��� Willow was certain that something was up, something no one wanted to tell her.� ::After Tara and I broke up, I was upset, but I got over it!� They are acting like they did when Oz left, but this was different.� When things ended with us it had been okay, I was okay with it, it is better this way. They would never understand the things Tara had said to me when we had that fight so long ago.� I am still sad that I never saw her afterwards, yet I am glad that I left before the talk with Giles had taken place. When I knew it was coming, I just left, I walked for hours around the streets of my home, I ended up back at my childhood home.� So many memories of that place.� My favorite was when Angel had come to my house asking for help with Ford.� I still smile remembering that I told him I was not allowed to have boys in my room.� If only he knew what my thoughts were at that moment. I smile whenever I think about that. That memory is one of the things that� got me threw walking into Tara's empty dorm room a few days after our fight.� I do not know what happened to her after she left our room that day, to my knowledge nobody does. But now I can focus on my witchy ways and my friend.� Besides, Buffy needs me and with Tara around I could not totally focus my attentions toward her. She has had such a hard year, that's for sure; I could not handle things the way Buffy had. But now Buffy will not have to handle it all alone, I can be there for her. That is what she needs and this is what I need!:: she thought as she walked into the magic shop.

��� "Hey Giles."

��� Giles looked up from the book he was writing in, then promptly shut it, and tucked it into a hidden drawer under the counter as he replied "Oh hi Willow.� I did not hear you come in."

��� ::What is hiding from me, damnit, he never hides things from me.::

��� "Well here I am.� Right in front of you, saying hi, Giles."

��� He was about to ask Willow if something was wrong when Xander and Anya come back from Anyas break.

��� "Anya, yes I know it is not fair to tell her but I think.."

��� "Xander, Anya welcome back, look who is here, Willow."

��� Xander and Anya looked up toward Willow, "Hey Will, Just explaining to Anya here, the ex-demon, newly human, the inner workings of uh, the X-files and Mulders plausible feelings for Scully."

��� Anya looking at Xander confused, " But Xander I understand Mulder loves Scully.."� Before she could finish Xander Elbowed her, and Giles reminded her that there were customers to help. She sighed and walked away.

::Here it is again something they don't want to tell me. Damnit! Why do they do this? I am not a child they can protect!:: Her thoughts were interrupted by Xander.

��� "Uh, Wills, you okay?"

��� She gave Xander a scathing look and Replied, " I am fine Xander. I am not a child so you do not have to baby me."� She gave Xander a look and he knew not to press anymore.� "Giles is there anything for me to research?"

��� "No Willow why don't you go rest."

��� "Well I don't need to rest, I am gonna go check on Buffy�"

��� Before she could Finish Xander interrupted her, "Buff is good, no need to go check on her, I was just there, she was, uh, napping."

��� Giles wanting to back up Xander told Willow he had just spoke to her and she had planned on resting before, patrolling tonight.

::They are doing it again, what is going on here?:: She gave them a questioning look before she turned and left without saying goodbye.� ::Well that is it, I have had it, they don't want me to go see Buffy,
they want me to rest and they keep acting like I am going to break all because after Oz left, my first boyfriend, I broke down.� But I am older and I can handle break ups!�� Oh, I can't believe they are acting so weird.::

��� Before she knew it she was standing in front of her dorm room.� ::Well I guess I am gonna go home but I am NOT going to rest!� Yeah that'll show them.:: She walked into her dorm room and looked
around for something to do.� She had finished all her homework for the month and decided to check her email.

��� There was a letter from Cordy.� Since they had that talk about Harmony, they had began emailling each other.� Willow was trying to find a spell that would lessen the effects of her visions, but so far Willow had not found anything.� She was enjoying getting to know the new kinder, gentler Cordy, and it was funny to hear her talk about how funny Angel was.� Angel funny.� Willow doubted it, but if Cordy said so.

��� She opened her email from Cordy, who told her about Lindsay leaving and about his singing.� She sounded smitten.� ::It's a shame that he left, maybe it would have done her some good, but then there was Gunn, after all.:: Willow thought.

��� Willow decided to email her later, and maybe take a nap.� She was kinda sleepy, but no!� She
was not going to give in to them!� They were evil!� She set her resolve face and pulled out her spell books and began looking for anything to help her friend with her problem that was becoming worse. She flipped through the pages for hours until she found something that she thought might not help Cordy, but it would help her get to the bottom of her friends behavior: a truth spell. She marked the page and decide that she would give it a look later, when she was more clear headed and had more of a feeling that her friends were truly hiding something from her and not just walking on egg shells around her because of her break up with Tara.�� She decided to give Cordelia a call and see what she thought of the spell idea.

