Author: Ghoztstarz
Rating: PG-13
Paring: W/A
Summary: Willow is still getting over Oz and her friends aren't
helping. Angel decides she needs a little vacation.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. They are sole property of
Joss and the others.
Distribution: NHA, SoG, willsvamps, redsoulmates, and anyone else I
post to. Other's just ask.
Authors Notes: This is set during season 4 of BtVS and season 1 of
AtS. It goes AU from there. Warning for Kate and Buffy fans: They
are not portrayed nicely in this fic. I used them shamelessly to
further my plot. =0)
Feedback: ghoztstarz@y... Need it. Love it. I better get it!
=0)



A Vacation to Remember ----------
(1/?)
From: Willow (Willow_Rosen214@U...)
To: Angel (Angel_1753@p...)
Subject: Anything new?
Date: 11:15pm 17 Oct 2001

Hey Angel!

How are things going in the big city? How are Cordelia and Wesley?
Anything new you guys working on?

Nothing new here to report on. The gang is doing fine. Xander is
firmly attached to Anya. Spike is still being...well Spike. He
helps us out from time to time. More to release pent up aggressions,
and get paid, than to fight for good. Buffy is good. Giles is still
doing his gentleman of leisure thing. Though to be honest, I think
he's bored.

I'm sorry I haven't e-mailed lately. Mid-terms were last week. So,
have you set up the Instant Messenger I asked you to download yet? I
know as soon as I send this you will respond. Is there some kind of
vampire mail warning system? Anyways, I'll talk to you soon.

-Willow

----------

Willow came back from the bathrooms hoping she had given Angel enough
time to write back. They started e-mailing each other shortly after
Cordelia had gone to work for Angel. Willow loved talking to him.
He could match her intellectually. Not many could here in
Sunnydale. Plus, he'd done and seen so much. The occasional phone
call was nice too. She loved to hear the sound of his voice. Willow
had to constantly remind herself of the fact that Angel is Buffy's.
True, Buffy is seeing Riley, but that was just a formality to her.
And and Buffy were soul mates. ARE soul mates. Forever.

Sitting at her computer Willow grinned at the new e-mail. She opened
it and read quickly.

----------

From: Angel (Angel_1753@p...)
To: Willow (Willow_Rosen214@U...)
Subject: RE:Anything new?
Date: 12:10am 18 Oct 2001

Hello Little One,

Everything here is going well. Cordelia is asking for a raise,
again. Wesley is doing well also. He found an archaic book shop
near by. I never knew it was possible for a grown man to bounce like
that. It reminds me of Cordelia when she find a big sale.

Things are a little hectic here at times. Wolfram & Hart have got
something up their sleeves. I just don't know what it is yet.

I have installed the Instant Messenger. I am on it right now. The
screen name is AI_1753_LA. I know you have classes tomorrow, but if
you still want to talk I'll be here for a little bit.

-Angel

----------

Willow was practically jumping in her seat as she opened her Instant
Messenger and signed on.



LittleWillow: Angel?

AI_1753_LA: Yes, hello Little One.

LittleWillow: *grins* This is so much better don't you think?
Instead of waiting for the e-mails.

AI_1753_LA: Very...instant.

LittleWillow: Yes, it is. Oh, you made a joke! Ha, ha. Smarty
pants. So, Wesley found a new book store huh? Great! Maybe I could
get him to pick up a few books for me.

AI_1753_LA: Why don't you come down here and check the store out for
yourself?

LittleWillow: A break from the Hellmouth would be nice. I have a
four day weekend coming up. I'm liking the idea already.

AI_1753_LA: Great. So, when do you want Cordelia or I to pick you up?

Little Willow: Oh no, I can take the bus. Besides, you have a
business to run.

AI_1753_LA: No, Willow. One of us will pick you up. Now, what time
and day?

LittleWillow: You're not going to let this go are you?

AI_1753_LA: No.

LittleWillow: Fine, have Cordelia pick me up at my parents house
around 7pm on Friday.

AI_1753_LA: Ok. Is there anything you would like to do while you're
here? We could take you for a night on the town. See the sights and
such.

