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)

Sunnydale Library:

The pair were unaware of the audience they had acquired, Buffy and her Watcher had glanced up almost simultaneously at the little witch's teasing comment and had watched entranced as she traced the wound on his arm with the healing magic and watched as the wounds healed magically. When she had finished healing the wound to his side, he caught both hands in his and although not a word was spoken aloud, the two stared into each others and seemed to communicate silently for a moment, the hacker blushed slightly, gave a little smile and nodded her head. Then she reluctantly pulled her hands from his and walked over to the head of the table, with Angel following closely behind her. Placing her hand on Cordelia's arm, she had the other girl sit down by Xander's head and then her fingertips skimmed carefully along Xander's scalp trying to find the bruised area she was sure was there.

Sure enough the witch soon found what she was looking for, a rather large bump, just to the right side of the crown of his head. Willow brushed his thick hair out of the way, trying to get a closer look at knot, to determine if it was bleeding or not. After a moment she became exasperated and said, "Angel you need to move. You're in my light."

The vampire quickly obliged, moving to lean against the table once more and then almost instantaneously the other people in the library realized what they had been missing when the pair had first arrived. Buffy was the first to comment, although she was so shocked it came out a bit flustered, "Angel...you...sunlight....vampire...no poof....eek." The Slayer finally slapped her hand over her mouth as she realized how silly she sounded, trying to control her outburst. On the one hand she was pleased for her friend and her ex-lover. They could walk in the sunlight together, something the Slayer had always wished for but had never dared speak aloud to her vampiric boyfriend. On the other hand she was also a little frightened if Angel could do this, undoubtedly with help from Willow the Witch. Then wasn't it possible that other vampires might also figure out a similar spell, how would she be able to defend against vampires that could walk in the daylight as well as the night?

The Watcher was having similar thoughts to his Slayer at the moment. Only his were more centered on the fact that Angel was in sunlight, a vampire in sunlight, the vampire who had killed Jenny was able to bask in the sunlight while his love would never see another sunrise or sunset. It was an abomination. Even as he thought it, he noticed the symbol on Angel's bare upper arm. Giles recognized it for what it was, a bond symbol. Willow and Angel had become lovers, it was the only explanation for the symbol's appearance. The young hacker, who had apparently finished attending to Xander's injury and was explaining his condition, interrupted his thoughts. "Ok, I've healed him, but it's not a good idea to wake him with magic. You have a tendency to have a nasty headache, of course considering how big the lump was on the side of his head, I think he's gonna have one no matter what."

At that moment the teen in question gave a protracted groan. Cordelia gave a little squeal and grabbed his hand and said rather shrilly, "Xander can you hear me?" Buffy and Willow shared a smile filled with relief and amusement. Not noticing the fact that the Watcher didn't join them in their joy over the recovery of their friend, nor did they notice what the vampire of their group now did. Giles' face had become suffused with a ruddy color and his eyes flashed rather angrily as he gazed at the young hacker. Angel knew exactly why the younger man was angry and was determined to diffuse the situation before it got out of hand. Shrugging back into his discarded shirt, he buttoned a couple of the buttons, barely registering the mumbled imprecations of pain from the boy he had just rescued.

Pushing himself away from the table, Angel determinedly walked to where the Watcher stood and in an undertone said, "I think we should talk, don't you?" The Englishman looked up startled out of his ruminations, he stared warily at the vampire for a moment before giving a stiff nod of agreement and leading the way to his office. Angel followed Giles, surreptitiously checking for weapons on the younger man. Seeing no obvious bulges where stakes and holy water might have been concealed however didn't reassure him. The Watcher had been doing this for a while, he would have gotten very good by this time at hiding such things, not to mention those weren't the only weapons he could use and many of them were specifically designed to be worn under clothing.

As they entered the office, Angel turned to close the door behind him. When he turned back the rage on Giles face wasn't too much of a surprise, the cross he held was. He hadn't felt it, indeed he still couldn't feel it.

Usually when there was any type of holy object nearby, a vampire could detect it, the sensation being somewhat like pinpricks across the skin. Even when the vampire wasn't in direct sight of it he could tell it was there, in that way he could avoid it. Even if the faith in that object weren't being used to ward you, to be in direct sight of the object, especially if you were a younger vampire, could be quite debilitating. That sensation being more like a numbing fire that raged through your muscles, weakening and even paralyzing you, which was why even older vampires tried to avoid church's and so forth.

To have someone actively hold a crucifix in front of you, was like having acid directly poured onto your brain. For a vampire to be squirted with holy water, had the same effect as acid to a human body. The Holy Bible had the same effect more or less.

