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 borrowing them. They needed to come out and play....
(thoughts in Italics)

Undisclosed location:

Willow sat where Tristan had placed her staring angrily at the fae.

"What's wrong fledgling? Is he not answering?" The fae's voice held his clear dislike for the vampire. A dislike she couldn't understand, Angel had done nothing to him. "It's not personal fledgling. I need to know that he can be trusted." Tristan explained.

"Couldn't you just ask?" she demanded, angry and upset with him. He could feel the strength of her anger and her love for that creature. He couldn't quite fathom her feelings for the vampire, but she was part human after all, perhaps she merely couldn't help the foolish indiscretion. Humans as a rule seemed enthralled with the whole idea of vampirism.

"I am afraid not. Asking would not assure that he will risk everything." Tristan stated matter-of-factly. Willow stared at him shocked. What did he expect Angel to do to find her? Move about in the day. Trust her magic to protect him. Oh Angel! she had to talk to him but so far the vampire had not answered her mental calls.

"How do you know he's not answering?" Willow questioned suspiciously.

"If he was, he'd be here. I assume he would have followed you." Tristan responded evenly.

"He can't hear me, can he, you're blocking us. Damn it Tristan, play fair!" she demanded.

"I think not, your vampire would not. Those who wish you dead will not. After everything you've been through, would you trust him with your life without knowing if he is worthy of that trust?" he replied bluntly.

She stared at the fae and for the first time since she had met the man she really wanted to hurt him. Her fingers itched for a piece of lead. She wanted nothing more then to kill him for what she knew he was doing to Angel. Angel couldn't possibly find her during the day, the necklace was only charged for a few hours. They were at least a town, and then some from where they had been. Tristan could move through the time wrinkles, hell his people had made them. Angel was bound, not only by the night but by the way time and distance works itself on the normal human form. Not that Angel was normal. But still.

Realizing that Tristan had set this forth as a test of her faith and Angel's credibility. She knew that she would get nowhere by begging him to let her return to Angel. She wanted to spare the vampire what he was feeling. Distance as a rule was uncomfortable for them. This was a long way from her vampire and she could feel even muted by Tristan's magic the pull of Angel on her soul.

Pine Valley:

A throbbing tune from the musical "Tommy" was playing on the stereo, the volume turned down. Katia had gone to visit some friends albeit reluctantly, due to the condition of their houseguest. Cassie however had assured her grandmother that she would be here to look after the vampire. After retrieving a bottle of soda from the fridge the young witch headed back into the living room to listen to some of her music. As she walked by the darkened recesses of the hallway, a hand reached out to catch her wrist and she dropped the soda with a shriek. Angel stepped out of the shadows of the hallway, pulling the girl toward him gently, as he whispered soothingly, "Relax, it's only me."

Cassie gulped air into her lungs trying hard to keep herself from hyperventilating, before suddenly smacking the dark-haired vampire on his arm smartly and screeching, "You nearly gave me a heart attack, you idiot." She smacked him again for good measure when she saw the smirk he tried and failed to hide. "What's the big idea? Do you have to do that lurking thing, like that? Haven't you ever tried not sneaking up on some one?"

Angel waited patiently for the young witch to finish her tirade. When she finally stopped talking to continue trying to catch her breath, he leaned down to retrieve the bottle of soda from the floor and handing it to her said, "I need some help."

Taking the drink from him, she asked suspiciously, "What kind of help?"

"The kind only you can give me." he said intensely, guiding her back into the guest room. When they reached the room, he pulled her in and then closed and locked the door behind them. Cassie was getting a severe case of nerves by this time, she trusted Angel but he was behaving very strangely right now and she didn't know how to react.

After the vampire had secured the door, he turned to the pixie faced young woman and said baldly, "I need you to tell me what I can do to prove that I can forgive myself."

The sight of the young woman's mouth falling open and her eyes widening in stunned surprise weren't exactly comforting to Angel at the moment. When she stood in that frozen position for longer than he had ever seen her still, it became downright disconcerting.

Angel fought hard to retain the hope that she would know the answer. As he had dozed in the small darkened guest room, he had been disturbed by that strange voice in his head. Instead of being snide and sarcastic as usual, the voice had told him that the only way he could find Willow now, was to forgive himself and relieve some of the guilt he had been burdened with for nearly a century now. That would help heal the cord as well as provide him with a guide to find her. It had also said before fading into nothing that to forgive himself he had to prepare himself to face his greatest battles and his greatest sins.

Shaking his head slightly to rid himself of the memory, he glanced at Cassie, only to see her standing there with the same expression on her face. Reaching forward he caught her chin with the ends of his fingers and closed her mouth. That simple action seemed to snap her out of her daze. Blinking rapidly she looked up at the vampire incredulously and said doubtfully, "I don't think I heard you right, could you repeat that please?"

Angel gave a breathless sigh and repeated softly, "I need to know if there is a ritual or rite that can help me prove to the powers that be, that I can forgive myself for everything that I've done."

"Why?" Cassie croaked out and Angel glanced down at her. He saw a somewhat fearful look come into her eyes, and wondered why the little witch was afraid for a split second before he answered. "Willow told me that it was important that I forgive myself before we have to fight Galan. She said the only way we could defeat him was if I was strong mentally and emotionally and that I couldn't be that way as long as I was filled with guilt." Angel paused for a second and then gave a wry grin before adding, "Well, she didn't exactly say it that way, but that's the general idea. Now, I think that may be part of the reason that I've been having trouble trying to find her with the cord. I think the guilt is shadowing my ability to locate her." As he finished explaining he looked over at the young witch, she had started pacing the room as he had begun his explanation and was still pacing when he finished. The forgotten soda clenched in her fist. "Cassie," he said sharply, she glanced up at him and there was no mistaking it this time.

Her eyes held a deep look of concern and yes, fear. Stepping forward quickly he caught her shoulders in his hands and halted her pacing as he looked steadily into her gaze and said firmly, "You do know a way, don't you?"

Troubled eyes met his own fathomless dark ones and with a sigh the younger woman sank to the floor in a yoga position. Angel squatted in front of her, afraid that if he broke eye-contact for too long she would sink back into stony silence. "Tell me." he demanded intensely.

"There is a way. It's called the Rite of Healing. Usually it's only used for troubled souls who haven't left this plane. I've only heard of a few times when it was used on liv...people who are still here. It's very dangerous though and most of those didn't make it back." she said despondently. Already aware that the creature kneeling before her, a man she had considered a friend for her entire life, was going to insist on trying this ritual.

"Don't come back from where?" Angel asked thoughtfully studying the younger woman. "For the lost souls it's a little easier, but for the others...you have to let your soul go on a journey more or less. Along the journey you come across people or things that have special meaning in your life. Things you feel guilty about. These things you have to face and get over the guilt that you have about them. It's basically your sub-conscious that you're facing but the guilt is real, the fights for your soul are real. Just like what you and Willow did, and just like then, if you fail...you don't come back, you don't regain control of your body."

