Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here in. They belong to BVTS and it's creators Joss and WB. Don't hurt me for barrowing them. They needed to come out and play....
(thoughts in Italics)

Pine Valley:

Willow turned over and snuggling deeper into the satin comforter, she turned toward her sleeping companion. Pale, slender fingers found only empty space and wrinkled sheets when she reached out for him. Opening one eye to peek she discovered that she was alone in the bed. Snagging the pillow she pulled it to her face, deeply inhaling Angel's scent. The events of yesterday washed back over her and Willow sat up quickly. Angel? She felt the familiar sensation of warm, dark, softness flow over and through her. For a moment she immersed herself in the feeling that was uniquely Angel. The link between them was reestablished. The young hacker felt her heart lurch for a second, with the gratitude that she felt for the return of that precious bond between them, and the fact that they had both survived their encounters with the vampiress Lydia. A litany began to repeat itself in her head. He is alive, he is safe, he is here. And I'm still in bed...okay that's different.

Throwing the covers off of her, Willow started for the bathroom. Quickly glancing at the mantle clock that sat above Angel's fireplace. and Angel wasn't in bed? Definitely different. Walking through the bathroom to her own bedroom, Willow walked over to the antique armoire in her room. The deep cherry wood offset the green and white color scheme of the room beautifully. Pulling out a navy blue sweater blouse with a matching long skirt, the redhead then pulled out matching blue, silk underwear and found a pair of slides to wear as well. Finally her clothes thrown over one arm and her bag of toiletries in the other, she walked back into the bathroom to take a shower.

Turning on the water in the shower stall and letting it take time to get warm Willow began brushing her teeth and laying out the makeup and things that she would require during and after her bath. Taking the lavender scented shower gel, and poof from her bag, she quickly twisted her hair up and caught it with a clip at the top of her head. Grabbing one of the huge towels on the way, she stepped into the shower after throwing the towel over the warming rail. Letting the warm water beat down onto her shoulders the young hacker suddenly got another image of warmth and moisture. Angel stroking and kissing her intimately. The memories alone were enough to make heat and moisture pool between her thighs, and her body flush with...was it embarrassment or desire. Enough, it was just love play, he said so. Nothing to feel guilty about...except for Buffy.

As she began working the shower gel into a lather on her body, the young hacker realized that she hadn't thought of her friend since yesterday in the glen, before she came home, before she and Angel had kissed and more, before Lydia, before the fight...before everything. Buffy loved Angel, Angel was Buffy's. the mousy girl part of her thought. When it was interrupted by the part of her that she was beginning to refer to as the Summoner, If Buffy loved Angel why did she try to kill him ...twice? If Angel was Buffy's then why would he be with you when he doesn't even know you're the Summoner yet? Willow's logical mind ground to a halt at that. Why had he? The connection between them was the one between Summoner and Western King, if he didn't know about it, he couldn't or wouldn't act on it. Would he? Willow shook away the muddled thoughts as she began rinsing the frothy, lavender scented bubbles from her body. Turning off the shower, the petite young woman climbed out of the shower onto the rug.

Grabbing the towel Willow began patting the moisture from her body, then wrapping the towel around her torso, she walked back over to the vanity. After rubbing some lilac scented lotion onto her body, the hacker pulled on the blue silk underwear. Then she quickly pulled on the skirt and sweater over them. Taking extra pains with her makeup, Willow applied a light coat of foundation, eyeliner, mascara, then navy blue shadow on the inner lid, paler almost icy blue on the outer lid, a dusting of powder and pale pink lipstick. Taking her hair down she combed it out, then scooped it back up into a French twist, with still damp tendrils clinging to her neck and cheeks, in soft curls.

Quickly gathering her things up she put them in the bag and left them there on the counter. Slipping on her slides, she headed back out to Angel's room, the clothes from last night had been picked up and disposed of, but in a corner by the closet she saw a flash of white. Walking over she leaned down and picked up a white t-shirt. This was not the one he had worn last night there was no blood or boot print on it, it seemed to be a clean shirt. Until she lifted it to her nose and inhaled delicately. There on the shirt was the unmistakable scent of Angel, walking back into the bathroom she started to drop it in the hamper. Instead she carried it back into her bedroom and laid it out on her bed. Then Willow walked back out of her room and towards the stairs. As she reached the landing at the top of the stairs, the young hacker heard a sound she was becoming increasingly familiar with. Angel cursing in what she could only assume was Gaelic. As she glided down the stairs the young redhead followed the sound of the vampire's voice. Finally coming to what she had previously called the ladies sitting room, the redhead stood in the doorway, her eyes caught on a very amusing sight.

Angel paused in the middle of unpacking the computer, his mind frozen on Willow and the prophecy that he had a part in. He felt like someone playing chess for the first time, he didn't know the how the pieces should move or what the rules were. What the hell was his job? How was he supposed to do it when he didn't even know who the Summoner was? Then if that hadn't given him enough to think about, there was Willow.

