Summary: Willow goes back in time to save Angel
Disclaimer: None of them are mine, they all belong to Joss&Co
Rating: NC-17
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~Part: 1~
Willow was in her room messing with some of the magik books Amy given her. She was just wanted to see how or what she could do. Not really knowing what spells she was casting, she started to chant in Latin. The winds begun to howl and then there was a bright light. Willow found herself in a field; it was just about sunset. < Damn, my head really hurts > rubbing the back of her head she stood. Squinting at the minor pain in her lower back. < Where am I? >
She just started to walk, not knowing where she was going. She started to see the surrounding were different. She saw a road and decided to travel that way. She was getting very nervous, the night was upon her and she was defenseless. Even sound and noise made her jump. She heard something behind her; she stopped hoping that it wasn’t one of the undead or something worse. Willow slowly turned to see what was coming. It was someone riding a horse, she did not know what to do. She was just paralyzed with fear. The horse came to a hult. Willow looked up and saw a man dressed in cloths from a different era. < Oh, Shit!!!>
“Excuse me, My lady, are you all right?” The stranger asked.
Willow just stood there, she opened her mouth but nothing came out. The stranger repeated the question. She noticed that the man had an accent. Willow noticed the man looking at her clothing, she looked down and mentally thanking god that she wore a white nightgown.
“Umm...yes..fine..I am just lost.” She stammered.
The man arched an eyebrow. “Miss if I might say, you look a little more then lost, you are wearing bed attire. What would a beautiful thing, like yourself, be wondering on this road after dusk?”
“Well. I umm I was looking for a place to stay until morning, but I lost my horse back in the field.” < please believe me. >
Willow started to shuffle her feet back and forth. She was starting to get cold too.
The stranger finally spoke. “I will take you into town and there is an inn there. It is no trouble I am meeting a friend for something to eat and maybe some drinks.” He reached his hand down and put her on the back of the horse.
As they entered the town, it began to sink in. < I am not in Kansas anymore..Damn. > They stopped, the man got off the horse and helped Willow as well. He ushered her inside of the inn. She looked around the inn, she caught her breath, and it was a beautiful sight. The man threw some silver on the clerk’s desk.
“I need a room for the lady; she will be staying the night.” The clerk nodded and gave him the key.
The stranger turned to Willow and took her hand, placed the key and some silver into her hand.
“My name is Erik, there is a clothing shop over there bye yourself a dress and change. I will be across the way meeting someone, if you like you could join us?”
“Umm...Willow...my name.” < I am hungry > “Yes, I will join you in about an hour or so.”
Erik bowed and Willow blushed a deep red. “Till then, an hour it is.” He turned and left.
Willow walked over to the shop, pick out an emerald green dress with matching shoes. She paid the attended and left to go to her room. About an hour later she was dress and ready to meet Erik.
She walked over to the Tavern that Erik stated that he would be. She opened the door and walked in. < there are more people in here then I thought how am I going to find him..oh well...here goes nothing. > Willow politely excused herself through the crowd not noticing the looks that she was getting. When she reached the back of the tavern she saw Erik was talking to a gentleman, but she could not see who the gentlemen was. Erik saw her and smiled and motioned with his hands to come over and Willow saw him pat his friend on the shoulder.
“Hi...can I get you something to drink.” Erik politely asks giving her the once over.
“Water please.” < Water is safe...I can’t ask for coke or coffee > Willow murmured.
“Oh....where are my manners...I would like to introduce my friend.” The man turned around and Willow’s felt like her eyes were going to pop out of her sockets. “Angelus.”
< ANGEL!!!....ohh...this is this is not good....this is totally not good...> “Angelus this is Willow, the lady I was telling you about.”
“Hello Willow.” Angel takes her hand and kisses the top of her hand. “Nice of you to join us.” Angel smiled
< HIS HANDS ARE WARM!!!!>
~Part: 2~
< HE’S ALIVE!! >
Angel and Erik were amused with the young woman standing in front of them watching with fascination as her rather pale complexion turned bright red. Erik burstout into laughter and patted Angel on the shoulder.
“Angelus, how do you do it, every time you meet a lady, you have the same effect on them.” Erik laughed. “You are such a ladies man.”
That brought Willow out of her reverie. < Ladies man?…..Oh NO!! > “Umm…Hello," < ok, girlie pull yourself together. > “It's nice to meet you.”
Erik excused himself to go get another round of drinks. That left a very confused and nervous Willow standing there trying to look at anything but Angel. The tavern noise level was almost unbearable, but the silence between Willow and Angel was deafening.
“You’re a shy little one, are you not?" That brought Willow’s eyes to the chocolate brown eyes of Angel.
"Yes…I am…well sometimes," Willow gave Angel a nervous smile. Remembering the time that she reprimanded both Angel and Giles for pushing Buffy so hard, Willow tried to surpress a giggle, but it wasn’t going to happen. Angel just lifted a brow and smiled.
"Where are you from? You are not from around these parts, are you?" Angel asked.
