~Part 1~ Stunned
Willow ran out of the school, tears blurring her vision. 'How could they?' she thought.
It had been another ordinary night of research, trying to figure out how to restore Angel's soul and so on. Poor Buffy. Angelus had been tormenting Buffy since he went bad. Willow could tell Buffy wasn't sleeping well, and Willow could imagine how hard a time Buffy must be going through. It was late, well after dark, and her and Giles were the only two people in the library. Buffy and Faith were out on patrol.
The doors swung open as Xander entered the library. Faith and Buffy were right behind him.
"Hey Wills. G-Man," Xander ackknowlaged. "I come bearing gifts of the donut and coffee variety." Xander proceeded to shove a whole donut in his mouth.
"Gross, Xander." Buffy said,looking nauseous.
"How was patrol?" Giles asked as Buffy and Faith unloaded their weapons.
"Dead,G. No vamps at all." Faith replied as she took a seat and propped her legs on the table. "Not even Angel." Buffy looked downcast at that last remark. "I'm gonna go get a soda." Buffy called over her shoulder as she headed towards the cafeteria.
Giles shook his head sadly. His Slayer had been through alot over the past month. He turned to Willow. "Have you found anything on that infernal machine?" The hacker looked up. "Sorry,Giles. Not yet." Xander was in the middle of his fourth donut when he suddenly looked up and asked, "Where's Buffy? Did she go home to get a soda?" Willow stood up and streched. "I'll go find her." She headed out the door and was soon followed by Faith. "I'll go check the bathrooms, you check the cafeteria." Faith said, heading down the hallway. Willow heard voices in the cafeteria.
"Have you told her yet?" A girl's voice asked.
"I haven't had time." A soft voice answered.
"We have to tell her. I'm tired of sneaking around. We've been sneaking around for months, and I'm sick of it!" Buffy's voice clearly rang out.
"I know,I'm sorry." Her companion replied.
"I know." Buffy said.
Silence. Willow didn't want to intrude on a personal conversation. She
waited another minute. Still quiet. She walked into the cafeteria. "Buffy,
Giles wants you to-" She stopped short. What she saw made her blood run
cold. Buffy was kissing Oz, her Oz, and he wasn't objecting. "Oh, Goddess."
Willow cried, causing the couple to break apart. "Shit!" Oz swore. "Willow,
I-"
but Willow was already gone.
'How could they?' Willow thought as she blindly ran, almost colliding
head-on with Faith. "Holy shit, Red! What's wrong?" asked Faith, concerned.
Willow flew out the front door and ran down the street. She stopped, out
of breath and sobbing, as she sunk onto a bench in the park. She sat like
that for a few minutes, her knees drawn up to her chest, rocking back and
forth. A twig snapped behind her, as she jumped up, startled. She whirled
around, her hand on the stake she kept in her pocket, and looked into a
pair of brown eyes. "Drucilla."
~Part 2~ Unlikely Ally
"Drusilla."
The dark vampiress smiled. "Hello Little Tree. Miss Edith said I'd find you her."
"Did she?" Willow asked. "Did you come to kill me?" Willow both dreaded and wanted to know the answer. Oz was seeing Buffy. *Her* Oz. Willow halfheartly hoped Dru would kill her.
"Kill you? I'm not going to kill you." Dru replied.
"Huh? Why not? I mean, you're an evil vampire, no offense, and you hate Buffy for what she did to Angel, sleeping with him, although I bet you're happy he turned evil 'cause now you got your boyfriend back, and-oh wait. Isn't Spike your boyfriend? I mean, can you date both Spike and Angel? Isn' that kinda odd? I mean--" A sound abruptly cut off Willow's rambling. Drusilla was laughing.
The redheaded hacker/witch sat gaping at the vampire in shock. "U-um, Wh-why are you laughing a-at me?" Willow asked, slightly angry, but more scared.
"You are so silly," Dru said, wiping blood tears from her eyes. "Miss Edith didn't send me to kill you. She said the wolf and the nasty old slayer hurt you, and that you were sad, and that you would be my friend. wont' you be my friend?"
Willow stared at the vampire. "You want me to be your friend?"
"Uh-huh. You will, won't you?" When Willow didn't respond, Drusilla's lower lip started to tremble.
Willow didn't like to see anyone cry, enemy or not. And Drusilla looked so sad. Willow was afraid if she said no, then Drusilla would kill her. Willow only had one option. She took a deep breath.
"Um, okay Drusilla. I'll be your friend."
Dru's face lit up at that comment. She smiled. "Oh, goody. Miss Edith was right about you. She told me you would be nice to me. Oh! Come! We must go to the mansion!" Dru grabbed Willow's hand, and proceeded to drag her through the park.
"Wait!" Willow cried, terrified. "Why are we going to the mansion?"
Drusilla giggled, sounding like a 16 year old girl, instead of a 140 year old, evil, crazy vampire.
"Because that's where I live, silly girl! We will have such fun! I haven't had a friend in ever so long! We shall have a tea party, with cakes, and pretty china plates, and I have to show you all my pretty dresses. I have a red dress, and a white dress, and so many others..." Drusilla rambled on as she dragged Willow through the park, towards the looming mansion.
* * * * *
Buffy and Oz stormed into the library. Buffy was pale and was shaking slightly. "Giles?" she called.
"Giles?"
Giles emerged from the stacks. "Yes, Buffy what is it?" He looked at Buffy, then at Oz. "Ye gods. What's wrong?"
"Where's Willow? Is she here?" Buffy asked frantically.
"No, I don't believe she is here. Why?"
"She's not here? Oh God, Giles. We have to find her." Buffy cried, half sobbing.
