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)

Willow's Morning:

Angel moved back to the bed, the blue velvet shirt he wore seemed to move with a life of it's own. It molded and caressed the vampire's form as he leaned over the bed. Gently he brushed Willow's scarlet tresses away from her sleep-flushed cheeks lovingly, then leaned down to place a chaste kiss on her lips, resisting the temptation to crawl back in bed with her. Angel turned back to Willow's computer desk and retrieved his makeshift scabbard and duster, sliding the scabbard over his shoulders and sliding the sword into the sheath, and then slid the duster on over the velvet shirt and his leather pants. He knew that he now looked more like Angelus than Angel did, but that was his intention. He figured Galan's minions and most of Spike's and Dru's wouldn't know about his trip to hell or the return of his soul. He hoped to use that to his advantage.

Quietly closing the bedroom door behind him, Angel tripped down the stairs lightly. Ionmhuin. His beloved mate had done her best to love any doubts about their love right out of him. Angel was still doubtful about how Xander and Giles might react to their relationship, but Willow was right. It wasn't about their friends it was about them.

Growling slightly under his breath as he secured the front door behind him. He hoped the annoying one (a.k.a. Xander), appreciated what Angel was about to do for him. ...and he damn well better not call me Dead-boy again.

Angel ignored the temptation to study Sunnydale under the sun it was supposedly named for. He promised himself and Willow silently that after this was all over, he would see her in the sunlight every day. As he moved toward the lair's mausoleum entrance, he was planning for the future.

He had no intention of letting Galan win, the vampire determined as he barely kept his true face from surfacing. After Galan was disposed of and Tristan returned to the Underhill, Angel would declare himself a territorial elder and would claim the Hell mouth and Sunnydale as his territory. It would probably take some not so friendly persuasion to convince some of the vampires to leave; Angel had no doubt of that as he gave a smile very reminiscent of Angelus.

He would gladly thrash every vampire in town, to protect his mate and their friends. Buffy might object to Angel taking over her duties, If she finds out that is. The vampire thought with a smirk. Then his mind came back to the task at hand, and the strategic mind, that part of his true self that the demon had loved, began planning.

Galan would quite probably be expecting an attack during the daytime. However he would only be expecting a few humans and the Slayer, not a rescue attempt from an angry and very territorial Master vampire. He wondered briefly how many of the minions Dru, Spike, and he had made were still around. Then he wondered with a brief twinge of guilt if his two childer were still alive. Somehow he didn't think that Spike would handle being subjugated by the fae vampire very well, he also doubted that Dru would survive for long without the bleached blond vampire to look after her and protect her. He didn't think Galan would be patient enough to handle Spike's insubordination at all. Neither boded well for his two favorite children.

Walking into the mausoleum, Angel remembered only a few years ago, waiting in this same mausoleum, knowing that Buffy would come to rescue Willow's friend, the boy Jesse. He had lain in wait here late into the day. The sun sapping his strength as it encroached into the mausoleum, when she had finally come in she had known he was there just as he had known she was there. Their banter had been the longest conversation he had indulged in with a human in since the ball with Willow, and had been a painful reminder that he was truly alone in the world as much as he might wish it otherwise.

Shaking his head as he studied the locked gate that led down to the catacombs below the town and ultimately to the lair. Don't focus on the past, focus on Willow. She's your mate, your life, your future, your everything.

With those thoughts the vampire grasped the chain that held the gate and broke it as if it were wet tissue paper. Yanking the gate open, he headed down the stairs and into the catacombs and sewers under the town.

It was a common misconception in the myths among humans that vampires slept during the day, and were therefore easily defeated at that weakened time. Angel snorted mirthlessly at the thought. Vampires unlike humans did not need to sleep during the day, although they usually did to alleviate the boredom they frequently felt during the time they were trapped by the sunlight. However, some of them used the time to find a more creative outlet, others found the time useful for sex and the games involved in being a vampire. Always though there were minions to guard against sneak attacks during the day. While they weren't always the smartest of creatures, they usually served their purpose, occasionally losing their lives in the process, but then they were only minions.

Angel managed to avoid detection by many of the sentries who had been posted. When he came to the innermost entrance to the lair however, his luck at getting past the sentries without incident disappeared however.

The shadows clung to his form, much as his dark clothes did. The darkness seemed to deliberately conceal him as he moved closer to the guards, moving to envelope him when he should have been revealed to the two forms he was sneaking up on. The first had what appeared to be a short sword in hand and as Angel came up beside him, he was quickly disarmed as the Western King grabbed the arm that held the weapon and with a sharp twist snapped the bone easily. With a shriek the wounded sentry dropped the weapon clasping his injured arm close to his body.