"What do I have to do?" Angel asked, without hesitation.

Cassie sat stunned for a moment, she had been flabbergasted that they were even discussing this as an option and the fact that he had decided to do it even after hearing how dangerous it was, appalled her. With a sudden lurch she was on her feet and pacing back and forth rapidly. "No, no, no!" she cried, "You didn't hear a word I said did you? If you lose, you don't come back, period. Willow won't be there to help you this time. I can't help you. You'll be on your own, and if you fail, you die. I mean really die. Do you think Willow would want that?"

"Cassie, do you think I don't know that?" Angel said from where he knelt, not looking up at the young witch as she paced by, he continued, "Do you think that I could live knowing I didn't do everything I could to help her? Do you think for one minute that I could stand to live without her?" He went on not noticing the younger woman's steps falter and slow, "If I can't do this, I can't find her, I can't help her against Galan, I'm no use to her. I need to find her, I need to help her, I need to be there to make sure she survives. Do you have any idea what I feel for her, Cassie?"

Probably exactly the same way she feels about you. Cassie thought to herself finally stopping behind the vampire. "I can't fail her Cassie, I can't and I won't."

With a heavy sigh the witch placed her hands on his shoulders and said softly, "Okay, I'll help you." With speed that was inherent to his kind Angel was up and had the witch in a bear hug before she knew it. "Angel..."she said in a tiny breathless voice, when there was no response she continued in the same voice, "Angel squish Cassie just like grape." Realizing what she meant, the vampire quickly set the girl back on her feet, with a sheepish grin. After spending a moment catching her breath, Cassie looked up at her dark haired companion and shaking her finger at him said, "But if you don't come back and Willow kills me for this. I swear I'll come and haunt you." Shaking her head at his unrepentant look she said, "Now come on, you can help me get the stuff set up."

An hour later, everything was laid out to Cassie's satisfaction and the vampire laid on the floor, as she chanted Angel concentrated on her instructions on how to enter the deep meditative state he would need to begin the rite. The chanting was very soothing and Angel felt his thoughts seem to drift.

Then he opened his eyes and there spread before him, was a strangely familiar landscape. He was in a clearing, with dense woods all around. The sun was shining, the colors of the flowers and the trees were jewel-like and seemed too real almost. There on the edge of the forest, waiting for him was a very familiar, tiny creature. Her strawberry curls, rosy cheeks, and sparkling blue eyes, welcomed him as he drew near.

"Angewus!" she cried holding out her arms to be picked up. Her brother obliged picking up the child and nuzzling his nose into the soft sweet-smelling skin of her neck. Before whispering, "Hello pixie." then he blew into her neck and she giggled hysterically rearing away from him instinctively.

Angel smiled at the toddler, and said, "What are you doing here, Aislinn and where are the others?"

"Dey couldn't come dis time, just me. I have to show you where to go Angewus." she said squirming to be let down. When he finally set her on her feet beside him she clasped his hand in hers and said excitedly, "Come on." as she pulled him behind her to the edge of the forest. They had walked only a few feet into the dense growth when they came to a path. The path seemed to start right where they were, or end there.

"You have to go down dere." The toddler lisped, "But be careful. Angewus?"

"Yes pixie?" he asked picking back up to nuzzle her neck again, as he began walking "Will you and Wiwow come back some time soon, I miss you."

"We'll do our best to come back very soon, pixie. I miss you too and I love you." With that the vampire reluctantly set the tiny child back on the ground and watched as she waved and skipped back into the growth by the side of the path.

He walked further down the path, half expecting to see Giles, or Buffy waiting for him, standing between him and his goal. As Angel continued down the path, he froze when he saw someone he would never forget. Her face hadn't changed and her smooth olive skin was just as beautiful as it had been the night he'd killed her. He looked around and wasn't really surprised when he found the young one alone again.

The vampire watched her as she studied him, and she uttered a single phrase in Romanian, "Cursed no more." she husked out before disappearing before his eyes, Cursed no more. He wished he were no longer cursed. Even though Willow had said that he was free of the worry of losing his soul, and he was starting to believe it, it still didn't make him what she was, human, and it didn't make him worthy of

As Angel walked further down the path that lay before him, in his mind he remembered with startling clarity the regaining of his soul. A flash of light stopped him in his tracks, caught by a sight that he had never seen before. He watched the phoenix, he watched it engulfed in flames, only to rise from the ashes before his awed gaze. As soon as his stunned brain could function again he continued down the path, figuring that it would be wise not to disturb the creature. Until he saw the next creature that this quest was leading him to, Darla, she was staring at him with a dark smile on her face, much like she had the night he'd killed her.

"Still playing at being human with little human girls?" She asked leering at him. "Will she send you to hell too?"

Angel stared at her, surprised when no dark or violent emotion filled him; he felt only sadness and guilt when he looked at her. She was a piece of his past and in spite of everything that had happened, she had been important to him, but now she was just a dark memory to be carried with one for their lifetime, in the way that one bears a cross, or his albatross.

He turned and started to walk away from her, when he felt her rush him from behind, he back-handed her away absently, and without looking heard the sound of her disintegrating form. He never looked back.

After taking another turn in the path, he was confronted with the apparition he hadn't wanted to meet on this journey but somehow he'd known he would. She leaned against a tree just off the path, and Angel forced himself to stay where he was. He could see sunlight glint of her short dark brown locks, her brown eyes met his and she smiled, not evilly just a small smile, almost as though she held no hate.

"Hello, Angelus." There was no anger or hate, just soft resignation within her voice. She smiled again and stepped on to the path with him. She was dressed in a long flowing garment of sea foam green and her hair was brushed back away from her face. He realized that it was amusement he saw in her eyes, she was finding his predicament humorous. "Oh Angelus, I admit that I forgive, though I do not forget. Even though I do forgive, it doesn't mean I have not enjoyed watching you struggle with yourself, with your desires, your love, and with what you will do. I have no wish to see Willow harmed."

Angel stared at her, his mouth refusing to form words for a long moment. "You...your real," he gasped out at last.

Jenny smiled kindly at him, and then nodded her head. "Of course, I'm real. It's hard to act as a guardian spirit if one is not real, and besides if I was like the others I would never forgive you."

"How can you?" he asked despondently. Guilt and hope warring with each other at her pronouncements.

"Because it's just as Willow tried so hard to make everyone understand. I didn't believe her then, but I know from being here and seeing you that you had no control. I saw you when Angelus killed me, I saw your soul and that you were shackled and chained within the demon. There was nothing you could do and I accept that. You must too." The former computer teacher said before her form slowly disappeared before his eyes.

The vampire stood contemplating her words before he turned and gasped, because before him now stood Buffy. Her eyes ablaze as they had been at Willow's home...had it really been less than two weeks ago.

