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)
"Chapter Two"
Sunnydale High School:
Giles looked up as Buffy pushed open the library door with brutal force. She was angry. He could see it sliding off of her in waves. He waited until she was standing a good distance away, wanting to gauge her thoughts before speaking. From the look on her face, this time it was Angel.
"What happened?" He asked. He knew she had gone over to Willows to check on the hacker. "Is Willow OK. Angel hasn't harmed her, has he?"
Buffy looked down at the floor still not believing what she'd seen. Angel and Willow lying on the hackers bed. So calm and at ease. Wrapped in each others arms. Not a breath of space between them. She was jealous she realized. Angel had never just held her like that . Never held her as though she were fine bisque china, breakable. She wished suddenly she'd had the guts to say something to awaken them. She wanted answers and only Willow had them.
And she might have Angel too.....Nooo They were just tired and holding each other it meant nothing. Deep inside she knew that wasn't true, she knew Angel. To Angel it would mean a great deal. It would mean that Willow trusted him enough to allow her guard down with him. Enough to sleep with his mouth pressed against the nap of her neck, enough to trust him with out a cross or other protection holding him away from her. She clung to the idea that it meant nothing all the while praying to whatever power there be that it was nothing. Hadn't she seen the reverence he touched Willow with at the circle. She barked a short laugh and said, "Oh fine Giles, she's fine I think. They were sleeping when I got there, so I didn't wake them." Her voice betrayed her inner turmoil and the Watcher walked over to her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"What is it that ails you so Buffy? She brought him back for you." Buffy looked away from Giles hearing the Watchers own conflicted emotions. She understood. Angelus had killed Jenny and tried to kill all of them. She'd nearly lost her Watcher because of that vampire. This wasn't Angelus, it was Angel. She knew they were different as night and day, yet she had trouble keeping the two straight. At Willow's, it had been all she could do, not to go in and yank Willow away from him.
"Perhaps you should tell me what has upset you Buffy."
Buffy turned and looked at Giles he looked haggard and Buffy understood, sleep had eluded them all last night after the circle. She was worried about Angel and Willow. She hadn't been able to help them. That and the revulsion that had poured through her as Willow allowed the famished vampire to feed from her. That was the thing that bothered her most. Willow had opened her veins and allowed Angel to drink, had all but forced him to. What if he hadn't stopped? What if he had hurt her? She also remembered the look on Willows face as Angel had fed from her, the look of almost sensual pleasure.
"Willow and Angel were, well they were asleep in Willow's bed. He was holding her so close. It just looked like they had....I mean he wasn't wearing a shirt and her clothes looked all mussed. Her shirt open and ....." She trailed off, not wanting to finish painting the picture in her mind with words.
"So you think they were, uh....together?" Giles stammered suddenly wishing he hadn't asked. Buffy looked over at him. He could talk about demons and ghouls but had trouble with the idea of sex. Go figure that.
"Yeah I know it was a stupid thing to believe. I mean she's Willow she wouldn't do that to me. It's just I....Angel never held me like that. Giles. He never held me like I was made of some precious stones or breakable."
"Perhaps that is because you are not breakable. Willow went through a lot to get him out of there. They both would have been drained. They most likely haven't awakened since the night of the ritual."
"You think that they've been asleep that long. Please this is Willow she gets maybe oh, four or five hours of sleep a night."
"A few hours may be all she needs under normal circumstances, but remember, she expended a lot of personal energy in this magic. Spells carry a kind of personal marker if you will. So Willow is weak. Everything will be fine I am sure."
"OK" she managed, allowing the topic that clearly wasn't comfortable for either of them to drop. Sooner or later they would have to deal with the feelings that she knew were waiting to boil over in her Watcher. Angel had killed Ms. Calendar, and Giles had loved her. There was no easy way to forgive or forget that. "Giles, so what's this I hear that you've had Xander playing computer boy while Willow is on hiatus. So what new and exciting catastrophe do I get to play the lead in this time?"
"You don't"
"What?"
"Well it's not about you. What I mean to say is that it may not be about you. You are the Chosen One, but there are others chosen by the fates to play certain parts, so the chosen phrase may not mean you."
"Wait Giles you mean there are other 'Chosen one's'?"
Giles looked suddenly even more uncomfortable, as though she had hit on something that was filed under no tell slayer. She glared at her watcher her worries about Angel and Willow forgotten for a moment. She really wanted to know. She began to advance on Giles, who for his part took a few steps back.
In the time since Buffy's return one thing Giles had learned was when Buffy was brassed off you got out of her way and fast. No pulling rank here. He looked up relieved for the first time to see Xander walking into the library.
"Hey Buff what's up?" he called out to her.
"Major bizarreness. Did you know there is more then one chosen one in a generation?" She asked of Xander sarcastically.