Beautiful, stubborn, passionate Willow, who turned him inside out in a way no one had ever done, not even the Slayer. He'd tried to avoid the inevitable comparison, from the moment he had started to realize his feelings for Willow, but it couldn't be avoided any longer, and for once he was glad that they were so different. Buffy might have great strength and passion, but like so many highly intense things that start with a glance and end with bed, it wasn't something that could work. For all the time they had spent together and the things they had shared, what did he really know about Buffy? That she had a stuffed Pig named Mr. Gordo, that she was the Slayer, that she hated having her youth stolen. Those were really superficial things, they did nothing to answer the big tough questions. Who was Buffy Summers? More than the Vampire Slayer.

Willow on the other hand he knew, at least he knew more about her than he did Buffy, but then Buffy had been a new obsession where Willow had been a very old one. He knew Willow, had watched her go from wide-eyed child to a beautiful woman, and he'd been there. He watched, staying just out of her line of sight but always seeing. Seeing the way her eyes lite when ever that foolish teenage mortal walked into a room, her happiness in making a friend in the slayer. The sad wistful smile on her face when she and Buffy would talk. Her sometimes rash and unthoughtout way of doing things. Her nervous babbling that could become a one sided triad if she was provoked. IT wasn't often that anyone, but especially someone who knew what he was would yell at him, of course she looked as shocked as he and Giles at the end of her rage induced monologue.

Then there were the events of that night, the night of the Masque. Angel wasn't ashamed of what he'd done, it had only made staying too hard for him. He'd gotten too close to Willow, been held in those arms. True she didn't know who he was, a mask hid his face, but it didn't protect him from the sudden very real desire she had stirred within him, or the raging anger over how much she loved that fool Xander, or how clueless the boy was. He could almost look back on that night and say that he'd held her, danced with her, to make the fool jealous. Only that was a lie and he knew it. He'd watched her for so long, watched her grow and change so much, that just once he wanted to be on the receiving end of one of those gorgeous half smiles that quirked at the corner of her lips when she was nervous.

He looked down at what lay scattered on the desk and wondered what he'd gotten himself into. He was half tempted to wake Willow and have her put the system together, he hadn't owned a computer in a long time, and this one seemed to be missing several parts not to mention he simply couldn't find the cables to connect the parts he did have and it was making him crazy. Digging into the packing material Angel finally came up with a plastic bag with a couple of cables in it and a rather thick book with the title instruction manual blazoned across the front of it. Setting the cables on the desktop with the other materials, the vampire stared at the front of the booklet for some time hoping that it might answer his questions. Finally opening the booklet, Angel saw a picture of what the completed computer should look like and his first thought was That's too small.

Quickly skimming through he discovered that really was all there was to the computer. After reading the introduction, Angel was mollified enough to revise his original plan of finding the salesman and draining him dry. He started to look further through the manual, to find out how to set up the laptop computer. The salesman had said it was state of the art, with a cell phone, and a fully charged battery pack which had been included you could stay on line for up to 12 hours without having to recharge.

Drily the vampire thought, Which doesn't help a mostly computer illiterate vampire put a computer together for his...for his... What was Willow now? She was definitely his heart, because she held that unbeating organ in the palm of her hand, and had always been the truest friend a demon such as he could hope to have. After yesterday though she was much more than just someone he must worship from afar and she had always been more than a passing fancy for him. What was she now though?

His mind continued to wonder, Yesterday? He still didn't know what to do now. He'd sort of broken the ''she's just a friend' way of looking at the hacker. Even in the light of day he couldn't forget the image of her beneath him, all alight with passion. Damn Lydia all to hell. He thought angrily. The vampiress had taken what had been so tentatively forged between them and broken it with a well placed, vindictive act.

"Damn, damn." In spite of Willow's words Angel knew what he had felt, her hate didn't lessen his love for his mo cridhe or the dangerously strong desire that ate at him for her. This gift was supposed to be a small, very small token of how much he cared for the tiny woman who was taking up such a large place in his heart and soul, and I can't even get the damned thing put together and working. With that thought Angel began to growl expletives at the machine, at the salesman, at his own stupidity and any other suitable subject for his wrath to be visited upon. He didn't realize he had reverted to his birth tongue, as he shoved the plastic bag with the cables off the desk and then proceeded to throw the instruction manual against the far wall of the small sitting room. Right in the middle of digging through the box and throwing shipping peanuts willy nilly about the room, he heard a quiet musical sound that froze him.. Looking over his shoulder to the door of the sitting room, the vampire saw a vision.

Willow was standing in the doorway to the ladies sitting room. Titian hair caught up in a fetching style made her look very sophisticated while curly tendrils near her face made her look more approachable. The sweater and skirt she wore were also a combination of sophistication and softness. Her eyes sparkled with amused mischief and for just a moment Angel's thoughts turned very seductive, until he looked around at the disaster area he had created. Dark brown eyes lowered from Willow's green ones as he began castigating himself mentally, Like she needed another reminder of just how short a temper you have and how violent you can be.