Suddenly, the library doors flew open. Cordelia breezed in, primping herself in her compact. "Hey, Giles. What's up with Willow?" she asked.
"What? You saw Willow? Where is she?" demanded Buffy, grabbing Cordy's wrist.
"Ugh, let go off me, freakgirl. I saw her run out the front door about 15 minutes ago."
"15 minutes ago!" Buffy screamed. "Why the hell did it take you so long to come here and tell me?"
"Because. I had to reapply my foundation. Not all of us want to look like street trash, Buffy." Cordelia said, looking pointedly at the Slayer.
"What?!" Buffy growled, taking a menacing step towards the smirking May Queen.
"Girls, enough." Giles said, rolling his eyes.
"Hey is Xander here?" Cordy asked.
"No, cordelia he is not. I sent him home." Giles replied.
"Thanks" Cordelia called over her shoulder as she exited the library.
Giles turned to his Slayer. "What's going on with Willow?"
"I can answer that." A voice near the stairs said.
"Faith!" Buffy cried.
Faith regarded the other Slayer coldly. "Wanna know what's going on, G? Let me explain. Red and I went to look for Buffy, because she was late back to the library. I was walking down the hallway, and Red shot past me. Before I could ask her what was wrong, she was already out the door. So, I walk into the cafeteria, and B and Wolfie are sucking face on one of the tables."
Giles looked at Buffy. "Buffy is this true?"
Buffy couldn't lie to Giles. "Yes."
Giles glared at her, and then turned his gaze to Oz.
"How long as this been going on?" Oz didn't answer.
"How long?!" Giles growled, a bit of Ripper coming to the surface. "Always." Oz replied.
"Always? Well, how the hell long is 'always'?" Giles was pissed. Buffy gulped. Oz looked at the floor.
Faith smirked, enjoying Buffy's discomfort.
"Since he and Willow started dating." Buffy whispered.
If possible, Giles' face turned a darker shade of purple. "Really?" he managed to choke out. He took a few deep breaths, trying to reign in his temper. "Oz," he began in a calm voice. "please leave."
"Giles-" Oz started, but Giles interupted him. "NOW!"
Oz shuffled out of the library. Buffy started to leave. Giles glared at her. "Nope, not you. You sit down."
Buffy did as she was told. Faith bit down a laugh. Buffy glared at her. Buffy was about to say something to Faith, but Giles cut her off.
Giles was seething. Willow was like a daughter to him. She was nothing but loyal to her friends. He had watched her risk her life day in and day out, and he watched as the others, especially Buffy, Xander, and Oz, took advantage of her. Giles looked at Buffy, and he said one word. "Why?"
Buffy looked at her hands. "We didn't want to hurt her. After Oz and Will started dating, we would meet on patrols, and talk. We would met in the cemetary before school. We developed feelings for each other."
Faith looked at Buffy. "Wait. Hold up, B. You and Oz were together last year?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Duh, Faith. What do you think I just said?"
Faith smirked. "Okay, let me try to put this in prospective, so I can understand. Willow and Oz were dating. You and Angel were an item." Buffy winced at the mention of Angel. Faith continued. "So, and Angel were together. You ditched Angel, and Oz ditched Red."
Giles looked at Buffy for confirmation. She shook her head. "No! That's not what happened!" Buffy cried. She started to ramble on about something, but Faith cut her off.
"Fine, whatever, B. I'm gonna be blunt. When did you and Oz start fucking?"
Buffy stared at Faith. She turned to Giles, hoping he'd help her get out of the situation. "Giles, I-"
"Answer her question, Buffy." Giles replied through clenched teeth.
"Two months before Angel lost his soul." Buffy whispered. "I figured he would be able to smell Oz on me, but he never did." Buffy looked over to Giles, and winced.
If Buffy thought Giles was angry before, she was sadly mistaken. Giles was in full Ripper mode. "Oh. Okay Buffy. You and Oz starting fucking two months before Angel lost his soul." Giles stated in a mocking sing-song voice. "Let's see. Then you fucked Angel. So you were fucking both Oz and Angel at the same time? Did you ever think how much this could of hurt Willow and Angel if they found out? Well, Willow obviously knows. God, Buffy. Willow is out there, God knows where, balling over the fact her boyfriend and best friend betrayed her. If she gets hurt or killed, Buffy, you will live to regret it."
Buffy looked at Giles, with tears in her eyes. Faith glared at Buffy. "So, B, how many times have you and Wolfboy fucked?"
Buffy's face flamed with embarrasment. She knew she had to answer the question or face the wrath of Giles. "Every day since the first time." Buffy whispered, humiliated.
At hearing that tidbit of information, Giles lost whatever bit of self control he had left. He exploded.
"What?! Let's see Angel's been Angelus for about two months, and you and Oz have been at it for two months when Angelus emerged. Four months. God, Buffy! What the hell is wrong with you! How could you do that to your best friend! I have had it." Giles managed to calm himself down. He glared at Buffy. "Buffy," he began in a composed voice, get out of here right now. I can't stand the sight of you right now." With that, Giles got up and went into his office slamming the door.
Buffy looked at the retrating back of the man she considered her father figure. She glanced at Faith, who was glaring at her. Buffy couldn't stand Faith's hate filled glare, so she ran into the bathroom and cried. After a few minutes, the bathroom door opened and Faith strode in. Buffy glared at her.
"I don't want to hear you apologizing to me right now, Faith."
Faith laughed. "Why would I apologize to you?"
"For treating me the way you did," Buffy answered, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I did nothing wrong."
Then to her shock, Faith land a left hook across
her face. Faith had had enough of Buffy. She may not show it, but she really
liked Red, and was hoping she and Willow could to be friends. "You are
such a slut, B." Faith snarled, and stormed out to go look for Willow,
leaving a crying Buffy to tend to her bleeding nose.