"Whoa Cool so like you have friends you didn't even know about."
"Yeah, come on Giles out with it."
"Very Well. Simply put you are not the only creature in this realm that has a set or chosen destiny. There are people who are not, how shall I say, human that are not bad."
"Like Oz."
"No Xander, Oz is human" Buffy saw Xander's eyes fall as though he were hoping to put Oz with the nonhumans. She wanted to laugh wondering what Xander would have done if he'd seen Willow wrapped in his favorite forks arms.
"So like what then?" He asked sheepishly.
"Like Fae or Sidhe, or Sylphs or Undines or salamanders or gnomes."
"Fairy-tale much." Buffy chimed in about the spot Giles expected it. Yes they were creatures of fairy tales, but what were fairy tales but legends changed to suit the time in which they where told. Today they were known only throw nursery rhymes and Disney movies. Not very good sources.
"Yes, indeed fairy tale, You must remember that most fairy-tales are legends set to a child's ear. For instance we all know tales of Valhalla and the Summerland the names have been changed but we know about them."
"So we're looking for one of these creatures for the prophecy and we need to find her before the bad guys do?"
"Basically."
"So what are we looking for a little person?"
"No." Giles thought about it for a moment. Then spoke. "Xander, I want you to go on line and look up any references to Sidhe magic, and see what is coming up in their holidays." Xander went to do as bid, and then stopped, looking at Giles strangely. "S-I-D-H-E" Xander raised an eyebrow but went to work. His fingers moved over the keys with less confidence then Willow's. Giles began rummaging through books.
Buffy watched them feeling something akin to relief for once it wasn't her, but that meant that some other poor person was about to have their world rearranged on the whim of some hellish prophecy. She shook her head. This wasn't going to be fun, she was going to have to play super hero she just knew it. God I need a day off.
"Here's something." Giles suddenly said, looking up from the large volume he was reading." It says here that the chosen Sidhe is of human decent, although she wears the mark of the fae."
"And this mark, is it like a huge hairy mole that totally ruins the fashion mode?' "No afraid not." Giles said looking over at the campy playing slayer. She was taking this I am not the only one with a destiny thing well.
"So like Giles, how will we know when we've found them."
"Well that would be red hair and green eyes, a fiery temper, intense power and the ability to use what is known as Faery fire."
"What?" demanded Xander memory making him jump he look at the Slayer and Giles and the fear in his eyes was clear.
"What. Xander what?"
"Willow."
"What?" Buffy and Giles asked together not sure what the missing Slayerette had to do with this. Xander was looking at them for all the world as though he had just realized some great and amazing thing, and was surprised that they hadn't.
"It's Willow. Think about it. She embraced the darkness, she walked through the fire, and she had used that faery stuff. I saw her do it, when... I mean when she got Angel out... she used this stuff it was green fire...I mean forget it. It can't be... I mean she would have to know."
"Xander, I don't want to jump to any conclusions, we need to keep looking somewhere I should be able to find something more solid then hair or eye color." Giles said calmly.
Rosenberg Residence: Night
She sat wishing for the hundredth time tonight that this was different. Not that she was alone, or that Angel wasn't here. She just wanted her old life back. She wanted to forget her lessons. Wanted to forget the power that ran in her veins right there twined with her blood. Power that all the forces of insanity wanted. Why where they always trying to destroy this world.
She studied the paper in her lap, wishing she could make it say something else. It wouldn't she knew that, yet, she couldn't help wishing. She was Willow, okay she couldn't say that any more she wasn't just Willow, but she was petrified, that she could say. Part of her half hoped that when she woke up she would find this had all been a dream. Of course, the fact that a gorgeous man was holding her in his arms as he slept kind of spoiled that fact. Not that she would trade Angel for normalcy, no not for a moment. She had grown really fond of him in the last forty-eight hours.
She sat down on the bed next to him. He murmured something in his sleep. She found herself smiling involuntarily. Angel moved slightly settling into the mattress again. Oh Gods, if you are listening help me out here. She closed her eyes and allowed her thought to wander. She clamped onto the memories that had caused her so many problems. She tried really hard to let go of her fear, she'd done what she had to do. Angel had to be here. It was already happened and The Bard told her that more was on the way. Where was he anyway? She needed to ferret out the last details of what was happening. How she was going to make sure that everyone got out of it alive.
The Bard she smiled remembering how she had met him. A rather large black cat that had followed her around the town for about three days. Tristan, she smiled indeed. She wanted to find out just how much that had changed her. She knew that she was more of his world now than this one. She could feel the changes in herself. She looked once more at the paper in hand. (The opener of the way, the summoner of the Western King, She who is bound by law and fate, to stand between the darkness and light, to act as the mirror of the soul. The western King's reflection, the Summoner bright, the bard singer at night. The door way opened with the soul of truth lost. Ending of Beginnings.)