"Have you fucked her yet Angel?" The slayer demanded, and Angel's mind filled with images of he and Willow, of their entwined bodies, of the kisses and the touches.

"No," he whispered looking at the Slayer cautiously. His own face going feral as he watched her step closer. He knew this wasn't her and he had a feeling that Buffy was the final test. If he could face her and walk away, whoever was in control would give him the answers he sought.

"No...not like me hmm...too sweet and innocent, I bet I can make you remember why you wanted me." The Buffy double practically purred. "My heart is no longer yours," he said carefully. The Slayer grinned at him. "I don't want your heart I was looking for something a little further south then that. Let the little lying bitch have your heart, you're just my leftovers, and she knows she's a poor substitute for me."

Angel stared at her wondering if this is how his unconscious saw Buffy; it certainly reminded him of what his demon had thought of the Slayer. Angelus, had despised Buffy, and now he knew something else with a strange certainty. If he had gone after Willow in the first place, if he had given into those first fiery stirrings, he might have very well have been Willow's lover, but his soul wouldn't have been lost. He would never have felt human, Willow didn't make him only feel human, she made feel, wholly male and completely vampiric, all rolled into one.

"Oh Slayer you never had me." Angel whispered as he walked away from her, he paused as he heard her run toward him. He blocked the blow before it made contact and quickly and efficiently broke one of her arms. He watched the shocked look on the apparition's face. He had harmed the Slayer, and he was beginning to realize more and more that should there be a confrontation between Willow and Buffy, and the Slayer hurt Willow, he would probably kill the Slayer.

He kept walking, and heard a chilling sound; he had foolishly thought he was done, that he had reached the end. He turned and faced something he hadn't expected. He faced Angelus. He gasped as the demon circled him. The pair looked exactly the same, save for the dark smirk worn by his evil counterpart.

"I must say, your taste has really improved, although why you haven't taken her is beyond me, she's ripe for it Angel, me boy." The demon said, smiling darkly. He swept his hand out in front of him, and an image formed in the air, it was of himself and Willow, they were lying on his bed upstairs in his room, It was an image from the night the fae interrupted.

Angelus was smirking at Angel. "Wondering who taught her that too I see." Angelus observed, and although he hated himself for it Angel couldn't help but wonder if the fae hadn't shown her how to pleasure him in that way. I mean where else would she have learned what she had done to him.

"You wanted to rip him to shreds when you saw her hands on him. She was touching him so calmly, like she'd done so before, her hands didn't even tremble." the demon continued to torment Angel with his own suspicions.

Angel studied his other half grimly, admitting that his words were true. He groaned as the conversation that he'd overheard was replayed in his head. The issue and about them. He couldn't stop wondering if right now she wasn't giving herself to the fae in order to ensure that the other vampire wouldn't be able to open the gate. He was torturing himself and he knew it, but he couldn't stop it.

"Poor ensouled Angel, too good and kind to simply take what you want, even if she wants it too. We should have taken her when we had the chance. Fool." Angelus ground out. Angel's head came up suddenly, something in the tone of his other half's voice caught his attention. The demon was jealous, he was as jealous as hell of the souled version of himself. It dawned on Angel like a veil over his memory being lifted.

Of course, that was the whole reason why he'd wanted Willow dead. Because she'd accepted Angel as a vampire and a man, not either one above the other but both because he was both, and she had turned away from Angelus, all the while continuing to consider Angel a friend. Of course, he had wanted her, his demon had wanted her. It was only natural then that his demon would be jealous of what they shared, and he was inadvertently jumping to all these conclusions about Willow and the Fae because he still had issues with the fact that she could love him.

"So," Angel said conversationally, "what do I do to get out of here. I'm sure you know?" Angelus studied him seemingly to take inventory. "Destroy me, this time without her help." he said sneering at him.

Angel smiled, surprised when he felt the desire for violence rise up within him, this time unencumbered by guilt.

"As you wish." He offered before launching himself at the demon that had tormented him for so long. They circled and moved, looking very much like two dancers each anticipating the moves of the other, they fought. Angelus caught Angel by the scruff of his neck dragging the souled vampire against him, he grinned evilly.

"Know what happens if I win? I get to leave this place. Then I'll get to have the little redhead, all to myself." Angelus taunted. He dropped Angel to the floor, and the ensouled vampire stared up at him.

"You've merely tasted her passion. When I get out of here, it will be all mine, and I intend to do more than taste." Angelus said his dark eyes going vampire gold. When I get out of here... Angel froze in place. You can't change back into Angelus; it's not possible I made sure of it. Angel's mind began to make sense of all the strange happenings since he'd been released from hell. Angelus was no longer within him, hadn't been since that night that Willow had pulled him out of hell. Then what the hell was keeping him alive? he wondered. He needed the demon in order to exist, it was a given, he couldn't live without him If the demon wasn't within him, he should have crumbled to dust long ago. Then he remembered the voice, not his demon's voice, but another. Another demon perhaps, but not Angelus anymore.

He watched as Angelus began to back away slowly. Almost as though he knew that Angel was realizing now what he should have known all along.

Angel moved quickly somehow sure that he had to destroy this carbon copy or else he wouldn't make it. He closed his eyes trying to imagine a sword in his hand and he smiled when he felt his palm fill with the heavy weight of what he needed. He moved after Angelus' retreating form and waited until the other man had armed himself, before clashing swords with the man.

It's interesting, Angel's mind observed, how strange it is to fight someone you know on such an intimate level. He waited, expecting Angelus to speak, to taunt, to use all the fighting tactics he'd learned and perfected over the years.

He was rather surprised to find that somehow, he appeared to be the better swordsman. They continued on, a dance of thrusts, parries, and lunges. After a time Angel wasn't sure where it would end or how it had all begun, he was only aware of the constant clang of steel against sword...and of the fact that he must win...for Willow. Angel gasped feeling his sword arm weaken slightly as he took a non-damaging hit to the right side.

Without thinking Angel instinctively reached with his left hand toward the right side of his waist, not even realizing that there should have been no short sword or dagger there. What his hand came away with shocked him beyond words. It was Willow's blade, her athame. The small impressive blade that she had used to perform the ritual before the faire. He didn't have time to think about it's being there. Only to use it in an effort to defend himself and defeat himself. He caught Angelus' blade with the hilt of his sword and pushed it aside before thrusting the dagger wildly through the created drop in the other man's guard. The souled vampire was momentarily shocked when his blade met flesh and slid through it as easily as a hot knife through butter. Angelus gasped and cried out in what appeared to be more shock than pain. "You weren't supposed to be able to do this without her." He gasped to his counterpart before disappearing completely . "Oh no," he whispered to the departed air. "This was just what I had to do. Alone. " He turned with some shock and realized that the scenery had changed yet again. He walked toward the oddly familiar figure that sat easily on the steps of a large Romanesque building. The robed form looked up and smiled. "So good to see you Angelus."