So for Angel not to feel the presence of the crucifix that Giles was holding left him thunderstruck. The Watcher took his stunned silence as a sign of fear and spoke with quiet anger. "You may walk in the sunlight, and you may be needed for this prophecy but you are still a vampire and you still killed Jenny." he reminded unnecessarily, before continuing with even more venom. "How could you? How could you take Willow as a lover? You must know that she has to remain a virgin for the magic she needs to protect herself. So why did you do it?"

If possible Angel's face lost some of it's natural pallor. While he had expected some of Giles' vindictiveness, his revelations about Willow needing her virginity intact to stand against Galan made blood rise in the back of his throat. Carefully schooling his features, the Western King spoke with quiet calm, "Willow said nothing about needing her virginity for the ritual and I can't believe she would deliberately not tell me. Either you're mistaken or she didn't know. It doesn't matter which, if what you say is true then there is no way I'm going to let her face Galan now."

As he turned to leave the office, the Watcher said virulently, "Yes, of course, you would feel the need to protect the child who gave you the sun. Tell me Angelus, what did you say or do to the little witch to cause her to give you such a gift."

Angel stumbled in shock at the vitriol that spewed from Giles mouth. If it had been anyone else he would have reacted physically, by trying to beat them to a pulp, and perhaps in some perverse way that was what the younger man wanted. There had been no way for him to vent his frustrations about the return of Angelus, no one who could console him over the death of Jenny Calendar, and no one to explain his feelings and fears to about the return of Angel from hell. All of that piled up on one man, might cause a great deal of stress, and the best way to alleviate such feelings sometimes was a little physical violence. Especially when it was directed at the man who still carried the face of the creature who had caused most of those stressful feelings and thoughts. With a deep sigh, the vampire didn't answer the Watcher, he only reached for the handle of the office door again.

"No answer eh.....strange I would have expected more from the Scourge of Europe. Ah well, maybe I'll just ask the 'lady' in question." Ripper said caustically, still hoping to get a rise out of the vampire, and succeeding too well. With a low growl, Angel fluidly turned to face the Watcher, and ignoring the brandished crucifix caught the younger man by the throat. Startled, Giles began batting at the vampire's head with the heavy crucifix, only to have the much stronger Angel catch the cross in his hand and hold it and the Watcher's hand away from him. Realizing what he was doing, Angel relaxed his grip on the younger man's throat, and stepped back slightly, before admitting, "If you want to be angry with someone, be angry with me. I'm the one who killed Jenny, not Willow. Leave her out of this."

Blinking rapidly in shock, Giles didn't say anything for a moment or two, only stared at the dark-haired vampire. He considered what the vampire had said carefully, before saying, "You're not apologizing for it?"

"No." Angel admitted quietly before continuing, "I am sorry it happened, but it was the demon, that killed her....not me. Still I know you can't look at this face, this body, and these hands and not see the one who killed the woman you loved. So I accept that I will probably receive the brunt of the animosity you hold against Angelus, and I am willing to accept that but I won't let you carry that anger over to Willow, because she gave me the sun. She gave me that because it's the way she is. She has a good and pure heart and if she sees someone who she thinks needs help, she'll help them. Whether they actually deserve it or not." He said plainly finally releasing Giles completely, as he stepped further away from the Watcher. He gave a somewhat pained grin as he added, "Her generosity of spirit is one of the many reasons that I love her."

Slowly lowering the cross, Giles answered the smile with a grim one of his own, "Yes, she does have that effect on people, doesn't she?" he said remembering Amy and Spike.

"That she does." the vampire responded with obvious pride. His gaze grew distant as he gave a fond smile before repeating, "Aye, that she does."

Giles studied the perpetually young man before him and said softly, "I apologize."

The soft-spoken words when they registered broke Angel out of his imaginings, to look at the Watcher in a startled way. "What for?" he said honestly dumbfounded by the younger man's statement.

"For not accepting the truth." Giles said, as he removed his glasses and began wiping them with a pristine handkerchief, "You were right, you're not the demon who...who killed Jenny. I admit I found that hard to believe...but the doubts I had are fading. If you were Angelus, I don't believe we would be having this conversation in the first place and it's obvious that you...you truly do care for Willow..."

"No Rupert," Angel interrupted firmly, "I don't just care for her...I love her...I have for a long time. I just didn't think she could love me. But she does, and if you needed proof that the curse is unbreakable, it's standing before you. This is the happiest I've ever been, breathing or otherwise. The only thing left to do to make my unlife perfect right now is for Galan and this whole gateway thing to be gone and over with. Then we can all get on with our lives."

Flushing slightly the Watcher broached the next subject with Angel in a flustered and embarrassed tone. "Yes...that reminds me...since Willow's parents aren't available..."

"Are never available." Angel corrected rather heatedly, on the rather sore subject.

