~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 11~
Angel sat on the wet grass trying to comfort Buffy. His memories were not clear because of the spell. He also realized that he did not feel any regret or sorrow. Angel felt pain for hurting Buffy, but not the guilt of the past. "Angel?" Angel looked down and noticed that Buffy pulled away from him slightly to look at his face. Buffy traced the contours of his face. Angel closed his eyes feeling the warmth of her touch. Out of no where new memories flashed in his mind. They were blurry and he could not understand where these flashbacks were coming from. As quick as the memories came, they were gone. He was left with the feeling of happiness and contentment. Angel frowned with the loss of Buffy's touch. "Angel?" She called out to him. He opened up his eyes.
"What is it Buffy?" He wiped the tears from her eyes.
"You're back." Buffy flung herself into his arms once again. "I love you Angel, I don't want you ever to leave me again. I can't lose you again." Angel could feel drops of rain start to fall from the sky. "I've been going crazy without you…I love you Angel."
"I…" For some reason Angel could not say the words that used to come so easily when it came to the slayer. He watched her as she looked up at him with hope in her eyes. "I…I think we better get someplace dry." He watched as her smile turned into a frown. Angel could feel the rain starting to come down heavier.
"Yea." Buffy looked away from him and started to rise. "I have to get back to the library. Giles and the rest of the gang are there waiting for me." She turned her back to him. Buffy wanted to ask him to come with her so that the rest of them could see that he was back. <Well, Buff its now or never.> "Angel?" She turned back to him. "Will….Will you come with me?"
"Buffy?" Angel sighed. He didn't want to deal with this now. He felt so many conflicting emotions. Emotions that he did not understand. "I…I don't think that it would be a good idea."
"Angel…you have to." Buffy began to plead with him. "They have to know that you are…well..back." Angel looked away from her. Another flash of memories came to him. Him delivering flowers to the hospital for someone. He just could not understand who that someone was. "Angel…please." Angel turned to face her once again. His face softened. "Just trust me on this…what happens if they run into you…and they think that you still…soulless. They will try to kill you."
Angel moved forward. He could not stand to see the pain in her eyes. "Ok…but I will not stay long. Buffy, I will not be able to stand the look of deceit on all their faces."
Angel moved forward to walk besides Buffy. She instinctly reached for his hand grasping it with her own. Angel looked down at their hands intertwined with one another. He looked back up at Buffy and sighed.
******
Amy started to regain consciousness slowly. The first thing that she noticed is that she was laying on something soft. She didn't remember how she got there. All she remembered was losing a lot of blood from a vampire bite and a blonde coming to her rescue. "Buffy?" She whispered.
Spike was seated on one of the chairs. He could tell by Amy's heart rate that she was regaining consciousness. He heard what she whispered and held back a laugh. "Sorry pet, wrong blonde."
Amy's eyes flew open. She sat up straight to look around. To her horror she was not on the couch of the library but what seemed to be Spike's bedroom. "Oh...Fuck." She groaned. She could hear Spike laughing. Amy jumped up from the bed and made a run for the door, but before she could get far her legs gave out from under her because of the blood loss. Spike caught her before she could hit the floor. "I'm dead."
"Not quite luv," Spike scooped her up into his arms. He could see the fear in her eyes. "Don't worry pet. I don't like to feed off of witches." He placed her gently back onto the bed.
Amy cowered away from Spike. She looked up into his blue eyes. There was only one question that she could actually thing of asking. "Why?" Spike cocked his head to the side.
"Why?" Spike turned and sat back down in the chair knowing he would seem less of a threat to her. "I would think that would be a simple question for anyone to answer. You got rid of the bloody wanker for me. Plus, I don't…I didn't think that it was right what he was doing with Red." Spike shifted in his chair, knowing that he was letting Amy see the real side of him. But he couldn't help telling her these things. "Angelus..was going to far with his obsession with Red. She was an innocent."
Amy could feel the blush rise up her body. "An innocent…" Amy exclaimed. "We were all innocent until you had to bring the judge to Sunnydale. If you would have left it alone then none of us would be in this shit."
"I did it for Drucilla Luv, it was the perfect gift for her."
"A GIFT." Amy clinched her teeth together and hissed out the words. "That is not a gift. A gift is flowers, or candy. Destroying humanity is not a gift." She threw her hands down on the bed. She was frustrated and weak. "Willow would not be in the predicament that she is in…if it wasn't for you."
"I was not the one that shagged Angelus." Spike growled. "Talk to the slayer about that one, Pet."
"You." Amy grabbed the first thing that she could get her hands on, which was a pillow and threw it at him. " The judge is the one that set things into motion. Ms. Calendar would have told everyone about the damn clause. But no…you just had to be a macho man…and start the cycle. Willow would be all right if you didn't start the fucking cycle."
"Why the bloody hell are you blaming me." Spike rose from his chair and stalked towards the angry witch. "I was just giving a gift to the woman that I loved."
"Because...it is your fault. Willow would have never done the spell that sent her back two hundred years in the past." Amy was on a roll now. "She would have never met Angel…fallen in love with him and married him." She clasped her hand over her mouth. She'd let out Willow's secret. "Oh…god."
"What are you talking about, Pet." Spike had to laugh. The girl was going crazy. "Red went back into the past and met Angelus? Bloody hell, are you sure that you didn't lose too much blood?"
"Umm…forget that I ever said that.." Amy tried to cover up her mistake. But from the look on Spike's face he was not going to let it drop so easily.
"Oh...I don't think so, Luv." Spike sat on the bed and patted the spot next to him. "Ok…Luv, come over here and tell Uncle Spikie everything you know."
"No...it was a mistake...I was lying to you." Amy countered hoping he would just accept it and move on. She watched as Spike rose from the bed, starting to head for the door. Spike flung the door open and stalked outside. Amy stumbled out of the bed as she tried to keep up with the fleeing vampire. "Spike…wait...stop damn it." She saw him go into another room and she followed him. She noticed that clothes were flung all over the place. Spike was standing stiff in front of an old chest.
"Bloody hell." He swore as Amy approached him from behind. "I can't bloody believe this shit." Amy tried to look over his shoulder but couldn't do it. She moved to his side and gasped as she saw a picture of a woman sleeping. The women looked exactly like Willow. She looked in the corner of the paper and saw a ring dangling from a piece of silk. "I guess that you are right, Pet." Amy didn't even bother to answer his comment she was too fascinated by the ring.
Spike noticed Amy was holding the ring in her hand. "It's a wedding ring pet. That is what they used for bands back in Angelus' time."
"Don't even think about it Spike. I know what you are going to do. I will not allow you to hurt Willow." Amy grabbed the things away from Spike. "I will kill you if you use this information against Angel."
"Why Pet…I would never do a thing like that." Spike held his hand over his heart.
"Yeah…right." Amy walk towards the door. She needed to get these items back to Willow. They belonged to her.
"Where do you think you are going Luv?" Spike shouted as he turned to see Amy going to the door.
Amy stopped and turned back to Spike. She smiled sweetly at him. "Someplace you're not." Amy snapped her hand towards him. A bolt of white energy flew towards Spike, hitting him and making him fly across the room. "I recharge quickly Spike." was the last thing he heard from the girl before he passed out.
******
"I want you to stay here." Buffy stated as she let go of Angel's hand. "I want to talk to them first. They will listen to me." Angel gave his approval as Buffy walked into the library. She saw everyone was standing except for Cordelia. "Giles, Xander I think that you should sit down." The two men looked at Buffy. They didn't know what to expect, only if that she told them to sit that it must be bad. "I have something to show you. I don't want any yelling or fighting." Xander opened his mouth to interrupt her. "Let me finish, Xander please." Buffy turned to Giles. "Giles, you trust my instincts don't you?"
Giles looked at her strangely. "Of course I do…what is going on Buffy?"
"Giles...please if you care about me at all." Buffy spoke to him. "you would not do anything to hurt me. I know that you are angry and hurting…but please."
"Buffy?"
Buffy turned to the doorway. "You can come in now." Everyone's eyes were on the doors. Slowly the figure walked into the library. Buffy when to stand in front of him. After the initial shock of Angel standing there, all hell started to break loose.