"I didn't know you were getting a computer." Willow said, unaware for the moment of Angel's dark thoughts.

"It was supposed to be a surprise." Angel said. His head coming up to watch her as she moved over to the writing desk, and the computer sitting on it.

Recognizing the company name and model of the computer, Willow was impressed. "This is a really good computer Angel, one of the best on the market. I think you'll be very pleased with it. I didn't even know you were into computers."

"I'm not." Angel said softly not meeting those too intelligent eyes. A burgeoning suspicion was growing in Willow's mind as she looked over at the vampire. "Then why did you buy it?"

"I bought it for you" he replied simply.

Looks of shock, then wonder, then horror chased each other across her face before she managed to sputter, "I-I...uh...thank you...you can't...I can't accept this Angel. It's too much. Do you know how much this cost? Oh of course you do...you bought it. But it's too expensive...I can't" As she had been speaking, Angel had realized he was going to have to use devious means to get her to accept the gift.

Sidling up to the still babbling hacker, Angel interrupted quickly and said, "Willow, it's as much for me as you. I haven't had a computer in a long time and even when I had one before I had no idea what I was doing with it. I thought with all the research material they have on the internet, and e-mail's and such that it would be a good thing if this old vampire learned a new trick. How to use the computer. If you can teach me how to use it properly you can keep this one and I'll buy one just like it for myself. As for the cost, Willow I'm over 200 years old, I've saved enough money for a dozen lifetimes and had it invested wisely." When he saw her faltering he continued with a look a puppy would envy, "Please?"

Willow crumbled, "Okay I think this will work really great for you too. You can do all sorts of things online. Research, shopping, news, chat rooms, banking, all sorts of things."

"Yeah thing I can't normally do." Angel said in a sorrowful tone.

"Okay stop that right now." the redhead demanded in a sharp tone. "That's what got you in trouble in the first place."

"What?" the vampire asked clearly perplexed.

"That I wish I wasn't a vampire with a soul bit." the young woman explained as she quickly searched through the materials on the floor and found the cables. Only to glance up and catch dark eyes staring at her still utterly confused.

Willow gave a rueful shake of the head and said, "People are so up on everything, Gods. It wasn't being with Buffy that lost you that soul of yours, Angelus." she said as she began assembling the computer with practiced skill. " It was getting, even if only for a moment, the one thing you wanted more than anything."

Angel felt the realization of what she was implying hit him like a ton of bricks. "Human." the word was whispered through suddenly numb lips.

"Feeling human, yes that's right." Willow agreed as she quickly plugged the computer in then began looking for the cell phone that the instruction manual said was included. Angel stood in the center of the room, deep in thought. Shaking her head with a bemused smile, the redhead stopped fiddling with the computer for a moment to flip one of the drop clothes off of a comfortable looking loveseat. Fanning the dust away, she pulled the vampire over to the loveseat and sat him down there, before returning to the computer. Something suddenly occurred to Angel and he said, "But...you. I mean when I am with you, when..."

"In the dreams?" Willow supplied.

"Yeah. I feel that way. I feel...human." he explained, troubled dark eyes meeting clear green.

Willow gave him a gentle, knowing smile and explained, "No, you're just content and that's always good. A happy vampire is a nice vampire, but still a vampire."

"But," he continued trying to make her understand, "you never bring it up, I mean..."

"Let me guess," Willow said not daring to mention the other girls name but both knew who she was speaking of. "Every time you and she would fight out came the vampire stuff, right?"

"Yeah...so?" the vampire replied defensively.

"So...I know that you're a vampire. Hell, I knew the night I first saw you in the Bronze. I knew that you were a vampire, and I knew that there was something different about you...way different."

"How could you know, and more to the point, why didn't you tell Buffy?" Angel's eyebrows knit together in obvious confusion.

"I knew because I watch and I see and you had that gothic boy thing down really well. And I didn't tell Buffy because why would some computer nerd with a quiet voice and shy personality, see what should have been second nature to the Slayer. She should have known even with the soul."

"You lost me there, Willow." the vampire said shaking his head.

Willow laughed at his attempt to use teen vernacular, then explained further, "Not surprised. Simple Buffy should have known that you were a vampire, but she didn't or she didn't want to...either way I couldn't say hey about this hot guy that you've been talking about, like ever notice he's never around during the day and what about how he knows all the vampire stuff. I mean what was she doing taking lessons in oblivious from Xander?" Angel looked over at the hacker with incredulous amusement and said, "So you knew all this and you just keep it to yourself? Did you know . . . ?"

"Angel, wait. You need to understand something. I wasn't normal before all of this started," she struggled to explain, "I mean the magic and the prophecy started but I wasn't what I am now, either. I've changed a lot the past few months. Back then I just sometimes knew things." Then Willow gave him a piercing look as she continued, "Like the fact that I had a shadow before I ever laid eyes on you."