~Part 3~ A New Friend
Drusilla dragged Willow up the sidewalk to the mansion, babbling on about the fun that they and Miss Edith would have. The insane vampiress opened the mansion door.
"Here we are, Willow-mine. This is where I live." Dru stated, looking around proudly.
"It's, uh, very nice." Willow stammered. Drusilla beamed at the compliment. Dru cocked her head.
"Come, Willow-mine, Miss Edith is calling me." Dru dragged the slightly protesting redhead out of the room.
***********
Buffy wiped the tears out of her eyes. She had finally got her nose to quit bleeding. She knew she had to talk to Oz, and let him know what had happened at the library. She was tired. She'd call him once she got home.
**********
Willow looked around Drusilla's room in awe. It was absolutely beautiful. She had a large four poster canopy bed that was done up in white lace. Next to the bed there was a large antique brass Victorian dressing table, complete with an ornate mirror, albeit the fact that Drusilla had no reflection. There was a huge mahogany wardrobe in the corner of the room. Next to the wardrobe was a shelf covered in blindfolded and gagged dolls, which Willow found slightly disturbing. Nevertheless, it was the most beautiful room Willow had ever seen.
Drusilla walked over to the shelf of dolls, and selected one in a blue dress. She began to coo at the doll.
"This, Willow-mine, is Miss Edith."
Willow was unsure of what to do. She had heard about the doll that "talked" to Drusilla.
"Um, h-hello," Willow said cautiously to the blindfolded doll.
Drusilla clapped, delighted that the girl had acknowledged Miss Edith. Spikey and Daddy never talked to Miss Edith. Dru then proceeded to introduce Willow to all her other dolls.
"This is Emma, and Lucy, and Marcy. Marcy has been naughty and shall not have any tea or cakes today."
"Naughty?" Willow asked, confused.
"Yes, she has spoken out of turn. No tea and cakes for Marcy." Drusilla sing-songed. "Oh! It is time for the tea party, Willow-mine! Come, let us have our tea party!" Drusilla giggled and proceeded to drag Willow into yet another room.
*************
Buffy sighed and hung up the phone. She had just told Oz about how Giles yelled at her, and how Faith punched her. Oz had agreed with her. They really hadn't done anything wrong. He was confident once he and Buffy sat down with Willow, they could make her understand, and she would forgive them. She sighed again. What had she done to deserve her life? She was the Chosen One, yet she got no choice about it. Her best friend was mad at her, and her boyfriend was an evil psychopath. 'Ex-boyfriend,' she amended. She was with Oz now. She settled down to go to sleep. As she drifted off, she thought about Oz, Angel, and how Faith had punched her. Her thoughts never went to the petite redhead she had betrayed.
**********
Willow and Dru were seated at a small round table,
with a silver tea pot and a vase of drooping daisies in between them.
"This is my play room," Drusilla had announced as she and Willow entered the room. She had told Willow to "stay right here with Miss Edith while I go get the tea and cakes." Willow had, afraid of what Drusilla would do if she tried to make a break for it.
Now she and Drusilla were sitting at the tiny table in the middle of the room. Willow on one side, Dru on the other, and Miss Edith between them. Suddenly, Dru looked up.
"Miss Edith says the little tree is afraid of
Princess. Are you afraid of me, Willow-mine?" Dru asked, curious. "We are
friends. There is no need to
be afraid of me."
Oddly comforted, Willow relaxed at Dru's word. "No, Dru, I'm not afraid of you anymore." Willow replied, honestly.
"Yes," Dru said decidedly. "We are friends. Would you like some more tea, Willow-mine?"
Willow grinned. "Yes, Dru, I would love some more
tea."
~Part 4~ Lines Drawn
As Willow entered the school the following morning,
she thought about the events of the previous
day. She
had caught Buffy and Oz playing smootchies in
the
cafeteria, she had made a new friend, Drusilla
of all
people, and they had had a tea party. She smiled
at
that thought. Her smile died as she saw who was
coming
down the hall towards her. Buffy.
"Hey, Wills. I think we need to talk." Buffy
said,
looking at the strappy sandals on her feet, rather
than face Willow's hurt and angry gaze.
"Yeah, I think we do." Willow replied coldly.
Buffy grimaced at the frosty tone in her friend's
voice. "Look, Wills, I-"
"Save it, Buffy." Willow interuppted. "I'll meet
you
in the library after school. We'll talk then."
Buffy grinned, grateful Willow wasn't too upset.
"Great, Will. See ya then!" But Willow had turned
and
already walked away. Buffy frowned. Maybe Willow
was
more angry than she thought.
**********
Willow fidgeted in her seat. It was her last
class of
the day, and pretty soon she would have to face
Buffy,
the girl she thought was her best friend. She
sighed.
Buffy and Oz. *Her* Oz, with Buffy. How could
they?
How long had this been going on?
Willow was drawn out of her silent musings as
the
bell rang. Willow sighed again and gathered her
things. It was time to confront Buffy. She headed
towards the library.
**********
Giles said hello, and politely excused himself
to his
office, giving Buffy and Willow the privacy they
needed to talk.
Willow headed to the back of the library, and
waited
for Buffy.
"Hey, Will." Buffy offered.
Willow didn't respond.
"Look, we need to get this sorted out." Buffy
sat
down. "Sit, and let me explain."
Willow sat down in the chair opposite Buffy,
and put
her hand under her chin. "Talk."
**********
Xander flung open the library doors. "Hey G-funk,
the
Xand man is here!"