"Oh…no, I am not," Willow stuttered out the words trying to think of a way to get out of the numerous questions that she knew Angel was going to ask.
Just in the nick of time Erik came back with the drinks. “A water for the lady…just as she requested.” Erik smirked and Willow gave the best smile than she could manage.
“Thank you" < God, thank you for that interruption. >
Angel, Erik and Willow were talking for what is seemed like eternity. Angel tried his hardest to get the information that he wanted from Willow. But Willow would not have it. She would just change the subject or just keep Erik talking. < One good thing about men…when they are drinking and you ask questions about them they never shut up…and right now that is a good thing. Tthe questions that Angel wants to ask, I can’t answer. >
It was getting late...Willow looked around and noticed that half the tavern had already emptied. “ I better get going, its getting late and I need to get up early.” Willow said.
“Well, let us escort you back.... just to make sure you get there safely,” Erik slurred. "No...I will be fine. I can take care of myself. Thank you anyway." Willow stated with resolve . She hoped it would work, because she was not in the mood to deal with a drunken Erik or a very persistent Angel. < He was never that persistent about asking questions before! It was always Buffy this and Buffy that... Wait! He doesn’t even know Buffy or any of us yet! > Willow cursed herself silently for forgetting that very crutial bit of information.
Erik looked like he was going to persist on the subject of escorting her, but luckily Angel spoke first. "Erik...She will be fine. The inn is just across the way. Don’t worry, I think that she can handle herself.”
<Damn right! I have dealt with Demons and vampires and now THIS! I just want to scream! >
"Thank you, Angel," Willow turned and started to walk away.
“Willow”
Willow turned slowly to see Angel coming up behind her. < Oh no....what now? >
“I just wanted to say goodbye.... and...maybe I will see you again. That is, before you leave to go, well, wherever you are going.”
Angel lifted his hand to caress Willow’s cheek. His lips drifted to hers and he placed the softest kiss upon her lips. It made all of Willows nerves stand on end. She opened up her eyes and stared at Angel once again.
“Umm..I really have to go” Willow turned and ran out of the tavern, leaving a very confused Angel behind.
~Part: 3~
Willow was in her room pacing back and forth and talking to herself. Angel kissed me! < well, the kiss was just a friendly thing to do…wasn’t it?...why am I spazing over this. > And he is alive! < well alive in the has heart beat kinda alive. > Damn it! What am I going to do? Willow was interrupted from her thoughts by screams and what she thought was fighting.
“Oh…god…please no.” <no vampires…please! > Willow started rummaging through the drawers trying to find a cross just in case it was one of the undead. She found what she was looking for and bolted out of the room and down the stairs. But it was too late, when she arrived outside she saw a couple of bystanders huddled around a person. She pushed her way through the crowd, and she saw that the figure on the ground was Angel. <oh..no…please. > Willow was thinking the worst. She knelt down beside him and saw that he was covered in blood. First thing she did was check his neck for any signs of puncture wounds, and there were none. Willow let out a sigh. Next thing she did was check for a pulse, and she found a steady beat. He was alive but unconscious.
<Yea! ... Damn it! >
“A..Angel wake up.” Willow tapped his face a couple of times. “ANGEL WAKE UP!” Still no response.
Knowing that she could not pick him up by herself, she looked to the crowd, “Can someone help me here, please.”
One of the bystanders came forth, "What do you need, miss?" “Grab his arm and help me take him up to my room.” Willow and the bystander picked Angel’s limp form up and started toward the inn.
“Do you know him?” the bystander asked.
Willow grunted. “Of course, I do…I mean, if I didn’t I would not be helping him would I?”
The stranger just nodded and helped her take Angel to her room. They placed him on the bed and the bystander excused himself after Willow thanked him.
Willow went to the bathroom and came back out with a basin of water and a rag. She started taking off his shirt and Angel started to come out of it.
“Aye…Me head hurts” Angel winced trying to get out of the bed.
Angel felt a small hand push him back on the bed <WHAT?!?!>
“Angel, you are not going anywhere, so just stay there and let me help you.” Willow stated firmly.
Angel pried his eyes open. His vision was blurry, and all he could make out was red. < red hair..who the hell has red hair that I know…ohh…yeah I remember> “Wi…Willow?”
“Yep…that’s me helping your sorry ass” Willow blushed after she blurted that out. <What am I thinking? >
Hearing her say that he sat up “OW” Angel grabbed his side and then looked down and saw the blood.
“Angel, easy I need for you to take off your shirt so I can clean up the wounds.” Willow turned around so that Angel could take of his shirt, never seeing the look on Angel's face.
Taking the rag from the basin, she started cleaning the wounds. They Were not that deep but still needed to be cleaned.
“Turn around, I need to see if there are any cuts on your back.” Angel obliged and turned. Willow let out a gasp when she did not see the infamous tattoo that she remembered Buffy talking about.
Angel turned around suddenly. “What…what’s the matter? Willow, you are as pale as a ghost. What’s the matter?” Angel asked, with a worried look on his face.
