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Part 9

The dream she'd had a few nights earlier had driven one thing home to her. She couldn't trust herself where Angel was concerned. Her dream-version of the one she loved had only had to *look* at her, and... she'd been lost. Fortunately, her alarm had gone off before things could get any more uncomfortable, but still, it had made things very clear to her.

That was why she'd quit her job at the little shop in Miami. She still felt badly about leaving without giving her boss any notice, but the woman had only smiled and said that she hadn't really expected Willow to stick around too long. Of course, she'd *also* told her that there was a difference between running away *from* something and running *to* something, but... The witch had a feeling that the woman would have understood completely if she'd told her the particulars. That hadn't happened, of course, because... what would she say? 'Gee, Lucy, I'm in love with my dead best friends ex-boyfriend-- the vampire-- and he doesn't love me, but he sure does *want* me, ever since he bit me and drank my blood while we were fucking in the dream-world...'

She sighed softly, even as she shouldered her carry-on bag. No matter what she told herself, it hadn't been just 'fucking', but it hadn't been 'making love' exactly, either. She shook her head, handing her boarding pass to the woman by the gate. Miami wasn't the place for her, obviously, so... "Boston, here I *come*..." she murmured, even as she found her seat on the small plane.

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

"You're crazy," Cordelia bluntly said, staring at her vampire friend, "You're completely nuts. There's no way *any* of them are gonna help you." Her brow furrowed slightly. "Unless you're looking for a swift and dusty death, because I'm *sure* they'd be willing to make *that* happen."

Angel shook his head, still folding his clothes for the trip he'd decided to take. "Maybe at first, Cordy," he told her-- for what had to be the twentieth time in five minutes, "But once they understand..."

"They're never *going* to understand, Angel!" she finally exploded, stalking towards him and pushing him down on the bed beside his bag. "The only thing they'll *ever* 'understand' is that you somehow claimed Willow, she left you, and now you're *hunting* *her*! Do you really think they're gonna sit still for long enough to listen to anything after you tell them that?" Her hands tightened into fists on her hips, and she glared hotly at him. "You're worried about Willow. I *get* that! So am *I*! But getting yourself killed-- in the *permanent* way-- isn't gonna help *anyone*!"

The vampire glared back at her, but didn't move from his position. "Well, what do you suggest, then? That I just... *sit* *here* and *wait*? Hope she decides to come *back*?" He growled deep in his chest. "I can't *do* that, Cordelia! Every day she's not here, I... I lose a little bit more of myself. If I wait too long..." He closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down as much as he could. "If I wait too long," he tried again, "I think... I might let the demon free. And I know that's a bad idea, but I... I don't think I'll be able to help it..."

Her eyes were wide, and she knew it, but... She hadn't really thought things were that serious. Oh, sure, he'd locked himself away in his room for a while, but... That had been standard King of Brood behaviour, as far as *she'd* been concerned. She would have thought that he was being melodramatic, but... She could see the truth of his words in the tense lines of him, and... "All right," she said, almost whispering, "*I'll* go. They won't try to stake *me*!" At least, she *hoped* not.

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

Wesley sighed to himself as Cordelia strode angrily into the lobby. "Cordy?" he said softly, standing up from her desk, "What happened? I thought you'd be gone longer..."

"Stubborn, ignorant, full-of-themselves *pricks*!" she declared, flinging her purse down on her desk, "And I'm including the *girls* in that!" She started pacing, even as she vented. "I drive *two* *hours* to ask for their help, and what do they do? Do they even *try*? *Of* *course* *not*! The minute they found out why I was there, it was all 'Angel's evil', 'Angel raped her', 'Angel has to die'! Except when that Tara girl was whining about Willow being a big old *slut*! I mean, it's not like she *wanted* this to happen... or not for *real*, anyway!" She let loose a fairly good approximation of one of Angel's irritated growls. "Do they ask what they can do to make things better? Of course not! Do they even ask why I came to *them*? Another big old 'No'!" She growled again. "I swear to God, Wesley," she said intently, meeting the former Watcher's gaze, "I'm so glad I got the hell *out* of that town!"