LittleWillow: That sounds like fun. It will be great to get away
from here for the weekend and relax.

AI_1753_LA: What's wrong?

LittleWillow: Oh, just a little of everything. Buffy keeps trying to
hook me up with random guys. I keep telling her to lay off. I'm
still not over Oz. I hardly ever see Xander anymore, and then
there's the Hellmouth's usual delights.

AI_1753_LA: Yes, relaxation it is then. You should get to bed, it's
getting late.

LittleWillow: Oh, wow. I didn't realize. I'll talk to you in two
days. Good-night Angel.

AI_1753_LA: Good-night Little One.



Willow signed off, shut the computer down, and crawled into bed. 'A
whole four days without the Scoobies, the Hellmouth, school, or
demands,' Willow thought. 'A whole four days at Angel central.' She
slipped in to sleep with a smile on her face.

----------

'Willow's coming on Friday for four days,' Angel thought.

"Oh no," Angel said looking around the office. It wasn't a complete
disaster. It had been a rough week. Files, book, and papers were
strewn everywhere on every available surface.

Looking at the clock Angel let out an un-needed breath. Two
AM. 'Well,' he thought, 'might as well clean up tonight. I won't get
much sleep as it is.'

While Angel cleaned he ran through their conversation again. 'Why
does Buffy keep trying to get Willow to date? Can't she tell she's
not completely over Oz and his betrayal?' Since moving to LA, Angel
had made a few discoveries about his "true love" through his
conversations with Willow. One thing that surprised him the most is
the lack of concern she showed towards her friends feelings. As long
as Buffy was happy then so was everyone else, at least in her eyes.
Angel wasn't sure anymore if he had ever loved Buffy.

Willow on the other hand, was caring beyond anything Angel has ever
seen. He owed her for restoring his soul. As if that
wasn't enough, she readily forgave him for what Angelus had done.
Angel shook his head and smiled. Willow was an unbelievable,
fascinating, beautiful, fragile, and wonderful creature. He thanked
the Powers That Be every time he thought about her.

Angel finally finished cleaning the office and headed down to his
apartment. After grabbing a bag of blood from the refrigerator he
made a mental note to pick up some food for Willow's stay. He could
have Cordeila do that tomorrow. Angel ate 'dinner' and went to lay
down for some much needed rest.

----------

"It's Friday," Willow sing-songed to herself while she packed for
her weekend trip to Los Angeles. The last twenty-four hours had been
the slowest Willow could ever remember. She needed this vacation bad.

Willow told Buffy yesterday that she was going to visit Cordelia in
LA. Buffy had asked her why she would want to visit Queen C when
they'd never gotten along with her. Willow tried explaining again
how much Cordelia had changed but all Buffy had said was, "Whatever,"
and left the dorm room. She didn't even tell Willow "Have fun," or
even, "I'll miss you." However stuck up Buffy got, she was not going
to let it ruin her mood.

Checking the clock for the one hundredth time that night she saw it
was 6:30PM. Willow finished packing and put her bag and lap top by
the door of her parents house, then she paced anxiously, looking out
the window every few minutes. She nearly squealed with delight when
she heard a knock at the door.

Running to answer it she called out, "Cordelia, it's about time
you... oh, Angel."

Angel grinned awkwardly. 'She was expecting Cordelia. Is she
disappointed?' he wondered.

"Hello Little One. I take it you were expecting someone else?"
Angel said.

"No, well, yes, but it's not that I'm not happy to see you here, I
just thought you'd be busy and Cordelia would come," Willow said
nervously.

"May I?" Angel asked, nodding to the inside of the house.

"I never revoked your invitation from when you stopped by to say
goodbye, Angel."

"I know. Just being polite," he said walking through the entryway
and turning around to face her. "You look great."

"Thanks, you look..." sexy, hot, edible, sensuous, gorgeous, "...good
too. LA agrees with you."

Angel smiled. "You ready to go?" he asked picking up her bag.