“Ohh…its nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
Angel just shrugged and turned back around. < He does have a fine looking body…Ohh lordy. > Surveying the damages on his back, which was not much, she just washed some of the dry blood off his back and let it be. Willow got up and went to the basin to rinse out the rag.
“Why don’t you tell me about yourself?” Willow turned around and saw a very puzzled Angel staring at her. “What…Can I ask that question or is that off limits?”
“Off limits?” Angel raised a brow
Willow walked over to sit down next to him on the bed. “Yeah, you know…not allowed to ask that question.”
“Oh..no its not that….well women don’t usually ask me questions like that. They usually just see me for what I have and don’t even bother asking personal questions. But you…you are different. I could tell just by the way you acted in the tavern.”
“And how did I act?” Willow folded her arms across her chest.
“Willow..I did not mean to hurt…" Angel was cut off by Willow
“ANGEL, please just answer the question!”
“Well, you have an innocence about you but you are strong willed…when you are determined to do something you do it. You have a fire in you, I could tell that by your red hair.” Angel reached for her hand and drew her to the sit by him on the bed. “That is why I would like you to allow me the chance to get to know you. I have never met a woman like you before.”
Willow’s eyes were wide. She could not believe that Angel of all people was saying this to her. “I…I really don’t know…well, let me just think it over…ok.”
“Well, that's a start. I must be going now.” Angel started to get up and put his shirt back on.
Willow was still trying to absorb all this information, especially how her feelings for Angel were changing; they were going beyond just friendship. Then it registered what he had said, by that time he was already near the door.
“NO, you can’t go! There are Vamp…err... you are in no condition to walk back home.” Willow stuttered
“What?” Angel asked, turning around to face Willow.
“Listen…you don’t want to go out there its late and you are hurt. You never know what or whom you are going to run into…please I don’t want to worry about if you got home safely or not.” Willow pouted.
That was that. Angel was done. With a sigh he gave in to Willow’s plea. “Ok…I will stay.”
“Good! Now I am going to take the basin in the bathroom and when I come back out we could talk some more. Maybe you could answer the question that you never answered a couple of minutes ago.” Willow walked right past Angel and into the bathroom.
When Willow came out, she saw Angel’s sleeping form on the bed. “Well, there goes the answer to my question.”
She walked over to the bed and pulled the blankets over Angel’s sleeping form. Without even thinking about what she was doing, Willow traced the lines of Angel’s face with her fingers. Angel’s eyes fluttered and he smiled but did not wake up. She quickly withdrew her hand. “Goodnight Angel” Willow whispered.
She turned and went over to the chair. She curled up and started to Drift off to sleep. Her last thoughts were about Angel, how she was going to get home. Then sleep claimed her.
~Part: 4~
Willow was startled out of her sleep by a nightmare. The nightmare was so strange, she dreamt that she went back in time and met Angel before he was vamped. She looked around still dazed and sleepy eyed <Angel, what's he doing in my room?> then she saw the sun's rays glaring down on him. Her immediate instinct caused her to run to the window and draw the curtains closed, but she stopped abruptly. She looked back to Angel’s sleeping form. < he should be dust…Damn that wasn't a nightmare! > Willow started to pace back and forth nibbling on her lip and looking over at Angel every once in a while. She needed to get out of there. Willow decided that she was going to take a walk to try and clear her mind. <Maybe a walk would do me some good. > She put on her shoes and left a note for Angel telling him that she would be back shortly.
While walking, Willow was deep in her thoughts. First trying to grasp the concept that Angel was still alive and then wondering how long she was to be stuck there. Her thoughts drifted to the Angel she knew, well use to know, before he reverted back to his demon self. < now that I am here maybe I should try and stop Darla…wait that would mess up history and I oh..god, I don't know what to do. > Third and most importantly, she wondered how she was going to get money to pay for the room and for food and clothes! <geez, how do I get myself into these situations??>
****************
Angel awoke to the sun shining in his face. He took a look around but did not see Willow anywhere.
“Willow” he called.
He got out of bed and winced at the pain coming from the cut on his side. <Willow would make on hell of a nurse.> Searching the rooms for her, he turned up nothing.
“She wouldn't leave without saying good-bye, would she?” Angel pondered to himself out loud. He failed to see the note that had fallen to the floor.
Angel put his shirt on and looked for a pen and a piece of paper. Finding, it he wrote a note to Willow and set it on the bed and left the room. Before Angel left the inn, he stopped at the clerks desk and gave the clerk some silver to pay for the rest of Willow's stay.
*************
When Willow returned to the inn she was feeling depressed, she had hoped that the walk would ease her mind, but it only made things worse. < Well, Xander always said that I think too much.> She walked inside the inn and was met by the clerk.
“Excuse me Ma'am, but I wanted to inform you that Angelus paid for your room for the rest of your stay.” The clerk looked at Willow, waiting to see her response.