Behind Xander, entered his girlfriend. "Gawd,
Xander,
dweeb much?" Xander made a face at her, and the
brunette rolled her eyes.
Faith walked in behind Cordy and said, "Hey,
where's
G? Or where's Bitchy for that matter?"
Cordelia grinned at Faith's nickname for Buffy.
It
was one thing they agreed on.
On hearing the three teens enter the library,
he
rushed out of his office. "Please keep it down.
Willow
and Buffy are in the back trying to sort out
their,
er, problems."
"Oh, yeah." Faith said. "The whole Oz thing."
Xander and Cordy looked at the Watcher and the
Slayer.
"What thing? What Oz thing?" Xander asked.
Faith glanced at him. "Oh, yeah, G sent you home
before the fireworks started. You shoulda been
here!
It was fuckin' hilarious."
"Faith!" Giles admonished.
"Sorry, Giles, but it was fun watching you go
all
Ripper on Bitchy." Faith said, grinning.
"Ahem. Excuse me, but what the hell was going
on? And
where was I during this?" Cordelia asked.
"You came in the library looking for Xander,
and
wwhen you saw he wasn't here, you left, Cordelia.
I
guess that was before the, uh, incident with
Buffy."
Giles explained.
"Bitchy." Faith corrected.
Giles glared at her.
"Wait. What incident? What happened?" Xander
asked.
"What does it have to do with Oz?"
Faith looked at Xander and Cordy, suprise etched
on
her pretty face. "Wait. You don't know?" Xander
and
Cordy both shook their heads.
Faith whistled. "Oh, boy. Then you're gonna love
this." Faith then proceeded to explain what had
occured at the library the previous night.
**********
"Talk."
Buffy looked at Willow and grimaced. Her friend
looked pissed.
"Damn it, Buffy!"
Buffy's eyes widened. Willow never swore. She
was
royally pissed off. Buffy gulped.
"How long has this been going on?"
Buffy remained silent, which proved to be a mistake,
as her silence brought on the Wrath of Willow.
"Damn it! Answer me!"
"Since last year," Buffy whispered.
"What?!" Willow gasped. "Since when last year?"
"Since the week after you and Oz started dating."
The color leeched out of Willow's face. "What?
Wait,
no, that can't be right. Oz and I have been together
for about 11 months. You were with Angel then."
Buffy looked at the surface of the table. Willow
suddenly understood. "Oh my God. You *were* with
Angel
while you had Oz on the side. Then you slept
with
Angel. You gave him your virginity, while you
were
messing around with Oz." Willow's eyes were full
of
disgust.
Buffy sighed, knowing the next thing she was
about to
say would shatter Willow. "Angel didn't take
my
virginity." Buffy whispered.
"What?" Willow asked, her voice dangerously low.
"Angel didn't take my virginity, Oz did."
Willow's eyes filled with tears. "Wait. You had
sex
with Angel two months ago. When did you and Oz
have
sex?" Willow asked, voice shaking.
Buffy knew the next three words would damn her
friendship with Willow, but Willow deserved to
know.
"Four months ago."
Willow inhaled sharply. "You had sex with Oz
two
months before you had sex with Angel?"
"Yes. Willow, there's something you need to know.
That wasn't the only time. Oz and I have had
it almost
every day since the first time. I was with Oz,
right
before I went to Angel. I was suprised he never
smelled Oz on me..." Buffy trailed off.
Willow looked flabbergasted. Then she sneered.
"Well,
Buffy, what do you want me to say? I'm glad you
have
an active sex life? With my boyfriend?"
"He was never your boyfriend," Buffy whispered,
instantly wishing she could take the words back.
Willow's eyes darkened. "Well, I'm glad *I* never
slept with Oz. I had thought about it. Well it
seems
like you've been having enough sex for both of
us."
Willow said lowly. "YOU FUCKING SLUT!" Willow
screamed.
**********
Faith had just finished filling in Xander and
Cordelia on what had happened the previous night.
Xander was turning an interesting shade of purple.
Cordelia looked like she was going to cry, which
suprised Faith to no end. Cordelia Chase wasn't
exactly known for being compassionate.
"Poor Willow," Cordy choked out. "She's the nicest
person I know..."
Cordy was going to say more when they hear a
shout
from the back of the library.
"YOU FUCKING SLUT!"
Cordy, Xander, Faith, and Giles all raced to
the back
of the library to see what was going on. Neither
Buffy
or Willow noticed that they had drawn their fellow
Slayerette's attention.
"Hey, calm down! I am not a slut!" Buffy cried.
"Oh, really? You can sleep with my boyfriend
for four
months, and then sleep with Angel, turning him
into
Angelus? That sounds like slut material to me!"
Buffy scowled. "Shut up, Willow."
Willow ignored her and continued her tirade.
"We all
felt sorry for you when Angel turned into Angelus.
For
God's sakes, Buffy! Miss Calendar and I attempted
to
restore Angel's soul for you! But I guess it
didn't
really matter to you, because you had already
been
boinking Oz on the side. What was your logic,
Buffy?
Did you think, hmmm, I screwed my boyfriend once
and
he's turned evil, and I've been screwing Oz for
months
now, and Angel or anybody else never noticed.
Hmm,
that must make it okay. I'm the Chosen One, and
I can
do know wrong." Willow said, mimicking Buffy's
voice.
Buffy lost whatever self-control she had left,
and
slapped Willow hard across the face.
"Bitch! You little bitch! Who the hell are you
to
judge me! Is it my fault your boyfriend came
crawling
to me? Face it, Willow. If any guy goes out with
you,
it's because you are my best friend, and they
know
it'll get them close to me. The only reason anyone
will date you is because they can't have me,
so they
have to settle for you. You're a replacement,
a poor
substitute for me, Willow. No man would ever
really
want you. You are a quiet, meek, little mouse.
