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)

Pine Valley:
Willow had often believed that the world would look very different, the morning after a night like the one she had just spent. In many ways it was different, she felt more alive, more aware of herself, and very cherished. In other ways things were remarkably normal feeling, to wake up next to Angel, her body cradled in his. Her back spooned against his chest, one arm supporting her head, and curved back up so his hand had cupped her shoulder. While the other wrapped around her waist, and his lips nuzzled into the hair at the nape of her neck. While she had been loath to move from the haven of his arms, her body had made no few demands on her this morning. Angel still lay on his side, not breath stirred his chest.

The young woman smiled as she watched the handsome vampire reach for her in his sleep, subconsciously seeking the warmth of her body. Already she could feel the subtle change in the ties that lay between them, strengthened by this new facet to their relationship. A few more ties and the truth of their natures would be revealed for all to see. The point she had realized through all of this was not for Summoner and Western King to act as separate beings but to be truly as one while remaining self-possessed. She hadn't really understood the demands that the end would make on her and Angel. Angel would have to believe, believe as deeply in her as he had ever believed in the god his soul feared. She smiled she could feel him on an even deeper level now. The full strength of the bond hadn't even come into being, but already she knew things that had once been whispers she now understood with startling clarity. Angel truly was the missing part of herself.

Willow knew too that deep inside he feared that she would push him away when this was over, that she would let what others thought about them, sway her judgement, her feelings. He was wrong, she would never let go, not now. No matter what happened, she wouldn't let go, and if it came down to a choice for him between her and Buffy, the young redhead wouldn't bow out gracefully and be overlooked. Buffy may have been the one that all the men tripped over Willow to get too, but she wasn't a fool, not anymore. The heat, the passion, the ardor, in Angel's eyes had finally convinced her of her worth. Her true worth. Her power. The tiny woman turned back to the bed that they had shared, and studied his sleeping form. She smiled softly as she watched sleep slowly recede from her lover's mind, and watched as he reached for her yet again. She wasn't lying next to him, and for a moment she saw panic set in, until he became aware of her heartbeat he looked up at her, his gaze feral and possessive.

"Good morning Angel." She smiled, a blush heating her skin, when she saw his eyes move lingeringly over her pale, nude form. He held out his hand to her, and the young hacker willingly went into his embrace. She snuggled against him, sighing pleasantly as her heated flesh brushed against his cool skin.

He nuzzled her neck lightly before capturing her lips tenderly. "Good morning beautiful" he whispered before rolling and tucking her snugly beneath him.

The ingenue giggled as he nipped at her chin softly. Willow sighed sadly, already knowing that if she and Angel wanted to get back to Sunnydale with time to spare they would have to leave today and soon. Willow didn't want to go back she wanted to stay here and drown in Angel's nearness, and forget what was happening, and the dangers it presented not only to the two of them, and their friends, but to the whole world.

"What is it?" he demanded gently.

"We have to go back today." She whispered meeting his curious gaze.

"Later?" he questioned, pressing his now throbbing erection meaningfully against her. She smiled softly welcoming him.

"Yes later." She said, sighing softly, as he rocked against her sliding his manhood, along her slit. Willow wrapped her legs around her lover, arching up to press more firmly against each of his downward movements. His erection bumped against the swelling bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs.

"Hmm," she moaned softly as he continued to move against her, arousing her further. With knowledge born more from love and desire than experience, Willow slid her hands down his form, relearning each plane and ridge of his body. Then slipping her hand between them, she grasped his throbbing arousal, he cried out in response to her touch. As a surge of desire ran through his body, freezing his movements, as it took every iota of his control not to cum right then from the pure ecstasy of her touch.

Gasping for unneeded breath, Angel leaned down and tenderly kissed her lips, their mouths mated sweetly as Angel's hands slid all over her naked flesh. Trying to raise his beloved to the same fever pitch as she had roused in him with just that one touch. Willow arched her hips seeking his touch at her most intimate place. He slipped his hand down along the smooth soft skin of her abdomen and pressed his fingertips within her.

Her fingers slid along the silk-covered steel of his erection slowly, from base to tip. Rising to his knees above her, he reached down between them, and grasped her small hand in his own larger one, guiding her hesitant movements, to a slightly different rhythm. Willow gasped as Angel, slipped his fingers into her wet depths at the same time, gliding them in and out with deliberate slowness, knowing she would enjoy the more torturous movements, before slowly drawing his damp fingers over his straining erection.

The Western King hesitated for a moment locking eyes with her, with his Summoner, she was ready for him, and more than ready to accept him. In his eyes even now she saw that Angel sought to assure himself that he was still what she wanted, what she desired. Willow arched her hips sleekly against him. The uncontrolled movement acted as a trigger, he sank suddenly into her warm depths dragging a gasp of pleasure from her parted lips. Their mouths met in a deep kiss as they rocked together in a now familiar primal rhythm, each finding the perfect cadence that would push them both over that pinnacle.

Crying out his name in raw passion as her orgasm ripped through her, Willow arched against him a final time, his fangs sliding into the flesh of her neck. Angel screamed into her throat as the taste of her sweet blood, as it flowed down his throat, threw him over into his own orgasm. Even now, after last night, she tasted of heaven, and innocence and things he'd thought so long lost or forbidden to him. He suckled hungrily at the wound, mewling deep in his throat before releasing her. He stared down at the hacker for a long moment before kissing her deeply, his tongue tangled with hers, drawing it back into his mouth.

"Angelus," she whispered softly, smiling as Angel waited for her to continue. "I love you."

"I love you too, Ionmhuin" the vampire said as he slid from her depths and lay beside her, pulling her close as he licked at the healing wound on her neck, carefully cleaning every last drop of her precious vita. The flushed young woman smiled at the Gaelic endearments, now clearly able to feel the sentiment that whispered from his heart to hers with them.