His companion quickly moved to take on the intruder, pulling a revolver from under his jacket, he never got the chance to use it however. As the Summoner's mate disarmed him with a spinning kick, knocking the weapon into the darkened recesses of the tunnels. The shorter vampire lunged with a growl at the stranger, his demonic visage in place, prepared to rip the throat from this human intruder. Until Angel let his own true face emerge to face his opponent, his ridges prominent, coppery yellow eyes glowing in the gloom of the stone catacombs. His fangs glistened in the dimness of the tunnels as he grinned at the shorter vampire with unholy glee, before stepping forward and grasping his head in both hands he gave a sharp twist and snapped the creatures neck before it knew what had happened. Turning back to the injured vampire, Angel kept his game face in place, as he hissed, "You dare to come to my territory and take what is mine?"

The younger vampire cowered back against the wall of the tunnel, his ridged face drawn in abject terror as he faced the older vampire. While he was young, Daniel could feel the power emanating from this vampire. He didn't recognize him, but the power was enough to make Daniel recognize that this vampire was older, stronger, and infinitely more deadly than himself. While he was frightened of his sire Galan, he was not as terrified of the fae vampire as he was of this strange master vampire. Then what the other vampire had just said settled into his pain-filled brain and registered. His territory...take what is his....oh shit.

"Oh Shit!" the exclamation while whispered was none the less spoken with enough intensity to voice the minions terror as Angelus closed in and threatened softly, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't give you a very slow and painful death?"

Lowering his eyes, the minion gave a soft submissive whine as he whispered, "Whatever you wish master." Before lowering himself to a crouch in front of the older vampire. Angel grimaced slightly as he realized what the younger vampire probably expected, indeed if he had still been Angelus he probably would have taken advantage of the weaker vampire. Thanks to his beloved though he was no longer Angelus and never would be again. With a smile, which if Daniel had been looking wouldn't have reassured the minion, he caught the smaller vampire by the scruff of the neck and hauled him up to stand in front of him on his toes.

"Where is the human who was taken yesterday?" he hissed malevolently through his fangs.

Daniel realized in that instant that no matter what he said he was dead, he went limp dejectedly in the older vampires grasp as he whispered the directions to the chamber where the supposed Western King was being held. "Third tunnel to the right off the main chamber, then fourth door on the left."

With a slight nod Angel extended his wrist in front of the younger vampire and ordered softly, "Drink." Daniel looked up at the master vampire in shock, to be offered the blood of a master was a rare and prized thing, and even though he knew it was something of a last request granted the younger vampire was amazed. Carefully sinking his fangs into the wrist of the older vampire, Daniel felt instantly awash in the glory and power of the elixir that was this vampire master's blood. He felt warmth such as he hadn't felt since he'd been turned flow through him, washing away the pain in his wrist, the fear of his impending death, his ever present hunger for human blood, everything but euphoria. Then he felt nothing as, with a soft tinkle of sound, he exploded into dust.

Angel felt a momentary twinge of guilt, as the dust settled around him, before roughly shoving the emotion down. Such feelings were only keeping him from his objective to get back his mate's childhood friend. He eased through the entrance to the main cavern, keeping to the edges of that great chamber, even though it looked deserted. Of all people the Western King knew that looks could be deceiving. Gliding to the entrance of the tunnel that Daniel had directed him to, Angel checked to make sure he was not being observed as he entered the darkened hallway.

He made his way down the hall and when he came to the doorway that the minion had mentioned he was surprised and wary to find it unguarded. Suspecting a trap, the vampire placed his hand on the rough-hewn door and extended his vampiric senses and tried to discern what lay on the other side of the door. He could hear one heartbeat and did smell the unmistakable scent of Xander Harris, but that didn't mean that there weren't vampires in the room, they didn't have heartbeats and could easily conceal or mask their scent. He couldn't hear voices, and while he could hear slight noises in the room, he couldn't detect footsteps or the sounds of much activity.

Checking the handle he discovered the door was locked and stepping back, raised his booted foot and kicked the offending object in with a great deal of force. Splintering the wood around the lock in the door itself, while the bolt shot into the solid rock wall held. As he entered the room, Angel smelled the scent of roses that tickled at his memory, but he didn't have time to analyze the observation. Undoubtedly the missing guards and the sound of his splintering the door would attract the unwanted attention of Galan's other minions. There sitting in the center of the room tied to a chair was a blindfolded and gagged Xander. Only taking the time to register that there were no other vampires in the room, Angel rushed forward and untied the young teen from the chair helping him remove the blindfold and gag. Upon catching sight of the dark-haired vampire in full game face, the teen hardly suppressed the impulse to shriek in terror. Angel realizing the cause for Xander's distress, Angel quickly forced the human mask back into place, before guiding the teen into the tunnel and whispering, "Stay close." sternly.

Not having to be told twice, Xander followed closely behind the taller man, not pausing to wonder at the unquestioning trust he had in the vampire. As they got to the entrance that connected this tunnel to the main chamber, Angel wasn't surprised but was a little concerned when he saw the group of vampires that now stood in the main antechamber.

