Hard Choices

Author-Kaitelynn

E-Mail: [email protected]

Disclaimer: They ain't mine damn it. They belong to Joss and Mutant Enemy. I promise to return them when I'm done.

Distribution: BBA, Willow's World and anyone else who wants it.

Rating: R

Category: W/A

Summary: Buffy breaks up with Angel. WIllow comforts him.

Special Thanks as usual to Kylia considering she always convinces me to start more stories. Maybe, she'll convince me to finish them too. *VBG*

Feedback: Please send me some. I live for it. Makes me write faster if I know people like it.

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Part 1

"I broke up with Angel tonight," Buffy said as she made her way into Willow?s room. There were tracks down the pretty blondes face from the tears that had fallen.

"Why?" Willow asked, wondering what would cause Buffy to break up with the handsome vampire. "Did he do something?"

Buffy shook her head, "No, nothing like that. I just decided that, while I love Angel, I want a lot more out a relationship than he can give me. I want someone who I can open up with and take long walks in the daylight. I don?t want to worry if I?m going to be his next meal."

"Buffy," Willow shouted, angry of what her friend had just said about Angel, "you know Angel would never hurt you. How can you even think that about him." Buffy had the decency to look contrite over her comment. Willow lowered her voice, "As for the rest of it, if you really love Angel, like you always told me, you would be willing to work around the other stuff."

"It?s just not that easy," Buffy explained. "I mean, with the Slayer stuff, I just want something in my life that is somewhat normal. Is that so wrong of me?"

"I guess not, but it doesn?t mean that you couldn?t be with Angel. You can have a normal relationship with him." Buffy looked over at Willow, a sarcastic comment on the tip of her tongue, which Willow stopped with a wave of her hand. "You know what I mean. No relationship is perfect. You and Angel just had a few more problems than others."

"But I don?t want the problems anymore," Buffy whined. She had walked over to Willow?s desk and picked up one of the pictures that was sitting on it.

It showed Willow, Buffy and Xander in one of their happier moods. Buffy sighed as she stared at the relative normalcy of the photo. "I just want to have as normal a life as possible and that doesn?t include dating a 250 year old vampire."

"Fine," Willow finally said. "So how did Angel take the news that you didn?t want to see him anymore?" Willow knew how much the vampire cared for the Slayer and was concerned about he was doing.

Buffy shrugged, turning to face the red head and leaned against the desk. "He wasn?t happy about it, that?s for sure. He understood my reasons for doing what I did, but he still didn?t like it."

"What did you tell him were you?re reasons?"

"Basically that I couldn?t handle dating a vampire. That I wanted someone who I could share things with. In the daytime. And I told him that I wanted someone whom I could hold and kiss and well? you know? without having to worry about him going all psycho on me."

"Buffy, you didn?t," Willow exclaimed.

"Well, maybe not in those exact words," Buffy admitted.

"That was wrong Buffy, you should be ashamed of yourself," Willow admonished the blonde, upset over her words. She couldn?t believe Buffy would be so heartless as to tell the man that would willingly die for her that she couldn?t be with him because they couldn?t make love. That was like telling a someone that they would do it if they really loved them.

"Heartless?" Buffy replied, not understanding why Willow was so upset. "How was that being heartless or don?t you remember what happened when Angel and I made love?"

"I remember exactly what happened. Remember I was the first one he tried to kill," Willow reminded her. "But I also know that the spell I did to restore his soul, anchored as well. No matter how happy he gets, he?ll always have his soul. Or did you forget that bit of information?"

"No, I didn?t forget," Buffy answered, slowly, not willing to look in the hacker?s eyes. "It?s just that everytime that I think about him and I being together like that, all I can remember is what happened last time. It scares me."

Willow was flabbergasted. She couldn?t believe how selfish the blonde girl in front of her was being. Willow didn?t understand how Buffy could so casually push away the souled vampire that she supposedly loved. Granted, the relationship might not be all the normal, but what defines normal? And why did she feel the need to tell Angel that one of the reasons that she couldn?t be with him was because she needed someone that she could sleep with when she knew that his soul was bound to him permanently. Especially considering how guilty he already felt because of what happened to all of them as a result of him losing his soul.

Buffy looked over at Willow, not comfortable with the silence from the normally babbling hacker. She figured that Willow would understand her reasons foe breaking off her relationship, considering how Willow and Oz didn?t exactly handle his being a werewolf all that well. Buffy conveniently forgot that it was Oz that broke up with Willow because he didn?t want to deal with all of the slayerette stuff.

"Willow, you do understand why I can?t see Angel anymore, right," Buffy questioned her friend. "I mean, you know why I had to do it."

Willow shook her head. "No, Buffy, I don?t. It doesn?t make any sense to me. If you love Angel as much as you always said you did, than you should have been able to deal with the other stuff. That?s what relationships are," Willow explained to Buffy.

"Then I guess you?re just a better person than I am," Buffy replied sarcastically. "I guess you would be better able to deal with dating a man that has a demon in him. Maybe you should be the one who should be with Angel instead of me."

Willow sighed, exasperated at the things that Buffy was saying. "That?s not what I meant, Buffy, and you know it. If you think the best thing for the two of you is not being together, than so be it and I will support you. But I want you to know, I?m going to still talk with Angel. He?s my friend and I don?t want to lose that." Buffy looked at Willow, surprised that the girl would still want to talk with her now ex-boyfriend, even though she and Angel were no longer together. It never occurred to her that her friend wouldn?t avoid him.

"Willow, I really wish you wouldn?t. I mean, I don?t even want to think about Angel," Buffy told her. "I even asked him to not come by the library or Bronze for awhile. Give us time apart to move on."

Willow lost it. "How dare you. What, you have the right to lean on all your friend?s shoulders. Have your little support group while Angel just gets to brood in his house all alone." Willow stood up and faced Buffy, standing right in front of her. "Well, I won?t have it. I?m going to be there for Angel, if he wants to talk, just like I?ll be here for you if you need it. I do that for my friends, that?s how I am."

"Willow, I really wish that you wouldn?t talk with Angel," Buffy asked. "I just don?t think it would be a good idea, for all parts."

"Well, I guess we?ll just have to see about that," Willow replied. "He?s my friend, Buffy. I?m sorry if that hurts you, but its the truth."

"Then I guess we?ll just have to see what happens," Buffy said. "But don?t be surprised if he doesn?t want to see you. You?ll only remind him of me. I mean, that?s why the two of you are friends, is because of me." Willow was insulted that Buffy felt that the only reason that Angel would even see her, let alone talk to her, was because she was Buffy?s friend. She was tired of Buffy always thinking she was the center of the universe.

"Get out Buffy. Get out before either one of us says something else that we?ll regret later," Willow said as she walked over to her bedroom door, opening it. Buffy looked down at her watch.

"I guess you?re right. Anyway, I have to go. I have a date with Scott tonight," Buffy told Willow as she started walking toward the door, only to be stopped by Willow?s hand on her arm.

"You just broke up with Angel tonight and you already have a date?" Willow asked, disbelief in her voice. "Didn?t take you very long to move on."

Buffy decided to ignore the sarcastic tone in Willow?s voice, figuring that it was just due to a lack of sleep or something. "Well, he asked me yesterday and I just decided that I wanted to give it a try. I?ll tell you about it tomorrow."

Willow let go of Buffy?s arms and she watched as the blonde girl left her home. Willow couldn?t believe everything that her friend had just told her.

Not only had she just broken up with a fantastic person, granted he had a few flaws but who didn?t, but she was already dating someone new. And Angel, what must he be going through. Willow felt sorry for the souled vampire who had just lost his love. She knew how guilty he felt over his actions as Angelus. The fact that the others, Buffy included, had trouble distinguishing between Angel and Angelus, but Willow never did. She knew that what had happened hadn?t been her friend?s fault and she had gone out of her way to make him feel accepted. And Buffy had just tried to destroy all that she had worked for in one fell sweep. Well, Willow wouldn?t allow it. She wasn?t going to let Buffy push Angel back into himself. She was going to make sure that Angel would know that he had at least one friend who would stick by him, Buffy be damned.

With her mind set on a plan of action, Willow picked up her purse, making sure to grab a stake and some holy water. She left her house, her purpose clear. No matter what Buffy wanted, Willow was going to be there for Angel. Starting that night. She just hoped the vampire was prepared for her.

Part 2

Angel was staring into the dying embers in the fireplace when he heard the knock at the door. It was the same position he had been in since Buffy had left, telling him that she was breaking up with him. He had always known that the moment would come when she would decide that she had wanted a normal life, a normal relationship, but that didn?t mean that it hurt any less. Especially considering some of the things that the blonde slayer had told him. And the fact that she had asked him to stay away from the Bronze and the library until she could handle seeing him, effectively forcing him back into the darkness that he had left behind for her.

The knock came again, a little louder this time and yet Angel still made no move to answer the door, hoping that whoever it was would just leave him alone to wallow in his misery. To let him do what he was good at. Brooding.

But the person on the other side of the door was persistent. They wouldn?t give up, so Angel finally stood up and opened the door, surprise evident on his face when he saw who was there.

"Willow?"

"Angel," Willow said, a little afraid about how her appearance at the mansion would be taken by the vampire. The entire walk over has Willow slowly questioning her friendship with him. Wondering if what Buffy had said was the truth. That the only reason Angel was her friend was because of her friendship with Buffy.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, ummmm, Buffy came to see me," Willow watched as Angel stiffened at the slayer?s name. "She told me what happened?"

"Then I?m sure she told you that she didn?t want you to see me," Angel told her, wondering why exactly the red head had decided to visit him. He was sure that she would be with Buffy, listening as Buffy told her everything that had happened, being the supportive friend that he had come to care about.

"Yeah, she did, but I told her that she couldn?t tell me who I could and couldn?t see," Willow replied, a small smile forming on her lips. Angel couldn?t help himself. He returned that smile with a pained one of his own.

"Angel, would it be all right if I came in. I mean, I understand if you don?t want company and all, but I thought, maybe you would like someone to talk to."

"I would have figured that you would have been listening to Buffy by now," Angel replied, opening the door a little wider to allow Willow access to the mansion. She entered, taking in the surroundings. She wasn?t surprised to find it dark, because it was always dark. She was used to it by now.

"Yeah, well, I already did that, you know," Willow turned to face Angel.

"And now, I want to do the same thing for you. I mean, we are friends and all, aren?t we?" Willow asked, a little unsure of how her offer would be taken by Angel. She knew how hard it was for him to accept friendship from anybody, but she hoped that he would accept what she was offering to him.

"Are you sure that you still want to be friends with me, Willow?" Angel questioned as he shut the door to the mansion and walked over to the dying fire, trying to get it to reignite. "I mean, I know that the only reason you even hung out with me in the first place was because Buffy and I were dating. I?d understand if you didn?t want to talk to me anymore. I?m sure the others will be the same way."

"Well, I?m not like the others," Willow huffed, angry at the words coming from the vampire?s mouth. How could he think that the only reason she hung out with him was because he was Buffy?s boyfriend. That was just the reason she met him, not why she liked him. "I don?t consider you a friend because of Buffy. You know, she accused you of the same thing with our friendship. That you only liked me because you had to because I was her best friend."

"You know that?s not true," Angel argued, angry that his now ex-girlfriend would think that of him.

"I know it?s not true, or else I wouldn?t even be here right now," Willow stated. Willow walked over to the vampire, putting her hand up to his cheek. "You?re my friend, Angel, because I like you. not because you are, were," Willow corrected, "Buffy?s boyfriend, but because you?re a good person. You are kind and caring and have saved my life more times than I can count."

"But you?re also Buffy?s best friend," Angel pointed out. "I don?t want to do anything that might endanger that friendship."

"You can?t," Willow said. "If anyone does anything to affect that friendship, it will be her, trust me. But I don?t want to talk about that right now. I want to talk about how you are. Please tell me."

"Willow, I don?t have the right to ask?."

"You didn?t ask. I offered," Willow pointed out to him. "That?s what friends do. They help each other. Please Angel, let me help you." Angel gave a weak nod of his head, signaling his acceptance of her offer, making Willow squeal in delight. She grabbed his arm, pulling him over to the couch.

"Okay, so I have an idea of what Buffy told you, and I?ll let you know right now, I wasn?t happy about it. Now I want to hear your version of the story. And don?t leave anything out," Willow told the man at her side.

"Now, what happened?"

"Buffy came over, like she usually does," Angel explained. "I could tell right away that something had happened by the way she was standing. And when I went over to give her a kiss, she pulled away from me. That?s when I first knew about what was about to come. She told me that she couldn?t see me anymore."

"Just like that?" Willow asked, incredulous at her friend?s lack of tact.

"I mean, no warning? Nothing?"

"Nope," Angel shook his head. "I never saw it coming. I mean, just last night, everything was fine, or so I thought. I mean, I thought she was happy in what we had and then suddenly, tonight, she said that she wanted a normal relationship. That she couldn?t handle everything that came with dating a vampire with a soul. I don?t know what changed so suddenly but I never saw it coming."

"I think I know what changed, Angel," Willow stated, suddenly finding herself angrier at her friend. She knew that what she would say would hurt the vampire, but she also felt that he had a right to know about Scott.

"After she left my house tonight, she was going to out with this kid from school."

Angel looked at Willow, anguish clearly evident on his face. "She had a date." Willow slowly nodded her head, her heart going out for Angel. "So that?s why she broke up with me." Willow could hear the reluctant acceptance in his voice and found herself reaching out and grabbing him, pulling him into fierce hug.

"I?m so, so sorry Angel. I wish there was something that I could do to make it better," Willow offered weakly, knowing that no matter what the vampire was feeling, he would do his best to keep it to himself.

"There?s nothing that anyone can do Willow," Angel told the petite red head in his arms. "I mean, I always knew that the day would come that Buffy would decide that she wanted a normal relationship. It?s what I always wanted for her. I just didn?t think it would come this soon. Or that it would be that easy for her to get over me."

"I know, Angel, I know. I can?t believe Buffy would do that to you either," Willow stated, surprised to feel him shaking underneath him from the emotions that he had bottled up inside him. She cursed silently at the one responsible for the pain that he was in. "You don?t deserve this. You are a fantastic person, one that deserves to be loved."

"No, Willow, I don?t. I?m a monster," Angel pulled himself from Willow?s embrace and she was surprised to see the blood tears falling from his eyes. She wiped them away with her hand.

"No, you?re not a monster, Angel," Willow corrected. "You are a wonderful person. You are loving and giving, never once asking for something in return. You deserve to have someone that will love you, no holds barred."

Angel offered Willow a weak smile, "Thank you for that."

"Anytime," Willow offered, returning Angel?s smile with one of her own. She could tell that he was feeling a little better about what had happened.

She just hoped that it would last longer than her visit. "And, I want you to know that I will not let Buffy push you away. I mean, I?d understand you not wanting to be in the library and all, because right now, I don?t think I want to be near her. But, I don?t want you going all lurker boy on me either. I want you to feel free to come over and say hi if you see me somewhere. I mean, maybe not when Buffy is around, but even if it?s just a nod or a wave or something, okay? Promise."

"I promise," Angel replied, glad that Willow was willing to still be his friend after ever thing that had happened. He was afraid that she would side with Buffy and not want anything to do with him. He should have known better than to underestimate her friendship.

"Good. Now, friend, how about walking another friend home," Willow teased as she stood up. "You know, I?ve actually heard it?s not that safe walking alone in Sunnydale at night."

Angel grinned, glad that he was still able to. "Yeah, I?ve heard that too. Don?t know where that rumor could have started."

"Me either. Can?t be because of all those vamps and everything, you think?"

"Nope, can?t be because of that."

Angel and Willow laughed the mansion, both in better spirits than before.

They were happy because they both knew that, no matter what would happen because of Buffy?s actions, their friendship wouldn?t be affected. Angel was surprised at the capacity that the young girl beside him had for friendship and was grateful that she was willing to offer it to him freely.

Willow, on the other hand, was happy that Angel allowed her to be there for him. She knew how tough it was going to be for him. She knew the others would do as Buffy asked, which was to avoid the handsome vampire and that made her resolve to be his friend all the stronger. No matter what happened, she promised herself and him, that she would help him get through it.

Part 3

Willow entered the library and saw Buffy, Xander and Cordelia sitting at the table in front of her, the smile that had been on her face, instantly disappearing. She and Angel had had a long talk the night before, him leaving her room just before sunrise, and Willow knew everything that Buffy had told him about her reasons for breaking up with him and she wasn?t happy about any of them. Willow had thought that Buffy had been joking when she said that she had asked Angel to stay away from the Bronze and the library, but Angel had confirmed it.

"Hey Willow," Buffy said cheerfully, already putting the fight from last night behind her. She was sure that Willow hadn?t meant any of what she had said.

"Buffy," Willow replied stiffly.

"Okay, tension filled room here," Xander observed. "And the reason for this being?"

"I think Buffy would be the best one to answer that question," Willow told her oldest friend, unable to properly find the words for what she was feeling. Xander and Cordelia looked over at the blonde, waiting to hear what she had to say.

"Buff, what?s up?" Xander asked her.

"Nothing," Buffy replied honestly. She truly did not believe that anything was wrong between her and the hacker.

"Nothing," Willow said in disbelief. "You call breaking up with Angel and then going out with someone else two hours later nothing?"

"You broke up with Deadboy?" Xander inquired.

"Who did you go out with?" Cordelia asked.

"Yes, I broke up with Angel and I went out with Scott," Buffy answered both questions with the one sentence. "It?s no big deal, really."

"No big deal," Willow shouted, drawing Giles from his office. Everyone looked at the young witch and she lowered her voice. "You call telling Angel that he isn?t welcome here or at the Bronze anymore no big deal? What about the part where you said that you wanted to be with someone who you could make love to without having to worry whether he?ll end up some psycho killer?"

Cordelia gasped, "You didn?t really say that Buffy, did you?"

Buffy just shrugged, "So what if I did. It?s the truth." Buffy looked at the other people in the library, wondering at why they were finding it so difficult to understand her reasons for doing what she had done. "I mean, it?s not like you all have been exactly thrilled at the though of Angel and I being back together."

"That?s besides the point Buffy," Willow replied. "You had no right to hurt him like that. You should have seen him when I got there last night. He was devastated by what you told him."

"Wait a minute," Buffy interrupted, "you went over to see Angel even after I asked you not to?"

"I told you I was."

"But, I didn?t think you really meant it," Buffy said. "I mean, you?re my best friend, Willow. I figured that you would have done as I asked and stayed away from him until I could deal with having him in my life at all."

"I?m sorry if my being friends with Angel bothers you," Willow told the blonde, not really meaning what she was saying, "but, as I told you last night before you left for your date, I will be there for him, just as I am for all my friends. If you have a problem with that, you better tell me now."

"Damn straight I have a problem with that," Buffy replied, angry at what her best friend was telling her. "You?re my friend, not his. I don?t want you anywhere near him. It?s me or him Willow."

Willow stared at the girl who had changed her life so much since she had first met her two years ago, wondering if she ever knew her at all. She couldn?t believe that Buffy could actually be so self-centered as to believe that Willow would actually make a choice between her friends just so that Buffy would be happy. But, Willow decided, if it was a choice that Buffy wanted, then it would be a choice that Buffy would get.

"I?m sorry Buffy." Buffy smiled as she heard Willow?s words, certain that she had finally gotten through to the red head. "If you are going to make me choose, my choice is Angel."

"What?" Buffy couldn?t believe her ears.