��� Willow picked up the phone and began dialing the number she knew by heart now.

��� It rang three times before Angel picked up. "Angel investigations, we help the helpless."

��� Willow took a deep breath.�

��� "Hello?"

��� "Angel."

��� "Willow, is that you?" Angel thought to himself.

��� "Yeah," she said breathlessly.�

��� "Will, what can I do for you?"

��� "Uh, actually I was calling to talk to Delia," she replied to Angel.

��� "Oh okay, I'll get her for you, how is school and�everything?"

��� "Buffy's good."

��� "I didn't mean Buffy, I meant you."

��� "Oh, well I figured you meant Buffy, everyone is always asking about Buffy and worrying about Buffy and acting like Buffy is a god."

��� ::Man does she sound upset with Buffy; I wonder what is going on there.� Why doesn't anyone tell me?:: Angel thought. "Willow, calm down and tell me what is going on and let me see if I can help." ::Why do I want to help? I've got a whole city here to help!� But I owe Willow a lot more than a little help.::

��� "Angel thank you for offering to help, but that is why I was calling Cordy."

��� The phone was silent for a few seconds until she heard Cordelia's voice asking,� "Rude much?� Just hands me the phone and walks away," she told a questioning Gunn.� "Cordelia, speaking."

��� "Hey, it's me!"

��� "Willow? What did you say to Angel, he looks like he just lost is best friend."

��� "I just told him I had called to talk to you about what was bothering me, when he pressed, I didn't mean to hurt his feelings."

��� "Well damn girl, you hit a sore spot for him.� Helping people with their problems is what he does, �"

��� Willow lost the next part of the conversation, she was contemplating Delia's protectiveness of Angel. Just another marvel of how she had grown.

��� "Willow, earth to witch child� still there?"

��� "Oh what?� I just got lost in all that encompass my wandering mind.� Let me talk to Angel."

��� "What? No way!� He's in full on broad boy mode.� So not going near him for a few hours.� Now Wills, what's up?"

��� Willow filled her in on all that was going on, the way they were all treating her, about finding the spell and what to do with it.

***********Meanwhile Angels "Full on Brood Boy Mode"*************

��� Angel retreated into himself after his conversation with Willow. He trudged up the stairs into his sanctuary, knowing no one in their right mind would come up after him.�� Willow's tone had bothered him a lot more than he would be willing to admit.� After Willow had returned his soul he had made a
promise to always watch over his little witch, who had the grace of god, and in his style he had. He would always see her when he made his infrequent visits to Sunnydale.� Although, he never really talked to her, he heard about her through his seer and he would help Delia with solving Willow's problems.� He felt he was helping her except without her finding out.� He knew Willow wouldn't like it if he directly helped, as she would think that he was doing it out of obligation.

��� "I am going in circles," he sighed to himself and went back to listening to his seer's conversation with his witch.

��� "Well Wills, I don't know whether you should use a truth spell on all the gang back in Sunnydale,"
Cordy said rather loudly, hoping Angel would be listening to her conversation, like he always did when she talked to Willow.

��� Angel bolted out of his seat, and ran to her side and shook his head no violently no.� He wanted to scream it loud and into Willows ear.� He did not need a truth spell put on Buffy!� What if she told Will about the conversation he and Buffy had had a few weeks ago?

��� "NO, double no, do not put a truth spell on them �. That would be bad, unethical, and Will lets face it your spells do not have the best history. I don't have to bring up the Troll do I?" Cordelia knew it was wrong to hit her best friend so hard under the belt, but Angel really didn't seem to want her to do that spell. She narrowed her eyes at Angel in a warning telling him that he would have to explain.�� "Okay Willow, I will talk to you later and hopefully have an answer for you, but Angel is giving me a look, so I am gonna go girl."

��� The girls said goodbye as Angel walked back into his office for what Cordy called his brood boy mode. She would never understand that he did not brood-- well not as much and as seriously as he had done before.� Anyway, he wanted to compose his thoughts before he spoke to Cordy.

��� Buffy, had called him a few days ago about Willow.� She was cryptic but her message was clear-- she wanted Angel to get Willow to come stay in L.A. for a while.� While he liked the idea, he didn't trust her motives.� Buffy could be very self-serving and selfish. It was unfair to up root Willow and send her away-- not that he didn't wish to see her, because he would love to see her and talk with her, hold her, brush her now short hair out of her eyes, to spend all day and night with her...but that would
be bad, very bad.

