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)

AT THE SAME TIME IN SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Xander and Cordelia's date.

"Xander, what's wrong?" Cordelia asked softly, reaching out to touch her boyfriends hand. He looked up at her and smiled apologetically.

"Sorry Cordy. I'm just..." He trailed off seeing the cheerleader smile sadly.

"I know you miss Willow." She chuckled, "I don't pretend to understand what it is with you two, but I do know that she's your best friend and you don't want anything bad to happen to her." Xander stared at her and wondered fleetingly if the pod people had gotten Cordelia too. Buffy's acting like a class a bitch and Cordelia is acting like saint understanding. Can things get any weirder? They can, he thought as Cordelia leaned over and kissed him sweetly on the lips.

"I wish I could fix it."she said softly, nuzzling his cheek gently. She really hoped that Willow made it back okay, she didn't understand what was between the hacker and her boyfriend, didn't even try to comprehend the depths of their relationship. She knew it wasn't a threat to her and Xander she just wanted her Xander back, and though selfish it might be she knew she wouldn't really see him until he saw a certain red-head safe and sound.

"So, " she said suddenly, "Is it me or is Buffy majorly spassing over the Willow- Angel missage." Xander looked at Cordelia and smiled ruefully.

"Oh yeah today while I was in the library she was throwing around this wild theory that Willow had put a spell on Angel, and that's why he wasn't all ''Buffy I love you and miss you' at Willow's. I mean I don't like the guy but Willow would never do something like that. She's way above that. Only I stoop so low as to perform love spells on unsuspecting vampires and others." He said lowering his voice to an evil Goth wanna be at the end, making Cordelia smile.

"So like what do you think? I mean Willow and Angel. I mean she's been looking sort of striking lately and she did manage to pull him from the bowels of hell."

"Cordelia did you just compliment Willow?" Xander asked incredulously. The cheerleader looked down guiltily and then smiled gamely at her boyfriend.

"Okay, okay so she's not seeing the softer side of Sears any more. I think I would like to meet her tailor though." She picking up her café latte and took a sip.

He stared at her for a long moment and smiled remembering. The I Hate Cordelia Club of which I was the treasurer. Never thought I'd be dating her.

"What are you smiling about Xander Harris." Cordelia demanded good naturedly.

"Oh sorry I just remembered what Willow said when she found out about us." Cordelia nodded her head in agreement. The brunette smiled at Xander and picking up a french frie from her plate she fed it to her boy friend. After chowing down on the frie Xander looked at his watch.

"Time?" she asked grinning and yet not wanting to have to leave, but Xander had promised Giles that they would meet the Watcher at the library to try and help with more research about what was happening since they weren't getting too far without Willow being there to help with the research.

One hour later: The park:

As the three teenagers walked through the park, they weren't trying to conceal themselves, they were too busy arguing loudly.

"Why don't you just get over yourself? The real reason you're so hot is because Willow and your ex-honey are alone together and you think they might be getting horizontal." the tall brunette said bluntly.

"He is not my *ex*-honey and he would not be doing anything, horizontal or otherwise, with her, unless she put a spell on him." the Slayer said in derision.

"Obviously you haven't been paying that much attention to Willow since you got back Buff. She's a real hottie." Xander said as he gave his girlfriend's shoulders a squeeze of support as the two argued with the blond Slayer.

"Whereas you my dear Buffy look more like the rejects from the Good Samaritan Center." said Cordelia snipishly, "I mean I know you were living on the streets, but you've been back for a while now. Even last years clothes would be an improvement over this." she said waving her hand at Buffy's appearance before she continued, "And as for Angel not being your ex-...honey I don't know if anyone told you or not but ramming a sword through your sweeties vital organs is a bit extreme even for a kiss off...and sending him to hell is definitely considered a relationship ender. Then as if that weren't enough you break into Willow's house, definite lawsuit material, and attack him in her room. I mean you give new meaning to the word..."

"Cordy, shut up..." Buffy said, suddenly stopping in front of them and lowering her voice, she added, "We have company."

Reacting quickly Xander grabbed a stake and cross from the back pockets of his jeans, while Cordy reached into her purse and pulled out a vial of holy water and her own cross. Three vampires exploded from the woods surrounding this section of the park. Buffy immediately engaged two of the vampires, landing a solid kick to the stomach of one of the vamps, sending him flying several feet into a swing set. Turning quickly she was promptly tackled by the second vampire.

Meanwhile the third had gone after Xander, knocking the cross out of one hand, and grabbing the teen by the throat, suddenly the third fledgling heard behind him. "Hey babe, you look in serious need of a facial. Allow me." The vampire suddenly felt liquid splash across the back of his head and neck, seconds before the burning began. The vampire screaming in rage and pain turned to the new attacker, only to come face to face with Cordy's cross. Hissing, he covered his face and backed away, right into Xander's waiting stake. "Oops..my bad..bye, bye now." Xander said in a saccharine sweet voice as the vampire exploded into dust.

The Slayer bent her legs and kicked the vampire off of her, before flipping herself back into a crouching position, as he charged at her again she did a low spin kick and knocked his legs out from under him, and before he could recover she staked the vamp on the ground. The first vampire had finally gotten himself untangled from the swing chains and ran at her. Just as he got close Buffy rolled forward in an attempt at taking his legs out from under him, but with surprising agility the vamp caught her between his legs and straddling her he slapped the stake out of her hand and gripped her neck, ready to snap it. "Where's the redhead, Slayer? It's her Galan wants, give her to me and we might let you live."

"She's out of town." said a male voice from behind the vampire. "Yeah so make an appointment, " said a feminine voice just before a cross was slapped to the side of his face, "We're having a special on facials this week, two for one." Cordelia said maliciously, as the cross sizzled against his face.

The vampire released the Slayer to ward off the cross and promptly burst into a cloud of dust. Learning belatedly to never give the Slayer any opportunity. Standing up the petite blond joined Cordy in dusting off the remnants of their activities as Xander retrieved his cross and Buffy's stake before joining the two girls. Buffy suddenly looked up again and taking the stake from Xander said quietly, "We're not done yet."

Cordelia groaned softly as she pulled another vial of holy water from her bag and prepared to uncork it quickly. Three extremely buff looking vampire charged out of the woods headed straight for the trio of teens. Two ran at Xander while one went for Buffy. Xander ducked as the two charged him, Cordelia splashed the holy water straight into one vamps face. The vampire screamed as his face began to burn and melt. Cordy advanced on him, cross in hand, saying, "Nobody messes with my boyfriend." Xander swung his fist at the remaining approaching vamp, missing with the left when the vampire ducked, but connecting with a back handing right as he continued around. Stunning the vampire long enough for Xander to shove a stake in the vampire, missing his heart by a mere quarter inch, but imbedding it almost to the hilt. The vampire in obvious pain, limped away.

In the meantime the lead vampire that had attacked Buffy had knocked her stake out of her hand and they were trading blows and kicks with each other. However, when he noticed that he was alone, fighting the Slayer, with two of her friends armed and advancing on him, he decided discretion was the better part of valor, and after a particularly hard right cross to the Slayer's jaw, ran off into the darkness.

After all they had discovered an interesting bit of news, apparently the Summoner was out of town. The three had arrived in time to hear this bit of information just before the Slayer had dusted the last of the young ones they had brought with them. This should interest Galan.