"Yeah, I am," Willow said. 'Oh my, a two hour road trip with Angel.
What am I going to do, or say?' she asked herself. Locking the front
door she turned and started walking towards Angel's car, and Angel
himself trailing right behind her.

They were almost to the car when Angel stopped her.

"Angel, what..." Willow started to ask but was cut off by Angel
shushing her.

"Buffy," he said flatly.

"How do you know?" Willow asked confused.

"A vampire can sense when a Slayer is near," Angel said quietly.

"So," Buffy drawled, coming from the side of the Rosenberg's
house, "going to visit 'Cordelia'?"

Willow tensed slightly at the vehemence with which Buffy said
Cordelia's name. Ok, so in all fairness she hadn't been completely
honest with Buffy.

"Cordelia had a date tonight so I am picking Willow up for her,"
Angel said before Willow could say anything.

"Oh really, Angel? Didn't I tell you to stay out of my town and my
life?" Buffy asked.

"Buffy, look I...," Willow started to say but was cut off by Angel's
hand on her shoulder.

"No, Little One. Here take the keys and put your bags in the trunk,"
Angel said giving her a small smile, while his eyes pleaded with her
to do as he asked.

Willow relented. She felt sorry for Angel. She had tried to keep
this side of Buffy from him. He deserved to remember her the way she
was, not as this...other Buffy. Willow listened closely to their
conversation as she made her way to the car. Buffy obviously didn't
care who heard her. Angel on the other hand was keeping his tone low
and controlled.

"Do you have any idea how much you being here disrupts my life?"
Buffy asked, hands on hips.

"Yes, that's why I nor Willow told you," Angel said.

"Oh, we'll get to Willow in a minute," Buffy said shooting a glance
her way. "I'm happy Angel. I don't need you coming back here trying
to get me back. I'm with Riley. I love him. I can actually have a
normal life with him. I don't want or need you around anymore."

Willow's jaw dropped at Buffy's pronouncement. She couldn't believe
Buffy thought Angel came here to win her back. Once Willow got over
the shock of the statement she looked at Angel. She saw barely
suppressed rage, and knew the hold on his temper wouldn't last much longer.
Willow decided to step in.

"Uh, Angel, could we go now? We've got a long drive," Willow said
hoping to break this up before things got nasty.

"You're right Willow," Angel said visibly calming some. "Let's go."
Angel turned and walked away from the Slayer, not looking back once.
Not even when Buffy called his name.

"Fine. Go," Buffy said in a huff. "Take your whore and leave town.
I don't ever want to see..." She was cut off by a hand at her
throat. Buffy hadn't noticed that Angel had moved until he was
holding her off the ground.

"Apologize to Willow," Angel growled, yellow eyes boring into hers.

"Angel," Willow said placing her hand on his shoulder. He looked at
her and slipped back into his human visage. "Come on let's go."

Angel looked at her a moment longer then dropped Buffy. He took a
second to spare Buffy a contemptuous look then headed to the car with
Willow.


-End Part 1-


Chapter 2

Angel and Willow drove away in silence, each entrenched in their
thoughts. They stayed that way for most of the ride, every now and
then making eye contact. Finally Willow spoke up.

"Angel, I...I'm sorry. I didn't tell Buffy. I didn't know how she
would react. I..."

"Shh, Little One. Don't apologize for her," Angel sighed. He didn't
know what to say. Glancing over at Willow he could see she was
distraught. He mentally kicked himself. His display earlier hadn't
helped.

"Willow, I...I should apologize for my actions back there. You
shouldn't of had to see that...side of me. It's just, when Buffy
called you that, I snapped. I'm sorry," Angel looked over at her
afraid he'd see hurt or anger, or worse disappointment. He didn't
see any of those. She was smiling.

"Angel," Willow said placing a hand on his arm, "don't ever
apologize again. If you hadn't of done what you did I probably
would have hit her." She laughed bitterly.

"I don't know what's happened to her. Ever since Riley...," Willow
sighed and broke off. 'How do you explain to someone that the love
of their life, well unlife, is not the same person anymore,' she
asked herself.