Willow turned in Angel's arms and snuggled against him. Reluctant to leave the comfort of his arms, and the confines of their bed, even for the promise of a hot shower.

Sunnydale:

Xander paced in front of the door to Giles' office. He was waiting rather impatiently for the Watcher to get off the phone. He'd spent most of the morning trying to find out what group of assassins had been contacted to deal with Willow, what their price would be and what the chances of stopping them were. Giles had been quite ardent about making sure that Willow didn't have this to deal with as well. Adding another distraction to the already unbelievable list of issues, Willow would have to face when she returned. He only hoped his trust and belief in her was not misplaced, he knew well that other Watchers would have allowed the girl to be killed.

Xander paused in his thoughts thanking the heavens that Giles was not like other Watchers, and that the older man actually cared for his charges. He breathed a sigh of relief when the doors in the front of the library opened and admitted Amy. The blond witch offered him a gentle smile and slowly walked into the room with a whispered, "Hey..."

"Hey." the dark haired teen replied with an answering smile.

"Where's Mr. Giles?" Xander pointed to the closed office door, and Amy could make out the sound of Giles' normally calm voice spiraling higher with anger. "Who's he talking to?" she asked softly. A look of awe on her face at the colorful language coming through the closed door to the librarian's office.

"The Counsil. He's trying to find out whether they sent the assassins or not and if they did what kind of assassins they sent." Amy nodded her head in understanding wondering what Giles' would do with the information that she had from Spike, that they needed to be ready and soon.

Galan was more than ready, he thought he knew what he was going up against. He'd had time to study those who would help Willow. Galan had watched each of them, even so far as to send a group of vampires out to spar with an angry slayer. Amy was well aware that Galan knew about the entire Scooby gang though according to Spike he was unaware of her presence. That was a plus at least. She may not be Fae but she was kinfolk. She could help on the side of light, help to balance, if not turn the tide of the coming battle and she would, it was the only thing she could do.

The door opened slowly and Giles paused taking in the sight of Amy and Xander The worried but curious expressions on their faces. "What can I do for you Amy?" Giles asked.

"Nothing," Amy said, "I have a message for you. They say they should return within a day, she'll call you when they get in. It may not be until late though, she wanted me to warn you." Amy explained, then offering Xander a small smile the young witch turned as though to leave. "Amy wait," Xander called as the witch turned to leave, sure that Willow had told her more and wanting to know what else she knew. "I'll walk with you." "Kay" Amy said, gesturing for him to follow her. Xander turned toward Giles' looking at the Watcher hoping that he wouldn't mind.

"Oh yes, Xander have you seen Buffy this morning?" Giles asked.

"Nope. Sorry G-man, but I haven't seen the Buffster, this fine morn." Xander answered a little to chipper. It was true he hadn't seen the Slayer since she'd come around last night before doing her final rounds. Giving the Watcher a snappy salute, Xander moved with Amy out of the library and Giles watched them go. He shook his head and moved over to the computer he dreaded using.

Sitting in the chair before the damnable box he flicked the switch to the on position. He waited as the screen changed until the desktop appeared. Closing his eyes for a moment he moved the mouse to click on the connection icon, and waited.

Dusk:

Willow made her way slowly down the halls of Sunnydale High School, regret and shame dogging her every step. She had spent hours just trying to get dressed right, finally giving up the charade and dressing herself all in black.

They'll only see me as the harlot in red, anyway. She thought solemnly, pulling her hair into a tight ponytail, preparing. As if her emotional conflict was to become in some way physical. She wasn't so sure that it wouldn't. Buffy was more than furious. She was mad with jealousy. Her memory turned back to a time not so long ago when Kendra was with them and wanted to stake Angel. Buffy had faced off with the girl, her eyes glowing with threat. Nobody messes with *my* boyfriend!!

A few months later, and Willow had done just that. It wasn't gonna be pretty and as she neared the heavy, polished oak doors of the Sunnydale High School Library, queasiness suddenly made itself known and she struggled to remain standing. I am *so* not ready for this.... but for him, for Angel....I'll take the assault. Angel. Willow regretted that she had to break her promise to him, of not facing them alone. But she knew that this was her fault, her fight, and it wasn't fair to him to drag him back into a battle that was of her own making.

Besides he was still so weak after the Rites of Healing and the inner turmoil. She knew that he suffered for each moment of what Angelus had done. Now added to that, was the new nature of their relationship, one she wasn't sure would survive the coming battle. A battle it would be. There was no easy, bloodless way to stop the veil from being opened. Of course it wasn't her blood that was needed. It was her soul. A soul that was bound by fate and choice to Angel's. Better that he should heal fully before he faced this... Before dawn, she had taped up the windows with black masking tape so that no amount of light could filter through. Then placing a chaste kiss upon his forehead, she had gathered up her things and left.

Now as she stood outside the doors of the place she had known for several years as a second home, she only felt pain reaching out with the memories of her friendships to the people that were just behind that door. So pulling herself up, back straight and shaky resolve set, she stepped forward into her worst nightmare.

Giles watched cautiously as Buffy paced back and forth across the library floor, taking in the length of it with her languid strides. You could cut the tension with a blunt knife, it was so thick. Xander sat quietly in the corner, head bowed slightly, studying the carpet with grim intent. Occasionally he would venture a glance towards the Slayer, gauging her moods before returning his gaze to the floor.

Giles wasn't certain what it was that was bothering the boy. It wasn't the whole Angel thing. In fact, Xander had been the vampires one true champion in their absence. A fact that he had not understood. He could still see Xander's face when he, Giles had confirmed that Willow, not Buffy, was the Summoner. He remembered the look on Buffy's face, the shock, and the anger. The incident with Willow had hit Xander harder than he was letting on. Giles briefly thought he saw bitter jealousy in the young man's eyes, but dismissed it, before returning his attentions back to the agitated pacing of his student, Buffy.