"So it didn't do any good, then," Wes said quietly, "I wish I could say I'm surprised."

Cordelia sighed herself, finally leaning against the edge of her desk. "I don't know," she said, after a moment or two. "Giles seemed to be listening more than the others, but they wouldn't let me talk to him alone, so..." She shrugged. "I don't know..." she said again.

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

He woke groaning, his eyes flashing golden in his darkened room. As good as the dreams had become, they just weren't enough. Especially since he was pretty sure they weren't exactly dreams.

No, he was almost entirely convinced that he was meeting her, mind to mind, while they both slept. That was the only way he could possibly wake up knowing things about his claimed that he hadn't known when he fell asleep.

Of course, technically, that was just an hypothesis at the moment, but... He smiled hopefully as he stood and pulled some clothes over his yearning flesh. He would *test* his theory, and if he was right...? Then he had a witch to bring home!

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

She'd been in town for less than three full days, and had gone on five job interviews in that time. She'd gotten five offers, as well. She glanced around the small apartment she'd rented on the south side of the city and smiled slightly. It wasn't as nice as Cordelia's place, but... it was *hers*!

It was an odd feeling, having a place that belonged entirely to her, and had the situation been different, she would have been thrilled. But she still missed him, and she still felt empty inside.

She'd steeled herself to the feeling, though, mostly because she was almost entirely sure that it was going to get worse; not better. But that didn't matter, she reminded herself... not if it let Angel be free.

She was at least sleeping better, she knew. Oh, she still had the dreams, but they were different. Her dream-Angel still came to her and took her to heights she could never have imagined before experiencing the reality of him, but... afterwards, they talked. They told each other things about their lives, and she was starting to wonder if she wasn't more in love with the Angel in her head than she'd been with the one in LA.

So all in all, she decided, she could put up with the gnawing ache in her heart. Her only real worry at the moment was that the mark on her neck didn't seem to be healing properly. Oh, it wasn't infected or anything, but... She sighed and flipped again through the pages of notes in front of her, trying to decide which job to accept. She'd have to make her choice soon... she was almost out of money.

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

Fred sat on the couch beside Gunn, listening wide-eyed to the three people who'd spent so much time in Sunnydale. She found herself in the rather odd position of being... glad!... that her own introduction to the demon side of life had been getting sucked into that Pylea dimension. The Hellmouth sounded like a terrible place; she doubted she would have survived.

Gunn's eyes were wide, as well, but in *his* case, it was because... Cordelia-- the girl he'd brushed off and made fun of from time to time-- had actually managed to *live* *through* *high* *school*! He'd heard the comment about high school being Hell before, but he'd had no idea that in Sunnydale it was pretty much literally true! He groaned silently, thinking about all the times he'd ignored the things she'd had to say, and vowed to himself that he would give her a little bit more of the respect she apparently deserved. The girl might *look* like a brunette version of Malibu Barbie, but obviously looks were deceiving. Still, all that aside, he had no clue about how Angel knew what had happened in Sunnydale after he'd left.

"And then Oz said..." the Seer paused, looking at the vampire.

Angel almost laughed, but managed to restrain the impulse. "Something like... 'Stop a minute, and just process this... We survived.' Then he said 'No, I mean we survived High School.' Right?" He did laugh then, his eyes crinkling at the edges. "I told you, guys! We're sharing dreams! We talk, and... we're getting to *know* each other, and..." His eyes locked on Cordelia's. "Why didn't you ever tell me she was so..." He shrugged, not sure of how to put it into words.

"So what?" Cordelia demanded, "So *Willow*?" Her nod mirrored the vampire's, and she frowned. "You tell *me*," she suggested, "How would *you* describe her?"

He thought hard for a little while before shaking his head in defeat. "I can't," he admitted. "She's just... Willow. There's no other way to explain it."

"Yes," Wesley broke in, "And while this is all fascinating, it doesn't really help us, does it?"

"That's where you're *wrong*, Wes," Angel laughed, his entire body tingling with anticipation and relief, "I just... had to be sure I was actually talking to *her*! But now that I *am*...? I know where she is."

