicy girls' gossip.

After School....

Xander walked into the swim team locker room.

"Xander my man you made it," Pete greeted, giving Xander a hearty handshake.

"The X man is here what do I do first?"

"First you change into these," Pete answered grabbing a pair of Speedos out of the uniform closet.

"Kinda small, aren't they?" Xander asked making everyone laugh.

"They help you swim faster," Gage explains.

Xander grabs the swim trucks and starts to undress as the others finish getting ready.

Coach Marin walks into the locker room, "Okay you lazy bums let's get out, give me ten laps and Gage call off the exercises today."

"Yes sir, Coach," Gage answered. "Okay let's go let's go fellows," Gage hurries everyone.

Xander moved faster to get his Speedos on. He runs behind the other guys to line up with them.

Gage began to call out different exercises from jumping jacks to push ups. Xander tries his best to hang in. It has been a long time since he worked out.

Back in the Locker room.....

"Coach Marin," Principal Flutie calls out as he walks into the locker room. "This has *got* to stop. Those poor children."

Coach Marin looks at Principal Flutie with content in his eyes. "What, are you a quitter? We got no room for quitters on *this* team. You wanted this, you started this, and I am going to keep it going.”

"Do you even understand what's happening? Listen to yourself."

"I'm very close to perfecting this. We just need to adjust the mix," he explained.

They head down some stairs to the pool equipment room below.

"You can't be thinking of continuing to expose these boys. They can't take any more."

Coach Marin just keeps walking as he speaks, "They're gonna be the best. I don't accept anything less."

"They're gonna be monsters. Please don't make it any worse. You've already lost three."

The coach stops and looks at the Principal.

"Lost? Why, they're not lost."

He grabs him by the arms, pulls him around and shoves him down into a hole to a pool of water in the sewers below. Flutie screams as he falls. The water is not deep, and he quickly gets to his feet, wipes the water from his eyes and looks up at him through the hole.

"What are you doing?!" Flutie calls out.

Coach Marin looks down in the hole, "I'm just lookin' after my boys. They may be out of the game right now, but they're still a team. And a team's gotta eat."

He lifts the grating back into place.

"Carl!" He yells.

"You quitter," Coach Marin mumbles.

He stands there to watch as Principal Flutie looks around and begins to panic. Suddenly he screams and gets pulled under the water.

The coach starts to walk off without looking back.

Library.......

Buffy jabs and kicks at the punching bag as Giles instructs her when she is making a wrong move or not.

"No Buffy you have to concentrate and hit your mark," he yells out as she goes another round with the bag.

After ten more minutes Giles stops her.

"Okay, give me a hundred jumps on the rope then you may go," he states "But be back tonight to go patrolling.”

{About time} Buffy thought as she walked up to the table and grabbed the jump rope.

You could hear the rope howling as she starts to jump.

***

"Okay swim team take position," Coach Marin calls out as he exits the locker room.

The team runs and gets on their platforms. Everyone except Xander.

"Harris, you're on the last platform now!" Coach Marin orders.

Xander moves quickly and gets in position. He shoots the gun and everyone dives in perfectly expect Xander, who does a belly buster.

The coach shakes his head, thinking that he was not a perfect pick. The others do the ten laps quickly then jump out of the pool.

"Okay guys hit the steam room," he suggested as Gage walks up to him.

"Are you ready to expose him already?"

"No I will make him do another round or two which will give you enough time in the steam room."

Gage looked at his coach, "When?"

"Soon but not too soon," the coach answers as Gage walks off.

"Okay Harris three more laps just because you are the new guy," Coach Marin explains as he walks up to the end of the pool.

Xander nods and starts swimming back to the other end.

Jackson's classroom.........

"I'm here Mr. Jackson?" Willow asked nervously as she walks in.

"Ah! Ms. Rosenberg. Come in."

Willow walks in and leans on his desk.

"I called you here to talk to you about your performance lately," he states as he walks up to her making Willow jump a little.

He stops just outside of her personal zone.

"I have high hopes for Xander, and since I see that public humiliation is not going to help the poor boy, I thought you might help him by tutoring him."

"Tutor? I can be his tutor," Willow explained exhaling.

"Good," he spoke sending chills up Willow's spine as he touched her on her shoulder. "I will also give you extra marks for helping him."

"Okay," she agreed. She always liked extra marks. Mr. Jackson started to rub Willow's shoulder, making her feel a little uncomfortable. He smiled, seeing her reaction. The red head didn't move as his hand slightly grazed the side of her breast as he rubbed down her arm.

He didn't know why but Willow was an attractive student to him, always was, and always has been. To him she just didn't see her inner beauty.

Willow on the other hand didn't like the way the situation was turning out. She liked Mr. Jackson but he was old . . . {nooo the rumor was he was only 21 so he couldn't be her dad} she thought.

{Oh God . . . Oh God . . . Oh God} she thought as she felt herself blushing.

"Willow," Buffy called out as she walked into the classroom. Mr. Jackson immediately separated from Willow.

"Hey Buffy," she greeted, trying to talk calmly.

Mr. Jackson was upset that he had been interrupted, he wanted Willow. Shit he was only 21 and she was what, 17? What was the harm in dating?

"Walk you home?" Buffy asked not noticing the tension in the room. Willow felt her cheeks had stopped burning, which meant she wasn't blushing anymore.

"Yeah as soon as I finish here," Willow explained as she turned to her teacher, "Am I finished?"

"Yes you may go," Mr. Jackson advised as he sat hard in his seat.

***

They both walked to the swim team locker room in an effort to find Xander and maybe get a look at all the hotties.

"No hotties," Willow pouted as they looked at the pool.

"Only Xander getting out," Buffy spoke.

{He is pretty hot} Willow thought as Xander grabbed a towel off the bench.

"What's up?" Xander asked walking up to the girls.

Willow didn't speak because her mind was focused on the way the water ran off his body and the way his hair on his stomach disappeared behind the towel. The red head shook the fog after hearing him speak again.

"Are you two waiting for me?"

"Yeah Xander, so go dry off and we can walk home together," Buffy ordered sitting on the bench.

Willow quickly followed Buffy’s move. Xander turned and headed toward the locker room.

