AUTHOR: Tisienne Blue

E-MAIL: tisatko@msn.com

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

RATING: a hard R, overall...

NOTES: This is a b-day fic for Nat, who requested a Buffy/Angel/Highlander X-over. Pretender is in there just for me, and for my
purposes, the suck-ass fifth season of Highlander never happened.

PAIRINGS: W/A; Ser/Jarod

DISTRIBUTION: As usual, Charity can have whatever she wants of mine-- cuz she rocks!!! Otherwise, it's ask, take have...
unless I already told you yes, or you're a list archive, in which case, go for it if you like...

FEEDBACK: please...

DEDICATIONS: to Nat, of course, and Mystra for listening to me ramble on about this... Also to:Ali, Jodie, and Katie... thanks for
the feedback!!!*G*

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

Willow sighed happily and turned over, still slightly more than half asleep. She'd spent the night, and most of the prior day,
wrapped in Angel's arms while they kissed, and touched, and talked, and kissed some more. She'd been fairly certain that she
was completely in love with him, but... waking in his strong arms, pressed tightly to his cool, long body had just cemented the
knowledge. She grumbled a little as he tickled the tip of her nose with his fingers, and opened her eyes, attempting to glare at
him. It was a useless effort, however, since the soft smile on his face created an answering one on hers. "Morning..." she
mumbled, shifting even closer to him, and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

"Mmmm..." Angel purred, amazed at how she made him feel... whole, just by being there. The fact that she trusted him enough
to let down all her barriers and sleep beside him, totally vulnerable, was just... astonishing. No one had ever been that
comfortable with him, at least, not if they knew what he was! Even Buffy hadn't truly SLEPT beside him, on the nights she'd
stayed with him... she'd dozed, certainly, but really SLEPT? Never. "Morning, sweetness..." He leaned down to kiss her, surprised
when she pulled back. "Will?" he said tentatively, trying to conceal his hurt.

The redhead sighed, seeing the look in his eyes. "I REALLY want to kiss you, Angel, but..." She shook her head slowly. "I need to
do some morning maintenance first..." She grinned, and pulled herself from his arms, knowing he still didn't understand. "Morning
breath, Angel," she elaborated as she stood, "I've got it, and I don't want to share, so... Hold that thought?"

The vampire grinned, knowing that if she was worried about her own, then he should do something about his... after all, HE was
the one who drank BLOOD... which probably, he told himself, didn't leave him smelling OR tasting of roses. He nodded at her, his
eyes twinkling merrily. "Consider it held. Meet you back here in five?" He chuckled softly when she nodded and left the room,
then gingerly stood, himself. If he only had five minutes, he'd better get started, especially-- he frowned slightly, touching his
hair-- especially if he was going to do something about his general appearance. He'd been laying in his bed for the better part of
three days... maybe he should take a shower, too. After all, he didn't want his witch thinking that he was letting himself go. He
smiled to himself and walked slowly to the bathroom attached to his room. Yes, he really needed to bathe.

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

Spike sighed as he closed the cover of the third book he'd read since the moment he'd left the poof to Red's tender care. He'd
tried watching television, but everything was in French, and as amusing as it had been to see his favourite actors babbling on
and on in voices that weren't theirs, it had paled after a while, especially since he didn't speak the language well enough to
follow what was going on. He wished that he'd been able to sleep, but... for one thing, it had been night time, and a vampire
sleeping at night was just... un-natural; for another, he didn't know where he was supposed to doss down. The witch was
apparently staying with Poofy, but... after the way she'd beat crap out of him-- without using her HANDS, even-- he figured
that it was safer to assume nothing, and he'd stayed on the couch instead of just taking her bed the way he would have
otherwise. So, the only thing left to do was read, and... he'd more or less reached his tolerance for THAT activity!

He'd considered going out, but he didn't know the city, plus... no money, so... He sighed again, perking up when he saw the
slightly rumpled and ravished-looking figure of the redhead emerge from his Sire's room. "Long night, Red?" he smirked, his
amusement clear in his tone. He was completely unprepared for the pure happiness in her eyes when she turned to him.

"Spike!" Willow cried happily, smiling hugely. "Good morning! And yes, it WAS kind of a... LONG night. But a good one!" She
giggled softly, remembering the way she'd felt pressed up against the man... vampire she loved. "And if we survive this thing
tonight," she murmured in a much softer voice, "Then hopefully it'll be the first of many..."

Spike grinned, thrilled to see the girl so pleased with things. It was about time something went right for her, but still... "Ah...
pet, you didn't..." he trailed off, not sure of just how to put it. "I mean, my Sire's not...." He stopped again, shaking his head
before just bulling on through with the question. "Look, Red, Angel's not all Angelus-y again, is he? 'Cause if he IS, then I'm out
of here, legend or not!"