"Willow, you don?t mean that?" Xander asked. Willow looked over at the boy, sadness in her eyes.

"I didn?t want to make the choice, Xander, but Buffy forced it on me," Willow explained. "He needs a friend and I am proud to call him my friend. And after everything that Buffy has done and said within the past twenty-four hours, I honestly don?t know if I can deal with her."

"But, Willow, you?re my friend too," Buffy whined, not understanding what was going on. She wasn?t supposed to lose her friends.

"And I always will be Buffy, but if you can?t accept that Angel will always be a part of my life, than I don?t think it would be all that great of an idea that we hang out for a little while. Especially since you have so little regard for anyone other than yourself."

"That?s not true," Buffy whined, upset over the turn of events that have taken place within the past few minutes.

"Isn?t it Buffy," Willow replied. "When did you decide that you wanted a "normal" life? Before or after Scott asked you out? The only reason you broke up with Angel when you did was because you had someone who was waiting for you."

"Is it so wrong that I want something in my life that is normal? That I want something that isn?t involved with prophecies and death and demons?"

Buffy cried. "Why can?t I have what everyone else has?"

"You did, Buffy," Willow stated plainly. "You have friends. You have a family. You had a great guy madly in love with you. Who was willing to die for you and what did you do with all of that? You threw it out for the first high schooler that wanted to date you."

Buffy got angry at Willow?s harsh words, "How dare you. You have no idea what it?s like to be me. To have to do what I do."

"Don?t I," Willow calmly asked. "I might not be the slayer, but we all have been there for you. We have stood by your side whenever you have needed us. Even patrolled and protected the Hellmouth when you were gone. So, you?re right, I don?t know what it?s like to be you. You have to do what you do while we?ve chosen to."

Willow left the library right after saying that, leaving a stunned group of friends behind. Buffy was angered at what had just happened, unable to accept that Willow would willingly choose to continue to be friends with Angel instead of her. She was also unwillingly to accept that any of it had been her fault. Buffy wasn?t prepared for what happened next.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Cordelia exploded.

"What?"

"That whole, making Willow choose between you and Angel. I mean, jealous much?"

"Of course not," Buffy said. "What is there to be jealous of. I mean, this is Willow we are talking about. What would Angel possibly see in her?"

"Oh, I don?t know, how about the fact that she goes out of her way to make sure that her friends are okay. Or what about the fact that when she speaks, she can actually hold an intelligent conversation." Cordelia watched as Buffy visibly flinched from her attack. "Or the fact that she is a very pretty girl if you actually bother looking at her."

"But Angel is in love with me, he would never be interested in anyone else."

"But you gave him up. So I would say, he can pretty much do whatever he wants to," Cordelia pointed out. "Besides, I don?t see you and Willow hanging out all that much for a little while."

Buffy shook her head, "No, Willow and I will be cool by lunch time. You?ll see."

"I don?t think so Buff," Xander finally said, upset over what had just occurred. "I haven?t see Wills that angry in a long time, not that I blame her. You were pretty harsh on her."

"What about her?"

"She was defending her friend. She?s like that," Xander told her. "And I can see her point. I mean, okay so I?m not a big fan of Deadboy?s, but still that was kinda cruel of you to dump him like that only to go out with someone else that same night. Let me tell you, from a guy?s point of view, that is way out of line."

"But all I wanted to do was have a normal life. Why is that so wrong?"

"Because you aren?t normal. You?re the slayer. And someone that I don?t think I can really be in the same room with right now." Xander looked over at his girlfriend. "Ready to head to class."

"More than ready." Cordelia and Xander grabbed their books, leaving behind the stunned slayer, who felt as if her world had just fallen apart by the very seams holding it together. She saw Giles standing by his office.

"Giles?" Giles shook his head. He had only caught bits and pieces of the fight, but he had heard enough of what his slayer had said to the young hacker and her friends to know that he didn?t think he could talk to her right now. He went back into his office, shutting the door, not saying a word.

"What is going on with everyone?" Buffy shouted to the empty library.

Part 4

Willow was sitting at the Slayerette?s usual table in the Bronze, watching as Cordelia tried to keep up with Xander?s frantic movements on the dance floor. She always loved to watch the brunette scowl at her boyfriend, all the while, never actually doing anything to stop him. As much as it pained her to say it, she actually believed that Xander and Cordelia were good together. They balanced each other. Willow just hoped that one day she would have someone care about her as much as the two of them cared for each other. She was startled from her thoughts when someone placed a hand on her shoulder.

?Hi." Willow turned around at the voice, smiling at the owner of it.

"Hi there, yourself. Seat?"

"Sure," Angel sat in the seat that had been vacated by Xander. "Penny for your thoughts."

Willow smiled at him. "Not really worth it, tonight. Just thinking that I wish I could find someone who makes me as happy as Cordelia makes Xander."

Angel looked over at the couple in question.

"But sometimes that person ends up hurting you more than making you smile," he replied softly, barely being heard above the pounding of the music.

Willow rested her hand over his, making him look over at her. He saw the look of sympathy in her eyes that he had grown accustomed to in the weeks since Buffy had broken up with him and she had come over to the mansion offering her friendship. Willow had made a point of visiting him, even if only for a few minutes, making sure that he was all right. She had answered his questions about Buffy, telling him that not only had she gone out with Scott, but that she had also gone out with five other boys from school.At first, it hurt to hear just how quickly Buffy had gotten over him, but the pain that had wound its way around his undead heart slowly began to disappear. It was being replaced by the gift that Willow had given him.

Herself. They began talking about their lives. She asked him questions about things that Buffy had never wanted to know about. About his life before he was turned. About his years as Angelus. Even what he had done after he had regained his soul. And he found that by talking about his past, it was helping him to move past it. To get over some of the guilt that had weighed so heavily on his shoulders. He loved the nights when she stayed with him until the sun came up, only going home in order to get ready to go to school. It had gotten to the point that he had started to look forward to her visits. And when she said that she was meeting Xander and Cordelia at the Bronze that night, he had decided that it was time for him to go back to the outside world that he had avoided.

"So what finally made you decide to join the land of the living again."

Angel gave Willow a look and she held up her hand. "Okay, so the land of the unliving." Angel shrugged his shoulders.

"Decided that you were right. That it was time for me to stop wallowing in my misery." Willow grinned at the vampire by her side. "Besides, I wanted to see you somewhere other than the darkness that is my mansion." Willow laughed as he repeated the words she used to describe his home the week before.

"Well, I?m glad that you did." Before she could say anything more, Xander and Cordelia rejoined the table.

"Hey Deadboy. Been awhile," Xander said, grabbing his soda and quickly finishing it off. Angel just rolled his eyes at the nickname. Willow tensed a bit as she waited to see what would happen between Angel, Xander and Cordelia. Ture, Xander and Cordelia had been supportive of her growing friendship with the vampire since Buffy had broken up with him, even making sure that they kept the two girls separated, which was difficult considering the fact that Buffy refused to admit that she had done anything wrong that would make Willow not want to be her friend. But, Xander was still Xander and she hoped that he didn?t say anything that would take away any of the hard work she put into making Angel accept her friendship. "I?m going to go get something to drink, anybody want anything? Cor, Willow, Deadboy?"

Willow smiled at Xander?s way of telling her that things would be okay.

"I?m fine," Willow told him.

"I?ll take a Diet Coke," Cordelia replied. Angel just shook his head.

Cordelia turned her attention to the dark haired vampire. "Haven?t seen you around Angel, how are you doing?" Angel was surprised at the sincerity in the cheerleader?s voice. Willow had told him how she had befriended Willow when it became apparent that Buffy had meant it when she made Willow choose between Angel and herself and was grateful to the girl.

"Been better, been worse," he answered.

"Been there, done that," she said in turn. "Well, I?m glad to see you out and about. Especially because that means, just maybe, Willow will stop feeling like a third wheel."

"Cordelia," the hacker admonished.

"What?" Cordelia asked. "I was just saying that now you have somebody to talk to instead of just sitting there and watching me and Xander. Hey, maybe you will have better luck than little miss likes to kill a lot, and actually get him to dance with you." Willow blushed and tried to sink as deep as possible in her chair.

"Get who to dance with her?" Xander questioned as he rejoined the table, setting his and Cordelia?s drinks in front of him.

"Get Angel to dance with her," Cordelia answered. Xander looked at the pair in question.

"Go for it." Willow looked over at Angel who shrugged.

"May I have this dance, milady?" Angel said, standing up and bowing to Willow who giggled. Angel took her offered hand, grinning at the red head. He lead her to the dance floor, grateful that the dee jay had put on a slow song as Angel wasn?t sure that he could manage a fast one and not look any stranger than Xander. He pulled Willow close to him, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. ?Hmmm, She smells so good. Raspberries and cream. Very sweet, just like her.? Willow wrapped her arms around Angel?s neck, looking up into his eyes.

?Her eyes are like emeralds. Like she can see right into my soul. I can so easily get lost in them.?

?His eyes are so gorgeous. I can sit and look into them all night and never be bored.?

Willow rested her head against Angel?s chest, marveling at how hard it was. She found herself wondering what it would like without his shirt on. ?Whoa, bad thoughts Willow. Remember he is getting over Buffy.? ?But he?s so handsome and he?s available, what would be the harm?? ?Hello, Buffy would probably kill you. You know how she feels about him, even if she is dating other guys.? Willow sighed as she continued telling herself how wrong it was to even think of doing anything with Angel.

Angel felt Willow sigh and willed himself to not think of the proximity of her body to his. He wasn?t having much luck. ?She?s so beautiful. I wonder if she even knows how much. And she?s so giving and open, I?m surprised that she isn?t the one with the dates every night. But, then again, the boys today just don?t know how to appreciate someone who isn?t model beautiful right at that moment, but they don?t know what they are missing.? ?Wait a minute, Angel, what are you thinking? This is Willow you?re talking about. Sweet, innocent, beautiful, sexy?. Don?t go there.

She?s your friend, that?s all.? Angel shook his head, trying to get his mind out of the gutter that it was about to enter. Luckily both Angel and Willow were saved from their wayward thought patterns when the song ended, only to have a fast one begin. Angel took Willow?s hand and lead her back to the table where Xander and Cordelia were talking.

"Timmy," Xander shouted.

"Timmy," Cordelia and Willow answered, as did some kids at the surrounding tables. Angel looked on, confused.

"Who?s Timmy?" Willow looked at him, sheepishly.

"Sorry. Some kids at school started shouting that one day and it kind of caught on. We?ve been doing it off and on ever since. Supposedly it?s from South Park."

"South Park?"

"Yeah, it some animated cartoon on Comedy Central and it?s supposed to be pretty funny," Willow explained. "Haven?t actually had time to watch myself, considering the hours I tend to keep."

"Well, we?ll just have to do something about that won?t we," Xander said. "I say, South Park party at Willow?s Sunday night. Who?s in?"

"I?m there," Cordelia said.

"Well, since apparently it?s at my house, I guess I?m in," Willow said, turning to Angel. "Want to come?" Angel looked at the three teens at the table and saw that they all wanted him there. He was glad for their acceptance, considering what he had done to them not so long ago.

"I?ll bring the popcorn," he said, surprising them all with a grin.

"Man, Deadboy, I may have to start liking you," Xander said, laughing. His laughter died as he saw someone approach the table. "Umm, guys, trouble at six o? clock."

"What is it?" Willow asked seriously, turning to see what had captured Xander?s attention.

"Hi guys."

"Buffy," Willow said, seeing her friend with some boy from her French class. "I didn?t think you were going to be here."

"Obviously," Buffy answered, glaring at the red head and the vampire who sat close to her. Willow looked down at the accusation in the blonde?s eyes.

"Didn?t take you long to go after him, did it? Is that the real reason that you made your choice?"

"I don?t know what you?re talking about, Buffy?" Willow replied. "Angel and I are just friends, nothing else."

"Yeah, Deadboy just came here to talk to us about something," Xander broke in, again trying to play peacemaker like he had so many times at school.

"No biggie. Like Willow said, they?re friends." Buffy turned to him, surprised at his acceptance of Angel by Willow?s side.

"And you don?t have a problem with my ex-boyfriend hanging out with your best friend."

"As long as he doesn?t hurt her, none whatsoever," Xander replied, standing up. "Cordelia, what say we go to the beach and check out the stars."

"Okay," Cordelia said, suddenly wanting to be anywhere other than the Bronze. She didn?t understand why Buffy was acting the way she was. She was the one that did the breaking up. So what if Angel and Willow hung out, they were both lonely and they got along. That was all that mattered. She grabbed her jacket and she and Xander left, leaving Buffy and the others behind.

"Ummm, you know, I think they have the right idea. Not about the beach but about leaving. Angel would you mind walking me home," Willow asked, not wanting to sit around and listen to Buffy rant about how Willow had taken Angel away from her, figuring she?ll be hearing enough of it at school.

Angel looked between Willow and his ex-girlfriend, the pain of the break up still there, but not as much. He stood up and helped Willow on with her coat. Buffy watched as the two left.

"Buffy, are you okay?" Neil, her date, asked.

"Yeah, I?ll be fine," she replied, absently, taking a seat at the vacated table. Her mind still on the closeness between Willow and Angel. She didn?t like it. True, she had broken up with the vampire, but that was only because she wanted to see what it was like to have as normal a life as possible, not because she didn?t love him. And, seeing him with Willow, Xander and Cordelia, laughing and having a good time, made her realize just what she had given up. Buffy decided that, starting the next day, she would try and make up for what she had done. First thing being, trying to get Angel back.

Part 5

Willow groaned as she heard her doorbell. She rolled over in her bed and looked at her clock. ?8:00. Who would come here at this ungodly hour? Willow had only been asleep for three hours. After walking her home from the Bronze, Angel and she had talked until he had to leave right before sunrise. Willow put her pillow over her head, willing whoever it was to just go away. Unfortunately the person was persistent, ringing the doorbell over and over again.

"Unless this is an emergency of the end of the world kind, someone is gonna die," Willow grumbled as she opened the door, ready to ream out whoever was there with some very choice words. But she was completely unprepared for the person on the other side. "Buffy."

"Hey there Willow," Buffy said, looking down at the ground. "Ummm, can I come in?"

"Why?" Willow asked, making no move to allow the other girl in.

"I wanted to talk to you. About Angel."

"There?s nothing to say," Willow told her. "We?ve already said everything there is to say on that topic. You?ve made it quite clear how you felt about my friendship with him. Especially last night."

"Well, that?s it. I just wanted to tell you that I was wrong last night. At the Bronze. I should never have accused you of going after Angel."

"Damn straight you shouldn?t have," Willow told her, anger in her voice.

"You know that Angel and I are only friends. Not to mention you had no right to act jealous considering you were there with a date."

"I know. I said I was wrong. I mean, you?re Willow. I know that you and Angel would never be more than friends." There was something in Buffy?s voice that made Willow pause at her comment.

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"Well, I just mean, you?re you and that, and don?t get me wrong here, you aren?t exactly Angel?s type."

"And that would be why?"

"Well, you know. You?re more the research, bookworm, computer girl. The girl next door type of person." Willow bristled at the unintentional insult. "Angel prefers his women more?.." Buffy tried to look for the right words.

"Like you?" Willow answered, her voice laced with sarcasm, which Buffy missed completely.

"Exactly. See I knew you would understand and that?s why I?m here. I need your help."

"My help? You need my help?"

"Yup," Buffy smiled. "So can I come in. I would rather not have this conversation outside." Willow shrugged and opened the door allowing the other girl to enter her home. Willow led her to the living room knowing that they would have all the privacy that they need considering her parents were out of town once again. Buffy took a seat on the couch, while Willow sat in her father?s favorite chair.

"What exactly do you need my help for?"

"Well, first let me just say that I know that I was completely wrong about why I broke up with him. I mean, I thought that if I dated, you know, normal boys that my life would be okay. But it?s wasn?t. I liked the guys I was with, but there just wasn?t any of that passion that I had with Angel. With the others, it was just comfortable. Like hanging out with a friend."

"Yeah, and?" Willow prodded.

"I want you to know that I never stopped loving Angel. I only broke up with him because I thought that it was the best thing to do. For both of us, but I know now that I was wrong."

"And let me guess, you want him back." Buffy nodded her head. "And you honestly think that I would be willing to help you. Why?"

?Because you?re my friend," Buffy said simply, feeling that was all the reason there needed to be.

"But I?m also Angel?s friend. I was the one who had to help pick up the pieces after you broke up with him. I was the one who had to try and make him laugh and move on and see that there was someone that cared about him. Do you even care that last night was the first time since you left him that he has even left the mansion other than to go to Willy?s to pick up blood?"

"I didn?t know. That?s not what I wanted." Buffy whined.

"No, but this isn?t about what you want anymore, Buffy," Willow told the slayer. "This is about what Angel wants and needs. Why should I help you? What?s to say that you won?t do the same thing all over again when you?ve decided that your relationship with him is too difficult to deal with and break up with him. How many times am I going to have to pick up after you when it comes to Angel?"

"That?s not fair Willow," Buffy complained. "I was hurting because of the breakup just as much as Angel, but I didn?t have the luxury of having your shoulder to cry on. I mean, you?re my friend too but you didn?t feel the need to comfort me. It wasn?t easy to let him go but I did what I felt needed to be done."

"Angel didn?t chose to break up with you. He was the dumpee while you were the dumper," Willow pointed out. "Of course he took it harder. He had no idea it was coming. He thought everything was going fine until you told him otherwise. And he wasn?t the one who had a date that night. You were."

"I know," Buffy reluctantly admitted, "but it still hurt. And I want to fix it. I want to get Angel back. I know he still loves me. We?re meant to be together."

Willow looked at the blonde, shocked that she actually believe that after everything that she had done and said, Willow would willingly help her to get Angel back. Willow remembered how hard it was for Angel to get over his breakup with the Slayer, even though he was trying to hold in the pain so as not to burden her with it, but she had seen it all the same. She recalled all of their conversations about his past relationships, both mortal and vampire, and all of the women in his life that had betrayed his love one way or the other. The girl he had been in love with as a teen who had run off with his best friend. Darla who had tried to stake him when he had regained his soul. And Buffy who had broken up with him because she couldn?t deal with him being a vampire at all. She knew how hard it was for him to trust Willow after everything that he had been through and she was proud that he considered her a friend. She wasn?t sure she was willing to risk it, just to have him hurt again. She cared too much for him.

"Willow," Buffy repeated when Willow didn?t answer her. "Will you help me get Angel back?" Willow thought for another moment, before shaking her head.

"No, Buffy, I won?t." Buffy stared at Willow, incredulously.

"Why not?"

"Because I don?t think that you?re really sorry for what you did and I don?t think there is anything that will stop you from doing it again at some point," Willow explained. "I think you saw Angel last night, laughing and having a good time with your friends and you became jealous and decided that you wanted him back."

"That?s not what happened at all," Buffy protested. "Angel and I are meant to be together."

"Then if that?s the case, you won?t need my help at all. You?ll be able to get him back all on your own." Buffy stood up then, glancing down menacingly at the red head.

"Is this because you want Angel for yourself?"

"No," Willow sighed, "this is because Angel is my friend and I don?t want to see my friend hurt. Just like I don?t want to see any of my friends hurt."

"Fine, I?ll let it slide, this time," Buffy said, "that you won?t help me. But know this, if you stand in my way or interfere in anyway with my getting Angel back, I will go after you." Buffy looked down at her watch. "I?ve gotta go. Giles wants to see me at the library to train." Buffy walked to the door, Willow trailing behind her. As she reached it, Buffy turned to face the hacker once more. "Remember what I said, Willow. I will not let you interfere."