He had gotten an intense phone call from the hacker, very early that morning. She had asked him to ring the others and meet her there at Sunnydale High. He had gotten Buffy and Xander to come to this impromptu meeting by sheer will power alone. Both had been reluctant to come, but had, as a favor to him. So now, it was the three of them. Willow had promised to tell them everything when she arrived. As much as his logical mind wanted to know about her increased powers and experiences in that 'other worldly' realm, he was still a little crestfallen due to the girls indifferent behavior at not including or consulting them on her course of action. And terrified, don't forget that, Giles.

Out of the corner of his eye he watched with dread as the library doors, slid quietly open........She stepped into the room, her eyes seeking Giles quickly. He nodded at her. Black? When had Willow became the Goth girl? She was dressed in a completely un Willow like outfit. It was something Buffy herself might have picked out. She looked at the Slayer who had stopped her pacing and was staring at Willow. Xander looked up at her. His eyes shot fire and accusation in her direction. Giles ached for the girl. She had gone against them for the sake of a friend. Circumstances were stacked against Willow and Angel from the onset. What else could Angel do but love her? What else could Willow have done? Although Willow hadn't said as much, Giles was certain that there was something between the vampire and the hacker. This was bad. He almost wished Angel were with her to set this right.

Willow met the Slayers gaze without flinching, and Giles realized that it was worse, much worse then he had anticipated. Willow wouldn't back down from this. She seemed to glow with inner power. She seemed very un-Willow like indeed.

"Hello. Well if it isn't the cradle-robbing creature of the nights, new squeeze." Buffy's voice dripped with honeyed sarcasm.

Willow smiled suddenly as if it all made sense. "Buff, I didn't come here to listen to your sarcasm, or defend my actions."

Buffy actually looked shocked for a moment and Giles took that moment to grab Xander by the arm and hustle him out of the library. He knew that he probably shouldn't leave Willow alone with the angry Slayer. He consoled himself with the knowledge that Willow was the practical, calming one. If anyone could handle Buffy she could...he hoped.

Buffy reached for Willow instinctively, a nagging suspicion causing her movements. She dragged the black ribbon from around her friend's neck and gasped. There as plain as day was a small black and blue mark resembling a hickey save for the two tiny puncture marks that marred the center. Buffy stared, shock and anger propelling her into action.

Willow acted instinctively, shielding her neck and face from her attacker, as her body slammed hard into the library wall. Willow could feel the anger and indignation radiating from Buffy - making her feel giddy and nauseous, all at once.

With one hand, Buffy easily trapped Willows neck in a harsh grip lifting her slightly off the floor as Willow struggled furtively to get away. Oh God, she... she's gonna kill me!! Willow thought wildly gasping for breath and escape.

"What the *HELL* is this!!!!!" Buffy hissed between clenched teeth. Indicating the slightly bluish area of Angel's bite marks on the hacker's neck from last night and this morning, with her other hand. For emphasis on how devastated the Slayer was, she cruelly lifted Willow up a few more inches off the floor cutting off more of the oxygen Willow craved. If the hacker hadn't been trying to breathe, she would've been devastated by the murderous rage and total revulsion reflected in her best friends eyes. Instead, all she could do was kick helplessly, her arms flailing by her sides.

It didn't matter how much Willow had changed. It didn't matter that she had metamorphosed into an independent and striking young woman. As soon as she walked through those Sunnydale Library doors, into the inner sanctum of the Slayers chambers.... she become the shy and awkward teenage girl again. The sensitive, sweet girl who took others pain upon herself in order to lighten their grief or sorrow. This time had been no different. Only this time, she was the cause of the sorrow and the betrayal .... and she knew, in no uncertain terms, she wasn't welcome here any more. Pain lanced up from her chest, tearing all coherent thought away. "B...Buffy!!" Willow squeaked, her mind racing with fear as the Slayer hissed low and threatening in her face.

Buffy strafed, battled to make herself let go. But her fingers weren't responding. STOP IT! Her mind screamed. This is Willow, your best friend!! Let her go!!!

Her heart spoke louder still, reminding her of what this 'best friend' had done. And if that wasn't bad enough, Willow had broken a promise she made to let the past lie unspoken between them, now this... this bite mark. Willow had actually let Angel feed from her neck!!

Buffy recoiled. Besides being absolutely a stupid thing to do, it also meant that Willow and Angel shared something extremely intimate and close. Something even more genuine than making physical love, because it wasn't just lust... it was a bond...a spiritual connection. The implications of that connection stung more than she could even comprehend. As if in response to the hacker's betrayal, her fingers clamped down harshly again, in order to drive the truth from Willows lips.

Willow felt her own anger heat. She hadn't done this on purpose. What was happening between her and Angel wasn't her fault. She hadn't taken anything that wasn't hers to start with. A sudden feeling came to Willow in the haze created by the lack of oxygen. She was shocked, when she felt the power that she held in check begin to rise. Willow held it back, scared of what it might do, if it was directed at the Slayer. Buffy might be physically stronger, but Willow had a power that lived deep inside, that could destroy the Slayer if she wasn't careful. Let go of me now, Slayer before I break your hand. She added mental pressure to the command for good measure watching Buffy's eyes widen in shock. Yeah, Slayer check it out. I can defend myself. Buffy let go suddenly, disgusted, and shocked, with her own actions. She stood menacingly in front of Willow, as she sank to the floor, gasping. Gods, Willow said something in my head.

Willow gulped and wheezed desperately trying to focus on just dragging the air into her lungs. Marveling at how satisfying it was to have them expand and be filled. When she had regained some of her composure, only then did she try and meet the Slayers eyes. What she saw there made her flinch in guilt and pain, and she quickly glanced away, fighting her own tears. She hadn't wanted to admit to herself how satisfying it had been to stop Buffy with just a thought. She knew that the Slayer was seeing her in a whole new light. Not only had she stolen Angel, she wasn't even normal anymore. No Buffy, I'm not. I'm Fae.

