Angel carried Willow's limp body to the library. After he and Spike had stopped the ritual, she had fallen, unconscious, into their arms. She had not woken since. When Angel had gathered her up, it looked like Spike was going to protest but thought better of it at the last minute. He allowed Angel to take her and had disappeared into the night. Angel knew that this was not the last of their Spike troubles, but was relieved. He did not feel up to fighting Spike at the moment. Especially after the fight in the master's lair. It had taken a lot out of him.

As he walked, Angel found himself thinking about the little hacker in his arms. He was very confused. Before, he had always thought of Buffy, only Buffy. He had never thought of Willow in any way except peripherally, as Buffy's little friend, kind of a piece of walking background. But now, and ever since he had come back from Hell, he found himself occupied more and more thinking about her. From the moment he became lucid after his return, he felt very protective of her. At first that was all, and he rationalized it as guilt from the injuries she had sustained trying to anchor his soul. but soon, he found other thoughts creeping in. Definitely not protective thoughts. Definitely not just friendship thoughts either. He found himself following her more often than not, certainly more often than Buffy. He just couldn't seem to help himself. Once he had discovered her, he wondered how he ever could have missed her in the first place. She was so open and caring and sweet. It amazed him to no end that someone growing up on a Hellmouth and knowing what she knew, could remain so untouched by the evils that surrounded her. He wanted to make sure that she stayed that way. He found himself wanting to take her away and lock her up in an ivory tower somewhere, where she could never be tainted, and (when he was brutally honest with himself) where he wouldn't have to share her with the world.

Then his thoughts turned to Buffy. Before he had lost his soul, he had thought she was perfect. He had put her on a pedestal. She had been his goddess. But now, he was noticing a lot of things that he had missed. She was shallow and selfish. She took everything for granted. She seemed to think that since she was the Slayer, that she was above everyone else. He found himself looking at Buffy and really not liking what he saw. He realized that much of their relationship was physical. He really couldn't remember just having a normal conversation with her, ever. It was always cryptic comments then make-out sessions. He also thought that a large part of their relationship was loneliness. He was lonely, being the only one of his kind with a soul, and she was lonely because of being the only Chosen One. Of course, Faith was there now, but before, she was the only one. It seemed natural, at the time, that the two of them were together, if you discounted the whole Slayer/Vampire thing. That was another thing. He felt they were drawn together because of the whole forbidden love thing. After all they were supposed to be enemies. And the forbidden was always more tempting.

But Willow was different. The few times they were together, they had talked. Granted, she mainly babbled, but when she didn't, they came a lot closer to having actual conversations then he and Buffy ever did. If little things like assorted demons, the Hellmouth, and Buffy ever stopped interrupting them, Angel thought that they could actually really talk. Since he was comparing Willow and Buffy anyway, he decided to keep at it. Willow was very nearly completely selfless. She always put everyone else first. And she was far from shallow. She never worried about looks and popularity. And she had never treated him differently. She had always tried to make him feel welcome, whereas if Buffy was hurt or angry she would throw his outsider status in his face. Suddenly his confusion did not seem to be there anymore. It was obvious. Willow was amazing. She was worth ten Buffys. Now, if she would only wake up...

*******

Spike trailed behind Angel on his way back to the library. He hadn't wanted to let Angel take Willow, but really wasn't feeling up to a fight. < I'll just get her later. Besides, the rest of the Slayer's little idiot friends will make sure she's o.k., after all, I don't want damaged goods. Been there, done that. >

As he followed them his thoughts turned to Dru and Willow. There were a lot of similarities there. Willow radiated the same childlike innocence and amazement of everything that Dru did. She also had this fragility about her, she seemed so easily breakable, like a porcelain doll. It made him want to protect her forever, like he had wanted to protect Dru. That's where the similarities ended though. He had seen that Willow had an inner strength that Dru had lacked. And she was sane. Both of those things promised a long and interesting relationship. Spike was all for long relationships, and the one he intended to have with Willow, if he had any say in the matter, would last for nothing short of forever. He realized that Angel had reached his destination, which turned out to be the library. In the entire time they had been walking, Willow had not stirred once. < Now if she would just wake up. >

part 2

As he carried her limp body into the library, Angel was surrounded by the rest of the group. They immediately began throwing questions, not even allowing him to get all the way into the library, let alone allowing him a chance to set down his precious burden.