I'm one
of the only friends you have. All the rest of
your
friends pity you. I mean, look at you. You're
not even
pretty. You're scrawny, shy, quiet, mousy, little
old
Willow. You are a loser, Willow. Face it. You're
a
nobody."
Willow looked at Buffy, her mouth open, and shaking.
She was already getting a dark purple bruise
across
her face from where Buffy had slapped her.
Giles, Cordy, Xander, and Faith were stunned
into
inaction by the slap Buffy delievered to Willow,
and
her hurtful mincing words. How could Buffy say
that?
Willow looked at Buffy smirking. She looked over
Buffy's shoulder and saw Xander, Cordy, Giles,
and
Faith standing there. Looking at her with a mixture
of
shock at what Buffy had said, and another emotion.
Pity. Buffy was right. Willow sobbed and ran
past the
small group and out of the library, down the
hall.
Buffy looked at the group gathered behind her.
Giles
was glaring at her. Faith was looking at her
with
hatred, as was Cordelia. Xander was looking at
her
with a mixture of anger and disgust.
Buffy glared back at them. "Come on, guys. I
only
said what we've all been thinking. You know it,
I know
it, Willow knows it."
Faith walked up to Buffy, until she was nose
to nose
with her. "You are a bitch, B. Red is absolutely
right. You are nothing more than a trashy slut.
You
make me sick. Don't you even dare tell me I was
thinking what you said. Because I wasn't, B.
I like
Red. I really do. I was hoping Red and me could
become
friends. You know what else, B? I really, really,
wish
I could kill you right now, but I don't think
the
Watcher's Council would condone it. You are not
the
only Chosen One, B. I'm a Slayer, too, and ordinary
people may not be able to hurt you, but lemme
tell you
something. If you ever hurt Red again, I will
personally beat the shit out of you." And with
one
more hateful, murderous, menacing glare, Faith
left to
go look for Willow.
Xander walked up to Buffy, and spoke between
gritted
teeth. "Willow has been my best friend for 17
years. I
love her. She is the sister I never had. Me,
her, and
Jesse were the Three Musketeers. I've already
lost
Jesse, and I'm not about to lose Willow, too.
I can't
even look at you right now." Xander turned and
stomped
off into the stacks.
Cordelia watched her boyfriend go. She glared
at
Buffy. "Bitch," She hissed as she slapped Buffy,
much
in the same way as Buffy slapped Willow. "I can't
believe you. I'm out. Slay demons on your own.
I know
I haven't been really nice to Willow over the
years,
but hers is a friendship I would like to have,
hers is
a friendship I don't want to lose. Your friendship,
Buffy Anne Summers, is a friendship I can do
without.
Goodbye!" Cordelia stalked off after Faith to
look for
Willow.
Buffy looked at Giles, who was sitting in a chair
rubbing his temples. "Arn't you gonna say something
mean too, Giles?"
Giles sighed. "I suggest you leave before I say
something mean. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm
going to
go phone Wesley."
"Faith's watcher? Why?"
"Because I am going to see if he wouldn't mind
watching over you for a while. Buffy, I am very
disappointed in you." Giles got up and entered
his
office, shutting the door.
Tears stung at Buffy's eyes. 'Everyone will have
cooled off by tomarrow,' she thought. 'I'll got
to the
Bronze and watch Oz practice with the band. That'll
cheer me up.' Buffy shrugged and left.
**********
Willow felt like she had been crying for hours.
She
smiled ruefully. 'I *have* been crying for hours.'
She
thought. After the scene in the library, she
had run
directly to the cemetary, to Jesse's grave. She
came
her sometimes, when she was sad. Sometimes she
and
Xander came here, together, to talk to their
best
friend. 'If Buffy had never come to Sunnydale,
and if
vampires weren't real, Jesse would still be alive.'
Willow thought bitterly. 'It would still be the
Three
Musketeers. Now it's just me and Xander.' Willow
looked up at the sky. The sun had set almost
an hour
ago. She realized the cemetary probably wasn't
the
best place to hang around after dark. She got
up and
wiped her face. "Bye, Jesse." She whispered.
She
suddenly knew where to go.
**********
"Willow-Mine! Miss Edith said you'd be coming!"
Dru
said, grinning. She stepped out of the doorway,
and
let Willow into the house. Suddenly, she frowned.
"Willow-mine is sad. The Slayer that smells icky
hurt
Willow-mine." She looked at Willow's face and
gasped.
She took in the large purple bruise on Willow's
face.
She noticed how Willow's cheeck was swollen.
She
growled. Willow looked at her and whimpered.
Dru was
concerned.
"What is it, Willow-mine?"
"Dru, your-your face is on."
Dru felt the ridges on her forehead, and morphed
back
to her pretty human face. "Sorry." She giggled.
"My
demon was mad that my friend got hurt."
Willow smiled.
A creak behind them made Willow and Drusilla
turn
around.
There stood Spike and Angelus. Willow gasped.
"Well, well, well." Angelus drawled. "What do
we have
here?" He vamped out.
"Look's like Dru ordered in for dinner." Spike
said.
He lunged at Willow. Willow screamed.
~Part 5~ Scolding
Willow screamed as Spike vamped out and lunged
for
her. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping her death
was
quick, and not *too* painful. She started when
she
heard a growl, and opened her eyes. Dru stood
next to
her, fully vamped out, growling at Spike and
Angelus.
Spike and Angel looked shocked.
Dru growled again, her yellow eyes staring hard
at
Spike and Angelus.