"Why? Why did you come back here?!! You betrayed all of us." Buffy charged abruptly.

"I, I.... I had to come," She offered up meekly, briefly fixing her friend with a somber peek before looking away. "It was... time. I needed to explain...."

Buffy scoffed, her unmerciful blue eyes narrowed, glinting indignantly down at her ex-friend. Accusations crushing the atmosphere with culpability.

"Oh, by all means... EXPLAIN this!!" She cursed, gesturing to the marks on her neck, then taking in the rest of the girl. "What *else* did you do to bring him back??!!" She hissed, insinuating the worst. Willow's head jerked up, first in surprise and then in contempt. For the first time, since she had begun this confrontation, she faced the Slayer on level ground. This time, she didn't flinch away from Buffy's incriminating stare but returned it with one of her own.

"What?!!!" Willow hissed, raising herself up, back straight and eyes solid turbulent green burning a trail to the steel blue of the Slayer's eyes.

"He spent last night in your room, didn't he?? You spent the last two weeks with him God knows where?" She snarled back, "I mean, if you betrayed me just a little... why not go *all* the way??"

Buffy was eyeing her again, her jaw firmly squared, her chin quivering ever so slightly. "So what is it like, having my leftovers?!!" She yelled, ignoring Willows question. Those were the hardest words she'd ever spoken in her life to a friend. It was even harder to believe them true. It was easier to be angry than to admit she could be wrong.

Willow looked down, hating the Slayer for making her feel guilty for what she had shared with Angel. It wasn't like that. It could never be like that. She hadn't had Angel not in the sense that the Slayer was thinking. Yes she and Angel were lovers but it wasn't like she'd planned this, she hadn't even realized the true nature of what would come to be between them, until she was so deeply enthralled that whether she had wished it or not she was his.

"You...you don't understand...I don't know how you can... hate me so much, " Willow stammered, anger flamed inside her.

"It's surprisingly easy," She laughed bitterly, her blue eyes clouded and questioning. "Angel must be loving this... I mean, he always wanted a really good way to get back at me. I guess he was shocked, that the very one I loved and trusted most, would be a such a willing accomplice!" Willow met the Slayer's accusing stare and smiled a soft, slow, dangerous smile. The woman in front of Buffy now, was the Summoner. She was through playing quiet, shy Willow Rosenberg.

She was tired of Buffy thinking that she, somehow figured into this. "This isn't about you, it was never about you." Willow replied keeping her voice steady. "Angel was my friend too and I couldn't stand by and let him suffer like that with his... his..."

Buffy glared at her. "Go on... say it!!"

"With his soul back! All right?! With his soul back!! You tried to kill him!!!"

Turning on her heel and stalking away in order to put as much distance between her and the other girl, Buffy let that snipe roll off her back. Not so much to stop herself from seriously hurting Willow again, but to contain her emotions of deep sorrow that threatened to spill over. She was offended by, not embarrassed by, Willows intense loyalty to Angel. Where she, herself, had failed.

Yes, that was it, Buffy tried to convince herself.

Buffy's arms gestured wildly at their surroundings. "This is where you, Giles, Xander and I slew demons and faced all the evil of the world, side by side!!," She deflected the issue. "Us against the world! You and I, as close as we could be. So when I asked you not to interfere with Angel and I, I took your promise as solid. As real!! YOU LIED TO ME!!!"

"I didn't lie to you. I did what I had to do. You and your relationship with Angel had nothing to do with it. What had happened and what I had told you had nothing to do with it...I didn't have a choice. I needed him. If anyone was lying, it wasn't me!!" Willow yelled back.

Buffy drew herself up, indignantly. "Wh...What?!!!"

"You knew. You, you... *KNEW* that Angel had his soul back, that night I had cast the spell to anchor it to him. You knew." She blurted turning away from the Slayer. "You professed to love him with all your soul... and yet, you knew when you saw him that night, he was whole again and still you chose to attack him. You tried to kill him!! And now you have the nerve to stand there and tell *me* of betrayal??" She paced back and forth with her fists clenched as she continued, "This wasn't about you and Angel. It was just about Angel...and me making something wrong, right again." Then Willow Rosenberg did something that she had never done before, she sneered and said, "I hate to tell you this Buff but not everything revolves around you." Sighing tiredly she said, "I thought I could make you understand but you're not even listening. You're being self-centered and selfish and right now I'm more concerned with Angel's well being than you."

Willow turned to face her suddenly quiet friend. Willow's technical mind, ever logical and methodical, battled her out of control and disjointed emotions as she watched her world slowly implode under the weight of betrayal... or seeming betrayal. Buffy was more than the mythical Slayer, more than her best friend and every evocation of a dazzling erotic fantasy woman. She was Willow's inner passionate self-envisioned in flesh and blood. That part of her that had for so long remained hidden away. Hidden even from herself, that part of her that was sexy, outspoken and devil may care. The part of her that was physical and strong. Willow for her part was the amalgamation, of the Slayer's maturity and spiritual connection. The part Buffy could always count on to do the right thing. Not this time. "Our conversation isn't finished!!" Buffy coolly returned, flicking a well-manicured cobalt blue nail in Willow's retreating direction. Buffy snarled loudly. "What's the matter Will? Angel can't do without *another* cuddle monkey or is that another lackey come virginal whore??"

"I'm warning you Buffy," Willow spun on her heel, eyes flashing wildly as she glared back. Taking a threatening step to meet Buffy's accusing stance. "Don't PUSH me!!" She warned. Her power beginning to spike around her.

"I'll give you push!!" Buffy screamed, all of her emotions propelling her forward at great speed. Maybe if Willow hadn't been so involved in Buffy's welfare and paid more attention to her own, she might have been able to escape.

