Parts: 21
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~Part: 21~
The red head was able to move his limp body to one of the chairs. She proceeded to tie the young man up. At this moment she needed answers then she was going to run. For her sake and her children's. They needed to survive this. Or else she wasn't going to survive. She hurt everyone that had ever trusted her. She could never lay eyes on them again.
"I'll destroy this Antanasia woman then I will live my life." Willow took the last of the rope and tied it tight. "Now.I have to wait for him to wake up."
She felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. Willow grabbed for the chair as another sharp pain hit her. As the pain subsided she heard the knock. She didn't want to answer it. She needed to lay down. The knock came again followed by his voice.
"Willow.Open this door." Her question was answered. "I know you are in there."
"Xander." She whispered and shook her head. She walked over to the door and laid her head on the cold wood. "Xander.just go home.please."
"Don't think so little buddy." Xander said. "I need to know why you left."
"Xander please go away." She sniffed. "I would really like to be alone right now." She looked over to the person who was tied up and unconscious. "Please.." Willow hissed out the word as another wave of pain hit her.
"I can't do that Wills." Xander said. "You know I can't. I have this feeling that you are not telling me something."
The red head who was behind the door looked around nervously. "I am told you the truth about everything. I don't know what else you want from me."
Willow heard the key enter the door. She mentally berated herself forgetting about the spare key. She jumped back as Xander swung the door open. He looked in the living and turned to Willow. "Who in the hell is that?" He pointed to the unconscious man tied to one of the chairs. "Now...I know that I am not going crazy. You better tell me what is going on?"
"Xander I can explain everything." Willow said as she leaned against the wall and tired to hide the pain that she was in.
"Willow...you better start to explain." Xander looked at his best friend that stood right in front of him. "Because you have been keeping secrets from me and I thought that we were best friends. But since you went into the hospital. You changed Will. Your trust factor has changed also"
Willow could not believe that Xander was standing in front of her preaching about secrets. He was the last person that she knew that should be preaching to her about this. She thought that it was best for the lies that she had told to her friends. She knew how they would all react. She would be hated and then alienated.
"You...You...come here and preach to me about secrets. What about you...and...and Cordy?" She mentally was trying to justify the lies to her friend. "You lied Xander...you lied to me. On several occasions. I could have been killed when Angel lost his soul because of you."
"That was low, Willow." Xander whispered. "But now since I lied to you ...you think that it is alright to do the same. Willow this isn't you. I don't know what has happened but every since you got pregnant you have been lying to ever
"No...you don't understand." Willow said. "Xander if the truth comes out then....Everyone will hate me. I tried to stop it from happening. I really did. But I let my heart rule my mind. I never do that. I don't know why I did it." She could feel her blood rushing through her veins. She hunched over as a searing pain ripped through her.
Xander watched in horror. "Willow...we have"
"No...you want to know that happened." She took a deep breathe. "I will tell you what happened."
"Willow...your in pain."
"I don't give a shit." She screamed as her knees became weak. "You see Xander." Willow spat as she tried to hold herself up. "The children growing inside of me...are not Spike's. Their Angel's children. I didn't die that night. I just came back home." The red head passed out falling to the floor, hit her head on the steps and was knocked out.
Xander just stood there as his friend laid on the floor. He was in a sort of daze as he tried to take in everything Willow said to him. In the back of his mind he heard a voice screaming her name. Pleading with her to wake up. Xander turned slowly to see the person. That is when he seemed to have snapped out of the daze. He passed Willow's captive and went strait for the phone. He dialed 911 and an ambulance was on their way.
"Are you just going to stand there." Andrew said. "Or are you going to help her?"
Xander spun on his heels. He looked at the boy still tied up. "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm a friend..." Andrew said.
"A Friend." Xander said in disbelief. "A Friend. From what I know. Friends don't let friends tie them up."
"Well, We have a special kind of kinship." Andrew raised his voice. "Now get me the hell out of these restraints."
"Sorry can't do that." Xander walked over to Willow. "I don't know what happened here to make her tie you up." He bent down and moved her hair away from her face.
"Its ok Willow." he whispered to the unconscious friend. "Someone should be here any minute now."
"Hey!"
"What!" Xander stood and glared at the boy
"It really isn't going to be a good scene. When Willow is taken to get help, I am still tied up and you are the only one that is standing." There was a knock on the door. "Times running out." Xander looked between the two then at the door.