Buffy shook her head making Willow look at her.

"What!" Willow asked.

"Look at you," Buffy spoke.

Willow really wasn't following Buffy. She looked down at her clothes.

"Look at me what?" She asked after not seeing any out of place clothes or anything on them.

"You have the hots for Xander," Buffy stated.

The red head opened her mouth a couple of time but no words came out. She opened her mouth again, "I do not."

"Yes you do . . . since when?"

Willow took a long breath, "Since forever, but he doesn't notice."

"Have you ever told him?"

"No!" She screamed. "And you don't either."

"Why not, you two seem to care for each other?"

"It's not that I don't care for Xander but I want him to come to me on his own not by me pushing myself on him or someone pushing him."

Buffy nodded fully understanding what Willow wanted.

"Ready to go?" Xander crept up from behind.

"Yeah," Buffy replied standing. Willow followed as they headed out of the area.

On the way home Buffy explained that she had to go patrolling tonight and she wanted them to stay in their homes. With a couple of pouted lips they both agreed.

Angel’s apartment……..

Angel was quite impressed at Whistler’s ability to get him an apartment, clothing, and blood before dawn. Living in a nice apartment with covered windows beats living in the alleys and sewers any day. The dark haired vampire knew that this was going to be a challenge but after he got a lot of blood in him and he took a nice long shower to scrub all the years of filth away, he was ready to start his training.

The better part of the morning Angel did the basic martial art techniques and a bit of yoga. Just to see if he still had the fight in him. He knew that he wasn't strong enough to go up against the enemy yet but he wanted to make his presence known to the Slayer.

Angel laughed to him self as he did his cool down period. He never thought in all his two hundred plus years, that he would be helping a vampire Slayer. He was helping the people that are set out to help rid the Earth of his own kind. He decided to get a couple hours of sleep then he should be fully regenerated. After a nap he would go and look for the Slayer, hoping that she would be out patrolling tonight.

After Sunset.........

Buffy walked cautiously down an alley. She didn't know why but she had the strangest feeling that she was being followed.

The slayer looked down trying not to let the follower know she knew. As she bent down to look as if she was picking up something, the person came up behind her. Buffy did a quick roundhouse sweep making the person fall to the ground with an 'Oof'.

"Remind me not to sneak up on you," Angel told her getting up off the ground.

"Yeah...why are you following me anyhow?" She asked standing up straight.

"I wanted to give you this," he offered her as he reached in his pocket and pulled out what looked like a jewelry case. Angel smirked as he opened the case revealing a pretty silver cross.

Buffy tensed up not knowing what he was reaching for. Once she saw the case she ease up a little then looked up into his dark chocolate eyes, "Sorry but I don't take gifts from strangers."

"My name is Angel, and your name is?" He asked already knowing.

She carefully looked at the stranger. He was a handsome man and God he had the most magnificent puppy dog eyes.

"Buffy," she answered.

"Now we are not strangers anymore. I am here to help you and you will need this. Now take it," Angel ordered handing her the box again.

Buffy stared for a moment or two before quickly grabbing the box making it shut.

"Ok thanks," she responded. "Now could you stop following me and let me get back to work."

Angel didn’t answered he just smiled as he turned and walked out of the alley and headed back to his apartment.

Harris residence.............

Xander jumped when he heard a knock at the door. He couldn't help it he was home alone and after figuring out that there night creatures he was a bit jumpy.

{Now what was it about vampires? Oh yeah! Do not invite them in} He thought getting up from the couch, heading for the door.

"Who is it?" He called out still not opening the door.

"Cordelia Chase," he heard the girl’s voice responding from the other side.

"Yeah right.....Cordelia Chase at my house."

"Look, open the door and see for yourself."

Xander couldn't pass up the opportunity. He grabbed the knob to open the door while jumping back after the door was fully opened, just in case it was a vampire.

"See it's me now let me in," Cordelia ordered as she pushed past him and walked into the living room.

Xander closed the door. He was still shocked that it was really her.

"Can I help you?" He asked while he walked into the front room behind her. He noticed Cordelia looking around taking in the scenery.

"Is there anyone here?" She asked tapping her foot.

"No...Why?"

Cordelia didn’t respond she just walked up to him quickly. She grabbed the back of his head and kissed him hard. Xander was shocked…Cordelia Chase was kissing him. He proceeded by grabbing her closer just to see if this was a game she was playing or was it real.

Cordelia moan as she came into contact with his obvious arousal, which she had caused. Xander shook some of the fog and pulled back.

"Cordelia," he called out not knowing if she really wanted this or not.

"Shut up and just fuck me," she stated.

Xander was not one to pass up a good fuck since this would be his first time...well first time without having to use his own hand. He quickly pulled her down, making him land on his back on the floor with her sitting on top of him.

Cordelia didn't waste any time. She quickly unzipped his pants and freed his cock. Once his cock was freed, she rubbed the tip of it, massaging his head with her thumb, making it jump. Cordelia was surprised that he was as big as he was. Not wanting to wait any longer, she rose up a little. She was glad she had on a skirt with no panties on.

Xander hissed as Cordelia slowly took his hard cock inch by inch into her wet and hot pussy.

{Oh God to good too good...think baseball. no soccer anything it can't end as fast as it starts} Xander argued in his mind as he reached up and grabbed her hips slowing her down. She was riding him too hard and fast, which meant it might be over before it started. He lifted his head a bit to see his cock disappearing in her every time she came down hard. He could see his hairs were coated with her juices.

"God Xander," she moaned taking as much as he can into her then raising back up until nothing was left in but the head in before coming down hard again.

Xander could feel her walls gripping him. This was much, much better than his own hands. He could feel her getting hotter and wetter. Xander didn't know what really was happening. He came long and hard sending his seeds deep within her, making her come hard, yelling his name.

"That was too good," Xander spoke first. They both was still connected at the pelvis and breathing hard.

As Cordelia started to get up the friction caused Xander cock to jump a little. He hissed again as she stood completely off him. She began to rearrange her clothes as Xander tuck himself back in his pants. Xander stood next to her looking deep in her eyes and for the first time he saw that she was a beautiful person.

"Why?" He whispered.