Angel could see the wheels turning in her head as she organized her
thoughts. He knew she felt guilty, that much he could smell, but
why? 'Such a caring person. She never wants anyone to hurt, even a
monster like me,' Angel thought.

"Ok, I'm not sure what to say. I'm sorry I never told you about
Buffy's attitude change. I didn't want to ruin whatever image you
had of her in your mind. I couldn't even begin to explain the how's
or why's of her change. I'm sorry I kept that from you," Willow
sighed and looked out the window.

'Poor Angel,' Willow thought. 'He must be devastated. I hate
bearing bad news. Even if it's something like this. The worst part
is, he's only seen a portion of Buffy's new "attitude". Ok, enough
of the gloomy mood.'

"So," Willow said cheerfully, "what fun and exciting things do you
have planned for my mini-vacation?"

"Well, I was thinking maybe Cordelia could take you out tomorrow
during the day and show you around town a bit. Then I thought maybe
we could have coffee, you know, since I'm going to live forever,"
Angel said smiling.

Willow laughed, "And here I thought you'd forgotten."

"Never, Little One," he said. "Almost there. I'm going to take you
to Cordelia's. She said she'd love to have you over for the
weekend."

"Oh Angel, I could have stayed in a hotel or something."

"Nonsense. Especially in a strange town, you should stay with
friends. LA may not be on a Hellmouth, but it has it's fair share
of demons and some evil humans."

"Ok. I guess you're right," Willow said as they pulled off the
freeway.

"Wow," Willow said. "This place is so, so bright."

"It can be," Angel said. "We're here." He stopped the car in front
of Pearson Apartments. He got out of the car and walked to, what
Willow assumed, was Cordelia's door. Angel knocked once then opened
the door. Before he could get one foot in the door, it slammed shut
in his face. They glanced at each other before he knocked again.

"Cordelia?" Angel called.

"Angel, I'm here. Dennis won't let me open the door," Cordelia said
from the other side.

"Who's Dennis?" Willow asked quietly. She didn't know Cordy had a
boyfriend and was afraid of imposing.

"He's a ghost," Angel said yanking on the door again.

"Oh, well, I definitely need to hear this story," she said. They
heard a crash inside the apartment, "later."

"Dennis, now listen here, you let my friends in right now or so help
me...," Cordelia let the threat die on her lips.

Willow and Angel sat outside on the patio for another half hour.
Willow yawned. She'd had a rough day and it was finally catching up
to her. Just before Willow dozed off she saw something being
written on the window next to the door. Willow opened her yes fully
and watched as the floating lipstick wrote out the letters, W-I-T-C-
H. Willow burst out laughing. The sudden noise startled the
vampire next to her. He jumped up ready for battle. This made
Willow go into hysterics. All she could do was point to the window
when Angel looked to her for an explanation.

Willow finally took pity on the poor confused Angel. She was
finally able to catch her breath enough to tell him what had set her
off.

"Dennis called me a witch, which I am, but now I finally understand
why he wouldn't let us in. He thinks I'm going to banish him,"
Willow said still giggling.

"Oh, well that explains it," Angel said smiling. He listened to see
if he could hear Cordelia anywhere in the apartment. His senses
found her asleep in her apartment.

"Well, it looks like Dennis wore Cordy out. She's asleep," he said
watching her yawn and rub her eyes. "Looks like you're headed that
way too. Come on lets go."

"Where?" Willow asked sleepily.

"To my apartment for tonight. You can take my bed. I'll sleep on
the couch," Angel said guiding her to the car.

"Ok. Sleep now."

Angel chuckled at the red-heads pronouncement. He drove quietly to
his apartment, thinking the whole way. 'I bet she was too tired to
protest me taking her home. Poor girl's had such a rough day.
First Buffy, then Dennis.'

Willow started making noises in the seat next to him. Nothing like
from a nightmare, just little sleep sounds. Angel smiled again. He
felt lucky to have her in his life as a friend. They finally ended
up at Angel Investigations and his apartment. He was debating
waking her up. In the end he carried her. 'She can get her bag in
the morning,' he thought.