The redhead stared at him, surprised for a moment. "Spike..." she finally said, looking at him in confusion, "Why would Angel be...
Oh!" she cried, as she understood what he was asking. "No! He's not Angelus!" She shook her head for emphasis. "Gods, Spike!
Angel and I are both grown-ups; we can control our impulses, thank you very much! We're... it's not LIKE that between us..."

The blond stood up and walked slowly over to her, one cool hand resting on her robe-covered shoulder. "Not YET, it's not, but..
you want it to be, don't you?" He sighed when she didn't respond. "And I'd be willing to bet that HE does, too. So how long do
you think it'll be before one of you's had enough, and decides to just... go for it? How long until you decide that you don't CARE
if Angelus gets loose again?" He stepped back, watching sadly as she hugged herself tightly. "I... I'm sorry, Red, but... I know
my Sire, and... he's not the type to deny himself what he really wants. Or not for LONG, anyway... and one of these days, he's
gonna decide that it's worth the risk."

Willow shook her head slowly. "I'm not going to let that happen, Spike. Angelus is too... EVIL! There just isn't any way I'd ever
let Angel 'risk it' like you said... I CAN'T!" She shook her head again, finally raising her eyes to his. "Besides," she said tightly,
turning towards her bedroom, "Chances are it won't even become an issue. I mean, how likely is it that I'm gonna live through
tonight?" She opened her door and stepped through, closing it on his non-existent reply. She'd been telling the truth, after all,
and... she almost cursed Angel's childe for ruining her good mood, but... She smiled, hearing the shower running, and rushed to
brush her hair, and her teeth, before pulling on a pair of sweatpants and a tank top. OK, so she was probably going to die, but...
until then, she was going to enjoy the little time she had left, and THAT meant more kissing... more ANGEL! She examined
herself quickly in the mirror, smiling at the blissful look in her eyes. Yes, she truly WAS in love, she realized. That was the only
thing that could possibly account for her happiness in the face of almost-certain death.

She left her room, ignoring the still-silent vampire on the couch, and went back into her love's room, sitting on his bed while she
waited to see his wet body come out of the bathroom, hopefully clad in nothing more than a towel...

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

"Come on, Ser," Jarod begged, staring at the redhead's rigid back, "Talk to me!" He groaned unhappily when she shook her head.
"Serena..." he said warningly.

The tall redhead sighed, knowing she'd have to speak sooner or later. "I just..." she began, turning towards him, "I don't... I
don't know how to DO this, J..." She raised her teary eyes from the spot she was staring at on the floor, and smiled shakily. "I...
I'm used to being the one who might not come back, and..." She shook her head slowly, the tears slipping down her cheeks as
he pulled her into a tight embrace. "I don't know what to do, J... I want to... I just want..."

Jarod nodded in understanding, his face buried in her hair. "I know, Ser... you want to protect me, but you know you can't..." He
pulled back slightly, still speaking softly as his eyes met hers. "You DO know that, right? That this is something I have to do...
that I'm SUPPOSED to do..."

Serena nodded unhappily, pulling him back against her. "I know, love. I have to ACCEPT it, but I don't have to LIKE it... Just...
just promise me..."

He tightened his arms around her, and pressed his lips hard against her neck. "I'll be careful, Ser... I swear. And... and I'll TRY to
survive, OK?" he murmured against her skin.

The redhead nodded slowly, almost unable to speak around the lump in her throat. "Yeah..." she said softly, her hands playing
lightly over his arms. "You'd better, J... I... I don't want to lose you..."

He moved his lips up her neck, pausing by her ear. "And I don't WANT you to... lose me, I mean..." His voice trailed off as she
shivered against him. He still loved the way she reacted when he whispered to her, and he held her even tighter as he lifted her
slowly from the floor and carried her towards the bedroom. "But... maybe we should make a few more memories..." he announced
silkily, laying her back against the smooth white sheets, "You know, just in case..."

She was caught between wanting to laugh and cry, but in the end, decided upon just a soft moan as his hands slid under her
shirt and he pressed her deep into the mattress. "Wait..." she breathed, as he pulled his shirt over his head, "What about
Willow?"

Jarod groaned, his hands coming to rest on either side of her body. "What about her?" he asked slyly. "I'll tell her about the
Gypsies, and pass on that spell to her, just in case she can ever use it, but... other than that?" He ground his hips hard against
her belly. "I'm going to do my job; take care of my part in this legend. Now," he declared, grinding against her again, "I don't
want to talk about Willow anymore..." He stared deeply into her eyes and smiled. "In fact, I don't want to talk at all..."

Serena smiled back at him-- for the moment in total agreement.

