Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here in. They belong to BVTS and it's creators Joss and WB. Don't hurt me for barrowing them. They needed to come out and play....
(thoughts in Italics)

The Park:

They walked in silence for a long time. Uncomfortable silence. That was something that had changed. She wasn't sure if she would ever feel comfortable enough with her own knowledge to walk in silence with him again. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

"Well, what did you find? From the look on your face Giles found the Summoner prophecy." She asked keeping her own voice even. Xander looked at her, then down nervous.

"Yeah, Giles found it. They think Buffy is the Summoner. That is, Buffy thinks she's the Summoner."

"What do you think?" she questioned carefully. He stopped and caught up her hand in his. He stared down at her, uncertain of where to begin.

"I think that it's you. I think that you knew that, in order to stop it from happening, you needed Angel on this plane. At the same time, bringing him back set into motion the events that bring it about." He sounded really scared and worried... hyper.

"You are right." She smiled at Xander, " Look at that. You do know your stuff."

He looked at her worriedly. He wanted to know what was happening all of it not just the bits and pieces that he knew now.

"So...like do you forgive me?" he asked, his voice a nervous whine. She smiled and squeezed his hand.

"Yeah, I forgive you for not telling Buffy the night of the ritual. She knew in the end and she did what she had to. So did I. It's right. Now, I just have to talk to Giles, and get this straight. "

"So what happens now?" He asked plopping down on the bench along the sidewalk. She smiled sitting down next to him. She leaned over and began to speak in a low earnest voice. He listened uncertain of what all of this meant. The Summoner and the Western King the darkness and the light. He listened hearing what she was saying and not knowing what to say.

"How did you know for sure that it was me?" she asked suddenly. She looked at him curiously.

He pulled a computer printout out of his jacket pocket and handed it to her. "I was looking up ways to identify the fae on the Internet and found this. It describes a crescent shaped birthmark as a mark of the fae. I remembered when we were little that time when we were in your kiddy pool and I teased you about the mark on your shoulder. Your mom said that it was a fairy kiss." He looked at her for affirmation that she remembered and when she nodded he continued. "It looks just like what's described there. That on top of everything else, your getting Angel out of hell, the faery fire, the magic, your coloring, all of it. It just clicked that you were the one. I didn't tell Buffy or Giles though. Buffy is so into her I am the Chosen One thing that I don't think she'd believe it anyway. Giles is just being so cautious and careful about not saying anything until he's absolutely positively sure, but I'm sure."

She looked up at him and smiled proudly at him and said affectionately, "You are so the research guy. That's it, that's it exactly. You are right."

"What about Angel?" he said bluntly, "Are you sure that you can trust him?"

The thought of Angel made her automatically reach for him through the link and she discovered that he wasn't alone. Buffy was there. Quickly she closed the link again, not wanting to eavesdrop. She was embarrassed, yes, that's what that lump in her chest was, embarrassment.

She looked up at him and said, "Xander, he's not Angelus and the way I worked the spells he'll never be Angelus again. Don't worry, I know my stuff. She continued to explain to him, "I'm sort of bound with Angel now." she hesitated briefly, "because of the magic and because of...you know the blood thing." Willow quickly held up her hand before he could say anything. "I gave it willingly Xander. He hasn't hurt me and he's not going to, I know that. He can't, the magic wouldn't allow it." She mentally crossed her fingers at that fib.

"Yeah, well I'll dust him in one of his non-existent heart beats if anything bad happens to you." Xander said protectively.

"Bad things happen Xander, it's what you do after they happen that matters." She said gently, then continued. "I know Buffy is going to have a problem with this, I mean to find out your former lover is now connected to your best friend. She won't be a happy camper, but..."

"Yeah, no kidding." Xander said, and then looked deeply into her eyes, "She thinks you're sleeping with 'tall, dark, and undead'.

Willow looked shocked for a moment, then blushed before stammering, "Yeah right, as if...I mean come on. Angel has better taste than that."

Xander studied her for a moment longer and then seeming satisfied with what he saw he said, "I'd better get back. Have to be the net guy, while you're recuperating." Then he turned back to her. He took her shoulders in his hands and said seriously, "Take care of yourself Willow, I don't want to loose my best bud for anything." Then he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. That act would have thrilled her no end a few short months ago, now it just made her smile slightly. He turned and headed off in the direction of the library and she turned and headed back to her house.

Sunnydale: outside the Rosenbergs:

As Buffy climbed up and over the railing of the balcony she suppressed a momentary twinge of guilt. She was breaking into her best friends house she thought guiltily, just to check on Angel. The other half of her said. Yeah right, came the sarcastic retort, just to check and make sure he's still yours!