As he passed through the offices he noticed a message on the
machine. He made a mental note to check it downstairs.

"Angel?" Willow asked sleepily.

"Right here," he said setting her down on his couch.

"Where are we?" she asked rubbing sleep from her eyes.

"My apartment. Tea?"

"Huh? Oh, um...yes please," Willow took a moment to look around.
The apartment was spacious and dimly lit. There was a kitchen off
to the right where she could see Angel making the tea, and weapons
on the walls. Willow shook her head and smiled. 'Typical Angel,'
she thought.

"Cream or sugar?" Angel asked from the small kitchen.

"No, plain is fine. I know you don't eat or anything," Willow said.

"True, but there's some by the coffee maker upstairs in the office."

"Oh, good. I actually like a little sugar. I'll go get it," Willow
said blushing. She was up the stairs before Angel could offer to go
himself.

Willow stopped at the top of the stairs to catch her
breath. 'That's right Willow,' she thought, 'just insult what may
be the last friend you have. Could you have been just a little more
insensitive?' Willow continued to berate herself as she made her
way through the office. She fumbled around a little trying to find
a light switch. In her hast to escape embarrassment she'd forgotten
she's never been to Angel's offices and therefore, didn't know where
anything was.

After a few minutes of feeling around Willow came to a desk. She
soon found the lamp and turned it on. Looking up, she let out a
startled yelp. A woman with a gun pointed at her was standing in
the doorway of the office she was in. Willow didn't even hear Angel
run up the steps with vampire quickness. Angel came between the
woman and Willow, effectively shielding her from the gin.

"Kate," Angel said stiffly. Willow maneuvered herself behind Angel
for a better view.

"Who is she?" Kate asked nodding at Willow.

"I'm..," Willow started to say but was stopped by the look Angel
gave her. That look alone got her guard up.

"Willow," Angel said, "meet Detective Kate Lockley."

"Hi," Willow said. Kate just nodded her head again and returned her
attention to Angel.

"Do you know what he is?" Kate asked Willow.

"Well, from the plaque on the door, I'd say he's a Private
Investigator," Willow said sarcastically. She knew she was being
callous to the woman. 'Come on, she's holding a gun, and not even
looking at me when I talk to her. That's just plain rude,' Willow
said to herself.

"No, he's a vampire. Isn't that right Angel?" Kate said, looking
all the world like she just played her trump card.

Willow gasped in mock surprise. "No, a vampire? Wait a minute.
That so was not in the brochure."

Angel almost lost his composure with the urge to laugh at
her. 'Willow's changed, she's got some fire to her,' he thought.

"Ok," Kate said slightly hurt that the little girl made a joke out
of her. "So, you know about vampires. Are you one?" she asked,
thrusting a cross towards the petite red-head. Willow laughed at
the display Kate was putting on.

"No, despite the paleness of my skin, I'm not a vampire. I'm a
witch," Willow said, then turned to Angel and quipped, "What's with
you and women tonight?"

"I don't know, Little One," Angel said smiling, not at all offended
by the comment. It was true after all.

Kate watched their interaction. She caught the cute nickname Angel
had for the girl.

"Did he 'rescue' you from some dark alleyway too?" Kate asked. She
was a cop and knew to get all the information, regardless of
personal feelings.

"No," Willow stated simply. She'd thought for sure Kate would have
asked about the witch comment.

"Are people slow in LA or am I too used to living on a Hellmouth?"
Willow asked Angel.

"It took me a while to get used to it too," Angel said, then turned
to Kate and asked, "Are you going to put your gun down? You know I
can disarm you quickly enough, and Willow here..."

"Could at the very least float it away," she finished for him.

"You were serious about the witch thing? And what exactly is a
Hellmouth?" Kate asked realizing she had underestimated the
situation.

"Well, for starters, yes. I'm a witch, with all the magick, spells,
and all that lovely stuff. Secondly, a Hellmouth is what I went to
high school on for four years. It's literally the mouth of Hell,"
Willow said then yawned.

"Angel, I think I"m off to bed. I've had a rough day. First Buffy,
then Super Cop," Willow said heading for the stairs. "Good-night,
Angel."