“Thank you.” Willow smiled at the clerk and walked to her room.
Closing the door behind her, she looked around, knowing that Angel was gone. But she felt a loss that she could not explain, she hadn't thought that she would miss him this much. But she did.
“What the hell is happening to me….I can't be falling in love with him. Why would he want me when in a couple of centuries he will fall head over heals in love with Buffy.” Willow astonished herself.
She didn't realize that her mere presence was inevitably changing history.
Willow fell on the bed and let out all of her tears and frustrations. The quiet tears slowly turned into sobs. She wiped her eyes and noticed a note with her name written on it.
Willow:
I hope that you are not upset with me for leaving, but I had to help my father on the plantation today. I hope to see you tonight, meet me in the lobby of the inn at about 5:00pm.
Ohh…and one more thing. If you don't already know, I paid for the room for the rest of your stay, as a thank you for helping me the last night.
Angelus
“Oh…Angel you didn't have to do that.” Willow smiled and wiped the rest of her tears from her face. < he is so sweet, so different from the brooding Angel that I know. But the brooding Angel was just as sweet and kind.>
Willow got off the bed, and went into the bathroom to draw water for her bath. She stepped out of her dress and stepped into the warm water. < now this more like it.> She exited the bath after the water turned cold, dried herself off and put her own nightgown on. Even before her head hit the pillow she was fast asleep with dreams of Angels.
******************
Meanwhile, Angel was at his home tending to the plantation with his father. Angel’s mind kept drifting to the night before and also to someone he thought was a very beautiful lady. < I would do anything to have her by my side.>
His father kept watching him. Knowing his son, he knew that it had to be a young lady that occupied his mind, causing him to be in such a light-hearted mood.
“ANGELUS!! Watch where you are going!” His father bellowed, before his son did any damage to himself.
That brought Angel out of his reverie.
“Ok…my son, who is this young lady that has your mind so occupied today?” his father asked.
Wiping his brow, Angel smiled up at his father. “Father, she is the most lovely creature that I have ever seen. She has red hair that looks like fire and green eyes that matches this land. She is beautiful, father.”
“And what is this young lady's name, Angelus?” his father inquired.
“Willow, Father, her name is Willow.”
Angel’s father watched the emotions play over his son's face. < My boy is smitten over this young lady, I wonder what she has that the others did not?>
“And how did you meet this Willow?” Angel’s father gestured with his hands to proceed with the events that lead to his son's infatuation with this lady.
Angel hated it when his father did this. It felt like he was going through the third degree! But Angel put up with it every time. Angel told his father about the events of the night before. He also mentioned that he had asked Willow to join him tonight for dinner and a play afterwards.
Angel also spoke of how Erik told him how she lost her belonging and her horse was stolen by a bunch of thieves.< manipulating the truth will get you everywhere Angelus.> Angel snickered under his breathe as he waited for his father's reaction.
“You mean to tell me, that this young lady has no clothes and no place to stay?”
“No father, she has a place to stay for the time being, I paid for her to have room for a couple of more days, but she has no clothes only the ones that are on her back.” Angel answered back.
“ Well, if you what you say it true, that this young lady saved your life, then I am deeply in debt to her. Go and by her some clothes, Angelus. Also, you might as well have her stay in the guest quarters.”
“Thank you Father, I will tell her.” Angel started to head towards the house.
“But ANGELUS.” Angel turned to face his father. “ No shenanigans, if this lady allows you to court her, then I want you to do it in style.” Angel knew what his father was telling him, to be a complete gentleman to her Angel nodded and turned to walk to the house, leaving his father behind watching him go. “That woman stole my son's heart. With my boy, that is a very hard thing to do.” Angel’s father turned and went back to work, shaking his head.
Angel was heading into town to buy Willow the clothing that she needed. Walking down the street, he was absently playing with the ring his father had given him as a gift on his birthday a couple of years back. When he arrived in town, Angel entered the inn and went straight to the shop. He started to look around, but could not really think of anything that she might like.
“Can I help you?” The attendant asked
“Yes, you can. A petite girl came in here last night she had red hair. I was wondering if you remembered her?” Angel inquired.
“Yes, I believe so…lovely girl….not from around these parts though. Let me guess, you are looking for her size and a couple of gowns for her.” The attendant stated.
“How did….yes, I am.” Angel smiled at the attendant < is it that obvious? >
The attendant led Angel around the shop. She picked out several different styles for him. All were elegant but not overly extravagant <plain but elegant, just like Willow. > The gowns were made of silk, lace and satin. Angel followed the attendant up to the counter Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a gown. It was lovely; the gown was made of black silk material with thick straps, but it was sleeveless. The gown also had a very thin layer of lace that flowed around it. Angel closed his eyes and pictured Willow in the gown and smiled at what he saw.
“And I will take that also, but wrap it up. I want it to be a surprise.” Angel grinned at the attendant and left the store.