Buffy ignored the last part thinking to herself "Who needs a conscience anyway?" As she tested the handle to Willows balcony door. "Locked..oh well." thought the Slayer, "In for a penny, in for a pound." With that she gave the handle a sharp turn easily shattering the lock mechanism, and letting herself in.

The scent that assailed her was a combination of Willow' own jasmine smell and then the fainter earthy tone of Angel, swirling and combining in this closed in space, her Slayer sense of smell was almost overwhelmed and it only served to enrage her further.

Willows room was dimly lit by two lamps, one by her bedside table and one sat next to the computer. She examined the room carefully. The computer was turned off, sitting beside the computer an aquarium that had been converted into a terrarium. *A flash of memory; Willows fish gutted and sent to her in an envelope strung on a wire.*

Buffy walked closer to look at the terrarium and her eyes spied a flash of color on the desk. A yellow computer disk. *Another flash of memory; Angels stunned voice "Buffy...what's going on?"* Quickly she turned away. Walking toward the closet she noted a pile of something black on the floor. She reached down to pick it up, intending to throw it in the clothes hamper next to the closet. Leather...she held up what she had in he_ *Another memory flashed; Xander mentioning a joke Willow had made after the Ford incident, Angel had gone over to Willows house to do research on Ford. Willow had said "Ours is a forbidden love..."* Was it a joke?

Then she caught the sound of the shower running in the bathroom that adjoined Willows room. She knew it wasn't Willow. Willow was with Xander. Xander was convinced that Willow was the Summoner. "Willow..." she smirked to herself "as if." She opened the closet, "No other Angel clothes here." she thought. Quickly, she slammed the closet closed and her eyes flew to the bed where she had seen them entwined. *Another flash of memory; Jenny Calendar's body, laid out in Giles bed, roses and candles all over the place.* Her eyes dropped to the floor trying to escape the memories, they fell on the sword. Shoved under the bed, under *his* side of the bed her mind screamed, only the hilt and part of the blade showing. *Memories cascaded in; their last fight, the return of his soul, there had been just that much sword left protruding when she had rammed it through his chest, sending him to hell.*

She walked to the end of the bed and then noticed the pair of biker boots lying haphazardly on the floor. The boots lay as though thrown there in a fit of passion.*Another memory Angel throwing off his wet clothes in order to warm her, to love her, then waking up alone.*

Buffy backed away across the room trapped in the memories, she didn't notice that the shower had stopped. She was in the corner next to the balcony door when he came out of the bathroom. Hair still damp and tousled from the shower, towel around his neck, chest bare, black slacks, and bare feet. She stood for a moment admiring the muscles of his back.

She noticed his tattoo was still intact after his bout in hell. He was still facing away from her, as he finished drying his hair with the towel. Angel then casually tossed the towel, without looking, at the hamper in the corner of the room near the closet. "Like he's lived here his whole life." the thought ran through her head unbidden, causing her to gasp in pain. The sound, though too faint to be heard by human ears, was detected by the vampire. "Willow, I didn't hear you come in...." his voice trailed off as he turned and caught sight of the Slayer.

His voice, when he said her name, it had held such warmth, such affection...he used to say your name like that. Anger and disgust began to boil inside of Buffy. "Nope sorry, " she sniped, "just me the long suffering girlfriend that you tried to drive crazy and kill."

He flinched and said, "Buffy..."

"So making yourself right at home here aren't you?" she interrupted making a sweeping gesture to encompass the room and all its contents.

Angel was having difficulty judging the Slayer's mood. Slayer... when did I start thinking of her as that and not Buffy? Quickly he turned away from her to pull a small paper bag from between the night stand and the bed. He then pulled a burgundy velvet shirt from the bag and slipped it over his head, with quick and efficient movements. He couldn't explain it but he had suddenly felt very uncomfortable facing the Slayer..Buffy, remember Buffy. only half dressed.

"Yes, " he agreed looking at her oddly, finally responding to her question, "Willow is letting me stay here. We both thought that there would be too many bad memories for me at the apartment."

He realized the way the words sounded almost as soon as they left his mouth and was about to apologize when he saw the flash of fury in the Slayer's eyes. Before he could muster up the apology she spoke.

No..correct that she hissed. "So you decided to make some good memories here, with her." His head snapped back and up at that. What?!?! "Was she any good Angel?! I mean, I know how much you like virgins!!!" she continued.

"Did you make her enjoy it? Did you tell her you loved her?" she taunted. "I wonder how you got her so willing to betray me? And how in the world did you convince her to get you out of hell?"