"And you my lord." He answered in return.

"This way." The figure said and slowly started up the steps. He led Angel down the corridors and through hallways that seemed to go on forever. He had never seen so many rooms in all his existence.

They stopped before a large room, and he was led inside. He was stopped before a stack of books and handed one of the thick volumes.

"What you need, can be found within these pages." the elderly man said, as he relinquished the heavy tome, before moving away to give the dark haired vampire some privacy. Angel opened the first volume and was surprised to see that the pages were lined with color photos. Only no photos he'd ever seen had the resolution and clarity that these retained. He watched as with some shock one of the photos began to move, and the scene within it played itself out.

He began flipping quickly through the pages till he came to that day in the meadow between himself and Willow. At least it appeared to be that day. He watched, as the scene played itself out. Then the sight of the fae grabbing her. Next came things he hadn't seen. The fae and she talking after the abduction. The fae handing her a book and leaning forward to claim a chaste kiss from her lips. He watched until the image changed to him lying in Katia's den on the floor out of the sunlight, which he noticed, had set since he'd left. He could see himself on this journey right up to the very moment he was at. He saw Willow and Tristan as they were at this moment.

His mind took in every detail. From the street name to the house number and then he studied Willow who had finally given into sleep. And there in the hackers folded fingers was the dagger that had finished Angelus.

"She still helped me." He whispered to no one.

"No she gave you strength and showed you the power you already possessed." Angel turned and looked at the wizened figure behind him. He had what he needed, the question was how did he get back from where ever here was.

Even as the thoughts formed. He felt himself growing heavy and felt the ground come up to meet his back. Heavy weighted reality settled around him and his eyes opened to meet the gaze of a very worried looking Cassie.

Pushing himself up on one elbow, he looked at the young woman and said triumphantly, "I know where Willow is."

Undisclosed Location: Stronghold Of The Lord Of Alfheim

Willow watched Tristan as he paced around the room before her. She was angry couldn't help but be angry. She had awoken not long ago with the strange certainty that Angel was near. Only to be disappointed that only Tristan occupied the outer room.

He turned to her suddenly stopping in his movements. He caught her hand in his own and before she could stop him.

"I know you are angry with me Cara, but you need to understand that this is the way of things."

"Your way, but I am not of you. I am not one of you, really. That's why you left this to me. You let me grow up here in this world, you let me learn to love them, and think like them, and be like them, and now you expect me to do other then what you had me taught?" She said her voice raising in incredulous question at the end.

Tristan looked at her for a long moment. He knew that she was up set that she was angry. He had expected her to react badly to his kidnaping and the rather unfair task he had set forth for the vampire. He was blocking every known avenue of communication between them. Leaving him to use only the burning ember of thread that still stretched like sliver spun cord between them.

"Will you share yourself with him, little witch?" Tristan asked suddenly. He wasn't jealous of what he knew would be between the hacker and the vampire. Only concerned of what that bonding might mean to the young woman. Forever was a long time and nearly plausible in their case.

She stared at her mouth open slightly in shock. She hadn't heard Tristan ask such a direct question about her and Angel since this had begun. She blushed slightly, staring at her mentor with out knowing what to say.

"I don't know what is going to happen with Angel and I." She said finally not looking at her teacher and staring at her hands.

"Willow?" he whispered caressing her cheek and lifting her face, effectively forcing her to look at him. "Do you doubt that he would have you?" He asked his voice completely serious. He remembered all to well how unbelieving she was when he'd insisted that the Vampire Angelus had been interested in more then her death.

"No....yes, I mean no I know he.. He's interested." She managed to stammer out. "It's just he doesn't' know." She said at last. Her eyes where bright.

"Then you tell him, little witch. You make sure he understands that this is more then a simple roll in the hay." Tristan said smiling at the heightening of color in her cheeks.

"I will...I will assuming you are going to let me go." Willow said looking directly into his eyes.

"He has to come for you witch, and he has to take you."

"Damn it Tristan this isn't fair. You are not playing by the rules..." she growled.

Willow seethed as Tristan paced in front of her, "You know, I don't think it's very smart for the Summoner's Watcher to interfere with the Summoner and the Western King. Something tells me that will probably make several of the fae angry." The young woman continued the argument the pair had been having for the past two days, even as she struggled against the restrictions the fae had placed upon her. The strain of separation from Angel and the loss of communication between them were becoming painful to her now.

"I doubt that little one." Tristan said glibly, "Not when they know the Western King is a vampire."

"I think they already know that by now Tristan," Willow said sarcastically, "And considering he's part of the key to saving the Underhill and my world, I don't think they'll object too much."

"And how would you know that little Willow? You're more human than fae." Tristan said dismissively. "He's a vampire, he can't be trusted. You've been tested, this is his test."

"Oh and this is a fair test?" Willow said angry tears forming before she blinked them away. "Keeping us apart is painful for both of us, you knew that. You knew he couldn't move about during the day and you know he can't use magic. So you used all those things against him." Looking up at him her eyes flashed green fire as she continued, "And don't even try to tell me that this is a reasonable test on your part. When it comes to Angel, you're not reasonable, just because he's a vampire." Taking a deep breath, she continued, "I know about Katerina." At the stiffening of Tristan's shoulders, Willow continued hurriedly, "But I'm not her and Angel isn't the vampire who changed her."

"You don't know that." Tristan bit out.

"And you don't know that he is, but it doesn't stop you from trying to persecute him." Knowing that she was fighting a losing battle, the young redhead heaved a sigh and said tiredly, "And even if he was the same vampire who did turn Katerina, he's not the same now. Not since he regained his soul, but you don't see that, do you Tristan?"

"What I see is that he is still a vampire. Whether he's that vampire or not, whether he has a soul or not, he will always be a vampire, and therefore not worthy of you." The fae said, turning to begin pacing again. "You'll see little one, I know best in this matter."

Willow wasn't listening any longer to her mentor though, because something was tickling at the edge of thoughts. The young witch was trying to focus on the sensation, the tickling, itch that was running across her nerve endings. Even as she was trying to place the odd feeling, it was becoming more intense, until her body quivered with it. She felt something dark and warm seem to flow into her soul, enveloping, comforting, loving...Angel.

The instant the young witch recognized what the sensation was, the fae also seemed to realize that there was another presence close by. Lunging for the door of the cabin, he yanked it open. Sure enough, running up the path at full tilt was Angel, in broad daylight. A roar of anger ripped the air, and Willow barely had time to register that the sound had come from her mentor, not the vampire, before Tristan was out the door and the two were engaged in a fierce battle.