Xander rushes at Angel, knocking Buffy out of his way. "I will kill you...you son of a bitch for hurting MY Willow." Angel was shocked at Xander's words, he let his guard down. It was all that Xander needed. He knocked Angel down to the ground and started to bash his head against the floor. Giles stood there in shock.
Buffy got up and tried to pull Xander off of Angel. "Xander stop please…you are not helping." Buffy finally pushed Xander off of Angel. Angel didn't even bother to get up. "Please Xander...Its Angel. He's my Angel again."
Xander looked over at Buffy. He was furious at the way Buffy protected Angel. "Buffy don't you see it's a trick? He is acting the part just to get to you. He's done with Willow, now he's going after you again." He made it very clear that he didn't trust him.
While the commotion was going on Giles went into his office, intending to kill Angel for all that he had done to him and the others. Giles picked up a stake and started to walk out. He was interrupted by the phone ringing. He hesitated, and then he put down the stake to answer the telephone. He waited, listening to the other person on the line. "I see…hold on one moment I will get him." Giles walked out of the office forgetting about his plans. There was something more important happening that needed to be dealt with. "Xander…" He called out to the youth. Xander looked over at Giles. He could tell that Xander was feeling the same fury as he was. "We don't have time for this now…Mr. Rosenburg.." Before Giles could finish his comment Xander was on his way into the office. He knew the boy was more worried about is best friend than Angel right now. Giles watched as Xander listened to Ira talk on the other end.
Xander nodded his responses, too overwhelmed to speak. When Ira was finally finished, Xander looked over at Giles. "Ok…I will be right over." He hung up the phone, walking past the watcher to get his things. "That was Willow's father." Everyone stopped talking and waited for Xander to speak again. "We need to get to the hospital. Willow's awake and doing fine." Everyone could hear the joy in his voice. Angel was standing there frozen in his spot. <What's going on.> Xander and Cordelia brushed passed the stunned vampire. Giles fell into step right behind the couple.
Buffy turned and started to follow Giles. She stopped when she didn't sense that Angel was behind them. "Well?"
"Buffy…I don't think…"
"Don't think…I don't want to leave you alone." Buffy walked back to Angel and grabbed his hand. "Willow would want to know that you are back." Buffy pulled a reluctant Angel with her.
********
Ira Rosenburg arrived at the hospital, and the doctor called him in. The doctor told Ira about his daughter. That she was pregnant and that she would be due in the middle of June. Ira was stunned. He thought his daughter was not that kind of girl. But after the shock wore off he knew that he would do anything to help his daughter. He called his wife and told her the news that the doctor told him only moments ago. Sheila was furious. She was more worried about her daughter getting into a good college. She ranted about colleges not excepting girls with newborn babies. Ira tried to reason with his wife. But she would hear nothing of it. When he was through talking he hung up the phone sitting on the chair and started to cry. He cried because he wasn't there when his daughter needed him the most. He put the blame all on himself. "Mr. Rosenburg." Ira looked up and saw Xander running down the hospital corridor, and he was being followed by a couple of teenagers.
"Alexander." Ira smiled as the teen stopped in front of him.
"Mr. Rosenburg, how is she? Is she awake? I want to see her." Xander started to babble nervously. "Can I see her? Did she ask for me? What did the doctor's say?" Ira noticed the rest of the group stop behind Xander.
"Alexander.." Ira stood and put his hands in his pockets. He was deliberating whether or not to tell him everything. <It's up to my baby.> "Willow is fine...she woke up a couple of hours ago. She was disoriented at first but seems to be fine now. The doctor's…"
"Mr. R. what did the doctors tell you?"
"The doctor's stated that she is doing well for just coming out of an unconscious state for a long period of time. One of them said that it was as if she was just sleeping." Ira shrugged. "I really don't understand it."
"Well, that means that we can go see her right?" Xander's voice trembled with happiness.
"Sure…" Ira sat back down in the chair. "I am sure that she would be happy to see you all."
Xander jogged down the hallway to get to Willow's room. Mr. Rosenburg smiled at the young boy. When Xander rushed through the door of Willow's room they all heard him yell out his friends name. Ira looked up at the older man that looked like the Librarian. "Excuse me…Mr. Giles." Giles stopped and turn back to the Willow father. Ira watched as the teens were far enough that no one could hear him. "Mr. Giles."
"Yes?" Giles walked back to Ira.
"I was wondering if you could help me with something?" Ira looked away then stood once more. "Willow, my daughter, the strangest thing happened when she woke up. Willow called out a name. I don't know if this means anything to you…But the name was Angel." Giles tried to hide the wonder that passed through his face. "Do you know a boy at school that has that name?"
"N…No…I must say that there is no student by the name of Angel." Giles looked at Willow's door. <Why in bloody hell would she call out that monster's name? >
"Oh…well thanks. I have to go and wait for my wife at the airport." Ira started to walk away. "Mr. Giles…tell my baby girl that I will be back." Giles nodded as he watched Willow's father leave the hospital.
**********
Amy was running to the hospital as fast as she could. She would look back every once in a while to see if anyone was following her. She's topped at the library just to peek in making sure that they were all there. Amy cursed herself for telling Spike about what happened to Willow. <Sorry Wills.> She was trying to think where the hell Buffy and the rest of them could be. <Maybe they found out about Angel and they were looking for him. She smiled at that thought. She was running through that parking lot when she saw Willow's father get into the car. Ira stopped the car as soon as he saw Amy. "Amy."
"Hello Mr. Rosenburg." Amy gasped. "Where are you going?"
"I am going to stop by my house and pick up something else for Willow to wear. Then I have to pick up my wife at the airport."
"Ok, Mr.Rosenburg." Amy smiled and waved. "Goodbye." Ira waved and drove off into the night.
Amy ran into the hospital, not even stopping at the nurses' station. The nurses all knew who she was. Mostly because she was there almost every night. Amy ran into Willow's room. "Willow…I've got something…" She saw the rest of the occupants in the room and skidded across the floor. Amy collected herself. When she was finished everyone was looking at her including Angel.
"Amy what did you find?" Xander's voice came through the silence.
~Part: 12~
Amy looked at each of the occupants in the room. She finally looked back at Xander, who didn't look very happy at that precise moment. "Well, it actually isn't something to show Willow really....it's something that I have to…tell her." Willow sat in her bed hoping and praying that Xander would take the hint and leave things alone. "See, Xander…I ran into Willow's father. He asked me to tell Willow that he had to pick up her mother from the airport." She moved towards Willow. "Sorry…I didn't mean to scared anyone."
"That…is...is quite alright Amy." Giles stuttered, obviously embarrassed that he had forgotten to tell Willow himself. "I was asked to tell Willow the same thing…it must have slipped my mind."
Xander turned from his position on the bed. "The G-man is getting old. He is forgetting things." He couldn't let the opportunity slip through his fingers.
"Xander, even I tend to forget things." Giles countered. "And how many times have I asked you to not call me that!"
Angel was standing in the darkest corner of the room. Lurking and listening, he could not get rid of the feeling that Amy was hiding something. <What could it possible be?> There was a knock on the outside of the door. Willow looked up as the nurse came into the room. She smiled at Willow and handed her some pills for her to take. Willow took them with ease. She already knew what they were from the discussion she had with the doctor. "Thanks…" Willow smiled up at the nurse.
"So when can she get out of here?" Xander questioned the nurse. "I mean I am sure that Willow would love to get out and get some fresh air. If I were her, which I am not as you can see.."
"Xander," Buffy called out. He turned to look at her. "You're babbling."
"Oh…Ok.." He gave the nurse a humble smile. "Sorry."
"That's quite alright young man. The patient seems to be in great health. If she keeps it up, she could be out of here in a couple of days."
"Oh..that's great.." Xander bounced happily, shaking the bed. "We can all go Bronzing together…dancing, laughing, and cheering. Go back to normal like nothing happened."
"I really don't think Ms. Rosenburg will be in any condition to party the night away." The nurse left Willow and her guests in silence.
"Will," Willow look up at Buffy. Willow could see the happiness in Buffy's eyes. "What was she talking about? You look fine, why can't we celebrate?" Buffy continued on. "It is cause for a celebration. I...well, we have Angel back and then Willow wakes up…what more can we ask for." When Buffy mentioned Angel, Willow paled, she could feel her heart constrict. "Willow, are you alright you look a little pale."