"Whatever Buffy." Buffy left Willow?s house and the red head shut the door behind her, pressing her forehead to the door.

?Goddess, what am I going to do. I don?t want to see Angel get hurt again and if he gets back together with Buffy, I?m afraid that?s exactly what will happen. But I can?t ask him to stay away from her, knowing how much he cares for her. All I can do is be there for him. He?s my friend and he?ll need my support.?

Willow recalled what Buffy had said about going to train with Giles. ?That means it will be a few hours before she gets a chance to see Angel. Maybe I should go over and give him a heads up on what is about to happen.? With that thought, Willow raced up to her room, all thoughts of sleep leaving her as she prepared to go and tell Angel that Buffy was about to fight for his love.

Part 6

Willow knocked on Angel?s door, looking around to make sure that Buffy wasn?t coming. She had gotten to the mansion as quickly as she could to let him know that Buffy was intending on trying to win him back. She didn?t want him to be unprepared for her arrival. When he didn?t answer the door right away, Willow went to knock again, when the door suddenly opened. She stepped in and looked over to see Angel hovering behind the door, protecting himself from the sun. He shut the door as soon as she was through.

"Willow, what are you doing here?" Willow didn?t answer him, instead staring at the man in front of her, awed by the sight of Angel standing in nothing but a pair of black silk boxers. ?Oh goddess, and Buffy thought that she could replace this man. That girl is more insane than I ever thought.? Angel grinned as he saw the expression on Willow?s face as she gazed at him. "Ummm, Willow?" He asked again. Willow finally drew her eyes away from his chest, and other regions, to look in his eyes and she saw the merriment in him. Her face turned a bright shade of pink as she realized that she had been caught staring at him.

"Sorry," she mumbled, looking down at the floor. Angel smiled at her.

"Is there a reason you are knocking at my door at nine in the morning?"

"Buffy," Willow replied, "she came to see me this morning." Angel cocked his eyebrow and led Willow over to the couch.

"What did she want?"

"Well, apparently seeing us at the Bronze last night, and you actually having a good time with me, Xander and Cordelia, made her think about things," Willow explained. "Like how it was a mistake that she broke up with you in the first place. She wanted my help to try and get you back."

Angel was stunned. Willow?s news was the last thing that he ever expected to hear. Especially after the harsh words that were said the night before.

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her that I wouldn?t help her," Willow stated flatly. "That I cared to much for you to just sit back and willingly help her get you back.

Especially since there was no guarantee that she won?t do the same thing again. I didn?t want to keep having to pick up the pieces every time that she decided that she wanted a "normal" life again."

Angel listened to Willow?s explanation and took her words the wrong way, his face showing his sadness at the thought that Willow didn?t like spending time with him. ?And why should she? I mean, I?m a monster disguised as a human being. I?m a killer. She?s a ray of sunshine. She?s everything that I ever wanted in my life but could never achieve. Why would she want to spend time with me?? Willow watched as Angel began to close himself off from her and realized that he had taken her comments the wrong way.

"Hey you, you know I didn?t mean it that way," Willow took Angel?s face in her hands as she twisted her body to face him. "I love spending time with you. I just meant, that I didn?t want you to get hurt by her again. That?s all." Angel smiled at the red head by his side, silently thanking a god he no longer believed in for her friendship, despite everything that he had done.

"How did Buffy react when you told her that you wouldn?t help her?" Angel asked. Willow laughed hollowly.

"Not very well," Willow replied, remembering Buffy?s reaction. "She told me that I had better not get in her way or else. She doesn?t see me as competition for your affection, she just doesn?t like the idea that you and I are close."

"What do you mean, she doesn?t see you as competition?" Willow looked down at her lap, a slight blush coming to her cheeks.

"Well, you know, she said that I wasn?t your type. That you would never be interested in someone like me."

"Someone like you?" Angel questioned, confused. "You mean, someone who is loving and caring and giving? Someone who is willing to offer their friendship willingly, no questions asked and no demands in return? Someone who is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside? Someone who can hold an intelligent conversation about something other than the latest fashions out of Paris? Someone, who if given half a chance, is stronger than any Slayer ever born?" Willow?s blush grew deeper with each sentence Angel said.

"You don?t have to say any of that," she told him. "I know it?s not true, and I?m okay with that." Angel shook his head, cupping her chin with his hand.

"You?ve known me for over two years, has there ever been a time when I have ever lied or given out false compliments?" Willow shook her head. "Then, why would I start now?"

"Because I?m not any of those things," Willow said sadly. "I?m just plan ole Willow. The smart one."

"You are anything but plain Willow. You have these eyes that are so green they rival the deepest emeralds. The red in your hair reminds me of the sun. You skin is smooth as silk and as white as porcelain. The combination is intoxicating. You have a smell that I can?t get enough of. A combination of raspberries and cream. Sweet, just like you." Willow found herself losing herself in a combination of Angel?s words and the sincerity she saw in his eyes. Their bodies began to drift closer together, and Angel?s voice slowly became more of a whisper, lulling her into a contented feeling. "I can?t get enough of you, Willow. You are the sexiest women I have ever met." With that last sentence, Willow felt Angel?s lips brush against hers in a gentle kiss, so soft that Willow almost thought that she had imagined it. That was, until she felt Angel pull away from her. She looked at him, confusion clearly written on her face.

"Angel?"

"I?m sorry, Willow," Angel said, running his hand through his short hair.

"I had no right to kiss you. I didn?t mean for it to happen."

"Oh," Willow answered softly, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall at Angel?s apology. "I should have known that you didn?t mean it. Why would you want to kiss me anyway?" Angel looked at Willow, flabbergasted that she still had doubts about her appeal to men. He cursed all the boys that had reinforced her self doubts.

"I didn?t say I didn?t want to kiss you," Angel felt the need to tell her.

"I said that I didn?t mean to kiss you. I don?t won?t to risk our friendship by doing something that you don?t want me to do."

"Well, I wouldn?t say that I didn?t want to do it," Willow mumbled, Angel barely hearing her. As her words sank into his brain, he looked at the girl, astounded at what he heard.

"Are you saying that wouldn?t mind if I kissed you?" Willow looked at Angel, her eyes showing her emotions clearly to him.

"No, I would say that I wouldn?t mind at all if you kissed me again."

Angel smiled as he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Willow in another gentle kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He wrapped his arms around her waist holding her tightly. Their kisses were light, almost featherlike, both afraid of moving further than that. Finally they broke apart.

"Well, little one, what do we do now?"

?I don?t know," Willow admitted. "I mean, you still have to deal with Buffy. She?ll be here in a little while, wanting to fix everything."

"Well, then I guess she?s in for a bit of a surprise, isn?t she." Willow looked at Angel as his arms tighten their grip on her body. "I?ve already made my decision, and if you would like, I want to explore what is going on between us. Not go back to being Buffy?s little lap dog, jumping when she says jump. That is, if you are interested."

Willow smiled. "I am very interested." Angel hugged Willow tightly, pulling her into an embrace. The two of them snuggled on the couch, comfortable in each other?s grasp, not knowing what was going to happen, but more than willing to see where it was going. They talked and cuddled, until the two of them fell asleep in each other?s arms. And that was how Buffy found them a few hours later.

Part 7

"What the hell is going on here?" Buffy yelled as she saw Angel and Willow cuddled together on the couch. She had come to the mansion, hoping to convince him to rekindle their romance, only to find him with his arms wrapped around Willow. She felt betrayed by both and angry that Willow had obviously gone after Angel, even knowing of Buffy's plans.

Both people on the couch woke with a start at Buffy's yell. Angel's grip around Willow's waist tightened and kept her from falling to the ground. They looked up to see an irate Buffy staring down at them. "I asked you a question. What the hell is going on here?"

"Well, I would say that would have been sleeping, Buffy," Angel realized, helping Willow to sit up. "That is, until you decided to enter my home without knocking."

"I've never knocked when I've come over. You never seemed to mind before."

"That was when we were going out," Angel pointed out. "We aren't anymore. So that's brings me around to my question. What are you doing here?"

"I thought we could talk," Buffy said, "alone." The blonde slayer looked pointedly at Willow, who shrank back from the flare. She made a move to stand and leave, only to have Angel pull her back down against him. Willow looked up at him and he smiled down at her.

"Whatever you have to say to me, Buffy, you can say to in front of Willow," Angel informed his ex-girlfriend. "I don't have any secrets from her and she doesn't have any secrets from me."

"Fine," Buffy huffed, not happy with Angel's reluctance to talk to her privately. :I thought we could talk about us."

"What us? There is no us, remember? You broke up with me so that you could have a normal life," Angel said, throwing Buffy's words back at her.

"I was wrong," Buffy whispered, not able to say the words any louder with Willow in the room. The red head had already known of her plan to try and win back Angel and it was obvious that Willow was, not only not going to help Buffy get Angel back, but also was going to try and fight for him herself.

"You were wrong?" Angel repeated. "Wrong about which part? The breaking up with me part or the normal life part because I'm beginning to get confused."

"Look, can't we please talk about this alone?" Buffy asked once more. "I know you and Willow are close but this doesn't really concern her. This is about us."

"I told you, I have no secrets from Willow. And, as for this not concerning her, you're wrong. It concerns her for two very important reasons," Angel informed Buffy. "First, you said a lot of hurtful things to her because she didn't do what you wanted her to do. And that includes trying to make her choose between her friendship with you and her friendship with me."

"And, yet, she chose you," Buffy pointed out. Angel ignored her.

"And, second, because Willow is very important to me. I care about her, a lot, and I hope that she cares about me also. "Willow turned to face Angel, a small smile on her face at his admission. She cupped his cheek with her hand, drawing his gaze to her.

"You know, I care about you," she informed him. Angel leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Willow's kips, not even caring what Buffy would think of the gesture. Bufy looked on, surprised at the affection that was in his movements.

?What is going on here?' Buffy thought to herself. ?I come here to get back together with Angel, only to find him with Willow and he's telling me that he cares about Willow. And kissing her. That's just not possible. I mean, this is Willow we're talking about. Plain, mousy, shy Willow. What could Angel possibly see in her? Unless he's doing it to make me jealous because of everything that I've put him through these past few weeks. And, Willow, being the friend that she is, would go along with his plan. Yeah, that must be it. He's doing this as some kind of revenge.' Angel and Willow watched Buffy's face for any sign of her reaction. They were surprised when no anger appeared there.

"So the two of you are together?" She asked, her voice even.

"Yes," Angel answered, wary of Buffy's lack of response. This was not the same girl that had been jealous the night before when they had been at the Bronze hanging out. "Are you okay with that?"

"I guess I don't really have much of a choice about it, do I," Bufy replied. She refused to give either person the satisfaction of seeing how hurt she was, even if they were only acting, which is what she was convinced they were doing. "I stopped having a say in what you do and who you do it with when I broke up with you. I'm glad you found someone else."

"Really," Willow said hopefully, wanting to regain the friendship that she had lost. "You're really okay with this?"

"I'm fine, Willow," Buffy reassured the red head, willing to play it their way, for now. If they wanted her to truly realize what she almost lost before Angel takes her back, she'll let them. "I am." Buffy went over and hugged the surprised girl. Willow tentatively returned it.

"Thank you," Willow whispered, grateful that the Slayer was apparently going to accept the relationship between Willow and Angel.

"Hey, we're friends, even though we haven't exactly been all that close lately," Buffy said. "If you and Angel have decided that you want to be together, than I'll support you. Just because we couldn't make it work, doesn't mean that the two of you can't . As long as he makes you happy, then nothing else matters."

Angel looked on as Buffy trued to assure Willow what she was okay with the two of them. He knew how much Buffy's friendship meant to the young hacker and how hurt she had been wen Buffy had made her choose. For Willow's sake, Angel hoped that Buffy was sincere in saying that she was fin, but he wasn't so sure. This was not the Buffy that he knew. Angel was sure that she was up to something, and he wanted to know what it was before she had a chance to hurt Willow again.

"Well, I guess I should leave the two of you alone," Buffy stated. "I mean, its not a lot of fun having the ex-girlfriend hanging around."

"Buffy, you don't have to go," Willow protested, not wanting her friend to leave after finally forgiving Willow for choosing Angel over her. "It's been so long since we've talked. We have so much to catch up on." Buffy was about to agree to stay when she noticed Angel giving her a warning glare. ?Wow, he's really playing this whole hurt boyfriend thing up.'

"Willow, we'll talk tomorrow at the library," Buffy told her. "Remember, Giles wanted some help researching some new demon."

Okay, tomorrow then," Willow agreed. Willow walked Buffy to the door, giving the Slayer another hug. Once Buffy left, Willow turned to Angel, a smile pasted on her face. "Wow, I can't believe that. I mean, Angel, Buffy actually seemed happy for us."

"I know," Angel said as he came and wrapped his arms around Willow. "I just hope that she means what she said."

"Do you think she was upset?" Willow asked, the thought of Buffy angry with her again, making her nervous. "You don't think she's planning on doing something, do you?"

?I don't know, kitten," Angel conceded. "I hope no, but I can't be sure. We'll just have to wait and see what she does. That will be the real test. I won't let her hurt you, thought," Angel pulled Willow close to him, placing a kiss on the top of her head. "I promise."

On the other side of the door, Buffy was making a promise to herself. One that included allowing Angel and Willow to have their fun in teaching Buffy her lesson, but at the same time, showing Angel exactly why he and Buffy belonged together. And, if it turned out that he and Willow weren't acting.

Well, that thought was so ridiculous that Buffy wouldn't even consider it.

Sure, Willow might have a crush on Angel, who wouldn't, but there was no way that Angel would be interested in the hacker. Buffy went home to plan her seduction of Angel.

Part 8

"Hey Willow, Angel," Buffy said pleasantly as she saw the couple sitting in front of the computer. Her voice was cheerful and friendly, surprising those that had only just heard about her reaction to the new couple.

"Hey, Buffy, nice outfit," Willow said, happy that Buffy was once again talking to her. Sure, Willow was wary about her motives, but the hacker didn't want to think the worst of her friend. "Is it new?"

"What, this old thing," Buffy replied, turning to give everyone a clear view of her outfit. She was wearing a pale blue leather micro mini skirt and a matching halter top. To complete her outfit, she had on a pair of white thigh high boots. She thought it was the perfect outfit to make Angel realize exactly what Buffy had to offer over Willow. "Just found it in the closet and decided to wear it."

"Old, my eye," Cordelia whispered to Willow. "That's a brand new outfit or my name isn't Cordelia Chase. I saw her at the mall just last night picking it out." Willow looked over at the Slayer and noticed Buffy staring her way. Or, to be exact, at Angel. 'What is her deal? What is Buffy playing at' Angel was sharing Willow's thoughts.

"So what's the deal with the demon Giles?" Buffy asked, jumping onto the table near Angel, crossing her legs and showing even more skin then would be considered decent. "I mean, where's it at and how do I kill it?"

"We don't know Buffy, that's why we're researching," the Watcher told her. "But, out of curiosity, how do you plan to do any slaying in that get up?"

?Trust me, this outfit is perfect for what I have planned," Buffy said suggestively, looking over at Angel who pointedly ignored her implication.

Buffy was surprised at the lack of interest on his face. 'Okay, he's going to play hard to get. I'll just have to up the ante a bit.'

"Okay, since we don't know much, shouldn't I go patrol and see if I can get any information?" Giles was surprised. Buffy never volunteered to patrol on the weekend. Usually she would whine about it, hoping Giles would tell her that she didn't have to go.

"Okay, who are you and what have you done with Buffy Summers?" Xander joked.

"I know, not my usual style," Buffy replied. "It's just that I don't like the idea of some demon coming into my territory. I want it out, like yesterday." Everyone nodded, accepting Buffy's explanation, although they had a feeling that there was something that she was leaving out.

"Alright Buffy," Giles told her, "why don't you go and see what you can find out. Maybe have a , uh, talk with Willie. See if he knows anything."

"I'm out of here." Buffy jumped down from the table and headed towards the door. Just before she reached them, she turned as if she had a thought.

"Angel, want to join me. Just in case I run into something that I can't handle." Willow stiffened in her chair at Buffy's question. Her green eyes caught Angel's brown ones and she breathed a sigh of relief at the love she saw in them for her.

"I'm sure you can handle whatever you may come across," Angel replied, but Buffy wasn't going to be easily put off.

"Oh, come on Angel. Patrolling is always more fun with someone else," Buffy stated. "Unless Willow doesn't think it would be a good idea for us to be alone together." Willow shrank back into her chair as Buffy smirked at her.

It was at that moment that the red headed hacker realized what Buffy was trying to do.

'She thinks she can win Angel back. I guess she really meant it when she said that she didn't see me as competition. And I'm not. I'm nothing like her, but that doesn't matter to Angel. He likes me the way I am.' Willow smiled sweetly, making Buffy lose a bit of the confidence she was feeling.

"Not at all," Willow told the Slayer as she took Angel's hand. "I think it would be a good idea for you and Angel to patrol together. I'm sure the two of you have a lot to resolve."

"Really?" Buffy questioned, surprised at Willow's statement. She didn't think the hacker would agree so easily.

"Yes, really. Just because Angel and I are going together, doesn't mean that I own him," Willow supplied, her voice dripping with sweetness. Angel looked over at her, trying to figure out what she was planning. He had also figured out what Buffy was doing and had been prepared to shoot her down, but apparently Willow had other ideas. "If Angel wants to patrol with you, then he can. If he would rather stay here with me, and then walk me home, then it would be his decision." Angel smiled inwardly as Willow's intention became clear to him. He lifted her hand to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on her inner palm.

"I would be honored if you would allow me to stay and spend the evening with you," he said to the hacker.

"I think I would like that," Willow grinned. Buffy stood and stared as Angel leaned over and gave Willow a deep kiss.

'He chose to stay with Willow. I can't believe it. I mean, sure, I understand him wanting to teach me a lesson, but he and Willow are beginning to take this way too far. It's one thing to act all lovey dovey when its only the three of us, but to do it in front of the others is too much. I may have to do something drastic to end this charade.'

"Fine, then I guess I'm on my own. See you all later." Buffy waved as she left the library in a huff. Giles, Xander and Cordelia all breathed a sigh of relief at her departure. Willow and Angel had already told them about the change in their relationship and all three had supported them. The only thing that had truly surprised them was Buffy's seeming acceptance of the relationship, but her whole performance that night showed them all that she wasn't as comfortable with the idea of Willow and Angel as she had originally said.

"Well, that was certainly awkward," Cordelia said. "Was it just me or was Buffy dressed more like a tramp than a Slayer?"

"It wasn't you," Xander agreed. "Buffy was definitely dressed like she planned on doing something other than slaying. And I think we all know who she was planning on doing it with." All heads turned to face Angel. The dark vampire's face was a combination of anger and embarrassment.

"Well, if that's the case, I would have to say Willow gave her something to think about," Cordelia said, proud of the way Willow had stood up to the blonde Slayer. "I loved Buffy's face when Willow said that Angel could do what he wanted. Priceless."

"I guess you were right earlier when you questioned Buffy's sincerity," Willow buried her head into Angel's chest. He put his arms around the small girl, trying to soothe away the tension that he felt in her body.

"I'm sorry kitten," he told the girl, stroking her hair. "I know how much you wanted Buffy to accept us."