Angel was finished buying Willow’s clothes but there was one last thing that he wanted to get for her. After searching for what he was looking for he purchased it and went back to the inn. He opened the door to Willow’s room and saw her sleeping. < She looks so angelic. > He smiled, and put the gowns over every piece of furniture that was in the room, carefully moving himself around the room so that he would not wake her. Finding everything to his liking, he placed the last three wrapped gifts at the edge of the bed, he placed on them a simple note that read:
Willow:
Wear this tonight…
Angel
He also took two roses, one red and the other white, and placed them on the bed next to her. taking a step back, Angel looked at his surroundings and he knew that she would like them all. Angel bent down to place a kiss upon Willow’s forehead.
“Pleasant dreams, Milady.” With that Angel was gone from her room.
******************
Willow awoke content and happy. She took a deep breathe and stretched to get all the kinks out of her body. She smelled the sent of roses. < What?!?> her eyes fluttered open and she sat up. The first thing that she saw were gowns laid out everywhere. <Ohh…My.> She knew Angel did this, who else would,and with a smile on her face as pure as sunshine she looked down and saw the two roses. Tears started to well up in her eyes. First, was the fact that she was happy, but also because she knew what the future had in story for Angel and she did not think it was fair. She never had.
Willow noticed the three wrapped gifts at the edge of the bed. She crawled over to them and picked up the note and read it. Unceremoniously, tearing off the paper from the first two she gasped at the gown that was before her. The gown was absolutely exquisite. And the shoes were just as wonderful. She carefully opened the smallest of the boxes. Inside was a necklace, and set in the middle of the necklace was a black onyx stone with gems all around it. Willow started to rush, realizing what time it was and hoping that she would not be late. When she was finished she went to the full-length mirror and saw something that she never seen before. What she saw staring back at her was a beautiful woman, and that woman was her.
Willow left the room and went down to the lobby to wait for Angel. She had time to spare so she sat down in the nearest chair and started fiddling with her gown. Willow was getting nervous, her mind was telling her to stop this before she got in too deep. But her heart was telling her something different. The inner struggle Willow was having was wreaking havoc on her, who would win the battle? Her heart or her mind? In an instant she knew the answer when she looked up into those fathomless brown eyes, the eyes that belonged to Angel.
“Willow...” Angel proffered her his hand.
Willow took Angel’s hand, at that precise moment she didn’t care about her past (or was it her future???) . She was living for the now. Angel was hers now.
“Angelus, where are we going?” Willow inquired.
Angel turned, that was the first time that he heard her call him by his given name. It was music to his ears. Angel could feel his heart flutter knowing that she has accepted his unspoken invitation.
“It's a surprise…milady.” Angel took Willow’s hand, lifted it to his lips and placed a kiss on it.
Angel led Willow out the door to the horse drawn carriage outside the inn. He helped her in and they were on their way.
They went to see a beautiful play. The amusement that danced in her eyes was so invigorating to Angel. After the play was over, Angel took her to a field that was part of his father’s plantation. Before they got out of the carriage, Angel spoke.
“Willow, do you trust me?”
Suspicion flashed across Willow’s face. Angel just gave her a reassuring smile.
“Yes…I trust you.” Willow hesitated saying the words.
Angel took her hand. “Willow, you don’t have to be afraid of me…I will never hurt you as long as I live."
Willow nodded in response
“I want you to close your eyes for me.”
Willow slowly closed her eyes. She felt movement around her and heard the carriage door open < He’s leaving me!! > She squealed when she felt hands pick her up by the waist. He burst into laughter at the sound that she made.
“You can open your eyes, Willow” Willow slowly opened her eyes and found her face only an inch or two from Angel's. Willow keened her neck to look at her surroundings. What she saw was an amazing sight; a picnic under the moonlight, with lavish pillows on either side of the quilt. In the center of the quilt was food fit for a king and his queen and two glasses that sparkled in the moonlight.
Angel put Willow on the ground. “Do you like it?” he asked looking down at her.
“Oh…Angel, like it….I love it, its the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen.” Willow took Angel by the hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
The time they spent there together was amazing. She had never known about Angel’s life, pre-vampire that is. He talked about his parents, and his siblings. Most of all he talked about his youngest brother Andrew, the way they roughhouse together and the way his mother would scold him. Willow knew by the way he talked about Andrew, that he was the one Angel loved and protected the most out of them all. In return, Willow told him as much as possible about her family and herself. Angel abruptly got up and went to sit behind her, placing one arm around her waist and stroking her hair with the other. Willow relaxed under Angel's ministrations
“Willow, I was told…by my father to ask you something…and just to let you know, he does not take to kindly to people who refuse something that he offers them. ” Angel told her.
“What is it, Angel?” Willow asked in a sedated voice.
Placing his hand on her cheek, he turned her face to his. Brown eyes met green eyes, capturing something unknown to both of them. When Angel spoke next, it was barely a whisper.
“Willow…my father, wants you to stay on our plantation..here with us. As a guest in the guest quarters.” he spoke with lips approaching hers.
“Angel?” Willow whispered.