He took a step back at her vehemence, realizing She's talking about Willow...she's talking about Willow like she was a whore!!! That got his hackles up.

"You're jealous, " he said angrily "and you're behaving like a child! Grow up!!" he snapped.

Her face paled and her eyes flashed, as his words came too close to the truth. "You were always trying to hurt me I just never expected you to use Willow to get to me!!" she responded angrily. "How did you talk her into betraying me like this?"

He looked at her as the rage began to build in him, "You want to talk hurt and betrayal?! Lets do that! How about I love you...close your eyes. Ring any bells Slayer? I loved you, I trusted you, and you shoved a sword through my gut and sent me to hell! But then I guess I should be grateful huh. You didn't kill me. Oh I killed Jenny, I vamped your friend Theresa, I tortured you and your friends but you didn't kill me. You couldn't kill me."whispers to himself almost, "I wish you could have.."

Buffy looked at Angel but all she could see was Angelus. Him gloating, him hurting her friends, him torturing Giles, him taunting her about their night together. She stared at him for a moment. Torn between her hunger for Angel and her fear that this was merely an elaborate trick designed by Angelus to hurt her once more. The old wounds burst open, the blood oozed from there deep set places in her soul. She felt her eyes tear even as her anger and pain became uncontrollable. She lunged at the stunned vampire.

Angel attempted to side step the clumsy blow. Her fist still managed to make contact with the right side of his face, stunning him a bit. He drew back putting distance between them. He was weak, if he fought with her now he would loose. She followed his retreat and had she been thinking she would have seen all the identifying characteristics. This was Angel slightly frazzled and singed about the edges but Angel never the less.

Angel reached out grabbing her hands, "I won't fight you!" he hissed.

"Yeah, well I am so touched!" she growled sarcastically.

She fought hard to release herself from his grip. She raised a knee connecting with his lower abdomen. He groaned in pain, his hold on her loosening. Buffy seized the chance and pounded her fist into him with full force. He thrust her away hard, toward the wall. Buffy used the added momentum kicking off the wall spinning herself into a flying roundhouse kick, knocking the vampire into the dresser.

Buffy lunged at him again, this time Angel met the attempted blow with one of his own. She staggered back and stared, shocked. Buffy felt her anger rise yet again. She lashed out at him with her legs, feet making loud painful contact with his body. The sound of ribs cracking under the pressure apparent. Angel fell losing his balance and hit the floor hard. He gasped as Buffy bore down on him. His face had slipped into the demonic visage due to his pain. Buffy saw the face of her nightmares, and in a moment of rage and terror, she snapped.

With a flick of the wrist the stake hidden up her sleeve slid into her waiting palm. Everything that happened next went in slow motion. Angel reaching out to stop her. Buffy driving the stake into his chest. Angel screamed, agony ripping him apart. His eyes locked with her's as she reached to right the stake that had missed his heart. "Buffy, " he whispered in a faint voice. Her eyes met his and a horrifying truth began to descend on the slayer, whispering past her anger and rage. Angel??!! "I would have closed my eyes......" His eyes fluttered and he fell into unconsciousness.

Buffy pushed herself to her feet. She felt tears begin to fall down her face. She looked down at him. He lay still as death. The only thing that told her he wasn't dead was the fact that he wasn't dust. She ran from the house her feelings in turmoil she needed to find Giles. He would fix it. He knew how to fix it. He had to.......She ran and all the while her mind played back that final horrifying moment, the one she had dreaded. Angel. Willow watched Buffy dash out of her house in tears.

What the hell? Watching the Slayer dash down the darkened street away from her house, Willow slowly walked up the stairs. She hadn't allowed herself to tap into the link since the moment she realized Buffy was their, she hadn't felt right about that. She opened the door slowly and looked in the living room expecting to see Angel standing there, only to find the room empty.

Curiously she opened the link calling his name mentally. Angel? Nothing answered her and a slight wave of panic washed over her. Oh God! What if Buffy dusted him?!?!?! She started up the stairs to the second floor before a shockingly, intense wave of pain forced her to the ground. Well, he's not dead. Willow gritted her teeth, forcing herself to feel the pain and then casually throw it aside. It was harder to do than she had imagined. Normally just the thought would be enough, but with Angel it took more.

Help me.

Willow paused, grasping onto the mental plea wonderingly. Angel's mind had reached for her. She slowly made her way into her room trying to convey calm to the vampire that waited on the other side of the door. Willow discovered she had wasted the effort, when she opened the door to her room, for he had yet to awaken. Pain sliced through the redhead again, causing her to gasp. Willow stumbled over to where Angel lay on the cold wood floor. Her eyes ran over him, taking in his injuries. A large nasty looking stake protruded from the vicinity of his heart though it had clearly missed it's mark. She studied him for a moment fighting the ridiculous urge to check his pulse.