"Yes...uh...quite right...as I was saying..." Giles continued, "since they aren't available...and I am the most obvious responsible adult in Willow's life...I was wondering...what you're intentions are towards Willow?"

Rupert Giles, Watcher for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then had the unique honor of being the first Watcher ever to see a vampire blush.

Meanwhile in the library:

Xander had finally opened his eyes, to see a somewhat hazy image before him. With a slightly dopey grin on his face he said huskily, "Oooh, I've gone to heaven and all the angels look like Cordy."

His girlfriend blushed and said sarcastically but without heat, "He must have a concussion."

This statement was followed by titters from the other occupants of the room. The titters expanded to full-blown giggles, as Xander reached up, caught the cheerleader behind the neck, and gently but inexorably drew her down until their lips met in a passionate kiss. The kiss lasted for quite some time, and was obviously very intense if the sounds the pair was making were any indication. When the couple finally broke apart, Cordelia's face was flushed and she was gasping for breath. Xander had a lopsided grin on his face, as he said intensely looking into his girlfriend's eyes, "Maybe I am concussed, but I wasn't woozy until that kiss." Cordelia's eyes sparkled even as she blushed an even deeper shade of rose at that comment, her own lips curving into a smile.

Trying to find something to distract them from what was obviously becoming a very romantic moment for the couple, Buffy turned her friend by the shoulders to face the office. The silhouettes of Giles and Angel were cast onto the blinds of the office windows, and it was obvious that they were having a very intense conversation. Glancing behind them to the couple who was whispering intimately to each other, the Slayer whispered to her friend, "You think they're going to kill each other?"

"Which ones?" Willow said jovially.

"Ha, ha, very funny, fae girl. You know I'm talking about Giles and Angel. The other two only threaten to kill each other before they disappear into the stacks or the broom closet for an hour or so." Buffy said, with amusement.

With a mischievous little smile, the Summoner said, "No. Giles won't kill Angel because he's needed for the prophecy, and Angel won't kill Giles because he's Angel."

"Then what are they doing in there?" asked the blond teen in confusion.

"Having it out, so to speak." the redhead hacker said confidently.

Certain things clicked in Buffy's mind, and she asked curiously, "How do you know?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Willow avoided her friend's eyes as she said, "What else would they have to talk about?"

"Well there is the sunlight thing, in case you've forgotten." Buffy said in a somewhat awed tone.

"What sunlight thing?" Xander asked from behind them. The pair turned to find Xander sitting up on the side of the table his legs swinging casually. With his left arm slung over Cordy's shoulders as the former May Queen sat beside him, looking slightly mussed again, but a lot happier than the last time the friends had seen her in such disarray.

"Oh yeah, you missed it." Buffy said cheerfully, "Angel can walk in the sunlight now. That's how he came after you, Galan's goons weren't expecting it, I guess."

"It's very cool." Cordy said enthusiastically, "He can get a tan now, and I bet he'll look even dreamier than he does now. Cause that Goth look is so last year."

Xander looked between his girlfriend and his two best friends, before he said, "Yeah, well I guess I have to like him now, huh. After all he did save my life and he is in love with my best friend so the guy can't be all bad." he said with a casual shrug followed by a big hug from his girlfriend, to be joined by the other two girls.

"Hey, I love group hugs." Xander said with a chuckle.

They broke apart at the sound of the office door opening, and were amazed at the sight of Giles with his arm around Angel's shoulders, patting the vampire on the back good naturally. Angel for his part, was looking very embarrassed and when he raised his eyes to meet the gaze of his lover, Willow had quirked on eyebrow in question. The vampire could only shrug his shoulders slightly, and hope that the shields he had erected to guard his thoughts held out until he actually had a chance to talk to Willow about what he and the Watcher had discussed.

Then something Giles had mentioned came back to him along with certain things Spike had mentioned when they had faced each other in the cavern earlier. Shaking Giles hand slightly as he moved out from under his arm, Angel went to face his mate. The little witch had a lot of explaining to do.

As he walked toward the group, Xander said, "Hey Dead-boy, I understand congrats are in order?"

The vampire froze, with a stunned look on his face as he glanced at Willow questioningly, You didn't tell him about...

NO! Of course not, he's talking about the sun silly. Willow thought and then added, But Buffy knows.

BUFFY KNOWS! How does Buffy know? Angel thought back as he said aloud, "Thanks Xander, it's nice of you to say."

She saw us last night. I guess she was on the balcony or something. Willow thought, grateful that her honey could multi-task, But it's okay, she seems pretty cool with it now.

After a nudge from his girlfriend, Xander also said rather sheepishly, "Um, Angel, I also wanted to thank you for getting me out of there. I think I would have been vamp chow if you hadn't come along when you did...so thanks.." he said extending his hand to shake the taller man's, "Thank you."