"Well, unfortunately, I do not believe that will be happening anytime soon," Giles stated. He knew that Buffy would take the news of Angel and Willow badly, but he had hoped for all their sakes that she would be mature about it. While there was no love lost between the Watcher and Angel, with Giles just beginning to see past the vampire's actions while without his soul, Giles could see the closeness between the hacker and the vampire. And he couldn't blame Angel for moving on, considering that Buffy had been the one to break up the relationship and had dated repeatedly. If anything, he had to give Angel credit for his choice in women. Willow was definitely someone special.

"Giles, what do you think she might do?" Willow asked her mentor.

"I don't know, Willow," he informed the group. "Buffy has never been, what you would call, rational when it comes to Angel. The only thing I can tell you is to be prepared for anything."

"Don't worry, kitten. I won't let aBuffy do anything to hurt you or our relationship," Angel assured the hacke. "Anyway, I think we have more important things to worry about, like this demon." Willow nodded her head and everyone took it as a sign that the topic of Buffy was closed. Each person began to research the demon, but for two people, the Slayer wasn't far from their thoughts.

Part 9

"I just love Jim Carrey. That man is hilarious."

"Xander, you like him because you think you're just as funny," Cordelia teased her boyfriend.

"Well, you have to admit. He does have some of the same qualities. Both goofy and kinda cute in a strange way," Willow added.

"Thanks a lot for the support and here, I thought you were my best friend," Xander replied. "At least Angel will agree with me that Jim Carrey is one of the funniest men around."

"Sorry, Xand, but I think he ripped off alot of his stuff from Andy Kaufman," the vampire told him, causing Xander to groan. Cordelia wrapped her arm around his and squeezed closer to him.

"It's okay, sweetie. We still love you anyway."

"Thanks alot," he mumbled, but his complaining wasn't taken too seriously because of the grin that spread acrossed his face.

"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm in the mood for some ice cream," Willow chimed in, getting approval from the others in the group. It was Wednesday and Giles had given them all the night off from research, telling them that they wouldn't be of any use if they were burnt out. The two couples decided to double date, and had just gone to see Truman Show at the local theater. Over the past four days, ever since Willow and Angel had announced that they had decided to explore their feelings for one another, the group had gotten to know each other better and had become closer.

Xander and Cordelia even began to run interference between Buffy and Willow when it became apparent that, no matter what the Slayer had said before, she had not truly accepted the relationship between the red headed witch and the souled vampire.

The two couples had gone to dinner and then the movies, trying to be as normal as possible. They were also staying away from the area that Giles had told them Buffy was going to patrol. They didn't want the blonde to ruin the evening for them. In the few days that had passed since Willow and Angel got together, the Slayer had done everything possible to get between the two of them. Even her clothes became an extension of her desire to have Angel back with her, her skirts becoming shorter and her tops becoming skimpier and tighter. At first, Willow worried that Buffy's attempts just might succeed, her shyness and awkwardness at the blatant sexuality that Buffy was showing off getting the better of her, but Angel quickly reassured the girl that she was the one he wanted to be with. He often left flowers for her in her locker so that she would find them the next day in school.

He even sent her, Xander and Cordelia a five course lunch from her favorite restaurant, causing a huge stir among the school population and making them look twice at the girl they had always looked over. They had hoped that this would make Buffy realize that she should just move on, but it hadn't.

If anything, it just increased her desire to be with Angel even more.

"So, what are the plans for the rest of the night?" Xander asked as they waited in line at the ice cream counter.

"Anything that doesn't have to do with research gets my vote," Cordelia volunteered.

"Or patrolling," Willow added.

"We could always go back to my place and hang out," Angel said. "Maybe rent another movie or something."

"I like that idea," Willow told him as she ordered her ice cream, the others doing the same.

"You just like the idea of spending time at Deadboy's," Xander teased his best friend, enjoying the blush that rose to her face. "But, for once, I'm game. Anything is better than going back to my place."

"Same here," Cordelia stated. Angel paid for the ice cream and the four people left the store. "So what movie should we rent."

"Well, I think that Cordelia and I should get to choose this time, since Xander picked out this one," Willow volunteered. Xander groaned at her suggestion.

"Nooooo. Come on, I don't want to see a chick flick." Cordelia wrapped her arm around Xander's waist and pulled him close to her, whispering in his ear. His eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "Okay, chick flick it is."

"Cordelia, what did you say to the boy?" Willow asked, amazed at the sudden change in her friend. "I've never seen him willingly watch a chick flick before."

"Just something between a boyfriend and a girlfriend," Cordelia said slyly.

"Why do I have this feeling that I really don't want to know what you said to him?" Angel questioned. Cordelia just raised her eyebrow and looked at him. "Yup, definitely don't want to know what you said to him." Cordelia just continued smiling sweetly.

"So what movie did you want to check out, Delia?" Willow asked the girl.

"Well, how about we do something that appeals to both the guys and the girls, that way they don't feel left out," Cordelia tucked her arm in Xander's, Willow doing the same with Angel.

"Like what?" Xander inquired, grateful for not having to watch a chick flick.

"How about the Star Wars trilogy?" The brunette suggested.

"But won't that take too long?" Angel questioned, not wanting his young friends to get in trouble for staying out too late. "You have school tomorrow. Won't your parents yell if you come in so late?"

"Not mine," Xander answered. "I think they might actually prefer it that way."

"Mine are out of town again," Cordelia stated. "Won't be back until next week."

"And you know mine are at the seminar in New York this week," Willow reminded her boyfriend.

"In that case, it looks like Star Wars it is."

The four people went to the video store and picked up the three movies that made the trilogy, and one chick flick for the girls. They also stopped at the local food store to grab snacks and drinks since Angel's house wasn't exactly equipped to deal with human occupants. With each person holding a bag of something, they made their way to that night's home. Suddenly Willow felt Angel tense at her side.

"Angel, what is it?"

"Buffy," was all he said before his ex-girlfriend made her appearance.

"How did you know I was there?" The blonde asked as she walked up to the souled vampire, virtually ignoring the others that were there. "I mean, if you don't care for me anymore, like you say you don't, then how would you still be aware of my presence?"

"You're a Slayer and I'm a vampire, kinda helps with the sensing thing," Angel told her flatly as he fished out the keys to his house. "What are you doing here, Buffy? I thought you had to patrol."

"I did, now I'm done," she shrugged. "Thought I would come over and keep you company."

"He already has company, Buffy," Willow informed the girl, stepping in front of Angel. "Or did you conveniently miss the other three people that are here?"

"I didn't miss you," Buffy looked down at the red head, a sneer coming to her face, "I just didn't think that Angel really wanted you around tonight."

"And why is that?" Cordelia questioned, her and Xander joining Willow at Angel's side.

"Because tonight is special for Angel and me," Buffy informed the group.

"Remember, Angel, it was one year ago that we kissed for the first time."

Angel looked in thought for a moment, before realizing that she was right. It had been one year since he had first kissed the blonde slayer, but that didn't mean anything special to him. Not anymore. Buffy sauntered up to Angel, pushing Willow aside, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "So, Angel, what do you say. How about you and I go and celebrate our anniversary somewhere private?"

"Sorry, Buffy, but I have a date tonight," Angel informed the girl, maneuvering the bag in his arms so that he could untangle himself from her.

"Now, if you don't mind, I would like to continue it." Angel looked over at Willow and extended his hand to her. "Shall we?" Willow placed her hand in his.

"Certainly." Angel and Willow walked over to the front door of Angel's home. Willow turned to see Cordelia and Xander still standing by Buffy.

"Coming you two."

"Be right there," Xander answered. He watched Willow and Xander go inside and then turned to Buffy. "What were you hoping to accomplish with that little performance?"

"I don't know what you are talking about?" Buffy innocently replied.

"That whole anniversary thing," Xander reminded her. "You and Angel are through. You gave him up and he has moved on. Him and Willow are together. Why are you trying to hurt her like this. She's your best friend."

"Wrong," Buffy angrily stated. "She was my best friend until she stabbed me in the back by stealing my boyfriend."

"Ex-boyfriend," Cordelia replied. "You broke up with him."

"That doesn't mean that Willow could just go and take him. She knew I still cared for him and that I wanted to try and get him back, but did that stop her. No. She still went after him. All I am doing is getting back what was taken from me." Xander and Cordelia stared in shock at the venom that was in Buffy's voice. They knew that the Slayer was hurt by Willow and Angel's relationship, they just didn't know how far that hurt went."Buffy, don't do anything you'll regret," Xander told the blonde.

"The only thing I regret is that I ever considered Willow my friend." The couple watched as Buffy stormed away, afraid of what the unbalanced girl might do next.

Part 10

"I wish we could spend more time together tonight," Angel said to the red head in his arms.

"I know," Willow answered, resting her head on his cool chest. "I wish we did too. I still can't believe that my parent's actually want to spend time with me, let alone do that whole happy family thing."

"Maybe they finally realized what they were missing by leaving you alone for so long."

"Yeah, well, I've kinda gotten used to their lack of attention and, remember, it has allowed me the ability to spend as much time with you as I have," Willow told the vampire. "Have to be grateful for that."

"True," he agreed. "Besides, didn't you say that they were leaving again tomorrow?"

"Yup, for at least a month. Wonder however will I spend my time," the hacker joked.

"I can think of a few things that you could do if you get bored," Angel said suggestively, causing Willow to giggle.

"I bet you could." Willow looked up at her boyfriend, her green eyes meeting his brown ones. The vampire leaned down and kissed Willow. It started gently but the feelings between the two people quickly make t more and more passionate. Angel's hand cupped the back of Willow's head, while the other found its way to the small of her back. Willow, for her part, wrapped both arms around Angel's neck, drawing him closer to her. The finally parted only because of Willow's continuing need to breathe.

"I don't want to go in," the teenager whined, looking over towards her house.

" And what would you like to do instead?"

"Go home with you," came the, not completely unexpected reply. Willow often referred to the mansion as home, considering how much time she spent there. Many a night had been spent on Angel's couch, her returning to her parents' house only for breakfast and a shower. Angel gazed down at the girl in his arms.

"I want that too," he replied softly. "Tomorrow will be here soon enough, though." Willow nodded her head.

"I know and I can't wait. I'm just glad that my folks think I'll be staying at Cordelia's while they're gone. Gives me a great excuse for not being home. Not like they'll actually check up on me or something." Angel placed another soft kiss on Willow's lips.

"I think its time for you to get inside."

"Trying to get rid of me already?" The hacker teased.

"Nope. Just don't know how much your parents would appreciate looking outside and seeing their daughter being ravished by a two hundred and forty year old vampire." Willow giggled at Angel's comment.

"Good point, although I will hold you to the ravishing part."

"Deal." Angel and Willow made no move to separate.

"So, what are your plans for tonight?" Willow asked, not wanting to let go of the vampire just yet.

"Staying inside and getting ready for your stay," he told her. "Want to make sure everything is perfect."

"As long as I'm with you, it will be." Willow saw the light on her porch get turned on. "I guess I better get going."

"I guess so." Willow leaned up and kissed Angel one last time before reluctantly turning and going inside. He watched her until the front door shut and headed back to his home. He avoided the cemeteries and other places that he knew Buffy patrolled, not wanting to face the Slayer. It added on quite a bit of time to the walk home, but he felt avoiding Buffy was worth the time lost. It had been a week since she had confronted him and Willow on the anniversary of their first kiss and, according to Giles; she had still not given up on her desire to get Angel back. In fact, she had even gone so far as to asking the Watcher for help in finding a spell that would make the vampire fall in love with her again.

When Angel opened his front door, he could sense someone's presence in his home. He grew apprehensive when he realized exactly who had entered it. He honed in on the person's heartbeat and walked towards his bedroom. He pushed open the door, only to see Buffy lying on his bed, clad only in a very sheer black lace teddy that left absolutely nothing to the imagination.

She was lying across the bed in, what she hoped, was a very seductive pose. It took every ounce of willpower Angel possessed not to let his demon loose and physically remove the Slayer from his bed.

"What the hell are you doing here, Buffy?" Angel asked, his irritation with his ex-girlfriend clearly in his voice.

"I thought we could talk," she replied.

"Talk?"

"Among other things," she said flirtatiously. She patted the bed. "Why don't you sit and get comfortable."

"I think I'll stand thank you." A slight pout appeared on Buffy's face, but was quickly replaced by a smile. She leaned forward, giving Angel a good view of her breasts.

"Oh, come on Angel," she drawled. "I've never known you to be shy. And you can't honestly say that you aren't attracted to me."

"You're right, I can't," he admitted.

"See, I knew you wanted me," Buffy cried triumphantly. Angel shook his head.

"Sorry, Buffy, but I don't want you."

"But you just said?"

"I said that I was attracted to you," the vampire stated, moving towards the bed. "You're a very beautiful girl." Angel grabbed his robe as he passed the chair it was lying on. "But that doesn't mean I want you. Your beauty is the only thing that you've got going for you and I prefer the whole package. Willow has that."

"Please, this is Willow we're talking about," the blonde sneered. "Plain, mousy Willow."

"Maybe that's how you see her. To me, she's the sexiest woman that I have ever seen and I'm glad that she wants me in her life," Angel informed his ex. He held up the robe, indicating that he wanted Buffy to use it to cover herself up. She stood in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You can't tell me that you don't miss this." Buffy pulled Angel into a kiss, using all her Slayer strength to hold him to her despite his efforts to pull away.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Should I come back when you aren't busy?" Buffy let Angel go when she heard Willow at the door. The vampire turned, prepared to run after her to explain what had happened and was surprised to see her still standing there, a slight grin on her face.

"Willow, this isn't what you think," the vampire rushed to explain. Willow looked at him, her eyebrow slightly raised at his proximity to the barely covered Buffy.

"Really," she said. "You mean, this isn't an attempt by my former best friend to seduce my boyfriend?"

"Okay, so it is what you think." Angel walked over to Willow, who wrapped her arms around him, reassuring him that everything was all right.

"It's okay, Angel. I told you once that I trusted you. I know you didn't do anything with her."

"And how are you so sure of that?" Buffy sneered. Willow turned to face her former friend.

"Because, as I just said, I trust Angel. You, on the other hand, I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw you."

"It's time for you to leave, Buffy," Angel told her. Buffy huffily picked up her discarded clothes, throwing her dress over her head. As she walked past Willow and Angel, she shot a killer glare at the hacker.

"This isn't over."

"Yes it is," was Willow's simple reply. Buffy left the house, giving Angel and Willow their privacy. Angel took immediate advantage of it by giving Willow a huge kiss.

"Not that I'm not glad to see you, but I thought you had that big family thing."

"I did, but the canceled," Willow explained. "They decided to leave tonight, so as soon as they were gone I came here. Hope that was okay."

Angel chuckled as he picked the red head up and swung her around. "It's definitely okay. Welcome home Willow."

Part 11

Angel and Willow were sitting on the couch, making out heavily. It had been about two hours since Buffy had left in a huff and, in that time, they had alternated between talking and kissing. Angel was surprised when Willow informed him that her parent's had decided to extend their short trip into a two month vacation that meant that they would, not only miss Willow's birthday, but also her graduation day too. Not only that, they had known all along that Willow had not been planning on staying with Cordelia while they were going to be away, having talked to the Chases, and weren't angry by her deception. They told her that they trusted her and knew that she wouldn't do anything truly harmful to herself or others. They also knew that Willow was old enough to make her own decisions, her eighteenth birthday coming in a few weeks. During one of their talking sessions, Angel nervously broached a subject that he hoped Willow would be okay with.

"Willow, I want to ask you something and I want you to know that I'll understand if you say no and that I'm not trying to pressure you into anything."

"What is it?"

"Well, I was wondering if maybe you would, well, what I mean to say is if you would consider, ummm.," the vampire suddenly felt himself becoming self-conscious as he realized how much he was trying to say with his one questioning. Willow looked on, amused at her boyfriend's nervousness.

"You were wondering if I would what?" She encouraged him to finish.

"I was wondering if you would move in with me," Angel hurriedly said, shocking the girl in his arms. While she knew that Angel did love her, she had no idea that he would want to live with her even after her parents came back. Then again, Willow still had problems believing that someone like Angel really wanted to be with her at all. Then she began to think about what her moving in with Angel would meant. True, it wouldn't change her lifestyle too radically, since she already spent move of her time with the souled vampire and she had taken on vampire hours long before the two of them got involved. And she knew that her parents wouldn't say anything about it, they would probably be glad that she was out of the house. Xander and Cordelia would be happy for her, having already begun teasing the hacker about her pracically living with Angel already. Giles, while not exactly ecstatic over it, would probably support her, wanting Willow to be happy.

And Buffy. Well, Willow didn't even want to think about what the Slayer would do.

While all this was going through Willow's mind, her silence made Angel grow apprehensive. He knew Willow loved him, he had absolutely no doubt of that, but he figured it would only be a matter of time before she realized what being involved with him meant and wasn't sure if Willow was ready for the kind of lifestyle being with him would mean. There were so many things that he felt Willow deserved that Angel couldn't give her. Romantic sunrises and sunsets. Picnic lunches. Walks in a sunlit garden. Children. A man who would grow old loving her. A life without having to battle the demons that threatened mankind. And the longer Willow was silent, Angel grew convinced that she would say no to his request. When Willow finally whispered her answer, he almost missed it because of his brooding.

"What did you say?" He asked, wanting to make sure he heard her correctly.

"I said, I would love to.." The rest of Willow's answer was cut off by the vampire, who began to shower her face with kisses, ecstatic that Willow said yes. Angel's mouth captured Willow's in a deep passionate kiss that conveyed everything that he was feeling. Love. Devotion. Admiration. Passion. And Willow was matching his emotions with her own. Only when Willow's lungs felt like they were about to burst from lack of oygen did they separate. "I take t this means you're happy about my answer."

"You have no idea," he told her. "I wasn't sure if this would be something that you would want to do. I was afraid that I might actually scare you away by asking you to move in."

"You actually thought I would say no?"

"I can't offer you everything that you deserve," Angel answered, voicing his thoughts. Willow took his face in her hands and her green eyes met his brown ones.

"I don't want anything other that you," she said, meaning every word. "I don't need those other things if I can't share them with you." Willow placed a kiss on Angel's mouth. "You are everything that I could possibly want."

"Are you sure?" Willow chuckled at Angel's nervousness.

"Positive. Besides, where else would I possibly find a two hundred and forty year old man to fall in love with?" Angel joined in with Willow's laughter. "I love you Angel. I have for a long time now."

"And I love you, Willow." Angel and Willow shared another long, slow kiss.

"Angel."

"Yes." Willow pulled back slightly and looked up at the vampire's face.

"Make love to me," she quietly commanded. Angel looked into her eyes, making sure that this was what Willow truly wanted. He had made sure not to put any pressure on the red-head and didn't want her to do anything that she wasn't sure about. What he saw in her emerald orbs told him that she truly wanted him. He brushed his hand across her cheek lightly before lifting her off the couch and into his arms.

"You'll never have to ask me that again." Angel carried Willow into the bedroom and gently laid her across his bed. He stood to the side of the bed, and removed the sweater that he was wearing before joining her. He began to place kisses all over Willow's face while his hands worked at unbuttoning the top that she was wearing. His mouth made it's way from her face to her throat as he kissed each newly exposed piece of flesh. Willow shivered as she felt his cool mouth take in her nipple, suckling it like a new born bade. She ran her hands through his hair, holding him close to her breast.

"Goddess, yes," she said hoarsely, her breathing become slightly erratic as Angel's hands made their way to the waistband of her skirt. One hand slipped under her panties and he could feel the wetness that was pooling between her legs. He ran his finger over her slit and brought the moisture to his mouth, tasting his Willow for the very first time. Willow writhed under him, her body hot for something that she knew only he could give her.