“Shh…” Angel shushed her
Lips capturing lips, in a delicate almost apprehensive way. Willow took her hand and placed it on top of Angel’s hand, which was still caressing her face. The passion grew between them, who deepened the kiss, no one knew. Slowly their tongues touched caressingly and lovingly, intertwining themselves as one, through the simple pleasure of that first kiss.
Braking the kiss, Willow’s eyes fluttered open.
“So I take that as a yes?” Angel smiled at her.
Willow nodded, taking Angel’s hand into her’s captured in the moment. She found herself caressing the silver ring on Angel’s hand. She looked down and saw the ring that she had seen so many times before.
“The Claddagh.” She spoke in a hush voice, almost noiseless but Angel heard her.
“Yes..the Claddagh, my father gave it to me as a gift, it was supposed to be one of the first ones made by a friend of my grandfather’s. this one.” Angel points to the ring. “ was my grandfather’s wedding ring. My father is the keeper of the counterpart to this ring, to be given to me when I asked for some girl’s hand in marriage.” Willow looks up from the ring. “ It's been an Irish tradition, to pass the rings down from one generation to another. The Claddagh is recognized as a symbol for love and friendship.” The words from Angel’s lips were being spoken from his soul. < Tradition means alot to him.>
They just sat there in a comfortable silence. From being so relaxed and from Angel’s hand stroking her hair, Willow began to drift off to sleep. Angel glanced down at her and smiled < I’m holding a true Angel in my arms, >
“Willow” Angel whispered in her ear.
“Huh....oh....mmmm.” Willow snuggled closer to Angel.
“We should be getting back, we both have a busy day tomorrow.” Angel said.
“mmm....umm.” Was the only coherent sound coming from a sleepy Willow.
Angel picked her up and, careful not to wake her, carried her to the carriage. When they got back to the inn, Angel took Willow up to her room and placed her softly on the bed. Removing the strands of hair covering her eyes, Angel placed a kiss on her forehead. Willow stirred, “Good Night...Angel.” Willow said sleepily. “ and thank you.”
“For what?” Angel inquired.
“For giving me the best time I have had in a long time.” Willow reiterated.
“Your welcome...milady.” Angel said. “ I will see you early tomorrow.”
Angel left Willow’s sleeping form and went home. < Till tomorrow, my love.>
~Part: 5~
Sunnydale, CA - Present time
Xander, Cordelia, and Giles were in the library. Xander and Cordelia were doing research while Giles was in his office trying to figure out the latest prophecy that he had stumbled across. Buffy was out patrolling, as usual. Amy walked through the library doors.
“Guys, have you seen or heard from Willow any time today?” Amy asked, startling the group.
“No Amy...I haven’t....Is ...umm..there something wrong?” Giles inquired.
Xander and Cordelia were staring at the scene transcribing between the witch and Giles.
“Mr. Giles...I let Willow borrow some of my magik books, don't worry they are all just simple spells, nothing to heavy. Anyway, I needed them back, that is all." Amy approached the table and leaned up against it.
“Amy, did you call her?” Xander jumped into the conversation.
Amy turned to Xander with the look of annoyance on her face. “Of course
I did, Xander, that is why I am here. I even went by her house to see if she was home and just not answering the phone. But when I got there all the lights were out and her place looked disserted.” Amy started to pace.
Xander went to the phone to call Willow, while he was on the phone Cordelia spoke up.
“Xander, I’m sure she’s fine...maybe she is just sleeping or something.”
Xander slammed down the phone and turned to look at his girlfriend. “Cordy...honey...this is Willow we are talking about here.”
Xander picked up his jacket Cordelia was just about to say something when he cut her off.
“Cordy...I don’t want to hear it right now...she could be in trouble. I am not taking my chances with our favorite dead-boy Angelus running around.” He began to walk towards the doors when he heard Amy’s voice and turned back to the witch.
“I'm coming with you, Xander” Amy said
“Me too” Cordelia chimed in. Xander and Amy both turned to the cheerleader. “Well, I do have a car and it would get us there faster.”
The three teenagers left the library as Giles shook his head and went back to work. They arrived at Willow’s house in minutes. Xander jumped out of the car before it came to a complete stop.
“XANDER WAIT..” Cordelia yelled.
Xander was already at the door, banging on it, “Willow!” He yelled and continued banging. “Willow, it's Xander, open up this door.”
Cordelia and Amy were at foot of the steps and Xander started pacing back and forth, waiting. After a couple of minutes, Xander started to fish for his keys. He opened up the door and rushed in.
“Cordy, Amy check down here. I’ll check upstairs to see if she is up there.” Not even waiting for a response, he ran up the stairs.
Cordelia and Amy were checking the rooms; Amy was about to say something to Cordelia when she heard Xander scream. The two girls ran up the steps expecting the worst. When they reached the room they found Xander holding Willow’s limp body. Cordelia’s hands flew to her mouth. Amy knelt down next to Xander.
“Is s...she dead.” Amy asked looking up at Xander.