"No…no...fine." Willow took a quick glance over to Amy. "J...just tired that is all, don't worry I'm be fine." She quickly dropped her eyes down to what seem to be a very nice pattern on the sheets. <What else could go wrong!> There was another knock on the door. "Come in damn it." Everyone gasped at Willow's surge of anger.
"Hello…Red."
Xander jumped off the bed in order to protect Willow from the peroxide blonde. "What the hell are you doing here?" Spike didn't even bother to answer Xander's question. He just shook the boy off. He had his eyes pinned to a very nervous Willow and Amy.
Spike was pinned up against the wall before he could say another word. "I will give you ten seconds head start before I stake your ass for coming near my best friend." Buffy had a stake pinned right at his heart.
"Buffy…no." Buffy looked from where the frightened voice came from. Willow looked on the verge of tears. "please let him go.."
"What the hell is going on Will?" Buffy released Spike waiting for Willow to answer the question. "Will, now come on…evil...no soul…killed three slayers."
"Buffy." She turned to the other voice. "He helped me perform the spell to restore Angel's soul." The expressions on the group's face could be read and they all were saying the same thing. "Spike wanted Angel out of the way. He wanted Drucilla back…he could not stand another passing day without his love."
"Willow, Amy." Buffy was in shock. "He can't love…he is a soulless demon who deserves to die. All the things he put me through. I lost Angel because of him." Spike leaned against the wall loving the interaction. He wanted this and he was happy that he got it. "If he didn't bring the judge to Sunnydale none of this would have happened, Angel would have never turned."
"Slayer…I would be careful if I were you." Spike had an evil glint in his eyes. "You know you are in the company of two very powerful witches."
"Shut your mouth Spike." Buffy tightened her grip on the stake that she was still holding in her hand. "No one wants you here."
"I would think again, Pet." Spike looked directly at Angel. "If it wasn't for me getting the disk away from Drucilla, then your lapdog would be making his move right at this very moment. I see it this way, you owe me."
"Shut up Spike." Angel growled.
"GET OUT!" Willow screamed. "I can't take it…I want you gone. NOW!"
Angel looked at Willow. He didn't see a timid young woman, he saw something different. He knew now what his demon saw, Willow was hiding something. Angel could feel the power that radiated off of her. It was making his demon back away.
"Willow?"
"No...Angel I'm fine." A flash of memory came to him once again. It was so powerful that he stumbled catching himself on the end of the bed. It was as if Angel heard the tone and the comment before…in his past. Angel shrugged off the feeling when he felt someone touch his shoulder. He looked up and saw Buffy in front of him.
"Are you alright?" Buffy's voice dripped with concern. She had put his arm around her to help him stand. "I think that we should get you home."
"I think that would be a grand idea." Spike added into the conversation. They all looked at him . "What? Can't I be concerned, he is my sire after all."
"Yeah…right." Amy whispered. She could feel Spike smiling in back of her.
"Willow…I better get Angel home…" Buffy glanced at Willow. She smiled. Everyone said their good-byes to Willow. She sighed when everyone left the room. She looked over at the door to see Amy and Spike walk back in.
"Sorry about that, Will. If I would have known that Blonde was going to show up I would have shackled him up." Amy said as Spike followed behind her.
"He knows, doesn't he?" She whispered from her place on the bed.
"What Red? That you went back in time and shagged Angelus." Amy turned around and glared at Spike. "What? I was just trying to lighten the mood." He looked from Amy to Willow. "Red...you haven't told him yet? Because sooner or later the wanker will remember. It might take the old man a little while, but he will remember and he will want answers." Willow just stared out the window. She didn't know what to do. Everyone would find out the wrongs that she committed against Buffy and Angel. They would hate her for it too. "Hey Red," Willow turned back to Spike. He was holding her chart in his hand. "I can't bloodly believe this! Is this for real?"
Amy once again was intrigued by Spike's words and Willow's look of horror. "What is it, Spike?"
"Hell, Angelus is going to become a Daddy…a real one!" Spike laughed and then looked at Willow. "Sorry."
"Willow, how long have you known this?" Amy looked at the chart then looked up at her friend.
"Just found out today…" Willow whispered. "both of you are not going to tell Angel and not anyone else. I don't want to push him into something that he does not what to do." She paused to wipe the tears from her eyes. "If Buffy was to find out what I did, it would destroy her. I don't want to do that."
"Well, you can't hide forever, Pet." Spike walked towards her. "Take some advice from a person that knows Angelus. Once he has a piece of the information, he will not give up until he finds the rest of it."
"Why are you doing this Spike?" Willow whimpered. "Why are you being so nice to me…to us." She pointed at Amy.
"Lets just say I talk tough. But I am seeing something that I don't like here. I don't want you to become another Drucilla."
"A…Angel would never do that." She justified Angel to Spike.
"Ok…guys." Amy broke into the conversation. "I…well, we seem to have a permanent fixture in our lives that will not leave." Amy stared at Spike for a moment then continued. "So, at least we don't have to worry about dying or anything."
"Well, thanks pet..never knew you cared so much about me." Spike grinned at Amy who blushed in returned. Willow watched what was transpiring in front of her. They were flirting with each other. She could not believe it. Willow started giggling. "What?"
"You two have a thing for each other." Willow held her stomach and laughed. "I can't believe it…a witch and a vampire…match made in hell."
"Very funny Willow. I can't stand him…" Willow took her head off the pillow and looked right at Amy.
"Amy, I can see it in your eyes." Amy blushed at Willow's statement. "Hey, who am I to judge the two of you." All Spike could do was look between the two girls that were in front of him. "Don't worry, he has a thing for you too, Amy. Spike, it's all right. If you helped Amy with the spell then I consider you a nice person…well...not person…but...uh...vampire."
"Thanks pet…you aren't all that bad for…a human either." Willow's cheeks flushed.
"Well, Willow…I wanted to tell you this." Amy pulled a sheet of paper out of her pocket, handing it over to Willow. Willow opened it and gasped. It was her…she knew it was her…it was of her first night as Angel's wife. Tears started to fall from her face as she looked up in the corner of the paper. It was her wedding ring…that Angel had given to her. Willow could not believe that it was here. She looked up, teary eyed at Spike then at Amy. Her throat constricted, and she could not talk. Willow touched the ring that was held to the paper by a long silk ribbon. She remembered she wore that ribbon on that fateful night that Angel was turned. "Willow…" Willow looked up at Amy. Her eyes were blood shot because of the amount of crying she had done over the past day. "I was thinking, and if you don't want to be in the hospital any longer, I have a spell at home that can heal you a lot quicker." Amy would try anything to get Willow out of the depression that she was falling into fast. Willow just shook her head yes. Amy took Willow into her arms. "We will be back, ok?" she sniffled a response and Amy and Spike headed for the door.
Spike stopped and turned around to face Willow. "Red." Willow glanced at Spike. "Everything will work out." She gave him a sad smile and they walked out of the room.
**********
Angel walked into his apartment after Cordelia dropped him and Buffy off at her house. Angel could not understand what was happening to him. Why didn't it feel right with Buffy anymore? Before he lost his soul he would have given Buffy anything, just to be with her. But now something changed. For some reason there was another person that had his heart. He changed into a silk pair of pants after feeding. Angel was tired after everything that had happened over the past twenty-four hours, all he wanted to do was rest. He was finally on the verge of sleep when he got into bed. That night Angel had a restless sleep, his dreamscapes were full of laughter, love and happiness. He awoke a short time later. The last vision that he remembered was of a slender woman standing over him caressing his hair. Then the image changed to Darla, and him screaming. Angel knew that he could not sleep any longer, those dreams were tearing into his soul. He wanted to remember who the woman was. "Maybe in time, after the initial shock of the curse wears off, then you will remember." Angel whispered to himself as he stood from his bed. He changed and decided to go out and hunt. Angel needed to get rid of all this energy that he had built up. As he walked down the streets of Sunnydale his mind wondered to one person, Buffy. She wanted to go back, just like nothing had happened. When he was saying goodnight to her just a couple of hours ago, he felt like he was betraying someone. He didn't understand who. To his disappointment, there were no vampires out. Angel finally looked up to see where his legs had taken him to. He was amazed at the sight that stood before him. <Well, might as well go in.> He walked into the hospital, just to make sure that she was alright. As Angel came closer to her room there was this overwhelming sense to protect and comfort the red headed pixie that was so defenseless. Angel stood in front of the door as if trying to force himself into the room. He finally got up the courage to walk in.