"Angel, please."

"Please, what, my love?" He lightly teased her, knowing that it would only be a matter of time before he would no longer be able to control his own need.

Make me yours," she begged and he proceeded to do so in a very slow and deliberate way that left both participants exhausted.

Part 12

"Hey Willow, looks like you didn't get much sleep this weekend," Xander joked as he greeted the tired redhead. Xander and Cordelia grinned as they watched Willow's face turn a bright shade of red.

"And something tells me that she isn't going to be complaining about why she's so tired, either, or that it will be the last time she has that look on her face," Cordelia couldn't resist adding.

"Yeah, well, let's just say that there are some definite advantages to living with a vampire." Xander missed the way Willow had worded her reply, but Cordelia caught it and stared at the red head in shock.

"Living with? What happened to just staying there while your parents were on vacation?" The brunette inquired.

"Angel asked if I wanted to move in permanently and I say yes. I mean, he's everything that I dreamed of, but never even hoped of having. I know its moving a bit fast, but it just feels right. We're moving the rest of my things to the mansion tonight," she explained. "And I was wondering if maybe you guys wanted to help."

"Do we get pizza?" Xander asked, thinking with his stomach and not even fazed by the idea of his best friend living with a vampire. Well, at least not this particular souled vampire, that is. He knew how much Angel loved Willow. He also knew that the vampire would rather meet the pointy end of a wooden stake held by the Slayer rather than do anything that might hurt her."Yes, you get pizza," Willow sighed. "And, if you're really good, we'll even get you an ice cream cone."

"Oh, I'll be good," he drawled. "I'll be really good." Cordelia and Willow rolled their eyes at Xander's suggestive tone, the brunette hitting him on the arm.

"Oh brother, look what you've started." Cordelia muttered. "Like he isn't hard enough to deal with on his own. He doesn't need any encouragement from you." Xander draped his arm over his girlfriend's shoulder and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Hey, watch the make-up. I didn't spend an hour getting ready for school just so you could ruin it all." Even though there was sternness in Cordelia's tone, there was also affection showing that she didn't really mind Xander's attention or show of affection.

"Cordelia, my sweet, you only have to wake up to be the most ravishing woman on the planet," Xander told the cheerleader, only to have Willow make gagging noises at his side. "Problem there, Wills?"

"Yeah, you'll excuse me for a minute while I got sick," she teased. "I can only take so much sugary sweetness at one time."

"Yeah, like you and Deadboy aren't the same way when the two of you are together. There have been times when I've wanted to cool you both down with a shower of cold water," Xander commented. He saw Larry signaling him to come over. "Be right back. Try not to miss me too much."

"It'll be tough, but we'll manage," Cordelia grinned. Once Xander was gone, Cordelia grabbed Willow's arm and pulled her down onto one of the couches that were in the lounge area. "Okay, spill, how was it? Was it everything that you hoped it would be?" The excited girl asked the red head, who suddenly had a dreamy expression on her face.

"Oh yeah and then some," Willow replied.

"Oh no you don't, little miss not so innocent. I want details. I mean, Angel's over two hundred years old. I'm sure he's had plenty of lovers in that time, that you would much rather not think about. He had to have picked up something," the brunette reasoned. Willow's blush returned full force.

"You could say he definitely knew what he was doing." When Willow noticed that Cordelia was not going to be put off that easily, she continued.

"Okay, to start, just imagine your wildest fantasies magnified ten times over and you might just begin to understand how it felt. I mean, it was so much better than I ever thought it could be and, let's just say I have a very vivid and active imagination when it comes to Angel and me. He was so gentle and loving. He wanted to make sure that he pleased me, and boy did he. Goddess just thinking about what he can do makes me want to run back home and into his arms again."

"Okay, see this face. This is me, Cordelia Chase, jealous," Cordelia stated. "Okay, so you said that there were advantages to living with a vampire, and I take it they aren't his housekeeping abilities. Dish. What are they?"

"Well, let's just say that I have definitely gotten over the fact that he doesn't need to breathe, if you know what I mean," Willow commented slyly, causing Cordelia to blush this time. "Not to mention the whole vampire stamina thing. I swear, I was about ready to collapse just from exhaustion.'

?So I take it you," Cordelia couldn't bring herself to finish the question, but Willow knew what she was trying to ask and nodded her head. "More than once?" Again another nod. "How many?" Willow shrugged her shoulders.

"Lost count after twenty." Cordelia sat back in her chair, gaping at the hacker next to her.

"Wow."

"Wow what?" Xander asked as he rejoined the girls, sitting on the arm next to Cordelia. The two girls looked at him, both going red about being caught talking about Willow's sex life. Xander, seeing their faces, quickly figured out what their conversation had been about. "Never mind. I think I have a pretty good idea what you were talking about and I would really rather not hear about Willow and Deadboy's sex life."

"Good, because I wasn't going to tell you about it anyway," Willow said, laughing at the face that Xander had made at the thought of Willow's sex life.

"Oh, yeah, I meant to tell you Willow. Giles called and wants us to meet him at the library before class," Cordelia told her, causing Willow to moan at the thought of having to deal with Buffy so early in the morning. "Yeah, I know. I hate the thought of having to deal with slutty the slayer this early too, but I told him that we would be there."

"Did he say why he wanted to see us?"

"Nope. Just said to be there before class." The three teenagers reluctantly stood up and made their way to the school library. When they entered it, Willow groaned again as she saw Buffy sitting at the middle table, talking to a strange brunette girl that she hadn't seen before.

Buffy offered an evil smile when she saw the hacker.

"Oh, looky, if it isn't Sunnydale's very own slut," she said.

"Looking into a mirror again Buffy," Cordelia countered, causing the brunette girl to chuckle. Buffy just ignored the comment and continued to stare at Willow.

"Look kind of tired there, Willow. Tough weekend?" The red head just stared sweetly at Buffy.

"Actually, it was a very nice weekend. Very." Willow appeared to look for just the right word, "busy, if you know what I mean." Buffy's face grew red in angry at the innuendo that Willow was using. "Once an unwanted visitor left, Angel and I spent quite a long time getting acquainted with each other." Cordelia and Xander laughed outright at the way Willow was talking.

"Acquainted? Is that what they're calling it nowadays?" Buffy said pointedly. "You little slut. Don't think this means that I'm going to just roll over and let you steal my boyfriend away from me." Willow refused to let Buffy push her around, Slayer or no Slayer.

"He stopped being your boyfriend the minute you broke up with him," she pointed out. "And I didn't steal him and you damn well know it, even if you are too thick skulled to admit it. Or did all that bleach you put on your head finally start to kill your brain cells."

"Willow," Giles said, shocked at the hacker's comments. He had come out of his office when he had heard the heated discussion that was coming from the library and had missed his Slayer's words. "What in the name of all that is good is going on in here."

"Sorry, Giles," Willow apologized. She knew that she shouldn't have said what she had, but she was tired of Buffy trying to make her seem like the bad guy.

"Giles, it wasn't Willow's fault," Cordelia offered, coming to her friend's defense. "Buffy kept calling her a slut and accusing her of stealing Angel. Willow was just sticking up for herself." The Watcher turned to face the blonde.

"Buffy, is this true?" Buffy looked down at something on the floor, unable to meet the disapproving glare of her mentor. "Why?"

"She slept with him, Giles. You know what could have happened?"

"But the curse is permanent. Angel's soul cannot be taken away again, no matter how much happiness he achieves," Giles pointed out. "I'm very disappointed in you. This is no way to behave on Faith's first day."

"Hey, it's cool with me, G-man. I rather enjoyed it myself," the strange brunette said, drawing the attention of Xander, Cordelia and Willow again. "It was rather amusing in a soap opera kind of way."

"Yes, well." Giles turned to the three new arrivals. "Willow, Xander, Cordelia I would like you to meet Faith. She's Kendra's replacement."

"Hi," Willow said, moving forward to greet the new Slayer. "Sorry about all of this."

"Five by five," Faith stated. "Is it always this interesting?"

"No, only when Buffy and Willow are in the same room," Xander commented.

"Hi, I'm Xander. The lovely red head in front of you is Willow. And this ravishing beauty by my side is Cordelia." Faith nodded at each person.

"Hey."

"Well, now that the introductions on made, I think I'll head to class," Buffy announced, wanting to get away from her three former friends. She didn't want to be in the same room as any of them, especially Willow.

"Buffy, I do need to talk to you about what you saw last night," Giles told her. "Come by during your lunch."

"Whatever. Just make sure that you're alone." With that, Buffy left the library.

"Well, that went better than I expected," Willow muttered.

"Oh yeah, things are just peachy," Cordelia added. "I swear, if it got any colder in here, I would have needed my fur coat." The first bell rang and the three remaining schoolmates bid good bye to Giles and Faith, heading to class. Faith turned to look at her new Watcher.

"Oh, I'm thinking I'm going to like it here."

Part 13

"Okay, so let me see if I have this right. B and Fang used to date, but she broke up with him because he was a vampire and she wanted someone normal in her life. Red decided to help him get over B, but only in the 'let's be friends' kind of way. Which, of course, didn't exactly stay that way. B then got jealous of the closeness Fang had with all of you, especially Red and changed her mind about breaking up with him. Now Red and Fang are living together. B is pissed at her best friend, saying that Red purposely went out and stole Fang from her and the two of you are caught in the middle," Faith finished, rehashing everything that Cordelia and Xander had spent the last two hours telling her. Her mind was reeling from all the information that she had just received. A vampire with a soul. A Slayer in love with said vampire. It made no sense to her, but then again, nothing in her life had ever made any sense.

"That's pretty much it," Xander finished. "Aren't you glad you asked about the lives of the slayerettes now?"" Faith smiled at the couple in front of her. They were sitting at a back table in the Bronze after having patrolled together. Xander and Cordelia had volunteered to show Faith around the town, including all of the cemeteries and other places that vampires and demons liked to hunt for victims. During that tour, the tried to answer any question Faith had about the people that were now a part of their lives, ending with the dissertation about Willow, Angel and Buffy's twisted triangle.

"Well, life is definitely not going to be boring here, that's for sure," she grinned. "I feel like I suddenly stepped into All My Children."

"More like Dark Shadows," Cordelia corrected. "I mean, we are talking tortured vampires here."

"True." Faith looked over at the couple in front of her. "So, where do you two fall in all of this. I mean, it looked as if you were supporting Willow in this." Cordelia and Xander looked at each other before answering, Cordelia doing the talking.

"Look, don't get us wrong. If Buffy needs us for anything, we'll be there, but when it comes to her and Angel, you just had to be there to understand why we would rather see him with Willow," Cordelia explained. "Buffy and Angel had that whole tortured romance thing going. Buffy might want to think that it was more Romeo and Juliet, but it wasn't. Buffy either couldn't or wouldn't accept Angel for what he was. She always wanted to forget that he was a vampire. And this made him super brood boy. I mean, that man has the act of brooding down to an artform."

"And now that he's with Willow?"

"Completely different," Xander spoke up. "He laughs, which surprised all of us when we first heard it. I didn't think he had it in him. He was always so serious, especially around Buffy. With Willow, he lets his guard down. Hell, even I can't hate him anymore and that was one of my favorite hobbies before. I mean, I remember the first time I ever went to his place, how nervous I was to be in his presence, alone and that was to get him to help me save Buffy. Now, I have no problem hanging out with the guy."

"They even do a guy's night out once a week," Cordelia added, teasing her boyfriend.

"Like you and Willow don't do the same," he retorted. "Look, basically what we're trying to say is that Willow and Angel just seem to make sense. They complete each other if you know what I mean." Faith nodded her understanding.

"Yeah, I get that. Sure, I wasn't here to see B and Fang together, but I can see where there would be problems with that relationship," she informed them. "We are talking vampire and Slayer together. Not exactly a sane idea if you ask me, especially when that Slayer is Buffy." Xander and Cordelia looked at Faith, confused as to what she meant by that statement. Faith had only been in Sunnydale for two days, and she has only spent a few hours with Buffy.

"Why do you say that?" Xander asked, causing Faith to shrug her shoulders.

"Just something I picked up last night when patrolling with her," Faith explained. "I mean, damn that girl is so boring, not to mention dense. All she did was spend her time moaning about how life was so cruel to her because she's the Slayer. That her best friend betrayed her by stealing her boyfriend. Yada yada yada. It was all I could do to keep from hitting her. And let me tell you, I was sorely tempted to." Cordelia smiled as an image of Faith hitting Buffy came to mind.

"If you ever get that temptation again, make sure it?s when I'm around. I don't want to miss it," the cheerleader commented, causing all three to laugh.

"Hey, what's this," a voice said from behind Xander and Cordelia. "Having a party and you didn't invite us. I'm hurt."

"We thought you would be too busy doing the nasty with Deadboy to join us," Xander quipped as he made room for Willow and Angel to join them. Willow shot daggers at the dark haired youth whom she has known since childhood.

"We do not do the nasty, Alexander Harris." Cordelia and Faith moaned at the use of Xander's full name. "It would be nice if you didn't refer to it as that, thank you very much."

"And how would you have me refer to it as," Xander questioned, enjoying the teasing at his friend's expense.

"Doing the horizontal mambo," Angel surprised them all by saying and earning himself a hit by his lover. Everyone laughed at the vampire's joke, including Faith who had yet to meet him, only knowing who he was because of everything she had been told by Xander, Cordelia, Giles and Buffy, but she could tell that he was someone that she would get along with.

"See, what did I tell you," Xander said. "He cracks jokes now. Faith, Angel. Angel this is Faith, the new Slayer." Angel and Faith looked over each other, sizing the other up. They both seemed to come to some kind of an agreement and nodded at the other.

"How's it hanging, Fang," Faith grinned. Angel rolled his eyes at the newest member to the Sunnydale gang, already able to tell that she would be a handful.

"Pleasure to meet you too Faith," he replied causing the brunette to laugh again. "Welcome to Sunnydale."

"Thanks," she answered. "Interesting little town you've got here."

"We like it," Willow replied, glad to see the Faith was willing to give Angel a chance before killing him, which is what Kendra had tried to do before. "So have you and Buffy been hitting it off. I know she must be pretty excited about having someone else here to help with the whole slaying thing." Even though Buffy was currently mad at Willow, the red head was still concerned about her former friend, hoping that some day the friendship that they had formed would be salvaged.

"Actually, B seemed kind of pissed that another Slayer was in town," Faith told everyone. "She seems to think that she's the only one that can get the job done and that the Council should realize that having two of us around would only make things even more confusing, but from what I've seen, that girl has a stick up her ass the size of a red wood." Everyone laughed at Faith's accurate description of the blonde slayer. While they all had been Buffy's friends at some point, they also knew that, according to Buffy, the world seemed to revolve around her.

"Yeah, well, get used to it," Cordelia muttered. "That girl thinks that world revolves around Buffy Summers and heaven forbid something doesn't go the way she wants it. She'll turn on you in a heartbeat." Everyone grew quiet as they thought about how Buffy had done just that to Willow when the red head had helped Angel move on with his life.

"Then she's in for a surprise," Faith informed the group, "because there's a new Slayer in town and her name is Faith." With this, everyone cheered, raising their glasses in a toast to the new arrival, completely oblivious to the hate filled glare that was being directed their way by the object of the conversation.

Buffy sat at a table, a slight distance away from the others, their view of her obstructed by the tables between them. She could make out pieces of their conversation and was seething at how well everyone seemed to be getting along, especially since it seemed that they were bonding over their mutual feelings about her. Buffy hated anyone that went against her, no matter what the reason. Xander and Cordelia had already been on her hit list because of their befriending of Willow and Angel, and now it appeared as if they had successfully turned Faith against her too. Well, Buffy was not going to stand for this. She was the Slayer and Sunnydale was her town.

If Faith and the others didn't like it, then they could damn well get the hell out and Buffy was more than willing to make sure they did.

Part 14 "How was patrol last night, Buffy?" Giles inquired as he saw the blonde Slayer enter his office. He watched as she took a seat on the couch. There was something about the way that she was acting that caused him to believe that something had happened.

"Giles, I'm kinda worried about Faith," Buffy began, looking at him with her best innocent look that had always worked on him in the past. "I don't know if she's gonna make it."

"What do you mean?" Giles asked, suddenly worried about his new charge.

Faith hadn't said anything to him about there being any problems, but it was apparent to him by Buffy's behavior that something had to have happened.

"I mean, I don't know if she's the right person to be a Slayer," Buffy elaborated. "She seems a little," Buffy looked for the right word, finally settling on one, "unstable, if you know what I mean."

"How so?" Buffy sighed, making it clear that she didn't want to tell Giles her reasons for thinking the Faith might not make it as a Slayer. Finally she decided to just go and tell him.

"Well, I didn't want to say anything, but something happened the other night while we were out patrolling," Buffy began. She waited to see if Giles would say anything and, when he didn't, she continued. "We ran into some vamps. About four or five."

"And?"

"They came after us, of course, and we began to fight them off," the blonde explained. "Well, at least, I did. Faith froze. Completely. She couldn't move. She just stood there, still as a statue. I couldn't believe it.

Then a vampire had her by the neck and was just about to drain her, and she still didn't do anything. If I hadn't of been there, or had already taken care of the others in the group, Faith would have been history. As it was, I barely got to her in time."

"My god," Giles exclaimed as Buffy's revelation sank in. He had never heard of a Slayer that had completely frozen like the way that Buffy was explaining, but that didn't mean that it wouldn't happen. He just didn't think that it was something that would affect the brunette girl that had just arrived. "Is she alright? She didn't tell me anything about this."

"Well, she was really shaken up about it and made me promise not to say anything about it, but I just didn't feel right about that," Buffy tried to tell him. "I mean, this isn't exactly the kind of thing that you can just slack off on, know what I mean."

"Of course," Giles said distractedly. He was going over everything that he had learned about Faith and her past, trying to figure out what could be done to get her over her apparent fear of fighting vampires. "And I'm glad that you told me about this. Something will have to be done about this."

"Well, if you ask me, I think the best thing might be to send Faith away," Buffy suggested. "You know, someplace where she wouldn't have to deal with all the nastiness that is the Hellmouth. Even if there are vampires where she is, there wouldn't be as much of a chance of her running into too much trouble."

"True, but that could also be more of a hindrance than a help," Giles replied. "It could just reinforce her fear. Make her see it as a way to get out of slaying and could cause her to take more risks, trying to prove that she can fight. It might cause her to take unnecessary chances with her life and I'm not willing to risk that." Buffy stared at Giles, a look of disbelief on her face. That wasn't what he was supposed to say.

"So, what do you think we should do?"

"I think the first thing we should do is try and get Faith to talk about what happened," Giles suggested. "Help her realize that what happened wasn't her fault. Get her to move past it. That way she will be able to perform as a Slayer."

"And how are we going to get her to do that?" Buffy inquired. "I don't want her to know that I told you about what happened. I told you that she made me promise not to tell anyone." Giles thought a moment about what had to be done, knowing that it wouldn't be easy to help Faith. He could tell, just from his brief meetings with her that her personality wasn't going to be too receptive to have her faults pointed out to her.

"I'm not sure, but I'm sure that we'll be able to come up with something," the Watcher replied. "We'll just have to let her know that we're here for her. Maybe some extra training. And we can see if the others will be willing to help. I know that Xander and Cordelia went patrolling with her last night. Maybe they noticed something that we could use to help her."