"Is she dead?"

"Is she o.k.?"

"How did you find her?"

"Where did you find her?"

"How did you get her out?"

The incessant questioning went on for a few minutes, the group not bothering to pause for breath, or giving Angel a chance to answer them. Finally, Angel shouted, "ENOUGH! She's not dead, I don't know if she's alright, Willie told me they were holding her at the master's lair, I got some help and we killed the things that were holding her. I think that's all your questions, and," he looked at Giles, "we've got some problems."

"W-what problems?" replied Giles.

Angel didn't answer immediately. Instead he muscled past the group, and though he
was loathe to let her go, laid Willow on the table. Then he looked over to Giles and answered. "First of all, she won't wake up. She's been unconscious since we got to her. Also, the things that had her had already begun the ritual." He then proceeded to tell them about the floating and the red glow that had been coming from her. Wesley interrupted at this point.

"If the ritual had already begun, then we must destroy her NOW!"

All of the occupants of the library then turned to stare at the new watcher in shocked anger. Angel began to advance on the man, a VERY dangerous look on his face. Wesley started to back up hurriedly while trying to explain before Angel did him serious bodily harm.

"She could very well be the goddess now. We don't know how far the transformation has gone. Even if it had started just before you had gotten there, the power of the goddess would have started to change her. There might be nothing left of the girl at all. And we have no idea the range of her powers. She could wake up and destroy us all. We cannot allow her the chance to awaken and wreak havoc." He hit the wall and tried to disappear into it. Angel had not stopped his advance. He closed in on the now cowering watcher and grabbed him by the throat.

"Now listen up you idiot, we will NOT kill Willow," Angel growled. He tightened his hold on the watcher's throat. Giles intervened at this point.

"Angel. Let him go!"

Angel released his grip and Wesley fell to the floor in a quaking heap. Angel turned and walked back to the table. Once he was standing protectively next to where Willow lay, he turned again to glare at the new watcher.

Giles spoke up. "As much as I hate to admit this, Wesley may have a point." Everyone stopped glaring at Wesley long enough to turn horrified and shocked expressions toward Giles. He hastened to clarify. "I'm not saying that we kill Willow, obviously, but we do have no idea how far the transformation went. When she wakes up we will have to watch her very carefully and if she has changed too much, we must be prepared to do whatever must be done to stop her. If the transformation has gone too far, and she's no longer Willow, we may have to use drastic measures. We just have to remember that if she is the goddess, then she is no longer Willow. We cannot allow ourselves weakness just because she wears the face of a friend." said Giles. "Let's all remember how well that turned out last time." he added sarcastically, looking straight at Angel, who visibly winced and turned away from his gaze.

"Wait a minute," said Buffy, "first of all, she's Willow, not some evil goddess. I'm sure of it. So there will be no talk of killing her. Got it?" She addressed the question to the world at large. The world didn't answer so she continued, "Good, glad we got that out of the way. Now," she directed her gaze and her next words to Angel, "you said 'we', who's 'we'?"

*******

The fire in her head slowly began to die down.

part 3

"Why would Spike help rescue Willow?" Buffy asked in confusion. "Unless... you don't think she's been casting restorations without telling us, would she? And why would she give Spike a soul?"

"I think that Spike is still without a soul. He wasn't acting like someone with a soul. But then again, he wasn't really acting Spike-like either. Honestly I'm not sure what to make of it. If he wasn't head over heels in love with Drucilla, I'd think he'd fallen for her, but he's totally devoted to Dru. I don't get it. And I don't like it. I think we should keep Willow somewhere safe and someone should stay with her until she wakes up and until we can get rid of Spike." Angel replied.