"Ok...fine..." Xander fidgeted with the ropes. The knock came again. "I am coming."
"Thanks." Andrew said while removing the rest of the rope.
"You just stay with me. If Willow had you tied up. She had a reason." Xander pointed at the man and let the EMT's into the house.
"Where is she?"
"Xander pointed to where Willow and the EMT's prepared her for transported to the hospital. Both men followed Willow out to the ambulance.
~~~~~*~~~~~
Everyone had almost recovered from what transpired at the library. Buffy was still trying to get Angel to tell her what happened. Giles was trying to find information on Antanasia. Cordelia was sitting at one of the tables unfazed.
"Giles...what just happened here?" Buffy tried to console Angel but also tried to put everything into prospective.
"I really don't know Buffy." Giles walked down the steps into the main portion of the library. "But there is one thing I do know. Willow and that woman seemed to know more information. If we find Willow, then maybe she could shed some light on the situation at hand.."
"Hey...That is a good idea." Cordelia stood. "Because I bet that where Willow is Xander isn't far behind."
"You three fools will do no such thing." The three turned to see the blonde vampire and the witch walking towards them.
"And why not?" Buffy said
"Well, lets just see slayer. Willow is no condition to be interrogated by the likes of you are anyone right now." Spike said. "Or did you forget about the chit being pregnant."
"I do remember Spike. But I also remember no one wants you here." Buffy's voice was laced with hate and contempt.
"Well, Buff." The blonde vampire retorted. "I know one person if she was here. Would want me here. In fact, I bet my best pair of knickers that she would want me here more then she would want you."
Buffy opened her mouth.
"Would you please stop acting like children." Giles tried to calm the two down.
"It can't be true."
"Angel?" Buffy cooed
"Buffy, Antanasia somehow placed false memories into my head." Buffy looked up at Giles.
"Do you know what he's talking about Buffy?"
"Giles, how would I know what is going on. My boyfriend went into a psychotic episode because of this bitch. The only one who knows something is Willow or maybe even.. Spi..."
The group turned to Spike who was just about to be slammed into the wall by his grand sire. They winced as he was thrown through the wall and Angel going right in after him. The two vampire came out fighting. Spike was caught off guard by Angel at first. But now he recovered. The Angel picked up the younger vampire and slammed him against the table making the creak in protect because of the force that was applied by the dark haired vampire.
"Tell, us Spikie." Angel's demon took control. "You know something. You and the other witch hanging around Willow. Tell me," He accented his words by slamming the other man into the table. "Who placed these false memories into my head."
"Well...Well...Dru's dear ole daddy is back." Spike spat. "How did you get back in control, Peaches?"
"I'm..." SLAM. "going..." SLAM. "to..." SLAM. "ask" SLAM. "Again." Spike could feel his vision start to blur from to many jars to the brain.
"Stop it." Amy pleaded with Angel. "Your hurting him."
Angel turned to Amy. "He has taken a lot more pain when I was soulless. I really don't think that this is hurting him." Angel slammed him one last time for the pleasure of it then released him.
Amy rushed over to the vampire who remained motionless. "You alright Spike?"
"Yes...Peaches was right. I had worse beating from him." He smiled.
"Both of you know what happened?" Angel took a step back to Buffy's side taking her hand in his own. "Why don' t you tell us?"
"Why don't you tell us what you seen?" Spike said. "Enlighten then whole bloody group."
Angel looked like a deer caught headlights. He looked down at Buffy. Then looked at the others.
"I think that you should sit down."
The remaining members in the library took their seats. Waiting for Angel to begin.
"These memories are not memories that I had before my soul was returned to me. The memories are....of Wi...a red headed woman and myself. I met her in the tavern that I frequent in Galway." He started to pace afraid to meet Buffy's eyes. Angel felt with these new memories that he had a sort of hellish affair. He also knew that she would not understand. Because he didn't understand himself. "I courted her and then married her. But I did not know this woman was pregnant when she was killed." He stopped and looked at Buffy. She wasn't even looking at him any longer. He was in deep trouble and he knew it. But he wasn't going down alone.
"But what does Willow have to do with this, Angel?" Buffy whispered but she still wasn't looking at him.
"Willow?" Angel knelt down in front of Buffy. "Buffy...this has nothing to do with Willow?" He looked into her eyes seeing that fresh tears were about to fall from her eyes. "The memories are not of Willow."
