AUTHOR: Tisienne Blue

E-MAIL: tisatko@msn.com

DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to their respective studios/ producers/ creators... I own only Serena.

NOTES: This is an X-over fic, for Nat's b-day... she requested Buffy/Angel/Highlander... Pretender is there just for me, cuz I like Jarod a lot, plus he really needed to get laid...

RATING: a hard R eventually, I think...

PAIRINGS: W/Methos, W/A, Ser/Jarod

DISTRIBUTION: Charity gets whatever she wants of mine, cuz she's just... a goddess. All list archives, and people I've said yes to for other things are OK, too... otherwise, just ask, cuz
I'll say yes.

FEEDBACK: is very welcome...

DEDICATIONS: for Nat, of course, as well as Ali and Noreen (thanks for the feedback, luvs...), and for those of you who meant to send me feedback on part 10 but didn't get around to
it... (hint, hint...)

&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

<< Hotel George V-- 1 am >>

"It's him, J," the redhead said calmly, refusing to allow herself to get too excited. "There's no one else that it could possibly be. He's a vampire, he's got the bloody tattoo, and the
description she gave Amanda matches perfectly except for the hair, and he could have cut that, so... it's HIM!"

Jarod sighed deeply. He and Serena had been going round and round on this for over an hour now, and he thought that he might have to just admit that she'd managed to
out-stubborn him. "But," he tried one last time, "Your friend Adam said that he wasn't acting like any vampire he'd seen before... what if it's NOT him? What if it's some other vampire
entirely? What then? Are you going to kill him anyway, just because you hate this Angelus?" He shook his head, hating the wounded expression she wore, and went to her, falling to
his knees in front of her as he stared deep into her green eyes. "Ser," he continued, his hands gripping her knees, "It's not that I don't believe you, because I DO. It's just... I question
your judgment when it comes to Angelus. He hurt you; I know he did, because you told me so, but... if this vampire isn't your vampire..."

Serena nodded after staring back into his eyes for a moment. "Fine, J," she said tiredly, "If it ISN'T Angelus, I'll let him live, OK?" She was almost disgusted with herself for giving in
that way, mostly because she was convinced that all vampires deserved a swift and dusty death, but... she hadn't been able to refuse Jarod anything from the moment she'd met him;
there was no reason for her to think that she could start now.

Jarod smiled slightly and stood, pulling her from her chair while he did. "Good," he said softly. "Then we can stop talking about this and go to bed now... you look tired." He slipped his
arm around her waist as they walked into the bedroom, relieved somehow when her head came to rest against his shoulder... maybe she wasn't TOO mad at him for disagreeing with
her.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

<< Apt. 39-- 2:30 am >>

Angel finally sighed, relieved, when the redhead he'd been so concerned about climbed from the latest cab to pull up outside the building. She had been gone for hours, and he'd
been many things while she'd been out, but chief amongst them was... bored... and worried! He accepted the necessity of letting her go out without him; after all, if he was going to try
to remain just her 'friend', he couldn't be leaning over her shoulder every minute, but... he still didn't like it! The entire time she'd been out, his mind had been painting him pictures of
all the things she could be up to, and unfortunately for his mental state, most of those things involved her, and Adam, in a variety of very... personal positions. He'd been trying to hold
back his growls all evening, but one or two had escaped regardless. He hadn't even realized it until the little old lady from next door had pounded on the door to tell him that their
building did NOT allow dogs, especially ones large enough to make the sounds she'd heard through the wall. He grimaced slightly as the girl paid the driver, and retreated into his
bedroom. He pulled the shirt off over his head and slipped between the cold sheets, knowing that, with his eyes closed, there was nothing to tell her that he wasn't sleeping, if she even
thought to check on him. He hoped that she'd just go ahead on to her own bed, because... if he had to talk to her that night, he was fairly certain that he'd say something he'd regret in
the morning.

Willow was still just slightly tipsy when she unlocked the door to the apartment and walked inside, carefully holding the drawing she'd received at the club. She was a touch
disappointed that Angel didn't appear to be anywhere about, because she'd wanted to give him her gift, but... She giggled, propping it up on the chair by the couch. If he'd gone out,
he'd be sure to see it there as soon as he got home. She pulled a piece of paper and a pen from the drawer of the table by the door and scribbled off a quick note for him before
folding it and setting it down against the drawing's frame, his name emblazoned across the front. There, she thought, a bit blearily, as she made her way to her own room. Now he'd
know that it was from her. She closed her door behind her, and quickly peeled the cream-coloured ruffled shirt and black jeans from her body before tugging on her usual night-wear
and falling into bed. She'd talk to him in the morning, but right then... right then, she was busy remembering the night she'd just had. She'd had a fairly good time, what with meeting
Amanda and Serena and discovering two new friends in them, and then... Adam had danced with her, and not just once, either! He'd proven to be a very good dancer, too, and then
later, just as she was leaving... he'd kissed her! And OK, she reminded herself, on the cheek, but it still counted! She dragged the covers over her tired body, ignoring the little voice in
the back of her head that was telling her that it should have been Angel... after all, that could never be... and fell swiftly into a deep sleep filled with dreams of if-onlys.