With feline severity, Buffy pounced and swatted, her hand connecting with Willow's face so hard, it sent Willow sprawling across the room with a loud WHACK. Willow was aware of two things.

Landing against the leg of a table was very painful and her cheek felt as if it had been plunged in hot water. She warily regarded Buffy, before returning her attentions to her inflamed cheek and jaw. Signs of bruising were already appearing on the hacker's delicate white skin. As well as a small but deep scratch that ran along her cheek.

The scratch had come from Buffy's claddagh ring. Willow smiled softly to herself, wondering if Buffy had any idea how, intensely foolish what she had done was. Buffy trembled at her outburst.

Her heart twisted violently at her actions against Willow. Yet her mind secretly rejoiced a little at putting her feelings into something direct. That gave her something to focus on. Total disregard for everything. Without thinking, Buffy took another step forward wanting more release, horrified at her impulsive need to make Willow hurt as much as she was. Willow felt the power begin to hum from deep inside. She felt it threatening to overflow like the molten ore of her anger. Then Willow felt it slowly recede to where her head had hit the table leg. She had hurt herself and badly.

The gash was deep and she thought perhaps she had smashed her head open and most of her power had turned inward attempting to heal the wounds. Everything became slow motion. Willow had no reason to fear another attack, she trusted that. When she looked away in order to get to her feet, she never saw the coming attack until it was already too late. The doors of the library suddenly burst inward, ripping the hinges from the frame, literally exploding the doors open. Wood splintering the only sound in the dead silence. Angel emerged from the wreckage like an avenging angel, stalking through the room towards her, his game face on. Through the link, Angel had felt Willow's pain as if it were his own. It had torn him from slumber with an almost claw like fist. He knew of her danger and without care for his own safety, catapulted himself through the night to get to her.

As he neared the hallway to the library, he smelled the blood *her blood* and instincts took over. He was vaguely aware of Giles trying to stop him but easily brushed past him to find her. Xander having heard the loud THWACK from inside the library, let his concern for his lifelong friend override his sense of fear. Perhaps realizing that Angel was the only one who could safely interfere with the Slayer's sense of revenge he stayed out of Angel's way.

The door was the final obstacle in his way. It didn't stand a chance. Scanning the room, he quickly found her. The sweet intoxication of her blood evoking both a wretched anger to slice open the one responsible for her hurt, and an inexplicable hunger to indulge in her closeness as he fed. The blood... her blood was overwhelming. He saw Buffy approaching her, fists clenched. Then she abruptly stopped taking in his arrival. Without thinking, he sailed across the table after her, fangs extended in a devastating snarl. Buffy could no longer contain her hatred, a stake appeared in her fist as if by magic. With a quick spin and a flying tackle, they launched themselves at each other in final battle.

Willow felt the heat radiate from her cheek and now spread beneath her skull to the back of her head and neck. But more than that, she watched in horror as both her loves clashed before her. It was far too much. Shakily standing, wrenching herself through a room that swam in and out of focus... she stumbled forward to stand between them.

"STOP IT!!!" She yelled, knocking Angel off balance enough that Buffy's foot connected with nothing but air. Willow knew that it wouldn't take either of them long to regain their balance and so worked quickly. Placing a hand on each of them in order to keep them apart, as well as to help her remain standing, she repeated her orders again. "Stop this, now!! It will change nothing!!"

"Oh, I don't know," Buffy sneered. "I'd feel a whole hell of lot better!!" A low savage growl erupted from Angel's lips, as he, in his own way, endorsed that exact statement. Buffy had dared to hurt her, *his* Willow, and all he wanted now was to repay the compliment in kind. He didn't understand why Willow chose to keep him from doing just that. His thoughts were cut short by her voice.

"Angel? Please Angel?!!" Her plea was one from the heart. Angel had never backed down from anything, but for her, he would willingly go back to hell if it meant keeping her safe and sound.

With a final warning snarl in the Slayers direction, his face smoothed out into the handsome visage both girls loved.

Buffy remained unmoved, unflinching in her wish to see them burst into flame before her. His face, Angel's beauty wrenched at her heart. This close, she could smell him, the individual scent of the one she loved with all her soul. Tears began to rise, and rather than let them see her fall apart she stalked away to the shadows of the stacks of books, wiping angrily at her eyes with her shirt. Angel made sure Buffy was a safe distance away before turning his attention back to the fragile girl in front of him. Only she wasn't in front of him anymore, she was moving dreamily toward the smashed door. It was then he noticed the thick matted tangle of Willow's hair. Blood soaking and running down her back. His eyes widened in shock and terror. "Willow!!! Oh my God!!" He yelled, rushing forward before she collapsed heavily in his arms. He tried to lower her to the floor but she stubbornly remained standing. Willow wanted to face this on her own feet. Her honor and dignity refusing to let her fall at the final hurdle.

It was at that moment, among the many others he recalled, that he realized he loved this girl more than he ever would have believed possible. His love for her beat deeply within his soul. He grinned then, a lopsided chastising grin, as he gently pulled her up into his arms. Buffy watched Angel and Willow closely. What she saw, she didn't like. Something passed between them, something she missed and bitterly resented. A thought nagged at the back of her mind.... Didn't he used to look at you like that?...No he never looked at you quite like that. As if in reply, she gave voice to her burden. "It's only a scratch, lover boy!!" She snarled at his pathetic display of concern. "She'll be fine! It was just from my ring for crying out loud!!"

Advancing to show the ring that had made the small mark on the tiny hacker's cheek. Angel snapped, placing himself into her pathway. "Don't even think about it Slayer!!" He hissed threateningly.

"What the hell is wrong with you!!"

"You want to know what's wrong with me?!," He hissed. "Try this!!" With a fluid movement he spun Willow around to reveal the bloodied, matted, tangle of Willow's hair. This caused a gasp of horror from the blond haired Slayer. She finally took in the blood against the table leg and the small pool of crimson on the floor where Willow had lain not so long ago.

