Disclaimer:You know it, we all know it, they belong to Joss Whedon.
Willow woke first. It was getting dark and the last few rays of blood red sun were glimmering through the cracks in the blinds that covered the window. The candles had burnt themselves out and the incense was gone though it's sent still lingered in the air. Yawning heavily she stretched and cuddled back into Angel's strong embrace.
"What time is it?" He asked quietly.
" 'round nine." She murmured
"Just nine?"
"Yeah."
There was silence again and all that could be heard was her gentle breathing and the beating of her heart..
"I thought we would sleep longer than that." He mused running his fingers over her shoulder.
She didn't answer, to caught up in the quiet.
"Are you hungry?" He asked kissing the back of her neck.
"A little. But I'm comfortable."
"Me too, but we have to get up sooner or later." He groaned as he sat up. She didn't move. Just lay there pouting, hoping he would come back to bed. He ignored her used to it and went to take a shower. This was how a normal night began in the home of Willow and Angel. After his shower he usually went out and got her food while she was taking a bath and getting dressed. Then they would eat and go wander the town. Sometimes they caught a misplaced vampire or a lost monster, but normally there was nothing to be seen.
And both were happy. Happy to be together just sitting or walking. Happy to talk and understand each other so well that sometimes words were not needed. Tonight however was different. This was the night Oz had died seven years ago. Languidly she rolled onto her back and looked at the ceiling. Thinking of Oz still hurt like a bullet through her heart. Angel understood. He knew that she would never stop loving Oz, but he also knew that no matter what her heart would never belong to the boy she had lost so long ago. It went to the soulful vampire who was still in the bathroom. ********************************************************* *********************************************************
"Well Oz . . . I came again." She said placing three white roses on his grave. The moon was full and bright and the stars were singing in their silent voices.
"I miss you. I know you are happy where you are. Angel is taking care of me so you don't have to worry about that. We haven't moved and still live in the same apartment. He said to tell you hello. There still hasn't been word from Buffy or Xander. I guess they've burned their bridges. I think that maybe I should too."
Suddenly a strange feel blew through the air. Not exactly a breeze, more of an emotion. A fear. She shivered and looked nervously around. At that moment she wanted to be someplace else. Someplace safe and secure like Angel's arms. There she had nothing to fear.
"Yeah um I better go now. Before Angel gets worried that something happened to me. Goodbye." She said and left.
A strong wind blew and she hurried to find Angel. He was waiting for her just outside the cemetery where he always was on this night. "How did it go?" He asked slipping an arm around her waist. She leaned against him and felt safe again.
"Nothing new. I miss him." She admitted.
"You'll never stop."
"Does that bother you." She asked looking up into his dark face.
"Maybe a little deep down."
"I'm sorry." She murmured.
"Don't be Love. Don't ever be sorry about that." He said.
She nodded and thought about her life. It was strange how far she had come. Only eight years ago Angel had been dating Buffy and it looked like they were going to be together forever. Then the accident happened and Angel lost his soul. After that it seemed that he would never be the same. Buffy had hidden him in the mansion for so long after he got out of hell. When they had found him no one wanted to trust him. Not even her. So the thing with her and Xander had happened and there was the big break up. Those wounds took a long time to heal and those between Buffy and Angel never did. Even after they could have a relationship. Then she had lost all her friends and family, everything. How that had hurt. More wounds on the scars she already carried.
That was when Angel had returned . When she had found love again. So here she was.Walking down the street with a vampire. Life was a fickle thing.
"What are you thinking?" Angel asked.
"That I love you."
"I love you too. But what are you really thinking.?"
"Exactly that."
"Oh."
Once again there was silence. "Can we go home?" She asked all of a sudden wanting to be inside.
"Of course." So they went. Once they wwere inside she went to the kitchen and made herself a bowl of cereal. Angel watched without understanding.
"Are you going to be all right.?" He asked.
"I think so."
"I think I'll do a little reading." He said to no one in particular.