Xander gave a war whoop before helping Buffy up. Turning back to his girlfriend, he said, "Way to go Cordy." before pulling her close and giving her a passionate if quick kiss on the lips. "Chalk it up for the Slayerette's, six up, three down and three sent to the locker room because of unnecessary roughness on the play." Giving Cordy a wicked look he added in a nasty voice, "I love unnecessary roughness."

Cordy just rolled her eyes at Xander, before she looked over at Buffy who was brushing dirt and dust off of her clothes in short, angry movements.

"So what's your spazz now Slayer?" the cheerleader said cheerfully, noticing the movements and the agitated expression on the other girl's face.

Looking up at them, the blond said somewhat petulantly, "I'm the Slayer, not you guys..." then realizing how childish that sounded, she added, "When did you guys learn to fight like this?" Buffy had meant it to come out in a soothing, and complimentary way but in her present mood it only came out as huffy, at best.

"Duh, " said Cordelia as she faced the other girl, losing the little patience she had with the other girl. "in case you've forgotten somebody took an unauthorized vacation this summer and left the rest of us to fend for ourselves. So we fended...and we got pretty good at it. Xander, Oz, Willow and me. While you were out sulking we were here doing your job, so drop the ''tude babe and learn to deal."

Xander took Cordelia's arm in a gentle warning gesture and then turning to Buffy he added in a more soothing manner, "While you were gone Giles trained us in some fighting techniques, strategies, etc." Then hugging his girl close he looked into Cordy's eyes with pride and said, "We are pretty good." Then as though he had just remembered it, Xander smacked his head and said, "We need to get back to the library and talk to Giles, pronto." Already steering Cordy back to where they had parked her car.

"Why? It's just routine slayage, " said Buffy lightly, then slipping back into her bitchy mode she added, "or while I was gone did you guys start keeping score to see who can slay the most."

Xander stopped and looked back at her and the expression on his face made her realize she had gone too far. Gone was the puppy dog expression she was used to, Xander had an expression on his face she had only seen once before. When he had dressed as a soldier for Halloween, and then become the soldier because of a spell. Dropping Cordy's arm, Xander stalked back over to Buffy, making her take a cautious step backward when he got within three feet of her. In his eyes she saw anger, contempt and worst of all disappointment.

Taking a deep breath Xander said in a deceptively calm voice, "The reason we need to go talk to Giles, Slayer, " he said with an extra inflection of contempt in his voice for her title, "is because in case you have forgotten those vampires were looking for Willow. The redhead, remember? They also said that the name of the vampire who wanted her was Galan." Taking another step closer and deliberately invading her personal space he added in a quieter and much more frightening voice. "You may not care that your best friend, the one who stood by you no matter what stupid stunt you pulled is in danger, but I do." As he spoke he moved closer and she started moving back step by step, clearly intimidated by this darker side of her friend. "Now we are going to the library to talk to Giles and you are coming with us and you are going to help us do research or whatever else Giles needs us to do. So get your ass in that car right now." Buffy bolted to the car.

Cordelia watched the other girl go and then turned back to her boyfriend with a smile and said as he walked back towards her, "So should I call you Major Harris or Major Disaster?"

Wrapping his arm around her shoulders he pulled her close as they walked towards the car, he whispered in her ear, "You my dear Queen C. can call me Major Turn-on. I can think of something for us to do in the closet when we take our break from researching..." and he proceeded to tell her exactly what he had in mind. Until the former snob queen was glad it was dark so no one could see her blush.

Pine Valley: Angel's

"Wait...wait..."Angel said his voice revealing humor, "you mean that Giles didn't notice all the books or the fact that while you went out on patrol the vampires made b-lines away from you, or that Angelus, sent others to take care of it if you were involved?" Angel demanded the humor dying down to an incredulous whisper. Willow paused and looked over at him. "I guess, they assumed that the...er...interest that Angelus had in me was purely in relation to the hurt factor, course I wasn't going to dispute it or point out that you...he killed my fish, instead of me." Angel looked down at her as they rounded the next block a few minutes from the house. She stared up at the night sky for a long moment.

"Willow, I need to tell you something." Angel said suddenly catching her arm and pausing before an empty lot a few side walk spaces from there destination.

"Angel, I don't want any more Angelus confessions. Nothing you say will make me believe that you had any control over his actions. I understand that a lot of who you are went into him, but not what matters."

He stared down at her for a moment, he thought he remembered that look several years before Buffy had ever come to town he had heard Xander refer to it as Willow's resolve face. It set on her face so seriously, and he realized that no matter what he said, convincing her that he was evil was going to be a trick. She wasn't going to allow his guilt to come to the fore, he was almost certain he could feel her forcing the feelings to the back of his thoughts.

"Okay Willow, you win." Angel conceded after a moment. She smiled brightly, then waggled her fingers in front of her, and Angel was certain that he saw the air start to shimmer.

"That's right I win. I always win, see it's my resolve face." She said seriously before breaking down into a fit of teenage giggles.

"Willow?...are you okay?" She looked up at him and he noticed that the laughter had taken up residence in her gaze as she attempted to quiet herself.

"What...yeah...sorry...I have this thing."

"So shall we?" he asked motioning to the house.

"Oh yeah." She still had a warm laughing smile playing across her face. "Angel what time is it." She asked staring down at the watch that was no longer on her wrist. She giggled. He stared down at his own vacant wrist then looked up at the clear night sky. Willow followed his gaze, he looked down again having realized that his internal timer appeared to still be fully working. He watched Willow for a moment saying nothing, her face looked stunning, the moon light falling over it, casting it in an unearthly silver glow. She giggled seemingly unaware of him for a long moment. She took a few steps back from him and raised her arms toward the moon, the ends or her fingers bent slightly. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment when they opened again the glow that had so held the vampire the other morning was back, it changed becoming brighter, and more and more white like silver, matching the moon glow.

She drew in a slow deep breath, he watched as wisps of colored smoke-like light were drawn into her lungs. She stood breathing in for a long moment then opened her eyes to look at the clearly surprised vampire.

"Willow?" Angel whispered in awe.

"Oh I feel better." She giggled giddily and spun around on her heel. She smiled catching up Angel's hand and dragging him into a loose box step. She giggled again at the look on his face. "What, haven't you ever seen someone drunk on energy before. Moonlight is the best, it's like really good drugs Angel." She giggled again and dropped his arms to move to music that only she could hear. He stared at her surprised. What was she doing and what did she mean drunk on energy. He reached out and touched her shoulder.. She seemed to shudder under his fingertips and when she at last looked at him she seemed suddenly aware.

"Oh sorry. I ...I forgot uhh come on." She said dragging him toward his house. He took a few stumbling steps before falling into her quick pace, he had the sinking feeling that she wouldn't be falling a sleep any time soon. He chuckled he could certainly see himself up until the wee hours of the morning with a giddy hacker. Ohh horrors He grinned unrepentantly down at her. She paused long enough to fish the set of keys Angel had given her out of her pocket and put them in the lock. She pulled open the front door and stepped inside. She paused in the hallway in order to remove her...er his jacket.

She turned to face him as he ushered her into the living room. He smiled at her and pushed her gently down onto the couch. Holding up a hand to him she smiled mischievously at him.

"Want some Angel?" Willow asked with all the guileless charm of a pure ingenue. He stared at her shocked for a moment, just what was she offering him. Her eyes looked completely innocent and she didn't seem even slightly embarrassed and after what had happened between them the last time he dismissed that, that wasn't what she was talking about.