He'd stayed silently in his bed, not moving a muscle, until he made out the sounds of her steady, sleeping heartbeat, and deep breathing. Once he was sure that she'd be staying
asleep, he rose silently and wandered back into the living room. The first thing that caught his attention was the smell. It was almost equal parts Willow and Adam, and since he knew
the other man hadn't brought her home, he knew what it meant, and almost growled again before remembering Madame Troussaint's warnings about dogs. Whatever had happened at
the club, the girl-- HIS girl-- had spent a fair amount of time in the cab-driver's arms. He wondered if she'd let him kiss her, but shook off the thought before it could make him too angry.
The next thing he noticed, however, made him smile, and forget that she'd been with the other man at all. He stared for a moment at the framed drawing before picking up the folded
bit of paper with his name scrawled across it. He opened it, his lips curling up at the corners as he read.

^^ Dear Angel,^^ it said, ^^ I was out today, and thinking of you, so I had this made... It somehow seemed appropriate. It's US, Angel-- you and me. I was going to give it to you at the
club, but... well, anyway, I hope you like it, although if Adam's reaction is any indication, you probably hate it with a passion. Well, I suppose it's the thought that counts... ^^ He
grinned; of course that Adam didn't like it! It was proof that the girl cared for HIM, not the human, AND that she'd been thinking of Angel even while she'd been out in the sunshine that
day! His heart swelled, even as he told himself to relax... that they were already as close as they could ever safely be. Any hope of calming down was shot to hell, however, as his eyes
rested on the words she'd closed her note with... ^^ Love Always, Willow^^ Love?... he wondered, eyes wide as he sank to the floor, staring fixedly at the drawing she'd left for him,
and... always?

He traced the lines of the pen and ink, his gaze softening as he noticed the way the branches of the willow tree twined around the form of the gryphon, as if trying to protect it, and
keep it safe. He saw that the gryphon's wings were a bit more spread than the one on his back, and seemed to be trying to shelter the heart of the tree, and he realized that it was so...
he and Willow, each wanting to succor and guard the other, but doomed-- thanks to his bloody curse-- to a lifetime of 'look but don't touch'! He sighed deeply, running one finger softly
along the outline of the tree. He'd tried to deny it; wanted to, in fact, but... there was no escaping it. He loved the little witch, and while he knew that he could never have her for his
own, he also knew that he would never be able to sit back and watch her give herself to another. If he were a man, he would fight for her, and once she was won, he'd never leave her
side. But he wasn't a man, not anymore, and he wasn't as strong as he needed to be.

He stood, sighing again, and carried the drawing, frame and all, into his bedroom and set it down on the dresser, propped up against the wall where he could see it while he started
packing. He'd send her off on her date with Adam in the morning, and by the time she got back, he'd be... gone.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

<< A rooftop, 11:30 am >>

She watched through binoculars from over a block away, smiling in satisfaction when she saw the little redhead leave with Amanda. It hadn't taken long to find out where the bastard
was staying; she'd just wanted to be sure that no one got hurt who didn't deserve to be. It was time, she told herself, as she stood and dusted off the knees of her pants. She checked her
sword, pleased with the sharpness of its edge. Angelus had been around a long time for one of his kind, and she wasn't sure if she was good enough to take him, but... she was good
enough to try, and if she failed, well... Jarod knew what she was trying to do. She hoped that he'd have the sense to get Duncan or Adam to help him, but even if he didn't, she felt a
great sense of satisfaction in the knowledge that if she died fighting Angelus, the vampire wouldn't survive for much longer once she was gone.

She nodded to herself, knowing that she was as ready as she'd ever be, and slipped quietly down the stairs from the roof. It wouldn't take more than ten minutes to get to the apartment
building; once she was there, she'd just have to find a way in.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

<< Francois' Bistro-- Noon >>

Amanda grinned at the little redheaded girl, and handed their menus to their waiter after she'd ordered for them both. "So," she finally said, "Can I ask you a personal question?"

Willow thought about it for a moment. The older woman had been really nice so far, even offering to take her shopping at some of the better stores, so she didn't see why not. They
had actually been getting on so well, that she felt as though she'd known the blonde for years. "Sure, Amanda," she said perkily, reaching for her water glass and taking a sip.