"No sit wiith me." She begged setting her cereal untouched on the floor. He obeyed. Soundlessly she climbed onto his lap. His arms rested round her as usual. His chest did not rise and fall like a normal mans would have. She listened carefully for the heartbeat she knew would never be there. Absentmindedly she peppered his chest with little kisses. Angel let her. When she reached his mouth he kissed her back. Slowly the kisses grew until neither wanted to stop. The phone rang. Willow moaned in protest as he pulled away from her.
"Ignore it." She growled pulling his mouth back to hers.
It rang again. "Willow I have to answer it. It might be important."
"If it is important they wiill call back." She argued and tried to kiss him again. It rang yet again. This time she growled and went to answer it.
"Hello?" She said
"Willow?" Asked a familiar voice.
"Yes."
"Thank God. This is Giles." The voice said.
"Giles?"
"Yes, I wouldn't have called, but you see Buffy has been hurt . . . badly. They don't know if she's going to make it." Willow gasped. It was all she could do.
"her last request before they put her under was that you two come and see her. I know what happened a while back and I know that you have no reason to wish to see her, but she's dying Willow. Please. If not for her then for me." The Watcher begged sadly.
"How do you expect us to get there? I can take a plane, but Angel . . . " She started.
"Go to the airport, tell them you are there for the privet plane reserved by Rupert Giles. If the sun is up when yoou get here the plane will wait until sunset before having you get off. I paid a lot for this to happen."
"We'll be there." Willow promised.
"Thank you. If my Slayer is going to die she's going to die happy." He muttered mostly to himselff. Stunned Willow hung up the phone and turned to her lover.
"Buffy's dying." She ssaid tears welling up in her eyes. Angel looked confused ffor a moment, then he met her gaze with a hurt look. She ran to him and they held each other.
"What are we supposed to do?" He asked running his fingers through her hair.
"Giles reserved a privet plane for us that I guess is sunlight proof. We're supposed to go to New York and see her before . . . before . . ." She didn't finish her sentence.
"All right. I guess we better pack." She nodded. ************************************************************************** **************************************************************************
The sun was just peaking over the horizon when the plane landed. They hardly had enough time to run into the ariport building before it came up fully. They waited all day for the sun to go back down. Giles came and got them just after dark. He looked old to Willow. His face was sad and his glasses were smuudged, but he made no move to clean them.
"Thank you for coming." He said as they climbed into the car.
"What happened?" Angel asked.
"It wasn't vampires. Or demons. It was a human with a knife and a gun. Shhe was mugged." Giles said with a sigh.
"How's her mother taking it?" Willow asked.
"Her mother died that night. They were together when it happened."
"Oh. Oh my." Willow whispered.
"She lost so much blood . . . it was everywhere. She carried her mother's body all the way to the emergency room. No one would help her or even offer. They called me after they admitted her. They think she might have a week at most. They tried a blood transfusion, but her blood type is very rarebecause she is a Slayer and only another Slayer woould be compatible. Faith must still be alive because the council hasn't heard of a new Slayer, but no one can locate her." Giles said his eyes brimming with tears he must have been holding beack for days.
"When did it happen?" Angel asked.
"Two days ago. A first she seemed to be recovering and they thought she might pull through . . ." There was silence for a while after that. All had thoughts of their own. The hospital was crowded when they arrived. Giles led them through the halls to the ICU.
"Only one person is allowed in at a time. I'll go tell her that you're here." Giles said patting Willow's shoulder as he passed her. Angel and Willow watched through the tiny window in the door. The veiw was bad, but it looked like Buffy was asleep. Giles woke her and spoke to her quietly. Her head turned slightly to the side and she nodded. Giles opened the door and came out.
"Willow. She wants to see you first." He whispered. The red head nodded and went in. The door shut leaving her in alone with the Slayer. She could hear the noise of the machines and faintly through the window the calling of birds.
"Wills." Said the petite blonde from the bed.
"Yeah it's me." Willow answered standing where Buffy could see her.
"Good to see you." The Slayer managed weakly.
"Same here." It pained Willow to her friend like that. The last time they had spoken was when Buffy had returned to talk to Angel. Mean things had been said and both felt guilty. Now Buffy lay there hooked up to at least five different machines. Her face was scarred more than Willow remembered.
