author: Lucinda
content may be similar to the series, with violence involving humans 
and 
nonhumans, moderate sexuality, and alcohol, though it probably won't be 
as serious.
pairing: Willow/Doyle, mentions of past tense Willow/Tara
fifth in 'Lucky Charm'
disclaimer: I own nobody from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel the 
Series.
distribution: WLS, NHA, Bite Me please?, Wic, anyone else just ask.
notes: AU. Hero never happened. Cordelia hooked up with Wesley, and 
Doyle's crush on her faded.  
 thank you to Gabrielle for taking the time to beta read this one for 
me 
- you're the best.
 

    Xander was the first person to notice. She was still quieter than 
she'd been before Tara had gone away, but not so sad. He kept giving 
her 
these puzzled looks during research. Buffy was cheerfully oblivious, as 
usual, and while Giles fussed a little, he didn't really seem to have 
any ideas why she was getting over the pain, thinking it was just time.

    "So, my bestest pal in the whole world, is there something going 
on?" Xander asked, walking with her to go pick up some food. "Anything 
to tell your best buddy about?"

    "I'm feeling better," Willow shrugged, and glanced at him. "Why the 
sudden interest? It's not like everyone was rushing to try and keep me 
company when Tara left."

    "You have the happy smile. That one that says you're thinking of a 
special someone." He grinned, and put his hand on her shoulder. "You 
can 
tell me, did you and Tara get back together?"

    "No, Tara and I... we're not together, though she's at least 
talking 
to me again." Willow shook her head, sighing. "The time for that is 
past, and it's not coming back. I've just... It's..."

    "You met someone else?" Xander blinked, putting the clues together 
faster than she'd expected. "But you haven't... either someone else 
from 
college, or from that trip to LA. Umm... You aren't... you're not 
hooking up with Cordelia, are you? Because that would be just too 
weird."

    "No, not Cordelia. She's not my type, I prefer someone a bit 
quieter, less confrontational about life." Willow chuckled, and grinned 
at him. "Though she is looking good."

    "For the love of God, tell me it's not his undead broodiness." 
Xander begged, his eyes pleading. "Anyone but him."

    "Angel? Eeep, no. Although he's doing better in LA as well, I'm not 
considering a romantic relationship with him. Besides, he's sort of got 
a maybe-thing with this police detective. I'm not sure how it'll work 
out."

    "Not that I really care, but why don't you think it'll work?" 
Xander 
asked, and then grinned.

    "This detective reminds me a lot of an older Buffy. Blond, pretty, 
confident, and has issues with vampires, but she still thinks he's 
attractive." Willow shrugged, commenting, "People can be so weird 
sometimes."

    "Yeah," Xander agreed. "And if not the walking dead or my ex, who 
caught your eye?"

    "His name's Doyle. He works with Angel, so he knows about the 
weirdness that rattles and does ooky things in the night, and he's not 
repressing. He knows that I'm a witch, and it doesn't scare him." For a 
moment, she let her mind drift in contemplation of Doyle. "He's a 
little 
older, and a little strange, but I like him. He makes me smile and feel 
special."

    "First, how much older are we talking about, and second, does this 
mean it's love?" Xander looked serious.

    "First, it's sweet that you're worried, but since you're involved 
with Anya, you're in the glass house on this one. He's got about ten 
years on me, so he's a little older, but not Anya older or Angel 
older." 
Willow tried to look serious, be she knew that it wasn't working very 
well. "And it's not love yet, but it could get there. I like him, and I 
want to find out if it could be more."

    Xander nodded, ducking his head a little. "Okay, I get your point 
there.  But if he breaks your heart, I'm going to have to hurt him. 
Anya's got lots of ideas, and she'd probably help just for the reminder 
of old times."

    "Thanks for what is probably completely unneeded concern." Willow 
gave Xander a quick hug and smiled. "I'm planning to transfer to UCLA 
next quarter. After all, you know how Buffy keeps trying to push us 
away, saying we should get out and have normal lives while we can?"

    "If this Doyle guy works with Angel, I don't see normal happening. 
And what do you mean, you're leaving?"

    "Buffy thinks we can just walk away from all of this and forget, 
just be normal." Willow shook her head, wondering how Buffy could get 
such a strange idea. "After everything, Sunnydale hurts. There's so 
many 
bad memories, and with the Initiative here, it's not like she needs us 
as much as she used to."

    "What about me? Were you just planning to vanish?" Xander sounded 
hurt, almost sulky.

    "Xander," She glared at him, feeling exasperated. "First off, if I 
was planning to just vanish, would I tell you that I'm planning to 
change colleges and where I plan to go? Second, there's this newfangled 
invention called the telephone, just in case the old-fashioned idea of 
writing letters doesn't appeal to you. And third, do you really want to 
marry Anya and try to raise a family over the Hellmouth?"

    "Ummm... no. Hellmouths have been found to be bad for children and 
everyone else." Xander sighed, and looked sheepish. "Overreacting, 
right?"

    "I know it's only because you care," Willow smiled. "Unless there's 
big evil in LA this weekend, Doyle's coming to visit me. You can meet 
him then."

    "So, after Oz and Tara, now you're taking a chance with this older 
guy.  Well, I've got Anya." Xander grinned, and glanced at the horizon. 
"Who would have seen this one, a few years back?"

    "Expect the unexpected should be our motto, considering where we 
live.  Besides, considering everything, I don't think either of us 
would 
be happy with someone who didn't know what's out there." She took a 
deep 
breath, and then looked at Xander. "There's something else about Doyle, 
and I want you to try not to freak out, okay?"

    "Okay..." Xander frowned, stopping outside the Espresso Pump. "What 
am I not going to like about this guy?"

    "He's divorced, and the reason for the divorce was that they found 
out he's half Brakken demon." The words rushed out, and she looked at 
her friend, eyes pleading with him to be calm.

    "Umm." Xander blinked, clearly trying to put thoughts in order. 
"Have we seen one of those here?"

    "No, they're non-violent. A lot of them also have some clairvoyant 
or precognitive abilities. Doyle gets visions of people that Angel 
needs 
to help." Willow explained, and then looked at her friend. "I think he 
could make me happy, Xander."

    "I got to tell you, this wasn't what I was expecting." Xander shook 
his head, obviously choosing his words carefully. "I think I'm a bit 
freaked out by it, but... If he makes you happy, if he's not dangerous, 
I can deal.  But still, if he breaks your heart or hurts you, I'm going 
to hurt him back."

    Willow grinned at him, feeling relieved. "Good. I mean, not good 
that you're freaked, but good that you're trying to deal. Anya wasn't 
anybody that I was expecting for you, but... We're trying to deal with 
her and all that she says and does and did. Who really turns out to be 
everything that we expected anyhow?"

    "I'm looking forward to meeting this guy." Xander said, and then 
pushed the door open. "Now, we need caffeine and sugar, or else 
someone's going to fall down for a nap over those old books and 
something bad will happen that we don't know how to deal with."

    "I guess so," Willow shook her head ruefully. "Sunnydale really 
doesn't     ever let up, does it?"

    "Not really."

    end Lucky Charm 5 - Talking About Luck