Angel looked down, caught, and replied in a sheepish tone, "Yeah well you needed it." The young woman gave him a smile as she said, "Yeah I know, you said that before." Trying to make her understand how apologetic he was, the vampire moved forward from the love seat and slid to his knees in front of her. Taking both her hands in his he said with quiet intensity, "Willow, I didn't mean to hurt you, to get so close."

Tilting her head to the side, Willow gave him a look of complete understanding and acceptance as she freed one of her hands to stroke his dark locks, and offered encouragingly, "I know that Angel, but you need to deal with it, all of it. Everything that Angelus did in the past as well as the fact that you are a vampire. Angel you need to accept the facts. You did those things but they are in the past. You're also a vampire and that's the end all and be all of it. I can't change that, nothing can. If I could, I would."

"I know that you would, Willow. You've already done so much for me, but I don't think I can do that." Fathomless dark eyes filled with sadness gazed up at her. Then he remembered something Katia had said and questioned the redhead, "Willow, what are you not telling me?"

Willow's own green eyes filled with sadness as she replied simply, "A lot." Reaching his hands up to her shoulders he gave her an exasperated shake before saying, "What!?!" "She looked down at him and though her expression was still sad she merely shook her head at him and said, "Look Angel. You need to do two things before I tell you anything. One you need to stop with the I am the evil vampire who doesn't deserve to have friends or be..."

He interrupted her sternly, saying, "I am."

"Angel do you see color?" Willow said out of the blue.

"Yes." the vampire replied, confused by this line of questioning.

"Buffy doesn't." the young hacker replied, "She has to see things in black or white, but you, you're gray, and that's what threw her completely off."

"Giving her a sardonic look, Angel said, "Okay color me confused again."

Laughing out loud this time, Willow replied more to the statement than it's intent, "You've been hanging around Buffy too long." Shaking her head she continued, "Okay, you are neither black nor white, good nor evil, you're a combination of both. Just like everyone else is. You just assume that because you're a vampire, that you must be evil. Evil is not a synonym for vampire or even demon."

"I know that." He said defensively looking back at her.

"Do you?" the redhead said doubtfully.

"Willow, I know what you are trying to do," Angel said taking her hands in his once again, "and it means more to me than anything, but I can't believe what you're saying. I've done things that don't even deserve a chance at redemption."

The redhead reached forward to try and pull him into her arms, but he stayed her embrace by standing quickly and walking away from her.

"You know pushing me away isn't going to make it better Angel. You, Angel did nothing wrong and yet you live with that guilt every day."

"Willow a vampire is still the person that they took over..." he replied shakily, her belief in him beginning to tear down some of the barriers of guilt he had built up. "No Angel," the young hacker said standing up, "a vampire is the physical person they have taken over. The demon takes up the persons darker emotions. Angelus is you minus what it is that makes you the man in front of me."

Not even wanting to think how simple her explanation was the vampire began, "Willow, that's.."

"The truth, Angel. Nothing more. Evil isn't something that only vampires are capable of, all things are capable of evil in one form or another." she said trying to gauge his reaction to her words.

Again Angel looked at her incredulously, It can't be that simple, can it?, "Evil, I don't think you can do that Willow. You can't do that."

The young woman gave her companion an unfathomable look before saying, Angel I can do harm. I have the knowledge to harm someone with ease. It's just that I tend to feel really guilty when I even start to think about harming someone. No matter if they deserve it or not. Darkness lives in us all it's what we do with it that sets the good from the evil." He stared at that angelic face, he hadn't been ready for that. She understood him all too well. Somehow his little Willow had looked at him, saw into him and had stayed. "You though, you were always so sorry for yourself, so sad, it hurt just to look at you sometimes."

Buffy moved quietly into the library. Xander was still where he had been last night apparently deciding that Willow was more important than his classes. She looked over at Giles, and found him staring sadly at the computer where Willow had always seated herself. They still only knew so much. Willow was the Summoner and Angel was the Western King, Or at least it appeared that Angel was the Western King since he was the only thing, to their knowledge, that Willow had summoned.

After the run in with the new head vamps boys Buffy wasn't at all sure what was going on. They had clearly been looking for the Summoner, from what they could tell it had been Willow they had been sent to capture. It's a good thing Angel took her off somewhere. Buffy realized with some anger. She hated this. They had no way of getting a hold of their hacker friend and they, Willow and Angel hadn't bothered to call since the initial one the other morning. Amy was making herself scarce and no one else seemed to think anything was wrong.

"Buffy, oh good, you're here. How did last night go?" He asked wondering at the bruises that marred her shoulder.

"I met some more of Galan's cronies. I think they were looking for Willow again and they treated me as nothing more than a temporary distraction." the Slayer said with a hint of disgust.

"Oh?" the Watcher said with some trepidation.

