Title: After
Disclaimer: Joss, mutent enemy etc. own this, I is just playing
Author's Name: Finn
Author's note: This is a little depressing, so I thought I'd put up a
warning.
E-mail: finnmentality@yahoo.co.uk
Pairing: W/A
Rating: erhm 12-15 I think
Feedback: always welcome.

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She was sitting there, still, in a large chair that faced the window,
although he didn't think she saw anything but that night, she was,
and had been in a state of catatonia, since they died. Since they
went up against a God to save the world, and Dawn. They had done it,
they always did, in the end just the right amount of research and the
right amount of skill won the day, because good always wins. He shook
his head and walked to her. "Willow, luv, It's time to eat." She
turned her blank stare to him, and just a moment, a flash, and there
was recognition before it was ruthlessly stamped down and the stare
returned to nothing. Patiently he fed her, as he would for all her
life, he knew that now, He would care for her, and her alone. The
world had been saved too many times, It could stand on it's own now,
and fall to firey hell for all he cared. His red-haired goddess was
dead inside and that meant so was was he.

As she ate her mind returned somewhat, and she knew what would make
the pain go away, make it die, She didn't want to die, and she
hadn't, but everyone else had, gone to save a key, to save a wolrd
that remained ever thankless, ever oblivious. She wanted out, she
wanted the guilt about living to leave her alone. She wanted to not
care anymore. She wanted to inflict the hell she was living in on so
many others. But all she did was eat the food he spooned to her. her
days a monotony that never ceased. He had seen the spark of life in
her, she knew, but it would not help them. She turned her face away
and began once again to stare blindly out the window.

A bird pecked at the window, startling her, she breathed heavily, He
noticed, he turned her head towards him and asked "What is it you
want, little one" She blinked the tears from her eyes before she
replied, "What you have, but free of the guilt you carry around" He
stood, and paced, but he could deny her nothing now, and he could see
why she wanted it. He did too in a way, the lack of guilt. So he
knelt beside her and tilted her head away exposing her neck, "This
may hurt a little, willow, but I will try to make it good" He drank
her almost dry, the sweet ambrosia of her blood causing such a
thrill, the walls on his prison, reduced to paper, and her was free
once more. Slitting his wrist he gently held it to her, and marvelled
a her strength when she bit down, and sucked hard.

He sat waiting impatiently, she should have woken now, he felt the
stirring in the air that indicated she was lucid. "Beloved" he asked.
she raised her head to look at him, amber flecks in her
eyes. "Angelus" She replied.