The brunette didn't know what to tell him and now she has experience it she was scared to tell the truth. He was the second person she has ever been with and he was wonderful.

"I..well….Do you want to know why I picked on you?" She asked as she sat down.

He followed her and sat beside her, "Yes."

"At first it was just annoying. Dreaming about you almost every night, you acting goofy with Willow during the day. After many nights of watching you pine for Willow in my dreams you finally noticed me. In my dreams we talked and had fun, then we finally had sex. I couldn't take it anymore. I had to have you, see if you were as good as in my dreams. Now that I have had you it was just like my dreams…better even."

"But that still doesn't explain why," Xander responded trying to follow what she was saying.

"I picked on you and her because I wanted you and I thought you wanted her."

"Willow?"

"Yes her."

"Willow is my best friend. We don't see each other like that. I love her but as my friend. I would die for her and I think she would do the same but as for lovers, that could never be."

"But does she feel that way about you? I believe Willow loves you Xander."

"Nooooo...well yeah but not like that."

Cordelia felt lower than scum. She should have never put them through what she had for the past year and she definitely wouldn't have pulled her friends into this.... HER FRIENDS.... OH GOD. She quickly jumped up, not knowing how they would react to this new relationship.

Xander stood and followed her as she made an attempt to go to the door. She had the door opened and was almost out when Xander grabbed her arm and pulled her back to the doorframe. He leaned up against her and kissed her fiercely. Cordelia didn't know what was going on. Xander had made her stomach do flip-flops, just from a kiss.

They both were so into the kiss they didn't see the approaching person. After Xander pulled back for some much needed air he looked into Cordelia’s lust filled eyes. He knew what was on her mind and he knew she could feel what was on his.

"Cordy," he whispered rubbing his covered cock up against her making her juices flow. "I want you so badly. I know this relationship probably can't be publicized yet and I don't care. I just want you." He was getting ready to go in for another long kiss and hoped that he could persuade her to come back into the house, but was stopped by the sound of shoes on his porch.

When both of them turned they saw a teary eyed Willow standing in the doorway. Willow couldn't speak, she could only feel her heart being ripped out of her body.

"Xander how could you?" she whispered, turning and running off in the other direction. Willow had thought about it and decided to tell Xander that she loved him and wanted to be more than friends.

"Willow," he yelled letting go of Cordelia.

He knew that she shouldn’t be out at night by herself. Xander stopped and looked at Cordelia.

"I told you she loved you," Cordelia told him as she walked down the last step.

"Cordy," he spoke.

"No, take care of her it will be time for us later," she explained with a brief kiss on his lips.

Xander could only stand on his porch completely shocked. Cordelia had done a 180 with her emotions and it scared the hell out of him but he couldn't think about it right now, he had to find Willow. Xander ran back inside to grab his keys then headed out the house shutting and locking the door behind him.

From the way she was running she had to be running....

"To the park," he spoke out loud running that way.

***

"Lousy jerk," Willow mumbled on the swings. "How could he? I thought he loved me!"

The red head swings softly back and forward kicking the dirt off the ground.

"Willow," she quietly heard her name being called.

"Go away Xander."

"Why...what's wrong."

"What's wrong....WHAT’S WRONG," She yelled as he stood in front of her, which probably wasn't a good idea with his family jewels in the open. "You are the President of the 'I hate Cordelia club' and you ask me what's wrong."

"I know Willow, but she came over and it just happened," he spoke sitting on the swing beside her.

"Oh I see she just tripped and landed on your dick," she joked but not on purpose. "I love you and you treat me like this."

"I love you too Willow, but I thought we were friends."

Willow turned slowly looking at him on the swing, "You tell me out of all these years you never saw me as anything more than a friend?"

Xander was quiet as he thought about the question. Cordelia was right. Willow loved him more than as friends. He didn't see their relationship like that. He only saw it as a long time friendship.

"I'm sorry Willow. I didn't know," he answered seeing the tears stream down her face.

Willow shook her head and wiped the tears from her eyes, "Do you love her?"

"No Willow. I don't know what I feel for Cordelia. She comes and tells me about some dreams she was having about us then she just decided to come over and fuck. I don't know what it is," he tried to explain.

The red head nodded as she started to swing again. Xander smiled knowing that Willow was accepting what she was being told, but quietness was the only way she knew how to get over it.

Minutes later they both jumped up off the swings when they heard a scream from behind. When they turned and look they saw a vampire turning into dust and Buffy standing behind it.

"Buffy," Willow spoke.

"Didn't I tell you two to stay inside?" Buffy chastised putting the stake back into her pocket.

"We know but..." Xander stopped talking not wanting to tell what happened between him and Cordelia.

"We were talking and forgot, Buffy," Willow jumped in.

Buffy turned to take a nice long look at Willow. She could see the redness in her eyes identifying that she had been crying.

"You sure you are okay?" Buffy asked Willow.

Willow nodded while speaking, "Yeah I'm okay."

"That's good, let’s get you two home then," Buffy replied.

They all walked out of the park and headed for Xander's house first. Buffy thought it would be a good idea to drop him off first so that she could talk to Willow.

***

After they dropped Xander off, they walked towards Willow's house.

"Where did you get the necklace Buffy it's beautiful?" Willow asked as they walked down the street.

"From this guy," Buffy replied.

"Ohhhhhh! A guy! What type of guy gives necklaces?"

"A very annoying one," she responded grabbing the necklace, "He told me he was here to help me and I needed to wear this. I thought about throwing it away but it was kinda pretty so I kept it," she explained, letting it go.

"What's his name? Is he cute?" Willow curiously wanted to know.

"His name is Angel and he is handsome...but annoying…and soooo not my type," Buffy told her with a smirk. "So what happened with you and Xander?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"I would believe anything after I found out about vampires," Buffy joked.

Willow thought about keeping it a secret but Buffy was her friend and Buffy had shown her that she wanted to be best friends.

"He slept with Cordelia."

"NO! Not the girl I had to threaten to make her leave you two alone."

"Yes her. Something about a dream and she wanting him...and yada...yada...yada," She explained as she walked up to the house.

"Well I'm sorry. Did you tell him about you know….about your feelings?"

"Sort of but I'll be fine."

Willow reached in her pocket and took out her keys.