Well that certainly looks nasty. She shivered as she realized the stake was the problem. She was going to have to remove it and the thought sent a shudder of apprehension through Willow. She knelt beside him, wondering what else might be wrong with him. Normally, Willow knew that his wounds would have already begun to heal due to his vampiric nature but given the last few days and what little blood he had taken from her, he was weak. Realizing that she was going to have to cut the shirt off if she wanted to remove the splinters that she was sure had lodged in his skin around the larger stake wound, she stood and silently made a list of what she needed.

Scurrying about the house, a strange urgency gripped her that went beyond worry for Angel. When she had at last compiled the needed items into a heavy stack she hurried up the stairs to where he lay. She knelt beside him again and stared at his bloodied shirt for a moment, before pulling the shears from the pile of things that she had brought upstairs with her.

Willow felt only a momentary twinge of regret when she cut the velvet shirt off of his body to get to the wounds. There would be other shirts there wouldn't be another Angel. Willow reached down and gently grasped the wood. She looked up at him. Angels eyes fluttered open. Oh no, go back to sleep, this is *so* going to hurt. He looked at her. His eyes pleading with her to do what she had to. For a moment she thought she saw, fear in his eyes. Did he think she would stake him?

Never!!

Willow whispered an apology and yanked hard on the wooden stake, he cried out. She watched as he lost consciousness. The redhead silently thanked the gods, because she knew that removing the smaller splinters would be even more painful. She worked feverishly, hoping to have the last ones removed before he came to. Willow knelt at his side again, knowing she had to stop the blood flow, from the hole that was left by the stake. Some of the wounds had finally stopped bleeding, but he hadn't fed deeply enough to be at his full healing capabilities.

Willow closed the wound using a small amount of piny, smelling goo her mother always kept on hand. She covered the wound with a gauze bandage, and leaned down to look at him. Angel was so pale, too pale even for him. His skin was icy, not that, that was unusual. He was after all a vampire, yet it seemed out of sorts.

Seizing upon another idea, one that Willow wasn't sure she could explain if he should remember it, Willow leaned forward and placed her hands palm down on two energy pools. She felt the swirling power that revealed Angel's rather unique nature to the trained eye and carefully began to feed them as much energy as she could. She could feel it sapping her already waned strength and reluctantly shut off the flow. Realizing that it would hold him for maybe an hour or two, but for something more lasting with his injuries they would have to do this the old fashioned way. Hope he bites the other side this time.

Angels eyes fluttered open after what seemed like an eternity. He stared at her for a moment. "Willow?"

"Yeah." she smiled tenderly down at him."How you feeling fang man?" Willow asked in a gentle voice.

"I've been better. Little one. I've been better." he responded weakly.

"I take it that Buffy was here." she queried.

"Yeah." Angel attempted to sit up. He accepted her help wearily. She met his eyes and smiled sadly at him.

"I take it, it didn't go well." she ventured. He chuckled lightly at her words.

"I would have to agree with you dear lady, it boded badly for us both. I believe she is coming back though, so I really don't want to be here." Willow nodded her head and eyed the vampire strangely. "Okay so where do we go now?"

Angel looked at her, staring into her eyes for a moment. We? she wanted to come with him. That sent a strange thrill through him. Willow wanted him. He nearly laughed aloud at the thought. Strange to belong to someone.

"Angel are you okay can you stand?" She asked wondering just how much energy she had really channeled into him.

"Fine, " he said, his voice lacking the conviction it would have taken to fool her. He must have sensed this because he moved to stand, to prove his well being, only to find himself unable to. Willow was watching him. He could all but see what she was thinking. "Willow." he said warning clear in his tone. She smiled, the warmth of it rivaled the sun.

"Angel, I'll heal, " She moved offering him her neck again. Angel groaned he was not made of stone and this wasn't a fair challenge. He was weak, he needed blood. It's not about fairness, Angel. It's about friendship and hope and every other warm, light, brilliant thing in the world. You can't die, I can't let you. I won't let you. She said with gentle conviction.

You are in hell, I will save you. You need blood, take mine. He stared, awed once more by the simple extraordinary nature that was Willow.

Willow looked up and met the vampire's gaze. Angels face had shifted, without his realizing it. She could see the hunger burning there in the golden depths of those eyes and she felt a slight whisper of fear run through her. When Willow looked closer though she also saw Angel in those depths. His fear for her and contempt for himself apparent in his gaze. She trembled but moved closer to the shaking vampire. He watched her, his eyes, pleading with her to get away. He knew how dangerous he was.