"Yeah, this Galan really wants to get Willow and soon.." Buffy said as she pulled the makeup kit out of her bag and began applying coverup to the most obvious bruises. "Yes we still know so little about him, there are a few mentions of him in the earliest Watcher Chronicles, but nothing that I can be sure of. He's not going to be like any vampire you've ever faced before so you're going to have to take special care. There is no guarantee that he won't send something other than vampires after you." Giles said warningly.

Buffy closed her eyes, trying to remember what it was about those creeps that had really bothered her, Oh yeah they hadn't had any idea who Angel was and they had made mention of needing the Western King's blood.

"Giles, they don't know who the Western King is. They think Willow is controlling Angel with some sort of rope or cord. I couldn't get them to explain it better then that. But they think he's an incidental and of no importance."

Giles shook his head having expected this. Somehow the new Master knew about Willow but once again not Angel. Well at least that was in there corner. Angel was the hidden element, but why?

"I'm up mom." Xander said suddenly lifting his head from the book. As soon as he sat up however, he groaned, dropping his head into his open palms, and Giles immediately began to worry.

"Are you alright?" The Watcher asked concerned.

"Yeah." Xander stretched then looked over at Buffy and he," G-man, I hate to say this but I think Willow was talking to me again last night or something."

"Why's that?" Giles asked curiously, ignoring for the moment the hated nickname. "Well, I don't normally dream about Willow and Angel. So I am guessing that it means something." the dark-haired teenager said a little sarcastically. "What was it?" Giles asked grabbing a notebook wondering what Xander had seen. "Well, some man in strange robes took a dagger and stabbed Angel. Deadboy was tied down to some stone table, they bled him and were drinking his blood."

"Did they say anything?" the Watcher asked.

Xander scrunched his eyes trying to recall any words but other then a single scream of no he couldn't recall anything. "No..no sound really, only when Angel turned to dust Willow screamed, she freaked heavily. They made her watch and she couldn't do anything. It was like she was trying but something was stopping her."

Giles shook his head. Some of it made sense. For all the power Willow had at her disposal, the fear of failure would still plague her. "What else, if anything?"

Xander looked down, he didn't want to tell him this. At least not with Buffy around, but realizing it might be important, he slyly motioned toward Buffy, who was finishing up the camouflaging of her bruises and checking the mirror, and quietly said no. Giles apparently and much to Xander's relief caught on to what he was saying and let the subject drop until they had a Slayerless moment.

Buffy at that moment, conveniently noticed that she needed to go and attend class lest she add another tardy to her record. The petite blond waved to Giles and Xander and headed out of the library. Xander waited, holding his breath not at all sure he wanted to tell even Giles what he saw. Although he guessed it could have been worse.....

"Out with it Xander." Xander shook his head and turned his back on the Watcher so that the man wouldn't see his embarrassment and jealousy. Yeah that too.

"Willow and Angel, standing in a room. Nice house, like the front room, they're talking, can't hear about what. But they seem like they are arguing about something, and when Willow turns to leave he reaches out and grabs her arm. She looks back as if to say how dare you or something and he dragged her into his arms and kissed her, I mean like major kissage here Giles. Anyway they're kissing and something makes them pull apart like scalded cats, and she books for the door, hand on her mouth and into the night. I don't know if it matters." He turned back to face the Watcher who wore a curious expression on his face. "I just thought that I wouldn't tell Buffy that. You know?"

Giles nodded understanding the boys reluctance to broach that particular subject in the young Slayer's presence. All the literature he had found on the Summoner implied that the relationship, one of untainted love, was the base for the prophecy. It had come to pass because they had always known one another. It implied that they shared a past and a present, and that the feelings were transcendental. The Watcher hadn't told his charge that, with her feelings already in turmoil, the Slayer didn't need another reason to be jealous of Angel and Willow. Indeed Giles was somewhat exasperated with Buffy, and her behavior. He sighed heavily, as he once again realized that when Willow and Angel did return, unfortunately they would have more than a power-hungry fae vampire to contend with.

They would also have a very brassed off and jealous Slayer to deal with. With quiet authority Giles said, "Xander you should go home and get some rest, I'll report to the principal's office that you were very ill and I sent you home." When it looked as though the dark haired boy would argue, the Watcher held up his hand and continued, "You won't do Willow any good if you don't take care of yourself first. Now go home. I'll continue with the research and hopefully we'll have learned something new by this evening." With that he clapped his hand on the younger man's shoulder and said, "Don't worry Xander, we will find a way to help them both."

The young man raised sad chestnut eyes to the Watcher and gave him a weak smile before gathering his book bag and leaving the librarian to continue his research.

Pine Valley: Angel's:

"You always used to look so sad." Willow smiled again a little sadly in memory, as she moved to stand closer to him, her eyes moving over his whole face. "I always wondered how someone's eyes could hold so much pain and sorrow. It always seemed wrong."

"No I deserved it." Angel assured her softly.

"Maybe." Willow finally allowed she looked past him to the still light sky beyond the window in the living room. "But I have this problem. I can feel you, and what I feel isn't someone who deserves that, Angel. I want to fix it, but you won't let me."