At the mention of the couple in question, Buffy had to fight to keep her anger in check. She knew that Giles was already upset with her because of the lingering feeling of betrayal she felt towards Willow and she didn't want him to become even more distant if he knew that those feelings now were aimed at Xander and Cordelia. She was sure that Giles would eventually forgive her for how she was acting, but she still didn't like the idea of him being unhappy with her.

"Well, I can ask them if you want," Buffy volunteered, hoping to prevent Giles from talking to the twosome. Giles lit up at the suggestion, still not comfortable, even after a year of dealing with the teens, how to approach them about personal things.

"That would be greatly appreciated, and I'll try and think of some ways to help Faith, without her realizing what we are doing," Giles added. "But for now, I think the best thing to do is having you get to class. Don't want you getting into anymore trouble with Snyder than you already do." Buffy smiled at the man that she considered a father figure.

"Gotcha." Buffy got up and stood at the door to Giles' office.

"Thank you, Buffy." Buffy looked at Giles, trying to discern what it was he was thanking her for. "For telling me about Faith. It couldn't have been easy for you to do."

"Well, I just didn't like the idea that she could get hurt because I didn't do everything I could to help her," Buffy told him. Giles nodded his head once and watched as Buffy walked out of his office.

As Buffy was heading out of the library, she saw Faith entering. "Hey B. What's up?"

"Nothing much, F," Buffy answered. "Love to stay and chat but I've got to get to class."

"Five by five with me," Faith said. Buffy nodded and left the library at the same time she heard Giles call Faith into his office. As soon as she was out of sight, a smile lit up her face as she thought of what was going to come. She was pretty sure of what Giles was going to do to get Faith to open up about her "freezing" and she knew that Faith would not take to kindly at it. In fact, Buffy was willing to lay odds that Faith would just up and walk away, probably leaving Sunnydale, just because Giles was treating her with kidgloves.

"One down and three to go. Then Angel is all mine, just like he's supposed to be," Buffy whispered as she plastered a grin on her face and entered her first class.

Part 15

"Faith, I do wish you would listen more to what I'm telling you," Giles sighed as he watched Faith put a stake trough the vampire practice dummy.

They had been training for at least an hour and the brunette slayer had yet to do one thing that he had asked. Not that it was that much different from when he trained Buffy, but he was worried that Faith might freeze up again.

He hadn't said anything directly, just as he had promised Buffy he wouldn't, but he had given her several opportunities to open up to him. He had become discouraged when she didn't tell him that she had a problem, instead telling him about the vamps she had taken out the past couple of nights. Nights when, according to Buffy, Faith hadn't been out on patrol or when she was, she wasn't able to actually do her duty.

"I do listen to you, G-man," Faith told her Watcher. "I just choose to do something else."

"If you listened to me, you wouldn't keep calling me G-man after I've repeatedly told you not to," the librarian pointed out.

"Hence the choosing to do something else," Faith batted back. She went over to the table in the middle of the room and grabbed her water bottle, draining the whole thing in one shot, before turning back to face her Watcher. "Okay, Giles, give."

"Give what?"

"What's the deal with today's training thing?" Faith elaborated, emphasizing her point by waving her hands.

"I simply want you to be prepared for any encounters you might have on patrol," Giles replied innocently. Faith wasn't buying it.

"Whatever you say, Giles, but I'm pretty damn sure that this is the beginner's course to Slaying," Faith said. "All your doing is going over the basics. Kinda like Slaying 101."

"Faith there is no suck thing as basic Slaying techniques," Giles admonished the teenager. "This is all very important if you want to survive as a Slayer."

"Really?" Faith quirked her eyebrow. "Then why isn't little Miss Buffy here training with me? Or does Saint Buffy not have to do the basics anymore?"

"Buffy has proven herself time and again," Giles told his newest charge.

"SO, what, I have to almost die and then sleep with a vampire, turning him evil, before you'll consider me as true slayer material? The brunette taunted her Watcher.

"No, that won't be necessity."

"Then tell me why you're putting me through all this beginner's crap that I already went through with you and my first Watcher, while Buffy gets to go out on patrol and have all the fun?" Giles looked at the young girl in front of him, sighing inwardly as he realized that he would have to tell her what Buffy had confided in him.

"Buffy told me what happened the other night." Faith's features showed the confusion that she felt. "The night the two of you patrolled together."

"Yeah and, that was like over a week ago," Faith stated, not understanding the point that Giles was trying to make. "What's the big deal?" This time is was Giles who was confused.

"Buffy led me to believe that the two of you were on patrol a couple of nights ago and that you froze when some vampires ambushed you," the librarian told the stunned Slayer.

"B and I have only patrolled together my first night here," Faith informed Giles. "Since then. I've been going out on my own or with one of the gang. And I have never frozen in a fight. In fact, I have a tendency of getting extremely pumped, just asked the others. They can tell you." Giles slumped dejectedly against the return desk as he realized that Buffy had, for some reason that escaped him, lied to him about Faith.

"This doesn't make any sense," he said, to no one in particular. "Buffy told me that she had to save you in a fight because you couldn't, or wouldn't, defend yourself. She even went so far as to suggest that maybe it would be better for you if you left town. She thought that is would be easier for you away from the Hellmouth, that way you didn't always have to face demons and the like."

"I see," Faith commented, sudden understanding coming to her as to why Buffy had told Giles the things she had. "Seems little miss perfect isn't too happy that there's a new Slayer."

"But Buffy already knew about Kendra," Giles pointed out. "She didn't seem to have a problem with her. That is, once Kendra stopped trying to kill Angel."

"Yeah, but Kendra didn't live in Sunnydale and become friends with Buffy's friends, including Angel," the brunette reminded him. "Kendra went back to Jamaica when whatever she was needed for was done. She even had her Watcher. I don't. Buffy could still be top girl. Now I'm in town. She knows that I'm buddies with Red and Fang, and that can't be making her too happy. This is just her way of trying to get her life back. Or at least, what she thinks is her life. B's probably feeling extremely threatened."

"Buffy would never act like that," Giles insisted, although Faith could tell he wasn't even able to convince himself of that. He knew that Buffy didn't like the fact that there was another Slayer, let alone living in Sunndayle. Buffy home turf, at least in her mind.

"Right," Faith drawled. "And I really was delivered by a stork in the middle of the night. Giles, you and I both know that, in Buffy's mind, the most important thing is Buffy. It doesn't matter that with all the nastiness that is around, its actually a good thing that there are two Slayers. All she cares about is that she isn't number one anymore. That she might have some competition for her friends, and your, affections."

Giles listened to what Faith was saying, and although he hated to admit it, she was right. It was becoming apparent that Buffy was angry that Faith was around. And it didn't help that Buffy's friends, or former friends as the case may be, had all accepted Faith and helped her adjust to her new living situation. Unfortunately, since this was the first time that there were two Slayers, the Watcher had no idea what to do to ease the situation.

Faith could see the thoughts that were going through Giles' head and actually found herself feeling sorry for the librarian. Through her conversations with Willow and the others, she had a good idea of how Giles felt towards his charges, even though he wasn't supposed to get involved with anyone other than his Slayer. And she also knew how much the other teens looked up to the Brit.

"Look, as much as it pains me to say this," Faith started, "maybe I could try and make all nice with B. You know, do that whole sister Slayer thing."

Giles looked gratefully at the brunette.

"That may help. Maybe if she sees that you aren't trying to replace her that will help her deal with whatever feelings she has," Giles thought. "It really would be beneficial if the two of you worked together instead of apart."

"Yeah, that whole united we stand, divided we fall thing," Faith quipped.

"Gotcha. So from now on I'll try and play nice with Buffy, no matter how I may feel about her." Giles could hear in Faith's voice just exactly how difficult it might be for the girl to be friendly towards the blonde Slayer.

"Do you have a problem with Buffy?"

"You could say that," Faith answered. Giles continued to look at her and Faith elaborated. Normally she wouldn't tell tales, but since Buffy had apparently decided to declare war on her, Faith only felt justified to return fire with fire. "She just seems a bit, you know, self centered. Like that night that the two of us were patrolling, all she could talk about was how she had felt betrayed by Red and Fang. she went on and on talking about how she was the chosen one and that she couldn't understand why everyone couldn't see that."

"Yes, that does sound like Buffy," Giles agreed. "At least, since she first found out about Willow and Angel being together. She hasn't taken it very well."

"That's the understatement of the year," Faith quipped. "I mean, I'm sorry for everything that she's had to go through and all, but enough already. She's a Slayer. Angel's a vampire. It was not going to work no matter how much she wished it would. This is real life we're talking about, not some sci-fi show on tv. Besides, from what the others said, she never was really able to get past that whole vampire thing while Red was. And it isn't like she hasn't dated a few guys since she sent Angel to hell, so what's the big deal. She should just move on."

"It isn't that easy Faith," Giles told her. "Buffy has dealt with a lot of things in her life and this was just the last point before she had to break."

"Oh please, her life is like a picnic on a nice summer day with the guy of your dreams compared to mine," Faith commented dryly. "She has a loving parent that wants nothing more than for her daughter to be happy. She has, or at least, had friends that care about her. She never has to worry about where her next meal is going to come from or where she's going to sleep at night. So she's a Slayer. Big deal. So am I and I don't have any of the advantages that she's had. So you want me to play nice with the little spoiled brat, I will. But don't go making excuses for her behavior because I'm just not buying it."

"I'm sorry Faith," Giles said, sincerely meaning it. He knew how difficult Faith's childhood, what little she had, was and knew that compared to her, Buffy had it extremely easy. "You're right, there is no excuse for the way Buffy has been behaving and I do appreciate your offer to 'play nice' as you put it. I just hope that it will be enough to get through to her."

"Yeah, well, I wouldn't go holding my breath if I was you. After all, this is Buffy we're talking about."

"Yes well," Giles coughed, "be that as it may, I do appreciate it."

Outside the library, someone was listening to the conversation between the brunette Slayer and Watcher and couldn't believe what was being said. 'That bitch. First Xander and Cordelia and now she's turned Giles against me. Who the hell does she think she is, coming into my town and trying to take over my life. Well, she's not going to get away with this. I'm going to bring you down, little miss Faithy, and I know just the person who will be more than happy to help me do it.' With that final thought, Buffy went to the one man that she was sure would be more than happy to help her get rid of the other Slayer, even if it meant selling her soul to get it.

Part 16

"Have you guys seen Buffy around today?" Faith asked as she joined the table that Willow, Angel, Xander, and Cordelia were all sitting at. The brunette Slayer had found the friends at the Bronze, trying to forget the trouble that Buffy was trying to cause them.

"Thankfully the answer to that would be no," Cordelia replied, answering for the group. "Why?"

"Oh, I promised Giles I would try and play nice with B," Faith sighed, taking the drink that was sitting untouched in front of Angel and downing it quickly. "Geez, Fang, never figured you for the diet soda type of guy."

Angel just shrugged his shoulders.

"What can I say? I'm watching my figure." Everyone at the table laughed at the exaggerated way he said that, sounding exactly like some stuck up girl.

"I thought that was Willow's job," Xander teased, causing his best friend to blush.

"If it isn't, it should be," Cordelia joined in the teasing. "She does the job so well."

"Yeah, well, I've always been of the sound mind that if you're going to do something, do it right," Willow told her friends, before promptly sticking her tongue out at them. Willow then turned her attention back to Faith, curious as to why the brunette had told Giles that she would be friendly to Buffy.

"Why are you going to play nice with Buffy?"

"Seems little miss CryBuffy feels her toes are being stepped upon," Faith informed everyone. "She told Giles that I froze out on a patrol and that she had to save me. Then the bitch suggested that maybe it would be better for everyone involved if I left Sunnydale. You know, the whole safer for me since I can't handle things here."

"Why in the world would Buffy tell Giles that?" Willow asked, knowing full well that, if anything, Faith had gone out of her way not to interfere with Buffy's life.

"The spoiled brat probably is upset because we're hanging out with Faith instead of her," Cordelia answered, not even bothering to hide the contempt she felt at the blonde's actions. She had always felt that Buffy was too self-centered for her own good. The only reason she even bothered hanging out with Buffy in the first place, helping her with the whole saving the world gig, was because the others seemed to accept her. She had finally found people who liked her for who she was and Cordelia would be damned if she let anyone hurt her friends.

"Give the cheerleader a prize," Faith quipped. "That's pretty much what I figured. B is probably pretty pissed that I'm hanging out with you guys, especially Red and Fang."

"But she doesn't want to have anything to do with us," Willow protested.

"Exactly, which means that she doesn't want anyone else to have anything to do with you either," Faith pointed out. "Look at how she's been acting towards Xander and Delia and they've known you your whole life. She expected them to drop you like a hot coal just because her feelings were hurt."

"And let me guess, Giles is afraid of what Buffy might do next," Angel commented. "That she might do something to Willow." Faith nodded her head causing Angel to involuntarily pull the young hacker closer to him.

"Pretty much," Faith answered. "B blames everything that's happened on Red and considering the fact that she isn't exactly the most stable of people right now, I wouldn't put it past her to do something stupid to try and get you guys back in her camp."

Willow shuddered as she thought of the blonde haired girl that had befriended her two years previously. She had known that Buffy resented the fact that Willow and Angel were together, but she thought that eventually the Slayer would get over it. Instead, it appears that the exact opposite was happening. That Buffy was now trying to involve her friends by making them decide which girl they wanted to hang out with. The shy girl hated seeing the people she cared be put in the middle of something that shouldn't even be happening. She just hoped that it would all stop before it got too out of control.

"Willow, sweetling, are you okay?" Angel questioned, worried about his girlfriend. He could see she was lost in thought and was pretty sure he knew what it was she was thinking of. He wished there was something he could do to make it easier for her to deal with the actions that Buffy has done the past few weeks but, short of moving away from Sunnydale which they both refused to do, he couldn't think of any.

"I'll be fine, Angel," she assured him. Angel looked at her, not believing her but not willing to upset her any further by making it an issue. He figured he could do that when they got home. Willow saw that Angel was going to accept her answer, for now, and tried to put a smile on her face.

"Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I would really rather not ruin a perfectly good night by worrying about what Buffy may or may not do. I came here to dance."

"Well, then, shall we?" Angel stood, offering Willow his arm. She rested her hand on his arm and the vampire led her to the dance floor where a slow song had just started. Angel wrapped Willow in his arms, holding her petite body close to his. They quickly lost themselves in the other, putting aside everything that was happening to them for another time. All they wanted, in that brief moment, was to relish the presence of the person they loved.

"Do you think they'll be okay?" Xander questioned, as he and the other two girls watched the couple from the table. Cordelia shrugged her shoulders.

"They should be, but it all depends on what Buffy ends up doing," she answered. "All I know is that they're going to need our support to get through whatever is going to happen.

Buffy stood outside of the one place she had never thought she would willingly go to for help. She knew that once she took this step, that things would never be the same. That there was a good chance that the people that she cared about would no longer want anything to do with her, but she was convinced that it was the only option left for her. She wanted Angel back in her life, and she knew that she needed to get rid of Willow to make it happen. The man on the other side of the door could do that for her. He had that kind of power. And, who knows, maybe this was her true destiny. Buffy took a deep breathe and knocked on the wooden door.

"Enter," came the reply. Buffy twisted the door knob and opened the door.

"Well, well, well, what an unexpected surprise. To what do I owe the honor of your visit, Miss Summers?"

"I thought that maybe you would have a job for me," Buffy started. "I heard you recently lost a couple of good people and figured that maybe you could use my particular services." She walked into the room and stood in front of the man that she had decided to sell her soul too. He sat behind his desk, his fingers steepled under his chin as he regarded the blonde teenager that stood in front of him.

"I never would have figured you would be the one to come see me about a job," he answered. "I had actually thought it would be the other Slayer.

?What's her name? Faith?" Buffy growled at the mention of his fellow Slayer. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, such nasty little noises coming from such a pretty girl."

"Faith is nothing but trouble," Buffy stated, her distaste of the brunette girl evident in her voice. "She is currently turning everyone against me and I would like nothing more than to see her knocked off of that high horse of hers." The man regarded Buffy for a moment, as if deciding whether she was lying to him or not. He smiled as he came to his decision.

"And you are willing to help me knock her down, is that it?" Buffy nodded.

"While I would like nothing more than to believe that you are her because you enjoy my sparkling personality, I have to believe that there is something more to this than hard feelings towards the other girl."

"I want your help to get Angel back," Buffy answered, firmly. The man nodded his head, sudden understanding coming to him.

"Ah yes, Angelus. I had heard that he had moved in with a fellow student of yours. One Willow Rosenberg if I'm correct."

"That bitch stole my boyfriend and I want her to pay," Buffy swore. "And that goes for all of those other traitors that have chosen her over me."

"And you're hoping that with young Miss Rosenberg out of the way, Angelus will come back to you." Buffy nodded her head.

"Once he sees what a conniving tramp she is, he'll leave her and come back to me, where he belongs," Buffy reasoned.

"And if I was to help you with this, what are you willing to do for me?"

This was it, the moment of truth. This was Buffy's last chance to leave with her soul, and dignity, in tact. She could just turn around and none would know about her visit to the man that was intent on killing her friends. Buffy looked up at the man, meeting his eyes.

"I'll do anything you want," she answered, condemning herself.

"Anything?" He repeated. "Including killing those that you once called friends?"

"Yes, including killing those that I once called friends." The man smiled at the blonde girl, knowing exactly that she would now be his personal assistant. The girl would help him in his plans of conquering Sunnydale, and then the world. She would be his right hand man, or woman as the case may be. He saw great things for their future. she would be the daughter he didn't have.

"In that case, Buffy, welcome to my team."

"Thank you Mayor Wilkins."

Part 17

?Hey B, where have you been hiding yourself?? Faith asked when she saw Buffy in the library. It had been three days since the brunette Slayer had told Giles that she would try and play nice with Buffy. In that time, no one had seem to be able to find the blonde girl. It was beginning to make the others nervous, wondering if, and when, Buffy would strike next in her ongoing attempts to take Angel away from Willow. They had even called the Summers? home but Buffy?s mother didn?t know what was going on with her daughter. The elder woman had just assumed that Buffy was out doing something in regards to her Slaying duties.

?Been around,? Buffy answered, non commitedly. ?Got a job that?s been keeping me busy. Hasn?t really allowed me to have a whole lot of free time to socialize.?

?Really?? Faith quirked her eyebrow. She had never imagined that Buffy would ever be willing to lower herself to be a member of the working class, especially if she didn?t have to be. Faith always figured that Buffy was the kind of girl that would just find someone reach and live off of him as oppose to actually making a living herself. she was curious as to what the other girl would do. ?What kind of job??

?Just running errands and stuff,? the blonde answered. ?I?m kind of like a Gal Friday, you can. Say. Nothing major. Just something to give me some extra spending cash. You know, so Im not that much of a burden on mom. And its not like this is a paying gig, so I gotta get some cash somehow.?

?That?s cool. Money is always of the good, although I wish I could find a job so that maybe I could get out of that lousy motel I?m shacked up in,? Faith commented. ?So do you have any idea of what G wants to see us about?? Buffy shrugged her shoulders, knowing that her acting abilities were about to be tested.

?Not a clue, although I would guess that maybe it has something to so with the mayor?s plans,? she replied, hoping that she didn?t sound too guilty. Buffy still felt bad about working for the mayor, knowing that there was a good chance, hell ore than a chance if she was honest with herself, that a lot of innocent people would be killed if the mayor?s Ascension took place. But he had promised that she would be able to get Angel back. Buffy felt bad that people would be killed, probably even people that she knew since the Ascension was supposed to take place at Graduation, but that couldn?t be helped. It was all for the greater good. Her getting her love back and away from that boyfriend stealing tramp Willow.