She smiled sadly and reached up and brushed her hand against his cheek. Angel groaned inwardly fighting the demon that screamed in hunger within him. He could smell her blood, already taste it. She lifted her arms and slid them around Angel's neck. She slid closer, stealing his control with the look in her eyes. Trust, complete and utter trust. Angel stared, torn between the need to feed and sate his ravaging hunger, and that of protecting this most extraordinary woman.

"Angel. It's okay. I promise. Still my turn. It'll be yours soon." She drew his head down to her throat. She's said that before what does it mean?

He held back for a moment. His hunger beating against his control, like the wings of some great black beast that demanded to be fed. He dragged Willow against his form, holding her close. She relaxed, waiting. She felt his mouth brush against her cheek. He trembled at the feel of her hands in his hair. Angel felt her open the link between them. She felt him retreat, his fear of harming her was tangible. She understood it's depths. His encounter with the brassed off Slayer had left him feeling loathsome again.

Willow wanted to fix it but she had no idea how. He needed blood. He was going to need more then she could give him, but the magic that now lived within her was strong, and it appeared to help her heal more quickly. The marks from his feeding earlier in the day had already disappeared. It's okay. I promise Angel. Please you need to do this. If you don't you'll die before we can get you something else. Please Angel. For me.

How am I supposed to fight that? Angels resolve broke. Her warmth, her closeness, the strength of her conviction. He simply hadn't the will to fight any longer. Her flesh was soft like silk, and sweet, far too tempting. He carefully sucked the soft flesh into his mouth. He pierced her jugular, quickly. Willow gasped in response to the slight pain of his fangs sliding through her flesh.

She arched against him in response to the pleasure that washed over her in the wake of his kiss. Willow moaned low in her throat as Angel continued to drink. Somewhere in her mind she wondered if this was something that would only happen with Angel. She could feel his hands holding her against him as though he feared that she would jerk away now that his fangs were buried deeply in her throat. No, she could only press her throat closer and swim in the indigo sea of sensation that bespoke of the strange if not twisted pleasure found in this man's draining of her.

Gods I wonder if that means there's something wrong with me?

Angel felt the intense fire-like quality that was Willow flow into him. Her blood was ambrosia. He sensed the exact moment he became all that kept her from falling, under different circumstances that would have bolstered his ego, now he only felt a wash of self loathing, as he continued to drink. Hoping to discern her true state and whether he could continue to drink he tested the link.

The first thing he was aware of was her conscious mind whispering that she was fine. He wasn't hurting her, consistent and reassuring. He pressed deeper, seeking the emotions that swirled beneath thought, he gasped against her throat, not prepared for the intensity of her feelings. Redoubled desire and hunger washing over him. He'd been so certain he knew what he'd sense that the depths of her reaction caused his hold on her to loosen in a moment of shock. Her arms came up to lock firmly around his neck holding herself up.

Angel, easy I feel you.

He chuckled at his own foolishness, how he'd forgotten that rather intense reaction to feeding off a willing victim he wasn't sure. Not as though you find yourself with someone offering up her blood to you often Angel. Her mind whispered fleetingly against his. He tried to gain control of his reaction to her, he could feel her pleasure at his feeding on her. It was true, feeding was erotic, it was by nature very sensual. Angel had gone so long without feeding on humans, let alone someone who offered their blood willingly. He hadn't been prepared for their combined response anymore than his own. It was such a heady and sensual experience for him. He felt his hunger heat and change, becoming darker and more dangerous.

Angel drew back slightly, lapping up the last crimson drops, brushing his tongue lightly over her flesh. He lingered trying to force himself to release her. His mouth drifted back to her flesh. She stiffened slightly feeling the change in Angel's emotions, What? She trembled slightly as he continued to caress her neck with his mouth, nibbling and sucking the sensitive flesh. Biting her lip she drew one hand around to gently push him away, knowing that he didn't realize what he was doing. Oh my!

Her thoughts scattered as his mouth touched hers, barely a kiss. His mouth grazed hers lightly. He kept the contact soft and non-threatening. She opened her mouth beneath his, attempting to speak against his lips. Unable to resist the temptation, gently he flicked his tongue out to caress her lips, coaxing them to open to him. Her lips parted on a soft sigh and he plunged his tongue into her mouth. Gently ravishing every dark recess of her mouth, he nipped at her bottom lip as he drew back and worked his way down her jaw-line to the other side of her neck.