She watched Angel wondering when he would awaken. She had been up for a while. Even managing to go out for a while and do some shopping. She wanted Angel to awaken so she could talk to him. So she'd stop staring at him. God he was beautiful. Buffy had been right about that. Angel was far to beautiful to be evil. She couldn't quite deal with the fact that he was lying curled in her bed, or that she'd spent an hour this morning taping her windows to keep the sun from seeping in. She walked over to the bed, reaching out to brush a wayward lock of his hair from his face. Her hand stopping just short of touching.
She was caught by some inner web of power and knowledge. A vision unfurling in her minds eye. . . .Angel, Buffy screaming. She felt the pain of exquisite agony, as she watched herself cut down, Buffy holding Angel back, Angel game faced and frantic. Screaming at her in fury. Angel sobbing all over her, getting this pretty white dress all blood tinted. Angel crushing her in an embrace and rocking her pleading with her not to do something. Angel leaning in to...
She cried out against the images, Angel jerked awake her name on his lips. "Willow?" He turned to look at the gasping hacker. He reached for her, uncertain what was ailing her. She was pale and her eyes looked wild. Have I drained her to the point of sickness?!
"No, not you." she whispered softly. Reaching for him. He dragged her easily into his arms. He held her for a moment. She attempted to draw back too soon as far as Angel was concerned he enjoyed her warmth. He liked having her close to him. She looked up into his dark gaze and smiled softly. She wouldn't tell him about the visions he had enough to deal with, without adding her strange talents to it.
"Are you OK?" He asked in a gentle voice, colored with worry. She nodded her head the best she could with him holding her tightly. She tried to pull out of his embrace, but found herself well and truly caught.
"Uhm Angel as nice as this is, you should, ....you should." Her voice trailed off as her head began to pound. She cried out clutching at Angel's bare chest. Her nails leaving slight red lines on his white flesh.
"Willow? Oh gods, what now?!" He held the hacker closer feeling her shake. He couldn't do anything for her. The only help there was, was in the sun, someplace he couldn't be. She trembled as though cold, and babbled incoherently against his chest. He caressed her long hair absently waiting for the strange attack to end. She felt strange in his arms. All of his vampire senses were trained on her. Her heart was beating double time her respiration wheezing and weak. She passed out after a moment, her body going slack in his arms. He stared at her frightened. He felt truly helpless for the first time since his return.
He lay her gently on the bed, he moved over to her bathroom which connected with the bedroom. He grabbed a washcloth, turned on the handles of the sink and wet the cloth with cool water. He hurried unsteadily back to her. She still lay quiet as death. The sudden pallor of her skin rivaling the whiteness of her blankets. Willow!?!?! He cried out using the link intentionally for the first time. She didn't stir physically, but mentally she cried out for his help.
Leaning down he pressed the cool cloth to her forehead and began to create a stronger link with her. He gasped as pain shot through his head. Exquisite agony slithered through him. His eyes closed against it as he fell deeper into her mind. Opening his eyes he came face to face with the same Willow he's seen on the astral plane.
"Angel" she gasped softly, uncertain if he where her Angel.
"Yes, Little One it's me." She relaxed and dragged him closer to her.
He stood watching as the scene played out before him. She stood next to him watching what she'd seen a hundred times, long before she returned him to them. He clasped her hand in his own as he watched the action unfold.
Willow stood looking over at Angel. His eyes were blinded by scarlet tears. She walked over to him. Whispered soothingly to the vampire. "There is nothing to be done. You know what you must choose. Just be happy for me OK. He stared down at her his heart breaking it was clear on his face. The pain reached out from him to her. "Willow I can't, don't make me do this. Don't ask me to do this. I can't stand by and watch this happen. There must be another way."
"There is but you still have to watch me die. I can't help that. In order for this to work one of us has to die. And if she dies the next one is called if I die it matters not to the fate of the world."
"Willow!!!!" She smiled sadly at Angel. She wrapped her arms about him holding his shaking form to her.
"I know. I wish it were different. " He lifted her face to his own, his mouth drifting closer to hers. Nearly grazing, she jerked back as though burnt, her eyes staring into his. He studied her just as intently. He grasped her about the neck pulling her closer. She clung to the vampire, for a moment only to jerk away at the sound of the door opening. They turned and........
"Angel" she cried out loudly. The startled vampire opened his eyes seeing Willow staring at him.
A guilty gleam clear in her gaze. He wondered what she was feeling guilty about. "What the hell was that?" Angel demanded after a moment. Willow hid her face in the pillow before she attempted to speak.