Willow got tired of lying in the bed. She got up, trying to get the numbness to go away. She slowly walked over to the small window that was in her room. When she got there she just stood, staring at the outside world. She was afraid to go back into it. There were so many things that had changed because of her. She was now carrying a child that she knew would never have a father. Willow sighed as she remembered what it was like in Ireland, so simple, perfect. She absently fingered the ring that she put around her neck earlier.
There were only two things that her love had left her. The unborn child that grew inside of her and this ring. "Willow?" She turned when she heard someone whisper her name. Her legs went weak on her as the man started to come closer to her. She could not believe that he was here. "Willow!" Angel crossed the room trying to catch her before she fell. Too concerned about her well being, Angel never noticed the ring what she wore around her neck. He placed her back onto the bed, pulling the covers over her. For some reason this felt right to him. He stroked her red hair out of her face, just amazed how much she had changed since they first met.
"Angel." She called out as she tried to take in as much of his touch as she could. When her mind registered what was happening her eyes flew open and she noticed that it wasn't a dream. "Angel…um...hi…uh...what are you doing here. I mean not what are you doing here but why…I mean…"
"Willow." Angel smiled down at her. "I just wanted to check to see if you are all right."
Her eyes grew wide. "Oh...I am fine…no worry...really…Spike didn't hurt me." Angel could tell that Willow was uncharacteristically nervous around him. <why shouldn't she…you stalked her for all those months.> "Angel" She called out to him. He looked up at her with a pained expression. "I'm sorry…I shouldn't…"
"No…don't be sorry Willow." Angel stood away from her bed. "I should be the one that is sorry here, not you. I was the one that stalked you…everyone said I did it to get back at Buffy to make her hurt. But I am not sure. That just doesn't seem right to me. I feel like a piece of my life is missing…but I don't know what piece."
<Oh…goddess, please don't let him remember.> Willow silently prayed to herself. "Angel…it wasn't you…it was the demon." She tried to steer him into another direction. "Angel…listen…maybe you are just wishing that you were missing something. You know it was all part of a fantasy."
"I just don't know…I mean it wasn't like this the first time I was cursed." Angel looked away from her. "I shouldn't even have come here. I'm sorry Willow." Angel started to walk to the door. For some reason he had this strange contentment that went through him. <It was never this easy to talk to her before, why has it all changed?> Angel turned around ready to say goodbye when he noticed that she was sleeping peacefully. <She looks so surreal.>
Angel found himself standing over her bedside. He was once again stroking her hair. Angel bent down and gave her a sweet kiss on her forehead. "Good night." He whispered then walked out of the room. As he was walking down the corridor, which led out of the hospital, he felt this great sadness once again.
As Angel walked into the night he could hear sounds of bickering and fighting. The voices sounded familiar to him, so he followed the direction from which they were coming. As the voices drew near, he let himself fade into the shadows.
When the two people were within sight, he could not believe his eyes. It was Spike and Amy - bickering, well more like Amy was cursing and Spike was growling. Angel started to follow them once they were a safe distance away from him, so he could not be seen. What they were fighting about he didn't know. But if he knew Spike as well as he thought he did, Angel had no doubt in his mind that Spike had a crush on the witch! Angel was distracted when he heard a rustle behind him. He noticed that it was only a stray cat that was looking for something to eat. When Angel turned around he could not believe his eyes. There were Spike and Amy kissing in the middle of the street. Oh…my.>
~Part: 13~
Willow had been having her ups and down during the past week. Xander would frequently skip school to come and visit her. He made a promise to her one day that he would be there by her side at all times. It was so hard for Willow to hear those words from Xander’s lips. Another time, Buffy found her in the bathroom hunched over the toilet having morning sickness. She had to lie about why she was so sick recently. But still her secret was safe for the time being. Angel would come visit her also. Sometimes with Buffy and sometimes alone. Watching the way Buffy would lean against Angel was hard for her. Every time that they came to see her together it would cut through her heart.
The doctor’s were worried about Willow’s health. They told her that she was to be released from their care in a week due to the factall her lab tests were coming back negative. Willow saw Amy and Spike together more so then not. They reminded her of Cordelia and Xander-- always arguing and Spike being burned by his own words. There was one thing that Spike would never talk about which was Drusilla. Willow knew from the talks with Buffy that she was gone. Where she went no one knew or cared. But Willow knew that Spike was still hurting. As the nights went by, she started to see Spike in a very different light. He became more to the of a big brother to her.
Sheila, her mother, fell for Spike’s charms immediately. Sheila would talk to Spike about trying to get her daughter to give up the child once it was born, but Spike wouldn’t hear of it. He told Sheila that a child should be raised by its mother, not a complete stranger.
The reasons he gave her were because a surrogate mother and father raised him, and all they did was beat him constantly. Spike was introduced to Willow’s mother and father as William. Willow laughed when they called him by his real name instead of Spike making Spike cringe. He hated being called by his real name. Ira, her father was a bit hesitant at first, but when Spike gave him a hand with some stocks that he purchased, he found a way into his heart.
Willow’s time for being discharged was early in the evening. Ira asked Spike or William to pick up his daughter since he and his wife had to go out of town for a couple of days. Ira was reluctant about leaving his little girl alone, but Spike told him that he would keep an eye on her for them. Willow’s father scheduled an ultrasound for her. Ira wanted to find out that everything was okay, and every measure was to be taken to make his daughter happier. Sheila left it all up to Ira. She was too upset to deal with what was going on in her family. Sheila knew, but she didn’t want to admit that her daughter was growing up. It scared her to death.
Spike and Amy walked into Willow’s room before the nurse came down to get her for her first ultrasound. She had asked Amy to be there. When Spike found out what was going on, he demanded that he be there also, using the excuse that Willow’s father had asked him to make sure that everything was going all right.
“Hey Willow…we’re here a little early as you requested.” Amy walked into the room with Spike not too far behind. “How you feeling? Morning sickness gone yet?”
“No,” Willow groaned. “Everything I eat comes right back up a half an hour later, and as if that isn’t hard enough, I had to drink sixty-four ounces of water. I have to go to the little girls' room so bad, and they won't let me.” Then Willow noticed Spike for the first time. “What’s Spike doing here.”
“Well it seems that Blondie strikes once again.” Amy looked back at Spike who had a big grin on his face. “It seems that he wormed his way into your family life.”
Willow laughed. “I know. Mom and Dad were telling me.” She gave him a quick smile. “Spike, thanks for helping me out with my mom. She can be a little hard headed at times.”
“Pet, you don’t have to tell me.” Spike moved from behind Amy to let the nurse in with the wheelchair. He was repulsed every time he saw one of those things. “It took me most of the night to explain the benefits of having a real mother. When she didn’t budge on the subject, I had to pull an ace out of my sleeve. Your Mum is still upset, but I think that she will come around, Red.”
While Spike was talking, Willow was getting ready to go for the ultrasound. She was nervous, but it helped that Spike and Amy were there. They left the room and proceeded down the hallway. Amy and Spike had to wait outside until Willow was ready.
Inside the room, Willow changed into a hospital gown. When she was finished the nurse asked her to lie on the table. Willow shivered as the nurse put this cold jelly substance on her belly. The nurse started to take the initial measurement of the baby before she could let the others in. Willow was amazed when she saw the tiny thing that looked sort of like a cocoon. Her eye’s started to become misty after she looked at the monitor. “That’s my baby?” she whispered as she touched the monitor.
“The nurse smiled at her. “Yes, that is your baby. It still hasn’t developed much, so you can’t really see anything important like the sex of the baby,” the nurse responded to her question. “I am finished here. Would you like me to get your brother and his girlfriend.”