Angel gave him a friendly smile as he accepted the handshake, before saying, "Your welcome Xander." The smile turned more devilish however as he faced his mate and said, "May I speak to you for a moment?"

Not trusting that smile and realizing what at least in part this conversation was going to be about, the little witch began to object, "Well I was going to...eep!" As the vampire caught her around the waist and hoisted her over his shoulder, despite her shrieked protests. He gave the group including the Watcher a Cheshire Cat grin as he said, "If you'll excuse us?" and headed up into the stacks with his prize.

Buffy grinned slightly and then looked over at the couple sitting on the table whose mouths were hanging open in surprise at the spectacle. The Slayer gave a slight giggle before saying, "Wanna bet they break your record?" Both Xander and Cordelia blushed furiously.

"Angel what are you doing, put me down." Willow hissed furiously. The vampire flipped her back off of his shoulder and onto her feet so quickly if he had kept a hold on her shoulders she would have fallen over as the blood rushed throughout her body. Her face was flushed quite nearly the same color as her hair and her eyes were slightly glassy from the bout of dizziness she was suffering at the moment, and Angel thought she had never looked lovelier.

While she was still a little disoriented, Angel asked a little shortly, "Why didn't you tell me that you had to stay a virgin to maintain your power?"

"What?" Willow said absently as the last of the stacks stopped spinning.

"Why didn't you tell me that if you lose your virginity you lose your power to control the gate?" the vampire said slowly, pronouncing each word bitingly.

"What are you talking about? Who told you that?" Willow said as she began to register what he was saying.

"Giles. He said that you had to be the way the Goddess made you for the ritual." Angel said, a little more calmly. Perhaps she didn't know, after all.

"I am as the Goddess made me." Willow said blushing, and then continued, "Giles probably thinks it means not whole as in the actual loss of my maidenhead, but it doesn't."

"It doesn't. Then what does it mean?" he said with consternation.

"It means whole as in myself. As in I am a whole person, not really physically, more like mentally and emotionally. As in I belong to myself." then seeing the vampire begin to object she rushed on. "I belong to you too. I am your mate, but I belong to me first. In that way I am whole and as the Goddess made me. If anything," she added leaning toward the vampire and caressing his face with her hand. "I am more than whole because you lend me your own strength and power, so I am stronger than I was before we became lovers."

Seeing the honesty in her eyes, Angel leaned down and gave the witch a sweet, relieved kiss. Before raising his head to look into those beautiful emerald eyes again. With a quirky smile, Willow said, "So everything's okay now, right." before pulling away and starting to head out of the stacks.

"Not quite mo cridhe." Angel said sedately, watching as the little redhead froze in her tracks, "There is still the matter of my Childe? You may remember him, British, bleached hair, a bad ass that goes by the name of Spike?"

Willow turned in surprise to look at the vampire, amazed that he would use such language. Seeing the dark eyes glow slightly, she swallowed heavily, he was upset.

"Um, yes, I remember him." the hacker said a little nervously.

"Good. Then maybe you can explain to me why my Childe, just helped me to rescue Xander and mentioned that if I had any questions I should ask my little tree?" he said in a tone that said he wanted answers and he wanted them now.

"He's helping us. Amy sort of recruited him, I guess, so he's been helping by spying for us and he took Xander himself so that none of Galan's minions would kill him." Willow explained carefully.

"And you trusted him? Willow he has no reason to help us." the Western King said incredulously.

"Actually, yes he does, one he genuinely likes Amy, strange as that may seem." Willow said thoughtfully.

"And two. I assume there is a two?" Angel asked.

"Well yeah, two is the same reason he helped send you to hell in the first place, he likes this world just the way it is, if Galan succeeds there won't be enough of this world left for anyone." Willow explained seriously, before flushing slightly as she added, "...and then there's three..."

Angel looked at the redhead a little suspiciously and asked "...and three would be?"

"Well um, Spike isn't the only Childe who's helping." Willow said in explanation.

Incredulous realization appeared on the vampires face as he said, in a stunned voice, "Don't tell me..."

"Drucilla's helping too." Willow said quickly before he could finish the sentence. She could see the rage building and continued quickly, trying to diffuse his temper. "I gave Dru back her sanity, Angel." The rage quickly turned to stunned disbelief as she continued, "That's why she's helping and Spike is helping for the most part I guess because of her, and yes I trust them." He was still standing there in shock and she said sheepishly, "Are we done now?"

"Pfft, no we are not done now." The vampire sputtered, his irritation obvious, "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because this is the way I knew you'd react. Angel they're your children, you made them. Dru still cares about you like a father, and as her father...Sire you know how much Spike loves her. He wouldn't let anything harm her, no matter how upset with you he might be. Galan and his plans would harm her, would probably kill everyone, you think Spike would let that happen? Cause if you do, you don't know your children very well anymore." Taking a deep breath and shaking her head the Summoner said soothingly, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I really didn't think it would matter or that there helping would become an issue. As it is, Spike and Dru did keep Xander alive and Spike did help you as well, so that should prove that they are trustworthy. Shouldn't it?"