Xander decided to join the conversation at this point. "Where and with who? I mean we've all got school tomorrow, except Wyndam-Price and he's got watcher type things to do. Not that I'd trust him anyway, with all this 'destroy Willow' talk."

Angel smiled to himself. Xander had just given him a wonderful opportunity. And he had made it very hard for anyone to argue. < Perfect! I guess he's useful to have around afterall. >

"I don't have school tomorrow."

"Whoa deadboy! Just because you don't have anything better to do tomorrow and keep saying stuff about no one destroying Willow and you already rescued her once doesn't mean that you should be the one to watch over her."

"Actually, I should think that would be exactly why I should watch over her. Besides, if she wakes up and um... isn't quite herself, then it will be much easier for me to restrain her than any of you, and if she needs to be contained until we can help her, then the mansion would be the perfect place for it."

No one could argue with him, although both Buffy and Xander looked like they really wanted to. He walked over to the table and scooped Willow up, thoroughly enjoying the sensation of the little redhead in his arms.

"Now, it's getting late and I need to get back to the mansion before dawn." With that, Angel took Willow and left the library.

******

Spike was lurking unobtrusively outside the library waiting to see where his redhead was going to end up. He figured they wouldn't leave her in the library all night. He watched Angel carry Willow out and anger, jealousy and relief warred in his heart. He was angry and jealous because, once again, Angel was touching *his* girl _holding_ his girl. Relief because if she was with Angel, he would take her to the mansion and Spike didn't need an invitation to get in there, as opposed to someone's house. < Tonight > He faded back into the shadows.

******

The fires in her mind were now totally quenched and she moved into a natural slumber, thankfully dreamless.

part 4

He watched her sleep. He knew he should be sleeping himself, especially with the threat of Spike hanging over their heads, but he couldn't stop watching her. He needed to assure himself that she was alive, that she was real. < She looks so innocent, childlike. > He noticed that she was responding to something in her dreams. This reassured him, more than anything, that she was going to be all right. Before, she was in a coma-like state, not responding to anything. If she was dreaming, then she had moved out of it. He fought the urge to wake her and make sure that she was okay < I can't. She's had a really rough time. She needs her sleep. Maybe just for a minute, just to be sure that she's really her.... No! Let her wake up on her own. In her own time. > He continued to watch, anxiously awaiting for her to open her eyes.

******

Spike was anxious. He knew he should be asleep. He was going to have to fight Angel to get his redhead. Normally, the thought of a good fight would be enough to make him ecstatic, but not this time. He just wanted it over. He wanted his redhead in his arms and Angel to be dust. The very thought of Angel with Willow was making him seethe in fury. It was bad enough that Angel had stolen his Drucilla away, he'd be damned if he let Angel take Willow too. < Not this time! This one is MINE! This ends now with his death at my hands, then I'll finish off the Slayer. That way no one will be able to take her away from me. > Spike busied himself preparing for the fight he knew was coming shortly after sunset.

*******

The dreams started sometime in the afternoon. They were full of fire and mayhem and blood.

*******

Willow was tossing and turning in her sleep. Angel wanted to awaken her so badly. He wanted to take away the dreams that were making her so restless. But sunset was on the way and he needed to get ready for a fight. He knew Spike would be back, probably sometime tonight, and he was going to be ready for him. Angel moved though the mansion, preparing, making sure that Spike wouldn't be able to sneak up on him. He never went too far from Willow's side though. He just couldn't force himself to leave her alone for more than a few minutes. He grabbed some stakes, made himself feed, and left a few "early alarms" around. The alarms weren't too much more than pieces of glass and debris scattered on the floor, so he could hear Spike's approach. It was really all he could do without leaving Willow's side. Actually, it was all he could do without leaving the mansion and getting Buffy, but even if he could have gone out to get her, he wouldn't have. < This is my fight. I'm going to protect her. I don't need any help. >

*******

Spike was more than ready to go. He had a plan. Feed, get to the mansion, sneak up behind Angel and stake him before he even knew he was there, get Willow back to his hideout, kill the Slayer, then get back to Willow and change her. He wasn't too thrilled about the sneaking part, he usually preferred straight on fights, but he just wanted to get it done and start his new life with his Willow. The sun finally set, and he grabbed a stake and left to introduce it to Angel's heart.