“Broth…?” Willow looked away from the monitor and at the nurse. “Oh…um…sure.” The nurse left the room and Willow’s eyes were glued back to the image on the screen. She rested her head back against the pillow and smiled. “You know that…I am going to try my best to make you happy,” Willow spoke to the monitor. She didn’t care if someone saw or heard what she was doing. She could feel the love just well up inside of her. <I helped create that.> “You are going to have the best of everything…no less for my baby.”
“Willow.” She started by the sound of Amy’s voice. Willow scrubbed the tears away. Amy and Spike walked up to the bed. Spike was closest to the monitor. Willow and Amy giggled at the looks that crossed his face.
“Luv, is that really a baby?” Spike asked in awe.
“Yes…S..William, that is really a baby,” Amy stuttered, trying to use his real name instead of his nickname.
Willow giggled. She couldn’t help herself as she watched the nurse point out the specifics to Spike.
“Excuse me…but there looks like something behind it.” Spike got the nurse’s attention. He saw it because of his vampiric eyesight. Everyone could see the images changing due to the fact that Spike pointed something out to the nurse. Willow was looking at the monitor nervously. Spike could hear her heartbeat accekerated. “Pet, calm down.” Willow looked up at him knowing what he was talking about.
“Ms. Rosenberg.” Willow looked wide eyed at the nurse. “You are going to be the proud mother of twins.” Willow felt her body lurch. On the other hand, Amy was bubbling with joy. “Ms. Rosenberg, as your brother so kindly pointed out to me, there is another fetus behind the one that you see on the screen.
Willow didn’t know what to do. Joy and pain were threatening to engulf her emotions. “I…I..” she sputtered. “Two…not one…ar…are you sure.?”
“One hundred-percent sure.” The nurse began to print out a copy of the ultra sound for Willow. She started writing notes down on her chart, telling the obstetrician about her findings. “Here you are.” She handed over the printouts of the images that she had just taken. “Your are all set to go home, Ms. Rosenberg.”
“Uh…oh…um…home...” Willow was completely flabbergasted.
When they were back in Willow’s hospital room, the doctor was already there with her release papers and prescriptions that she needed to have filled. The doctor told Willow that she was going to be released into William's care. Willow was to get a lot of bed rest and also to do nothing that would put a strain on her pregnancy. Spike signed the papers using a false last name. The doctor made sure that Spike knew and was going to do everything he was told. Spike ushered Willow out of the hospital while Amy trailed behind them, holding Willow’s bag.
********
He could feel the sun beating down on his face. Something that he hadn’t felt in over two hundred years. He looked around at his surroundings, waiting for the nightmare to begin. He heard giggles coming from the tree not too far away fromwhere he was standing. Angel started to move towards the sound that he would always remember. The laugh of his baby brother, his favorite brother. As he approached the tree, he heard Andrew call out his name. This is where the dream usually changed. “Andwlus…you can’t find me.” Angel’s brother once again called out to his oldest brother.
“Andwlus!!!” Angel looked around, but the dream did not change. Instead of feeling the pain of his victims, he felt the heat of the sun that shone above him.
“Andrew?”
“Andwlus…can’t find me can ya?” Andrew giggled again, which made Angel smile. “Ok…you were always not fun at ‘ide and seek.” Angel watched as his baby brother climbed down from the tree like he always remembered him doing. Andrew's voiced changed a little. “Angelus…don’t be afraid.” Angel gaped at his brother and how one instant he spoke in a child’s voice, the next he spoke with his father’s voice. “You have nothing to fear. I am not going to harm you in any way. We want you to stop feeling sorry for yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong. The first time...yes...but not this time...”
“I don’t understand.” Angel looked away from his brother. “I...I killed you all…why should I not feel the pain that I have caused?”
“Because it is different this time. Someone changed it. The first time.” The voice changed again from his father’s to his mother’s. “You wanted it my son. You asked for it. The night you meet the pixie, she changed it all.”
“Pixie?” Angel questioned, trying to search his memory. “Mama…I don’t...”
“You will…just open yourself up. Come sit underneath the tree with me.”
The little boy grasped on to Angel’s hand and pulled him underneath the tree. “You see…you always wanted someone different, not a nice woman that would bow to your every word. Angelus…you wanted someone with fire and intelligence. She had them both.”
“Mama…who are you talking about?”
“The pixie I am talking about is your wife, Angelus.” Angel’s eyes widen when memories started to flash before his eyes. Red hair like fire, green eyes like the grass in Ireland. A warm smile that could melt a beasts heart. A glisten in her eyes when she was being mysterious. She held his heart before her in her hands. He could see the emotions of loyalty and devotion cross her face when she was saying her vows. Angel could hear the sound of whimpers and tiny moans as he loved her like she should be loved.
Angel opened his eyes and saw the women, his wife, standing with his back to him. Mesmerized, he walked over to her. She was dressed in the gown she wore at their wedding. As Angel got closer to her, the emotion of love cascaded through his heart. He stopped when he was behind her. Touching her bare shoulder, Angel slowly started to turn her around. His eyes widened as the woman lifted her head to meet his eyes. He could not believe who was standing in front of him, smiling up at him. “Willow” Angel whispered.
Angel’s eyes flew open, breathing in air that he didn’t need to breath. He remembered every detail of the dream that he had just had. “Willow,” he whispered as he flung himself out of bed. “No…No it can’t be her. She was not alive two hundred years ago.” He trudged to the refrigerator, opening it; he need to feed. “Maybe I am mixing the past with the present somehow,” Angel thought out loud. “When did my feelings start to stray away from friendship to something else,” he questioned himself some more as he put on a shirt and jacket. “This is too weird even for the hellmouth.” He put on his shoes and went out into the night. Angel was headed the one place where he could find some answers without causing any problems-- the mansion, where all of his things were. There had to be something that he could find to prove his dream wrong.
Spike was at the mansion collecting some of his things due to the fact that he had to watch over Willow. He didn’t even give it a second thought when Ira asked him. Spike knew that he was going soft, but it was the first time in a very long time that he was accepted by people that knew what he was. <Well, Willow knows what I am.> Spike heard someone throwing things around in the other room, which once belonged to Angelus. He cautiously moved to see who was stealing his sire's things. Spike opened looked into the open door. He could not believe his eyes. “Bloody hell, what in Satan are you doing here?”
Angel looked up at an infuriated Spike. “Spike this doesn’t concern you.”
“Hell if it doesn’t, mate,” Spike growled. “This is my bloody home…and you are not welcome here.”
Angel picked up the old chest and threw it against the wall. There was nothing in there that proved the dream right or wrong. “Spike, I am telling you to leave me be.”
“I don’t think so.” He walked towards Angel. “Anything that you do in here concerns me. This is where I live. Go wreck someone else's home.
“Where’s Dru at, Spike?” Angel knew that was Spike’s weakness. “Did she leave you once that her Daddy was gone?”
“I suggest that you leave Dru out of this.”
“Awe..come on Spikie.” Angel’s voice was laced with sarcasm. “When she left did you just decide to make the witch into another form of Drusilla?”
Spike bashed Angel’s head against one of the walls of the bedroom. “Don’t you ever mention anything about Drusilla again.” He picked Angel up by the shirt, put him into a standing position, turning himself at just the right angle and threw a right hook that landed right on Angel’s face.
Angel fell to the floor, laughing evilly at Spike. “As for the things that I do it doesn’t concern you.” Spiked kicked Angel in the same spot as Buffy did and heard a couple of ribs shatter. “Stay out of my undead life…or else.” Spike walk out leaving Angel on the floor. He picked up the bag and walked out of the mansion. He had to get back to Willow’s, more so now then at any other time. Spike had this feeling that his sire knew something. <But how much did he know?>
Willow and Amy were in her kitchen cooking something to eat. After persisting for a half an hour to Amy about letting her help, Amy gave in. Amy started tell her what was going on at school so Willow knew what to be aware of.
“Snyder has been a total troll lately. If you are late for class, even a minute late, he will take you to his office and have one of his chats with you.” Willow rolled her eyes. “Will, it's so funny…Buffy is now never late for school. He even threatened Xander with detention.”
Willow looked up from what she was doing. “Why?”