"Oh my God!! Willow..." She cried out, arms reaching out as if in the final act of a drowning man seeking a savior. "Oh, God... Willow, I'm so sorry.... I didn't know. Oh no... I didn't...."

Buffy stumbled. It was as if the blood had triggered her breaking. The revulsion of seeing Willow hurt was tearing her apart. The fact that she had done it, slammed her soul into a billion tiny pieces. The shock finally knocked her out of her "me" attitude. Too late. Much too late. She tried to get to Willow, tried to apologize but Angel kept her just out of reach. She couldn't blame him. "I'm sooo sorry, Willow. Oh, what have I done??! What... What??" Unable to face her friend again, deep sobs wracking her body, Buffy turned and ran out of the library. She didn't care where her feet carried her, only that she had nearly killed her best friend.

Angel stood beside Willow, his hands gently cradling her face. His eyes conveyed that which he didn't trust his voice to ask. Willow?? "I...I'm fine, Angel." She nodded wearily. "You, you have to go after her... to settle things between you."

"I'm not leaving you, Willow!!" He answered her determinedly. His brow creasing as he noticed the small cut along her cheek. His eyes glittered with concern and anger. "She hurt you." He growled in a low tone. Willow recognized the danger and quickly moved to quiet it. "Not as much as I've hurt her, Angel." She murmured, taking his hands into her own and speaking again. "You need to go to her. It's important to me... to us, that you settle things between you." Angel seemed unconvinced, but acknowledged her conviction in this matter.

"I suppose so." He said reluctantly, pulling her close.

"I will be fine. I promise." She smiled up at him, reveling in his touch and his dark eyes; so consuming and intense in their affection. So this is what it's like to drown.. She thought happily for a moment, before returning to harsh reality.

"I..I will look after her. Angel? Um...I will look after her." Giles interrupted, maneuvering himself to attend her wounds properly. Angel nodded automatically leaning forward to gently kiss Willow's forehead. Their eyes locked as he pulled away. Words weren't needed. He moved forward, slowly, his lips brushing hers with thrilling intensity. He drew back reluctant to leave her alone with Giles even for a moment.

"I will return for you," He whispered, a promise she could trust her life to believe. "I won't let anyone hurt you ever again. I swear it. I swear it." With that promise, he was gone... following the one he had loved once, maybe still loved. Willow's head dropped forward, her chin resting on her chest. She was suddenly overwhelmingly tired. From the corner of her eye she could see the devastation of their confrontations. Tables, chairs, books and papers lay overturned and scattered over the floor. Her eyes screwed shut, she tried to remain strong.... but she was failing. Nothing remained whole or unbroken. Maybe not even Angel and I. Willow trusted Angel, loved him. Tonight he had faced the woman he had loved. His love, she had discovered, was something stronger than life and death combined. She feared on one hand that Angel would end up killing Buffy, something Willow knew she could never forgive. Angel knew that as well. The other possibility that Buffy could kill Angel had also occurred to her. If that happened the Slayer would have to take her life too - because lil' old shy Willow would rip the Slayer's heart out and feed it to her if she did kill Willow's mate.

Then there was the most fearsome and final possibility. The small hope, however remote, of them getting back together, of rediscovering their love, regardless of what he promised, of what had happened in the past, caused her such anguished pain. She should be happy for them but couldn't. The tragedy of losing him would kill her now that she... she...loved him??! Strangely enough the thought was nothing new but saying it made it hurt more, made her fear more acute. Do I love him?? She asked herself, or is my love merely an excuse for desire felt and acted on? I love him. The truth was always there and when it hit, it hit harder than she expected because now the choice had been taken out of her hands. She couldn't bear the idea of standing in the way of their love, nor could she bear to loose him to anyone and the only answer was the obvious. She hadn't let anyone except Angel see her cry for a long time, not since the demon Angelus had attacked her. It was part of the new Willow that had emerged over the past several months. But now, quietly, while Giles remained unaware of her inner turmoil and focused on the wounds on the back of her neck and head, she gave herself over to the grief. Her long hair formed a curtain around her face as tears rolled free, falling onto her hands and arms, rolling to her fingertips and splashing onto the floor. Falling. Falling.

As Giles finished up, and she promised to stay in the chair while he went and collected something else from the nurse's station. Scanning the room quickly, for the one form that she had missed above all others. Willow felt a slight chill when she realized he was nowhere to be found. She walked slowly over to the double doors, and out into the corridor. Nothing. "Xander?" she called out. Wondering where her best friend was and why he wasn't there with her. No matter what had happened they had managed to remain friends.

She felt a strange chill of apprehension and fear whisper over her, as she hurried to what was left of the doors of the library. She climbed over them and her worst fears were realized. She could see what had happened, how she didn't know, but she could see clearly what had happened. Angel had come in and in the confusion created by Buffy, Angel, and herself, the fae vampire's minions had taken Xander.

Angel flew through the night. His pre-natural speed carrying him, as he searched for his prey. This time though he did not hunt, he only tracked. Angel, like all vampires, could sense when the slayer was near. It was a part of their instinct for survival. Added to that, was the fact that every since the Master had killed Buffy, there had been a small amount of the Master attached to her, somehow.

Whenever a Master was in the area all younger vampires were attracted to it, Angel included. Angel had tried to ask Giles about it at one time, but the Watcher had no idea how to explain it. Angel used that attraction now to locate his former lover.

He found her in the park; she was sitting in one of the swings of the swing set. The Slayer's entire manner was dejected and withdrawn. Having learned from previous experience, Angel stopped about 15 feet away from her. He had tried to learn to make noise when they were together. Unfortunately Angelus had relearned how not to. He wasn't sure of the reception he would get, especially if he startled her, so he waited.