With a quick head count he found the chamber now held seven vampires, five males, two females, and unlike the minions who had guarded the entrances to the lair, these seemed a great deal more experienced. Stepping back from the entryway before he was noticed, Angel drew Xander back into the shadows with him, then he saw what the dark -haired teen was wearing and barely suppressed the laughter that threatened to escape. At the same time he realized what or more precisely who the familiar scent he had detected, in the room where Xander was being held, belonged to.

With a grin that promised future blackmail, Angel asked softly in a fair impression of Cordelia, "Harris, what are you wearing? Haven't you heard the empire waist line went out with the Victorian era?"

Xander flushed a deep red, before stuttering, "She's your childe." Confirming to the vampire that at least Dru was still alive. He gave another smirk, before getting down to business, and handed the teen a stake, before whispering, "There are seven of them. I want to try and get around them, but if we can't and I tell you, you head for the exit through the mausoleum. You remember the way I brought you before?"

The simple question elicited the memory of Buffy lying in the pool of water in the chamber they were about to enter, lifeless. The teen nodded his head and Angel admired the way he concealed his obvious terror as they headed back towards the entryway. Then with another glance at what the younger man was wearing, the Western King slipped off his duster and slipped it around the boy's shoulders to conceal the red of the dress a little better. Xander only nodded his head absently as he slipped his arms into the sleeves of the coat. Quickly slipping through the doorway as he kept the boy hidden behind him and hugged the wall, Angel realized about a third of the way through the cavern they weren't going to make it out of the chamber undetected.

Already several of the seven were raising their ridged faces to the air, sniffing, undoubtedly they were detecting the scent of the human behind him. It would only be a matter of time before they were discovered, better to use what limited amount of the element of surprise he still had. Squeezing the boy's arm to attract his attention, Angel indicated the main entryway of the cavern with a movement of his head, indicating that Xander should continue heading for the exit. Then Angel left the concealing shadows to challenge the group of vampires and give Xander the chance to escape. While his demon was gone the creature that had taken up its position within him was apparently quite nearly as bloodthirsty. With a growl that sent chills down the spine of the one human in the room, and that raised the hackles of the other vampires, Angelus slid back into his true face once more. Xander moved toward the entryway keeping his eyes on Angel and the other vampires to make sure he hadn't been detected.

Angelus became the center of attention as soon as he stepped out of the shadows. Walking forward, he surreptitiously loosened the guard that held his sword in place at the same time as he retrieved a stake from the small of his back. He concealed the haft of it with the palm of his hand, as he moved closer to the vampires that had begun to form a semi-circle in the center of the room. He didn't recognize any of the minions who stood before him and realized after performing the detect magic spell that Willow had taught him that at least two of them, one of the females and one of the males, were capable of performing magic. Muttering under his breath as he stalked to face them in the center of the room, Angel began erecting protection shields against their magic.

The smile that he gave the group was pure Angelus, as he almost seemed to lick his chops in anticipation of the coming battle. The fewer of them that were left the fewer he would have to deal with when he returned to eliminate Galan. Twirling the stake calmly in his fingers, with a finesse that would have made the Slayer proud, he faced his opponents.

At that moment he was nothing like the soul filled Angel that Buffy and the others were used to, he was the Western King, protecting his mate, and her home. He sensed that while this group was quite nearly the same age as the other minions he had encountered, these were the better fighters. Probably Galan's elite guard, Ah well, Angel thought viciously, that will only make the impending fight and victory all the more satisfying.

With a predatory grin he stepped into the closing circle, feeling the vampiric equivalent of an adrenaline rush as he said jovially, "Well then...who's first?" Two of the male vampires attacked. One of them from the left and one from in front of the Master vampire. Stepping forward he met the one coming from the front, stepping to the right slightly, he began to turn away from the vampire. His right fist, still holding the stake, snapped back and connected with the vampire's face, shattering his nose. Angel continued the turn to the left, away from that vampire, swinging his left leg out to sweep his present opponent's legs out from under him, and ended the move facing the other vampire. Snapping his left fist forward, Angel connected with the younger vampire's windpipe. Sending him staggering back, gagging and gasping for breath. The young one's body hadn't realized what the demon that resided within him, already knew, he didn't really need the air, the gesture was an instinctive one, and the demon fell to his knees, holding his crushed throat. Angel then slammed the stake down into his first opponent's back as he started to rise and then rocking back on his heels thrust the sharpened wood into the chest of the other minion.

Sensing two others break from the circle to attack, Angel left the wooden implement buried in the chest of his last victim, so that it exploded with him. As he quickly drew his sword and swept it in a wide spinning arc as he spun to face his latest attackers. The sharp tip cut through a vampire's neck easily, bisecting head from body without the female vampire making a sound as she exploded into dust. The blade sliced down across the chest of her companion, cutting deep, but not deadly enough to do any permanent damage, just pain and blood loss. As the vampire shrieked in agony, Angel felt the two spell-casters magical attacks are deflected by the shields he had erected. Barely registering their exclamations of pain and surprise as they received the backlash from that useless expenditure of power, the older vampire moved to finish the minion he was facing.