Willow managed to escape the conjured bonds, as Tristan was engaged in the fight and had forgotten everything else. She stopped in the doorway of the cabin, appalled at what she saw. While Angel was using his vampiric strength, he was not in game face, and Tristan was using his own supernatural power to augment his strength, the two were hitting each other with such force, that the sounds of the impacts could be heard where she was standing in the entrance of the cabin. Then they were rolling about on the ground, each getting in several good punches, before Tristan, finally growing frustrated and already enraged, clasped the talisman around Angel's neck in his fist and yanked.

As the malachite came free, Angel screamed in rage and pain, before putting his feet into the abdomen of the fae and kicking him off into a tree standing at the edge of the small clearing.

Willow ran across the clearing, and using the gauzy material of her dress as a temporary shield, she turned on her Watcher. With a veracious growl that sounded remarkably like Angel's own, Willow raised her hand and the blast of energy that came from her fingertips threw the fae even further into the woods surrounding the clearing. The necklace seemed to tear itself from his stunned fingers and float back to the duo in the clearing. Landing in the outstretched palm of the tiny woman trying desperately to shield the writhing figure on the ground. With quick fingers she wrapped the talisman's chain back around his neck, only to hear him hiss in relief as the burning stopped. His face and hands were reddened, as well as the skin revealed by tears in his clothing from the fight. His eyes were tightly closed and she noticed the sensitive tissue around them was nearly blistered from the sun.

Turning back to see Tristan rise from where he had been thrown, the redhead stood and stalked toward her Watcher with steely determination. The fae glanced up and froze, for advancing on him was the Summoner, glorious red hair practically standing on end with the magic that surged through her angry form. Her eyes glowed almost white green with unsurpassed power, and sparks of energy seemed to dance across her body. When she stopped in front of him, there was no mistaking that she had fully accepted her role as the Summoner and all that entailed.

When she spoke the hollow but ringing tones actually frightened the fae. No one had ever challenged a fully manifested Summoner and survived, mostly because no one had ever been stupid enough to try, and Tristan wasn't about to start. "I think you've done enough damage now. Don't you?" The quick, precise tone was cutting, and left no doubt that it was a rhetorical question. "Since you seem intent on resisting destiny, and since they probably need the help, you will return to Sunnydale and help the Slayer and my friends to fight Galan and his minions until I return." With that dismissal she turned away and started back to Angel, when she heard a sound behind her and turned back to see Tristan strangling to get something out, his face purpling with anger. Coldly she added, "It was not a request Watcher. Do as you are told."

In a shower of sparks he was gone and she went back to kneel beside the vampire. Putting his arm around her shoulders, Willow helped him to a sitting position and pulled him up. They half staggered into the relative safety of the cabin, before she eased him into the chair she had just vacated. Drawing in a deep breath she placed her hands lightly, one above his heart, the other on his lower abdomen, closing her eyes she focused on sending healing energy into the damaged body of her friend. When she reopened her eyes, the redness was easing, and the pained pinch of his face was relaxing.

Quietly letting him rest she eased the necklace off of his neck again and turned away trying to gauge how much of the spell's power was still within the charm. She gasped when she realized how close to depletion it was. Angel had run a terrible risk coming after her like this. In some perverse way she wished Tristan was still here. On the one hand she would have liked to show him just how worthy Angel was of her, and on the other she would have liked to severely hurt the fae for the danger he had placed Angel in. Shaking the dark thoughts out of her head, she walked over and carefully placed the talisman on the table, before turning back to find the vampire in question standing just a few feet behind her. A dark predatory gleam in his eyes, as he gazed at the tiny redhead.

Willow wasn't overly surprised at the quick recovery of the vampire, after all she had seen him bounce back from much more severe injuries. The look he was giving her right now however, was another matter entirely. That atavistic look was scaring the willies out of her, and as he began stalking about her, circling her, the predatory and animalistic air he was exuding, didn't help in the least.

Angel circled Willow, as she stared at him completely at a loss. The magic that had protected him hadn't weakened her in the least. She felt tiny flutters of fear waft through her. How the hell did he find us?

"Oh, you didn't want to be found?" Angel asked picking up on her thoughts, and as usual misinterpreting her analytical nature, as some sort of considered failing on his part.

"Why do you do that?" she asked shaking off her momentary fear and stalking over to where he stood. "You always do that. Act like you're in some way less than worthy. You yelled at me for putting myself down, did it never occur to you to take your own advice." Willow demanded circling Angel as he had just circled her. Angel's eyes followed the flowing, swaying movements of the gown she was wearing.

"Tristan has good taste in clothing." Angel observed, a hint of jealousy making his voice darken. Willow stared at him, shocked, she was really getting tired of his barely veiled implications that she wanted Tristan. That's like Buffy and Giles, even if Tristan prefers black leather to tweed. Shudders.

"Angel, I picked it out, it's me, I like this stuff. You packed my clothes. If by now you don't know that I prefer satin, lace, and chiffon to denim, cotton, and wool then you haven't been paying attention. " She stared up into Angel's dark gaze. He was watching her. "Sheesh Angel, I've never been so glad to see any one in my life." Willow threw her arms around the startled vampire. Angel stared down at her, to find himself pinned by her suddenly mischievous gaze. "Besides Angel, Tristan is too old for me."

"No, Willow. I'm the one that's too old for you." Angel stated, his voice catching Another really good reason I shouldn't love her. Leaning up Willow surprised them both with the light playful nipping kiss that she placed on the vampire's surprised lips.

"Tristan's a bit older then you Angel." Willow whispered against his mouth.

"Oh?" he asked his mouth feathering hers in return.

"He's four hundred and twenty five years old." She smiled as Angel's hands fell away from her as he jumped back slightly, shock making him forget just what he'd been doing. Over four hundred...but...but. Willow laughed good naturally at Angel's confusion.

"Wait that means...." Angel began as certain things began to fall into place.

"Means he's immortal. Yeah, although fae can die, it's just much less dramatic than say, dusting a vampire, fae tend to do it in a big but quiet way. They just fade into the patterns from which they came." Angel stared at Willow for a moment shocked. The fae were immortal.

She slid her arms around Angel. He stared down into Willow's bright eyes, wondering what she was doing. This was the same woman that had been trying to keep him at arms length for the last two weeks and she was...was... he didn't know what she was doing, but he didn't want it to stop.

"Well we're stuck here for the rest of the day, cause I can't recharge that." Indicating the amulet now resting on the table. "I don't have the herbs."

"You mean these?" He asked, pulling the bunch of smudging scents she'd bought at the shop out of his pocket.

"Check it out, Angel. You did good. Can I have them please?" He handed them to her easily. "You didn't by chance bring some candles and matches did you?"

"Candles coming up." He pulled five tiny tapers from somewhere in his jacket but then, after searching his pockets, looked sheepishly at the ground. "I'm afraid however that I appear to have lost the fire implement that you requested."

Willow smiled, laughing softly at the look on Angel's face, she shrugged,"S'okay, I forgive you this time." She said playfully sliding back into his arms. What is she doing? Who cares...enjoy this.