"Hey Willow I have to check in with Giles, so I have to go but what about a sleep over? It's a three day weekend with Memorial Day coming up."

"That would be great Buffy," she agreed walking into the house.

Buffy waited until the door was closed before heading back to the library.

***

Library...twenty minutes later.

"I don't know Giles some annoying man gave it to me," Buffy spoke showing Giles the necklace Angel had given her.

"He just came out of nowhere?"

"Yes...did I mention he was cute and annoying? And not my type."

Giles took off his glasses and began to clean them, "Yes...you have obviously."

He placed the glasses back on. "How many vampires did you see tonight?" He asked changing the conversation.

"I saw seven and killed six."

"Why only six?"

"I could have killed them all, but one was attacking my friends, which gave the other one time to get away."

Giles nodded and walked over grabbing an old book.

"I need you here Sunday morning to help me do some research."

"Research? I thought that was your department," Buffy answered thinking that he would do the reading and she would do the slaying.

"I know but something big is coming something about "Ascension' and the destruction of the world," he explained looking in the book.

Buffy pouted a little then thought, "Can Xander and Willow come?"

"I don't think that would be a good idea Buffy."

"It would be a great idea.... Look you have books we have to read, and the more readers the more we can get done," She explained.

{More like the faster} Buffy thought.

Giles didn't want to agree to something like that. A Slayer didn't need help from outsiders.

"I'll let you know," he advised. "Until then you may go."

"Great," Buffy spoke not wasting a second to get out of the library door.

Giles returned to his original position at the desk reading.

~Part: 4~

Saturday Night . . . Buffy's House

"You want me to make more popcorn?" Buffy asked as she looked at the empty bowl.

"No thanks I am stuffed Buffy," Willow answered lying back on the floor where the both of them were sitting.

They had eaten; painted each other nails; did each other’s hair, and now were watching some movies on the television.

Buffy stood grabbing the bowl off the floor to take it into the kitchen. She walked back into the room minutes later and hit the stop button on the DVD player.

"Hey it was just getting to the good part," Willow told her.

"I know we can watch it later. My parents just left so that means I can play my music as loud as I want," she explained as she walked over to her radio and pressed the play button.

As the song began to play Buffy began to nod her head. Willow began to feel the music also and stood up. They both started to dance to the song. Swinging their hair, jumping around to the song. While they continued their fun neither noticed the person watching them from the streets.

Angel stood outside of the Slayer's house watching them. He couldn't wait to see Buffy in action but was surprised when she wasn't out patrolling tonight. Since he didn't see her out he decided to check to make sure she was in. If she was he would do a quick sweep then head in but something had the vampire’s eyes the moment he saw them through the window. The red head dancing with the slayer, she was beautiful to him. She seemed to be having fun.

Angel could see that Buffy had on a nightgown but Willow was wearing nothing but shorts and a small tee shirt. He figured he better leave before his mind began to wonder. The dark vampire started to walk off but took one more glance at them before leaving.

As Angel walked through the cemetery he didn't spot any new graves so that probably meant there wasn't going to be any action tonight either.

He started to walk back home in order to train some more and probably get a good days sleep for once.

***

Both girls giggled as they stop dancing hours later. Buffy tensed when she heard a knock on the front door.

"Who could that be?" Buffy wondered as she headed downstairs to the door. She grabbed her knob and walked to the door with Willow closely behind her.

After another knock she opened the door.

"Hey girls . . . heard about the party so I decided to join," Xander spoke in the highest girl pitch voice he could. He had on an awful blonde wig with pink lipstick and some goofy pajamas that were pink.

Both girls bit their bottom lip in order to not laugh but it was a losing battle. They both fell into a fit of giggles leaning on each other for support.

Buffy caught her breath long enough to say, "Hold on one second." She closed the door a little.

"I can't believe he did that," Buffy told Willow still laughing.

Willow just shrugged her shoulders as she got herself together, "What can I say he's like that."

"Should we invite him in?"

"Well this is supposed to be our night but we really, I mean really, shouldn't send him back out like that."

Buffy turned back to open the door and invited him in. She held up her hand as he started to walk in, "Hold on you can come in if you lose the outfit."

Xander quickly took off the wig and pajamas. He wiped his lips with the pants. Seeing that he was fit to come in now, Buffy let him pass. The trio headed up stairs to Buffy’s room.

"Where did you get that from anyhow?" Willow giggled as she still could see traces of the lipstick.

"Mom gave it to me," he replied, sitting the clothes on the dresser.

"Weird family," Buffy teased as she sat down on her bed.

***

"So what are we doing tonight?" Xander asked sitting on Willow's pillow on the floor.

"Watching a movie then going to sleep."

"That's it no . . . spin the bottle . . . no dark secrets revealed . . . nothing at all?"

“No bottle spinning here Xander, because you are the only guy,” Buffy stated.

“That’s the beauty of it.”

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Sorry Xander but you missed all the juicy stuff. It's now going on one in the morning and it's time to . . . hey wait a minute how did you know we were still awake," Willow pondered looking at Xander.

"Well once I saw you two dancing and Buffy’s parents leaving, I put on the lipstick and the wig at the front door."

"What did I tell you about walking around at night?" Buffy chastised.

"I know I know but I haven't talked to my best bud since the problem happened."

Willow smiled as sat next to him. After Buffy pressed the play button again, she laid at the foot of her bed.

While the movie played they all got sleepy. Xander was on his back so Willow could lie on his chest. Buffy was falling asleep on the end of the bed.

Angel didn't go straight home like he wanted, somehow he ended up back at the slayer's house. As he looked, he could feel a slight pain when he saw the redhead lying on the chest of some boy. He turned and walked away quickly. How could he have been so stupid to think that she wouldn't have someone?

***

The next morning Willow was the first to wake up. She smiled noticing that she had slept on Xander's chest the whole night, just like they used to do. When Willow moved Xander woke up and said his good mornings. That woke Buffy up.

The blonde looked at the clock and noticed it was nine.

"Great I have to be at the library in less than an hour," Buffy mumbled still half sleepy.

"Do you still want us to come?" Willow offered her and Xander's assistance.