Angel quickly slammed the sword through Galan's follower's chest, feeling the blade rasp against bone and embed in the hard material. He waited patiently for the fallen vampire to disintegrate to withdraw his sword.

He then screamed in a combination of joy and pain as another male vampire came up behind him, and the blade he held in his left hand slashed across the Western King's ribs and left arm. Bouncing off the ribs that protected his lifeless organs, the knife sliced through the muscle and tissue of his arm. The unexpected attack gave Angel another adrenaline rush, sending the borrowed blood pounding through his veins. Turning to face this new opponent as he threw his weight behind the knife sending it towards the taller vampire's chest. Angel caught his opponent's wrist, snapping it with a savage twist, then his sword came up and through the injured vampire's left arm, severing it neatly.

Ignoring the now wounded vampire for a moment, the Western King turned to face the remaining vampires, the magic users. Without realizing exactly what he was doing, the vampire instinctively increased the power of his aura, causing the light that had always surrounded him to flare. Then moving forward, he slammed his fist into the face of the female vampire, and dodging the blow aimed at his head by the male, slashed out with the sword, slicing through the male's abdomen. Clutching his stomach the male fell to his knees with a pained growl. The female leapt forward with a shriek, fingers extended, like claws, raking Angel's face, before he threw her off him with a roar.

He turned back to the magic user kneeling on the ground and with a flash of steel the Western King beheaded his enemy, just as he felt another magical attack buffet his protective shields. For the moment, perhaps foolishly he ignored the female magic-user and turned back to the remaining male vampire. Who had retrieved his knife from the hand of his own fallen arm, and was now stubbornly advancing on Angel. The older vampire had to admire his spunk, and something in his resolve shifted slightly as he said. "You don't have to do this." To the younger vampire. "You could just walk away." He offered again. Raising the sword slightly to remind the minion that he wasn't exactly unarmed. The minion looked at Angel incredulously as he continued to advance, "I let you go, then I die...again. Besides in case you didn't notice fool, we're on opposite sides, I kill you, you kill me, that's the way it is." With that the vampire lunged uselessly at the vampire, as he stepped to the side, easily dodging the attack. The minion's injuries, causing his movements to be weak and clumsy, as he fell to his knees. Angel felt regret as he raised his sword in both hands over his head, and brought it straight down into the unbeating heart of his opponent.

As Angel watched the male disintegrate into a puff of ash, he felt another magical attack buffet the protective barriers he had invoked. With barely a glance in her direction, he pulled a stake from the pockets of his duster, and threw it end over end to embed in the female magic user's chest. She followed the others of her group with a scream as she exploded into a shimmering dust cloud.

The Western King suddenly heard a quiet grunt of pain off to his left to be followed by a loud thunk as Xander went flying into the stone wall in front of him. He turned in time to parry a sword thrust towards his chest. He barely registered the appearance of another vampire, before it had made another arcing thrust towards Angel's abdomen. Blades flashed, as the two engaged in a sword battle that would have made Errol Flynn green with envy. The pair was evenly matched and so totally immersed in their battle they didn't notice that they were not alone.

A small female vampire, the one Galan had taken as lover and Spike had later rescued had quietly entered the chamber. Ignoring the unconscious human, she moved towards where something glinted in one of the piles of ash that now littered the floor. Retrieving the knife from it's slight covering of ash, she quietly moved closer to the combatants. Due to Galan's recent violent outbursts, the young one had learned faster than most of her compatriots how to conceal herself. Every time Angel or the other vampire looked as if they might notice her, she had blended in with the surrounding shadows.

She had every intention of finishing this intruder herself, then perhaps the Master would once again look with favor upon her. The pixie faced female, morphed into her vampiric countenance just before she plunged the knife into his back, then she felt a white hot pain plunge into her own back.

Angel plunged his own sword into his opponent's neck, just as he heard a scream come from directly behind him. Whirling he came face to face with a cloud of dust slowly dissipating to reveal his First Childe, Spike, holding a stake. A cocky grin split the younger vampire's face, as he saw the look of stunned surprise on his sire's face.

"Surprised to see me, Daddy?" he said as he turned away from the older vampire and headed over to where Xander lay senseless on the floor of the cavern. "You shouldn't be,..." he said confidently as he bent to place two of his fingers along the side of the teenagers neck.

Still holding the sword at the ready, Angel walked over to join his childe as the British vampire spoke again, "Took a quite a knock to the noggin, he did, but he should be fine. Li'l witch said he had a hard head, guess this proves it." Standing Spike turned back to face his creator with a wry grin, "Better get him out of here, and tell the kitten I said 'I always keep my promises."

