Angelus was in pain. Willow hadn`t beleived him. She`d been scared of getting hurt again, didnt she understand that he could never hurt her, ever. She was the light to his dark, and usually that would have scared the shit out of him, but no, he loved her! It had taken long enough to admit to himself, and now he had admitted it to Willow she had shut herself off from him.
<Well I shall have to go back tomorrow, you wont get away from me that easyly kitten>
With his mind made up he he decided to feed before sunrise and then go home and tell his childre about the new addition to the family.
The next morning Sheila Rosenbourg went to get a glass of juice befor heading off for her board meeting. She put her hand on the fridge door but never got as far as actually opening it. She saw five envelopes with her daughters neat script on them. One was adressed to Xander her childhood friend, one to buffy her best friend , one to Mr Giles the school librarian, and one to Ira and herself. The fifth was adressed to someone called Angelus with a little note on saying "leave on the balcony".
She had a bad feeling about this but opened her letter anyway. Once finished reading a few silent tears dropped down her face. She didnt understand, was she really that bad of a mother that Willow couldnt or didnt feel like she could come to her if she was in pain, or hurting. She didnt have a clue what had caused Willow to run, but even if she wasnt there that often for her she thought she knew her daughter and she knew that Willow would be back sometime, once she`d worked through her problems. She was never one to give up on her friiends and family. She was tempted to read the other letters but she didnt feel like she could invade her privacy like that, or disregard Wills wishes like that. And so she picked up the phone and started ringing the people her daughter considered almost family.
Finally after the relevant calls had been made , she placed the final envelope on the balcony outside Willows room to wait for its owner, while being warmed by the days sun.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Giles was in the middle of re-shelving books when he got the call. He popped the books on the counter and picked up the reciever,
"Sunnydale high library"
"Mr Giles?"
"Yes thats me, how can I help?"
"Umm, this is Sheila Rosenbourg, Willows mother"
"Oh yes hello, Its nice to finally speak to you"
"Mr Giles I have some bad news"
"Is something wrong?Is Willow alright?"
"I woke this morning to find her gone, a few things packed and a letter for each of her friends and you"
"Oh Sheila Im sorry,Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Well Ive reported her gone, but i dont think i can handle comeing in to give the letters out"
"Oh of course, what time would you like me to come by?"
"As soon as possible please, if thats okay"
"Certainly, I`ll be there in ten or fifteen minutes"
"thankyou"
"Your welcome, and, Im sorry"
"So am i"
He hung up and took a moment to take it all in.The girl that he had considered a surragate daughter was now missing, run away, and she didnt feel she could come to him for help. He couldnt imagine what would make Willow run. He was surprised her mother was even there to find out. They were always away on business. They were hardly even there for holidays and such. Knowing sheila and Ira they would be off again befor the end of the week.
He pulled himself together, grabbed his keys and left. He was indeed there in quarter of an hour. He collected the letters and left again after giving Willows mother a tentative hug. He had been right. They were leaveing again tomorrow morning on business. He swallowed down the rage he felt at there lack of careing that there only daughter had disapeared and sat down to read his letter.
Dear Giles,
Godess I dont know what to say. I just had to get away. I got myself in a situation I couldnt handle and I didnt want to burden any of you with it. You have been my mentor, friend, father figure, and confident for nearly two years now and I dont think I could have wished for a better friend. I love you as I should love my own father. Please take care of my friends. You are all the family any of them actually have. Look after yourself. I dont know if I`ll be back but I hope to see you some day.
Take care.
Love Willow
X
By the end of the letter silent tears were courseing down his cheeks and he was praying to whatever Deity would hear him that Willow was alright and she came back to them. Willow was the glue of the Scoobys and she was gone, they would surely fall apart.