"Angel?" came a soft voice in his ear as he continued, then it clicked Too soft! Quickly Angel snatched his head back to look at the little hacker. Her face was waxen her lips bloodless, her eyes and hair the only color left in her face. Self loathing quickly washed back in dousing the desire like an icy water.

"Willow I'm so sorry I shouldn't..." he began castigating himself.

"Don't you dare, " she whispered weakly, while placing a hand gently over his lips, her hand fell away from his lips and he looked down with sudden fear. You only did what I asked.

Willow?!?! even through the link she could feel his concern and fear.

Looks a lot worse than it is. He felt a weak chuckle through the link. Always wanted to say that. With a sigh she continued. Won't die..just...just... too tired. She replied to the question he had been too afraid to ask. He quickly lifted her in his arms and placed her on the bed, her eyes closed and he quickly checked her pulse. Weak but there. Willow? he sent the message through the link with more strength than he intended out of sheer terror.

Don't leave me when you go...please... came back the soft pleading response. For an instant he didn't understand and then he remembered. Buffy, she would be back soon. He didn't want to be here when she did get back, and he was definitely not leaving Willow here to face her alone. Especially not in the shape she was in now.

Quickly he went to the phone and made several calls. Then he went into Willows closet and grabbed a suitcase he had seen there. Going through Willows dressers and closet was an embarrassing yet enlightening experience to him. Did girls actually wear these things nowadays?...and what did you do with that? He knew that he wasn't leaving *his* Willow behind to face the Slayer alone. No sirree, they needed some time away from the Slayer, the Watcher, and that boy Xander. In a fit of whimsy he packed Willows stuffed frog.

What was his name? She had told him but he couldn't remember now. Then carefully he wrapped his sword in the leather pants, and packed them as well. He quickly took the suitcase down putting it on the front porch he then ran back up the stairs and into Willows parents room. He grabbed one of her fathers shirts out of the closet promising to replace it. He walked back into her room checking his wounds as he was buttoning the shirt.

Except for the stake wound all the other wounds were completely healed. He was finishing writing a note to Giles when he heard the cab outside honking its horn. Carefully he wrapped Willow up in the comforter from her bed and sent through the link we're leaving now little one..He felt the nonverbal affirmative response from her through the link and tucked her gently against his chest as he walked down the stairs.

The cabby had already picked up the suitcase and was placing it in the trunk of the waiting cab. As Angel climbed into the cab he failed to notice the large black cat that sat near the front porch steps. Its eyes glowed as it watched the vampire and the sleeping girl ride away in the cab.

Angel gave the driver his own apartment address, saying he had to pick up something there. He ordered the cabbie to keep the motor running to keep Willow warm while he was inside, the nights were getting chilly. He was back in 5 minutes with a duffle bag which he quickly threw in the trunk with Willows suitcase. He had also grabbed his leather jacket, which he'd thrown on. He then climbed back in the cab and after making Willow comfortable on his lap he told the cabbie to take them to the airport.

Angel gave the porter at the airport an extra $20 to carry the luggage to the chartered aircraft gate. He carried Willow with ease and confidence to the check-in gate. He gave his name to the young woman behind the counter."Of course, Mr. Boyle, your plane is ready." she motioned with her hand for he and the porter to follow her. "Right this way."

Angel could see the curiosity in the young woman's eyes about Willow but kept quiet. Let her wonder. he smiled to himself. Willow mentally whispered, Cryptic Guy lives. His laughter rumbled through the link and out loud. The young woman sent him an odd look for his outburst as she led him out of the airport to a Lear jet that sat on the runway. He waited as the porter loaded the luggage and the pilot came out to introduce himself.

Angel simply nodded distractedly towards the man as he climbed on board the plane. After 250 years he could have afforded to buy a whole fleet of planes if he wished.

The trip would have taken too long in a car. Although he cherished the vision that Willow had given him, he didn't relish the thought of driving into the sunrise. He hated commercial travel, all those bodies packed together, their blood calling to him. He shuddered at the thought. He sat down in one of the seats with Willow still in his lap. The pilot came on board and seeing this, began to try and explain to him why Willow had to sit in her own seat.

Angel contained the urge to vamp out...barely. He looked up at the man with the look that Willow had seen before, the almost vamped out vamp look, and said "Just fly the plane." through clenched teeth. The pilot decided discretion was the better part of valor and headed to the cockpit.

Angel told himself that he was just feeling protective of Willow and didn't want to set her down for any reason. The truth was he was enjoying holding her. He hadn't cuddled with anyone in over 200 years. Darla liked her sex fast and hard. Buffy liked to kiss and hug but had never had time to just cuddle. Drusilla...he shuddered. Don't go there, Angel! He had forgotten how good it felt to just hold someone. Angel watched her his eyes trained on her pretty, pale features. He silently berated himself for holding her like this. Angel hadn't thought to ask her if she minded although he was sure if Willow had, had a problem with his actions he would have heard about it. One thing was true of the woman in his arms she was no longer afraid of sharing her opinion even if it happened to be different.