"Some what?" He asked finding himself leaning closer to the power he could feel shimmering in the air around her. She lunged forward capturing him in her arms before he realized what she was about. She giggled at the shocked sound that escaped his lips and then even more so at the pleasure she could feel emanating from him as he took in the extraordinary feeling of her power enveloping him. A few moments, or an eternity later, he lifted his head from where it had fallen on her shoulder. He was shocked to realize that he was kneeling on the floor in front of her. His hands had buried themselves in her hair as he'd tugged her closer during whatever she'd just done to him. He looked up and returned the ready smile that was on her lips with a shaky one of his own. He felt strange almost high as he settled back on his heels to look at her.

"What?" He managed, surprised at how clear his mind felt and how free his soul felt. She giggled, "Feel better?" She asked looking down into his eyes, she grinned even more deeply, his eyes had cleared to an untroubled liquid brown that she hadn't seen before, and it pleased her immensely to be the one who had brought that out in him.

"Yeah...just what was that?" He asked pausing to take a mental inventory of his body. His eyes widened as he realized that the left over wounds that had not completely healed as well as the general fatigue he'd been suffering from, seemed to have disappeared. He looked deeply into her bright eyes and saw the sparkle of power and warmth.

"Energy." She stated simply, "And me."

Staying on the floor in front of her, Angel raised a hand and settled it gently on her cheek. "You are too good to me. Willow." He whispered, his reverence of the young woman, clear in his voice.

Oh Angel.

"So" he continued, "I am guessing that sleep isn't something that you'll be doing for a while, so would you like me to go raid the video store and see what I can find by way of popcorn and sodas?" He asked his hand still settled on the soft skin of her cheek. "Yeah, that would be nice." She said leaning forward and hugging him gently. He returned the embrace, and waited for her to draw back, it took Angel a moment to realize that she wasn't going to. She, like him found the physical closeness addictive.

"Be back in a bit, " he whispered against her ear, before pressing a quick kiss to her cheek right in front of her ear. He drew back slowly, her fingers sliding down his arms as he stood.

"Are you going to be okay here?" He asked suddenly, having just remembered that this was still very new to her.

"Yeah, I'll just raid your CDs okay." She said from her seat on the couch. Angel looked at her oddly for a moment then smiled.

"Okay, uhh I grabbed some of yours when I packed them, they're in the book bag." She looked at him oddly for a moment. Book bag? Angel didn't bring my bag did he?

"Angel where is it?" She asked and Angel searched his mind trying to place the last space he'd seen it. Under his bed upstairs.

"There by the bed upstairs on the right side." Angel said after a moment. She shook her head and pushed herself to her feet.

"You know I think you're the one that's good to me, Angel." Willow said gently.

"Well you should be careful. I could have nefarious intentions. I mean how often does a two hundred and forty-five year old vampire get sequestered in the middle of a town on nearly no maps, with a beautiful, young, innocent creature, hmm." She started to laugh softly.

"Not often and I don't know that I fit the bill, but at least I know most two hundred forty-five year old anything's don't look quite as well preserved as you do." That got him he cracked a smile, making Willow grin back in response.

"Be back, Little one." With that he turned and walked out the front door closing and locking it behind him.

She turned back to the living room realizing that he hadn't asked her for ideas and she wondered if he knew what kind of movies she liked. Oh well if I can sit through Xander's idea of THE movie I can deal with what ever Angel brings back. Now about this music thing. She headed up the large staircase and tried to remember which way she had walked this morning. Oh, down the hall, to the right.

She walked into Angel's room and she felt a strange shiver walk the length of her spine. As she moved over to the right side of the bed, his side, Willow froze, she stared at the dark colored sheets and watched in horror as images began to flood her mind. Shaking her head and beating them down with the same ruthlessness that she had denied her wayward thoughts throughout this ordeal they faded into nothing but unpleasant dreams.

The young woman picked up her book bag and walked quickly out of that room. She would have to see if Angel would let her take one of the guest rooms. Willow was sure he wouldn't mind, after all he couldn't really want her sleeping next to him, he'd only lay down beside her last night because she'd been weak and practically begged.

Willow walked back down the stairs and began to open the bag looking to see what CD's he'd grabbed. The redhead gasped, he'd picked up twenty to thirty of them, and they were some of her favorites. The ones she listened to when no one would see or hear her rather strange eclectic taste come through. Blues, Celtic, Broadway contemporary stuff. She smiled wondering again at his insight, she supposed that the link could offer that much of an insight but she wasn't sure yet. The hacker walked over to the CD player and smiled pulling the EFX CD from it's case she wanted to hear one song from that just because it always grounded her not to mention it was sad so very sad and that appealed to her.

Willow pressed play and quietly waited for the first sweet strains of the song. (don't be sad for me everything is how it had to be don't be angry just be the way you were tonight...) The redhead grinned sheepishly, "Yes, you are a sap, Willow Rosenberg. More pain, more pleasure, ...more power."

Willow chuckled softly at the irony that the one thing about her that had made her such a thorn in Angelus's side was her capacity to feel. She'd felt for Angel, loved him dearly, and allowed him to be as close as he would allow himself. That had angered the demon perhaps more so then even the Slayer's hated lap dog routine, partly because she hadn't once looked at him and asked him not to be what he was, had never hated him for it. It was her sensitivity that had also given her Watcher and mentor pause. He'd been raised in all of his ways to consider human emotions petty, weak, and fickle, she was not and never had been fickle. She had loved Xander faithfully for longer than she could remember, for the simple fact that once quiet, shy Willow had allowed herself to become close to someone, no matter what happened, she stood by them. Willow did what she had to do to keep them.

The young woman smiled sadly realizing the song had ended and looked through her back pack for something that would occupy her ears while she waited for Angel to return. Willow pulled out one of her favorites, and fiddled with the player till it was playing them in the order that she liked them best. She moved away from the player and closed her eyes, the dancer listened, losing herself in the mists of the music, swaying somewhere between the electronic keyboard and the sweet stirring of strings.

She was so lost in the music that she didn't hear Angel enter or call her name from the hallway, even the slight wave of panic that moved through the link didn't jar her from the silken embrace of the woman's voice.

Angel paused at the doorway watching her, caught by the simple beautiful picture she created standing in the middle of the room swaying to the sound of the most strangely alluringly beautiful music he'd heard in a long time. He set the bags that held there munchies and the tapes he'd selected on the couch and began to walk over to where she was still slightly swaying. He stood so close to her that a single mis-step would send her sprawling into his arms, she turned so her slowly moving form was facing him, and her bright green eyes fluttered open, EEPPP!?!?!

She jumped back from him a few steps then blushed scarlet. He must think I am such a foolish child losing myself like that. He reached out to steady her. She smiled her thanks and reached to turn off the player, Angel's hand shot out to stop hers, as the music continued to play. "Leave it, it's beautiful." Angel said drawing her close in an embrace. He held her for a long moment his own body picking up the slight sway and rhythm of the music, so that he was almost dancing with her. The last strains of the music wove their way through the air and Angel released Willow. She reached up and turned off the player.

They stared at each other for a moment awkwardly, before she broke the uncomfortable silence, with a question, "So what movies did you get?" He turned back to the couch and handed her the bag with the tapes. She stared at the four tapes. The Craft. Braveheart, Rob Roy, Hackers. She grinned up at him knowing he'd picked things he thought she would like.

"Well how'd I do mistress?" He asked smiling devilishly at her.

"Not bad I guess I don't get to punish you." She said trying to keep a straight face.