"You don't miss much do you?" Angel asked. He was smiling at her now not a true, real, bright smile. Something that she wanted to see on his lips more then anything, but close.

"No, but you were always there, standing in the shadows, watching. Always watching and protecting." Willow gasped lightly as she realized just how close they had drifted to each other, she hadn't really been aware of moving closer to him, and she had a strong suspicion that he hadn't been aware of it either.

"Yeah I lurked." he offered chuckling at his own foolishness. She smiled her hands creeping up to rest on his shoulders.

"So how come you never came inside or tried to just hang with us. I mean you wanted to." Willow asked, smiling at the look that played across his face.

"Willow, I am a vampire. "Angel said with a small amount of exasperation. She giggled softly unable to stop herself.

"So...Xander's an idiot did I hold it against him?" She said in an amused, if exasperated tone.

"Willow, it's not exactly the same thing." He said, although another smile played across his lips.

"No I guess not, but still, you always looked so upset and hurt and seemed to want so much to be one of us. I wanted you to be part of our group, I tried so hard to make you feel like you were wanted, that you could be with us." Willow said, and for the first time Angel really understood how much his seeming indifference had hurt her. She'd done something that no one else had ever attempted, hell she'd even laid into her best friend about Angel. Willow started to draw away from him, his hand reached out to hold her in place.

"Willow, I wanted to." The vampire said his voice slightly strained. I just didn't trust myself.

"Why didn't you?" she asked, reluctantly giving into his silent plea for her to stay where she was.

"I was afraid." he said finally.

"Afraid?!" Willow said in obvious surprise. What would frighten Angel? "Of what?"

"Of wanting." he whispered. She stared at him not really understanding what he was talking about. Wanting? Wanting what?

Willow reached for Angel, staring up into his eyes. Her fingers slid along the line of his neck to settle in the hair at the nape of his neck. "Explain what you mean wanting." She asked pressing her face into his chest.

This. He stared down at her, his hands sliding to rest on her back.

"Afraid of getting so close and not letting go." He said against her hair. She nodded slightly that made sense in a lot of ways."Willow?"

"Hmm?" she murmured into his chest.

"Why did you try so hard? You knew what I was." He demanded in a gentle voice. She chuckled and looked up at him, her eyes bright and warm. "Because *I knew*, and because that meant that no one else would have done that for you. You needed it." He smiled and sent through the link, Always worried about the needs of others. Who worries about what Willow needs? Their gazes held, hers bright with unshed tears, his with awareness and need. He leaned closer his mouth a hair's-breadth from hers, so close that a slight movement would make it a kiss.

"Will you give me what I need now, little one?" He asked his voice going all soft and husky. Will you let me give you what I can?

"I already have." She whispered against his lips. She closed her eyes, and pressed closer, opening herself completely she let him in. She smiled slightly against his mouth, as a slight sound of shocked pleasure escaped his throat.

Angel felt as though he'd fallen into sunlight only it burned from the inside, warming his soul touching the darkest places within him and lighting them. He'd never felt anything like it. Never known that such a thing could exist. He felt so light and completely at peace that for a single horrified moment he thought his soul was free of his body. Only the continued certainty of Willow's warmth and proximity assured him that he was very much himself, it appeared that she was as well.

His eyes fluttered open after a long moment and he was met with a welcome sight. He was kissing an angel, with glowing red hair and a peach bloom to her cheeks and she was kissing him back. He stared at her, tenderness and love washing over him in waves and what emotions were his and what were hers was completely lost on the handsome vampire. He couldn't tell. He still felt as though he were wrapped in the blanketing warmth of Willow's soul. He was content, happy, he closed his eyes and for the moment lost himself in her warmth.

A loud knock on the door, caused the two to jerk apart. Willow stared at the vampire for a moment, then she went to the window. Carefully pulling back the curtain so the sunlight wouldn't shine in his direction, Willow gazed out the window, curious as to who would be coming to visit and why. A perplexed look came across her face as she said softly, "It's Katia." Then glancing over at Angel, the redhead shrugged slightly and said, "I wonder what she wants."

As she walked towards the front door, the fae witch didn't notice the sudden look of panic that crossed Angel's face. The vampire was suddenly past her and at the door, saying quickly, "I'll get it." He had the door open before Willow's panicked screech registered, and before she remembered the covered porch would protect the vampire from the sunlight.

Blocking Willow's view of the older witch, Angel's voice took on an almost high-pitched quality as he spoke to Katia, "Katia, you're here, how wonderful." The vampire made no move to let the crone into the house, instead he continued speaking. "Willow is here too. You do remember Willow don't you? She'll be so happy to see you." Willow was so perplexed by the vampires strange behavior, she paid no attention to what he was doing. Angel quickly indicated the two boxes that Katia held as he spoke of Willow, his face desperate. Realizing the secret was about to be out if she didn't do something fast. The old witch quickly shifted her fingers across the surfaces of the box and with a flourish they disappeared. Angel's shoulders sagged as he heaved an unnecessary sigh of relief.

