Willow sat at a corner table in the Bronze sipping a cola and waiting
for Buffy. She felt strange, sitting there all alone, while the other
teens in the club danced, talked, had fun. Watching, she felt a pang of
envy. She should be out there right now, laughing, dancing with Xander.
Being a normal teenager. But she wasn't. Instead she was sitting,
waiting for the Slayer. Briefly, she wished things were back to the way
they were before. Before Buffy had come to Sunnydale.

"Wishing things were normal?"

The question, coming from a deep and very familiar voice, pulled Willow
from her thoughts. She smiled as she looked across the table and saw
Angel sitting there.

"You guessed it," she answered. Her smile of welcome faded and a guilty
look replaced it. Had she just wished Buffy had never come to town?

Angel recognized the look on her face. It was similar to the look he saw
on Buffy's whenever she thought about skipping patrol to do some teenage
thing. The same look she got when she wished the world would save itself
for once.

"No need to feel guilty," Angel said to Willow, trying his best to
reassure her. "You have every right to wish things were different."

Willow smiled, thankful to have someone to talk to. As much as she
wanted to, she didn't feel as though she could just come out and tell
Buffy that sometimes she wished the Slayer would go away. Hurting Buffy
wasn't something she was keen on doing. Besides, Buffy had enough
problems of her own. Taking on Willow's would be a little too much for
the Slayer to handle.

Deciding to put all negative thoughts behind her, she turned back to
Angel and changed the subject.

"So, are you looking for Buffy?" she asked her companion.

Angel smiled at the question. "You may find this hard to believe, but my
whole existance does not revolve around Buffy," he told her. The teasing
glint in his eyes took all the sting out of the words. "Besides, I've
already seen her. She's out hunting. I had no idea she was going to be
here."

If Buffy hadn't told Angel where she was going Willow figured things had
gotten pretty intense between the two. Willow was positive Angel had
beat a very hasty retreat as soon as Buffy had given him the chance.

"Why aren't you following her?" Willow asked, a knowing smile on her
lips.

Angel laughed. It was a sound, Willow realized suddenly, that she'd
never heard before.

"I had to promise not to play Slayer protector in order to get out of
her room with my clothes still on," Angel answered. He noticed Willow's
surprised look and frowned. "What?"

Willow just looked at him. "I just realized I've never heard you laugh
before," she told him, feeling more than a little silly. "It's...nice."

Angel smiled at the compliment. "It surprised me the first time, too,"
he admitted. "But, Buffy has a way of making me laugh."

Willow nodded, in perfect agreement. She was always surprised at how
Buffy always managed to be sunny. When she was around it was hard not to
be cheerful.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while and Willow found herself
thinking about Angel's life. She thought what he was like before he
became a vampire and immediately after he'd regained his soul. She
thought about his life now. She wondered about his relationship with
Buffy. The part she hinted at but never really expanded on. She wondered
if he ever wished things were different.

When she looked up she found Angel watching her, his brown eyes staring
deep into her soul.

"You need to talk." It wasn't a question.

She nodded. He was right. She needed to talk. She just didn't know where
to start.

Sensing her nervousness, Angel spoke once again. "How about we talk
about what was on your mind when I walked up," he suggested, figuring if
he steered her toward the right topic she'd open up.

He had figured right.

"I was sitting here, watching everyone having fun. Watching everyone be
so normal. And I realized that I'm not normal," she told him. "I used to
be one of those people. I used to be ignorant to everything that went on
in Sunnydale. I liked being ignorant. Ignorance was good." She stopped,
smiling as her words registered. "But now I know everything. And
sometimes I wish I was in the dark again.

"I remember, before Buffy came, how perfect I found things. I wasn't the
most popular person, I didn't have many friends. But I had Xander and
that was all I needed. I was happy with my life. And then Buffy came,
everything changed and I had a new friend. And then, in the space of one
night, I became part of her world. I became one of the priviledged. It
was nice. I had finally realized how empty my life had been before and
knowing Buffy made me happy." She smiled briefly and turned to look at
the crowd. "But sometimes, when I'm sitting here, waiting for Buffy to
come back from patrol, worrying about whether or not she'll be alive at
the end of the night, I wish...I wish things were different. I don't
really want her to go away, I just wish she was your average teenage
girl."

Angel watched her as she looked wistfully at the crowd of teenagers. She
turned back to him and attempted to smile.

"Have you ever wished things were different?" she asked softly. She'd
always been curious about Angel, about what he thought about, about the
things he did when he wasn't around Buffy. She finally felt confident
enough to ask.