"It was something that may happen. There is someone waiting to take another shot at the hellmouth. I can't tell who it is. I've never seen them before. They look like they might be vampires but I can't tell if they really are. It's nothing Angel really." She managed and looked out the window at the already waning light. He will be able to leave soon. she thought.
Part of her wanted Angel away, the part that had felt his pull. She had been aware of him even before his change. She had seen him as she saw most people. She hadn't been surprised when he'd turned out to be a vampire. Finding out had been a shock, but not a surprise like somewhere deep inside she'd known that already. She had tried to get Giles to admit that Angel could be good. Angel had been good. As good as Angel was, Angelus was bad.
He watched her. He probed the link between them with all the uncertainty of a child. He couldn't understand her strange reaction. Was she upset about the vision. He had almost kissed her anyway. Strange was a good word for that and what it had felt like to watch it. To see himself lean into her and taste her lips, as though he'd had all the right in the world to do just that. He studied her face. A woman's face soft and fair. She was perfection in her own right. Alabaster skin as soft as silk, and hair the color of fire, flame. She would burn brightly indeed for someone. God what I wouldn't .... his thoughts trailed off in shock. Don't even think it!!! Buffy remember. He reminded himself harshly.
The Slayer. Blond, beautiful, cold, and unattainable. No, she loved him, Buffy loved him. That's right loved, past tense. She would never love him now. Not with what Angelus had done. What they had done, he'd been forced to remember every taunting cruel word he'd uttered to the slayer about their love and their night together. Oh God, the things I said.; "Angel?" asked a soft voice, unsure.
He looked down into her eyes. Brilliant green orbs that reflected her fire perfectly. He wondered how she managed to control that fire, that raged deep within her. He'd tasted it in her blood, now he could see it staring at him with frightening clarity. He felt laid bare and defenseless by her. She left him raw and hungry for things he'd not managed to name yet. She was different from his unattainable goddess. Not because he could have her. NO but because she would have him. She accepted him. She saw his need. The ravaging hunger to belong, so she opened a little space in her heart and let him in. . .
"So are you going to explain this to me?" He asked gently. Her eyes raised to his, she nodded her head slowly.
SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL:
"Hey Cordy!" Xander called over to the brunette who had just walked through the library doors. She smiled and waved back, a little reserved. Xander looked back at the screen. His eyes lighting slightly, as he stared at the words that cemented his belief that the Summoner was not Buffy. A small crescent-shaped birthmark. Nope, Buffy didn't have one of those. At least not on her right shoulder blade. He closed his eyes trying to remember where he'd seen one of those.
Cordelia watched Xander, disbelief coloring her gaze, she hadn't seen him in nearly three days and he was more interested in the computer than her. Willow Much! She walked, more like sauntered, over to the computer where he was working and leaned down, reading over his shoulder. Something about the SIDHE and marks of the fae.Strange! He leaned against her, smiling a little when she put her hands on his shoulders. She'd missed him. She brushed a light kiss against his cheek but he drew away from her attempt to draw it out. Pouting prettily, she plunked herself down in a nearby chair to watch and help maybe.
"Here, " Giles said after what seemed like an hour of waiting, both Buffy and Xander looked up questioningly." Well the reference I was seeking. The bard would appear to be Tristan, not Taliesin however. Let me see, oh yes. Well I am going to have to say that, this is referring to Angel. Interestingly enough, it appears that Willow was in the right bringing Angel back. He's needed, only he can save the Summoner."
"You're saying my life depends on Angel." Buffy said bitterly.
"The Summoner's life depends on Angel." Xander chimed in. For some reason he couldn't name he really believed that it wasn't Buffy. He feared he knew who it was. He could see her long red hair flowing in a slight insistent breeze as the sun painted it with red fire....
. Buffy was staring at him he realized, 'What could he say? I don't think it's you, I think it's Willow.' Oh yeah Xander, that would go over well with Miss Jealous here. He was angry with Buffy. He didn't like the idea of Willow alone with that blood sucking fiend, but he had seen the exchange in the circle. Based on that, he knew that the vampire was Angel, not Angelus, and that he was very grateful to Willow. Well, if anyone can fix dead boy, Willow can. She's like that, capable of healing both the body and the soul. Lord knows, she'd done it often enough for him. Pumping up his ego when some member of the opposite gender had deflated it .
"Yeah that would be me.....Xander. So my life depends on that creature of the night." She spat out the words. Xander stood suddenly grabbing his shirt and leaving the computer on and connected.
"I don't care what you think. To tell the truth Buffy, you're just jealous cause you think someone finally wanted Willow instead of you. The fact that, that someone happens to be Angel, well then it's bad, very bad. I don't like him, but if Willow thinks he's good then he is." She stared at Xander surprised, but then she shouldn't be. Although he had been seemingly oblivious to the hackers feelings he did care about her a lot.