"Well, after meeting your friend Angel, and good description, by the way," she said, referring to the spate of information the redhead had given her the night before, "I'm just kind of
curious... what's his deal? And HOW, praytell, did you ever end up living with a vampire?" She was completely unprepared for the spray of water that flew from the girl's mouth, and her
eyes were amused as she pulled the napkin from her lap to dab at her dripping face. "So I take it," she said rhetorically, grinning at the girl's shocked expression, "That you weren't
expecting that..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 45 minutes later ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She knew her eyes were wide as she finished processing what the girl had told her. It all would have sounded too unlikely, except... she'd known some Rom in her day, and the curse
that Willow described sounded just like their warped notion of 'justice'. She also understood why the girl wasn't involved with her 'friend', if making him happy would make him all evil,
but... She sighed. It was a shame, because from what she'd seen at the apartment when she'd gone to pick Willow up, the vampire was just as gone over the girl as she was over him.
Her mind was still reeling at the concept of a vampire with a soul, but... once she'd met him, she'd known there was something different about him, just as Methos had said, and if the
girl was to be believed, and really HAD been responsible for re-souling him when he'd lost it the last time, then the oldest immortal was probably right about her being the girl of
legend, too. But none of that was setting the girl across from her, who was still waiting nervously for some response, at ease. "Oh, Willow," she finally said, breaking the silence that had
descended over their table, "I'm so sorry. I mean, it can't be easy... caring for him the way you do, knowing that he feels the same way, and never being able to... Well." She shook her
head, holding in a sympathetic sigh.

Willow was amazed by the ease with which her new friend had accepted the story of Angel's souled status, and while she appreciated the woman's open-mindedness, she felt that she
really needed to clear up her one obvious misconception. "I... it's fine, Amanda," she insisted. "And Angel doesn't feel anything for me. Well, other than friendship, anyway. He's just...
a really nice guy, and... he likes to make me feel pretty. We're friends, that's all, and... even if I DO want something more, he doesn't think of me that way, so... the curse isn't really a
problem here." She rolled her eyes when the blonde started to object, and cut her off swiftly. "No." she insisted, "I don't want to hear it, Amanda! He's not interested, and even if he
were... it doesn't matter. There's no way that either one of us would ever be willing to release Angelus. He's just too... scary."

Amanda found herself nodding in agreement with the girl's assessment before she suddenly realized what Willow had just referred to the un-souled version of her Angel as. "Angelus!"
she echoed, eyes wide. "Oh... oh, shit!" She jumped up from her seat and threw a few crumpled franc notes on the table before dragging the redhead from her chair and pulling her
down the street. She unlocked the car, pushing Willow quickly into the passenger seat, and was behind the wheel almost before she knew it. "Serena," she explained, as she tore
through the narrow streets of the city. "Serena's been looking for Angelus for over a hundred years, and if she recognized him from your description..."

Willow wanted to scream in fear at the speed the older woman was driving with, and the impulse only intensified when she'd actually processed what the blonde had just said. That
was who the other redhead had reminded her of, she realized... the Serena that Angel had told her about! She hadn't made the connection at first, mostly because, like Angel, she
had assumed that the woman he'd hurt so badly had been dead for a long time, but... apparently she wasn't? And Amanda knew it? She found herself thinking back on some of the
things the two women had said the night before, things she'd been convinced that she'd heard wrong. Is this Serena was the same Serena as Angel's Serena, then... "How!?" she finally
gasped out as they took a turn far too quickly, "How is that possible?"

Amanda shook her head, eyes focused on the street before her. "I don't know the how, Willow, but... she's immortal. For that matter, so am I."

The redhead closed her eyes for a moment, finding herself surprised at her easy acceptance of the other woman's statement. Of course, she supposed that all her years on the
Hellmouth had made her able to take the unlikely as fact. She thought about it for a long moment, making yet another connection in her mind. "And... Duncan and Adam are, too, I
suppose... what about Jarod?"

The blonde was heartily glad that they'd actually arrived at the girl's apartment building, because if she'd had to drive any further right at that moment, she was sure she would have hit
something. "What..." she said, a bit breathlessly, "Why do you say that? About MacLeod and Adam, I mean..."

Willow just stared at the blonde for a minute before saying, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world, "They act like they've been there, done that... a lot! So it would make
sense. Plus, it would explain them being friends with that Joe guy..." She shook her head in thought for a moment. "I don't think Jarod's one of you guys, though... he doesn't have that
sense of... history about him that I get from the rest of you. I mean, I thought it was just because you're all older than I am, but... Well," she chuckled slightly, "I guess it is; I just didn't
realize how MUCH older..." She shook her head again, climbing out of the car and staring up at her building. "D'you mind telling me," she said, changing the subject, "Why we're
here?"

