SWORN ENEMIES (1/?)
 

Willow glanced at Spike and frowned. "Why are we here again?"
 

Spike snorted, "You're asking me Red? The daft slayer is your friend
after all."
 

Willow sighed. "You're here because they don't trust me to come by
myself so you have to tag along. I'm here because Buffy had finally
stopped moping over brood boy and can't stand to see him again just in
case unresolved feelings resurface."
 

"About sums it up, luv" Spike said, lighting his cigarette. He stared at
the name on the door. Angel Investigations. What a fucking joke. "Can we
just leave it on the doorstep and take off?"
 

"No" Willow said. She frowned. "You know we may have to stay for at
least two or three days. He is suppose to have some research for Giles."
 

"Yay. See my excitement" he said drolly. "Wait. We know why I am so
overeager to see the poof. Why are you worried?"
 

"Oh, I don't mind seeing Angel. It's her." She spat out the word.
 

"Her?" Spike repeated with a frown.
 

"Cordelia....she's in there." Willow said, sighing. "I hate her and she
hates me."
 

"Ah..the cheerleader" Spike said, finally making the connection. "Why?"
 

"Why what?" Willow asked.
 

"Why do you two chits hate each other? We know my sordid history with
the king of brood."
 

"We have the same birthday" Willow said vehemantly.
 

Spike started to laugh. "That's it? That's why you two hate each other?"
 

Willow glared at his smirking face. "It was the ultimate worse thing
that could happen! In school, she always got to bring cupcakes and party
hats. It was always her birthday...never mine. My mother was always too
busy to make desserts for me to take. No one ever even remembered that
it was my day too.....except her! She loved taking the attention away
from me. Silly bitch."
 

Spike just shook his head. Suddenly, he remembered something. Willow's
birthday was in two days. She had complained about going to LA in fact
because she wouldn't be home for it. He'd made note of the day so that
he could buy her something. Not that he cared about her. Nope. Not him.
She was just a friend. He liked seeing his friend's smile. Groaning
softly, he wondered how often he'd have to say that to convince himself.
He was in serious lust with the redhead. Had been for months. "There
there pet....Just think. She had to share the day too. It might have
been as hard for her."
 

"Not likely. She had someone that actually cared. Half the time my
parents didn't even buy me a gift. The other half, it was late. When my
mother happened to remember. They still don't know the exact date. She
had someone make her cupcakes" Willow whined, cursing herself for
appearing so stupid in front of Spike. Of all people to break down in
front of, it had to be him. The main star of her fantasies for three
years. She was whining about sharing her birthday with the bitch and he
was having to face the sire he had tortured not a year before.
Completely different scale. "Come on. I'm fine. She just used that as an
excuse to make my entire life hell until she did me the favor of moving
to LA. I am still older than her by three hours and fifty six minutes."
 

"Proud of you, luv" Spike said, his tone bored. "Can we get this done
now?"
 

"Yeah...I'm ready to face her." Willow said.
 

"You sound like you're heading into battle" Spike said, laughing as he
pitched his cigarette to the ground.
 

"I am...Cordelia and I are sworn enemies. Always have been since we were
six. Probably always will be" Willow said, going up the stairs to enter
the building. "Give me strength" she said, making a face at him and
opening the door. He just smiled and shook his head, following her into
the office, ready to face his past. To face Angel.
 

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