Studying her thoughtfully, Angel said, "Alright mo cridhe, I trust your judgement in this. As to the rest perhaps when this is all over with, my childer and I will have a talk. When I was Angelus, I was always fond of them. We were quite a little family, we may never have that kind of closeness again but I...perhaps we could be friends again."

"Good, now kiss me so we can go back out there before they really start to think we're pulling a Xander/Cordy up here." Willow said cheekily.

With a smirk, the vampire said, "Happy to oblige you, milady." before lowering his head and giving his little witch a deep searching kiss. His tongue sweeping past her teeth into the recesses of her mouth and slicking along her tongue coaxing it into play. Their tongues dueled and then explored each others mouths. His cool tongue then slicked along the roof of her mouth and the ticklish and stimulating sensation made her moan slightly. They only stopped when her need for air made her pull back from Angel, slightly gasping for breath. A soft giggle escaped her lips as she brushed her finger along his bottom lip to remove a trace of lipstick. He quickly caught the tip of her finger between his teeth and laved the pad of the finger with his tongue.

A gasp of desire escaped the redheads lips that turned to a hiss as she said, "If you don't stop, we will do a Xander/Cordy up here...and this isn't exactly the most comfortable or the most private place in the world."

With a growl of frustration the vampire released her fingertip and started to usher her out of the stacks, when something else occurred to him, "Willow, who's the kitten? Spike mentioned her."

Willow frowned in consternation for a moment before shrugging and finally saying, "I don't know, maybe he meant Amy."

As they came out of the stacks they noticed that everyone was trying very hard not to look at them and to hide the knowing smiles they had on their faces. "We didn't do anything." Willow said defensively.

The smiles only got bigger and Xander was openly chuckling as he removed Angel's duster from around his shoulders. "We didn't." Willow repeated becoming frustrated.

This time the girls began giggling as Xander said, "Sure Will, whatever you say. You and Dead-boy weren't necking up there, uh huh, we believe you...really." he said cheerfully.

Getting a good look at what her long time friend was wearing, the hacker got a devilish look on her face that even Angelus would have been proud of. She then said, "Wow Xander, black and red are really you."

That was when everyone in the library turned to look at Xander who was quickly becoming an interesting shade of purple. For a split second everyone was silent and then Cordy's voice pitched several octaves' higher than normal asked, "Xander Harris, where in the world did you get that dress?"

Later that same afternoon:

Willow watched as Xander came back into the library wearing his own clothing. She chuckled and walking over to him hugged him tightly, only letting go when she heard a mental growl from her beloved mate. She turned toward the vampire and smiled softly.

"Hey, Dead-boy has to learn to share." Xander piped up, "She's my best friend, she's always been my best friend so you'll just have to learn to DEAL." Xander said, grasping his best buds hand and pulling her back into his arms. He burrowed his face into her long red hair and breathed in her familiar warm Willowy scent.

"I missed you, I was so worried. Don't ever scare me like that again." Xander scolded gently. He settled into a chair and pulled Willow down with him.

The sight before her, strangely warmed Cordelia who had always been slightly jealous of the crush that she knew Willow had on Xander. She had always sort of been envious of the strength of the bond between the two.. If Xander was there, you knew Willow wouldn't be far behind and she had always wondered why, when it was clear that Willow had the brains. Xander had been Willow's best friend, the knight that wiped away her tears when something bad had happened or someone had made her cry.

Cordelia cringed inwardly. How many times had she been the cause of Willow's tears. She wasn't one to care a great deal for any given person, but she loved Xander and by consequence loved what he loved, and the ones that Xander held most dear were in that room, at that very moment.

"Xander, as much as I like this I have to go back to my place in order to get some things I need." She smiled, "You can come with me if you think Cordy will allow you to leave her sight."

Willow said smiling at the cheerleader good-naturedly. Cordy appeared to think about it hard and then giving Willow a smile in return, "Okay but you better bring him back." She warned.

"I promise." Willow said.

"Is dead boy coming?" Xander asked with a slight whine. Willow looked at Angel, then back at Xander. "Sorry Xander where I go he goes...for now anyway."

"For always witch," Angel chimed in grinning wickedly at her. She chuckled. Taking Xander's hand she spoke softly. "Don't worry when this is all over he'll be better...I hope." Xander laughed in response somehow he didn't think the vampire would ever let Willow get away again. Not that Xander would begrudge him that, his best friend was turning out to be one hell of a woman, and he could think of no one who deserved the happiness that Angel obviously gave her more.