"Come off it Xander. She fell for a guy over the computer that turned out to be a demon." She spat out angrily.
"Yeah and you fell for a guy you barely knew, who turned out to be a blood sucker. Then you did the deed and he became psycho vamp and tried to kill us all. Besides Einstein, Willow didn't change the curse. So if she and he were that cozy, you'd have Angelus beating down your door." Buffy stared at Xander his outburst shocking her. He turned and she watched him leave, Cordelia following close behind. Buffy still wasn't convinced that he was Angel, and seeing him in Willow's bed had made her see him in a whole new light. Even if he was Angel, he would have some explaining to do. She didn't care what Giles thought about blood, lust, and sex, something was going on between them and she was going to find out what.......
Xander breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he exited the room knowing that at least he hadn't completely pissed the Slayer off. Not that he really cared at the moment. What occupied the forefront of his mind was Willow and seeing her.
"Xander, wait up." Called Cordelia sounding angry and a bit hurt. "Where are you going?"
"I have to see Willow." He said after hesitating for a moment. She studied his face feeling a slight twinge of jealousy at the look of worry on it.
"Why and what was that all about Angel and Angelus I thought he was gone, dead, sent to hell, never to be seen or heard from again." She asked in her way of asking as though she really was scared and worried and it was about her in some way.
" He was, he's back now. Willow brought him back." Xander said watching Cordy's eyes go wide with shock it was a comic expression to see on her face.
"She did what?!?!?! Why'd she do that? Better how'd she do that?" She demanded the horror in her voice ridiculous. He looked into her eyes for a moment half smiling at her. He leaned down and pecked her gently on the mouth."Listen Cordy I'd really love to stay and finish this stimulating conversation with you, but I have to go see Willow." "Yeah and get her away from Angelus. Before he kills her."
"He's not Angelus he's Angel and he won't hurt her." Xander said he was convinced of that much. He hated that vampire but he knew Willow. Hearing this Cordelia stared at Xander a look of absolute shock and horror playing across her pretty face.
"Would you listen to yourself? You're defending him and you hate him. You even hated him when he was Angel? What is up with that?"
" I trust Willow if she says he's Angel, then he's Angel. You didn't see them. You don't know..." He broke off not wanting to put into words what he had seen pass between them in the circle. He stared at Cordy hoping she would just go away. This was important, Willow was important, and he wouldn't fail his best friend as he had Jessie.
" No, and I don't want to know. As long as he's back I'm not coming back until I see some proof that he is Angel." She turned on her red high heel and stormed off like a child looking for a place to hide from the monsters. Xander stared after her.
"What proof Cordy? What Proof?" He asked the air softly. No one answered and he didn't expect anyone to. He turned on his heel and began making his way toward his goal...Willow.
ELSEWHERE IN SUNNYDALE
Someplace down below, preferably out of the sunlight:
Galan paced. This was an unexpected development. The Western King would choose the Lady. That wasn't how it was supposed to go. Why wasn't he doing what he was supposed to? Why hadn't he gone to the Slayer? He wasn't acting in accordance to the laws. He was following someone else's directions, giving into someone else's pull, but who's? Damn it.......
Galan pushed a strand of his dark locks out of his face. What was he going to do? His blue eyes glowed faintly as he sensed someone and he growled. He turned to face whoever had dared to intrude on his thoughts. Drucilla. Crazy Bitch He watched her warily. She might be mad but she was dangerous. He was no fool and although he was older then the vampiress by several hundred years he knew she was capable of wielding powers much like his own..
"My head is tingling." She informed him hopefully..
"What does it say then?" he asked wishing Spike where here to translate the woman's strange utterings. She had warned him last of the setting sun and soul's desire. He had no idea what the setting sun had to do with a soul's desire......That woman really tried his patience. Now this, what was wrong with that vampire. He had the Slayer, yet he'd not left the girls side since his strange and sudden return.
He sensed the other, the fae watcher sent to look after the girl. He would drive away the vampire, fae hate those creatures almost as much as most humans. He only hoped it was soon. He had two weeks and a day and 24 hours to secure the girl. He needed her in halfway decent shape and intact so that the Sleeper would accept her as payment for the opening of the veil.
Tristan growled low in his throat as he caught sight of the vampire he was seeking. Galan was in for a surprise if he thought this would be an easy victory. Even I didn't count on him. he thought ruefully. But that is what happens when you suddenly add back in a player that will die to protect that which he holds more dear then the sun itself.
He padded across the room allowing the vampire to see him. They watched each other. The vampire met his feline stare for a moment. Knowing full well that he couldn't engage him now, they had to wait. Tristan could wait. He only hoped that she was right in
entrusting her life to one of their accursed kind. He didn't like it, but then with her he didn't like anything that put her endanger. He padded off knowing that his warning had been delivered. That females wailing gave him all the proof he needed. She may be mad but she wasn't stupid. They where in for the fight of their immortal lives. Willow wouldn't go with out a fight. She was a lioness rampant.....