"Well, that depends on what you had in mind." He shot back his eyes glinting dangerously. She giggled softly wondering if he realized how unrepentant that ''I am so innocent' look he was giving her was. She stalked closer to him imitating Angelus' intimidating walk rather well, she raised a hand and slowly slid one finger down the row of buttons on his chest.

"You ..." she said teasingly, "are awful." He grinned.

"Shall we?" He asked reaching for one of the tapes and popping it into the VCR that was in the entertainment center. She shook her head in amusement and walked over to settle down into the couch. She watched Angel curiously as he walked into the hallway and returned with a blanket. He put the bag of chips and soda on the floor, looking at Willow silently asking if she wanted any. She shook her head no and moved to allow him to sit on the couch.

He settled in and held his arms out for her to join him, wondering anew at the lack of awkwardness between them as Willow clamored into his waiting embrace. She settled her back against his chest, and rested her head in the crook of his neck using him for a pillow.

"Comfortable?" He asked against her ear.

"mmmhmm. "she made an affirmative sound watching the screen as the movie started. She smiled as they watched. The Craft. She watched the TV with avid interest always aware of Angel resting behind her, she stole a look at his face a couple of times and realized that he liked this movie too. The grin wickedly at the end, agreeing wholeheartedly with the notion that absolute power only changes the weak...

Angel looked down at her after she had made no move to turn off the movie. She was staring off in the air in front of them, her weight clearly stating the fact that she was there, but that was all that was there, strangely he felt no worry just a strange tug from deep within.

He leaned over closer to her, his mouth next to her ear. "Willow." He whispered.

Willow was staring off into space, and Angel wondered anew at her. She was there in the room with him but that was it. Her soul, her mind, were elsewhere. He moved pulling her closer to him, pressing his mouth lightly against the skin of her neck. The redhead made no move to indicate that she was aware of him. Willow's eyes blinked then closed and she sat like that for a long moment. Her lids fluttered back up and she turned her head to look at him smiling.

"Hi yourself. Where were you?" he asked gently. She stared at him worriedly for a moment.

"Oh no...that didn't hurt you...did it?" she asked reaching up to touch him in an instinctive gesture, to check him for anything she might have inflicted.

"No, I just wondered where you had gone?" She chuckled.

"Not far, I just wanted to assure Amy all was well. She's been worse than my mom with the whole thing." She paused for a moment. "Have you ever met Amy?" Angel thought for a moment his mind producing the image of a tall blond girl.

"I know who you mean but I don't think we've been properly introduced." Angel allowed after mulling over everything.

The casual statement made Willow burst into giggles, Angel stared at her perplexed for a moment. In between fits of giggles, Willow simply said, "Vampire manners...properly introduced."

Angel gave a somewhat rueful grin at that and chuckled. Then as she calmed down slightly from her giddiness something she had said caught his attention. "Why is Amy worried, Willow?"

"Oh, she..she thought I was crazy...fer...for...uh going to get you. I mean she couldn't understand why it mattered so much." Angel stared at Willow realizing that she hadn't completely come out of her trance and that whatever she spoke of now she most likely wouldn't normally tell him. This chance wouldn't come again.

"Why did it?" he asked studying her face. He saw the slight shadow of pain cross her face and braced himself for whatever she was going to tell him. The petite redhead drew in a slow calming breath her eyes clearing completely. Angel's eyes fell, she wasn't going to tell him after all. She turned her head away from him.

"Willow?" He whispered moving even closer to her on the couch, and placing a comforting hand on her shoulders. She leaned back into the touch seeking the comfort it offered instinctively. Willow wondered fleetingly who would protect her from herself, Angel would be there to stand between her and the dark, an ever present light in the horror that would happen, what had yet to happen. The little hacker smiled, but it lacked the warmth of her gaze. Willow turned to him and slid her arms around him, burying her face in his chest, she drew in a slow, shuddering breath. Just once she wished things were simple, but even this tender camaraderie between them was not as simple and innocent as it seemed.

Connection. "I did it because I missed you, Angel." she said against the fabric of his shirt. He stared down at her bowed head for a moment. He smiled that was so disarmingly sweet and completely Willow like, that for just a moment Angel let go of some of his guilt. He lifted her chin to look into her brilliant gaze. She smiled softly back at him. "I know, it was really very selfish of me. You know I didn't even think about Buffy when I did it." She bit her lip lightly and nervously pushed a few strands of her red hair behind her ear. He leaned down and pressed a light kiss to her forehead, making her smile softly.

"Maybe, mo cridhe, but I am glad you did. " He leaned down again and captured her lips in a tender kiss. Willow was too shocked by the velvet brush of his lips to react with more then a slight gasp. What happened to we don't like Angel?

He drew back after a brief moment his eyes searching hers for a response. Something more telling than the slightly quickened beat of her heart.

"Willow?" She was staring up at him blankly. He touched her face gently his fingers sliding lightly over her flesh. "What?" he asked, his voice soft and sleepily curious.

"Sorry. You... I... Did you say something?" she managed, pulling herself from the depths of his chocolate gaze.

His eyes moved fleetingly across her face before settling on hers.

"Your staring." he whispered softly, watching the slight flush creep up her pale face. She smiled brightly her lips curving into a delicious smile. He caught his breath, surprise unfurling within him, he'd never seen that look on her face, and for a moment he wished for his drawing pad and some charcoal he wanted to capture that look. It was as though for a moment the night sky with all it's glittering brilliance had been set into her eyes, and the smile was warm and teasing and unreserved.

"Sorry it's just that your eyes, they're laughing. I don't think I've ever seen that look before."

He chuckled then, a small smile forming on his lips. He had a feeling that if he asked her to, she could describe in vivid detail every expression she'd ever seen on his face. Not that he thought she would watch him, it was merely that the few times that there eyes had locked in the past, she held his gaze for a good long while. Afterwards he'd always felt as though he'd been scanned, as though tiny fingers had skimmed over his face, processing ever line and curve on his countenance.

"Really? Kind of strange that you notice that." he half-asked, half-stated, clutched her closer. She cocked her head wonderingly to one side, her lips pursing for a moment, as a thought seemed to form in the slightly drawn space between her brows.

"I notice everything, my memory is sort of photographic. It's kind of why I do so well in school. I remember everything but it's sort of hard to recall things that are only one dimensional."

"One dimensional?" he asked. She opened her mouth to explain, closed it again, then looked at him perplexed for a moment. She couldn't find the words.

"Sorry, give me a minute." she giggled, "I seem to have misplaced how to explain that." He raised an eyebrow, humor making his eyes lighten. "Yeah, yeah...I know considering what I was just saying but...I there it is..." She grinned up at him and scooted closer.

"How do you remember someone, Angel. I mean how do you know who it is that's walking behind you when you haven't turned around to look?" She asked settling closer still to him. He eyed her strangely for a moment, the desire to touch her had fluttered to the surface as he had watched her moving closer.

"Well it's depends, humans, vampires, ... you?" He smiled softly at the look that crossed her face, didn't she understand that to him she was different from the rest had been from the moment he'd first seen her.

"All including me." She said after a moment.

He lifted her chin so that she was looking once more into his eyes.

"Well human's are easy, the sound of their heartbeat, the scent of their blood, the fear that races through them when they know what they face, scent in general though. Vampires well we just can sense each other, I mean strong older vamps feel different from younger ones, and what not. The Slayer, any Slayer, she smells of death to us." He felt Willow stiffen in his arms. "And then you."