Down Below:

Spike sighed unnecessarily as he slipped once more into the shadows. Galan was in a rage but considering that a number of his minions had been beaten and Alex returned to the daylight world where he belonged, Spike could understand. Of course what Galan didn't know was that Spike's own Sire had been the one to do the rescuing.

"She was here in your midst and you let her get away." Galan bellowed angrily. Spike paused in his movements. He turned back, he needed to talk to Dru. What the hell did the pillock mean she was here. The little tree hadn't been down here, only Angelus. He moved quickly down the hall way to his secluded rooms. He pushed open the doors and a small smile played across his lips as he saw his dark goddess. She turned when he entered, the worried look that had taken up residence on her face turning to one of joy at the sight of him.

"Spike." she screeched happily throwing her arms around the blond vampire. "I was worried about you." She confided in a soft voice as though it was a secret. She leaned up and kissed him. Her cool lips pressed to his with surprising intensity. Spike opened his mouth at the gentle nudging of her lips and moaned softly as her soft wet tongue pushed past his lips to tangle with his. I guess you did miss me princess.

She drew back after a moment. Looking into his eyes she sighed contentedly and rested her head on his chest. "What is it my Spike? What is it that troubles you? I can tell something does."

"That bloody pillock seems to think that witch was here among us this morning." Dru pulled away and started to walk before him, pacing.

"No, she wasn't here she promised to see me if she came here." Dru insisted. "So he was wrong Only Angel was here." She said. Spike watched her wondering in spite of all the changes whether she would go into a tangent about their sire. Only to have her move on. Muttering to herself as she tried to figure out what had happened.

"They're bonded," she said suddenly. "So she must have taught him to use the magic that is between them and because Galan doesn't know Daddy he assumed that it was the little tree." Spike nodded his head. That would make sense, although he couldn't point that out without admitting that he was there and had seen it happen, hell he'd even helped them get out.

Spike drew the vampiress into his arms and pressed his mouth hungrily to hers. For the moment he wanted to forget prophecies and fae vampires and little trees.

The High School:

The library doors swung open admitting Amy, Willow and Xander, and Angel. The blond haired witch waved a little uncertainly at everyone in the room. Willow placed a comforting hand on the witch's shoulder, knowing how out of place she felt with them. She needed Amy however, she needed one of the members of the circle that would be forming.

Willow looked over at Giles. "Supplies." she said setting them on one of the oak tables. She studied the group in the library. Knowing that none of them where going to like that fact that she was about to suggest something rather unheard of. She had seen the look on Giles' face when she had explained what she needed them to be able to do. She had not wanted to tell Giles' what was going on. She didn't want to deal with what the others would think. Dusk has begun to darken into night and Willow knew that she needed to do this before. She walked over to the bag she had brought with her to the library that morning. She opened it and pulled from inside a large silver chalice. A long elegant dagger with a carved handle. She held it with a familiarity that wasn't lost on Giles, the athame of a witch.

Giles watched with little uncertainty at what she was doing when she pushed the table and chairs toward either side of the room. Creating a large space in the center of the room, and pulled two chairs slowly from there places. Walking back over to the table where her bag was she pulled from inside another item. She placed the flat board between the two chairs.

She placed chalice and blade onto the surface. She continued pulling items from her pack: Goblet, incense, censure, another longer dagger in a sheath, candles and candle holders, and then looking up she spoke. "Well we might as well do this." She said with no real emotion in her voice

Angel walked over to where she was standing and leaning down pressed a soft slow kiss to her lips. He whispered something Giles didn't catch. He only saw the warm smile that crossed the hacker's lips. She walked over to stand once more in front of the altar. She smiled softly taking the blade in hand. She stood and walked toward the east. She stopped and looked once at Giles. The librarian for his part, gathered Slayer, vampire, cheerleader, and fool into the circle. Willow raised her blade in greeting to the eastern quarter. Her voice rose easily. As she called " First I call to the guard of the East, place of rising light, Air, breath of clarity, of mental powers bright, Guardian of the Eastern Sphere be here, Come eastern wind be here tonight." She turned to look at the group assembled behind her.

She walked slowly toward the southern quarter of the circle. Raising her arms in greeting. "To the south I call the fires, as beacon in the darkness, guide to those who follow. Guardian of the southern sphere, be here, come Southern Blaze be here tonight."

She eyed the group that was still looking at her with awe. She moved to the western quarter of the circle. She raised her arms once more her eyes firmly closed as she spoke" Now I call the guard of the west, Gateway to the night, water, flow of life, now bring, intuitive insight, Guardian of the Western sphere I call you here, Come Western Rain be here tonight."

She turned finally last to the north. "To the North I call the earth, so cold in the midnight hours, Guardian of the Northern sphere, be here, come the northern lights."