"Makes me wonder." Cordelia said. "First you losing your soul, She went into the hospital because she was like comatose, then while you had lost your soul you became more obsessed with Willow as time went on, which was kind of a grossed out fairy tail if you ask me. Then she wakes up and hides her pregnancy for everyone but those two" She points at Spike and Amy. "There is also the you getting your soul restored, the prophecy, that gypsy lady, now you remembering parts of your past that you didn't remember before"
"Cordelia...don't you have someplace to go.." Buffy glares at the cheerleader. "Maybe you should find Xander."
"Fine...I was just trying to put things into prospective." Cordelia rose from her chair and walked out of the library.
"She does have a point." Giles said
Buffy looked at Angel. "How can you not remember her name, Did she look like Willow?" Buffy then looked at Giles. "How do we know that Willow isn't part of this scheme. Just look what happened before the gypsy arrived and while the gypsy was here. We need to find Willow and have her answer some questions.
"Buffy...I am sure that it was not Willow. She may have looked like Willow but I could smell the difference."
"Ok...peaches and slayer" Spike who remained quite wanted to make an exit. He knew things were going to get heated between the two. "Time for us to leave."
Spike and Amy almost out the door. "You are not going anywhere."
"Um...sorry Buff. but I don't take orders from you." Amy said. "Anyway, we have a date tonight." Amy pulled Spike out the door.
"Buffy.I am glad that they left." Angel said. "I only want to be with you. These memories are not mine."
"Angel" Buffy said. "You have been repeating yourself. It sounds like you are trying to convince yourself not me. What if these memories are real. What if Willow." She looked down at her hands. "is caring your children. I don't know what happened. I don't even know if she is working with the other woman."
"Buffy, Angel." Giles said. "I am glad that you are still here. I wanted to talk to you about Willow. Maybe it wasn't Willow that was married to Angel. It could have been a distant relative."
"But Giles, We will never know unless we go see Willow."
"Ok." Giles said. "All three of us will go see Willow."
The drive to Willow's house was an still tense, questions needed to be answered and she was the only one that had them. Besides Antanasia and they didn't know what they wanted from Angel.
When they arrived at Willow's her house was dark. Buffy was the first to reach the porch. She peered into the windows and saw nothing. Buffy walked over to the door and kicked the door in and started to walk inside.
"Buffy, that is invasion of privacy." Buffy shrugged and walked into the house.
Giles and Angel walked up to the house. Giles walked in freely but Angel was stopped by the invisible barrier. "I need to be invited in" Angel said.
Buffy and Giles turned and looked at the vampire. "Come in." Giles said and Angel stepped through the entrance.
"Willow, doesn't seem to be home." Giles said inspecting the house.
"Giles, Angel" Buffy screamed. When the two men arrived by her side she looked up at them. "Someone was tied up?"
"Oh...Dear."
"I can smell Willow and Xander. But there are three different scents." Angel said looking around the room.
"Do you know who the other three are?"
"Buffy..." Angel said. "If I knew who they were don't you think that I would be looking for them by now."
"You don't have to get weirded out." She stood up smiled up at him. "We will find out what is going on. I really doubt if they are your kids Angel."
He looked away from the slayer. "Buffy, what if they are? What if these memories are real." He looked back at her. "If they are mine. Then its my responsibility to do the right thing."
"Uhh...I think that this discussion can be done at a later date" Giles said. "Xander and Willow are missing."
"What!?!" They looked from where the shout came from. "What do you mean Xander is missing."
"Cordelia." Giles sighed. "Please calm down. We came over here to talk to Willow. We found this rope in her living room."
Cordelia, walked into the house and started looking for a note left behind. "Maybe something happened to her. She is pregnant and the stress that she is under isn't good for her."
"How do you know she is under alot of stress." Buffy gave her traditional stance.
"yeah...stress." Cordelia looked up at Buffy. "Oh...you want to know how I know this."
"Well yes, Cordelia please tell."
"Fine Giles." Cordelia said. "Seems like everyone's favorite little red head has been under so much stress that if she didn't calm down she is going to miscarry."
"Who told you this." Angel growled.
"Angel." Cordelia backed away. "I saw Spike and Amy walking down the street. I stopped and asked them for a ride. They were going to get in but Spike saw Buffy walk into Willow's house. He was in a very pissy mood after that. That is when Amy told me."