Angel took a sip of his drink as he pondered the question.

"Have I ever wished things were different? All the time," he answered
honestly. "Whenever I sit around my apartment all day waiting for the
sun to set. Whenever I think about all the things I've done. Whenever I
get hungry, but not for food. Whenever I look at Buffy, I wish things
were different."

Willow nodded as she considered his words. She was glad to know she
wasn't the only one who had such thoughts. She looked at Angel, noticed
the pain in his eyes, and sighed. Seeing things from his side made her
problems seem so insignificant. But she couldn't help how she felt. She
just wanted to be reassured that she wasn't the only one who felt that
way.

"Here's another one," she said focusing her attention back on Angel.
"Would you change anything about your life now?"

Angel shook his head. "No, I wouldn't," he answered with a smile. "If I
wasn't who I am, I wouldn't be here now. And Hellmouth and all, there's
no place else I'd rather be."

"Because of Buffy?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

But Angel surprised her. "Not just because of Buffy, although she's the
main reason, but because of all of you," he replied. "It's been a while
since I've had friends."

Willow felt tears in her eyes at his words. "That's sweet," she said
smiling up at him. "I always knew you were sweet."

Angel seemed a little embarrassed by the praise. "It's not sweet, it's
the truth," he stated simply. "So, don't feel guilty about wishing
things were different. When you think about all you have, would you
change anything?"

Willow was quiet as she thought about the question. She thought about
Buffy and how she'd accepted her when they'd first met. She thought
about how Buffy had always managed to be the very best friend, taking
time to listen and to just be there when Willow needed her. She thought
about all the fun times she, Buffy, and Xander had together, even when
fighting demons. But most of all, she thought about the two extra
friends she'd made when she'd met Buffy. They'd become so much a part of
her life that she wasn't really sure what she'd do without them. As
Angel had said, Hellmouth and all, she wouldn't change a thing.

"You're right, things are fine the way they are," she said in answer to
Angel's question. Then she smiled. "Well, maybe I'd change one thing,"
she added, thinking of Xander's crush on the Slayer.

Angel chuckled. "It's too bad we can't make blind 16 year old boys see,"
he told her. Willow laughed at the thought.

So caught up in their conversation, Angel and Willow didn't notice Buffy
until she spoke.

"If you two get any cosier, the gossips of Sunnydale High will be
talking about how Willow stole Buffy's sexy, if slightly older
boyfriend," Buffy said as she slipped into the seat next to Angel. "And
let me tell ya' Will, I'll fight dirty for my vampire."

Willow smiled and greeted her friend. "How dirty?" she asked curious.

"I'll pull out the weapons Giles doesn't think I know how to use," she
told her friend jokingly. "So, what are you two up to? Bonding?"

Angel looked up at Buffy, a sexy smile, the one he reserved especially
for her, on his face. Willow was, once again, struck by envy. She wished
someone would look at her like that.

"Just making plans for a midnight rendezvous."

Buffy glared at him. "You cheat, I slay. Remember that," she told him
seriously. She turned back to Will. "I come bearing good news."

Hearing this Willow perked up. "Good news?" she asked hopefully. "Is it
Xander good news?"

Buffy nodded. "Definitely Xander good news. He's outside and he wants
quality time with his favorite gal."

Willow couldn't help the feeling of excitement and anticipation that
coursed through her. Maybe Xander was getting a clue after all.

"Well gotta go, guys," Willow said as she got up from her seat. She
turned, started to walk away, before turning back. She gave Angel a
smile. "Thanks for the talk." That said she turned and walked to the
doors.

Buffy watched until Willow was safe with Xander before turning back to
Angel.

"That must have been some talk," she said casually.

"Not really," he replied, shaking his head. "Just helping out a friend."

Buffy smiled. "You were worried about me," she said happiness and
amusement in her eyes.

Angel only nodded in reply. Then he stood up and took Buffy's hand in
his. "Come on. We've got Slayerettes to watch over," he told her as he
led her out of the Bronze.

When they stepped outside they immediately spotted Xander and Willow
holding hands and laughing as they strolled down the street. Buffy
couldn't help the smile that lit her face at the sight.

"I've been worried about her lately," Buffy said softly as she leaned
against Angel's shoulder. "I hope your talk helped."

Angel wrapped an arm around her. "I hope it does, too," he whispered. He
looked down at Buffy. He had a feeling Willow wasn't the only one who
needed a talk. "So, how about we go to my place and you can tell me
what's on your mind."

Buffy nodded her acceptance and they walked away leaving Willow and
Xander to spend some much needed time together.

The End