1780 - Paris, France - 14th February.

~The first time you kissed me at the end of our street
The gas lamps shone above us, young lovers we'd meet~

Guillame moved across to the room to Willow, his best friend, hoping that
she was finding the soiree as boring as he was. As he reached her, his eyes
narrowed as he saw Jaques, the town womaniser, turning on his charm. He then
looked at Willow, thankful that she could see through his facade of merely a
charming man. It was well known how he had broken the hearts of many femmes
in the town.
"Willow!"
"Oui?" She turned around, her face breaking into a smile as she realised
that it was Guillame who had spoken. "Guillame!" She moved closer to him.
"Get me out of here!" she hissed. "He's driving me crazy!" Smiling in what
he hoped was an apologetic way, Guillame linked his arm with Willow's and
looked at Jaques.
"Bonjour Jaques," he began. "I hope you do not mind, but I would like to
take this fine lady for a promenade." He had to turn his head at Willow to
hide his smile widening as Jaques' face turned to a  furious one.
"Excusez-moi."
He walked Willow out of the room and down the steps at the front of the
house. Once she was certain they were out of Jaques' view from the window,
Willow threw her arms around Guillame's neck and he twirled her around as
she laughed.
"Thank you!" she cried. "Thank you so much!"
He laughed with her, glad to see her so happy. "It's a pleasure, cherie, I'm
always glad to rescue a belle such as yourself!" At his comment, she blushed
faintly and hit him lightly on the arm.
"You flatter me, Guillame."
"I speak only truth." He looked at her seriously, and then stopped walking
underneath one of the many lamps, so that he could see her face more
clearly. Looking into her eyes, he swallowed nervously and spoke quietly.
"I'm about to do something that you may not like, but I certainly will not
regret." Her smile faded as she saw just how serious he was.
"Guillame?" She questioned, laying a small hand on his arm.
"I must do this. I hope that you will in time forgive me." He slowly bent
down and brought his lips to hers, softly and hoping to express how he felt
for her. She was startled, but she relaxed into it. Pulling away as the need
for oxygen surfaced, he watched as her eyes remained closed for a short
moment as she tried to comprehend what had just happened.
Eventually she peered up at his taller figure through her lashes. "Was that
alright?" he asked gently.
"Was it alright?" she laughed, and his face fell. "Of course it was! It was
wonderful! Oh Guillame! You have no idea of how many times I've wished for
this to happen!" His face broke into a dazzling smile, widening as he heard
the quiet sounds of a waltz drifting from the house.
"Care to dance, cherie?" He held a hand out to her, and clasped his fingers
around hers as she placed her hand in his larger one.
"Of course, mon amour." Together, two people who had newly found love
waltzed under the bright moon.
 

~But the old town had gone now, and it's winter too soon
Still we waltz beneath our valentine moon~
 

1832 - Edinburgh, Scotland - 14th February.

~The streets and the market and the old Dog and Bell
We've gone through the changes, we've lived our lives well~

"Will!" The Scottish voice rang out over many others, barely audible in the
pub.
"Yeah?!"
"Whaddya want?"
"A beer, lass, what else would I want?" Willa chuckled and shook her head,
the trademark Scottish red hair falling over her face. Her lover was too
predictable.
"Sorry! I forgot!" She ordered for the two of them and carried the drinks
over to where Willem was sitting. On her way to the table she was forced
aside by a large man with an ice-white moustache. "Oh, sorry!" she
apologised to the people she had run into, and then whirled around to face
the man who had bumped into her, not entirely on purpose. "What the hell do
you think you're doing?!" He leered at her and settled a hand on her waist.
The man, Mac, had obviously been drinking already, as he tumbled over
headfirst to put his face to her chest. Willa shrieked and stumbled
backwards, being caught just in time by Willem.
"Listen mate, what is your problem?"
"*My* problem?" Mac slurred. "It seems that you're only playing the night in
shining armour cos yeh didnae get any last night so you're looking out for
some tonight!" The man broke off into fits of giggles, which contrasted with
his bulky figure. Willem looked furious and made to punch the man, but he
was stopped by a small hand gently tugging him back.
"Come on Will," Willa said, "He's not worth it." Willem sneered at the man,
and then walked with Willa out of the pub.
Unknown to them, Mac had sobered up, along with his companions. "No-one
treats me like that. Let's get them!" With a roar, they moved out of the pub
and into the street to find the couple. Locating them a few streets away on
a bench, Mac strode up to them and bent unnervingly close.
"What was all that about, eh? Think you could challenge Mac? You're jus' a
lad!" At this point, Willem stood up. Even though he was not unusually tall,
he towered over Mac.
"I'll show you jus' a lad!" Advancing on Mac, Willem threw a right and Mac
went down. Willa screamed as she saw the other men unpocketing knives and
other simple weapons.
"Look out!" She yelled, but already one of them had stabbed Willem, and he
fell to the ground in agony. Willa threw herself down and cradled his body
in her arms.
"No, oh no, stay with me Will! Please!" She sobbed hysterically, "Please.."
she whispered. "Please don't leave me..."
Meanwhile, the men were about to injure Willa as well, when one of their
number screamed and the thud of his body hitting the ground was heard.
"Well, I can't say it was tasty, but I never turn down an easy meal."
Angelus, master vampire, growled at the men, and they ran away. Darla, his
mate, and Drusilla, his insane childe, looked on in adoration. "A bit
bitter, if you ask me." he mused, moving towards Willa, who was too
heartbroken to care.
"oh Daddy, her fire is so inviting..."
"Uh.. sure Dru. Now go and find someone to eat."
"He's going to become so important to us one day... Shhh... don't tell!"
Drusilla closed her eyes and danced to music that only she could hear.
"They'll both come back to us as other people.. and then we can have a tea
party!" She clapped her hands excitedly, as Darla rolled her eyes.
"In case you didn't notice, he's dead and she's about to be Angelus'
dessert." Darla dragged the still dancing Drusilla away, and Angelus moved
towards Willa.
"Are you going to kill me?" she choked, a half hiccup, half sob escaped her
mouth. "Go ahead. I don't care. Everything's gone..." Angelus grinned, a
feral smile, one that usually put the fear of God into most people.
"Aww, how touching," He mocked her, "Oh well!" He grabbed her by the arms
and drained her, dropping her dead body to the floor to join her lover's
cold one.