Angel stared down at her, caught completely off-guard by her contrary actions. Her hands slid up to burrow into his hair. She clung to him and he wasn't at all sure how he should be reacting to this unusual show of emotions. She was definitely inviting his touch at the moment. An invitation he wasn't really taking and for a moment he wondered if she was testing his resolve. If she was waiting for him to give in to that desire, and then she would merely pull herself away from him.

"Willow?" Angel questioned quietly.

"Hmm." she responded distractedly.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Oh," she gasped, pulling out of his arms, and turning away from him. Guess I was wrong. She moved over into the sunlight. He watched her, confused yet again by her actions.

"Willow," she turned to face him." What is this?" She smiled questioningly.

"What's what?" She asked gently, not sure what he was getting at. Closing his eyes for a moment, he concentrated on the cording that Katia had shown him, and he heard Willow gasp.

"I see someone took it upon themselves to show you that." she said a little petulantly.

"What is it?" Angel repeated.

"You want the long or the short version." Willow asked with a crooked smile.

"The short." he said quickly. Finally some answers.

"Pre-existing astral cord." she responded simply.

Angel stared at her, PRE-existing astral cord? "That would mean what? and pre- as compared to what?"

Willow stared at Angel for a moment, she lifted her eyebrow as if to say 'wouldn't you like to know.' Then she plunked herself down on the couch, which took up most of the far wall. Willow lifted her legs, the dress falling on either side of her in an artful pile of soft, shimmering, silky material. The redhead smiled up at him, "You said you wanted the short version, you should have asked for the long. If you want answers, this could take some time....."

"Okay doctor so the long of it." She smiled sadly, and Angel prepared himself for the worst. Whatever it was she was going to tell him he had a feeling he wasn't going to like it.

"It's not the prophecy, or the spell, or anything even remotely magical. Well if you can call it lacking in magic." Angel stared at her, not understanding the reference. She smiled again, a bit more brightly. Catching hold of the hand that had begun to reach toward her without his knowing it, she smiled as he lost his balance and toppled onto the couch beside her.

"You were right," Willow's eyes were blazing into his. Situating herself on her knees in front of him, she slid her hands into the ripped fabric of his leather pants.

"Going Angelus on me?" she asked her eyes filled with mischief and bright humor.

"Well, I was sort of down to these, cause I didn't have time to take care of more mundane matters. I didn't do the wash."

She laughed softly, "It looks good, on you." Her hands kneaded the flesh there, absently and Angel had to wonder if she had any idea what she was doing to him. "Willow, about the astral cord?"

Willow's eyes came up to his again. "Oh, yeah sorry," she said sliding away from him a little, Angel's hands came out and caught the tiny redhead up and settled her onto his lap. "It...the cord, Angel how am I supposed to think when you do that?" Willow demanded as his mouth connected with her jaw. Angel chuckled softly, but continued to caress her. Closing her eyes, Willow began to pull herself inward trying to hold on to some sort of coherent thought.

"Cord, it's sort of pre-existing. In that it was there before I ever laid eyes on you. Sort of just something that was connecting you to me, drawing you to me. That's what you've felt...well part of it anyway...all this time." she explained as he continued to nuzzle her jaw.

"Why?" Angel asked leaning back to look at her face.

Willow looked back at him thoughtfully for a moment. "Cause, we're made from the same stuff."

"Stuff?" Angel asked as he leaned forward to apply a slight suction to a pulse point in her throat.

"Yeah, I don't know what to call it." Willow said breathlessly, gasping lightly.

"Something you don't know?" he asked archly against her throat. The vibrations against that sensitive skin made her gasp and she reached up and dragged his mouth away from her throat and up to hers. He gasped, part surprise, part pleasure. He felt something strange and unknown wash through him. Like her power only deeper like the humming of high voltage electricity. He pulled her closer, the combination of her touch and this new, strange yet somehow familiar, humming of power and energy, intoxicated him.

"Willow?" he whispered questioningly when he at last pulled his mouth from hers.

"My last secrets." she whispered back, appearing to be just as befuddled as he was. Then shaking her head dazedly, she started to stand, but the vampire simply held her in place. Giving her own version of a growl, Willow shook her head admonishingly at her dark haired companion. Looking a little sheepish Angel released her, albeit reluctantly.

"OK, bad parts first. I'm the Summoner, I'm the one chosen to fight Galan, not you. I think Tristan forgot that part when he set up this little test. Anyway, you're sort of my back-up in case anything goes wrong." Seeing his instant dislike of the concept, Willow hurried on, "Angel, don't get me wrong. I love the fact that you're protective of me and all that, but you know what I can do. You've seen it first hand, granted Galan is going to be a lot tougher than Lydia was...but still...it's not about me. No matter what happens to me, no matter what he does, he can't open the gate without you. It has to be us."

Seeing his concern and doubt, weakened her resolve somewhat, but not enough to back down on this issue. No matter what she was going to do everything she could to protect Angel. "What I'm trying to say, not very well obviously, is that you need to let me handle Galan, it's what I'm supposed to do. If something goes wrong...and I'm not saying it's going to...but if it does...then you can use Galan for a pinata for all I care...okay?" Seeing the stubborn set to his jaw, she continued, "I want your word on it Angelus, or I'm not telling you anything else." With that the young redhead crossed her arms and adopted an equally mutinous glare.

Angel stared at the tiny creature standing in front of him incredulously. Did she really think she could be more obstinate than him? He was a 240 year old Irish vampire who had learned to be stubborn long before her great, great grandparents had been born.

He studied her a little more thoughtfully and realized that this wisp of a girl could in all honestly win because she knew his innate curiosity and ingrained honor would demand that he give in. He wanted to know everything, everything about the prophecy, about her, everything and the only way to do that was to give his word.

The only problem with that was he didn't want to make the promise. A promise not to protect his Willow when the time came for her to face Galan, that would be like promising he wouldn't feed on blood for the next two weeks. For a split second he considered giving his word falsely with the intent of reneging later, but his inborn honor as a former Irish gentleman quelled that idea easily. That was something the demon Angelus might have done to get his own way, it wasn't something that Angel...Willow's Angel would do. Angelus had once called Angel the Slayer's lapdog. In this case he was Willow's, but not a lapdog, no, he intended to be her mate. Then a thought flashed through his mind, that nearly singed him, instead a saturnine smile flashed across his features.

"I'll make you that promise, if you give me one to match it." He said, carefully enunciating each word.

"What kind of promise?" Willow asked suspiciously.

"It's a matter of trust, mo cridhe. I don't think you really trust me. So what good would giving my word be, if you actually think I won't keep it?

"I think you'll keep it, you're too honorable not too." she said cautiously, as she continued to study his now somber expression. "You still haven't told me, what kind of promise though."