He could feel the wayward threads of dreams as she lived them. He didn't eavesdrop though, he stayed just on the edge, half-tempted to enter them with her. That was the other thing he was finding so strange. He had once been a complete phobic, of people, of caring. Then one night he had seen the sun setting in the hair of a child. A child. He chuckled, a child, Willow had changed since that night when he'd first seen her. She had been the cutest of children and she had become the most beautiful of woman. He wondered fleetingly what she would think when she learned that she had been under his protection long before the Slayer. Buffy. he smiled sadly as he thought of his blond haired love. Yes, he still loved her, but he was certain that the feelings were not half as strong as he had once believed. He had wanted her. Craved her, and he wondered sometimes if she had not been his attempt at absolution. The ultimate act of forgiveness. The love of a Slayer. If she could love him, then he would be redeemed in heavens light. He would be almost human, almost whole.

Then he'd lost his soul in a blinding moment of happiness. Happiness found in the belief that for one shining moment he was just a man. The demon dead and forgotten, no fight for control, no fear of harming her, all things right and true. He never thought that, for that one golden moment, he would lose everything. He felt the sadness wash over him again.

He looked down at Willow, still sleeping, she was turned toward him, a light soft smile played across her lips. Her color was already returning to normal and his mind chose to torture him with images of the last few days. Willow standing looking worriedly down on him. Opening her vein in the clearing, in front of all of them. Offering him her neck only that morning. The taste of her blood, the feel of her in his arms. Her smile. She had the sweetest most disarming smile Angel had ever seen. He leaned down and pressed a quick soft kiss against her check. She turned closer to him shivering. Angel smiled sadly knowing her reaction was to the coldness of his touch. He closed his eyes, allowing the sleep that he needed to finish healing him, to take him. His hands, which held her in place, never loosened.

OUTSIDE THE ROSENBERG RESIDENCE:

"What were you thinking?" Giles demanded, looking at Buffy worriedly. They were making their way hurriedly to Willow's. She had filled them in on what had happened, Xander had been silent from the moment that she had explained that she had been forced to stake Angel because he got out of control.

"I was trying to protect myself Giles, he was crazy. Xander are you sure that Angel didn't hurt Willow?" She demanded of Xander. Xander looked at her strangely. His mind filled with images of Angel and Willow from earlier. The soft concern that had furrowed the vampires brow. The gratitude that colored his gaze when she had handed him the clothes.

"Angel wouldn't hurt her." He stated matter of factly. I can't believe I just said that. That I mean it. Buffy start at Xander shock clear on her face. She had thought she would have an ally in Xander but apparently not. What had Xander seen that had convinced him that Angel was a good guy?

"And you know this because?" Giles asked trying to keep the disbelief out of his voice. He shifted his tweed overcoat attempting the seem more comfortable. If Angel was dead then all was lost, if Willow was dead, he'd kill Angel himself. Willow had become like a daughter to him and he was a bit bemused and hurt by her seemingly choosing the vampire over them. He knew she had her reasons, he only wished he knew what they were.

Xander was looking at him strangely and seeming to search for the right words. "When I got here earlier, they were standing on the stair. I can't explain it, I just saw something that made me believe it, and Willow. I know Willow and if Willow says he's okay. I have to believe her." He said finally knowing that Buffy was going to jump to all the wrong conclusions.

Buffy stopped walking and turned to look at Xander. She shook her head. "He tried to kill me and you think he won't hurt Willow!!" She demanded incredulously. Xander drew himself up preparing to say what he thought.

"Buffy, in case you missed it. She, not you, pulled him from Hell. She, not you, opened a vein to him in the clearing and all but forced him to drink. She, not you, has done everything she can to help him. Now, given what I saw earlier, and what I know and understand, he wouldn't have hurt her for anything. You pushed him into hell. Think about it." She stared at Xander, shock and indignation coloring her gaze Giles watched, he could see the Slayer coiling and he knew he had to put an end to what was happening there."You two need to stop this now. End it this instant, this isn't going to help Willow or Angel." His voice was forged with steel. The two visibly shrank from the fury that emanated from the Watcher, both remembering how he got the nickname of the Ripper at the same moment.