"I know you're there." Buffy said in a shuddery voice, "Have you come to finish what we started?"

Angel ignored the taunting tone in her voice and said, "No."

"Oh then you've come to kill me for hurting your girlfriend, right?" Buffy said. The anger and taunting became more evident in her tone.

Angel seethed for a moment and then controlled his anger, "No." he repeated much more calmly than he felt.

"Well then, why are you here?" she said angrily standing up and facing him finally. When Angel saw her face, his anger dissolved. Willow and he had hurt her badly. The tear tracks on her face were the clear evidence of her pain, that and the haunted expression in her eyes. Willow was right; Angel had to resolve things between Buffy and he, before the two of them could have a happy future together. He had to make his peace with a lot of people but the Slayer first.

"Well?!?!" Buffy repeated angrily, breaking him out of his reverie.

"I came to make peace with you." Angel said simply.

"Peace?! Peace?!" she said incredulously, "You're a vampire, I'm the Slayer. There isn't supposed to be any peace between us."

"That's all you see isn't it?" Angel said quietly, "That I'm a vampire, you used to say it didn't matter, but it did all along didn't it? You were a typical teenager Buffy. You didn't want to be the Slayer, you didn't want all that came with it. So you rebelled and what better way for the vampire slayer to rebel than to love a vampire?"

Buffy looked at him, confused, but at least she was listening.

He looked at her and continued still quiet and a little sad, "I don't blame you for what happened. You had to send Angelus to hell, it just happened that Angelus wasn't in control of the body anymore when the time came." Angel noticed the tears glistening in her eyes and continued. "I did love you and I don't regret that I loved you. I only wish that things could have been different."

"They could," said Buffy desperately, "we could try again..."

"No." Angel looked at her firmly, "You would still always see me as a vampire and now I think I would see you as the slayer. What we had was a mistake, it would never work out. We have to move on with our lives."

"You mean you have to move on to Willow." the Slayer replied petulantly.

"Whatever is happening between Willow and I has nothing to do with what happened with you and I. I don't doubt that you loved me, but I'm not the Angel you knew." Seeing the pointed look she sent him, he hurried to continue. "I'm not Angelus either. Either way your feelings wouldn't be the same for me because a lot of what you loved about me has changed."

"It doesn't matter to Willow that you're a vampire though? Is that it?" Buffy asked sullenly.

"Willow knows that I'm a vampire Buffy. She doesn't pretend that it doesn't matter or that it isn't there. She just sees it as something interesting about me like my tattoo or the color of my hair."

Angel explained calmly although he was beginning to get edgy. He couldn't explain why he just had a sudden feeling of dread. A feeling that he had to get back to Willow. mo cridhe?

"It's because of the blood, isn't it? Willow let you feed from her and I wouldn't. That's why you love her now instead of me isn't it?" Buffy threw out in a final last-ditch effort to understand why he didn't love her anymore, but instead loved her best friend.

"No Buffy, the blood has nothing to do with it. What happened between us was wonderful, but it's in the past. What is happening between Willow and I, is about feelings, not about the blood." He looked up at her then and she saw something shining there she had never seen before. "We can't choose who or where we love, only how well we love."

Angel closed the distance between them then and placed his hands on her shoulders gently. Buffy hadn't broken eye contact with him. "I loved you Buffy, just as you loved me. We went against fate and destiny to do it, and we both suffered for it. That is in the past though, now we have to move on to what life has in store for us. I would love for all of us to be friends again, as we once were..." looking down at her he gave a sardonic grin, "Wait does that mean I have to be friends with Harris too?"

She managed to grin back at him through her tears, "Yes, and Cordelia too, I'm afraid."

Angel gave a groan and put a hand to his chest in mock agony and said, "Oh no, not the cheerleader too."

Buffy actually did laugh at his acting then and said with only a hint of wistfulness, "Its what Willow would want."

He nodded at her and said, "Let's get back." he draped his arm around her shoulders but she held back.

Buffy looked up at him through her eyelashes and said, "Do you...do you forgive me for...for attacking you at Willow's?"

Angel nodded again and said, "Of course." Trying to draw her along with him again he said, "Come on."

Still the Slayer held back until he turned to face her again, "Do you...do you think that ...that Willow will... forgive me...for hurting her?" she said and looked up at him, tears in her eyes, her lips trembling.

Angel looked down at her and said gently, "She's Willow. I think it's pretty much a given." then with a somewhat mischievous look on his face he continued, "But you won't know if you don't ask, and you can't ask until we get back. So let's go slayer, get your butt in gear."

With that he started to push her from behind and they started for the library. He was trying hard not to show the unease he was feeling. A sense of distress however was rapidly engulfing his soul. Willow was upset, very upset about something and he had to get back, he had to hold her. The thing inside him that worked in place of the demon was becoming more agitated, more aggressive, and more protective. He needed to be with his mate, he needed to protect her.

Then a sharp, searing sensation flowed through his body, doubling him over. Distantly he heard Buffy speaking to him, concern evident in her voice, but he couldn't answer her.

"Angel!" Buffy cried for the third time, concern overriding everything that had happened in the past few hours. The vampire suddenly wobbled and the Slayer grabbed him around the waist just as he fell, taking her with him. The blond teenager grunted as she landed on her bottom, Angel's waist and lower body landing across her legs. Desperately she tried to support his upper body with one hand and his head with the other, "Angel," she repeated, "talk to me." The vampire was heaving airless gasps as he managed to pant out,

"Willow...Willow needs me...needs us....something's wrong with her."

Then he flipped over out of her arms and onto his knees, and he gave a slight growl. Buffy wasn't sure if it was directed at himself, for the unsteady and incremental movements that were all he was able to make now, or for the cause of Willow's distress. Either way the young slayer knew that she didn't want to be standing in the way when Angel found out whatever it was that was bothering Willow.