"Leave Willow-mine alone. She is my friend, and
we do
not eat Princess' friends! We had a tea party
and
everything! Miss Edith said Willow-mine would
be my
friend, and she is my friend! I found her in
the park
last night, crying! We are friends!" Drusilla
snarled.
"Daddy and Spikey should apologize to Willow-mine."
Willow looked at Dru. "Dru, it's okay-"
Drusilla cut her off. "No, it isn't Willow-mine.
The
Slayer is sleeping with the Wolf, and the Slayer
hit
you, and made you cry. Then Daddy and Spikey
try to
eat you." Dru cocked her head, insanity creeping
into
her gaze. "Daddy and Spikey should apologize
for being
rude. We do not eat Princess' bestest friend!"
"Sorry." Angelus mumbled.
"Yaeh, sorry, ducks." Spike said.
Drusilla's demonic face melted away. She smiled.
"Good. Come, Willow-mine. Tell Princess what
happened." Drusilla sat on a couch, dragging
Willow
down next to her. "Daddy and Spikey want to know
too."
Willow looked up at the two vampires. "Um..."
Drusilla took her hand and smiled. "It's okay.
I
won't let them eat your blood."
Willow smiled at Drusilla. "Okay. I found out
that
Buffy and Oz have been together for the last
11
months.
Angelus snarled. Willow looked up in alarm.
"I-I'm sorry. I sh-shouldn't of sai-said that."
Angelus looked at Willow. "I'm not mad at you.
I'm
mad at Soul-Boy for believing every lie Slutty
ever
said. How long have she and Wolfie been at it?"
"Um...four months," Willow replied, hestantly.
Spike started laughing. "She was screwing around
on
Peaches with the wolf."
Dru looked at him. "Spike, quit laughing at Daddy."
Spike scowled. He turned to Willow. "Say, Red,
how'd
you get that nasty bruise there?"
Dru answered Spike's question, with a voice full
of
hate. "The nasty Slayer hit her. She said mean
things
to Willow-mine and made her cry."
Willow looked at Dru. "How did you-"
Dru cut her off. "Miss Edith told me. She said
that
after you left the cheerleader punched the Slayer."
Dru said, grinning.
Willow couldn't help herself. She giggled.
Dru giggled too. "Miss Edith says you don't like
the
Slayer. You want the Slayer and the Wolf to hurt,
like
you hurt. Miss Edith said that." Dru stated.
Before Willow could respond, Dru grabbed her
hand.
"Willow-mine and I are going to have a tea party.
A
tea party will make you feel better. A tea party
makes
me feel better when I'm sad." Drusilla announced.
"Daddy and Spikey can't come to the tea party,
because
they haven't got any frilly dresses to wear."
Dru
babbled.
Spike and Angelus scowled at her.
**********
After dressing Willow in one of her "frilly dresses",
Dru was ready to have a tea party.
"You look so pretty, Willow-mine."
"Thank you."
"Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, please."
"Miss Edith told me you have the Magick. You
can do
spells, and make things float."
"Uh, I am studying witchcraft."
"I can do spells, too! We must do a spell sometime.
Maybe we could give the nasty old Slayer boils
and
leprosy, and make her fingers fall off. Then
she
wouldn't be able to hold a stake." Dru giggled
at the
mental image.
Willow looked at her, her lips quirking up into
a
smile. She knew it was mean, but she really didn't
like Buffy at all right now.
"I can see it," Dru continued. "She is chasing
a
vampire, and her arm falls off, so she trys to
stake
the vampire with her arm!" Drusilla burst out
laughing. Willow couldn't help it. Despite the
grusome
image. She began laughing too.
Spike and Angelus heard the girl's laughter.
"It's been awhile since I heard Dru laugh. What
do
you think they're laughing about?"
"I dunno. Probably girl stuff. Bloody stupid
things."
"Yea, probably." Angelus agreed. "I like Willow.
She's made Dru laugh. I don't think I can kill
her
now."
Spike frowned. "I can't kill the little chit
either.
She makes a good friend for Dru. I wouldn't mind
killing that Slayer, though. She treats her friends
like that. Doesn't derserve to live. Smacking
Red
wasn't very nice."
"You like her." Angelus stated.
"Yeah. I noticed her last Halloween. Cute little
thing."
Spike had a feeling things in his unlife were
about
to get very interesting....
~Part 6~ Attack
Willow looked at the computer screen and sighed. It
was a Saturday night, and the gang was at the library
researching a demon that was going to try and enslave
the Sunnydale populace. <Just the usual stuff> she
thought, smiling wryly.
After the incident in the library with Buffy the
previous week, Willow knew nothing could ever be the
same. After she ran to Dru's in tears, and after she
had calmed down, Dru walked her home. Dru told her
stories about her treks through Europe. Willow was
enthralled. Drusilla was the most interesting person
she had ever met. Then the phone had rung. It was
Giles, relieved to have found her. He told her
everyone had been extremely concerned after she had
fled, and were out searching for her, fearing that a
vampire had made her a random meal. She assured him
she was okay. She and Dru watched old black and white
movies through the evening hours.
The next day, Xander stopped by, and filled her in on
what had happened in the library after she left.
Willow was shocked that Cordy reacted as she did, and
the things Faith said.
Monday morning at school had been odd. Cordelia came
up to Willow and apologized for the way she treated
her over the years, and popularity be damned, she
wanted to be friends. Faith had approched her in the
library, and asked her if she would go patrol with
her.
Willow was snapped out of her thoughts when the
library door slammed open. Cordelia stomped in,
mumbling something about it was Friday night, and was
she at the Bronze? No, she was doing research.
Willow rolled her eyes and grinned at her friend's
theatrics.
"Hey, Cordy." Buffy said.