“Well, lets just say during one of your best friend's free periods, Snyder caught him and Cordelia in the utility closet,” Amy giggled. “You should have seen Xander's face. It was priceless.” Before Amy could tell another tale there was knock on the door. “I’ll get it…It's probably Spike.” Amy put the knife down and went to answer the door. Willow heard the accent and smiled to herself. She was happy that Amy finally found someone...but Spike? She would never have believed it in a million years.
Spike walked into the kitchen with Amy right on his tail. “I told you, Spike. She would not shut up until I let her out of bed.”
“Red?” Spike's encounter with Angel had left him furious. “What in bloody hell are you doing out of bed? The doctor told you to stay put.”
“Spike, I am fine, really,” Willow countered. “I’m just hungry…Plus, I needed to get up anyway. I am getting tired of lying down all the time. My legs go numb, and I don’t even want to mention anything about my butt.”
Spike’s concerns for Willow made him forget all about what had happened only moments ago at the mansion. “What are you doing, Amy?” Spike scowled at the arrangement of various veggies and fruits on the counter top. “This is what a rabbit eats, not a women that is due to have twins.”
“Spike!” Willow’s voice sent chills down his spine. “I will eat what I want to eat. Do you understand me? I have been in the hospital for too long. I am going stir crazy without some real food.” Then Willow added sweetly. “Plus it helps my stomach settle down."
Willow grabbed the apple she was cutting up and left the kitchen, walking into the living room. She turned on the television while she waited for the fighting couple who were dueling it out in the kitchen. Willow heard another knock on the door. She put down the remote and went to answer the door. “No…no you two don’t have to stop on my account,” she spoke to the still bickering couple in the kitchen. “No…you two stay..I will just waddle over to the door and answer it myself.” Willow smiled, thinking of the two. She opened the door, her smile disappeared, and she gasped.
“Willow, we need to talk.”
~Part: 14~
"Umm..Angel,..hi." Willow looks away nervously tucking a strain of hair behind her ear. "Is Buffy ok?"
"Buffy?" Angel was caught off guard momentarily by Willow's question. "Oh…yeah...she's fine…She's ah...patrolling."
Willow looked back into the kitchen to see Amy and Spike still arguing. "Umm...Angel, This really isn't a good time. Can you stop by later."
"Willow please." The dark haired vampire pleaded with her. "I don't know who else to talk to about this."
Willow sighed. She did want a fight to irrupt in her house, knowing Spike and Angel's tempers. "Alright…Come on in."
The barrier that held Angel out of Willow's home disappeared. Angel walked in and Willow closed the door behind him. "Angel can you walk in the living room. I have to get something in the kitchen. He just looked at the hacker and walked into the other room, not saying a word. She paled as she walked into the kitchen. Spike was the first one to notice that something wasn't right.
"Red, what happened?"
Willow looked up at Spike then looked over to Amy. "Um…Angel is here."
"Awe Bloody hell." The blonde vampire cursed. "I should have bloody known the wanker would do something like this."
"What do you mean?" Amy spoke throwing mental daggers in Spike's direction.
"Guys there is not the time for this." Willow's started to try to calm down the two. "Just go down the basement or out someplace so I can talk to Angel and see what he wants."
"No bloody way, Red." Spike's hatred for his sire was clearly showing on his face. "I am staying right here…I don't need anything to happen to you."
"Spike please." Willow took his cold hand into her warm one. "I can do this by myself…I don't need for you to be my knight in shining armor."
"Alright luv." Spike turned to Amy who was already waiting at the back door with her jacket in her hand. "I can't believe that you are going to let her do this."
"I know Willow, Spike." Amy shrugged. "Just let her do this…she doesn't need her vampire that is in big brother mode to come to her rescue."
Willow watched as Amy and Spike left. She prayed to the goddess to give her the strength that she needed to get this conversation with Angel done without hurting anyone. Willow picked up her glass of water that she had on the countertop and walked into the living room where Angel was waiting. When Angel heard Willow come into the room he automatically stood. She waved to him telling him that he didn't need to get up. While Willow was getting comfortable on the other side of the couch Angel trying to figure out what was so different about her. To him, She had this type of earthly glow to her. Angel shook himself out of his own reverie when he finally noticed that Willow was waiting for him. "Will…what is going on?" He got up and started to pace. "You letting Spike into your home. Spike kicking my ass because he caught me in the mansion looking through my things. These knew memories that I have."
Willow's eyes went wide as saucers when she as he mention that he remembered his new memories. Angel turned as he heard her heart be accelerate. "Willow, are you ok?"
"huh…oh…" Willow tried to quickly masking the emotions that were plaguing her face. "Fine…I'm fine."
Angel sat back down and continued on. "I have been having these dreams Willow. They are not my usually nightmare that used to plague me when I slept. These are of my family…" He took a breathe that he didn't need. "telling me that they forgive me for what I did to them." He looked up and captivated Willow's eyes. "Also in the dreams…you are my wife."
"Me…" Willow's squeak interrupted Angel.
"Yes…you.." Angel misinterpreted Willow's answer. "I know you thing that I am crazy. But my mother…she was calling my wife a pixie, I never was married. I think I would have remembered if I was married before I lost my soul."
"Um…" Angel was once again up pacing the room. "Angel can you please sit down you are making me nervous."
Angel stopped in mid step. "Sorry…it's just that I have all theses feelings that I can't explain." He sat down in the chair. "Did you help Amy with the spell to restore my soul…" Willow shook her head no. She couldn't speak, her throat was dry, she could feel her heart quicken. Willow had to forcefully hold back the tears that were threatening to seep from her eyes. "Then I don't understand it."
"I…I.." Willow wanted to tell him the truth she couldn't take seeing him like this so at odds with himself. "I...don't know what to say?"
"Maybe it's the fact that you trusted me…never condemning me for what I have done. I'm sorry Willow for coming it…its just that I needed someone to talk to about this…I feel like I can talk to you about anything." Angel started walking to the door knowing that Willow had no answers for him.
"Angel wait." Angel turned to the sound of her voice. "Maybe you are just confused. Buffy told me once, The first time that you had your soul restored that all the memories were hazy and bleeding into one another."
"Yeah…maybe your right." Angel smiled at her. He suddenly had this feeling to be near the petite hacker, to hold her, this feeling that was invading his very being was overwhelming him. Willow approached Angel slowly not wanting him to remember anything. She waited for him to walk out so she can close the door. So she can just let the tears fall from her eyes.
She noticed that he was battling himself. "Angel?" Her voice came back a whisper. That whisper penetrated Angel's conscious he looked down at her seeing the fire that was in her eyes. Calming the war that raged inside his head. "I'm sorry." Her eyes too a misty shine to them.
He cautiously reached out to touch her. He wrapped his arms around her stilled form and pulled her body to his. "Its…ok…I should have known that you could not help me." Angel could feel the wetness stain his shirt. He didn't understand what she was crying about. All he knew is that right now this felt right. He was the one that was suppose to be comforting her. He stroked her hairs as the sobs subsitted into whimpers. "It's ok…" He stroked her hair soothing her. Angel pulled her away from him just alittle. He bent down to look at her. "I didn't mean to make you cry." He gave her a small sad smile as he thumbed the tears away. "You are my one true friend…I just wanted…well, I just wanted you to know that."
Angel felt her small hand cover his as he started to absently stroke her face, looking into her eyes it mesmorized him. He could almost see into her soul. Willow's eyes drifted shut as she gave into the pleasure that she saught under his touch. To her it still felt the same as that same day over two hundred years ago. Their lips touched softly but only briefly. "Willow." Angel opened his eyes abruptly breaking the spell. "I'm sorry." He took his hands away from her face looking at her just standing there so valnerable made Angel hate himself even more. "I should have.never." Angel walked out of Willow's house into the night leaving Willow alone once again.
********
"I'm telling you Giles, there is something wrong with him." The slayer was sitting in one of the chairs talking about Angel.
"Well, Buffy…I could understand why he would make himself so distant from you. Maybe its too much for him to handle right now." Giles lifted his nose from the book to answer the slayers question.
"But…It's like he I lost him…to something. But I don't know what." Buffy threw her hands up in the air in fustration. "I love him…and I remember Angel tell me that he loved me."