*******

The dreams were growing steadily worse. Now she was dreaming of the Hellmouth creature. It was no stranger to her nightmares, but this time it was different. This time she had been the one to release it.

*******

Spike crept into the mansion. His attempt at stealth was quickly ended as he stepped onto a large piece of glass, breaking it and alerting Angel to his presence. Angel left Willow's side and went to kill his childe. As the two came within view of eachother, they both prepared to attack. Spike made the first move, lunging toward Angel. Angel sidestepped him and tried to drive his stake into Spike's back. Spike dodged and the two began to fight in ernest. Suddenly they both stopped as....

*******

Willow started screaming as she watched a vision of herself killing her friends and devouring their bodies. She awoke.

*******

The two vampires rushed to her side, their own fight forgotten for the moment as they went to protect and console *their* redhead.

part 5

The first thing she noticed was that there were people grabbing her. She started to panic and struggle, still locked into her nightmares and memories of the past few days. Both Angel and Spike held on to the girl, both making soothing nonsensical sounds, trying to calm the struggling girl. After a few minutes, she began to calm, only to take a look at the men holding her and the panic began anew. < Oh shit! Spike! And Angel! But if Spike's here, then he can't be Angel! Oh no oh no oh no! How did he lose his soul? And why are they holding on to me? And what happened to those things? > After a few moments, she noticed that while she was being held by probably two very bad guys, neither one was making any threatening movements. In fact it felt like they were trying to soothe her. < Okay, this is very strange. > She calmed again as her mind went into overdrive, trying to figure out what had happened and what was still happening.

The vampires noticed Willow calming between and remembered exactly who the other man holding *their* Willow was. They both tensed and pulled back, preparing for another fight. Willow stiffened in fear as she felt the tension in the room. < Them trying to calm me down was all a trick! Now they're going to kill me. This is not good! > Sensing that Willow was beginning to freak out again, Spike decided the only way to keep her calm would be to put their differences aside for the moment, and he made a gesture of truce towards Angel. Angel nodded his agreement and went back to trying to soothe Willow. < We can always fight it out after she relaxes. >

Angel spoke first. "It's okay Willow, everything is going to be okay. No one is going to hurt you." Willow looked gratefully towards Angel. < He HAS to be Angel. Angelus wouldn't be nice. Angelus would probably be sucking my blood by now. But if he's Angel, then why is Spike here? > She shot a confused glance towards Spike. Angel, not wanting to upset her with the real reason Spike was here, quickly answered her look. "It's okay, he was helping us. He um... he had a grudge against those things, so we agreed to a truce, *temporarily*."

Spike let out a breath he didn't need. For once he was actually glad that Angel was there. He wanted the girl, but he didn't want her terrified, and that would definitely be the reaction he would have gotten if he had declared his intentions. < Give her a chance to get over the past few days. Then I'll take her. > "Yeah, luv, just here to help. How are you feelin'?"

Willow again looked over at Spike. < He's being all concerned. I don't get it. > She then decided that she didn't have the energy to figure it out right now, and just went with it. "Tired. Very tired."

"Well, then, we should let you rest. Don't worry luv, we'll both be nearby, making sure nothing bad happens." With that, Spike grabbed Angel and pulled him out of the room.

< Weirdness > she thought and drifted off to sleep again.

*******

"We'll both be nearby?!?!? Wrong! I'll be nearby. You'll be far, far away! Get out of here, NOW!" Angel was again ready to kill Spike. The only thing that stopped him was the knowledge that it would awaken Willow and scare her again.

Spike sank down onto the couch and looked over at his sire with a smug grin. "Nope. Not going anywhere. After all, I just got here. Besides, you think I'd trust you with the girl? I've seen what you like to do to innocent little girls. Remember Drucilla?"