"How come Amy told you and didn't tell us?" Buffy said
"Maybe it has something to do with Xander." Cordelia said. "Or maybe she just...." Cordelia's cell phone rang. "Hold on." She pointed a manicured finger at Buffy.
"Hi!" The smile on Cordelia's face disappeared. "Oh...is...yeah...ok." She glanced over at Buffy. "Do you want me to tell Buff...?" She looked away. "Oh...ok...I will see you soon."
"Who was that?" Buffy said
"That was...Harmony" Cordelia said. "We are going out shopping." The cheerleader stopped and turned to Buffy. "You know, If I were Willow. I would put you behind bars for breaking and entering."
"How did she know that." Buffy said
"Spike." Angel said. "I heard the whole conversation. Xander was talking to her about Willow. She's in the rushed to the hospital and then Spike was on the phone. He told her what you did."
"She was only looking out for Willow's best interest." Giles said.
"Spike...doesn't see it that way." Angel looked up at the watcher. "My childe is very loyal and protective over someone he cares about." A surge of jealously went through his heart. "I think we should see how Willow is doing." He walked out of the Rosenberg's home.
"What is going on with him Giles?"
"I wish I could tell you." Giles said ushering out his slayer. "You are just going to have to talk to him."
~~~~~*~~~~~
"I want you to have her drink this." Antanasia handed one of the nurses an elixir.
"Yes...maim. What is it for?"
"You don't have to worry about what is in there. You work for me." Antanasia smiled. "Now go." The nurse walked out of the apartment.
"Now...where can my little friend be." Antanasia whispered to herself. "If he crosses me in any way, I will make sure that he never dies."
The door opens and she whirls around. "My dearest Andrew." Antanasia holds out her arms. "What no hug."
"Sorry...I wasn't here." Andrew looked at his shoes. "I got tied up."
"Oh."
"Who tied you up my dear." Antanasia said
"Willow" He shied back as he seen the anger flash in her eyes.
"You let her see you." Antanasia demanded to know. "How dare you try and ruin my plan." She backhanded Andrew and he hit the wall. "But ." She flicked her hand to the air. "It does matter. Those children will be mine. Then I will be able to put my misery to an end."
"What are you talking about?" Andrew caressed his cheek. "How will your misery come to an end if you have them?"
"So you want to know my plans." Antanasia snickered. "To have his greatest love kill him. Thinking that he has her children. His death will be my peace."
"What makes you think that Willow would kill Angel?"
"I just tell you that your brother will be dead within a weeks time. Just remember, if you try and stop me.you will die.": Antanasia left Andrew alone to collect his thoughts.
~~~~~*~~~~~
Giles walked up to the information counter and asked for the room of Willow Rosenberg. The nurse gave him the room number.
"I hope that she is ok?" Angel said.
Buffy looked up at him. She knew that he was starting to become affected by these memories. "I know she's ok." She heard the elevator stop and the doors slowly open. "I love you, Angel"
He smiled down at her. "I love you too.Buff."
They walked out the elevator hand and hand behind Giles. As they turned the corner they saw Spike and Xander being bushed back by an orderly. Giles started to run towards them with Buffy and Angel not far behind.
"What is going on here?"
"Oh.Giles." Xander said. "I am so glad you're here. Its willow. I brought her in because she was in pain. I didn't know what else to do."
"Xander.you did"..Giles tried to tell the boy but he was trying to go on. "Spike.spoke to the doctor and the doctor told us that her blood pressure is higher then its suppose to be and they will not let us in there to see her."
"Sorry mac." The orderly said to Giles. "Doctors orders."
"Can you please tell the doctor to see me immediately. We are her family." I will get the doctor. The orderly left and Giles looked around the room. "Xander, why don't you just sit down. This has to be hard on you."
"Hard." Xander pleaded. "Its all my fault." Xander looked over the pacing Spike. "He's been here trying to calm me down believe it or not."
"Xander, What do you mean its all your fault?" Buffy asked.
He looked up at Buffy with tears in his eyes. "Buffy.she ran out after Angel said that he would only love you. That you are his heart and soul. I ran after her." Xander wiped the tears away. "When I finally found her at her house. She wouldn't let me in. I let myself in. She had a kid tied up in her house."
"She had what?!?!" Spike growled.
Xander looked at Spike who tired to contain himself. "She had a kid tied up in her house. He was right here a minute ago." The boy looked around. "You seen him Spike." He saw the look of confusion on the blonde vampires face. "You had to see him. He was no more then ten to twelve years old. He had an Irish accent. He said that he knew Willow."