~But the old town has gone now and it's winter too soon,
Still we waltz beneath out valentine moon~

1893 - Nice, Italy - 14th February.

~Valentine moon, valentine moon,
we danced together as old lovers do~

"Darla! I've brought you a present!" Angelus stalked into the large house,
dragging a red headed girl in by the hair.
"Oh Angelus!" She ran to him and kissed him, growling when he pulled away.
"I knew you'd bring me something special! Red hair... mmm... the colour of
blood.." Darla held the girls face in her hands and brought it sharply up to
face her. "I wonder if her blood's as sweet as her face? What's your name,
girl?"
If possible, the girl looked even more scared, but stuttered and answer
anyway. "W-will.. Wilda."
"Hmm. Lovely." Darla shifted into game face and drank from the girl until
she became limp. "I'll leave her as a present for one of the minions." Darla
dropped her body to the floor and went to another room with Angelus.
Later, Spike walked in with Drusilla. Seeing the splash of red hair on the
floor, he rushed to her, desperate to see if it was who he thought she was.
It was. Hearing her heart beat one final time, he rushed to her, slit his
wrist and held it to her lips. She drank, and a few hours later she awoke to
a new life.
"Who.. who are you?" She spoke slowly, getting accustomed to her new
surroundings. "You seem so familiar, but..."
"Not?" He looked into her eyes, and in that split second they both
understood that they were meeting again, in yet another life. "I'm Spike
now."
"Wilda." All traces of nervousness gone, she threw herself at him and they
became locked in a passionate embrace. The sounds of music travelled into
the room, followed by the squeals of Darla and Angelus' deep laugh. Spike
and Wilda took no notice, taking advantage of the fact that they did not
need oxygen. They broke apart slowly, and Spike took her hand, ready to lead
her into the main room where the music was coming from.
She hesitated, questions about whether they would like her running through
her head. He seemed to sense her distress, and tugged sharply on her hand.
As a result of this, she was spun round into his arms, ready in the typical
dance position. She leaned into him, closer than she thought possible, and
they began to dance.
They lost themselves in the music, not noticing when a very angry Drusilla
stormed into the room. Screaming when she saw what Spike and Wilda were
doing, she broke a leg off the nearest chair and thrust it through Wilda's
chest. She looked up for a second at Spike, and then burst into dust.
"You love ME!" Drusilla shrieked. "ME! Not HER! I'M YOUR PRINCESS!!"
Spike looked at her and reluctantly spoke. "Yes.. of course you are..." He
tried to convince himself as well as Drusilla. He looked at the ashes still
floating down, and thought to himself. *We'll be together, my love.*

~Valentine moon, valentine moon,
we'll always remember our valentine moon~

1999 - Sunnydale, CA - 14th February.

Willow sat at the table, alone with her thoughts. Buffy and Xander had
dragged her to the Bronze with the idea that because it was Valentine's day,
there were loads of guys out there that she could meet. Willow's protests
had fallen on deaf ears, and as soon as she had arrived Xander had gone to
dance with a random girl, and Buffy was with her dish-of-the-week.
She looked around and studied the people in the club. Everyone had someone,
except her. Wait - there was someone - he looked vaguely familiar -
except... she'd never seen him in her life.
She manoeuvred herself through the crowds and out of the back entrance where
she had seen his bleached head disappear.
Reaching her destination, she wrenched the doors open and ran through them.
"Wait!" she called, "Please!" The man turned around briefly, no, it couldn't
be his love. She would probably never come to him again while he was in this
lifetime.
The small glance that Willow had got of the man confirmed her beliefs.
*Guillame*. She ran as quickly as her shorter legs would take her, and spun
him around.
"Guillame!" She breathed, and he stood up straighter, startled. No-one had
called him that for over 200 years.
"Willow?" She nodded, and took a step closer.
"Cette fois que tu m'embrasse, au bout de notre rue..." She spoke the first
lines of a song they had written together, way back then in France.
"Les lampes de gaz nous allumiere, toi et moi jeunes amants..." He started
uncertainly, but grew more confident as he saw her face light up with a
smile.
"But the old town is gone now and it's winter too soon, still we waltz
beneath our Valentine Moon." they spoke the last words in unison, stepping
closer while they recited.
He cupped her face with one of his hands, and she leaned into it. His thumb
brushed her skin, just under her eye. "I'm so glad we're together again." He
slowly bent down and brought his lips to hers, a repeat of their first kiss
in Paris. The kiss was gentle and emotional; they had been apart for so long
and were finally back together where they belonged.
They knew that this lifetime together would be eternal.

~Valentine moon, valentine moon,
we danced together as old lovers do
Valentine moon, valentine moon,
we'll always remember our valentine moon~

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