Angel sat down as well, suddenly feeling drained. "If you think I'm going to let *you* do anything to Willow, then you are sorely mistaken." But he didn't try to throw Spike out again. He knew Spike wouldn't try anything again that night. If he had wanted to, then he would have earlier, when they were with Willow.

"So mate, up for a game of cards?"

part 6

Spike had gone to bed. He had taken a room as close to Willow's as he could and retired for the day. Angel was still up. He was feeling guilty. He knew that he should have gotten rid of Spike, but the argument Spike made had made sense. He still cringed to think of what he had done to Dru, and of what he had almost done to Willow as well when he was still Angelus. Angelus had plans for Willow. She was to have been his masterpiece. He was going to remake her, like he had done with Drucilla, only he was going to keep her sane, or at least saner. That was why he had killed her fish when he was in her home, instead of killing her parents or leaving any other truly nasty presents. Angelus had just wanted her to feel threatened, let her know that *he* had the power of life and death over her. He wanted her to know that he was in charge. But he didn't want to push her over the edge. Angel thanked God, daily, that she had found a spell to disinvite him when she did, because Angelus would not have waited too much longer before he changed her. < But that won't happen now. That *can't* happen now. Willow made sure of it. Which is just another reason why I am going to protect her. Especially from Spike. Though, to be honest, Spike hasn't really done anything bad so far. In fact, he's helped. That doesn't mean I'm going to let him have her though, it just means that I'll have to give him some warning before I kill him. I need to get some sleep. Willow will wake up soon and I do not want to leave her alone with Spike for company. > Angel went into his room, which happened to conveniently be the one closest to Willow's, and went to sleep, dreams of a certain petite redhead danced through his head.

********

Spike was sitting in the room he had commandeered, waiting for his sire to retire for the day. There was no way in hell that he was going to actually sleep before Angel. He wasn't stupid, he wasn't going to let his guard down and wake up to a stake being thrust through his heart. While he waited, his thoughts turned to Willow. He was, quite frankly, becoming obsessed with her. When he had come back to Sunnydale to get her, he had thought she would be a good replacement for Dru, and he had been attracted to her since the night he had kidnapped her and her little friend to get a love spell done, but he hadn't really given too much thought about the girl, herself. Since they had gotten her out of the Master's lair, however, he had really started thinking about *her* not about a replacement. She had been so meek and timid the night he had kidnapped her, but she had also shown real backbone, especially since he was threatening to shove a bottle through her face. And just the fact that she helped the Slayer, that a little mortal girl who probably couldn't throw a punch to save her life would risk her own life on a nightly basis, was amazing. She had real courage. And earlier, when he and Angel were trying to calm her down after her nightmares, all he could think about was holding her and keeping her safe from all the nightmares, in her head and in the real world. < Well, as soon as I can get rid of Angel, I'll turn her, make sure that she's strong so she'll be able to protect herself from the nightmares. 'Course I won't let anything else come near her anyway. > Spike heard his sire finally turn in for the day, and went to bed himself. 

*******

It was almost sunset, and Willow had finally waken up again. The dreams had just gotten too bad. Being awake wasn't turning out to be too much better. The same visions from her nightmares were replaying themselves over and over in her mind, haunting her. And they were getting worse. She couldn't stand it anymore. She got up and ran from the mansion, ran from the scenes in her head, ran from herself.

*******

The door being slammed as Willow ran out, woke the vampires. They both rushed out of their rooms, snarling, thinking that the other was trying something with Willow. They ran into eachother, and realizing that the other was right there, both began to panic slightly. They went to the room that Willow had been in, and found her gone. The sun had just set, and they left the mansion, intent on finding her before something else did. They were too late.

In the park, they found another vampire draining her. Spike went ballistic. He ripped the other vampire's head off. The two vampires turned to look at Willow and both could feel their hearts breaking as they saw her body, her neck bent at an unnatural angle. It was obviously broken. They sank down beside her body, grief overwhelming them.

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