"Sure," she answered as she heard a knock on her door making them jump. "First we have to get Xander out of here before my parents find him." She looked around at her room.

"Window . . . go out the window and climb down the side of where the roses are, I do it all the time," she ordered.

Xander stood quickly before going out the window.

"Meet us at the library," Buffy mumbled as she let her window down and Willow opened the door.

"Hey mom," Buffy greeted turning around as her mom walked into the room.

"Hello girls," Joyce greeted, "Do you girls want something to eat?"

Buffy looked at Willow then back to her mom. "No thanks mom, we will grab a quick snack on the way to the library."

"Library on a Sunday?"

"Yeah big . . . um . . . test tomorrow . . . Willow's helping me," She quickly spoke.

"No problem. Have a good time," Joyce stated as she turned and walked out of Buffy's room.

"That was close," Buffy took a long breath.

"Too close," Willow agreed, "Let's get dressed and get to the library."

***

The girls both dressed and headed to the library. They both were just walking up the steps when they saw Xander coming up.

"Hey girls," he greeted as he walked up.

"Hey," they said in unison as they headed inside the school.

The trio walked in and sat at the table.

"Giles," Buffy called as she entered the library.

"Guess he's not here yet," Buffy figured.

They all jumped when they heard footsteps coming from the top floor of the library.

"You all are a bit jumpy," Angel spoke coming from down the last step.

Buffy was surprise to see him there. She smiled as she stood walking over to him.

"Guys this is Angel," Buffy announced, "Angel this is Willow and her best friend Xander."

Angel couldn't have heard better news other than them saying vampires could walk under the sun. He was her friend.

"Hello Willow," He greeted taking her hand, "Xander," he did the same.

"Hiya Angel," Willow spoke, looking at the dark man. Buffy was right. He was handsome. Probably way out of her league. The way he was looking at her was making her squirm in her seat.

"Angel . . . that's a funny name for a man," Xander whispered, getting a quick kick from Willow. He didn't like the way he was looking at Willow or her looking at him.

“Ouch,” he almost screamed rubbing his legs.

Buffy walked back over and sat at the table. Giles walked through the library doors making everyone look at him.

"Hello . . . ev . . . ery . . . bo . . . dy," Giles greeted a library full of people when it should have only been one. Buffy jumped up while everyone greeted Giles.

"Buffy why is there an everybody?" Giles whispered to her.

"Well Willow and Xander came with me . . . Angel was here when we got here."

"Angel is that the guy?"

Buffy nodded to his question.

"Very well let's get on with it," he spoke for everyone to hear. "I wanted to start with the Ascension but something else is important now."

"I've heard about the Ascension," Angel answered sitting to the table.

"Really? Any useful information?"

"A couple of books here and there, I could get them for you," he replied looking over at the redhead then back to Giles.

"Great that would be very helpful . . . but first we have to find out about Coach Marin."

"My coach," Xander jumped in.

"You're on the swim team Xander?" Giles asked.

"Yeah I only had one practice."

"That's probably good for you because a person that knows Principal Flutie came to me last night. He told me that he saw the coach push principal Flutie into a sewer and that was the last time he heard from him. Also he informed me that the team is being fed some type of drug to help them swim faster but instead it's changing them. He said the coach has lost three others."

"And how did you get such useful information?" Buffy inquired.

"To tell you the truth is was Gage."

"Gage! He's on the team."

"I know but now he's dead," Giles told them, "I had to kill him."

"What!" Everyone said out loud.

"Sorry Xander but he turned into this awful demon right in front of my eyes. I guess that's what happened to the rest of them."

Xander couldn't say anything to what he was being told.

“Do you know what type of monster?” Buffy asked.

“No just that it was green and slimy. I don’t know what type but I drew this picture here,” Giles held up the picture giving it to Buffy. She cringed up her nose and past it along.

"Xander have you been given any drugs or anything like that?" Willow asked.

"No . . . nothing like that I just swam when the team went into the steam room."

"When is your next practice?" Giles asked.

"Tomorrow."

"Fine . . . you find out as much as you can about this drug," he ordered looking at Xander.

Xander agreed with a quick nod. "Buffy I want you to go with him and Willow if you wouldn't mind I heard you were a computer genius, I would like for you to help me research some information off the computer."

"No problem Giles," Willow agreed.

"Angel if you could get me those books, it would be helpful,” Giles looked at him wondering why he was here? “What do you do exactly?"

Angel smiled, not ready to tell them of his secret, "I was sent here by a friend to help the Slayer, so I can patrol with her."

"That would be helpful," Buffy jumped. "He could help tonight right Giles?"

"O . . . Okay," Giles spoke. "After we figure out about the coach, we can start on the Ascension thing. As for now, Angel, you can spar with Buffy. Xander, hit the books and Willow, the computer."

They all jumped up getting ready to start their day.

***

Buffy started on the bag while Angel held it. "So," she said as she kicked, "What your deal?" Buffy was never the one to beat around the bush when it came to boys or men.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you have a girl friend?" She punched the bag, "Wife?" another punch, "Anyone?"

Angel was shocked at the slayer's line of questioning.

"No . . . why do you ask?" He held the bag as she went another set.

"Just wondering because I see the way you look at my friend and I thought maybe you might like her."

"What makes you think I like her or she would like me?"

"Heck . . . I see the way she looks at you," she stopped and looked at him, "I would go for you myself but you are sooo not my type." She hit the bag again, catching him a little off balance.

"How old are you?"

Angel smirked. He wasn't going to tell her that he was a two hundred plus year old vampire with a soul.

"I'm old enough not to tell you how old I am."

Buffy shook her head as she started to stretch, "Be that way," she mumbled.

After exercising for two hours and getting the fifth degree from Buffy about him liking Willow, they both headed back to the rest of the group.

***

"Hey guys, have a nice workout?" Willow asked looking up from the computer.

"Yes," Angel answered sitting at the table. He was a bit tired himself but was ready to go out and fight tonight.

"Wonderful," Buffy answered.

"Buffy, you wouldn't believe the things Willow has found on the Ascension."

"Really?" Buffy asked walking over to them.

"Genius, pure genius here," Giles watched as Willow typed on the computer. “I never liked these things. Give me a pen and paper any day.”

The group giggled.