Cordelia ignored her, and made her way over to
Willow, pulling up a chair next to her. Over the past
week, she and Cordy had become close friends, finding
out that they actually had alot in common, which
suprised and amused them to no end. Cordelia could
honestly say Willow was her closest friend, and Willow
realized that Cordelia Chase was not as superficial as
she wanted people to think.
"Hey, Will. What have you found?" Cordy asked,
looking over the redhead's shoulder at the computer
screen.
"Hey, Cordy." Willow replied. "I haven't found much
yet. Only his name--Laveyn, and that he is capable od
psychic mind control which he uses to enslaves his
victims." Willow answered, reading off the computer
print out.
Cordy wrinkled her nose. "Lovely. He sounds charming.
Psychic mind control, huh? Sounds like a low budget
zombie movie to me."
Willow grinned.
Xander bounded into the library. "The Xand-Man's
here! Let the partying begin!"
Willow and Cordelia both groaned.
"Hey, Xander." Buffy called.
Xander looked at Buffy coldly. "Buffy." He replied
icily, through clenched teeth. He plopped down on the
edge of the table Willow and Cordy were at.
Buffy frowned. Why was everyone still upset with her?
All she had told Willow was the truth. Everyone knew
it. The only reason she said those things to Willow
was because Willow was her friend. She had told Willow
those things, because if anybody but her had said
that, Willow would be hurt. She figured Willow
couldn't be too upset. And when did Cordy start
hanging out with Willow?
Faith noisily entered the library. "Where's the Tweed
Man?" She called.
Giles came out of his office at Faith's outburst. He
looked at her sternly. "Faith," he began, "this is a
library,"
"Since when?" Xander asked.
Giles ignored him. "Don't yell so loud, Faith. You
could wake the dead."
"Yeah, and we don't want the dead to wake up until
after sunset." Xander quipped.
Faith, Willow, and Cordy groaned at his joke. Giles
rolled his eyes.
Just then, a dark haired, pretty woman entered the
library.
"Ms. Calendar! You're back!" Willow called. "How was
your vacation?"
Jenny smiled. "Nice, thanks. A nice, quiet,
demon-free break." She turned to Giles. "Rupert. A
member of my coven just contacted me. She said there
was a demon coming to Sunnydale, and to keep heads
up."
Giles nodded. He lead Jenny back to the computer, and
showed her all the information Willow had found.
Giles glanced back at the group of teens. "You all
can go. I will let you know if we find anything else.
Faith and Buffy please patrol." Giles instructed
before turning back to the computer teacher.
"C'mon F. Let's go." Buffy said as she walked out.
Xander grabbed Cordy's hand. "Let's get outta here
before Giles changes his mind, and makes us
all...research." He said, mock shuddering.
Willow packed up her stuff, and walked out the door,
with Faith behind her. "Red, wait up!" she called.
Willow stopped and turned at the sound of the
Slayer's voice. "Hey, gonna go patrol now with Buffy?"
Faith made a face. "Yes and no."
Willow looked confused. "Huh?"
Faith grinned. "I'm gonna patrol, but not with
Bitchy. You come with me. We can 'patrol our way over
to the Bronze. New band's playing. The drummer's kinda
cute."
Willow grinned at Faith. She had patroled with Faith
twice in the past week. The brunette had a tough and
brass exterior, but was very nice and caring once you
got to know her.
Faith bounded down the hallway. "Hurry up!"
Willow chuckled and followed her friend.
**********
"There! Last one!" Faith said, grinning as the
vampire exploded into a cloud of dust.
Willow turned around to smile at her friend, but felt
a cold hand clamp tightly on her neck. She looked up
into the face of a full game faced vampire. Willow
opened her mouth to scream, but it came out a whimper
as the vampire bit into her neck. She felt her life
being drained away. <Goddess!> she thought. <I can't
die like this! Faith's only twenty feet away.> Willow opened
her mouth to say something, anything,
but she was swallowed up by the darkness. Her last
conscious thought was <why?>
~Part 7~ Attacked
Willow tried to scream, or make any kind of sound to
alert Faith to her present situation. She felt her
breathing get more labored, and the last think she saw
was a look of suprise on her attacker's face, and
Faith running towards her. Her eye's fluttered shut,
and she mentally said goodbye to all her friends and
loved ones.
Faith had finished dusting the vampire she was
fighting. She turned to look for Willow. The sight
that met her eyes made her blood run cold. Her friend
was in the grip of a very large vampire, and his fangs
were in her neck. Faith began to run towards them,
tears already blurring her vision. She swung at him
blindly, and he picked up Faith with one hand, the
other still holding tightly to Willow, and flung Faith
against a tree. Faith slumped against it. She watched
as a man jumped out of the shadows. By the time Faith
had stood up, the man had already dusted the vampire.
Spike had decided to go out for a bite to eat.
Drusilla wanted to be alone with Angelus. He cared for
Dru, but it was more like a brother-sister
relationship. He had his eye on someone. Fire red
hair, and emerald green eyes. Willow. He had been
captivated with the witch's beauty since the first
time he saw her, shortly after arriving in Sunnyhell.
She was everything he could ever want. Smart,
beautiful, powerful, kind, caring, loyal. She didn't
know it, but he had followed her home on numerous
occasions, and had saved her life several times from
vampires, and other baddies, who sensed his presence,
and had backed down.
He stopped. He smelled blood. Familiar scent. His
eyes widened. <Shit! Willow!> He ran towards the
smell. He had been furious as he watched the minion
draining Willow. He watched the Slayer charge the
other vampire, and as she got slammed into a tree.
Spike's demon was furious. He snarled and attacked the
minion, dusting him quicky. He scooped up Willow's
small body and began rocking her.