"Willow, go ahead and take the bed until we get Dennis straightened
out, and good-night to you too. Sleep well," Angel said watching
Willow nod absently, and head downstairs.

Angel listened to Willow as she made her way to his apartment and
settle on the couch. He smiled to himself. He knew Willow wouldn't
take his bed. It wasn't in her nature.

"So, who is she really?" Kate asked effectively brining Angel away
from his thoughts.

Angel sighed heavily before answering.

"She's Willow. A friend I"ve known for four years."

"Whatever," Kate said holstering her gun. "You just keep
your 'witch' under control while she's here."

Angel growled and had her shoulders in a bone breaking grip before
she could move to leave.

"Don't you dare threaten her Kate," he spat.

"Get you hands off me," Kate said trying to break free of his grip.

"You're on thin ice Kate. For your sake I hope you can swim," Angel
said and let go of her. Without giving her a second glance he
turned and went the same way Willow had gone only minutes before.
At the bottom of the stairs Angel released a breath he didn't
need. 'That was the last thing Willow needed,' he thought. 'First
Buffy practically attacks her outside her house, then Kate ambushes
her in my own office. I really need an alarm or something.'

End 2


Chapter 3

Angel walked over to the sleeping form of Willow on the couch. She
looked so peaceful with her hand cupped under her head and her hair
wild about her. He careful picked her up and carried her to his
bed. He laid her down and proceeded to take off her shoes and
socks. Before he had even thought about removing anther article of
clothing, she spoke.

"I think I can get it from here," Willow said. She blushed slightly
at the thought of Angel removing her clothes.

"Oh, yeah, sorry," Angel said nervously. "I uh, thought you were
asleep."

"It's ok Angel. Good-night, and thanks," she said.

"Yes, good-night Little One," he said backing out of the room. He
went to the closet by the bathroom and got a pillow and got some
blankets to use. Then, went to the couch to lie down. 'Idiot,'
Angel berated himself. 'That's it, just undress Willow her first
night here. Crap, I forgot to check the answering machine.' Angel
listened for Willow's heartbeat. She was asleep. The only phone
lay next to the bed. Granted, he could've walked upstairs to check
it, but that idea hadn't crossed the dark vampire's mind.

He walked silently into the room. Stopping beside the bed, he
looked at the sleeping Willow, for the second time tonight. Her
hair fanned out around her head, framing it nicely. The covers were
pulled up chest high, and from what he could see, her nightshirt was
flannel with a Scottish dog print. She looked adorable, safe, and
utterly content lying there.

Angel pulled his eyes away from Willow and picked up the phone. He
dialed the code for the answering machine and listened. It was a
message from Buffy. She was irate, talking about how Angel betrayed
her love, and that Willow was no longer allowed back in Sunnydale.
It took all of the dark-haired vampire's control not to break
something. He must have hung the phone up hard because Willow woke
up.

"Angel?" Willow asked sleepily. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing Willow. Sorry I woke you," he said. He started to leave
when she reached out a hand to stop him.

"Tell me, please? I might be able to help."

Angel couldn't bear to tell Willow what the message was. It was too
harsh, too mean. Instead he handed the phone to her and dialed the
code to bring up the message. He couldn't look at her face while
she listened. Anger crept along his skin at the thought of Buffy's
words. She silently hung the phone up when the message ended. He
didn't need to see her face to know what she thought. The anger was
rolling off of her in waves. It skimmed along his senses. He
couldn't blame her for being mad. Buffy was way over the line with
this.

Willow abruptly got up off the bed and started pacing the room. She
was the type of angry that thinking to herself was no longer an
option. She had to expend the energy somehow. Yelling and pacing
was better then hitting.

"What does she mean I'm not allowed back in Sunnydale? That's my
home! I was there way before her butt showed up," Willow said.

Angel followed her with his eyes, not ready to interrupt the petite
red-head. She needed to get this out, and him interfering would
only make matters worse.