"She has more luck than me," Xander grumbled from behind one of the thick books.

As she continued the search, afternoon turned into evening.

"I'm hungry," Willow announced.

"I'm down with going on a run for everyone," Xander agreed wanting to get out of researching.

"That would be great," Giles jumped in.

"Willow? Any suggestions?" Her best friend asked.

"Subs."

Xander looked at Giles, "What about you G-man."

"That would be good as long as you bring me some tea."

"Buffy." Xander spoke.

"Hey I'm good with subs and make sure you bring some chips," Buffy answered.

"And sodas and candy," Willow jumped in.

"That's added to the list," Xander made a mental list of items to get. "What about you Angel?"

"Nothing for me," he answered looking up from behind the book.

Everyone looked at him as to see what the problem was.

"Are you sure?" Willow asked.

"I am fine Willow," He assured her.

"I have the list, I know where to go, now the only thing I need is the money," he stated looking at Giles.

Giles shook his head and reached into his pocket pulling out his wallet while mumbling something about 'Might as well house them too'.

Everyone giggled at Giles statement. Xander took the money and headed out to get the snacks.

***

Xander returned forty-five minutes later with snacks for everyone, even Angel just in case he wanted to eat. By the time he had gotten back everyone was pretty much talking. Giles and Buffy were in the office discussing Slayer business. Angel and Willow were sitting at the table smiling as they talked to each other.

Angel was really beginning to fall for her and this was their first encounter. He found out she was smart, beautiful, and he could tell she was a bit shy.

"Food is served," Xander announced as he placed the bags down on the table.

Willow excused herself from Angel then jumped up from her seat as Xander set the items on the table. He had five turkey subs, a six pack of coke, a Snickers bar for Willow, tea for Giles, a big bag of potato chips for Buffy, and some grapes.

Giles and Buffy walked out of the office and grabbed their food and went to the counter. "Xander, when you get your food, come here . . . we need to discuss what you are going to do tomorrow," Giles ordered.

Willow ate quietly and was finished with her sub by the time Angel came to the step where she sat to enjoy her lunch.

"May I?" he asked permission before sitting.

"Sure Angel," she smiled at him.

"Have some?" Willow asked as she grabbed the grapes.

Angel shook his head.

"Come on Angel you're not ashamed to eat in front of a girl are you?" She teased holding up a grape. Angel, being the vampire that he was, food never sedated his hunger. He could eat it but it wasn't fulfilling. He bent and took the grape from Willow with his mouth. He mistakenly touched her finger making Willow jerk back from the feeling.

Angel jumped also, "Sorry Willow."

She smiled, "Not a problem."

They continued to sit and talk as Giles, Buffy and Xander came up with a plan for tomorrow.

Later that night . . .

Giles made sure that Xander and Willow made it home safely while he sent Angel and Buffy off patrolling.

"Bye Giles," Willow said as the car drove off.

Giles took Xander home next then headed home himself.

Cemetery . . .

"Angel watch out," Buffy screamed as a vampire came up behind him.

Angel ducked, and the vampire flipped over Angel's back and landed on his back. Buffy dropped to her knees beside the fallen vampire and staked him in the heart. The vampire burst into dust.

"Thanks."

"No problem," she said getting up off her knees.

"That makes, what, five in the past two hours," Buffy trying to keep up with the count.

"Yep . . . about five."

“That's my limit, I am going home,” she told him as she grabbed her bag off the ground. They walked out of the cemetery and headed in for the night.

"So I see you like my friend Willow?" Buffy asked as they walked down the street.

"How did you come to that Buffy?"

"I see the way you two talked half of the afternoon and how she looks at you . . . vice versa."

"I can't say that I do and I can't say that I don't. Willow seems like a nice person."

"I understand," she spoke with a nod and grabbed his right shoulder making him stop walking and look at her, "But . . . Angel I’ll let you know this. Willow is my friend and she has been hurt by the one person she loved since she was young. Now I know I shouldn't have told you that but I am looking out for her safety first . . . so what I am trying to say is . . . if you don't have any good intention for her then do not, I mean do not, lead her on," with that said she let him go and started walking again. "I will see you tomorrow night."

Buffy walked off leaving a very shocked vampire in the middle of the street.

As Angel walked home, he began to think about what the Slayer said and what he was thinking. He liked Willow, but what can he offer her? What can he do for her? He couldn't even walk under the sun, for Christ's sake. He knew she had to know the truth about him but he wanted to get to know them all before revealing that part of himself.

~Part: 5~

Next Day…………..

The bell rung, signaling that first hour was getting ready to start. Willow and Buffy headed to their first periods while Xander headed to his locker. By the time he got to his locker, the hallways were clearing up. He grabbed his chemistry book out of his locker then closed it again.

Xander turned around and squeaked, seeing Cordelia directly behind him.

"Where were you yesterday?" She asked tapping her foot. "I called for you three times and your father told me that you were at the library."

"See ummm....well I was at the library with Willow and Buffy. We were studying."

"On a Sunday in the school library?"

"Well yeah the librarian was there too."

"Let’s talk," Cordelia ordered as she pulled him to the nearest janitor's closet.

She clicked on the light and closed the door. No words were spoken; she just pulled him to her, kissing him, making him drop his book. Cordelia wanted him and it was obvious that he wanted her. She reached down to unzip his pants.

"Cordy here?" He asked, pulling back.

"Yes...right here right now," She told him as she pulled down her panties. Xander pushed her back into the wall and entered her at the same time. They both hissed at impact. Cordelia wrapped her legs around him so that he could get deeper. That movement caused her to throw her head back from the feeling. He reached around, grabbing her butt to get better leverage.  Xander wanted to show her that he could make love to her, but this was defiantly not the place or the time. He began to thrust into her faster, bringing them both a quick release.

Xander came with a whimper as he sent his seeds deep in her, while Cordelia bit her bottom lip. They both knew that too much noise would be cause for attention and that is not what they needed right now. He slowly pulled out of her after she unwrapped her legs.

"I could get use to this," Xander moaned as he tucked himself back in his pants and picked up her book. She grabbed her panties off the floor and tucked them into her pocket. She had to go to the bathroom and clean up first.