"Yes…But Buffy you have to understand. Thinks can't go back to the way you want then sometimes."
"Well, I am not giving up on him Giles."
Giles was interrupted as Xander and Cordelia walked through the doors. "Hey anyone know that Willow just got out of the hospital. I went over there and they told me that she was released."
Buffy and Giles looked at each other then looked at Xander. "Why would they let her out knowing well enough that she still needs medical treatment?"
"I really don't know Giles." Xander spoke as he took a seat next to Buffy. "I…we went there earlier and they just told me that she was released. And another thing. Why the hell is Amy handing around with Spike?"
"What?" Buffy turned to look at Xander. "Spike and Amy…how together is together?"
"I wouldn't know…Cordelia didn't even stop when I told her too. I mean Spike could have been holding her hostage or something."
"Xander!" Cordelia cut off her boyfriend before he started to babble excesively to the remaining members of the group. If anything, Amy looked like she was going to stake Spike. The way that she was yelling at him and that smirk on his face. I could tell that she was not being taken against her wishes. Even if she was she could take care of herself. She is a witch after all."
"Only in the hell mouth…Slayers and Vampires…now its witches with Vampires." Buffy conceded laughing.
"What is so funny…Buffy." Giles had this worried look on his face. Lately he didn't know what to expect from Buffy. One moment she was happy and everything was right with the world. Next she was snippy and obnoxious.
"Umm…Guys remember Willow?" Xander interrupted before Giles could get an answer. "OUR best friend…who also stuck up for Spike…"
"Maybe shes possessed." Cordelia said offhandedly checking her makeup in the mirror.
"She is not possessed." Xander countered trying to figure out an explaination. "Shes….Willow…possession you would have to be evil right Giles." Xander through a pleading look at Giles for help.
"Children…Willow has been through a lot these couple of months. I would expect for her to be acting this way…why don't you let her rest and go see her tomorrow." Gile's tone was commanding not the usually passive tone that he usually had. He hated when the others thought something was wrong with Willow when she didn't act up to any one elses standards. "Now help me with this I need all of you to take a book and start reading."
"Awe but Giles?!" The three teenages pouted and began researching.
**********
Amy walked into Willow's house, taking a look around she saw that Angel was gone. She told Spike to wait outside so she could see if Willow and Angel were in the middle of a conversation. She waved her hand acknowledge that Angel was gone and it was ok for him to come in. "Bloody hell, just what we needed the wanker upsetting Willow."
"Spike I am sure that Willow's fine." Amy whispered as she saw Willow was asleep on the couch. "See."
Spike looked over the witches shoulder to see Willow sleeping peacefully hugging a pillow against her body. "Red is sure sleeping a lot?"
"Yeah…well that's usually suppose to happen. Morning sickness and fatigue the first three months. then it only gets worse."
"Pet…if it is anything like her mood swings now…I am leaving. I don't want to get staked. She's always crying or angry." Spike said as Amy walked to where Willow was sleeping.
"Willow…wake up.." Amy watched as Willow's eyes fluttered open then closed again. "Will…come on."
"Angel?"
Amy looked at Spike. He could see the pain sketched into Amy's face. "No..not Angel….Willow its Amy."
Willow sat straight up and looked at Amy. She tiredly rubber her eyes. "Sorry about that Amy." She stood and pulled the other witch into a hug. "He knows….he knows that…that….I I mean…he knows that I was his wife." Willow cried on her sholder. Amy looked back at Spike pleading him for help.
"Red, what do you mean that Angelus knows?" Spike walked up to the two witches and taking Willow out of Amy's arms.
"Well….at least I think he knows the past is different. Angel said that I was in his dreams and his mother told him that he was married to a pixie." Willow looked up at Spike. "He is going to remember, I mean its like a puzzle…he is piecing it together and soon he will have the puzzle done. He and Buffy will hate me I can't have that…I…I'll leave Sunnydale if I have too."
"No…Red." Spike shook her slightly to get her bring her back to reality. "You can't run and bloody well hide. That would make matters worse. I hate to be the one to say this to you Red. But you are going to have to tell that bloody wanker the truth before something happens…and he finds out for himself."
"Spike…I can't everyone will hate me…Buffy, she will be so mad…."
"Red…who gives a bloody shit about the slayer. She is going to have to deal with this just like the others are going to have to deal with it." Spike let go of the red headed hacker and watched her flee upstairs to the safty of her room.
Willow raced into her room slamming the door behind her. She knew that Spike was right. But how was she going to tell him. Willow flopped down on her bed. She curled up into a fetal position reaching up for one of her pillows. "I just don't know what to do." Willow spoke softly to herself. She looked down and smiled as she touched her belly. "Well…its like we are going to have to tell him." Willow stood and walked over to the mirror. Standing in front of it she smiled again as she pulled down her shirt. She could see her belly starting to partude from her usually slim body.
"I wonder what the two of you are…two boys or a boy and a girl…well, the three of us are going to have a lot of explaining to do." She giggled, Willow could not help herself. Right at this point the babies that grew inside of her were the only things that were making her happy. "So I wonder how he is going to react?" She patted her stomach while not even taking her eyes off the mirror. "Oh…well, lets worry some more tomorrow." Willow crawled into bed never seeing the shadow on her balconythat heard every word she said.
~Part: 15~
"Mistress I found her." The demon strolls up to the woman. "She is right where you said she was to be."
"Ahh." The Mistress smiled. "One of the prophecies has been foretold, now the other will come. But the watcher and Slayer will never know what hit them."
"Why is it so important to have the children, Mistress."
"Because the light brings goodness into the world. The darkness doesn't know of his future yet, does he, Andrew?"
"No…Mistress, he doesn't…I saw him over at the lights home. But your spell has worked. He is disoriented and confused." Andrew told his Mistress what he had seen only a couple of hours ago.
"That is what I have been hoping for, Andrew. I will take the children away from the light as soon as they are brought into this world. Then their power will be mine." The Mistress left Andrew standing alone in the room. Andrew didn't like what his mistress was doing, but he could not stop her. He was the first to be taken. But that was so long ago. He cheated death because of her. His mistress would use that against him every time she thought that he was going to betray her.
***********
Willow could not sleep dreams of death and destruction was all she saw when she slept. She looked at the neon green light that illuminated her room. "2 am." Willow fell back again her pillows. "Why is this happening to me." She whispered as she got out of bed and walked into the bathroom. Willow stopped she had this Erie feeling that someone was there. <Going crazy Will. >She came out of the bathroom fully dressed in sweats. She opened her balcony door and climbed down the trestles. <Its not or never, Will.> Willow started to walk away from her house determined to get this over with. <even though he will end up hating me.> Willow arrived at her destination in a matter of minutes. She raised her hand to knock on the door. But then put it down by her side. <come on girl.> She raised her hand again but before she could knock the door was pulled open.
"Willow?" Surprise was written on his face. "Come on in." He moved to let her step across the thresh hold. "What are you doing out so late. You should know first hand the dangers of being out at night."
"I'm sorry." She looked away from him. "I…I just needed to talk to you." He extended his hand to the plush couch over to the left of her. Willow
walked over to it and sat down. Taking a deep breath she looked up at Angel. "Angel, I think that you should sit down."
"Willow…what is it…" Angel unconsciously hindered her command. "Are you alright." Angel noticed how nervous she was becoming. Whatever it was he knew that it wasn't good.
"Promise me…that you won't interrupt me until I am finished." Willow looked into the eyes of the person who trusted her more then anyone. Now she what she was going to tell him would most definitely ruin whatever they had.
"Ok…I promise...Willow what is it you are scaring me."
"Angel, I….I did something really wrong…and as much I would like to go back and change it again…I can't." Angel was going to say something but Willow glanced over at him. The look made him close his mouth once again. "I…I did a spell. No one knew what the spell was. But somehow I did it wrong and ended someplace I was not ever suppose to be. I ended up meeting people that I was never suppose to meet and fell in love with a man that loved me beyond reason." Willow took her hands and ran them over her face. Angel just sat there curiously waiting for her to explain more. "I…I did something they call Astral projection. I was sent someplace else…I was not suppose to be there…I was trying to surprise Amy. But it backfired."