Steeling his fingers, he said steadily, "I want you to show me that you trust me. Very simply, when we return to town and to the house, I want you to place yourself completely in my hands. What ever I say goes, no pulling away, no hiding, no excuses. Agreed?"

Willow's mouth went dry, while his voice was steady and he looked outwardly calm, she had caught a glimpse of Angel's eyes, before he lowered his lashes to shield them. The predatory and possessive gleam there, warned her it wouldn't just be a matter of trust, but she needed his promise.

"If I give you my word, you'll give me your word that when the time comes, you won't fight Galan...unless something happens?" the witch said thoughtfully.

She missed the frown that marred his features at the reminder but heard him say formally, "I will give you my word."

Drawing a deep breath she whispered, "Then I give you my word, when we get back...no more doubts."

The grin that crossed his face at that response looked very much like one his demonic counterpart would have given, but the answer he gave her more than made up for the slight shiver of fear that raced through her at the thought. Very formally, he lowered himself to the floor at her feet, and kneeling took her hands in his and whispered a stream of Gaelic that she couldn't hope to follow. When he saw her bewildered gaze he whispered, "I swear to you, that I will not interfere in your battle. I swear to you that I will not fight Galan unless he harms you, and I swear to you that if he does harm you I will take great pleasure in destroying him." For some reason Willow had a feeling that wasn't all he'd said, but she kept quiet and only nodded her head at the vampire weakly.

Pulling her back to the couch with him, Angel settled her across his knees. After a short period, Angel came out of his own deep thoughts to ask Willow seriously, "I don't understand Willow, I mean they've left you, an innocent in the middle of their war."

Oh God! How do I make him understand? "You could get killed." He said dragging her close, as if somehow he could keep this feared fate at bay by holding her near.

"Angel I need to tell you something." Willow said slowly pulling from his embrace, he stared back at her not sure he wanted to hear what ever she was about to say.

"I need you to sit here, and don't move no matter what, alright?" She stated more then asked. He looked at her for a moment wondering what she was going to do. She left the room and came back in a few moments later. He was already antsy he almost didn't want her to say what ever she was going to.

"Angel?" He looked up as she said his name and gasped slightly. She was holding the dagger that she had used with in the circle. He stared at it wonderingly. She held it out for his inspection. He took the dagger and examined it. He ran his finger lightly over the blade, surprised at how sharp it was. He looked back at her questioningly and she held out her hand to be given back the blade.

She took two steps back from him, far enough that he would have to lunge to reach her. She held the dagger out staring at it for a moment before drawing it quickly across the soft underside of her wrist, Angel gasped and lunged for her, only to have her step into the sunlight again, just out of his reach. She held out the wounded hand and he watched in shock. Blood had begun to run down into the palm of her hand.

"Willow," He hissed her name still reaching for her. He stared at the cut and watched in shock as the blood that had run down into her palm seemed to disappear. He watched as the skin began to reknit itself so that nothing remained of the cut not even a white line to indicate where it had been. She stepped closer to him allowing him to take her in his arms as he desired.

"How....?" he didn't need to finish, Willow knew. Vampires didn't heal like that, they scarred and she had just done something that he couldn't.

"I cashed in that one way ticket, I agreed, signed away my life, so that others might live. This isn't about things written in stone, this is about choosing rather then being chosen." He stared at her worriedly.

"What are you saying?"

Cashed in...one way ticket...signed away... Willow stared up at Angel. Her eyes locked with Angel's.

"I'm saying, that I chose this, and in choosing gave up a lot. I allowed myself to become on the outside what I am on the inside." She settled more completely into his arms. He stared down at her bowed head wondering what she had told him. What she is on the inside out? He thought about her rather cryptic speak, studying it and when it dawned on him, he gasped softly.

"Willow?" He whispered her name in shock. She looked up, her eyes locking with the handsome vampires, "It's alright Angel." Willow said realizing that he understood what she was saying. She snuggled against his chest. Her eyes closing. She snaked her arms around the vampire's neck.

"Nothing lost, nothing gained."

"But so much, Willow." She pulled back to look in his eyes, and smiled.

"I think perhaps, all things considered we've all given up things. I'm not afraid of anything, not any more." The smile wavered slightly as she continued, "Okay one thing still scares me. I don't wanna lose you in all this."

"I guess this is like my second...no third secret. Although I kind of have this sneaking suspicion you already know this one." She said as she lowered her head and peered at the vampire through her eyelashes. For an instant she tried to pull away from the vampire but this time he wouldn't release her and she surrendered easily, since in a way she didn't want to be released. With a soft sigh she began whispering, "All my life, I've been good ole' Willow, reliable, strong, the one people always depended on. I was the shoulder to cry on, the port in the storm, the one who would always listen to your problems and help fix them." She husked a weak laugh, "Only problem is, it gets really lonely and people tend to start treating you like a door mat after a while. They only come to you when they need something from you, and it took me a while to figure out that, that isn't really friendship."

Angel's own mind stumbled over the only other time in the past two years he had ever actively, publicly sought Willow out, and winced when he realized that incident fell into the category she was talking about. When he had needed help to research Buffy's friend Billy Fordham. He had been as bad as the others, only going to Willow because he needed research help and then sure enough he had ended up using her just like the others. The thought made him nauseous as he realized that until a very few weeks ago, he had been no better than Xander or Buffy, in his treatment of Willow.

"My parents think that the way to show love is to get me expensive things, my computer equipment, anything else they can think up. It didn't take me as long to figure out that wasn't love, it was a way to appease their own guilt because they were always away." Angel looked at the tiny woman's bowed head, her voice was sad, but no tears were falling. "I needed someone to be a friend to me, to listen to me, to talk with me, to be strong and reliable for me, I needed someone to care about me. Before you...lost your soul...I thought we were getting closer actually having the occasional conversation. Granted they were kind of monosyllabic on your part but still we were actually talking. When you lost your soul, I realized how much I needed you then most of all."

She looked up at him and although her eyes were sad there was a wry smile on her face as she continued, "You don't know how weird it was to have everybody talk to me about how they felt about Angelus and all that he was doing...when all I wanted to do was talk to you about...you." she gave a little snicker at her own pun. The laughter quickly died however when she continued, "Then I tried to fix everything, give you back your soul, make everything right, because I was beginning to figure out what was coming. Only it didn't work out the way it was supposed to, you were supposed to get your soul back and you and Buffy.....well for the longest time after the second attempt at returning your soul...I thought that you and Buffy had gone off together. I didn't know that she had sent you to hell...not until she came back. When I heard that she and I argued and she basically told me to mind my own business. I locked myself in my room for three days, I alternated between trashing my room and crying the whole time." Willow gave a slightly twisted smile and said sarcastically, "Very constructive, that."

"I knew my heart had felt empty after...but I thought I was just missing my friends. Then I found out that you were in hell, and I realized just why I had felt so...lost. So I decided to get you back out of hell."