Giles stared surprised when he saw the way her eyes now looked the irises had become an iridescent green. She walked toward him. Taking his hand in her own Willow smiled softly. She led him over toward the center of the circle and stood him before her makeshift altar. Turning him to face her and taking the censure that smoked with the scents of sage and myrrh, holding it up before Giles. Willow watched the smoky vapors wrapped around her mentor. "You I purify by fire and Air." Placing the censure back onto the alter she picked up the chalice she had placed on the alter and swirled the salt water solution around then dipping her fingers into the mixture she raised her damp hands to Giles forehead and slowly inscribed the pentacle. She smiled as the after image burned like a golden dawn on his forehead. Leading Giles over to the eastern quarter she stood him before the watchers. "Hail guardians of the east. He shall be thy voice and thy reason."

Willow smiled when she heard Giles slight sound of shock as the eastern wind washed over him in a gentle torrent. She walked back toward the south. She raised her arms in greeting varying the invoking pentacle appropriately and raised her voice once more. Buffy watched her with some interest, strange sensations were washing up and down her arms she could feel it like little whispers of fire walking through her system. Willow turned and walking toward Buffy. She stood before the slayer and took her hand and led her toward the center of the circle. She repeated the purifying ritual smiling at the slayer. Buffy smiled back uncertainly as she was led to the southern quarter.

Moving to the West Willow slowly repeated herself once more walking this time to Xander her best friend and reflection. Xander smiled worriedly at her as she moved through the purification and stood calmly as he settling into the role of guardian of the western waters. She walked last to the North and slowly walked through the motions once more this time drawing Cordelia over to her, she smiled at the cheerleader. The earth could not have a better representative than the cold calm steadfastness that was Cordelia Chase. She may have lacked the warm mothering of the northern earth expected on the outside, but on the inside was another matter.

Willow moved to stand before the altar before taking the silver goblet that set next to the water chalice. She grasped the other dagger that lay on the altar and walked toward Giles she knew he would most likely feel strangely about what she was about to do but it needed to be done. She took his hand in her own, and slowly drew the blade across the palm. She allowed a small amount of the blood the welled up from the gash to fall into the silver cup. She looked up at Giles capturing his gaze with her own. "You have been friend, father and mentor to me, Now you shall be my blood." Willow said softly she leaned up and pressed a kiss to the librarian's forehead. When she released his hand, Giles looked down and was surprised to see the cut already closed.

She turned and walked toward the Slayer. Buffy looked at her and her knife curiously and held out her hand. She winced slightly as the blade cut flesh. She watched with strange interest as the blood, which was deep red, poured into the goblet. Willow caught the Slayers eyes, and she offered her a small smile. "You who have been my best friend, my protector and who have been tasked with a harsh fate, the warrior's way is yours and the fight for the balance is yours to win. My hearts sister, my kin, my blood." She said leaning forward to press a soft kiss to the Slayer's forehead.

She shared a soft smile with the Slayer as she walked over to Xander, the boy held out his hand easily his trust in his best friend compete and without tarnish. Willow drew the blade across the palm of his hand and both watched as it welled and dripped over into the cup. Smiling she spoke once more. "I've known you for as long as I can remember, you've been my friend, my confidant, all of my best memories share your presence. You are as close to a brother as I've ever had, blood of my blood." She said she stood on her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

Then she stood before Cordelia and smiled. "Well I can't say I ever expected to be saying this to you. But you've become a friend, I hated you when you took Xander from me, but without you doing that I might never have found that which I've been blessed with." She smiled "I owe you for your candid, if not slightly skewed truth and to my family and hearth you are welcome." Willow said as she took Cordelia's hand and drew the blade across. Watching as a few droplets made there way into the goblet, Willow smiled at Cordelia.

At last she stood before Amy. She smiled at the other witch, who had been one of her closest confidants through out this entire situation. "For you I have a special task of all of these, you know what power that comes from with out to be drawn with in feels like. I need you to stand as the fifth." She walked Amy over to the center of the circle. Smiling. Amy nodded understand far more easily what Willow needed her to do. She was to be the center the grounding point.

Turning back toward Giles she smiled and nodded to each in turn and then walked toward the altar. Kneeling before the altar, she took from on the table a small bottle of wine, and poured the red mixture into the goblet. Whispering to herself she held her hand over the goblet and then lifted it to her lips and taking a single sip of that which was within she offered it up to the goddess. "Blood to blood, ties to bind, light is dark and stars do shine. Each of these shall stand at a gate, of east, south, west and north, and that of all. Each to these shall you answer their call as though my own voice rose high above." Setting the goblet down on the table.