Faith ran up to the man holding Willow. She stopped
short. He was a vampire.
Spike looked up into the dark eyes of a very angry
Slayer. She pulled a stake out. Spike rolled his eyes.
"Look, Slayer. We don't have time for this. Red's lost
too much blood. He stood up, still cradling Willow.
"Come on!" He yelled at the Slayer.
Faith regaurded him suspiciously. "Where we going?"
Spike called back over his shoulder, "To someone that
can help her!"
Faith ran to catch up with the vampire and her
friend.
~Part 8~ Hurt
Drusilla was spinning around the living room of the
mansion, moaning pitifully, blood tears running down
her face, dotting her white dress.
Angelus took her in his arms, trying to soothe her.
"Dru sweet, what's wrong?"
Drusilla looked up at Angel. "My Angel. You're my
Angel, right?"
Angelus smiled at her. "Only yours, sweet. What's
wrong?"
Dru began wailing again. "My Willow. It's my Willow,
my Angel. She's in pain.
Angelus' eyes darkened. He was very fond of the
redheaded hacker/witch. She had been practically
accepted as one of the family. Dru adored her, and it
was obvious Spike cared for the small girl. No one
went after Angelus' family. "What pain, Dru? What's
hurting Willow?"
Drusilla looked up, eyes glazed. "Someone is stealing
her pretty blood. Blood is the loveliest red, don't
you think? They are taking her blood from her. Soon,
she shall have no blood left, and she will sleep
forever." And with that, Dru began to start spinning
around in circles again.
**********
Faith ran after the vampire, easily catching up with
him. "Just who in the hell are you? Where are you
taking Willow?"
Spike looked up from the bundle in his arms. "I'm
Spike, and I'm taking Willow somwhere where she'll be
safe."
Faith had barely processed anything the vampire said
after he said his name. "Time out. You're Spike. *The*
Spike? The Spike that tried to kill Buffy?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "No, I'm Spike, the friendly
puppy! Of course I'm Spike, the big, nasty, fang-y,
evil vampire, you stupid bint!"
Faith glanced at him. "Me-yow! *Excuse* me! So where
exactly are we going?"
"The mansion."
Faith was confused. "Huh?"
Spike glared at her. "Because, Slayer," He said,
emphisizing the word Slayer, "She has people there
that care about her and can keep her safe."
Faith glared at him. "What exactly are you implying?
That I don't care about Willow? Listen, bleach boy,
Willow is my best friend. Hell, she's the only real
friend I've ever had."
Spike needlessly sighed. "No, Slayer. I'll I'm saying
is that over the past week, Red and Drusilla have
become good friends, and Dru can help her."
Faith gawked at him. "So when we couldn't find her
that night, she was with Drusilla?"
Spike nodded. "Yes."
Faith gasped. "Wait, psycho Drusilla, the woman who
killed that Slayer, Kendra?"
Spike sighed, annoyed with the brunette. "Dru found
her in the park, took her back to the mansion, and
they became friends, like I said before. We're almost
there."
Faith looked at the small girl in Spike's arms. She
bit her lip nervously. "Is...is she okay?" She looked
so pale.
"For now. Her heartbeat is slow, but steady. I think
she'll be out for a while."
"That brings us to the 64,000 dollar question. Why do
you care? Aren't vamps supposed to be cold, careless,
killers?" Faith asked.
Spike didn't reply.
Faith gave him a knowing look. "You want her."
Spike looked up, suprised. He was shocked she could
read him so easily.
The Slayer and the vampire continued their walk in
silence. Faith, praying for her friend, and Spike
contemplating his feelings for the little readhead.
**********
Angelus had been trying for about half a hour to calm
Drusilla down, but she kept dancing around the room
with Miss Edith, muttering about "pretty blood", and
how "her little Willow was hurt".
Suddenly, Dru cried out, falling to the floor.
Angelus ran over to her, concerned. "Kitten? What is
it?"
Drusilla stood up. "Oh, Angel, my Angel, she's hurt
badly. Spikey dusted the bad, bad vampire that hurt
Little Willow. He's on his way here. Oh, Angel. I saw
in his mind when he saved her. He was scared. He cares
for Willow. He loves her. He's been in love with her
for months."
Suddenly, the front door was kicked open and Spike
strode in, and Faith followed behind him.
"What the hell?" Angelus growled, seeing Faith.
"Relax, Fang. I come in peace." Seeing Angel's
skeptical look, she smiled. "Really. I promise I won't
stake anybody."
Spike laid Willow down on the sofa, and immediately
Drusilla went to kneel by Willow's side, talking
quietly to her. Faith went to go sit on the edge of
the sofa.
Drusilla looked up at Faith. "Slayer?"
Faith looked at Drusilla, startled. "Yeah?" She
asked, wearily.
"Willow will be okay. The stars tell me so."
Faith smiled slightly at the vampiress. She felt
oddly comforted at Drusilla's words.
Willow began to stir. Her eyelids fluttered and she
moaned.
Drusilla smiled, and Faith looked at Willow
anxiously.
"Will?" She said quietly.
"Faith?" Willow whispered, almost too soft for the
Slayer's acute hearing to hear it.
"Faith?" She tried again, her voice a little
stronger.
Angelus came back into the room, and handed Willow a
glass of water. She accepted it gratefully. "W-what
happened?" she rasped out.
Spike took her hand. "Don't try to talk, luv. You
were attacked. It was lucky I came along, or you'd be
dead."
Willow looked up at Spike through barely open eyes.
"Spike? I'm tired."
"I know. Go back to sleep."
"Kay." Spike smiled down at her. "Thank you for
saving me." She whispered.