?So what do you think the good ole mayor has planned for Graduation,? the brunette Slayer inquired. Buffy shrugged her shoulders.

?Who knows. Probably something like bringing hell on earth or some such thing,? Buffy joked, although there was a tenseness in her voice that she hoped Faith didn?t pick up on. ?You know, the Sunnydale usual.? Faith looked over at Buffy, trying to study the other girl without appearing too obvious about it. There was something off about the blonde that she couldn?t put her finger on it. And she hadn?t missed the tightness in Buffy?s voice when she had said bringing hell on Earth.

?She?s up to something,? Faith thought to herself. ?I just know it. Probably something to do with trying to win Angel back from Red. Damn, why did I promise Giles that I would try and be nice to her. I know its only gonna come and bite me on the ass later.?

?Oh good, you?re both here,? Giles said upon entering the library. He noticed the tense atmosphere and sighed. He had hoped that whatever problem was between his two Slayers would be easily solved, but that didn?t appear as if it was going to happen anytime soon if the looks Buffy was shooting towards Faith were any indication.

?Yeah we?re here, G, just as ordered,? Faith quipped. ?So what?s up??

?I?ve recently come across some information that might be useful in our fight against the mayor,? the Watcher told her. Buffy?s ears perked up at this, knowing that it would be something that she would have to tell her new boss. There was a part of her that felt guilty about what she was doing. Betraying her friends, and her family by working for the man that was determined to kill them all. Unfortunately it was a very small part and the desire to win back Angel overrode whatever that little voice tried to tell her.

?So what will help us bring him down?? Buffy asked.

?Well, it seems that he isn?t completely invulnerable yet,? Giles explained. ?Not for another week. At that point, he has to complete a ritual that will make it so that, no matter what we do, we cannot do any harm to him.?

?Great, just what we need. A demon we can?t kill,? Faith groaned.

?So what you?re saying is that we need to take him out sometime this week,? Buffy elaborated, trying to get as much information out of Giles as possible. She knew the mayor would demand it of her, almost as a test of her true loyalty, although she was sure he believed that she truly was going to work for him.

?Yes, ummm, Take him out does seem to be appropriate,? Giles nodded. ?But we need to do it before he completes the ritual. Afterwards our only hope to destroy him will be when he ascends, and from what I?ve read that will be most difficult.?

?Well, then, what are we waiting for,? Faith jumped to her feet. ?Let?s go take down ourselves a mayor??

?Faith, why don?t you go ahead,? Giles suggested. ?I would like a word with Buffy, if I may.? Faith looked between Watcher and Slayer, sensing as if whatever was about to be said, she didn?t really want to be around for anyway.

?Five by five with me. Gonna do a few rounds before meeting the gang anyway.? Faith left, leaving Buffy and Giles in the library. Giles looked over at the young girl that had managed to worm her way into his heart. He removed his glasses, cleaning them and trying to decide the best way to approach discussing the subject that was on his mind without making Buffy become defensive.

?Spit it out, Giles,? Buffy told him. ?I know something?s on your mind, what is it??

?Buffy, I talked to Faith the other night and I know what?s going on,? he finally started. Buffy sat up straighter. ?He can?t know. I mean, I haven?t really done anything for the mayor yet. Just ran a few errands. Sure, I didn?t kill a vampire like I was supposed to, instead bringing it to Wilkins like he ordered, but I made sure no one was around at the time to see me. How could Giles possibly know about that??

?Buffy I know that you lied about Faith freezing on patrol,? Giles began again and watched as Buffy visibly relaxed. ?Odd, what else did she think I was talking about if she is more comfortable with my talking about this? ?Buffy, its not like you to lie about something like that. Why did you do it?? Buffy shrugged her shoulders.

?I don?t know, Giles,? she answered. ?Its just something that popped into my head and I said it.?

?I think you do know, but you just don?t want to admit it,? he told her gently, going over to sit beside the blonde. ?I think it bothers you that there?s another Slayer in town. One that is here permanently, so you can?t forget that she?s here, unlike Kendra. And, I?m sure it doesn?t help that your friends have accepted her as well.?

?They?re not my friends,? Buffy wanted to shout. ?That bitch Willow stole my boyfriend. And now Cordelia and Xander are with her. They?ve turned against me. It?s they?re fault I?ve been forced to go against what I believe because they support Willow and Angel. And now they?ve turned Faith against me. That witch would rather see Willow with Angel than for him to be with me. I?m his soul mate and yet none of you are willing to see it. You all just tell me to move on with my life. But damn it, what?s so wrong with my being happy??

?Buffy, why can?t you see, that having two Slayers in Sunnydale is actually a good thing? Giles continued to prod. ?It means less work for you to do, in the first place. And aren?t you the one that is always complaining about having to patrol instead of going out with your friends? With Faith here, you don?t have to patrol as much and the demon population is still kept under control. And you have a chance to go out. Isn?t that what you wanted?? Buffy nodded her head.

?Yeah it is,? she whispered, finally speaking. Giles sighed at Buffy?s admission. He knew it wouldn?t be easy for her to admit that she was jealous of Faith?s acceptance in Sunnydale and he hoped that, given time, Buffy would be able to see that having the other girl would be a help. Especially with the mayor.

?Buffy, I know it isn?t easy seeing the others just accept Faith as part of the group, but I do wish that you would try,? Giles told her. ?Try and remember how easily they accepted you into their lives. It only makes sense that they do the same with Faith. If anything, they are doing it because of you.?

?Yeah, because they all think I?m a self centered bitch. They all hate me. They?re jealous because I?m the true Chosen One. Not Faith. She?s only here because of a fluke. They?ve even managed to turn you against me. But I?ll show you. I?ll show you all.?

?I?ll try, Giles,? Buffy smiled her sweetest smile. The one that she knew would turn Giles into a pile of mush. And, like always, it worked once more.

?That?s all I can ask of you, Buffy,? he told her, giving her a little kiss on the cheek. ?Now, why don?t you go out and have some fun. Maybe go to the Bronze. I think Xander and Cordelia said something about heading over there. I think it might do you a world of good to get out with your friends and have a good time. Who knows how long the quiet will stick around, with the mayor?s plans and all.?

?I will , Giles. Thanks.? Buffy gave Giles one last smile before turning and heading out of the library, thinking of exactly how much things were about to change due to the mayor?s plans.

Part 18

?Damn, I?m beginning to really hate nighttime, you know,? Faith commented as she plopped herself into a chair. Willow, Xander, and Cordelia followed her lead and grabbed chairs for themselves. Angel remained standing, gently rubbing Willow?s shoulders.

?Oh yeah, right there,? she sighed as he hit a particularly tight area. ?Oh man, that feels so good.?

?Hey Willow, would you mind lending out your boyfriend?s hands,? Cordelia asked quietly from her chair. ?I could use some of what you?re getting.?

?Here you go, sweetie,? Xander volunteered, moving his chair closer to his girlfriend and massaging her shoulders. Cordelia let her head fall forward as the teenager rubbed away some of the tension that she had been feeling. ?I knew you were good for something, Xander.?

?Okay, I?m suddenly feeling really neglected here,? Faith mock pouted from her seat. ?I really need to get a boyfriend.?

?We?ll start a search,? Willow teased. ?Sometime next week after we get over tonight.?

?Well, I take it by the looks of all of you, that you didn?t exactly have an uneventful evening after all,? Giles questioned as he entered the library. He saw how weary his charges were and felt bad for them. Vampire attacks have increased dramatically over the past two weeks, the Slayerettes having been unsuccessful in their attempt to thwart the Mayor from performing the ritual needed to make him impenetrable.

?You could say that,? Faith replied. ?I swear, is it just me or does it seem as if the vamps are getting inside info? Its like they know where we?re going to be and how prepared we are and then they show up. Like the can read our minds or something.?

?That?s impossible,? Willow said. ?I mean, unless the mayor had the library bugged or something. And we didn?t make the plans here. We talked about them on the way to the Bronze last night.?

?I?m with Faith,? Angel backed the brunette Slayer up. ?It has to be more than just coincidence that we?ve been running into more vampires than normal. Its like the mayor is always one step ahead of us.?

?So what are you saying, there?s a spy among us?? Giles wondered aloud. ?That?s absurd. No one here would have anything to do with the Mayor and his plans. What would any of us have to gain from it??

?How about a vampire boyfriend,? Cordelia stated, once again surprising the others by her observations. They all looked at her in shock.

?What? Buffy?s the spy?? Xander asked incredulously. ??There?s no way. Why would she work with the Mayor on something like this? She?s fought against demons for three years. There?s no way she would suddenly change like that.?

?I?m with Xander,? Willow added. ?I mean, sure Buffy?s been a little distant lately, but she?s been upset over everything that?s happened. She wouldn?t betray us like that.?

?Really?? Cordelia quirked her eyebrow. ?Are we talking about the same girl that told Giles that Faith had frozen during a fight and tried to get him to send her somewhere else? Or the girl that decided to show up at Angel?s the other day in nothing other than a coat and a red lace teddy??

?She did what??

?When was this??

?Why didn?t you say anything?? Came three stunned replies. Xander, Cordelia and Giles all looked at Willow and Angel, unable to believe what Cordelia had just said. They could feel the anger rolling off the couple at the memory of Buffy?s visit came to them.

?What happened?? Giles asked, his voice returning to normal, somewhat. He knew how hard it would be for Willow to recall the event that Cordelia had just mentioned, but he needed to know how unbalanced the blonde Slayer had become. Willow looked up at Angel, silently asking him to tell the story. She still didn?t want to think about what had happened at the mansion.

?It was Wednesday,? Angel began, taking a seat next to Wednesday. ?It was right before we were to meet everyone for that night?s patrol. Willow hadn?t got to the mansion yet so when someone knocked on the door, I had assumed that it was her. It wasn?t.?

?Buffy?? Xander inquired. Angel nodded his head.

?Buffy. Needless to say, I wasn?t exactly thrilled to see her,? Angel continued. ?There was something off about her that instantly put me on guard. I knew that she had something up her sleeve, but I wasn?t sure what it was.?

?What exactly happened when she got there?? Giles repeated his question.

?She kept saying how that everything was going to be okay. That things were going to go back to the way they were supposed to be. That Willow would be gone and that she and I would be together forever.?

?And did she say why she thought this?? Angel shook his head.

?No. She just said that there was something happening that would bring her and I back together,? the souled vampire replied. ?Then she said that she didn?t see any point in waiting any longer for the inevitable and she took off her coat.?

?And underneath was the teddy,? Faith wanted to make sure she understood everything. Even at her worst, she had never have pulled something like that. Then again, if a guy made sure to tell her that he wasn?t interested, she usually just moved on to the next.

?Yeah, just the teddy, which didn?t exactly leave anything to the imagination.?

?You can say that again,? Cordelia muttered. ?Now I know way more about the bottled blonde than I ever wanted to.?

?Wait a minute, how do you know what the thing looked like?? Xander asked his girlfriend. He couldn?t believe that no one had told him about Buffy?s little attempt.

?Well, Willow and I walked in just as she was trying to get Angel to respond to her,? Cordelia seemed to look for just the right word. ?Flirtations. It wasn?t a pretty scene. Trust me.?

?What did Buffy do when you showed up?? This time it was Faith who asked the question.

?She tried to convince us that her and Angel had been about to do the horizontal tango even though he couldn?t get away from her fast enough,? the cheerleader answered. ?You should have seen it. Buffy kept trying to hold onto Angel, all the while he kept trying to break away from her, the entire time saying it was only a matter of time before Angel went back to her.?

?That bitch,? Xander spat as he tried to picture what his girlfriend was telling him. He couldn?t believe that he had ever though Buffy was a beautiful girl. It was obvious that she only cared about herself.

?I second that and add a whore to it,? Faith joined in. ?But that doesn?t mean that Slutty is helping the mayor.?

?Okay, then, is it me or does anyone else think its kind of odd how the mayor seemed to start getting inside info the same time that Buffy got her new job?? Cordelia pointed out. ?Or how, even though she can?t stand to be near any of us, especially Willow, she?s made a point of coming to research parties and hanging with us at the Bronze. Or that she?s constantly been present whenever we?ve thought up a plan that later is known to the bad guys.?

Everyone tried to digest the information that Cordelia was giving them. They all had to admit that they hadn?t even thought about how Buffy had seemingly decided to hang with them again, or began to come to research parties a little more eagerly now. They had all just assumed that she had decided to put aside her grudges so that they could defeat the demon. And, now that they thought about it, none of them really knew what it was the Buffy did for a job. And Cordelia had been right, it did seem that Buffy?s getting a job and the mayor getting an inside track on what their plans were a bit coincidental.

?Could it be true?? Willow whispered, as if afraid to say it any louder would make it real. ?Could she really hate us that much that she would align herself with the mayor to get back at us??

?Anything?s possible,? Giles reluctantly admitted. He didn?t want to think that his Slayer, the girl that had stolen his heart and whom he thought of as a daughter, would betray them all like that because her heart was broken. He wondered if there was something missing that he should have seen if this was truly the case.

?Yeah, its not like B?s the most stable of ladies right now,? Faith pointed out. ?Her little escapade at Angel?s proves that. But my only question is how do we prove it? Not like we can just go out and say, B, we think you?re spying for the mayor, care to comment.?

?Unfortunately Faith is correct,? Giles said sadly. ?We can?t just ask Buffy for the truth for that?s the best way of making sure we don?t receive it.?

?So, what? We just go on like we don?t suspect anything?? Xander asked. ?I mean, what would that accomplish??

?I?m not suggesting going on as before,? Giles informed them. ?I?m just saying that we need to keep an eye on Buffy and see if she does anything that supports the theory that she is the one giving information to the mayor.?

?So you?re saying we spy on the spy?? Cordelia clarified. Giles nodded his head. ?When did my life become a James Bond movie??

?When you decided to do the right thing and help us,? Xander answered his girlfriend, leaning over and placing a kiss on her cheek. ?Which is why I love you.?

?Sounds about right to me,? Cordelia smiled, leaning her head on Xander?s shoulder. ?Knew there had to be an explanation somewhere. So what?s the plan to trap little miss spyBuffy??

Part 19

?Okay, please explain to me how it went from we couldn?t get a break from the vamps, to suddenly it being so quiet it should scare me?? Faith questioned as she and Willow wandered the cemetery. The two girls had decided to go on patrol together while Angel tried to see if any of his sources could help in the upcoming battle against the mayor. And, like it has been for the past week, things have been unnaturally quiet. Ever since it had been decided to leave Buffy out of the planning of anything. It only leant more credence to the speculation that they had a spy in their midst in the form of the blonde Slayer.

?Maybe the mayor gave up on his plans to ascend and left town?? Willow joked, although only half heartedly. ?Maybe he?s gone somewhere else to terrorize it.?

?Yeah, that must be it,? Faith readily joined in. ?Wilkins decided that Sunnydale was just too small a town to take over so he headed somewhere else. Like LA??

?See, now I was thinking more like New York myself,? the red head continued. ?You know, all those people to oversee.?

?Yeah but there are already a bunch of freaks there. Like they would notice another one,? Faith pointed out the flaw in Willow?s logic.

?Good point. London maybe? Show the Watchers a thing or two.? Faith laughed at the image of the Mayor in his demon form going to see the Watchers Council. It was just too funny to put into words.

?Okay, can we just say I want to be there to see that.? The sounds of other people caused the two girls to quiet. It wasn?t that they were hiding, they just didn?t know who it was that would be hanging out in a cemetery in the middle of the night. As the voices grew closer, they were able to recognize them and Willow paled as all of the suspicions from the week before were confirmed. Then the two people came into view.

?Damn, I had hoped we were wrong,? Faith swore quietly, not wanting Buffy or the Mayor to know that they were there. The brunette Slayer couldn?t believe her eyes. It had been one thing to speculate that Buffy was working for the Mayor, but it was something else entirely to see the two of them together. She couldn?t believe that someone whose duty it was to protect the Earth from the demons was now in league with those that she used to fight.

?Faith, what are we going to do?? Willow whispered.

?Stay and listen.? Soon enough Buffy and Wilkins were close enough so that they could make out the words that were being said.

?Something is going on,? Buffy was saying. ?The others have been really secretive lately. Even Giles. When I ask them where they?re going or what?s the patrol for the night they don?t answer me. Its like they?re trying to keep me in the dark or something.?

?And my little Buffy doesn?t like that, does she?? The Mayor commented. ?Have they said why they haven?t been including you??

?Giles said it was because the others weren?t comfortable around me because of my saying that Angel and I belong together,? the blonde replied. ?He said they thought it would be better if I went off on my own, but I could tell that it was more than that. I think they suspect something after that last attack.? Faith and Willow watched as the Mayor nodded his head, thinking about what Buffy was telling him.

?It is possible,? he finally said. ?As annoying as they are, they certainly aren?t stupid. The fact that they?ve managed to survive this long proves that.?

?So, what do you want me to do? I mean, Angel won?t even talk to me now.? Willow could hear the anger in Buffy?s voice as she said that and knew the blonde blamed her for that. ?He?s so concerned with Willow that he hasn?t even had time to return my phone calls.?

?She?s been calling Angel?? Faith looked over at Willow, who shrugged her shoulders.

?First I?ve heard of it.?

?I think its time to move to the next step in our plan,? the mayor suggested. ?That is, if you?re ready for it.?

?He won?t do it readily,? she informed her boss. ?That tramp has him too wrapped around her cute little finger.?

?It doesn?t matter,? the mayor said matter of factly. ?I know of someone that can help us in achieving our goal. In fact, I?ve already contacted him and told him what we needed. You?ll get your Angel back soon.?

?But I thought you said it would be??,?

?It will be but he won?t be like he was before,? the Mayor interrupted. ?Nor will he be as vindictive towards you. I?ve made those arrangements. He shall be a combination of the two and just what we will need to hurt the others.?

?But he will be mine, right?? Buffy almost pouted. ?He won?t want anything to do with her??

?No, my sweet girl.? Faith and Willow shivered as the watched the Mayor put his arm around Buffy?s shoulders. ?He?ll be all yours. Now come one. I believe my girl has a date to get ready for.?

Willow and Faith stayed in their hiding place until they were sure that Buffy and the Mayor had gone. When they both finally moved, Willow did so automatically. Even though they had never said his name, she knew that Buffy and the Mayor had been talking about Angel and she was scared of what might be planned for her mate.

?Faith, they?re going to do something to Angel,? she said. ?Something bad.?

?So I figured,? Faith nodded, worried about her friend. She didn?t understand why Buffy was being so stubborn in her refusal to see that Angel and Willow were together and the two of them had already put up with so much from the blonde Slayer. Faith didn?t like that it apparently still wasn?t over in the girls? eyes. ?Do you have any idea of what they meant when they said he was going to be a combination of the two??

?The only thing I can think of is maybe Angelus.? Willow?s eyes became wide as something occurred to her. ?Oh Goddess, they?re going to take Angel?s soul away from him.. But she knows his soul is permanent. ?

?Damn they must have found a way to remove it.? Faith grabbed Willow?s hand. ?Come on, we have to get to Giles like yesterday.

?Giles, you have to do something,? Willow yelled as she entered the library. ?Buffy?s working for the Mayor and they?re planning to do something to Angel.?