“NO...she’s NOT dead. I checked for bite marks and there were none. I...I just found her like this lying on the floor.” Looking over at Cordelia, he spoke to her.
“Cordy call the ambulance NOW.” Cordelia jumped to call for help.
Amy glanced quickly around the room. She saw a spell book open; she crawled over to it and looked over the pages. <these are just simple spells what happened here?>
Cordelia hung up the phone and glanced at Xander “They're on their way.”
“Someone needs to find Buffy and tell her what is happening. I know that she would want to know.” Xander glanced from Cordelia to Amy.
Without hesitation Amy spoke up. “I’ll go.”
They all heard the ambulance coming, and Amy and Cordelia were the ones to go down first. Cordelia let the EMT’s into the house while Amy left to find Buffy. They prepared Willow and put her on a gurney. Xander was by her side the whole way; Cordelia was right behind him.
Reaching the ambulance Xander turned to Cordelia. “I’m going with Willow, you follow us to the hospital.” Xander saw for the first time the tears that were threatening to come from her eyes, “Cordy....she’ll be ok...she’s going to be fine. She’s Willow, the strong one of the group. She’s a fighter." Xander kissed her on the cheek and stepped into the ambulance.
~~~*~~~
Across town at the graveyard, Buffy was in the middle of dusting a vampire. Amy came running towards her, screaming her name. That distracted Buffy and the vamp took advantage of it. Buffy quickly got to her feet and landed a couple of solid kicks and one punch and one thrust of the stake and the vampire was history.
“Amy you could have gotten me killed...What the HELL is the matter with you?” Buffy gasped while brushing off the dust from her cloths.
“Buffy, it’s Willow.” Amy whispered
Out of the shadow’s came a figure. “Well, hello lover, I see that you are up and about just like a good slayer should be." Angelus taunted her.
Amy and Buffy both looked in the direction of Angelus. “Well...if it isn’t my ex.” Buffy retaliated. “Getting tired of the nutty little whore already, are we?”
Amy eyes started to glow turning Buffy towards her. “Buffy...this is not the time..Willow is in the hospital...we found her unconscious and we don’t know what is wrong with her. So leave Angel until another night and lets GO NOW” Amy spat the words out of her mouth.
“ WHAT? The hospital? What happened? Let's go now, later Angel, definitely later .” Buffy turned and started to walk out of the graveyard towards the hospital.
Angelus stood there processing the information. <Willow is in the hospital. This is even better than I thought.>
~~~*~~~
Xander and Cordelia were in the waiting room when Buffy arrived with Amy by her side. Buffy yelled to Xander. Xander stood and Buffy wrapped her arms around him.
“How is she?” Buffy voice was strained.
“I...I mean...we don’t know. The doctors have been in and out of her room for the last 20 minutes. They are doing some primary tests or something like that.” Xander sat down and put his face in his hands.
Time passed slowly, then finally one of the doctors came out of the room.
Xander stood as soon as he saw the doctor. “How is she?"
"Well there is no easy way to tell you this, but she is in a coma. We don’t know how it happened but we are running a couple more tests to see what happened. We can’t tell how long she will stay in this state. It could be hours, months, or even years. I am hoping that she will come out of it soon. If she doesn’t, her mind will start to deteriorate with time.” The doctor put his hand on Xander’s shoulder.
“Thank you doctor.” Buffy said
There were tears coming from Xander’s eyes. Buffy placed her hand on his knee and spoke quietly.
“Xander...Willow needs you....us... to be strong now. She is always the strong one, whenever someone needs a shoulder to cry on she is there. But now SHE needs us for once.” All Xander did was nod. “Did you call her parent’s yet.”
“Yes, and they are on their way.” Cordelia spoke up.
A nurse came out of Willow’s room and turned to the four teens that were there.
“You can go see her now if you want.”
“Thank you.” They all said and went into Willow’s room, not noticing the person that was lurking in the shadows listening to their every word.
The four teenagers were at the hospital for hours. There was no change in Willows condition. Buffy called Giles and told him what had happened to Willow.
He showed up at the hospital soon after to lend moral and emotional support to his slayer and the others that so desperately needed it. Buffy was worried, so worried that she didn't sense the presence of the person that was lurking in the shadows.
A nurse entered Willows room and addressed them, “I'm sorry but visiting hours are over. I am going to have to ask you to leave.” The nurse began checking Willow's vitals.
Xander was about to say something but got jabbed in the ribs by Cordelia.
“Ok...we will in a couple of minutes.” Cordelia said.
The nurse nodded and left the room.
Silence filled the room. Xander did not want to leave, he wanted to be there when Willow woke up. Buffy stood at the end of the bed looking at Willow with pained eyes, knowing that she could not do anything and that frustrated her. Amy began to pace back and forth. She stopped and turned to Buffy.
“Buffy,” Buffy turned her attention to Amy. “What are we going to do about Angel. I mean he can enter because this is a hospital right?”