She kneeled and closed her eyes beginning a chant. "Eastern wind blow clear, blow clean, Maid whose love has never ceased, bring me healing from the East."Southern wind blow hot, blow hard, fan my courage to a flame. Let my will and yours be twinned, Warrior of the Southern wind. Western winds blow stark, blow strong, Mother hear me where I kneel. Let no weakness on my quest hinder me winds of the West. Northern wind blow cruel, blow cold, Crone I need not call you twice. Chill me, North wind's frozen breath."

As she finished she turned to look at Giles and offered him a smile. Giles could feel the power washing off his young charge and was aware of it washing over him as well. Each of them now embodied an element of the whole. Each of them would be able to help. She had done this for a reason.

Turning quietly Willow released her corners and slowly ushered everyone to sit. "I guess you want answers now." Willow said more then asked.

The vampire that had watched the proceedings but had not be a party to them, stepped forward and stood before her, You drank of them, thereby claiming them? Angel questioned mentally. Willow nodded once. Her eyes going over the group that was now as much hers as they were themselves.

She settled in a chair before them her eyes locking with each in turn. "If the gate is opened, it must be opened by me, I've given all of you the ability to act in my stead while I open the gate you will be using this chant to keep it closed." Willow said. She stood up, and walked over to Giles, "If for some reason I am taken, I will be able to hold off the gate being opened because Angel must be dead or present in order for it to work. By now I am sure he's figured it out. That Angel is more then just a vampire just as I am more then just a witch." She smiled " Tomorrow night it all ends, tomorrow night in the dark of the moon it will end." Willow said, she was certain of it. She walked over to her bag and pulled out her folder, she opened the folder and pulled out sheets of paper and handing one to each of them she began to explain.

Giles listened with keen interest as she laid before them all that she knew. She started from the beginning, her beginning. She explained that she unlike Buffy had never been completely human, that her heritage was as old as the mountain and as deeply in her psyche as the oceans. She was the Summoner because she was one of few and the only of that few to have interested the soul that was needed to play the part. She was half fae not because one of her parents had a fairy in there backgrounds but because where a human soul should have resided within her, only the fire of the fae lived.

Giles questioned, when he was confused by her choice of words and wondered when she began to explain about Angel and what had happened, and why if he was always meant to be with her had he ended up with the Slayer.

She had turned and spoken to Buffy then. Her voice careful and soft. She had explained that Angel had done what any creature with shadows in his soul would do. He'd followed her like the moth to the flame and that at some point he got to close. He had touched her, and though she would not speak for Angel, she assumed that something within him had panicked. What exactly, be it demon or man, she didn't know but something in him recognized what she was and would be and had run from it. She looked at Angel and smiled then, and whispered that she understood that fact, knew that had she been confronted with this even a year ago she would have looked for the deepest darkest hole she could find.

"I know this will be hard." She said at length. "Each of you will find that if Angel and I are forced to open the gate you will know. You'll feel it. If that happens I need you all to be ready to perform the rite as I have written it for you. Word for word. It can't be almost. It must be complete and precise." She began to explain in more detail each of their roles as the quarter guardians and what it meant to her that each of them do there part.

Willow stood after a moment and walked over to Angel. The vampire opened his arms and the hacker settled easily against him. He closed his eyes as her hands touched him. He enclosed her in his arms and leaned back against the chair he sat in. Giles watched the bonded pair with new respect. After everything he'd learned that had happened between them, though he was sure he'd been given the edited for TV version of it, he wasn't sorry though. If he was seeing what he thought he was seeing he didn't want to know all the gory details. Though he had one question that he doubted that even the vampire had realized. "How is it Willow, that Angel no longer must fear the cross?" Giles asked bluntly. Both she and Angel looked at one another, Angel's eyes uncertain and surprised. He hadn't even noticed the truth. He hadn't had any trouble with the cross in Giles office.

"Perhaps a more prudent question would be how did you find this out since our return Giles?" Willow demanded making the Watcher look down guiltily. His head came back up and he locked his gaze on the young hacker, "Why I know matters little, I want some answers Willow."

"He's no longer a demon, he's just a vampire." Willow said, as though that should have made sense. At the perplexed looks she sighed softly.

"I magicked him," she said finally, "I bound his demon which I believe he later killed." Willow added the last part with a warm smile to the vampire in question.

"I hadn't even noticed." Angel said with some surprise. Willow walked over to him a small smile on her lips.

"I wasn't even sure if that would be true." She admitted, "and I couldn't bring myself to test the theory, just in case I was wrong." She said embracing him gently. "I love you." she said softly pressing a kiss to his lips.

Hours later, Giles stretched tiredly his eyes had gone blurry long ago. He watched as Willow and Angel made there way out of the library at the same time as Buffy headed out to go on a late patrol. His eyes moved back to Willow and Angel, who both slid an arm around the young woman and walked her out of the library.

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