?I?m afraid they already have, Willow,? Giles replied. Willow stopped dead in her tracks, Faith right behind her. Cordelia and Xander sat at the table, sadness written on their faces. Willow began to shake and she sank to the floor.

?No, no, no, no,? she kept repeating. Giles went over to the red head, taking her into his arms. ?No, he has to be all right. He has to be.?

?I?m sorry, Wills,? Xander said from his spot. ?I was there when it happened. One minute he was our Deadboy and then the next, it was Angelus. I don?t know what happened. I?m just grateful that he didn?t decide to start snacking on me and Cordy.?

?I second that,? Cordelia added. ?I still can?t believe how different he was. I mean, he wasn?t like the Angelus that had paid us a visit last year.?

?It was the Mayor,? Faith informed them. When everyone was looking at her, Faith started to tell them about what she and Willow had witnessed in the cemetery. ?We heard him say that he had gotten someone to make it so that Angel was a combination of Angel and Angelus.?

?But why?? Giles asked. He felt Willow?s sobs subside and he helped the girl up and over to the table, where Xander and Cordelia took over trying to comfort her. ?Did they say anything as to what they had hoped to accomplish by removing Angel?s soul??

?Well, it seemed to me as if the Mayor had something planned for the new and improved Angelus,? Faith informed them. ?And we all know why Buffy wants Angel away from Willow.?

?But Angelus hated Buffy,? Xander pointed out. ?What makes her think it will be any different this time around??

?They?ve done something to him,? Willow finally said, pulling herself together. SHe knew that breaking down wouldn?t help her get her Angel back. ?To make him accept Buffy now.?

?Probably doesn?t hurt that she?s more like him now,? Faith added. ?We were right. She is our spy. It was disgusting watching the two of them together. I think I lost my lunch somewhere back there.? The brunette noticed her Watcher lost in thought. ?Yo, G-man, something?s on your mind. Out with it.?

?You said that the Mayor was going to have someone remove Angel?s soul.? At Faith?s nod, Giles continued talking, but it seemed as if it was more to himself. ?I wonder if it could have been him. He would be the most likely person, although there are others. He is the most experienced and one of the oldest.?

?Who is Giles? What are you talking about?? Willow questioned. ?Do you know what the Mayor might have done??

?I have to do some checking but I believe I may had the answer we are looking for as to what happened to Angel and how to fix it.? At this, Willow brightened. Giles smiled at the hope in the emerald eyes of the hacker. ?I have a friend. Actually he?s someone who owes me a favor.?

?And this friend might have the answers we?re looking for?? Xander asked. ?Dare I ask how??

?He?s a soul-stealer,? the Watcher explained. ?Its his job and he owes me a favor that I think its time I called him on. Yes, I think its time indeed.?

?Angel,? Buffy said tentatively as she entered the mansion. She could feel his presence but she wasn?t sure what his reaction to her would be, even though the mayor assured her that it would be fine. ?Angel.?

?Now, now, now, Buffy,? came a taunting voice and the blonde froze. It was the voice from her nightmares. ?I would have assumed that after all that work you went through to make sure I was here that you would at least be willing to call me by my right name.?

?Angelus,? Buffy whispered.

?Very good,? the vampire taunted as he came up behind her. ?I always wondered if you actually used your brains.?

?What are you planning on doing?? The Slayer inquired, wanting to know what was going to happen next.

?Well, I was planning n a little murder, mayhem and bloodshed,? came the flippant reply, ?but there is something that I did want to start with.?

?What??

?This.? Buffy felt herself turned and her lips being plundered by a cool mouth. She wrapped her arms around Angelus? neck, reveling in the feeling of being kissed by the man that she loved. Soul or no soul, he was still her Angel and she had missed being with him. Now that they would both be working side by side, she didn?t plan on losing him.

?Angelus,? Buffy gasped when they parted.

?Is that what you had planned, Buffy?? Angelus asked. ?Is that what you had in mind when you joined the mayor??

?I only did it because I wanted you back,? Buffy answered, Angelus? hold on her never loosening. Then again, it wasn?t like she was trying to get away. ?I knew that you would rather be with me, even if you were with Willow. I knew it was me that you dreamed of at night.?

?You want to know something Buffy,? Angelus whispered, his mouth next to her ear. ?Soul or no soul, it would only be Willow that I want to be with.? Buffy?s eyes went wide as Angelus pushed her away from him.

?What?? she stammered, trying to understand what had just happened. First, Angelus had been kissing her, just like he used to, and now he was saying that it was still Willow. No, it wasn?t possible. The Mayor had promised her that Angel would be hers.

?Did you really think that your little plan had a chance of working,? Angelus? continued to taunt. ?That I would just forget Willow and go back to you??

?But the Mayor promised me that you would be mine once you lost your soul again.?

?One little problem with that, Buffy,? Angelus informed her. ?I still have my soul.?

?How?? She noticed Angel?s eyes dart to the closed bedroom door. The door that was now opening, revealing Faith, Giles, Willow, Xander and Cordelia, all with disappoint and disgust written on their faces.

?A friend of mine, Buffy,? Giles explained to his former charge. ?He gave Angel back his soul as a payback for something I did for him years ago.?

?But, but, but,? Buffy began to stutter, backing away from the group of people that she used to care for.

?You?re stuttering, B,? Faith smirked. ?Did you really think that we would let you get away with something like this? That we would let you just take Angel away from Red.? Buffy didn?t say anything. she couldn?t. she had lost Angel, yet again. And she remembered what he had said. Soul or no soul, it was still Willow. The blonde Slayer ran from the mansion, vowing to get even with the red headed witch that had taken everything from her.

Part 20

This was it. Graduation Day. The day that the Mayor was planning his Ascension. The day that everyone had been preparing for. The day that friends could die, and probably would. The Slayerettes had prepared as well as they could. They had discovered a way of possibly killing the Mayor after he changed into demon form. They had also discovered that their fellow students weren?t as oblivious to what went on in Sunnydale as they had originally thought. It had only been a matter of talking to just the right people, and Cordelia always knew which people to talk to, and they had a small army ready to battle the vampires that the Mayor was going to use. They had thought of every contingency that might occur. The only thing that they couldn?t plan on was what to expect from the former Slayer, Buffy.

Three weeks had passed since the attempt to take Angel?s soul away had been performed and in that time Buffy had stepped up her attacks. Now that there was no need to keep the fact that she worked for the Mayor a secret, she did everything that she could to hurt Willow, including arranging the deaths of her parents. The blonde Slayer had completely gone over the edge, leaving no doubt that her sanity was no longer there. AN attempt by the Watcher?s to control her had proven futile and the blonde was a loose cannon that they were sure was about to go off.

?Is everything ready?? Willow asked as she finished packing up the last of the boxes in the library. The plan called for the destruction of the school, as well as the demon, and they were all packing up Giles? books to take to the librarian?s home.

?As ready as can be,? Giles answered. ?Xander is getting the last of our supplies and Faith and Oz are distributing the weapons to the students.? That had been one of the only good things to come out of the Buffy tragedy. They had gained a new Scooby member. It turned out the guitarist for the local band was a werewolf, a fact discovered by Faith one night on patrol. The two of them had hit it off and now there were three couples that comprised the Scoobies. Four if you counted Giles and his friend Olivia, but since she wasn?t in town, they tended to leave her out of their activities, which Giles preferred anyway.

?Angel said he would get here as soon as he could,? Willow added. ?He wanted to go to Willy?s and make sure that there weren?t going to be any last minute surprises. Well, other than whatever Buffy might want to throw at us.? Giles heard the catch in Willow?s voice as she said her former friend?s name. He knew that, even after everything that she had done, Willow still missed having Buffy to talk to. The blonde had been the first girlfriend Willow had ever had and she missed all the late night gab fests that the two girls had had.

?Willow, it will be okay,? Giles tried to reassure the red head, although he was also trying to convince himself that everything would turn out all right. He just couldn?t be sure and he hated that. This particular group of young people had been through so much, they deserved to have something go right for them. ?You?ll see.?

?Will they Giles?? Willow asked, the tears that she had been trying to hold back, coursing down her face. With each box she closed, she felt as if another part of her life was being left behind. First her friendship with Buffy had been hurt because Willow had falling in love with Angel. Then, because the blonde couldn?t deal with reality, she had lost her parents. Now she would be losing her school. The one place that had been like a home for her. The only place, other than Angel?s, that made her feel safe. Giles took Willow into his arms, trying to comfort her.

?They have to be,? he answered. ?I refuse to believe otherwise. We will defeat the Mayor and life will continue.?

?And what about Buffy??

?Hopefully we can save her from herself,? Giles said. ?Hopefully there is still some part of the girl that we all cared for inside of her and we can help her find her happiness again.?

?I wish I could believe that Giles, I really do,? Willow cried. :Its just so hard sometimes. She?s done so much

?I wish I could believe that Giles, I really do,? Willow cried. :Its just so hard sometimes. She?s done so much.?

?I know she had, Willow,? Giles cooed, soothing the girl in his arms. ?Especially to you. Out of all of us, you are the one that has had to deal with more than your share of grief at the hands of Buffy. I wish there was some way that I could instantly make it all better, but there isn?t. The only thing I can do is offer hope that things will get better.?

?That?s all any of us can do, kitten,? Angel said, coming from behind Willow. HE took Willow from Giles, holding her in his lap. He had known that it would only have been a matter of time before the events of the past few months came crashing down on the red head that he loved, and was glad to see that she was finally letting go of all of the fear and tension that she had been feeling. ?You just have to trust us when we say that we?re going to do everything we can to make sure that she doesn?t hurt you again.?

?I do trust you,? she rushed to say, lifting her head up so that she could look at the vampire that was now holding her. ?I trust you with my life.? Angel smiled, leaning over and placing a gentle kiss on Willow?s lips. ?I love you, Angel.?

?I love you too, kitten. And after today, we won?t have to worry about Buffy ever again,? he promised her. ?One way or the other, she?ll be out of our lives for good.?

?I don?t want to see her dead,? Willow stated. ?Even after everything that she?s done to me, to us, I don?t want her really hurt. She needs help.?

?Then we?ll do our best to make sure that she gets it, my love. Now come on and lets get this stuff over to Giles. We don?t have long before graduation.? Willow nodded her head and Angel helped her off the floor, although she made sure to stay close to the vampire. Despite their assurances, she knew that there was a very good chance that one, if not more of the scoobies wouldn?t make it through the fight. She just hoped that she was wrong.

Willow, Xander and Cordelia watched as the eclipse began from their seats among the other students, signaling the beginning of the Mayor?s Ascension. So far there had been no sign of Buffy, but Faith and Giles had positioned themselves so that they had a full view of the area so that if Buffy did show up, they would be able to spot her. Their attention was drawn to the podium where the mayor was giving his commencement speech. Or, at least, trying to.

?Well, ummm, it appears that this is starting a little sooner than I expected,? Wilkins was saying on the stage. He was grasping at his chest. ?Don?t panic, it won?t do you any good.?

?Looks like its showtime,? Xander quipped. When he saw the first vampire coming up to the people assembled, he shouted. ?Let?s go.? And with that single command, the entire student body ripped off their gowns, revealing what was hidden underneath. Stakes, crossbows, axes and every other weapon that they had been able to assemble was being held by the students. Even the Cordettes had their own makeshift weapons. Can?s of aerosol hairspray and lighters. The Mayor looked out as the students began to take on the vampires.

?I don?t know why you?re fighting this,? he gasped. ?Its only delaying the inevitable.? That was the last thing that the Mayor said, for within another moment, where a human had once stood, was now a giant snake.

?Okay, can we say majorly gross,? Cordelia stated, seeing the demon as he ate Principal Snyder. ?And you know that?s gonna cause one hell of a case of heartburn.?

?Well, let Faith deal with him,? Willow screamed, as she headed into the battle. ?That?s what her and Giles are for. We have our one little problem here.?

The students were doing well, although there were casualties. Xander watched as Larry was killed and Cordelia saw Harmony getting bitten by a vampire. Neither person allowed those sights to stop them though. There would be plenty of time to grieve later. Right now, they had to fight for survival and the right to that grief.

?Well, well, well, if it isn?t the little slut,? came a sneering voice from behind Willow.

?Buffy,? Willow stated, turning to face her old friend. ?I was wondering if you would show up here today. I mean this was supposed to be your graduation too.?

?Of course I would be here,? Buffy replied. ?I mean, this is what I?ve been fighting for the past few months.?

?What the deaths of people that used to consider you a friend??

?Friends don?t stab their friends in the back,? Buffy threw out. ?I don?t have any friends. And I don?t need any. Once the mayor has finished with all of you, I?ll have Angel back and that?s all I?ve ever wanted.?

?What makes you think Angel will go back to you after this?? Willow asked, backing away from Buffy. There was something almost feral in the blue eyes of the Slayer and the red head found herself truly scared for her life.

?You?ll be gone. Its only natural that he?ll turn to me in his grief,? Buffy explained.

?Yeah, not like you would have had anything to do with why he was grieving in the first place or anything,? Willow taunted. ?If you truly think that Angel will go back to you if you kill me, then you?re more deranged than I had thought.? Buffy screamed at Willow?s words, lunging for the girl. Willow tried to scramble out of the way, but the fight around her hindered her escape. Buffy caught her easily, wrapping her hands around the smaller girl?s neck, cutting off the oxygen.

?Buffy,? Willow croaked, feeling the hands around her throat constricting even tighter. Willow tried to fight but the lack of air made that impossible and she began to feel lightheaded. Just as she was about to black out she felt the pressure decrease and then everything went black.

Part 21

?I can?t believe you?re really going,? Cordelia cried, hugging Willow tightly. ?I mean, its not like I?ll miss you or anything.?

?I?ll miss you too, Cordy,? Willow smiled at the former cheerleader who had come to mean so much to her. Who would have thought that when they started high school, and Jesse, Willow, and Xander had started the We Hate Cordelia Chase club, that the two girls would become close friends four years later. It just was another example of how strange things could get on the Hellmouth. ?But LA isn?t all that far from Sunnydale and you know you and Xander have an open invitation to come and stay with us.?

?I know, its just gonna be weird not having you around,? Cordelia said, swiping away the tears that fell. ?Who am I going to make fun of now.?

?Well, there?s always Faith,? Willow volunteered.

?Hey, no making fun of the Slayer,? came the response from the brunette in question. ?Or else I?ll make you go on patrol with me one night and then lose you.? Willow and Cordelia laughed at that. ?D?s right though, Red. Things won?t be the same without you here.?

?I know, and I?ll miss you all so much,? Willow admitted. ?But, Angel and I need some time to ourselves. So much has happened ever since we got together that we haven?t really had a chance to be alone. Not like I mean that in a bad way though.?

?We know.? Faith threw her arm around Willow?s shoulders and the three girls walked out of the mansion together. ??The two of you do deserve some downtime. We all do. ?

It had been a week since the fight with the mayor and Buffy. The mayor was dead, having been killed in the explosion that also leveled the high school, much to the chagrin of the town council. Buffy had been stopped from killing Willow by Oz, who had seen what was going on and had tackled the girl, just before Willow had lost consciousness. As a thank you, Angel had offered the mansion to the musician, figuring that it would come in handy for those nights that he had to chain himself up. Not to mention, a steady place for his band to play.

The blonde Slayer was now in a mental hospital, heavily sedated and guarded. Buffy had been placed on a suicide watch after an attempt to slit her wrists. The Slayerettes mourned the lose of the girl that had brought them together in the first place. They knew that the girl they had cared about was gone, in her place someone who couldn?t handle reality so had chosen to make her own. They just hoped that she would be able to heal. Sunnydale also had to heal. In addition to losing its mayor, it had also had to deal with the ?unexplained? deaths of twenty five students at graduation. The devastation had been so severe that news agencies across the world had picked up on it and the nation had mourned with the small town for its lose. Officials were looking into the explosion, trying to find an explanation for what had gone wrong, but the Scoobies knew what would happen. Nothing. The world would just forget about what happened in Sunnydale, the only people remembering would be those that had been there. The group had just come from the last of the funerals. It had been for Larry the football player and Harmony the cheerleader. The entire town had showed up, as they had for the other funerals, to say farewell to two of their own. Xander and Cordelia had both chosen to speak on behalf of the two people that they had been friends with. Now they were saying goodbye to two more of their members, although this time it wouldn?t be a permanent one. At least, they hoped not.

Willow and Angel had decided that they needed to leave Sunnydale for awhile. They were going to head to Los Angeles. Angel was going to continue fighting the good fight, while Willow was going to attend UCLA. The souled vampire had found a building that would serve as both a home for him and Willow that had plenty of room for everything that they would need it for. They had sent everything that ahead so that they only had a few pieces of luggage to take with them.

Willow saw Angel standing next to his car talking to Giles, Xander and Oz. She walked over to the men and allowed herself to be taken in Angel?s arms. After everything that they had been through, it was the one place that she loved being in. Angel kissed the top of Willow?s head, taking in her scent. ?Everything okay?? She asked when she finally allowed herself to separate from Angel, who nodded his head.

?Yes,? he replied. ?I was just giving Giles our phone number and address.?

?Well, you better use it, too,? she mock growled at the Watcher who was so much like a father to her. Now that her own parents were dead, Giles was the only parent she had left, even if it was a biological one. ?Often.?

?I will, I promise,? Giles told her, taking her into his arms and hugging her. ?I will miss you, sweet Willow. You will take care of yourself, won?t you??

?I will,? she promised him. ?Besides, considering how much of a mother hen Angel is, I don?t think I?ll really have that much of a choice.?

?Hey,? the vampire said. Willow smiled at her lover.

?And its only one of the many reasons that I love you.? Angel returned her smile with one of his own.

?I can?t believe that you?re actually leaving me alone,? Xander pouted. ?Now who am I supposed to go to get all my answers to my homework from??

?Does this mean that you?ve decided to go to college?? Willow beamed as Xander nodded his head. She squealed and launched herself at her long time friend. ?Oh Xan, that?s great. I?m so proud of you. And you know that if you really need any help that I?m only a phone call or an email away. Besides, I know you?re plenty smart. You?re just too lazy to actually work at it.?

?Hey, I always had a Willow, why did I need to work?? Xander quipped, earning himself a hit on the arm. ?But thanks, Wills. You know you?re still my best friend, right??

?I better be,? she answered. ?Its only fair because you?re still mine.?

The two friends hugged and when they pulled apart, Willow saw Xander swipe something from his face, but she wouldn?t call him on it. She knew he would never admit to the fact that he had been caught crying. She looked over at the newest member of the group who was holding Faith?s hand. ?You take care of Faith, Oz. She needs someone to keep her in line.? The quiet boy just nodded his head, acknowledging the statement, all the while holding Faith closer to himself.

Angel stood silently by the car, waiting for Willow. He knew how hard it was for her to actually be leaving and, if she said that she changed her mind, he would unpack the car in a minute. He realized that Willow was leaving behind her childhood and was more than willing to do anything that she wanted to make her happy. Finally, Willow decided that it was time to leave or else she would change her mind. It was already difficult for her to say good bye to her friends, no her family, and the longer she put it off, the harder it got. She walked over to Angel who gave her another hug.

?Are you ready, kitten?? Willow nodded her head and Angel went to the front of the car. Willow turned to the others one last time. ?I?ll miss you guys so much. You better keep in touch or else.?

?We will,? Giles promised, the only one in the group still maintaining some sense of composure. Willow nodded and got into the car and five people watched as the two drove off into the night, hoping that the couple would finally be able to find the happiness and peace that had been denied them in Sunnydale.

The End