"Who does she think she is? Queen of Sunnydale? I have every right
to be there. I should curse her and make her ears fall off," she
said. Willow shot a glare at Angel when he snickered at her curse
comment. Her glare softened with his face fell. `Buff wasn't nice
to him either,' she thought. Willow stopped her pacing and turned
to Angel.

"I'm sorry that I got you into this mess. All I wanted was to spend
some time away from the Hellmouth with my favorite Vamp. Instead
I've dragged you into a huge fight with Buffy. Over me none the
less. I don't even know why she's freaking out about it. It's not
like we would ever be anything like she's suggesting. You don't
like me that way. We're just friends—"

Angel cut her off by placing an arm around her and drawing her
closer to him for a hug. `How can she think I wouldn't like as more
then a friend? Has she not looked in the mirror lately? She's
grown into a fine woman. Buffy's really wrong about her,' Angel
thought to himself. He was unconsciously holding Willow tighter and
tighter.

"Uh, Angel, need to breathe," she choked out.

"Oh, sorry," he says awkwardly and lets her go.

She could still feel Angel's arms around her. She felt the heat
rise up in her face and turned around so he couldn't see. She was
feeling tingly in places she hadn't felt in a while. `What am I
doing? I mean yeah, Angel's definitely "yummy", but he doesn't like
me like that. He can't. I'm just mousey old Willow. I couldn't
even keep Oz happy,' Willow thought. Tears brimmed in her eyes.

Angel wanted to reach out and touch her. Gather her in is arms and
kiss her. He'd felt the heat rise up in her and knew she was
blushing. He thought her blushing was cute. Even after everything
the Hellmouth had thrown at her and the gang she still had that one
show of innocence. Then he smelled tears. `Why is she crying,'
Angel thought. `Did I do something wrong?'

"Willow, what's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," Willow said in a small voice wiping her eyes. She still
had her back to him.

He touched her shoulder and she sighed, unconsciously rubbing her
shoulder on his hand. He gently turned her around and pulled her to
him. She didn't resist. He put his arms around her slender waist.
She was biting her lower lip and fidgeting with her hands. She was
nervous in the dark vampire's arms. He reached up with his right
hand and tilted her face up to look at him. He was seated in the
bed and she was standing between his legs. That sent another rush
of heat through her. Angel smiled sweetly at her.

"Angel I—"

"Shh, Little One," he said.

Their lips touched in the barest of kisses, like butterfly wings
touching your skin. Angel had to fight to keep a moan from coming
out. He didn't want to scare sweet Willow. Her eyes had slipped
closed, and she was still feeling the kiss. Everything else was
gone but the feel of him. Her logic told her this was wrong, but
the baser instincts had taken over. She couldn't say no, or stop,
and honestly she didn't want to. Angel dipped his head for another
kiss. He gently nipped at her lips and ran his tongue along asking
for entrance. Willow parted her lips and the dance began. Wet,
hot, and full of passion their kiss was. Her heat warmed his cool
mouth. They finally parted with her panting. Nipping along her jaw
line, Angel didn't want to let go. He finally relented with a kiss
to her forehead. They sat there staring at each other for a while,
trying to figure out if this was just a fluke or something more.



Willow backed up so that she was no longer encased in him. "Angel,
we shouldn't do this," she said.

"Oh," he said.

She heard the disappointment in his voice and felt bad for causing
it. She wanted nothing more then to go back to him and kiss him,
hold him, feel him. But, there was one small little problem…

"That's not what I meant Angel. I liked kissing you, it's just that
it can't be more, and I don't want…it's your soul. I don't want to
jeopardize your soul," she said in a rush.

"Oh, right, the…uh soul, yeah," he said standing up. "But, if it
was permanent would you…would you?"

"Definitely," Willow said blushing.

Angel picked her up and swung her around before her brain could
register that he had moved. Once her brain caught up she was
laughing.

"Put me down. I'm going to get dizzy," she said. He put her down
gently on the bed and now it was he standing between her legs. She
felt the tingles again.

"I guess we should research huh?" Willow asked looking up into his
chocolate brown eyes. She loved seeing him happy, well not too
happy, but smiling at least.

End 3