"Yeah, what about me?" She asked tenderly. She leaned against him resting her head against his shoulder. He looked down at her, turning slightly to stare down into her eyes, she chuckled his eyes were doing their glowy thing again. He leaned down and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

"You, you're like moon light, " He raised his hand to caress Willow's cheek. His fingers brushed tenderly along her jaw.

"Angel?" She whispered questioningly.

"Warm, loving...walking into a room where you are...was and is sort of like stepping into a warm soft blanket, and..." He paused brushing his fingers against her lips, "touching you is like falling into sunlight." She blushed smiling slightly. Their gazes locked, his darkened slightly. Angel leaned down slightly his lips parting, his tongue slipping out to wet them.

Willow found herself leaning up slowly closing the slight gap that remained between them. She gasped when their lips would have touched, she drew back slightly her eyes rounding with understanding. "I'm sorry, " he whispered tenderly caressing her cheek and letting his hand slide lower along her jaw. She trembled slightly her eyes locking on his. Oh God what am I doing?

She shook herself, "Hmm?" She pressed her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes. He rested a hand against the back of her neck, lightly massaging. She drew back to look into his eyes. He smiled uncertainly down at her. "So how does this memory of yours work?" He asked remembering what had started this conversation. Willow looked at him questioningly and then her eyes lit up slightly and she smiled again.

"Hmm, well, it's sort of works better if I add something. I think I have to have more then just reading or seeing it. I have to hear, see, speak, and read..." she trailed off looking into his eyes. His lips curved into a strangely teasing smile, "And touch, " he whispered brushing his fingers against her cheek. "and taste, Willow?" he whispered her name, leaning into her, their foreheads touching slightly. The little witch smiled softly, her eyes brightening, as she slid her arms around him in an embrace. Angel found himself leaning into her again, their lips nearly brushing. "Angel I don't..." her voice trailed off, as his lips caressed hers. Willow trembled slightly and when he would have deepened the kiss she drew back and stared into his eyes wonderingly.

"Willow, I..."He trailed off assuming that she was angry with him, he started to disentangle himself from her but she stayed him with her hand.

"Don't do that. You didn't do anything wrong. I just don't want you to do something you'll regret later. Don't go, unless you want to." She whispered clutching him close.

"I am sorry, I just..."he trailed off, just what vampire? Got carried away. Having you in my arms was like all my night dreams come true.

"It's okay." she said, pressing her cheek into his chest and closing her eyes, "no harm no foul." She could still feel the desire that she had stirred in him running through him, and she once more marveled at just how incredible the man in her arms really was. She slid silently off into dreams dragging the handsome vampire with her.

Pine Valley: Angel's:

Several hours later Angel woke sharply. There was no lethargy and if he had a heartbeat it would be racing. His body was reacting in near panic to something. Instinctively he pulled the tiny woman in his arms more tightly into the embrace, protectively. Straining all of his senses Angel tried to detect what was causing the disturbance and relaxed only partially when his gaze fell onto the clock on the mantle. An hour until dawn, all vampires have an internal system of knowing when sunrise is coming. They needed it to survive, Angel was no different.

Gazing at the uncovered windows, he debated the merits of trying to cover them or going upstairs, when his gaze fell to Willow, the choice was made. Her head resting on his shoulder, her body shifted at an odd angle to maintain her position on the couch and stay curled in his embrace. His Willow, would have one hell of a crick in her neck when she woke up if they stayed here.

With slow, steady movements, so as not to wake her, Angel stood up from the couch with the redhead wrapped in his arms. Moving toward the staircase, Angel suddenly realized he didn't know where to put the little witch. He knew where he desperately wanted to keep her, in his room, in his bed, in his arms. The vampire also knew that Willow probably wouldn't approve and boxed his thoughts, effectively shutting her sleeping mind out. Earlier in the evening, Willow had moved her clothes down the hall to another room. Angel hadn't told her and she hadn't realized that the two rooms were adjoined by the same bathroom she had used yesterday. When he reached the top of the stairs he hesitated, that slight hesitation was enough to wake Willow somewhat.

"Angel?" the sleepy query came. The huskiness of her voice sent a shudder down his spine.

He smiled down at her though and said, "Morning sleepy head." The little woman tried to sit up in his arms to look over his shoulder saying in perplexed aggravation, "Morning already?"

"No, no, mo cridhe. It's morning but not daylight yet. I'm moving you upstairs so you'll be more comfortable." With her awake he quickly squelched the idea of keeping her in his room, and with a breathless sigh of disappointment moved down the hall to her room.

Holding her in one arm for all the world as if she were an infant, he pushed open the door to her room with his free arm. Looking down into her liquid green eyes, he whispered, "Close your eyes little one." Which she did without complaint and then scrunched them closed even more tightly when he turned on the overhead light. Walking further into her room he placed her on the side of the bed. Then moving noiselessly across the hardwood floor to her suitcase he pulled out a sleep-shirt and pair of shorts that he had recognized. Coming to stand beside her once again he whispered her name so as not to startle the drowsy hacker. Squinting her eyes the redhead looked up at him and seeing the clothes he held in his hand, sighed quietly.

As soon as Willow took the clothes from his hand Angel turned his back to her. The tired young woman barely registered that the vampire was still in the room as she changed her clothes. The redhead tried to throw the clothes over to a chair near her suitcase and could only groan in frustration when they fell far short of the goal.

Angel quickly turned back to face the young woman who was trying to rise from the bed to retrieve the clothing. "I'll get them, you lay down." The tiny redhead looked up at the vampire with a weak but grateful smile and flopped over onto the pillows. With a tiny smile he lifted her enough to pull the covers out from under her, and then pulled them back over her. Before he had even finished tucking her in, Angel heard her begin to snore softly. Kneeling beside the bed to pull the covers around her more snugly, he whispered, "Sweet dreams, mo cridhe."

Then gathering up the dirty clothes he moved to the door of her room quietly, and turning off the lights, pulled the door to behind him.

Sunnydale: Buffy's

Joyce waited she heard the downstairs door open and slam shut. She cringed wondering what had happened to upset her daughter now. Buffy tried to calm herself, but everything was falling apart. Angel was back, she'd nearly killed him, it appeared that he was choosing Willow over her, and now they were off somewhere, only God knew where. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than gratitude on Angel's part. He hadn't acted like he felt anything for her, except maybe remorse or some insane kind of pity. He had thought she was Willow when he came out of the shower and there was no mistaking the warmth in his voice when he said the other girls name.

Would Willow do that to her? Buffy stalked up the stairs, stopping when she saw her mom waiting for her.

"Buffy?" she looked up at the sound of her mother's voice. Joyce smiled sadly. "You're awfully late."

"Yeah Mom, I know. Look can we not have this conversation right now. I'm really tired." Buffy said wanly.

"I can imagine, do you know that it's..." looking at her wristwatch.

Joyce collected herself, promising herself mentally not to berate her child too much. Their relationship was still tenuous at best. "It's nearly six in the morning. I called Giles he said that you had left hours ago."

"Mom, its been a rough week okay. Can we talk about this later?" Buffy tried again to escape to her room.

"No we can't talk about this later. You've been out late every night this week and Giles knows that I want you in by no later than 3:00 A.M." Joyce said firmly. "I know that you're the Slayer and I know that, that involves me giving you a certain amount of leeway but I am still your mother. I know what you're like in the mornings when you don't get enough sleep." she added with a wry smile. "I think you need to tell me what's going on. I tried to get Giles to tell me, but he said I should really ask you. So I'm asking you...what's up honey?"