"What do you mean by and Irish accent?" Angel asked to clear the doubt from his mind. "What did he look like? Did he give you a name? Tell me boy."
"Angelus." Spike sneered. "Calm down."
"He was a cute little kid." Xander tried to remember. "He had dark brown hair, freckles, and green eyes."
"oh.god." Angel took a seat in the nearest chair. "It can't be.he's dead."
Buffy was at Angel side. "Angel.talk to me."
"Buffy.The person that Xander described. The description matches what my younger brother looked like..before I killed him."
"Oh.god." The slayer started to cry.
Xander went on. "I don't remember the boy's name. But I pushed and pushed Willow to tell me what was going on. I told her that keeping secrets would not be good. I told her that keeping it to herself could be dangerous to herself and to the unborn children that she was caring. That is when she told me who was the father. I didn't believe it at first but.
"Christ.Xander just spit it out!" Buffy cried out.
"Willow said that Angel was the father." Xander said. I..didn't" He looked at Giles. "Giles.I know this is hard to believe that dead boy would cheat on Buffy." Xander tried to explain but was cut off.
"Xander we know." Giles said pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Oh.bloody.sodden hell." Spike whispered as he walked away. "Thanks Twinkie boy for everything." The blonde looked through the window where Willow was. She looked like she was burning up in there. Her hair was drenched with sweat. "Hey.isn't anyone going to help her in there." He screamed at a nurse who was about to do her rounds.
"The nurse came up to Spike and looked into the window. "Oh.god." She rushed into the room and checked her blood pressure. Spike looked on as another nurse and a doctor ran in.
Spike rushed into the room. "What the bloody hell is going on?" Once again the nurse pushed him out.
"I am sorry Sir, you are going to have to wait outside. Your wife is having sever complications." The nurse stated.
"She's not my wife.she's my friend." Spike said.
"Is the father around." Spike looked at Angel. Who was still trying to calm Buffy down. "He's a little preoccupied at the moment." Giles saw Spike talking to the nurse and rushed up besides the blonde hair vampire. "Are you the Father?" She asked Giles.
When he heard the nurse ask Giles that question. His heart was filled with dread. It felt like he was about to loose a part of his soul. "No.I am." Angel walked away from Buffy and went to talk to the nurse.
"Oh.good. " The nurse looked up at him. "Miss Rosenberg's blood pressure rose to an extreme level. We are trying to lower it right now. But if the doctor is unable to lower it. We, are going to have to take the infants earlier then we suspected."
"I don't understand?" Angel nervously raked his hands through his hair. "What happened to cause this."
"The medical term for her condition is toxemia. The condition is caused by hypertension. Her prenatal doctor said that she has been stressed. But we could not tell how bad it was." Angel looked through the window. "We have a lot of cases like this. The children are born premature and they live a healthy life."
"Is.is." Angel was at a loss for words. He looked up at the window when the doctor called the nurse back in.
"I'll be right back out." The nurse left Angel.
The group gathered around him. "Angel?" Buffy touched his arm. "Is.is Willow going to be ok?"
Angel pulled his arm away from her. "I don't know." He looked down at her. "She should have had me beside her."
"Isn't that right" Spike said to his sire. "Now you step up and be something you should have been all this bloody time."
"How long have you known Spike." Angel's growled. "How.fuckin long."
"Sir." Angel looked at the nurse. "She is asking for someone named Angel?"
"That's me." Angel followed the nurse into the room. He went by Willow's side. "Willow.Its me."
He wiped her brow. Willow looked up at him with glazed eyes. "Watch over them Angel, please.He.tried to warn me." The monitors started to go off again.
"Willow." Angel pleaded as her eyes started to shut. "Stay with me."
Willow opened her eyes again. "I'm sorry.for putting you into this sit." Angel grabbed her hand and she squeezed it. "uation. I..didn't mean to get between you." She gasped for breathe. "and Buffy."
Tears started to run down Angel's face. "Sir." He looked up at the doctor. "We have to get her to the O.R. and perform an emergency cesarean section on your wife."
"She's." Angel looked down at Willow. Angel nodded his head. "Willow.your going to see them soon. So please.don't leave them. I am going to need your help." He kissed her hands as they began wheeling her from the room.
The nurse broke their hands apart and asked for him to wait in the lounge. Angel just stood there and watched Willow as she disappeared from his sight.
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