Amanda paled and raced for the door, pulling a bit of wire from the bracelet on her left wrist. She had the security door unlocked and opened in a matter of seconds, and quickly
entered the building, a surprised Willow on her heels. "Because," she explained, as they jumped into the elevator, "Serena's got a big old yen to kill your friend..." She felt terrible
when she saw the younger girl blanch. "Let's just hope we're not too late."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Angel had waited until the two women were gone for a few minutes before going to the phone and calling for a cab to take him to the airport. He knew that it was going to be a bit of a
wait, especially since he'd had to request the special tinted windows. He wished that he could have stayed and said goodbye in person, but... there was just no way he'd be able to
leave if he was looking into those jade-green eyes he loved so much. No, it was better to just go, he knew. He'd wait at the airport until sunset, and then get on the first plane he could
find going... anywhere. One place was as good as another, after all, since everywhere would be equally empty for him without his redhead. He found himself wondering, again, if he
was doing the right thing... Maybe, if he stayed, he could manage to forget about the things he was feeling... he could spend time with her, and talk to her, they could go to movies,
and clubs, and dance... he'd hold her hand, and hold her in his arms, and one day, in the not too terribly far-off future, he would kiss her, and then... No! he reminded himself, that
could never be. Not now that he knew she cared for him, anyway... He sighed, and sat on the couch while he waited for the car to come and take him away from her forever.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Serena scowled as she paced angrily back and forth in front of the door to the building. She'd thought that more people would be going in and out on a Saturday afternoon, but
apparently she'd been wrong, because it had been almost three quarters of an hour, and she was still waiting to gain entry. She'd even tried ringing through to some of the apartments
on the security phone, but no one seemed to be answering. All in all, she was thoroughly frustrated by the time she heard the car pulling up in the small circular drive. Pasting a sweet
smile on her face, she turned and watched the cab driver get out of his vehicle and dial up to his party, and stood ready to catch the door if he should enter. She was in luck, for once,
and when his fare buzzed him in, she followed on his heels, smiling even more sweetly when the driver looked at her oddly.

She got onto the elevator beside him, getting a bit antsy when he pushed for the floor she was going to. "Someone going out?" she said, trying her damnedest to sound like she was
just making conversation.

"Oui, Mademoiselle," the driver answered her, "The young gentleman in apartment thirty-nine is going to the airport. I am to help with his bags." He grinned at the thought of the hefty
tip he expected for that added service. His grin became a frown when the tall red-haired woman reached into her coat pocket and forced a large wad of franc notes into his hand.

"The young 'gentleman'," she grated out, trying to sound friendly, "Is a friend of mine. We've had a bit of a fight, you see, and... Well, I'm going to make things right, so your services
aren't actually required anymore." She smiled again, almost sincerely. "If it doesn't work out, I'm sure he'll call for you again..."

The cab driver was torn for a moment, but he last smile settled it for him. The young man who'd called had obviously had a disagreement of some kind with his lover, and if she was
willing to straighten things out, well... far be it for him to stand in the way of true love. He thought that flying away was taking things a bit far, but... what wouldn't HE do if such a
woman left him? He sighed, thrusting the wad of money she'd given him into his pocket before nodding. He smiled at the redhead when she got off the elevator, and pressed the
button for the first floor. He hadn't had to make the long drive to the airport, but he'd still gotten paid... and since the dispatcher thought he'd be on on the road for a while, maybe he
could fit in a game of chess and a few glasses of wine before he had to call back in. That decided, he left the building and got back into his cab, heading for his favourite park and the
friends he just knew were there... It was turning out to be a very good day.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The dark-haired vampire was just setting the last of his bags by the door when he heard the knock. He took one last glance around the living room of the apartment, making sure that he
hadn't forgotten anything, and pulled the letter he'd written his witch from his pocket. He set it down on the table by the door, and hoped that one day she'd forgive him for being too
much of a coward to say to her face the things he'd barely been able to write. He sighed then, before taking one last, deep breath. He wanted to remember the smell of her forever.
Finally, when the knock sounded again, he shook his head and turned, opening the door.

He'd been expecting the cab driver who'd called him from outside; he hadn't been expecting to be greeted with a sword through the ribcage, and he REALLY hadn't expected to see
the woman who was wielding it. "Serena..." he groaned out as she thrust the length of steel deeper into him, "How..."

The redhead grinned cruelly, and forced her sword even further as she stepped forward into the apartment and kicked the door shut behind her. "Angelus," she said coldly, her chill
making her bright green eyes as glassy as the emeralds he'd once told her they resembled, "Did you miss me, lover?" Her icy smile grew even wider as he fell to his knees, the borrowed
blood seeping quickly from the entry of her sword in his chest. Oh, she thought frostily, this was going to be FUN. So caught up was she in her efforts to make him PAY, that she didn't
hear the door opening behind her, or the horrified gasps coming from two different throats. She did, however, feel the presence of another immortal. Unfortunately for her, however, by
then it was much too late, as it was in that moment that she was bowled over by a much younger, but much more pissed-off redheaded witch who had every intention of making her
pay for what she'd done to her best friend.

End-- pt 11

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