ROSENBERG RESIDENCE:
Willow met the vampires startled gaze. She waited for a reaction. He had wanted to know what was happening so she had informed him, now he looked as though he wished she hadn't.
"Wait, let me get this straight. Everything that happened in the last year has been to bring us to this point. You knew about Angelus....?" His voice was filled with doubt and bitter accusation.
"No! Never that! This didn't start happening until you became Angelus. This happened because you changed. This wasn't meant to happen you were never meant to change. Jenny was supposed to come clean, tell us about the curse, and stop it from being broken. Then she was supposed to alter it, so that you would forever be Angel." He stared at her taking in everything that she has just said. Damn this isn't going at all like I planed "Then what went wrong?" Willow looked away, not wanting to tell him what had gone wrong. She wasn't even sure she could put it into words. She looked at him, he recognized the look, she wanted to be released from this confession, released from whatever she was about to tell him.
"Willow." Gods, why does he have to do this now, couldn't he wait till I talk to Giles? She looked away from him and wouldn't look at him. "People didn't like their appointed roles. There appointed fates. So when those things where changed, everything fell apart. Buffy didn't want to be the slayer. Which I can understand. You didn't want to be a vampire with a soul. Then you two went and decided to become the definition of star crossed. You fell for the wrong girl Angel. Not that I blame you, everyone falls for Buffy, and you always did go for the pretty ones. You tried not to but you did. You lost your soul and well... That's it, more or less." Angel stared at her completely at a loss.What the hell was she talking about?A
"Do you think you can elaborate on that? If something is against fate, how can it come to be?" He demanded disbelief and a slight tinge of anger colored his voice. She sighed in exasperation. Like you would understand anyway.
"Because Angel, life is very much like a choose your own adventure. The fates set you up with the situations. What you choose to do, is decided by you. What happens because of your choice is chosen by them. They offer infinite choices for beginnings, endings, and the paths we take." She paused looking at him to see if he was with her so far. What do you know he's paying attention. She drew in a calming breath and continued her tone sounding like a teacher to a remarkably slow student. "You followed the path that you desired, as did Buffy.. She knew it was wrong, but she didn't care. You don't kick the Norn's in the face and not loose something for it. She tried to buck the system, so it hit back. That's it." She stared at him, waiting for his anger. She had just told him that it was their fault in the long scheme of things. They had started this and she would finish it, whether he was at her side or not. Too much had happened.
"So you pulled me from hell, knowing that I was the cause of what was happening. Why the hell did you do it? What where you thinking? Buffy is going to die. Was it some sort of sick joke, Willow? Bring me back and torment Buffy with the fact that I'm here, I'm alive, and we can't be together." His words came out coldly. She knew he was hurting and lashing out at her in pain, because it had been her words that had brought him the fresh wave of pain. She turned to leave the room, wanting distance between them, before they both did something they would regret.
Her own pain wouldn't let her leave without some vindication though. "Damn it Angel, I am not like that. This isn't that simple. I had too. I didn't have much in the way of choices Angel. You needed to be here. They wouldn't leave me alone until I brought you back because you were meant to be here. Buffy isn't going to die. Your precious Slayer is not the Chosen One. She doesn't have a part in this little play. Not even a supporting role. She's at the library as we speak. Go to her if you wish. You can find someplace else to stay until you figure out what you want to do. I'll I was trying to do was make it right. I am sorry I thought to help you. Bye Angelus." She turned on her heel and left the room.
He sat there stunned for a moment. He could hear her feet on the stairs, then the sound of her sitting on one of the steps, then something else. Tears, loud heart wrenching sobs. His heart clinched. Oh Willow. He realized how accusing he had sounded. Willow had gotten him out of hell and he had repaid her with accusation, innuendo, and anger. He waited a moment to see if she would stop. Then he realized that she thought he had left. He crept out into the hall.
"I'm sorry I tried. I did everything I could. So sorry...I can't do anything right." She was whispering the words over and over against her hands as she rocked on the stairs. She didn't see him and he figured she had clamped the link shut.
"Willow, I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." he whispered sadly.
"Don't flatter yourself vampire." The words came out hard and intensely cold as she turned to look at him. His face showed shock and hurt. Her own face crumpled with a wash of new tears.
Throwing caution and himself at her mercy yet, again. Angel dragged her into his arms. His hand sliding into her hair. He held her and cooed soft, little incoherent words against her temples. He pressed quick little kisses to her temple and longer ones to her cheek and eyes. He held her, offering her comfort. Willow snuggled against him, her eyes closing. She tensed slightly when one of his kisses landed on the sensitive flesh of her ear.
