Angel noticed that the car trip to LA was made in absolute silence.
He became aware of the fact that Willow was becoming more and more
nervous as they continued on their way, occasionally she would meet
his concerned gaze and flash him a completely fake smile then quickly
turn back and stare blankly at the road in front of her. She never
uttered a word. When they pulled up in front of his place, he was
sure that if she did not speak in the next few minutes he was going
to let out an anguished war cry of total frustration, one that would
rival Xena herself.

They were walking to his room and she still hadn't said a word in the
last twenty minutes. He felt his frustration coming to the surface.
{Argh!! for crying out loud} he groaned internally. He watched as she
sat down on the bed with the look of someone who's whole world was
falling apart. He could understand that because in a way, her world
had undergone a major change in the last few hours. He forced himself
to remain calm.

"Willow baby are you sure you're alright?" he asked her nervously as
he set her bags down and sat beside her on the bed.   He was afraid
she would change her mind and want to go back to Sunnydale and that
was something he was not willing to let her do. He loved her and she
loved him, they were mates and they deserved their chance to be
together.

"Yes and No," she answered.

"Huh."

"Yes I'm alright because I'm with you. I love you Angel and I want to
be with you forever. You are the only person I want to be with. And
then there's no. My bes.ex best friend is mad at me and the whole
gang will never speak to me again. Then what about Cordelia and
Wesley, how do you think they are going to react to this?" she sighed
and continued, "I just don't know what to do. My heart is telling me
one thing then it tells me another. I.just.don't..know," she finished
as she cradled her aching head in her hands and felt her shoulders
slouch down in defeat, feeling like the fate of the Scooby gang was
burdened entirely on her slender shoulders.
"Willow do you hate that you and I are together?"

"No like I said I love you."

"I love you too and we will get through this together. As for the
rest of them they can all go to hell for all I care. If they don't
approve of our relationship then we don't need them. And Cordelia
will be thrilled that you are here. Your the only one out of that
whole group she actually cares about. She is always hating the fact
that she is the only girl. And Wesley will love having an extra pair
of researching hands. We also have each other and that's all that
counts. Doesn't it?"

"Yeah but Buffy.."

"Is a big girl Willow," he stopped the words from leaving her
lips. "She has Riley and is happy and I have you and you are what
makes me happy. Haven't we had this conversation before?"

"Yeah I'm just.a..little.you know.scared."

"You don't have to be. Just give her and the gang some time and a
guarantee you that they will get over it."

"I hope so."

"They will my love, now come and give your new roomate a kiss," he
teased pulling her to him and capturing her lips in a fierce kiss.

This was what she needed, wanted and craved. Angel was her mate and
if they didn't understand.... then he was right, they could all go to
hell.

Relaxing a bit she returned his kiss. Willow squeaked when he grabbed
her off the bed faster than she could ever remember him moving and
began shedding her clothes then his.

"I promise you Willow,  everything is going to work out alright," he
assured her as he sunk himself deeply into her, coaxing her into
orgasm after orgasm.

***

Sunnydale

Are..are..are you sure she and Angel are together?" Giles asked as a
very pissed off slayer stormed back and forth in front of him.

"Yes...I'm sure I walked in on them.Oh my God I can't believe what I
saw. I am going to kill them."

"Why Buffy?" Giles asked calmly.

Buffy stopped pacing and looked at him curiously. "Why what Giles?"

"Why would you want to hurt them?"

"Well because I caught my ex and my new ex best friend in bed
together. They sat there trying to explain why this and that and how.
But it doesn't matter. The only thing they had to do was come to me
and explain instead of sneaking around behind my back."

"An.and then would you have acted any differently compared to how you
are acting now?

"What do you mean by then compared to now?" Buffy demanded getting
angrier that Giles was taking their side instead of hers.

"Well Buffy this is probably why they didn't want to tell you in the
first place."

"So what are you saying?"

"Why are you so mad? You and Angel have not been together for a long
time now Buffy. You are happy with Riley and I guess Angel is now
happy with Willow. God only knows what brought them together but you
should be a real friend and at least try to understand."

Marching up close to Giles and threatening his personal space,
Buffy's eyes blazed. "You know what I understand ?! I understand that
you are taking their side. You are correct about one thing, me and
Angel have not been together for a long time but he shouldn't have
turned to my best friend." She turned stalking away from Giles but
stopped as she reached the library doors. "And you know what else
Giles, since you are so fond of standing up for them I want you to
know something. You are meant to be my watcher. My watcher. So if you
don't want to take my side I only have one thing to say. I quit.  I
will not be doing anymore slaying for you or this dam town."

Before she had a chance to walk through the doors she heard Giles
say, "You are being childish Buffy."

She didn't respond as she continued to walk out and head directly
home.

"My God that girl is going to have to learn that the world does not
revolve around her." he muttered to himself as he walked into his
office to make a call.

***

"I want you to find out where he has taken her," Dracula demanded of
one of his minions.

"I will master. It may however take awhile."

Dracula's eyes turn to a fiery red as he stalked up to the minion and
grabbed him by the neck, lifting him into the air, all the while
squeezing his neck in a death grip. "It better not take more than one
day. That's all the time line allows me to have while I take destiny
into my own hands and make her my mate. And she will be my mate...But
if you should fail me...."He squeezed tighter, "Then you die.
Slowly." With that said he dropped the minion to the ground.

Scrambling to get back up on his feet he whimpered, "Yes master I
will find out their location tonight."

"You better." He threatened as he walked upstairs to his room.

The minion ran into the night knowing that if he didn't oblige and
obey his master's wishes, he would see the sun once more before he
died. And that was if he was lucky enough to escape the torture.

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