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

Willow smiled a trifle unhappily at the dark-haired vampire beside her, almost unable to believe that it was almost time, but... it
was. They'd somehow managed to miss the last ten hours, what with all the touching and kissing going on between them, but...
she wasn't sorry. If she was going to face a God, she'd at least have the memories of his loving touch to shore her up. And
whatever happened, if she lived through this experience, she'd find a way around that nasty clause he'd been saddled with, and
then... She grinned softly against the cool skin of his chest. "It'll be OK," she murmured quietly, knowing he was more worried
than he was letting on.

Angel sighed deeply, holding her tightly to him. "I hope so, sweetheart... I really do, but..." He shook his head slowly. "I just... I
hate thinking that..."

The redheaded witch nodded, holding him just as tightly. "Then don't THINK it, Angel! Because it's NOT your fault... not at all.
You were trying to help!"

He could feel his shoulders shaking slightly from suppressed emotion. "But I brought you here, Will... If we'd just stayed in LA..."

She growled slightly at the defeated, guilty tone in his voice. "Stop it, Angel!" Her hands slid up his sides and over his chest
before coming to rest on the sides of his face, and she forced his sad eyes to meet her own slightly angry ones. "If we'd stayed
in LA, that demon would have shown up eventually, and used me to open the Hellmouth! THAT isn't your fault! And who knows?
This might have happened anywhere we went!" She pressed her lips hard against his before pulling back swiftly. "And besides... I
might never have found you... found out how much you mean to me... No," she finished intently, "Whatever happens; whatever
HAS happened... it's worth it, Angel. To have you... it's worth it."

Angel groaned, rolling on to his back and pulling her on top of his long body. "Willow, I... I love..."

"Shhh..." she cut him off, one finger pressed to his lips, "You'll tell me later, my Angel..." She could feel the tears welling up in
her eyes, and buried her face in the crook of his neck. She so desperately wanted to hear him say it, but... not because she
might not come back. No, she wanted him to say it because he meant it, and... it would give her something to look forward to;
a reason to fight that much harder.

He held back an unhappy sigh, wondering for a moment whether she didn't feel the same way, but... No, she DID... he knew it,
even if she HADN'T said it yet, and... He shook his head slowly, and just held her while he pretended not to notice her tears and
somehow managed to ignore his own. Finally, he swallowed hard, and loosened his hold on her tight, warm body. "Will..." he said
softly, "It's almost time..."

"I know, Angel..." she sighed against his neck, wishing that she could stay right where she was forever. "Believe me, I know..."
She pulled back and rolled off of his hard, cool form, sighing again at the way she was suddenly feeling bereft. She forced a
slight smile to her lips, and stood, going to his door before looking back into his eyes. She hoped that he could see how much he
meant to her in her own eyes, and when she saw the single tear sliding down his face, she knew that he could. "Stay..." she
said gently, "Rest. I'll... I'll see you before I leave..." She blew him a swift kiss and left the room when he nodded slowly.

He stared sadly at his door for a moment after she closed it, and shook his head once again as he stood and crossed to the
chest of drawers against the opposite wall. He loved her; more than he'd ever thought possible, and... he'd be damned if he'd let
her just... walk away to fight a God without him. And maybe he WASN'T a part of this legend, but... he was going, anyway. He'd
have to be careful that she didn't see him, but... he'd follow her, and be there if she needed him. He smiled slightly, satisfied
with the knowledge that whatever happened, he'd be there, and pulled one of his black sweaters from his vast collection. He
drew it over his still-sore flesh, and moved across to the chair near the bed, sitting down and waiting for his cue.

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

Willow smiled slightly at the blond vampire who was apparently dozing on the couch, glad that he was finally managing to get
some rest. He'd looked a bit haggard when she'd seen him earlier, and she needed him to be in top form, so she did her best not
to wake him as she crossed the living room and entered the kitchen. She pulled open the refrigerator, staring listlessly at its
contents. None of it really appealed to her, but she knew she should eat something, so she finally pulled an orange from the
shelf, sighing deeply as she peeled it. Oh, well, she told herself, the vitamin C wouldn't hurt any...

She was almost halfway through the fruit when she heard the knock at the apartment door, and she threw the rest of the
orange in the trashcan with a relieved sigh-- it had been making her nauseated. She stepped out into the living room again,
unsurprised to see Spike fully awake. "You couldn't get the door?" she demanded, as the knock sounded again.

Spike stared at the girl, amazed by how well she was taking the possible death she'd be facing... Of course, HE was facing the
same fate, but... he'd already died once, and he sort of knew what to expect of it. Not that he WANTED to die. He didn't; the
extra years he'd had had given him an extraordinary appreciation for living, or existing, rather... but still, he remembered how the
very thought of death had terrified him when he'd been mortal. "It's not my door." he finally responded, as she turned the knob
and stepped aside to let their guests enter.