Willow tried to pull away but Angel held her, moving on, brushing light kisses against her throat. Making the spot where he had bitten her earlier tingle strangely. She waited wondering what he would do.
"Angel, " she whispered softly, completely confused by his actions.
"Hmm."
"Someone's here." She managed to sound unaffected, how she would never know. She caught the way he was looking at her, his eyes held a strange light she'd never seen before. Oh so that's what he met by side effect. She moved out of his arms and headed down the stairs. She waited for a moment trying to compose herself before opening her door.......
The door: Willow opened the door to reveal Xander: He stood there looking nervous and uncomfortable. He smile lopsidedly at his best friend.
"Willow?" He said her name uncertainly. "Tell me I'm wrong." He pleaded. He stared into her eyes begging her to tell him that what he thought was wrong. Just a foolish notion, that she wasn't in that kind of danger. She smiled sadly at him, then turned to look at the vampire who stood uneasily on the stairs.
"Xander can you wait a minute. I have to uh..." She turned and walked up the stairs to Angel. She smiled slightly when she saw the way Angel went to reach for her. He let his hands fall away without touching her, seeming to decide better of it. She met his gaze offering him a soft smile.
If you want you can get a shower. I think I owe him some answers. He is my best friend. So we're going to get some food. Is there anything you need? Besides clothes." She asked chuckling. She handed him a bag that he hadn't noticed. It had been sitting on an end table in the living room. He eyed it strangely then looked at her again. "They should fit. Uh, if not you could always steal something of dad's." She gave his right hand a light squeeze then turned to head back down to Xander.
Xander was standing at the door, moving nervously. He wasn't sure what to make of the exchange that he could see but not hear. Willow was awfully comfortable with the vampire. It bothered him. He wasn't sure if it was because she was his friend and Angel was a vampire or if it was because she was Willow and might have her life depending on that vampire.
She slid her arm through his and they stepped outside. It was almost completely dark, but Willow wasn't afraid. She hadn't felt any fear in a long time....
Angel hadn't said a word from the moment he had seen Xander at the door. He had been surprised when Willow had come back up the stairs toward him and had barely contain the urge to take her back in his arms. Indeed his arms had reached out to her. Realizing what he was doing, and that Xander was still standing at the door watching them, he had let his arms drop back to his sides.
Willow had spoken to him then suggesting he take a shower. Even though that had been one of his first coherent thoughts back in the clearing he hadn't taken one. He hadn't wanted to be away from the Willow. Still afraid that this was all a dream. When she had asked him if he needed anything, he had stared at her for a moment shocked to realize that since he had gotten back the only thing he needed had been Willow. She had placed a paper bag in his hands that he'd barely glanced at, then she ran back down the stairs to *him* and they had left.
Alexander Harris, he thought the name and felt a bad taste in his mouth, slightly shocked to discover it was bile. Vampires didn't throw up, not usually, but he had a sudden urge to. He wished that Willow would look at him like she did that ungrateful boy. Willow had loved Xander since they were children but he had ignored the blossoming young woman. Buffy had often told him of the young woman's plight and he had often wondered why teenagers boys were such idiots.
Slowly he turned and climbed back up the stairs walking into their bedroom. *Their* bedroom... when had he started thinking of it that way. He shook his head and dumped the contents of the bag onto the bed. A pair of biker boots, hit the bed, bounced and hit the floor. Then he noticed two small bags fall out of the larger one, one from a local drug store.
Followed by a maroon velvet shirt, a belt, and a pair of black dress pants. He looked inside the larger of the two bags, the one from the drug store. There he found a small bottle of shampoo, conditioner, a bar of 'manly' soap, a toothbrush, a packet of disposable razors, a small can of shaving creme, and a small bottle of his favorite cologne. How had she known that?
He reached for the smaller unmarked bag and opened it. He pulled out a pair of socks and, he gaped in shock, black silk boxers. Willow?!?!
Angel shook his head bemusedly. Then realized that he really did want that shower. He quickly shoved the socks and the shirt back in the bag, and tucked it in between the night stand and the bed. He left the shoes where they had landed on the floor. He unzipped and stripped off his leather pants, kicking them over in front of the closet. He then gathered up everything else and walked into the adjoining bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Angel laid the clothing and the collection of toiletries out on the counter top.She really did think of everything. he nearly laughed out loud. She'd even bought shaving cream and razors. He smiled amused, he remembered her question. "How do you shave without a reflection?" he smiled. Willows quirky sense of humor, her odd questions in the middle of a conversation. He shook his head quickly, shaking his mind loose of its reverie. True he didn't need to shave he didn't have to worry about that particular nuisances now. His mind drifted to Buffy, Willow hadn't said it out loud, but he had sensed through the link that the Slayer was expected to be a problem. Willow had remembered a conversation between herself and Buffy, in which the Slayer had basically told her to let things stay as they were. It was better that way. It hurt, Angel thought to himself as he reached to open one of the cabinets in the bathroom. Buffy had been willing to let him stay in hell. Willow on the other hand, hadn't accepted his fate and had fought to get him back out of hell.