He then turned towards the tunnel Angel had just come out of with Xander, and was stopped by the deep voice of his sire, who said, "What's going on Spike?" in a completely confused and irritated voice. Spike couldn't resist the urge to increase that irritation and said, "Ask your li'l tree mate, or the kitten, it's up to you now, isn't it." With that the bleached blond vampire disappeared down the tunnel.

Shaking his head in wonder and consternation, Angel sheathed his sword, then kneeling wrapped his duster more securely around the unconscious teen. Then he threw Xander over his shoulder and headed back out of the tunnels the way that he had come.

Sunnydale Library:

Turning away from her friends, Willow walked up into the stacks. Heaving a sigh, she leaned her head against a row of books on a shelf. The smoothness of the covers, the musty, smell of the leather, and the coolness of the shadows all combined together worked to soothe the young hacker's frazzled nerves and strained emotions. Drawing in a deep breath, the redhead moved deeper into the recesses of the library. Leaning back against the wall near the entrance to the sewers, Willow slid down the smooth, cool surface to the floor and drawing her legs up, she wrapped her arms around her legs and dropped her head to her knees with a whispered groan. The silence in the library was deafening and laden with questions and feelings that the Summoner really couldn't handle right now. Absently, the young redhead rubbed at the tingling bond symbol that now resided under the sleeve of the green silk shirt she wore.

Closing her eyes, the little witch traveled back along the link that bound her mind and soul to that of her mate. The barely suppressed tension of the library and its inhabitants, had turned her former haven into an uncomfortable place, and had made her desperate for the comfort of her mate's presence. Following the strand of energy that connected them, she soon found herself in the dark recesses of Angel's soul.

The darkened area was now streaked through with more red than had been there before. Another change, she was alone, usually Angel would have been there with her by now, or she would have called him to her. Knowing he was probably fighting Galan's minions at this moment or soon would be, was the only reason she didn't draw attention to herself. Instead she explored, absorbing the warm comfort that seemed to naturally emanate from her lover's soul.

Willow gave herself a little embarrassed grin at the thought, My lover...wow. She trailed her fingers lightly across the malleable surface that surrounded her. Adjusting irregularities, soothing wounds, correcting and calming the soul itself, without actually realizing that was what she was doing. Suddenly the Summoner felt another presence and before she could turn, Willow felt the strong, familiar presence wrap around her comfortingly.

I'm here, mo cridhe. whispered through her thoughts.

You shouldn't be though. she replied, instantly concerned. She had distracted him at a time when he could ill afford to lose his concentration. Her need for comfort could cost Angel dearly.

Don't worry, I'm hidden, mo cridhe...besides you need me. he said in a tone that would brook no arguments. This reunion is not going as smoothly as we had hoped is it shionna?

Although the Summoner still did not recognize all the Gaelic terms of endearment that her lover used, she understood the feelings and intensity behind them. Finally relaxing into his soul's comforting embrace, Willow responded dryly. Not even close. This is almost worse than last night with Buffy...almost.

He chuckled at the rueful pronouncement, soothing, loving, comforting as he spoke, I will get Xander back for you my love, then we'll defeat Galan and all will be well. he promised huskily.

Although she knew that things wouldn't go as smoothly as Angel predicted, Willow still smiled as he soothed her, determined to enjoy these moments while she could, then he added, Be strong agraidhe, I'm always here. I'll always be here. Take strength from me if you ever need it. Somehow though I doubt you ever will. You have more strength and compassion in you, than anyone I have ever known. More courage than I will ever have. She then felt the tingle of a kiss trace over each eyelid, the tip of her nose, and then a slightly more passionate kiss to her lips, as he continued. More love than I will ever deserve.

Before she could object he concluded, Now go back to your friends, mo cridhe. They catch you out of your body like this, they're liable to have a fit. Besides I have an annoying... sensing her affront at the beginning of his statement, he concluded with dry humor, ...old pal of mine. Yes that'd be Xander. A real pal.

Willow smirked as she felt his presence begin to recede, Do I want to know what acronym your using for pal? His unbridled laughter followed her back along the astral cord to her own body, and echoed in her soul as she raised her head from her knees.

Smiling unabashedly, the young witch stood up and feeling much stronger and more confident, headed out of the stack to face her friends.

Buffy sat at one of the library tables looking for the entire world as though she had just been forced to drink curdled milk. Cordelia was pacing from one end of the library to the other, she probably would be horrified if she could see herself at that moment. The former May Queen's appearance and clothing were less than pristine at the moment. Giles was standing near the circulation's desk, trying his best to look unobtrusive as he studied a rather weighty tome. Willow could feel his quick, thoughtful gaze on her though as she came back out of the stacks. For the moment she ignored the man she had considered a mentor for some time, and headed directly for the Slayer, deftly avoiding the taller brunette as she continued on her circuit.