"Meet me at my house tonight after you practice," she told him. "My parents are going out of town."

He agreed as she opened the janitor's door just to go pale when she saw Harmony standing at the lockers. The blonde turned when they saw Cordelia coming out of the closet and Xander behind her.

The shock that was on her face was priceless. Xander walked off and headed towards the bathroom not wanting to get in between them.

Cordelia walked up to her while trying to figure out what she was going to tell her.

"I hope you two where looking for a mop in there," Harmony spoke hoping that there was a good explanation why she was in the closet with him.

Cordelia still couldn’t speak.

"You want to join the cheerleading squad in a couple of weeks, right?"

Cordelia shook her head.

"Have your fun with him now but when you join this team you are either in or out," she explained as she started to walk off, "Oh yeah," Harmony spoke turning. "I will let the others know of this and you better pray that you are still welcome."

The brunette felt that her life was over. She liked Xander, and he was the best that she had had, but to lose a chance to be on the team and she was planning to running for queen next year. She knew if she wanted to be queen she had to be on the right side. The decision she had to choose would hurt her and she knew it would destroy them.

***

The bell rung as first period ended. All students seem to move at the same time as they headed out of the class. The trio once again met at the lockers.

"Where were you Xander?" Willow asked.

He had this guilty look on his face making her know he was doing something that he wasn't supposed to be doing.

Willow smiled, "What you and Cordelia meet up in a closet together and had wild monkey sex."

Buffy smirked hearing Willow's comment. Xander looked up at Willow in surprise,

"You guess that?"

"What did I guess right?"

He didn't respond.

"Willow girl I think you hit it right on the mark," Buffy jumped in. "It's alright Xander, have your fun. No need to be ashamed...but you two need to wait until you get home the next time."

The Slayer looked at Willow, who was still smiling at an embarrassed Xander. They headed to the next class before the bell rung.

***

Angel laid in his bed looking at the ceiling. The redhead had been on his mind most of the day, but what the Slayer said to him last night stayed with him. He had been alone for so long that he didn't know how or what to do to even get a girl like Willow.  He didn't even know if Willow liked him or not or if she was the slightest bit interested in him.

The vampire wondered if she would accept him being a vampire? If so, when would be the best time to tell her that he was a vampire? And who was this person that had hurt her? There were questions that he needed to know but couldn't answer. The best thing for him to do was to just wait and see what she wanted and if she wanted him he would do his best to give her just that.

He turned on his side trying to will himself to sleep. He needed his strength the fight with Buffy tonight.

***

After school ended, Buffy headed to the library, Xander went to swim practice, and Willow walked to her lockers after leaving Giles to research while Buffy was with Xander. Night was falling and she was ready to go home.

"Willow," someone called her from behind. She turned quickly to see Mr. Jackson, her math teacher.

"Yes sir."

"I never got a chance to say that I appreciate you trying to help Mr. Harris pass."

Willow thought about it for a second. He had never called her by her first name before. As he walked towards her Willow backed away seeing his eyes glowing in the dark. His eyes began to turn golden and he smiled. Willow turned and ran down the hallway.

{Oh my god oh my god} she thought as she ran.

She didn't know if he was chasing her or not. What made her know he was chasing her was when she felt him grabbing her around her waist, lifting her off the ground.

"Let me go," Willow screamed.

"No...no...Willow....I know something that you don't and it's not good," he replied.

"Well if you know it and I don't then keep it that way," she screamed as she drew her leg up and kicked him right in his family jewels. He dropped her to the ground and went down himself but only for a quick second. Willow didn't even have a chance to stand as he grabbed her leg.

"Look you little bitch. I tried to be nice with you. We could have done this the easy way but since you like it rough, that's what you get."

Willow started to kick, not really getting what he was talking about. She screamed as he pulled her to him. He moved on top of her looking down at her. "So you are the one to stop all of this. When I heard I thought it was a joke. I thought I liked you, but it was your power I wanted all along."

"Stop........what!.......I don't know what you are talking about," she whimpered as she shook violently.

"I was sent here to kill you but I want your powers first," he explained. "And the only way for me to get them is to kill you while I take your virginity."

Willow stopped struggling. He was going to rape her and she didn't have a choice because he had her. He smiled then drew back to sneeze making his true face came forward. He was green and had spikes all over him. Mr. Jackson smiled at the terrified look on her face. The fear this redhead had coming off her was intoxicating. His body responded unintentionally. What demon in his right mind wouldn't get a hard on from her smell, she had a wonderful smell.

Willow renewed her struggle this time with a little more fight. The demon just held her smiling. "I would like to sit here and play with you more bu.........," his words was cut off as his face went into complete shock then his head fell from his body landing on Willow’s chest. She struggled to remove the head and body off her.

"Are you alright?" Angel asked giving her a hand.

Willow stood shaking more. Angel shifted the axe to the other side and looked at her again to make sure she wasn't cut or anything. She just had a little demon blood on her but that was it.

"Willow?" He spoke again, afraid that she was going into shock.

She shook her head a little, "Yeah I'm fine....what was he?"

"He is a demon Willow," Angel explained. "Do you know why he attacked you?"

"No...no he was acting weird lately and he said something about I was the one to stop it all....I don't under...." Willow stopped as she heard a man screaming from the gym area.

They both took off running towards the gym.

They ran straight into the locker room. Willow hoped that no one was changing {yeah right}.

When Xander heard the screaming he jumped out of the pool. The coach had given him ten laps after practice for being late. The rest of them had gone home. He and the coach was the only one left.

As they walked into the room they saw Buffy standing over an opened vent.

"What happened?" Angel asked.

"Coach’s boys got hungry so I fed them," she replied closing the lid. Xander and Willow walked up.

"Let's get out of here," Buffy ordered as they walked back to the library.

***

Xander had done a quick change then met everyone in the library. Willow was in the bathroom washing the blood off her face while Angel cleaned the axe. Giles was sitting at the table talking to Buffy.

"So...after everyone left I went in and decided to snoop. I saw Jessie turned to the demon and Coach Marin took him to this vent. I watched as the demon jumped in without any questions," she explained looking at Willow as she walked over to the table followed by Angel. "After he cursed a couple of times he got on his cell phone and asked to have more of the steroids delivered. He told the man to back off some ingredients then hung up. After I approached him he tried to fight. I just moved out the way when he swung and he fell in. The creatures just ate him, I guess."