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

She'd accepted a position with Moonglow Software Systems, not because they'd made her the best offer-- they hadn't-- but because... The whole situation had started with the moon, or its phase, so... it seemed appropriate that it end with the moon, as well.

She pushed her once-again-red hair behind her ear and smiled as she walked into the lobby of the building. She felt kind of silly for going back to her true hair colour just because her imaginary-Angel didn't like the brown, but honestly...? She hadn't liked it much herself. No, she felt much more Willow-y with the red.

She stood outside the door of the Development department and took a deep breath. "Once more into the breach..." she muttered, ignoring that fact that she was misquoting Shakespeare. "Hi," she said calmly, turning the knob, and stepping through the door, "I'm Willow."

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

"Right," Wes said quickly, hanging up the phone, "She's working at a small company called Moonglow Software, which just happens to be a subsidiary of Nabbit Technologies." He chuckled slightly at the wide grin spreading across the vampire's face. "David is sending a car to take you to the airport. His private plane will be waiting on runway sixteen to take you to Boston, where another car will take you to Willow. After that, you're on your own."

"You told David 'thank you'?" Angel asked, although at the moment he couldn't have cared less. His skin was shivering non-stop, and he could feel small tendrils of both hope and fear tracing up and down his spine. He was going to Willow. He'd known she was in Boston, but... he hadn't known exactly where. Now, he did.

"I told him he could tag along on our next venture," the former watcher replied, "Provided it isn't *too* dangerous..." He winced, waiting for Angel's reaction.

"Good," the vampire said, not paying any attention to what he'd just agreed to. "I guess I should get my suitcase, then..." He didn't even notice the thoroughly amused chuckles coming from his friend as he practically floated out of the office and up the stairs.

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

Cordelia smiled brightly as the car pulled away from the hotel, and turned to her other three friends. "Well," she said happily, grabbing Wes and Gunn's hands in her own, "We need to celebrate!"

"Don't you think that's a bit... premature?" Wesley asked, though he was smiling hugely as well, "I mean, he just left. We have no idea of whether..."

"Pfff... oh, please!" the former cheerleader cried, pulling the guys out the lobby door and gesturing for Fred to follow, "He's *Angel*! Do you really think he's gonna *fail*?"

The Englishman chuckled, drawing Fred into their chain as they started down the street. "Well, no. I don't suppose he *will*."

"He'll need to be careful," Fred put in softly, "The Willow is fragile..."

"He'll be as careful as he has to be and still get the job done," Gunn told her, in a tone that brooked no argument. "'Cause I somehow don't see Angel giving up on this."

That said, the foursome fell to discussing other things as they continued on, heading for Caritas and some well-deserved relaxation and merriment.

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

Her first day had gone pretty well, she thought. She'd found a coding error about three hours into the morning, and had been able to backtrack to repair it.

She hadn't noticed the surprised glances from her superiors within the department, nor the muttered 'where'd *she* come from'-s from her co-workers, but that could probably be chalked up to the fact that her mind was occupied with not only the work, but memories of the time she'd spent with her dream-Angel the night before. She also wasn't aware of the swiftly arrived at consensus that she wouldn't be with them long if she could fix something on her first day that had eluded them all for *months*.

Willow sighed softly and rubbed her eyes before glancing at the clock. No wonder, she told herself. She'd been staring at her monitor for almost fourteen hours! She smiled slightly, and pulled her purse from under her desk. "I'm taking off, Jake," she told her supervisor, smiling when he barely acknowledged her.

She walked slowly from the building, breaking into a run when she saw her bus about to pull away from the curb, and that was the reason she didn't notice the big car with the tinted windows waiting just a few feet away.

She jumped onto the bus, dropping her fare in the slot, and stared out at the night while she waited to reach her stop.

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

"Stop here," he ordered, when he saw her glorious head of red hair get out of the bus. He watched her intently, delighted that she'd actually gotten rid of the brown colour he'd hated so much. The red shone beautifully in the glow of the street light, and as she started down the nearest side street, he climbed from the car. "I'll call when I need you," he told the driver, before moving silently after his witch.
 

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