When she saw her friend coming toward her however, the Slayer couldn't meet the Summoner's eyes. Her own hazel eyes dropped to the polished surface of the table top, until she saw the witch's form out of the periphery of her eyes, sitting across from her.

"Do you think I endangered Xander, Buffy?" the young redhead asked gently.

Buffy looked up into the green eyes of her friend, and seriously thought about her answer. Her own hazel eyes stormy with unspent emotions from the night before as she replied, "I think...I think that...I probably endangered all of you...more than you have ever endangered any of us. I mean I'm the Slayer, I'm the one who's supposed to be in danger. You know facing all the evils the Hell mouth has to throw at us."

Willow thought about that for a moment and nodded as she consented, "Maybe, but as your friends we sort of went into this with our eyes open. We knew it would be dangerous but we were willing to accept that danger in order to help you." Sensing that was not all that was bothering her blonde friend, Willow asked calmly, "Something else bothering you Buffy?"

The blond looked up, startled out of her memories of the night before to gaze into the emerald green eyes of the first person she had actually befriended in this school. The redhead's gaze was unwavering and open, as the pair gazed at each other. Buffy studied those eyes and remembered many other times when the redhead had been her sounding board. The advice, trust and faith Willow had always given had seen the blond teenager through everything from her slaying, to schoolwork, to her relationship with her mother, and her feelings for Angel. Her friend stood by her, supporting her unconditionally, when Angel had lost his soul and become Angelus.

Even though at that time Willow herself, had also been suffering from what Buffy had seen in the witch's journal. Her friend had always given of her friendship and love unconditionally, and the Slayer began to see just how much she had taken that giving for granted. Looking back over their friendship, especially the past few weeks, the young blond realized that her own behavior had always been rather self-centered and petty. Hazel eyes broke the gaze and looked down at the table, she knew it wasn't right, what she was about to do, but she had to ask. Looking back up to see where Cordelia was in her pacing circuit, then over at where her Watcher stood, she leaned forward and whispered, "I saw you...I saw you and Angel last night." Seeing the flicker of realization in those green orbs, but no embarrassment, the blond teenager continued, "How could you be making love to him, when Xander could be hurt, dying or even dead?" she finished with a hiss.

Studying the Chosen One with the eyes of one who now knew what it felt like to hold the weight of the world on her shoulders, Willow gave a beatific smile before saying, "Xander is fine, Buffy. Galan won't dare hurt him. He thinks Xander is the Western King, and he's using him to try and draw me out. If he doesn't keep him alive and healthy then I won't be tempted, will I?" The Summoner gave a little snort as she continued. "Besides the stupid traitor knows the only way to open the gate is to get the Summoner and the Western King together in the same place and then offer me as sacrifice. Which is why I'm staying here and Angel is going after Xander. Thrilled my mate is to do it too" the redhead said with a mischievous smirk on her face.

Seeing the look of mischief on the young hacker's face, Buffy had to smile, despite the twinge she felt at hearing Willow call Angel her mate. Then she spoke stunned into realization, "But Willow its daylight, how can Angel be going after Xander right now?"

"Don't worry Buffy, barring any unforeseen complications, Xander should be back with us before you know it." the little witch said with amusement.

"Yeah right, like we're going to believe you." came the venom filled voice of Cordelia as she marched past them. "It's you they want so they took Xander to try and get you. To make you come out of hiding from behind your vamp honey...and if they do finally get you, what happens to Xander? This is all your fault Willow Rosenberg. If anything happens to Xander, so help me, I'm going to make you regret it." Cordelia continued as she paced the library floor, her hair was in disarray, her makeup faded, and her mascara smeared around her eyes, where she had obviously been crying. If any of her former clique could have seen her at just that moment they wouldn't have recognized the former May Queen. Buffy sat stunned, looking up in embarrassment, as the cheerleader continued her bitter commentary. Giles was standing near his office door, trying to pretend he wasn't there by studying his book. Willow stood slowly and leaned against the table in the center of the library.

The Summoner had called Amy before coming here and the witch had related to her the conversation between herself and Spike. The conversation relieved most of her concerns about Xander's well-being, and the knowledge that her mate was now going to retrieve her childhood friend from their enemy, helped to alleviate the rest of her concerns. Now to ease some of the tension here, and preferably before Angel returned. The redhead looked up into the sun, streaming through the windows, basking in it's warmth, letting it wash away the tension that had filled her when Cordelia had started her rant.

With a deep breath for fortification, Willow's eyes snapped open and standing away from the table, she moved to intercept the taller girl's pacing. Catching her by her shoulders, she shook Cordy's shoulders slightly, only to pull the girl's attention away from her tirade and to the little redhead. "Nothing is going to happen to Xander. Really, Cordy, I know you don't know me that well, and that you like me even less, but you should know that Xander is my best friend and has been for....well just about forever. Do you really think that I would let anything happen to him?" Willow asked with a raised eyebrow, before releasing the brunette's shoulders. "Now why don't you sit down and fix your face, Xander will be here soon and you don't want him to see you the way you look right now, trust me."