Xander, Buffy and Giles hurriedly walked toward Willow's front door. Buffy stepped to the front of the group, and kicked in the door without knocking or offering any reason. She looked over at the shocked expressions on her companions faces and shrugged. Like she really cared. They believed that Angel had invited her in. They got friendly and he pushed it too far and she staked him. She couldn't tell them the truth. Xander walked by her hurriedly entering the house. "Willow." he yelled fear coloring his voice. He moved up the stairs hoping against hope that Willow was there. He entered the bedroom. What he saw on the floor shocked him to a standstill. Blood, and a lot of it, stained the floor in front of the closet. He stared his eyes tearing at all the horrible thoughts that came to mind. Willow.

"It's Angel's, " Buffy said tonelessly, "that's where I staked him." Xander looked over at her and then at the floor.

"Buffy if he dies then you are lost." Giles stated the worry clear in his voice.

"No ashes, " Xander stated after a moment. He wanted to find proof that Willow was all right, but so far he saw nothing. He continued to look around the room. Spotting a first aid kit and a mans shirt. Ripped to shreds he thought looking at the velvet material. It appeared to have been cut off the vampire with a sharp object. He stared at it, his mind filling with images of Willow holding a sharp dagger and cutting the cloth from Angel's bloody flesh. Gods am I wigging or what?

"Look at that." Buffy said softly pointing to the first aid kit. "Maybe she was playing miss do-gooder again and he drained her dry for it." She offered, shocked only after the words left her mouth. My god did I just say that? She stared at Xander praying the words hadn't left her lips, but the look of barely repressed fury that showed on Xander's face gave her, her answer. He stared, his eyes boring into her.

"No sorry, she's not dead, I'd know that. I've know her since the crib. I think I would feel it if the one thing in my life that has been constant suddenly was ripped from this plane of existence."

Xander turned around and ignored the Slayer. He looked about Willow's room his eyes taking in everything. Someone had gone through Willow's stuff and her frog was gone. She was alive or else Angel had a sudden affection for stuffed frogs. Xander smiled, relieved for the first time.

He walked over to the balcony doors, which where slightly ajar and reached to close them. Xander was going to lock them, when he realized that the door lock mechanism was broken. He turned back to question Buffy about it when he saw that she had headed down the stairs.

"I found something." called Giles from below. Xander hurried from the room, saving the question on the door for Buffy for later. A scenario he didn't like very much was beginning to form in his mind and he had a terrible feeling that he had unwittingly played a part in Angel being harmed. God am I possessed, again? Cause I think I might really care whether he lives or dies. It's got to be the Willow factor. He knew part of his shocking change of heart was Willow's doing. As he had seen in the past when Willow, who he loved more then the sun and the moon, saw good, he saw it too. Whether he wanted to or not.

He hurried into the living room where Giles stood holding a note. "They're gone, Giles." Buffy was telling him. Her voice betrayed her anger, but Giles had a feeling she hadn't even seen the beginning of what was happening. Angel had written the note he held in his hand.

"Yes I know, they left us a note." replied her Watcher.

"Does it say where they are?" Asked Xander worriedly. He was petrified that something was wrong with Willow. He knew in his heart that normally Angel wouldn't hurt her intentionally but if he was as badly hurt as Buffy had said, he might not be in control. Xander reached for the note and read:

Watcher,
She is fine. Unharmed for the most part.
Safe places are hard to find, especially when your enemy need not be invited in.
We will return soon. She will call you when we reach our destination.
Buffy, nothing is as you believe, and Xander, I will see that no harm comes to her.
A.

As Xander studied the note, his mind suddenly eased. He couldn't really understand why, but he wasn't scared for Willow. Yes, Angel was still a vampire, but so far he was convinced that Buffy would have hurt Willow more than Angel ever would. Which reminded him of the broken lock on the door to Willow's room.

"Buffy so did you break the lock before or after you staked Angel. Was that how he invited you in? What did he say? Break down the door and you're welcome to come in?"

"What the hell are you talking about Xander?" She demanded doing her best outraged innocent look, but Xander was beyond being taken in by Buffy's pretty facade. A facade was all it was, if she did what he thought she had done.

"Buffy, I am talking about the door in Willow's room, the broken one. The one you used to get in. So what happened did you try your charm on Angel and he didn't want to play? Did he want Willow instead? What was it? ''If I can't have the undead man then no one can.' Please Buffy, you know better and you should be above that." He said looking at her with something close to disgust in his eyes, he turned away from her to give Giles back the note but continued to speak, "Well, if anything Buff you've driven them together. Where ever they are going you won't be there to keep him. Willow wouldn't just steal your man, but you've all but given her permission to. You tried to kill him. Which would basically call all bets off." Xander knew he shouldn't have spoken so and he hoped he was wrong but....

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