"Angelus, I know it's probably been a while for you dear, but it is usually good manners to let the guest in the door when you receive a visitor." Katia reminded with mocking amusement. Before letting the old witch in, Angel looked over his shoulder to find Willow staring at him, her arms crossed across her chest, her head tilted to the side, and she was looking at him as though trying to figure out whether he was possessed or not. With a mumbled apology the vampire sheepishly stepped away from the door to let Katia in. As he closed the door, Willow uncrossed her arms and stepped forward to take Katia's hand. "It's nice of you to visit us, Katia. And I think I owe you an apology for what I said last night. My behavior was..." she blushed slightly in memory and continued, "well it was deplorable. So I wanted to apologize and explain that I don't usually act like that. My only excuse is that I just...wasn't myself at the time."

Katia waved her explanation and apology away with a gentle motion of her hand, "That's quite alright my dear." She said as the couple guided her through to the living room, and helped her to one of the comfortable sofas. Angel quickly knelt to light a fire in the fireplace as Katia finished, "You were under a lot of stress after all, it's perfectly understandable."

Willow smiled at the older woman gratefully and then suggested, "Would you like some herbal tea?"

"That would be lovely dear, thank you." Katia said, beaming at the young witch. Willow quickly excused herself and headed to the kitchen. Shortly after she had left Angel was satisfied with the blaze he had started and pulled the guard back across the hearth. Rising he moved over and gave the older woman a kiss on the forehead and said with quiet relief, "Thank you." then sitting in a chair placed next to her corner of the sofa, he continued, "I had forgotten you were coming this morning." Giving her a rueful grin he went on, "We nearly spoiled the surprise."

The younger woman looked at her undead friend and said tentatively, "Are you sure after last night, this little outing is the best idea?"

"Yes, God yes." the dark haired vampire said vehemently, as he looked at the crone. "We need a little time to forget everything, about the prophecy, about Lydia..," the name was spat more than spoken with a grimace of disgust.

"Forget about everything...except each other, perhaps." Katia said with a knowing look. Seeing Angel's look of discomfort, the witch continued, "Well a Renaissance Faire is an excellent place to do that. What better way to forget about your present problems than to go back in time, for a while. I think you'll find our little faire as entertaining as you may remember...and also quite romantic."

Giving the crone an aggravated look, Angel said sternly, "That's not why I want to take her Katia. With everything that's happening in Sunnydale and everything that might happen in the future, I wanted her to have a little fun. I wanted to see her happy one more time and know that it was me who made her happy. I just want to see her smile again." he concluded in a more wistful tone.

Katia seemed to be about to answer him when Willow came in carrying a ceramic tea set on a wooden tray. The younger witch also had a small selection of cheeses and fruit as well as some crackers and cookies. The older witch watched as she set everything down on the large coffee table in front of the sofa. As Willow began to prepare the cups, Katia asked, "How did you get the water hot so quickly my dear?"

Willow gave a tiny smirk and said simply, "Microwave." Then looking between the two older people in the room, the young redhead seemed to decide something and said cheerfully, "I think I'm going to go for a walk, cause something tells me you two want to have a semi-private conversation without me hanging around." Seeing Angel's sudden look of concern, Willow leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and said, "Don't worry it's still daylight outside and I will be careful, okay?" Without waiting for his answer she breezed out of the living room and shortly he heard the front door open and close behind her.

Without touching the cup of tea that Willow had prepared for him, Angel laid his dark head against the back of the chair tiredly and closed his eyes for a moment. Katia quietly picked up the cup the young redhead had prepared for her and after taking a sip, studied the vampire intently over the rim of her cup .

"What's on your mind Katia?" her dark haired companion said firmly. The old woman smiled and said thoughtfully, "I was just wondering if you were going to get around to telling me, what exactly is going on between an old reprobate like you and the charming creature that just left?"

Cracking his eyes open, the vampire looked over at the woman and seeing her amused expression he gave a mental groan and said, "Why do I have the feeling you're not going to leave me alone about this, until I tell all?"

Katia actually cackled gleefully at this and said, "Because you know I won't." Leaning forward she placed her cup on the coffee table and continued, "Now what are your intentions towards that charming little girl, you old fogey?"

Angel shifted uncomfortably at the mention of Willow being a little girl before he finally sat up with a groan and said affectionately, "My intentions and my feelings are my business, you old crone."

Letting the insult slide without comment, the witch never-the-less picked up on the statement that interested her the most, "Oh ho, so you have feelings for the little sprite, and would those feelings be of a finer nature or simply primitive?"

Realizing the woman wasn't going to let this conversation go, Angel finally confessed simply, "Both."

"Ah ha." the old woman cackled and said, "And just what are you going to do about it, vampire."

"For the moment, nothing. Willow is still very young and innocent. Then there's the prophecy, I have to take care of my responsibilities to the Summoner before anything else." He said as he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, then with an exasperated sigh he continued, "Of course first I have to find out who the Summoner is."