Kneeling beside him, Buffy tried to take his arm to help him up. He snarled at her and she growled back at him, "Stop being macho and let me help you...or don't you want to get back to Willow sometime in this millennium?"

He looked up at her and it was all she could do to control the shudder that went through her as she gazed into his game face. He gazed at her steadily for a moment before another of the fiery sensations ran through him, making him grimace. With a grunt of either pain or agreement, the blonde girl couldn't tell which, he extended his arm to her.

With a good deal of struggling the two of them finally managed to get the vampire standing and began walking. Angel managed to growl through his fangs, "Hurry," then in a more plaintive hiss he added, "please hurry."

Buffy did her best to push them into something resembling a shambling trot, down the street toward the high school. As soon as they drew closer a tingling of her Slayer's sense had her on alert, but the tingling was muted as though the vampires had been there but left. She slowed, as Angel's head went up, he sniffed the air and a low steady growl began emanating from his chest. Buffy didn't say anything only flicked her wrist to allow a stake to slide from its hidden sheath into her hand. Carefully she pried one of the side doors near the library open and slipped through with the now very agitated vampire right behind her.

Their return to the high school had been completed in silence, growing fear and concern weighing heavily on them. Not to mention, Angel hadn't come out of game face since they had left the park. Soft sounds echoed around them, the empty halls of the school causing the strange echoes. As they came to a corner near the library however, they heard muted voices arguing and the sounds of sobbing. Angel sniffed the air again and with a snarl stalked down the hall to the library, his fingertips trailing across the fronts of the lockers that lined the corridor.

The vampire waited impatiently for the slayer to catch up with him, before walking through the shattered doors into what was left of the library. What they saw shook the pair to the core.

Giles was standing in the upper section of the ruined library watching through one of the large windows of the library, Willow was standing on the other side of that window in the small courtyard that was outside. Her long red hair blowing in the breeze that had come up within the last few minutes. Angel watched in shock, he could feel it, the power washing off the hacker in harsh, angry waves. He heard the sky crash as thunder shook it with its intensity and the lightening that followed and lit the sky with brilliant blue flame.

"We have to stop her before she hurts herself." Giles said to no one in particular. Angel rushed forward and jumped through the open window with ease. He froze as he saw on the ground the definite marking of a fiery circle. He watched with no small amount of shock as the ground and air began to burn and crackle with energy in a perfect sphere around the hackers trembling form.

"Willow?" he shouted her name over the crashes of thunder that were coming closer together. She didn't turn or acknowledge him. Her bright green eyes were iridescent with power and strength. The circle was burning, and to Angel's surprise he felt no fear when he crossed the burning barrier. Only the fierce need to warm her, to hold her close, and ease whatever her anguish was.

Giles watched in a combination of awe and worry. Willow could easily hurt herself in her anger, and she could also weaken herself. He started forward hoping to help Angel, when what he saw next, brought him up short. The vampire had moved through the burning inferno that lay around the Summoner without being singed. He watched as Angel dragged the hacker into his arms, and captured her lips, in a long, clearly passionate, kiss.

Giles found his gaze turning to see the slayer's reaction to the passionate embrace and breathed a sad sigh of relief when he saw only hurt in her bright hazel eyes rather then anger. Perhaps she would be fine after all.

He turned back to the still embracing couple. Their mouths still clung and coupled as the storm around them slowly died down, synchronous with the young hacker's emotional state, as her turmoil began to abate with the distraction provided by her lover. The vampire finally released her after a moment, resting his chin on the top of her head.

Bloody hell they've bonded. Giles realized as he watched the couple embracing. The fire around the Summoner and Western King continued to blaze brightly against the night sky, creating a worthwhile show of power and strength.

The Summoner knew he wasn't watching, knew that Galan thought he'd torn from her, her chosen mate. He'd taken instead the best friend of her childhood. She wasn't sure that wasn't nearly as bad. Xander was part of her. The anger she felt though was nearly out of control. Only the strength of Angel's touch was helping her. She turned in his arms as the flames slowly died down and raised on her toes, lifting her head and tilting her chin slightly up seeking his kiss.

Buffy watched as Angel leaned down and touched Willow's lips lightly with his own, then more passionately. She looked over at Giles, confused and uncertain. The pair had returned to Sunnydale and they were standing in the middle of the scorched earth, kissing. She wanted some answers.

Giles cleared his throat softly, he expected the two in the circle to jerk apart like the guilty lovers they were, only to see the kiss deepen fractionally before Angel lifted his mouth from the hackers and they shared a gentle secret smile.

No Guilt. Giles realized there was no guilt between them, whatever they had shared both were in full acceptance of it.

"What happened?" Angel asked softly. Willow looked down and drew in a slow breath. The vampire tipped her chin up forcing her to look at him.

"Xander," she managed at last. "They have Xander. They think...they think...that's he's the Western King." Angel looked at her shocked. He hadn't thought about what would happen if their enemies believed that someone else was the Western King.

"But he knows we've been together. I mean he sent..." Angelus whispered in a dumbfounded tone.

The titian haired witch shook her head. "Only because you were in his way." Willow said. "He doesn't realize who you are....in any sense." She smiled, "For once you being Angelus is actually a good thing." Willow said.

"This is all very interesting but would one of you please tell me what is happening." Giles said through the open window as the pair began to walk back towards the library.

"Xander is gone, he's been taken and tomorrow I am going to get him back." Angel said at last. Willow just nodded her head in agreement.

Buffy stared at them, not sure what to think. Xander had been taken, that explained Willow's actions. It didn't explain a number of other things, however.

"Look Giles I think I should take her home, this hasn't been an easy night. We should all meet back here at the library and talk this out in the morning, and I'll get Xander, before anything can happen to him." Angel said and looked at Slayer and Watcher both expectantly. The Watcher nodded, and turned back to the library. He wanted answers but had no doubt that Angel would not allow him to question the hacker, not now.

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