"I wanted to see you . . . b . . . because I'm sorry. I . . . reacted badly . . . about . . . you . . . you and Angel. It . . . it's just that . . . I love him . . . so much." Buffy said almost crying.
"I'm sorry. I . . . he . . . you were gone and you didn't write. You didn't call. You kicked him out of Sunnydale and when he came back to see you, you were gone." Willow said sitting on the edge of the bed.
"No. You . . . have . . . nothing to be . . . sorry for." Buffy said shutting heer eyes and shaking her head.
"But . . ."
"I was wrong. You two . . . love each other. I can see it." Buffy strained then and finally managed to sit up. Willow could see the stitched wounds and bandages on her friend then. A sick feeling started in her stomach. She ignored it and hugged her friend lightly.
"I'll send Angel in." Willow said quietly. Buffy laid back down. ************************************************************************** **************************************************************************
Angel looked at her. Whoever had attacked her hhad just ripped her apart. Yet she still smiled at him. "Hello Lover." She whispered. He nodded to show that he acknowledged her greting.
"I have missed you." her voice rasped.
"I missed yoou too."
"I love you." He didn't answer.
"I know that you love Willow now. And I . . . I know that you can never love me like . . . that, but . . . but this once . . . tell me that you love me. Like . . . like you used to." She begged taking hold of his hand tightly. Grief echoed through his face as he looked at her. He didn't hate her. He could never do that. But he couldn't love her either.
"I can't." He said turning away.
"Please Angel." She pleaded.
"I can't, because I don't."
"I understand." She said and let his hand go. When he still didn't turn around she said something that hurt him even more.
"Get out." He did.
************************************************************************** **************************************************************************
Xander and Cordilia came thhe next day. They brought their little girl with them. Willow didn't get to see them though, because she was at Giles apartment sleeping. "I feel so helpless." Willow said laying back on the bed that was in reality a couch.
"I know." Angel said holding her tightly.
"Everytime I see her I can't think of life without her. I mean it's terrible knowing when someone is going to die." She murmured. Angel nodded.
"Do you know what I mean?"
"Willow a long time ago when I was a human I had a sister. She was so pretty and so kind. Everyone liked her. Then one day she was in the market late in the evening. She knew better than to be out that late, but she wanted to finish her shopping. She didn't see the man who was in the alley. They found the next morning nearly dead, raped and beaten. Before she died she looked at me and said she loved me more than anything. I didn't tell her that I loved her back. She died then never knowing that I loved her. That I was sorry I hadn't been there to protect her." Angel said in a low voice. Willow listened and suddenly she understood.
"You still love her." She said accusingly.
"I think that I might."
"More than you love me?" Angel looked at her. She was so beautiful with her bright red hair and trusting eyes.
"No, more of the way you still love Oz."
"Oh."
"You are the only person I could ever love like this. I didn't know it before but yoou are my soulmate. I could never stop loving you even if I tried. Even without me soul you would be the most sacred thing in my life."
"I love you too. But you need to tell her how you feel."
"I know, but every time I go to say it my throat freezes and I feel like I'm losing you."
"Oh Angel, you can't lose me. I'll always be here." She laughed a bit and kissed him lightly. ************************************************************************** **************************************************************************
"What are you doing here?" Xander cried when Angel wallked in the hospital waiting room.
"I'm here to see Buffy I have things to tell her."
"You are a murdering freak, yoou don't deserve to se her. You should be in a demon filled hell suffering thousands of years of torment." Xander yelled. Willow came in then and Xander's words fell flat.
"Willow." He whispered.
"Hello. I would appreciate if you didn't yell at my lover." Xander nearly choked at that.
"What?"
"Angel and I have been together for nearly three years now. I think you need to back down now." She said clamly.
Cordilia smiled at Willow from where she was sitting with a six year old child asleep in her lap.
"Willow. I'm glad to see you. How have you been?" She called.
"This doesn't bother you?" Xander shouted at her.
"No and if you wake this kid up you get to put her to sleep again."