The other people in the room then saw something they never thought they would see, Cordelia Chase standing speechless in front of Willow Rosenberg, who had a slight smile on her face. Gently she clasped the brunette's elbow and led her over to the table where Buffy sat, retrieving the cheerleader's purse along the way. Pulling out one of the chairs , Willow gently pushed the taller girl into the seat, before pulling her makeup bag out of her purse. Handing it and a large mirror to the former beauty queen, Willow then dug deeper into the purse and also pulled out a hairbrush, and without thinking began to soothingly pull it through Cordy's hair. Speaking loud enough so that the others could hear her, but in a no less calming tone, she said, "Someone I know and trust is taking care of Xander, and Angel is going to get him back from them. He won't let anything happen to him...I won't let anything happen to him. However if he gets here and you look like this he may just have a coronary, so lets get you back to your beautiful self, Kay." By the time the hacker had finished speaking, Cordy's hair was back to its usual glistening beauty. Smiling the redhead placed the brush back on the table at the brunette's elbow, then faced her blond friend.

Buffy had been watching in amazement as Willow had soothed Cordelia's frazzled nerves and in the process probably started a friendship that would never have happened before now. The Slayer had never seen this side of her friend, usually facing up to Cordelia Chase would have had the hacker near tears by now. Her calm and cool had shown a maturity and inner strength that Buffy had rarely seen in her friend. That and the fact that according to the prophecy she could very well soon be facing her own death and here she was soothing someone she supposedly hated. These facts only served to prove to the young blond that her friend had truly become the Summoner of the prophecy.

A protector for the fae and this world. She remembered the night before and what she had witnessed, the intimacy between her best friend and the man who had been her first and so far only lover. The love, and acceptance between the two could not be denied, and the emotions between the two made it one of the most sensual acts she had ever seen. Of course to be caught in the voyeuristic act by Willow's fae Watcher had been very embarrassing, but the conversation she'd had with the tall, and admittedly gorgeous fae afterwards had eased the sense of humiliation for the most part. Although he hadn't exactly come out and asked her not to tell the pair he had been there. Buffy got the impression that he hadn't wanted them to know about his presence, and since she wasn't exactly comfortable with her own peeping Thomasina act, she decided against mentioning the fae's presence, at least for the time being.

Giles observed the trio of teenage girls as they sat at the table, now quietly conversing on heaven knew what. He didn't think he would ever be able to fathom the intricacies of the teenage female, especially not American teenage females. Buffy had become like a daughter to him over the years and he still didn't understand the nuances of the adolescent female. His own shortcomings during his teenage years, including his stint with Ethan and the others at Oxford as Ripper, made his own personal experiences as a teen somewhat tainted when it came to dealing with this particular group of teenagers. The only one he had ever felt remotely close to, had been Willow, and her recent behavior, well Giles could only shake his head.

First bringing Angel back without consulting them, her knowledge of the prophecy without enlightening any of them, then disappearing with the vampire without letting any of them know where she was, again Giles was at a loss for how to explain her behavior. Setting the tome he had been pretending to study down on the circulation desk, the Watcher removed her glasses and retrieving his handkerchief from his pocket, he began wiping the lenses thoughtfully, as his mind ran over several questionable aspects of the prophecy.

As he absently replaced his glasses onto his nose, the Englishman was startled to see the redhead of his thoughts standing right in front of him. Her thoughtful green gaze studied him for a moment, before saying, "And you Watcher? What is your opinion of my behavior?"

"I...uh...my opinion...yes well....I'm not sure." Giles stuttered as he tried to break his gaze from the young woman's.

"Aren't you?" she said with a smile, that looked almost lethal in it's intensity. "I think that you do have an opinion. You think that I should have left Angel in hell, and apparently the Watcher's Council agrees with you or they wouldn't have tried to send assassins after me, now would they?"

Speechless for a moment, Giles finally managed to break the young hacker's gaze to stare over at Buffy and Cordelia who were studying the pair intently if a little sheepishly.

"If you're so sure I did the wrong thing Giles then why were you so furious with the Council for doing that? Not to mention doing your best to keep the assassins away from Angel and me?"

"I...um...well...that is....oh bugger." he finally exhaled explosively before leaning against the edge of the desk. Then drawing a deep breath, the Watcher answered with resolve, "I may not agree with what you did, but I know that you would never hurt anyone, and indeed that you would endeavor to keep us from harm. So I have learned to trust that you know what you are doing and that you will do what is best. No matter what my opinion is, it's not important. What is important, is that...."

Removing his glasses once more, Giles carefully pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, before studying Willow with quiet intensity and admitting, "I trust you, Willow."