Giles noted what he was being told, "What happened to you Willow?"

Angel was sitting beside her as she answered, "Well my teacher, Mr. Jackson just came out of nowhere. He said something like I was the one to stop this all. He said he was going to kill me but take my powers first."

"Powers, what powers?" Xander asked.

Willow shrugged her shoulder, "Your guess is as good as mine."

"This has been a tiring day so I will let you go home early. Buffy, training tomorrow during your study period, Angel could you come and spar with her?"

"Sure thing," he agreed. He just hoped that they didn't have the sewer blocked down in the basement.

"Great, and thank you for the books they look to be very promising."

"That's what I'm here for."

"Well I can walk Xander home, and Angel can walk Willow," Buffy setting them up.

Willow smiled knowing what Buffy was up to.

"Yes I can," he agreed.

Xander looked at Buffy then to the others. They all stood heading out the door.

***

"You know Buffy did this on purpose," Willow said as they walked down the street.

"I know. It’s okay," Angel answered. "Where do you live?"

Willow explained the easiest way to get to her house, which meant he would have to pass by his apartment to get to Willow's house then turn to go back to his apartment.

"Is that taking you out of your way?"

"No."

***

"Buffy, I need you to do me a favor," Xander asked.

"Sure, what’s up?"

"I need you to walk me to Cordelia's house."

Buffy knew the situation and understood that they were together now.

"Sure thing, just show me the way," she happily replied as they walked through the streets.

Buffy was happy because she had closed her first case and it felt good.

***

Half way to Angel's apartment he tensed up grabbing Willow's shoulder. She jumped and looked up at the dark vampire.

"What is it Angel?"

"Vampires......a lot of them," he let her know. She looked around and didn't see anything.

"I don't see them."

Angel knew Willow was not strong enough to defend herself like the slayer and with him counting about eight vampires in hiding he wouldn't be able to stop them from hurting her. Angel didn't want to put Willow at risk so he did the next best thing. He lifted her off the ground by the waist and took off at a speed unknown.

Willow was surprise that he could run that fast while carried her. The vampire headed towards his apartment. He didn't place her back on her feet until he was in his apartment.

"That was a head rush," Willow spoke as she looked around his apartment. "This is a nice place Angel."

"Thanks, you can have a seat," he offered her.

Willow sat on the small couch that he had. Angel locked his door just in case. He hung up his coat then followed Willow over to the couch.

"We can wait until they are gone before I walk you home."

"Okay."

Cordelia’s house..........

Buffy watched as Xander walked into Cordelia's house. She turned and headed home.

"Hey," he greeted her with a kiss.

Cordelia didn't respond as he hoped, so he just moved and sat on the couch beside her.

"What's wrong?"

Cordelia couldn't tell him, not now, not when they had just started.

"Nothing, just a little tired."

"I...I can leave it you want."

"No...You just got here. What if we just watch television for a while before you go?"

Xander knew something was wrong but he didn't know what. He knew that he would know soon enough when she wanted him to know.

"That would be great," he said as she turned on the television. She sat back in his arms getting comfortable.

The next thing they knew they were asleep.

Angel’s Apartment..........

"I'm sorry I don't have a television or food. I don't have much company."

Willow looked at him. "It's alright Angel."

"So what do you do all day without a television?" She asked.

"Sleep mostly. I read, sometimes I exercise," he answered, "What about you?"

"I am a computer nerd. I have also been studying some witchcraft but I don't know if I want to get into that or not. I found this group in Sunnydale off the Internet. I sent in a form to join a couple of weeks ago, just to see how it goes. I am just waiting on their response."

"That sounds interesting."

"It doesn't seem dumb or stupid?"

He turned and touched her shoulder. "No Willow. There are different things that people are interested in....we just don't go after those things we want." Angel knew he had just changed the conversation from witchcraft to the relationship he wanted with her.

Willow looked into his chocolate eyes. He seemed to look into her soul. He had this look that would melt anyone's heart. Angel slowly bent down and kissed her softly on the lips and pulled back. A heat went through Willow she never felt before and their lips were the only things that touched.

The vampire dipped his head again. She hadn't said no or shown any disgust in her eyes. This time he applied more pressure but he did not force her to open her mouth. Feeling his body trembling trying to change he pulled back quickly.

"What's wrong Angel?"

"I'm just don't...."

Willow felt her heart breaking. She knew it was her first real kiss.

"Was it that bad?"

Angel head snapped to hers his hand left her shoulder moved towards her face, "No...Willow...I just don't want you to think I am trying to take advantage of you. I like you but there is so much I want to know about you and I want you to know about me first. I have things you need to know...like my age for one....I am older than you think. So never think it was bad. You are a great kisser."

Willow smiled after he gave another quick kiss. "I think I better get you home."

He stood grabbing his coat. Willow stood but stumbled a little. {Kiss must have had a stronger effect than I thought.}

Angel waited for her to come up to him before opening the door. They walked along the streets heading to Willow's house. It was a quiet walk each still feeling the tingly sensation of each others lips. Each wanting more.

"This is my house," Willow said as they stood on the sidewalk.

She turned to the handsome man. "I had a nice time Willow even if it was short."

"Me too."

He bent and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

"See you later," he spoke as he pulled back.

Willow turned and stumbled again.

{Damn weak legs}

She hoped that he didn't see that as she walked up to the door and unlocked it. She walked into the empty house.  Willow had the type of parents that were never home.

Only when she closed the door did Angel walk off.

"I can't believe he kissed me," Willow said to herself as she made it up to her room. With a quick shower and change she laid in her bed for the night.

Cordelia’s house…next morning

"Xander," Cordelia called around six in the morning.

He yawned coming awake, "We have school today."

Xander jumped up quickly, "What time is it?"

"Six."

"You woke me an hour early to tell me it was six."

"No this is what time I get up lazy bones," she said standing in front of him. "I have to get prepped for school and you do to."

Xander stood and streached.

She gave him a quick kiss on his lips, "See you later."

Xander followed her to the door. He headed home to get ready for school.

next