He turned towards the shower and adjusted the handles. As he waited for the water to heat up and gathered up the toiletries that Willow had gotten for him, his mind wandered again. She had been so thoughtful about ...everything...purchasing these things, the clothes, bringing him here so that he wouldn't have to face the bad memories at his own apartment, all of it. She was always thinking of others. After the dance incident between Buffy and Xander, he had found her alone on a bench in the park. They had commiserated then and he had realized then just how thoughtful and forgiving she was.
Willow had been hurt by that dance between Xander and Buffy. Buffy had known how Willow felt about Xander but she had still 'mated' with that boy on the dance floor in front of Willow. Willow had forgiven Buffy as easily as she had forgiven him becoming Angelus. He climbed into the stinging spray of the shower.
"Ah, that felt good." He wondered as he soaked under the hot water. If Buffy hadn't been so self-absorbed would she have noticed what Willow was becoming? Would she have figured out what Willow was planning? And if she had, would she have tried to stop Willow?
Angel tried to remember the events of the evening before. Most of it was held in a haze a pain soaked stupor. He felt as though he had witnessed the whole thing from outside himself. He had. Until he'd joined Willow. In that moment. Clarity was crystal and every thing he had ever thought he'd know about strength drive and determination was witnessed in that small red haired woman.
As Angel began to scrub his skin vigorously with the soap Willow had purchased for him, he continued his line of thought. Would Willow have let Buffy stop her? That gave him pause. He thought over what Willow had said and realized, No she probably wouldn't have. Oh Buffy may have managed to delay Willow temporarily but he knew she would have completed the ritual to bring him out of hell. Somehow, someway, she would have saved him. As he continued his shower he continued the contemplation's. He had always thought that Buffy was the strongest woman he had ever known but now he knew that Willow was stronger. While Buffy had fought the vampires and other evils of the world, Willow had been Buffy's rock, she had been the rock for all of the Slayerettes. That made him remember Oz... the only smart teenage boy he'd ever met, the one who liked Willow.
Willow had mentioned him with affection and said that he was visiting family in Tahoe. Were they boyfriend and girlfriend? He tried to remember through Angelus' part of their memories and couldn't. The thought of that boy kissing Willow, touching her, suddenly had his mood change from one of thoughtful consideration to one of anger. He thought as he shampooed his hair. Willow is beautiful, she's funny, she's smart, she's sassy, and sexy! His eyes shot open at that and got shampoo in them. Quickly he rinsed his hair and eyes out.Stop that! He ordered himself as he put the conditioner in his hair. Willow is a friend, Buffy is your love. Then a thought occurred to him. Wait a minute Willow had said... what had she said, 'You fell for the wrong girl Angel. Not that I blame you, everyone falls for Buffy, but you were going against fate." If Buffy was the wrong girl, who was the right one? He shook his head again as he rinsed the conditioner out of his hair.
Then he realized what he was doing. He turned off the shower and thought, I must be crazy. Willow doesn't want me. She just helped me because I'm her friend. He continued thinking that to himself as he finished drying off and slipped the silk boxers on. Wait... if we're just friends then what are these? This isn't the type of thing you buy someone who's just a friend. Is it?He quickly slipped the hand towel around his neck as he pulled the slacks on over the boxers and fastened them. He then splashed some of the cologne on. Then there was that. How had Willow known what his favorite cologne was? Buffy didn't even know that.
He opened the door to the bathroom and stepped out. He walked toward the closet and began to rub his hair dry with the hand towel. He'd thought trying to hash this out would help him, instead he was more confused than ever. What the hell was happening? Willow, Buffy? What did he feel for Willow? He thought for a moment standing there. Willow was his friend he wanted to protect her, that was it he wanted to protect her and he was confused by the strength of that desire. The recant events clouding the way it felt to him, events and blood. No more drinking from Willow. He stated to him self firmly. Another part of him one he wasn't familiar with whispered to him. So different from the demon. With her there is no fear, no worry. She tames the beast. He gaped softly at his own foolishness. Of course the combination of blood and magic. No wonder I am finding her so irresistible. It's the magic. The power in her blood is in mine, and answering her call. He breathed a sigh of relief having found a satisfying answer. He just wanted to protect and take care of her. Yes that was it. Take care of cherish her. Oh dear. You never were any good at that. Then he heard a gasp behind him.