The redhead who had only a few minutes before been the epitome of calm and cool, flushed with pleasure and embarrassment at the unexpected compliment. She grinned and then threw her arms around the Watcher's shoulders, for a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. Before giggling and turning to head back to the table, she froze however half way there and turned her head to the gaping hole where the library doors had once been. With an expectant smile, she tilted her head slightly as though hearing something that none of the others could hear, then her smile faded to a look of concern. Without a word she turned back and entered Giles office and came back out with the rather impressive first aid kit that he kept for post-Slaying emergencies. Walking back to the library table, she paused in the same spot as before and seemed to listen again for a moment, before giving a short nod and grim smile. Looking back at the Watcher she said simply, "They're coming."

Stunned for a moment, "Yes...uhm alright." Before he carefully placed the tome he had been reading into a stack of books to be reshelved. The older man moved to join the hacker at the library table and lay out the first aid supplies, before it occurred to him to really ask how the young redhead knew that they were about to have company. Then the redhead moved away from the table towards where the doors had once been, before she had reached the steps that entered the library however, a looming shadow filled the doorway.

Collective gasps went up from the Watcher and the two girls near the table as Angelus walked into the room . Leather pants covered in dust and dirt, blue velvet shirt plastered to his side by blood, the hilt of an ornate sword peaking over his left shoulder, while his duster was wrapped around a bundle thrown over his right shoulder. Eyes that glowed with a feral light, studied the trio near the table for an instant before he turned his gaze back to the tiny woman who was even now moving to examine the wound to his side. She tried to untuck the shirt to study the wound only to be stopped by a barely controlled hiss from her mate. Willow's emerald eyes flew to meet his fathomless eyes, he smiled down at her wrenchingly, before saying, and "It's nothing, mo cridhe It's nothing." Then the smile took on a more mischievous quality as he said, "You haven't even looked at your present, love. Don't you like it? Or should I perhaps take it back?"

With a possessive look, the Summoner reached up and caught her Western King behind the neck and pulled him down for a hard, passionate, and very thorough kiss. Before pulling his head back in the same way and whispering intensely, "Don't joke."

Angel gave her a sweetly seductive smile, before the young witch caught his free hand and dragged him toward the table. Firing questions at him faster than he could follow in typical Willow fashion. "Is he hurt badly? How'd he get hurt? They promised me he wouldn't get hurt? How about you? Did you have a lot of trouble getting in? Were there many vampires?" the questions continued to be hurled at the vampire as he lowered the dark haired teen to the table, "Did you see Galan? Are you badly hurt? Are there any more wounds? Are you going to need blood? Should I go to Willie's? Did you get to try the magic I taught you? How did..."

The Western King after he had lowered his burden to the table turned to face the Summoner, leaning against the table he pulled the young woman between his legs and then lowered his head to capture her lips. Effectively silencing her questions, after a few minutes of that mutually satisfying endeavor, he raised his head and with an unrepentant grin answered, "No, an accident while protecting me, strange as that is to say, who said?, I'm great, nothing like a spot of violence as Spike would say, enough. Speaking of my childe we will talk my shionna." he said as he gingerly lifted the back scabbard over his head, and set it on the table beside him, "As for the rest, no to everything except the last, and that actually worked quite well." As he had begun answering her questions after the kiss she had lowered her head to hide the blush the kiss had wrought, then had begun unbuttoning his shirt to more closely examine the wound to his side and arm.

Her gentle touch to his body, had the vampire thinking of things that were impossible to do at the present, especially with an audience. Giles was examining the unconscious teen on the table, while Cordelia was making soothing noises and stroking his dark hair. Buffy was trying hard not to look at he and Willow as the young witch finally managed to get his shirt off and without too much pain from the drying blood. Her bottom lip caught between her teeth, she threw the shirt on the back of an empty chair beside them.

She looked at the wounds that traced deep grooves along his left arm and across his ribs down his side and hooking around to his abdomen. His right hand came up to cup her chin, as the dark-eyed vampire commented, "This is becoming a bit of a habit...eh agraidhe?"

Giving him a wry smile, Willow looked back down at the wounds, moving the amulet around to his back as she did. The magic she was about to use could clash with the magic of the amulet if she wasn't careful. "Yes, one I'd be happy to break, if you could just stay out of trouble." the young redhead said teasingly, as she carefully traced her finger along the deep gash to Angel's arm. The vampire held his arm up slightly so he could watch the trail of blue and green fire that followed the little witch's finger down his arm. The fire danced along the open wound causing the bleeding to stop. The inner tissues pulled themselves back together, followed by the skin knitting and fusing, leaving no trace of a scar. He caught her fingers as they reached the end of the wound and brought them to his lips. She only gave him a distracted smile, as she began to trace the slice along his side with her other hand, the magical fire again closing the wound behind it.

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