"You think you can control what you feel now, until this is all over?" the older woman said disbelievingly.

Angel looked away from those knowing eyes and said with quiet honesty, "No, but I want to do what is right for Willow. I don't believe that, that's me, no matter what I feel."

"And just what is it you do feel?" the older woman asked craftily.

Dropping his dark head into his hands, Angel whispered, "I don't know, I think . . . I feel too much...for her."

With his head still lowered the vampire continued, "She has given me so much Katia. Her friendship, her loyalty, her trust, even her blood. I owe her more than I can ever repay." Rubbing his face with his hands restlessly, he went on, "Last night I nearly lost her...twice...because of Lydia." This time the name was spoken with such venom the witch had no doubt of the fate that would befall the female vampire the next time she crossed Angelus' path.

The statement left Katia somewhat confused however, "The child said that the danger to her was not as great your peril." The woman stated questioningly.

Angel looked up confused for a moment, then realizing what his friend meant, he explained, "Physically, yes perhaps, emotionally no." Shamefaced he looked away and said, "I was trying to get rid of Lydia. I said things...things I didn't mean...things that Willow overheard...things that hurt her. I didn't mean to..." then surging out of the chair, the vampire began to pace in front of the fireplace, and with a swipe of his hand concluded, "but that's no excuse." Heavy despair was evident in his voice.

Angel stopped pacing when he heard a chuckle from the couch and glared over at the witch darkly. Katia only laughed more heartily and said, "Interesting. You're worried about her emotional state and last night she was so worried about you feeling sorry for yourself and doing something foolish, she nearly challenged me, it was actually rather amusing." The old witch caught her older friends gaze and continued, "*Your* Willow, could barely stand and she was threatening to...now how would Cassie put it...ah yes fry my circuits, if I didn't let her come home...so she could be here for you." The vampire studied the witch doubtfully for a moment longer, seeing her open expression, a bemused and wistfully hopeful expression flitted across his face. Then he seemed to push the emotion aside and said gruffly, "She was only worried as a friend."

The old woman cackled even harder and said, "Really...as a friend. Why would a friend be upset as you say by some I assume rather crude or lewd remarks that you make to an old girlfriend then? If that's all Willow is, of course."

Seeing the confused reaction that statement made in the vampire, Katia changed the subject. "Let's see how you like the costumes, shall we?" With another wave of her hand the two boxes reappeared in her hands. Angel accepted the change of subject with welcome relief. Katia quickly opened the boxes and Angel peeled back the layers of tissue paper. Seeing his pleased look the old witch said facetiously, "Now aren't you glad you gave me all those trunks of old clothes for safe keeping. I had the ones that need it restored and refurbished. They look as good as new...if not better. Now have you decided how you're going to get there this evening?"

He answered easily, "Yes. I'm borrowing a horse from Lael, I've already spoken to her about it. She promised to choose one herself and drop it off after eight this evening." "Lael always was the best judge of horse flesh I ever saw." the old woman said thoughtfully.

The vampire nodded his agreement and needing something to do with his hands, he gulped down the now cold tea that Willow had prepared for him. With a finesse born of years of practice at charming young ladies, usually out of their lives, Angel poured himself another cup and warmed Katia's with ease.

"I need to see Crawford." he said without preamble. Then looking at the witch he added, "Can you arrange it?"

At the mention of the name Katia's eyes had widened, and she was rather glad that she hadn't quite gotten the cup of tea to her lips or she might have choked on the hot liquid. "May I ask why you want to see him?" she finally managed.

Obviously I can't go into the shop during normal business hours and I assume that he still makes house calls if the customer wishes. I want to buy something...something special." Angel said to the younger woman, while trying to give her a quelling look.

Katia ignored the look however and said knowingly, "And might I hazard a guess as to who this something special might be for?"

The vampire started to give another of those looks, until he saw the amused and mischievous look in her eye and heaving a breathless sigh said quietly, "You already know, and from the looks of that grin you know why too."

The old woman cackled for a moment her bright blue eyes snapping with energy in her lined face, and then she said, "Yes, yes I do. I'm just surprised you're admitting it." Then her weathered face became thoughtful, and she said doubtfully, "You know Angelus, baubles are not the way to a woman's heart."

Angel looked at her and smiled softly and said, "I would be a very poor excuse for a nearly three hundred year old if I hadn't learned that by now, now wouldn't I?" Then clasping the old woman by the shoulders gently he explained, "This is not to win her heart my old friend but to show that she has already won mine."

Katia nodded in understanding and said, "When would you like to see him?" as she headed for the phone in the kitchen.

"Now I think. While Willow is out. Tell him to bring a wide selection, I don't really know what I want, but I'll know when I see it." the vampire said determinedly.

"Good," Katia agreed as she dialed the phone number from memory, "then after that we can go over to my house. The sun should be down by the time you make your selection, and I have a feeling Willow will know that, that's where you'll be."