Seeing the incredulous look he gave her at the simplicity of the statement, she added, "Oh yeah, simple enough, just find a way to get a vampire with a soul out of the demon dimension, piece of cake. Only when I finally get you out, I start denying that what I feel is anything but friendship. The other was just the link, or something like that, anything I could think of to avoid the issue."

Angel was feeling wonder and excitement beginning to flow through him as he asked questioningly, "And just what is the issue, Willow?"

Her eyes wandered over his right shoulder, avoiding his eyes, afraid of what she might see or more accurately what she might not see, when she made her confession. Drawing a deep breath, she hurriedly said, "When you were gone, I felt like part of me was missing. Even when Angelus was here I didn't feel that empty, only when Buffy sent you to hell, only I didn't know that. Then when she got back and I still felt empty I knew something was really wrong. She wouldn't tell us what had happened though for the longest time, then when she finally did...I..I kinda lost it I guess. When I got you back out of hell, I felt whole again, but I still didn't figure out exactly what I was feeling and as I said I had the whole denial thing going on." then suddenly she said, "Gees, I'm babbling again, I need to stop doing that. What I'm trying to say, really badly, is that I need you, I don't know exactly how long I have...loved you...but I have for a while, a long while, I think. The only problem was I loved Buffy too and I thought you and she were supposed to be together, so I stayed out of it. I know better now and I wanted you to know that...that I love you...and if the offer still stands...I claim you."

YES! Angel crowed mentally as he pulled her chin up and whispered, "The offer stands, ionmhuin and your claim is accepted." Carefully caressing the sides of her face with his hands, he continued as he sunk his fingers into her scarlet tresses, "I accept your claim, I accept your love, and may I be as worthy of your gift and faith in me, as you are of mine. I love you mo cridhe, I claim you, and your are my mate. Which will make it all the more difficult when the time comes to keep my promise not to interfere between you and Galan." When he saw her start to say something he pulled his hand around to her lips and whispered, "I said it would be difficult, but I gave my word to my mate, vampires are very particular about keeping such oaths." The look of relief that flooded her eyes, had him releasing her lips only to come back to caress them with the tips of his fingers.

Willow drew a shuddering breath through those lips and his index and middle fingers sank into the warmth of her mouth. She licked the pads of his fingers with the tip of her tongue, then gently bit down on them. Angel closed his eyes and groaned as desire shot through him. Clasping his hand in her own, the young witch pulled his fingers from her mouth and kissed his palm. "I think we should stop right now," Angel said desperately, wiggling his hips against the worn fabric of the couch, before catching both of her hands in his. Seeing her flushed face and glazed eyes, the vampire realized that he could probably talk the Summoner into anything her Western King wanted. He also realized he wanted her first time to be something she would remember with only happy thoughts. After another dazed moment, the redhead nodded her head in agreement and then whispered, "One last thing if we...when we..." her voice trailed off

Angel nodded his head in understanding, and Willow continued, "There will be some symbol of bonding that will appear on both of us. To show that we belong to each other, sort of like a wedding ring but more permanent." She said, then gave a huge yawn. She had barely slept since the fae had kidnaped her and now that Angel was here she could relax enough to actually get some sleep. Leaning her head against his shoulder partially because of exhaustion and partly because at this angle she could see him without being seen herself, she whispered, "I love you Angel."

Snuggling her closer to his large frame, the vampire replied, "And I love you, my heart, now rest, I'll wake you after the sun sets."

With a mumbled reply, the hacker burrowed even further into her loves arms, as they circled protectively around her.

Sunnydale: Night

Buffy paused at the entrance of the park, knowing instinctively that a trap waited for her on the other-side. She tilted her head up, drew in a slow calming breath. Vampires, a number of them waited for her. For once she couldn't wait for the fight.

She moved into the light provided by one of the only street lamps within the park, and smiled coldly at the first vampire.

"One at a time...hmm this could take a while." She said before lunging at the startled vampire. A few quick kicks in succession and the vampire staggered back. A few more jabs and a clean thrust of her wooden stake and the vampire was falling dust before her feet.

She waited, pushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes and gave the next vampire a come hither stare. "Come one don't keep me waiting." She husked .

The tall vampire chuckled as he caught the fisted hand that had been coming toward his face at an alarming rate. He was so pleased with himself that he failed to see the stake that embedded itself into his chest. He had only a moment to register what had happened before he was dust.

She knew that the others where tiring of her game and for the first time she realized how foolish she had been to enter the park alone. She was going to die, and no one could plausibly save her.

She let out startled cry as three of them attacked her at once. Her head was jerked back her throat exposed. She drew her leg up and connected with the groin of the vampire in front of her. Only to feel the one behind her applies a dangerous amount of pressure to her neck.

She trembled, her mind flashing with images and her inner voice calling her all kinds of a fool. Great she went out half- cocked like some stupid teenage boy and is going to get herself killed. Strangely that inner voice sounded a lot like her mother. She cringed her mom would never forgive her if she died like this over something childish and selfish.

She jerked against he hold only to hear the vampire behind her growl in annoyance. She was weak from the fighting and the mental fatigue of the last few days.

"We really have to stop meeting like this," said a voice from behind her. The vampire that was holding her turned and stared at the strange man from the other night. He looked a little worse for ware, but a sight better then she did. He raised his hand and making a swinging gesture the vampire that was holding Buffy was thrown across the asphalt basketball court that was on the far side of the park.

She took in the man''s movements graceful and careful he put her to shame, not to mention he had finished the remaining vampires in seconds. She continued to stare at him shock clear on her face.

"And you are?" she asked still breathless from the fight. He smiled at her and walked slowly over to her. glided she corrected the man glided across the ground with a stealth and beauty that reminded Buffy of a large pacing panther.

He took her hand gently in his own and lifting it to his lips pressed a light kiss to its back. "A friend." He said. He paused still holding her small hand in his own. It never ceased to amaze him that the fate of the mortal world rested for the most part on the shoulders of such fragile creatures. Through out history Slayers, hunters, witches, those that fought for the light where almost always beautiful fiery young woman.

"My Friend." She asked. Her voice faltered a little and Tristan knew that more then anything she wanted him to say yes.

"If you wish it to be so." he settled on watching her bright hazel eyes begin to calculate his intentions with surprising quickness. A small smile finally rested on her lips as though she had just decided on something.

"Well then, have you a name friend?" She asked, "By the way, I''m Buffy..."

"The Vampire Slayer." he finished for her," and a good one at that maybe the best.." He sketched her a bow and retook her hand. "And I Mistress Summers am Tristan Lord of Alfheim...." He trailed off offering up breathtaking smile.

"That''s good right." Buffy said, clearly thrown off by the Alfheim.

"I should think so Mistress." he said. "Might I offer to walk you home?" he asked warmly. She studied his face for a moment before shaking her head yes.