Buffy nearly burst into tears at her mothers soft-spoken endearment. She plopped down on the top stair beside her mother and laid her head on her mothers shoulder. Slowly the story poured out of Buffy. Her mother already knew that Angel was a vampire with a soul, that Buffy had slept with him, and that when they had slept together he had lost his soul and become Angelus. The evil creature that she had met. Buffy explained to her what had happened the night before she had left Sunnydale so many months ago. Acathala, Angelus, the sword fight, Willow working the enrollment spell, Angel coming back and Buffy having to send him to hell to close the portal.

Buffy then explained what Willow had done to bring Angel back out of hell. Little Willow did that?!?! Joyce eyes widened as she remembered the mousy young red head and was amazed at this turn of events. Buffy continued to explain about Willow taking Angel home with her. Then even though she had lied to Giles and Xander about what had happened between her and Angel in Willows bedroom, she told her mother the truth. There had already been too many lies between them. She concluded the story with the fact that now Willow and Angel were missing and she had her suspicions about Willow's well being.

"But I thought you said that Willow had called this afternoon and said that she and Angel were both fine?" Buffy's mother clarified.

"Yeah but, he could have been making her say that, or she could have been lying to protect him, or..." Buffy said almost desperately.

"Buffy." her mother said catching her attention, "I think you're grasping at straws. You said that Willow helped Angel twice? She gave him back his soul and managed to pull him out of hell. You said yourself that before he went to hell he was Angel, your Angel. You said that he didn't fight you when you attacked him at Willows house....Which, " she added in a different tone entirely, "by the way, you and I will discuss at a different time, rest assured." Then returning to the original topic, "So you tell me young lady, what is it that really has you upset? The fact that a psychopathic killer might have been released from hell and running around free. Or the fact that your ex-boyfriend and your best friend are alone somewhere together?"

"MOM!!! It's not like that at all!" Buffy said surging to her feet.

"Isn't it?" her mother responded calmly.

"No, its not! I'm going out to patrol!" Buffy said as she stomped back down the stairs.

"I doubt you'll find any vampires now hon." her mother continued in that same matter of fact tone.

"Of course I will. I'm the Slayer. They come looking for me." the girl said arrogantly, slamming the door behind her. Not before she heard her mothers response though.

"Not when it's daylight outside."

Sunnydale: Galan's lair

Galan paced as he waited for the return of his men. They had sought shelter outside the lair and he could only assume that they would be making there way to him soon enough. He turned as Spike entered the room, Dru in tow. The vampiress fairly hissed in his general direction and he watched as the other vampire quieted her gently. Part of Galan, the part that was still Fae, envied the strange nearly human ability that Spike seemed to have to care for the woman. Vampires as a rule didn't develop relationships like that. In fact theirs was the only one that Galan was aware of. He supposed it could have....been the way they had been made. From what information he could glean, their sire had been a real terror of questionable sanity, but he was not certain. He'd over the years of course heard whispers of this Angelus, but only Spike could offer him any true answers and the other vampire seemed unwilling to speak about his sire.

The only thing he was sure of was that the relationship defied his sense of logic. It made little to no sense to him to keep someone like Drucilla around. She was after all insane and could become a liability. Spike walked over to where he was standing and spoke quietly. "Your men are just returning." Galan turned as the sound of approaching vampires met his ears. He stared, shock changing his impassive features. Where six had been, only three remained. Those three looked ragged and nursed various wounds.

"I see you met the Slayer and her friends." Spike said, trying not to laugh. From the looks of them they had found out first hand, what he had only seen from afar. That the Slayer and her groupies had become a truly dangerous force. The Slayerettes as they called themselves had made short work of many of the Hell mouth's nastiest vampires over the summer. Of course with a full fledged witch in the arsenal and the cunning mind behind that power, it was easily understood.

"Master, " said the leader of the vampires standing before them, "We could not find the girl. According to them, she has left town." Galan swore under his breath harshly. Running....no she wouldn't run.

"What happened to the young ones you took with you?" He demanded. Stalking toward the three older vampires. He wanted to know what had happened to his childer not for any actual caring on his part, but for the simple need to know what they where dealing with. "Dead Sire." The leader replied. Galan stopped before the three vampires, staring at them incredulously. The Slayer and her companions had killed the three young ones and left the three elder vampires in this state. Perhaps this Slayer would be more of a problem then he'd thought. The girl would be no problem she couldn't possibly have a handle on the powers she had and would be easily taken if she was alone.

Galan felt a cold rage boil up inside of him and he stepped closer to the three remaining vampires, "Did you manage to find out where ''out of town' is exactly?" he asked in a deadly calm voice.

The three vampires looked at each other doubtfully and then back at the elder vampire. "We barely escaped with our lives, Sire. Our first thought was to bring you the information about the...."

"In other words, no you did not. Find her." The fae vampire stated barely containing his temper. That girl had outsmarted him again. Galan really wasn't happy about that. "But we are wounded we must have time to heal, " said the one who still had a stake imbedded in his chest, he was leaning heavily on the other two, his arms around their shoulders, their arms around his waist.

"Oh yes, let me help you with that, " said Galan with false cheeriness. Reaching forward he grasped the stake and ripped it out of the vampires chest. The vampire shrieked and bucked against his companion's arms and then gave a final roar before exploding into dust. As Galan rammed the stake back into the vampires chest this time finding the intended target. He turned his back on the remaining two vampires, and he began to pace.

She was just a human girl. A human girl given the power of the fae. Still she shouldn't have been capable of this. She had no place to go and no one to help her that he wouldn't have known about. Except...except that damn vampire. Sudden understanding whispered through Galan. She was controlling the vampire. Forcing it to do her bidding. He quickly went through his mind for the vampires identity but drew a complete blank.

"Master where will we find her?" One of the Brotherhood asked clearly not wanting to further insight Galan's anger. The dark-haired looked over at them...then he moved over to a nearby table and picked up a small bowl filled with deep red liquid. He leaned over it, mumbled a few words, and Spike and the others watched as an image began to form in the blood. Spike was barely able to withhold a gasp when the image became clear and he recognized the face. Angelus?

"Find this vampire, and you will find the girl..." He stated simply. "I trust you can contact others to aid you." Spike stared at him shocked. The Rasputin reject really expected vampires to drop whatever plans they had and help him find what to most of them would appear to be nothing more then a light snack and a vampire.

"Galan, I think perhaps if you want help, your going to have to make it worth there while. Vampires don't work for the promise of power, they will need proof of your claims." Spike said. As he spoke Drucilla walked over to where the two vampires were standing and latched onto his arm affectionately for a moment. He turned to offer her a reassuring smile, and was once more taken aback by the look on her face. The slender brunette looked sane, which on Dru was strangely disturbing.

Galan snorted in derision, bringing the bleached blond vampire out of his ruminations on his companion, to see Galan staring at him with and expression on his face that said he was clearly not impressed by Spike's words. He walked away from the vampire couple and headed out of the room, wanting to destroy something but knowing that would do nothing to aid him in finding this suddenly wayward woman. All he had to do was get that Vampire away from her. Which shouldn't be too hard considering how easily most vampires could be distracted. While vampires were as easily distracted as the next meal walking down the street, human's held interest in something only as long as something more interesting didn't come along. and he had a feeling he knew just who could pull off distracting the vampire in question. While not a meal, this female vampire could easily distract with the next two things that vampires found essential to their existence. Sex and pain. Of course finding her after all this time would be a bit of a trick.