"Willow. I don't understand." Angel stood and started to pace. "What does this have to do with me.?"
"Damn it, Angel…Don't you see it has everything to do with you!" She cried out. "That someplace was Galway." She whispered.
Angel turned. "What did you say." He grabbed her chin forcing her to look at him. "What did you say." He growled.
"I said…The someplace was Galway, I was sent back to Galway, 1753." She screamed back at him. "I was the one that you met at the pub. I was the one that Erik introduced to you." The look on Angel's face could be clearly described as shock.
All of the new memories fell back into the puzzle. Angel turned away from her as they flooded his mind. He started to shake. "No…It's not true…"
Memories of the woman he married. How much he trusted her, how much he loved her. The woman in the past was everything he ever wanted. "No...You're lying." Angel turned back to her he was in game face with tears running down his face. "Tell me that you are lying." He snarled.
"I…I can't do that.." Willow whispered as she brought something out of her shirt.
Angel reached over to what she held up in the air. From the shock that hit his body his face transformed from human back to beast. "This is the ring I gave to her?" Angel spoke absently looking at the ring then back at Willow.
"Yes…that is the ring that you gave to me." Willow whimpered as she tried to control the hurt that she felt.
"NO.." Angel howled. "She…you…made me love you…I trusted you and you knew what was going to happen to me."
She shook her head sadly. "But…but…I tried to stop it. Darla was going to change you that night…the night I found you on the street with blood all over you."
"Shut…up….just shut up." the dark haired vampire angrily snarled at the petite red head. "I…loved her….you...and…you betrayed me."
"I didn't…I tried…Angel please." Willow's emotions were running high. She reached for him but Angel shied away from her. "I…did...I do...lov…"
"Get out." Angel picked up a vase and threw it against the wall. "I hate you…" He growled stalking towards her. "I want you…out of this room now…" he grabbed Willow by the arm and forced her to walk towards the door. Angel opened the door but before he pushed her out Angel reached for the silk ribbon that she wore around her neck. He tore it off, which in return made Willow flinch away from him. "I don't ever want you to talk to me again…you lying piece of trash." He put her outside the door and slammed the door in her face. Willow slummed against the door crying.
"I'm…sorry Angel…" She whimpered. Tears rolled down her eyes as she shut them trying to make everything go away. "It happened…I didn't want to…but it did…you were the one that made me feel loved…you gave me heart and I know what I did to you….I am sorry."
Angel heard Willow's cries from outside the door. Right now he just wished that she would go away. In his mind he saw images, like a movie. Of Willow and himself. "Its true." Angel whispered. He remembered the first time that he met her. The way she looked as she walked through the crowd. Angel remembered it like it was yesterday. He could see himself turning his back to her as she approached him. Then when he turned the look of shock that was clear on her face. Images again changed of her climbing the tree with his younger brother. The joy he felt when he saw this. The way she used to watch him shave the way he laughed when she told him her answer. Angel dead heart twisted. Willow was speaking the truth. She did try to save him. The night of their engagement party Angel remembered the way she handled Darla. "What did she say to her?" he could not remember. He remembered his wedding day. The way she looked and the how he loved her unconditionally. It all came back to him. The last image of him loving her. Angel's mind was filled with the sounds of their lovemaking. "God, what have I done…" He sat down on the couch as he remembered the last time he saw her. How pale and tired she was. Seeing her body fall limp to the ground after being drained by Darla. His voice screaming for her not to leave him. The way Darla mocked him. Angel looked at the door then back at the ring. Angel got up from the couch and slowly walked to the door. He opened up the door and saw Willow sleeping curled up in a fetal position. He noticed the way her legs were held close to her stomach. "No…it can't be." Angel lifted Willow up into his arms bringing her into his apartment.
"I'm sorry.." She murmured into his chest. Angel shushed her. Telling her that everything was going to be fine, to rest. He placed her into his bed and watched her frown at the loss of his touch. He smiled still confused about what was going on. He knew what had happened but he didn't know what they were going to do about it. He covered her up with one of the blankets and moved to the couch. Angel closed his eyes exhaustion taking over his body. As he fell into a fitful sleep he clung to the ring which he once gave to Willow.
***********
"I can't believe this."
Andrew ran to into the room which where his Mistress stayed. "What is it?"
"You ask me what is it?" Andrew's mistress snarled. "The Pixie told him. Now he remembers everything. I can't believe this is happening."
"But Mistress." Andrew bowed his head. "Your plans did not spoil they will only set back. You will still have the lights children."
"Yes…you are right again Andrew." She waltzed over to him bending down kissing his forehead. "Now go…and do what you do best. Watch."
Andrew did what he was told.
**************
"Would someone answer the bloody door." The knocking continued. Spike rolled out of bed and walked up the basement steps. "AMY!" Spike screamed. "Answer the bloody door." He could hear her footsteps coming down. Spike began to laugh as Amy mumbled obscenities at the person on the other side of the door.
"Xander." Xander pushed Amy aside and walked into the house.
"Where is she…I need to see if she's alright." Xander spoke to Amy as he started looking in the living room for Willow. "Where is she?"
"Xander…she is upstairs in her room sleeping. What the hell are you doing over here at," Amy checked her watch. "Oh…lets see….six o'clock in the morning?"
"I wanted to see Willow." Xander rushed the sentence out. "I know that there is something wrong with her…." He grabbed Amy by the arms. Xander was startled when he heard a growl. "What was that?"
"Oh…Um…that was .."
"Get your bloody hands off of her." Spike snarled from the basement. "Red is fine. She is upstairs sleeping."
"Spike." Xander squealed. "What the hell is Spike doing here." He looked wide-eyed at Amy. "What is a killer doing in my best friends home."
"Xander please." Amy exaggerated. "Spike is here because Willow and I trust him. That is all you need to know."
"No...I want to know what a soulless killer is doing here."
"Bloody hell you little pillock." Spike was in the shadow's that covered the living room "Leave before I make you my breakfast."
"I am leaving...b...b...but I will be back with Buffy." Xander sputtered out while running out of the house knowing now how close Spike was to him.
Amy began to walk back up the steps. "Where do you think you are going." Spike growled at Amy. He was already pissed off because of Xander stalking into Willow's home uninvited.
"I am going to make sure that Willow is ok." After Amy spoke there was silence. "SPIKE....SHE'S GONE!" Amy ran to the bottom of the steps shacking like a leaf.
*********
Angel woke a couple of times during the night because of Willow's whimpers. He knew that she must have been scared to see him that out of control. He just was taken off guard. The news of someone you know now and in the past can really put a strain on a person. Angel stretched on the couch listening to Willow's heart rate increase. He was beginning to become alarmed. He stood and walked over to the bed. He touched her cheek and realized that she had a fever. He rushed over to the sick and drenched a towel with cold water. Angel went back to where Willow laid and rested the towel on her forehead. He noticed that she started to stir as the cold broke her dreamscape. He watched as her eyes fluttered open.
Willow stirred from her sleep as she felt a cold compress brush against her brow. She felt her stomach begin to turn trying to hold down the bile that was beginning to rise. Her eyes fluttered open trying to figure out the last place she was. Willow remembered that she fallen to sleep in front of Angel's door. She tried to get up she felt strong hands fall on her arm. She began to panic looking up she was looking right at Angel. "Easy." He let go as she righted herself.
"Angel...I am so sorry...I." She hiccuped swallowing hard. "I want to take it all back..."
Angel placed his fingers against her lips. "Shhh...no talking lie down and rest. We can talk later." Willow started to lie down and Angel got up to get her something to drink. Willow bounded up from the bed looking for a bathroom but all she could find was the sink. She pushed Angel out of her way. "Willow." He was taken by surprise as he watched her stick her head in the sink. Angel walked up behind her. He pulled her hair out of her face trying to help. As he was listening to her heave trying to fill her lungs with air the final piece of memory completed his past. "Willow?" Angel's voice made Willow jump. "I'm sorry, I should have never said those things to you. I was upset and I let my temper get out of hand."
Willow looked over at him. Her nose was all red and eyes watery. "No...." She whispered. "No...don't be its...oh...goddess." Once again Angel watched in disgust as she relieved herself into the kitchen sink.
"Willow are you pregnant?"