Buffy’s face paled, she had forgotten all about Angel in the mist of everything that had happened tonight. Xander turned his attention to the conversation that was going on between Amy and Buffy.
“You mean to tell me that ANGEL KNOWS that Willow is in the hospital! Ohh..this is just perfect. Your ex-creature of the night boyfriend turned killing –spree boy knows that Willow is vulnerable. This night could not get any worse.” Xander sighed. “I can’t believe that you...” he pointed at Amy. “..that you mentioned that Willow was in trouble in front of dead-boy. How could you Amy? You just put Willow’s life in more danger. Angel could just walk into this room and snap her neck in the matter of seconds without anyone knowing it.”
“XANDER stop it.” Buffy yelled and ran from the room.
Giles left to get Buffy, to try and calm her down. Cordelia took one look at Xander and walked to the door. Before she left she turned to him.
“Xander...you can be such an asshole sometimes. You should really think about what you are going to say before you open up that trap of yours.” And with that she was out the door.
Xander turned to Amy. “Amy...I...I’m sorry.”
“Just don’t Xander. You already have done enough damage.” Amy cut him off. “Just go and I will try and do something about this Angel situation.”
Xander nodded and left the room.
Amy sat down in the chair that was previously occupied by Xander. Trying to think of something...anything that might just keep Angel away from Willow’s room even if it was just for tonight, until she could find a more permanent solution. <I’ve got it. >
Amy went to the nurses’ station and asked where the chapel was. The nurse gave her directions and Amy was off to get what she needed for the spell.
A man with a bouquet of white lilies walked up to the nurses he stopped and asked. “Excuse me. Can you tell me what room is Miss Rosenberg in?
“Willow Rosenberg."
“I’m sorry Sir, but visiting hours are over. You will have to come back tomorrow. Only family is allowed to see her now." The nurse looked at him over her glasses.
“Well...I am practically family. Please, you have to let me see her. I just found out what happened. I’ll only be a couple of minutes.” The man pleaded.
Looking into the man’s chocolate brown eyes the nurse could not resist. “OK...go..but just five minutes.”
“Thank you, ma'am.” The man smirked. < Put on some charm and it will take you everywhere.... >
Angel entered the room looking at Willow. Something stirred inside of him that he thought was dead. He approached the bed and took a good look at her. < She looks like an angel sleeping there. > Putting the flowers on the desk, he looked at her again. There was something about her that hadn't been there before, that he hadn't seen in her in the past. Without knowing it, Angel traced Willow’s face with curled fingers. < She’s so soft. > He jerked his hand back like her skin burned him. “What the fuck is going on here. What the hell is happening to me.” Angel was furious with himself. Pacing back and forth, he didn’t like what just happened. He didn’t like that he was not in control for that brief moment. Hearing footsteps coming towards the room he knew that he had to sneak out of there.
“I’ll be back...little one.” Angel turned and left. <Damn, I need a good kill. >
Amy came back into the room. She took the holy water and sprinkled a little bit at each corner. Standing in the middle of the room, arms above her head, Amy started to chant.
“Goddess of light and protector of innocence. I call upon thee to protect your child from the darkness that is upon us on this night. Protect her...protect her...protect her.”
The room had a light glow to it. She knew that it worked and she smiled.
<Thank you goddess. >
“The goddess will protect you Willow from harm. No evil will enter this room tonight. Be safe Willow.” With that Amy left the room.
~~~*~~~
Amy came into the library looking worse for the wear. Xander looked at the girl who just walked in. “How’s Willow?”
Pulling her sunglasses down just a bit to peer at Xander, she said “ She’s fine...no change. Angel did not pay her a late night visit either.”
“How do you know?...Did you stay there all night? It doesn’t look that way to me, because if you were there all night, I mean you would be wearing the same clothes that you had on yesterday. You are definitely not wearing the same clothes from yesterday.” Xander ran on.
“Xander stop your babbling.” Giles voice came from his office and echoed through the library.
“Xander, I put a spell on Willow last night. It will protect her from darkness.” Amy stated.
Buffy busted through the doors of the library, throwing the flowers on the table.
“I want to know how Angel found out that lilies were Willow’s favorite flowers?”
Everyone was stunned to silence by Buffy’s outburst.
“Jealous much Buffy?” Cordelia was the one who finally broke the silence.
Buffy just stared at her, but before she could retaliate Xander cut her off.
“Umm..Amy your spell did not work!” Xander pointed to the flowers that were scattered all over the table.
“But Xander, I know it did...I felt it.” Amy flustered. “He must have gone into her room while I was in the chapel getting the holy water I needed for the spell.”
Giles came out of his office to see what was all the screaming was about. “Buffy?”
Buffy turned her attention to Giles.
“You know he likes to play mind games with you to take you off your game. He is umm...most likely using your feeling...or..I mean...trying to use your feelings against you.
The bell rang just as Buffy was going to say something, and Giles cut her off.
“The four of you get to class and we can discuss this matter after school.” Giles went into his office and the four teens when to their designated classes.