Meanwhile back in the chamber that he had just left, Spike's attention was once again drawn to the fathomless eyes of his companion.

"It doesn't matter, my Spike. He could summon all the vampires and promise them all the blood in the world, it still wouldn't matter." Drucilla said in a soft little girls voice, "Mummy has seen already, that mean nasty man is going to fail. The pretty little tree and Daddy are going to win."

"Is Ang- Daddy back Dru?" Spike asked carefully.

"Yes but he's not my daddy anymore." she said and moved away from him slightly, her eyes going distant, before she turned back to face her lover, "It's all right though. I don't mind anymore, the pretty little tree will take care of everything, but she...she might need help..."

Spike moved forward to gently take the pale brunette into his arms, "Do you want to help the little redhead, Luv?"

"It would be bad to help her against the new master." Drucilla said thoughtfully. "Yes but it would be worse if he won, wouldn't it Ducks?" Spike explained studiously. Drucilla nodded her head slowly, her eyes distant again. Then looking up at Spike she said, "I can hear her in my head."

"Who Ducks?" the bleached blond vampire asked.

"The little tree, " his paramour replied with a smile, "She talks to me and it's like the sweetest music when she does. So clear and sweet it hurts, but then it doesn't hurt anymore and I can only hear her. Not the stars, or Ms. Edith or any of the others and...and then everything makes sense again."

Spike stared in surprise, struggling for words, "Dru?"

"Hmm, " said the brunette, looking up at him with surprisingly clear eyes. Pulling her over to where a large overstuffed chair sat, he tugged the vampiress into his lap, and grasping her chin firmly he turned her face to gaze into those stunningly lucid eyes again. "Princess?"

She smiled at him sadly and said, "I'm not really a princess Spike." her eyes went distant again and lost in her memories she continued, "I was going to be a nun, but..but Daddy came and...and he ripped me open...he opened me up so the demon could come in. I wasn't a bad girl, but Daddy said I was, he said I was a child of the devil, and that I could only do evil, bad things." then Dru looked up at him and said very softly, "But W-Willow says that Daddy was wrong. She says I'm a good girl really, I just don't remember. She helps me remember." Then the vampiress looked up at him her eyes filled with concern and dread, "Do you like me this way Spike? Am I still your Princess?"

The demon in him screamed in fury, ordering him to deny her and push her away, but Spike forced the demon back down and regained control.

Gently caressing Dru's' cheek, he pulled her down to him, their lips met and clung. Tongues tasted, stroked, and glided against each other. Pulling back ice blue eyes met fathomless chestnut ones as he said, "You will always be my princess, my dark goddess and if that little redhead wit-, if Willow makes you happy and helps you, then I guess we'll have to be friends with her and help her, eh Ducks?"

Drucilla squealed with delight and bounced on Spike's lap for a moment before grasping his face and pulling it close again for an even more passionate kiss. Then pulling back she looked down at him and said in a conspiratorial whisper, "It's a secret though, right?" "Yeah luv, a secret." the peroxide blond vampire said, stroking her back absently as he began plotting thoughtfully. He carefully masked his thoughts, realizing Galan's powers could quite probably detect a conspiracy against himself if they weren't careful.

Two thoughts suddenly occurred to Spike as he caressed the beautiful woman in his lap. Quietly he asked a question he was almost afraid to know the answer to, "Dru, sweetheart, can you keep Galan out of your mind?"

The love of his unlife giggled into his throat, almost making him forget everything else, and replied in a soft husky voice, "He doesn't try to come in my head, all the voices, and the singing, and music scare him." then the pale brunette added darkly, "I like scaring him."

"That's my girl, " said Spike proudly, then his quick smile faded to be replaced with a look of concern, "Dru, do you know that...that Angelus is with...Willow?"

She nodded her head slowly and then replied, "She told me, but he's not my Daddy anymore, little tree killed my daddy."

"How do you feel about that, Ducks?" Spike asked carefully.

"Daddy liked to hurt me, he said I deserved it cause I was bad. He hurt you too. If Daddy had come back he would have tried to take my Spike away from me. I'm glad the nice daddy is back." then leaning forward she whispered in his ear, "Willow loves the nice daddy, like I love my Spike."

"And what do you think about that Luv?" he asked looking at her with cautious curiosity.

"It's good now I have you and Daddy has her." Drucilla said with amusement. Then a thought occurred to the now sane vampiress, "Do you think she will be my new Mommy?"

"I don't know sweetheart. I think you'll have to ask her." he said and then with amusement, "but how about we go talk about just how good my princess really is?" The brunette gave a giggle and shriek as the bleached blond vampire surged out of the chair with her still in his arms and stalked towards their chambers.

The High School: Early morning.

Giles waited in the library. He paced he wanted to figure this out. After last nights run in with the vampires in the park. Buffy had been less then helpful she had only wanted to go out and dust a few more vamps. Xander was simply petrified that something was going to happen to his best friend and for the last three hundred years worth of watcher diaries, no sign of a vampire named Galan. It was impossible. He squeezed the bridge of his nose, breathing out a soft sigh, he leaned back against the counter closing his eyes, he'd been up since nearly dawn, attempting to find anything on this new menace. He was tired and more then a little upset. He looked up as the doors to the library opened and then closed with out the young woman on the other side entering, he saw Buffy and noticed that she had stopped mid stride to turn and speak to some one.

Out side, Buffy stared down at Willow's elegant scrawl. She read the words slowly then looked up at Amy. The other girl smiled nervously. "She told me to give it to you. That it might help you understand what's happening. She wanted to be the one to tell you what was happening. She didn't want for you to learn like this." Amy said trying to make the Slayer understand what was happening. She hadn't really wanted to be part of this, but you couldn't turn your back on a sister, a fellow witch, it wasn't seemly.

"Amy, what I want to know is why you're involved?"

"I'm a witch, " Amy said, "and witches...we stand and help each other. Regardless."

"Oh, so like you walk through the fire for each other. Do you know what's happening?" Buffy asked drawing the other girl into the other room.

The blond witch bit her lip nervously and followed the Slayer into her sanctuary. She looked over at the Watcher who had lifted his head from the book he was reading to eye them uncertainly.

"Oh Amy, I have a few questions for you if you have a moment?" Giles said as he watched the girls take a seat at the table. Giles watched as Amy squirmed under the Slayers gaze and then looked down at the notebook in the Slayers hand.

"Yeah sure Mr. Giles. Look Buffy, that notebook will tell you far more then I can. I know only so much, I understand only so much. What was happening, what is and will happen. I am not fae. Their ways are different. I don't even know why it's happening. I can't understand why they would let him do this. It's insane."

Amy looked over at Giles and taking a deep breath spoke again. "Mr Giles?"

"Yes, " the Watcher answered somewhat reluctantly.

"What do you know about the fae?"

Giles cocked his head to one side thinking for a moment on just what he did know about these creatures. They where not human, never had been, they were for the most part immortal though he'd once read that they sometimes simply faded back into the patterns from which they had come. "Well there are many legends, but very little true knowledge is known about them. Their are many who would say that they don't exist."

"Oh they exist, " Amy said, " they really exist. Having seen one, they look human from a far. But up close. Well you would almost have to see one. I mean they're so beautiful it's almost as though they couldn't be human.

"Pointed ears?" asked Buffy suddenly.

"Well yeah, but you wouldn't see them unless they weren't trying to fit in." Amy replied.