Willow rolled her eyes, then smiled at the three people who'd just stepped in to the apartment. Unfortunately, she really didn't
know what to say... it wasn't exactly a 'small-talk' kind of evening, and so she said nothing, her smile becoming more and more
strained as the silence stretched on.

"Well." Jarod finally said, his voice sounding inordinately loud in the hushed room, "I guess it's time..." He turned slightly, pulling
Serena hard against him. "I'll see you later.." he said optimistically before kissing her.

The witch nodded to herself, and quickly strode to Angel's door. "Angel?" she said, poking her head past the jamb, "We're
going... What are you doing out of bed?"

The dark-haired vampire smiled slightly and stood, crossing to her with three long strides. "I... I didn't want you to worry, and...
I thought you might feel better if you saw that I wasn't bed-ridden anymore..." It wasn't EXACTLY a lie, he told himself as he
pressed his lips to hers, and held her tightly for a moment... It just wasn't the whole truth. He leaned down again, burying his
face in her hair, and just breathed in the smell of her, sighing unhappily when she pulled away.

She stepped back from his cool, hard embrace, and tangled her fingers with his as she pulled him out into the living room.
"Serena and Adam are going to keep you company," she announced. "Take care of him, you two," she said to the immortals in
question, "I'm giving him over to your care, so... make sure he eats, OK?" She smiled when they nodded, and turned her
attention to Jarod and Spike. "And we should go now..." She smiled again, a bit sadly, and started for the door, still holding
Angel's hand.

He didn't resist at all when she led him towards the door. Not like he did when she tried to let go of him, anyway. And he didn't
say a word about her asking other people to look after him. He didn't want to argue with her, or say anything that might distract
her later. Of course, he didn't want her to go, either... even though he'd be mere minutes behind her, he didn't want to let her
out of his sight; out of his arms, and... he pulled her back against him, one final time. "Be careful, Will." he demanded harshly,
before crushing his lips against her warm, soft mouth once more, and then... she was gone, along with Spike and Jarod.

The uncomfortable silence fell over the room again, none of them moving, or saying a word. Finally, Angel turned and went in to
the kitchen. She'd been right about ONE thing... he did need to feed, but then... then he'd be on his way, less than five minutes
behind her. He pulled six of the containers of blood from the fridge and placed them in the microwave, staring at the light inside
until the cycle dinged. He pulled the barely warm blood from the machine, and grimaced as he quickly drank it all down.

Serena watched from the doorway, concerned, as the vampire power-loaded the animal blood. She wasn't entirely sure, but she
had a feeling that he was planning on going after his woman. She couldn't blame him, really. After all, he'd been incredibly
determined when he'd still been Angelus, and she didn't figure that that would have changed much with the addition of a soul.
"Are you sure about this, Angel?" she asked quietly, almost laughing when he jumped at the sound of her voice.

He spun quickly, glaring into her bright green eyes. "Don't try to stop me, Serena..." he warned deeply, "I don't want to have to
hurt you, but..."

"But you will. I know." She smiled slightly, inclining her head briefly in acknowledgment of his sincerity. "Willow's gonna be pissed
if she catches you, though.."

He nodded tightly. "I know." he explained, "But I'd rather have her alive and mad at me than..." He cut himself off, swallowing
against the sudden lump in his throat.

Serena nodded to herself, coming to a decision of her own. "I'll drive." she said suddenly, turning from him and starting back
towards the front door. She ignored Methos' objections, and stepped into the hallway, waiting for the vampire to join her.

Angel stared after the redhead, completely stunned. Of course, there was someone SHE loved out there, too, but... somehow,
he had the feeling that she wouldn't be going after the 'legendary group' if he hadn't wanted to be there for his own redhead.
He wondered whether it meant that the immortal woman had perhaps forgiven him for the things he'd done to her when he'd
been soul-less, and filed the thought away for further examination. But for the moment... He moved into action, flying across
the living room, and through the doorway, only to be stopped at the threshold by an unseen force that propelled him back into
the apartment. "What?" he demanded, trying to leave again with no better results. "What the HELL!" he growled angrily, his
demon's features slipping over his human ones. "Willow..." he growled again, despairingly this time.

Methos almost laughed as a very surprised Serena stepped back into the apartment. "Well..." he finally said, after a moment, "I
guess she really IS a witch..." He barely restrained a loud chuckle at the surprised look the vampire turned on him. "Oh, come
ON! Your girlfriend somehow managed to un-invite you from the rest of the world!" He shook his head slowly in amazement. "I
didn't even know that was POSSIBLE, and I've seen an awful LOT in my lifetime..." He was expecting Angel to respond badly to
the new situation, but he didn't. Serena, on the other hand, DID.

End-- Pt 18

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