"You mean they like live around us. How come I don't feel them. I mean vampires make my spider sense go all tingly." Amy looked at Buffy a bit perplexed she had no idea how the Slayer's...a...uh...spider sense worked. She looked over at Giles for help. This was his expertise not hers.

"Well Buffy simply put they're not demons. They are not evil necessarily by nature and for the most part, aside from those that live in this realm don't really care much for humans. They only interfere when they feel that something has gone wrong, they fix it, though I think sometimes they create the mischief. Just to have something to do."

"So why are they bothering now?" demanded the Slayer angrily. She didn't like the way this was sounding.

"Well I would have to assume that the opening of the veil would effect them greatly and clearly they don't want this to happen they don't want this power unleashed and it's entirely possible that they don't want the human race to be destroyed."

"Oh...so they don't want us to die...they don't want to lose their toys." Buffy commented ruefully. Giles looked at his Slayer then at the witch who was smiling slightly.

She chuckled at the look the Watcher was giving her. "Well some of them have family that are human, some of them have wives and lovers that are human, so yes, not wanting their loved ones world destroyed is a big incentive. You understand Buffy. You do it, you don't just fight the undead for yourself you do it because of those you love, because you want them to be safe."

Giles was nodding his head in agreement when he noticed the notebook in Buffy's hand. "Is...is that Willow's?" Giles asked suddenly uncomfortable. Amy turned to him and nodded her head and he held out his hand to be given the notebook.

"Yeah, uhm Willow wanted you guys to have it, she thought it might help with your research. I don't know what all is in it. Spells...shadows, I think. I didn't read it, it wasn't meant for me."

Giles nodded his head understandingly and took the notebook with as much reverence as he would show one of his ancient tomes.

The library doors opened and admitted Xander, he nodded to Buffy and Amy who he threw a nervous smile. The witch didn't make him quite as nervous as she had. After talking to someone that had Willow's power Amy's rather lesser powers no longer caused fear in Xander.

"So anything?" He asked coming to sit over in one of the chairs at the main table.

"No, Xander don't you have a class?"

"Yeah, but I think this is defiantly skip worthy material." Giles hesitantly nodded his head agreeing with Xander.

"So official skip day?" Asked Buffy coming to stand by Xander. "Yeah research party, wanna help Amy?" Amy looked away, she felt really uncomfortable in this room with them. They were Willow's friends and although the Slayer had aided her in the past she still felt out of place.

"No I have to do some things that I don't think you all need to see. I'll be back later all right." She said and slowly turned to leave he library. Leaving Giles staring down at the notebook she had given him.

Amy waited till she was far enough away from the school that no one would notice her. She had to find Willow, if not literally then on the network. Damn I wish I had a computer handy.

She moved down the street moving at an easy jog, going to turn down the road to her house. She paused at her front door, wondering why she hadn't simply materialized, it would have taken less time. Sometimes I just don't think.

She opened the front door of her empty house and entered. The blond teenager closed the door behind her, and entered the living room. Amy threw herself onto the couch, her eyes closed and she groaned inwardly. This was indeed a lot of trouble, but once she had seen Willow walking down a back Sunnydale street with a huge black cat at her side, she'd had to know what was happening. The young witch stood and went over to the altar she had set up in the eastern corner of her living room, and pulled a small scrying crystal from the stones on the altar and stared within it's depths for a long moment.

She paused wondering what was happening where ever Willow was. That first phone call had shocked Amy. She hadn't expected to be the one that Willow called. She jumped as the phone rang shrilly. She giggled at her own shock for a moment her mind filling with the image of Willow. Speak of the devil. She picked up the phone, "Hi Willow, " she said putting the phone to her ear. Who you calling? She heard in the back ground. Angel, Amy realized, she didn't know too much about the vampire but she was glad he was with Willow.

"Amy I need a favor." Willow said.

"Only one?" asked Amy smiling.

"Yeah, I sort of need you to pass along some information to Giles about that vampire."

"Oh sure what?"

"Simple he's fae. "Willow said. Amy gasped into the phone line feeling herself pale.

"Bastard." She uttered the word with out thinking, and heard Willow chuckle.

"Yeah I know. Don't worry it's nothing we can't handle."

"You sound awfully sure of yourself, are you sure he can deal with this."

"Yeah Amy don't worry." Amy looked down at the floor trying to take comfort in Willow's confidence in Angel if not herself, but Amy already knew that this wasn't the common game.

She listened for a few more minutes, before hanging up. Yeah Gotta go back to school.

"Giles, why can't we find anything on Galan in the books. I mean we have everything else?" Xander asked his voice going to that childish whine that was irritating to the nerves.

"I wish I knew Xander." Giles said after a moment. He looked over at Cordelia who was surprisingly enough very helpful on the dreaded machine. So far though Galan had been a dead end.

The library doors opened to admit Amy. She smiled sadly at the Watcher when he looked down sadly. She wasn't the witch he was looking for.

"You know I feel really strange knowing what's going on, but the tables have truly turned."

"So what are we doing wrong?" Giles asked.

"Well you're doing one thing wrong. You are looking up vampires. Not fairies. You need to look under magic fae and other creatures, that are of the veil."

"Well yes, of course we are studying vampires that's what he is." Buffy snapped glaring angrily at the witch. Amy smiled she walked over to Buffy.

"Buffy, believe it or not there are things in heaven and earth that are not so easily categorized. Yes a vampire but he's not known for that fact, you need to look further back. He's only been a vampire for six hundred years."

"What?!?!" Giles gasped. Stared at the book that fell from his fingers that had suddenly gone numb with shock. That was old and powerful and if what Amy had said was true that he was a fae as well.

"Don't worry Giles. That's why Willow is the one to take care of this."

"You think Willow could do that." Buffy's voice screamed her doubt.

"Sometimes, this being one of those times, it's not up to the Slayer to take the demon baddie out. Willow can do what you can not. Her power far surpasses what you have or will ever have."

"There is one thing that I don't get. Why would a fae willingly cross. That's insane. I mean fae live forever just as vampires and need not take a human life to do so. They are immortal." Amy looked down uncertain herself of why the fae would have crossed. She knew the logical reason or rather the really crazy reason why Galan had crossed.

"Power, he wanted power that was given to another. He crossed in the hopes of getting it, and then he was cast out from the fold."

"I don't understand. They have unlimited power, and very few weaknesses." Giles stammered. "Iron, and the fairy reel from what I hear."

"The fact that a human female was given the power that not even a fae could hold. I mean to have your gods deem a race, a creature that was created as an after thought, worthy of the ultimate power...." Amy said leadingly. Giles nodded his head understanding.

"Giles could you translate for the rest of us." Buffy demanded. "I understand perfectly." Xander chimed in. She turned and glared angrily at him, "Okay, me then, explain it to me." Buffy demanded.

"Very well I believe that Amy is saying that the fae Galan has willingly crossed over as "an um in your face, I hate what you are." Type of action. All because they gave the power to an innocent little human girl." the Watcher explained, stumbling over the slang terms. "In a nut shell." Amy said smiling.

"How petty."

"Indeed." Amy agreed softly she smiled at Giles. "I hope that helps I have to go." She hurried out of the door.

Buffy watched Amy leave realizing with some shock that it was indeed going to be something that only Willow was going to be able to do it.

"So where does that leave us. I mean Willow isn't here. These guys are combing the town for her, and if what I heard last night is any indication he isn't going to stop until he finds her.