��� He looked up into his Seer's knowing eyes and gave her his cutest can't help it smirk."What Delia?"

��� "Well can you tell me why I just insulted my best friend's abilities, even though I have complete faith in her and crushed her even more?"

��� Angel looked at her when and made his decision. "I am going to Sunnydale."

��� Cordelia's jaw dropped."You're what?" she almost shouted.

��� "Buffy called me a few days ago and asked me to get Willow out of Sunnydale. Something has happened, and I am going to find out what."

��� Cordelia knew not to question him when he got that look in his eyes. If he was going, then he was going�if Wes would let him.

��� "SHE doesn't trust my spell casting, that is sooo not like her," Willow shouted at the top of her lungs. She had been screaming and throwing things, which was not like her, but Cordy was not being herself either. This was not good! Why was everyone acting this way?� "Goddess, what did I do to deserve this?" Willow asked herself. Then her phone rang. She sighed, saying softly "Not the sign I was looking for."

��� She reached over and picked up the phone. "This better be good!" she practically screamed into the phone.

��� "Uh, Wills, you okay? I didn't wake you did I?" Angel asked calmly.� It sounded like she was in a bad mood, and he hoped he could calm her down.

��� "Uh, Angel?"

��� "Yes Willow its me."

��� Willow didn't get it. He sounded so concerned for her and wait why was he calling? She realized he was waiting for her to answer him.

��� "Angel, what's up? Not that I mind you calling and oh, by the way, I'm sorry I was so rude on the phone I really didn't mean to but you kinda shocked me. I mean shocked me in a good way not a bad way like
I just made it sound�"

��� "Willow it's okay, breathe." Angel knew how she was when she got on to her ramblings. He didn't mind he could listen to her ramble all day; he really missed her rambling, along with many other things, like her infectious good mood, and her perpetually smiling face.

��� "Angel, are you still there cause I am done breathing. I can talk now since I am sure that is why you called in the first place." Willow was not sure what she was doing. She really didn't ramble this bad anymore, she figured Angel just had that effect on her, always had and she was sure always would. She tried to reign herself back to the conversation that Angel had restarted.

��� "I'm sure you're wondering why I am calling. Well funny thing is I have to come to Sunnydale for a few days to handle some � uh-business and I was wondering if might want to�"

��� Before he could finish Willow's squeal of delight interrupted him. "You're coming to Sunnydale?" She couldn't believe her luck.

��� "Yeah, I will be there for a few days. Would you like to get together?"

��� He hoped she would, she was why he was coming. "Of course I would love to see you! I mean no one her has time for me anymore," she admitted. She thought she sounded like she was whining but she wasn't and couldn't tell Angel that before he began to speak again.

��� "Willow, don't worry things will get better. And until then I am yours."� Angel couldn't believe he said that. ::I mean how was she going to take it, could she take it, would she understand what I meant?::� Before he could ponder too much more, she started talking again.

��� "Angel, that's sweet, but you don't have to babysit me. I can be on my own, I am� big powerful witch remember?" Willow said with a teasing tone in her voice.

��� Angel was exasperated. "Willow, I don't think of hanging out with you as babysitting, and never would. I love to spend time with you and finding out what makes you so wonderful."

��� Willow's mind was reeling. He said he was hers and then that she was wonderful! What is going on here? She hadn't talked to him except for a handful of times in 2 years, and then it was all about Buffy, but she wasn't going there, she would get mad about how her friends were treating her. She sighed. She did not want to be mad when talking to Angel.

��� "Okay mister, when do you get here?" she asked hoping it was very soon.

��� "Well what if I told you I was outside your dorm?" Angel replied in a dead serious tone of voice.

��� "UH, what?" Willow said as she walked to the door and turned the knob and landed face first into a solid wall of sexy muscle.

��� "Hey cutie, like the chest?" Angel asked teasingly. He loved having her pressed into him but he wanted to see if she would still blush at the drop of his smile.

��� Willow slowly looked up from his strong body to see a grin on his face. ::Gods was that a sexy smile!:: Not like his counterparts' smirk, which was sexy in a totally different way. This was a real smile!

"Guess Cordy was right. You have gotten funny," she said to him as she began laughing. He looked down into her eyes and let out something he was sure she wouldn't remember- a laugh.

"She said that? I guess I know someone who is getting a raise, when I get back," he replied.

��� She looked at him and she shot back at him with "Well Gunn deserves it!" She couldn't believe she was standing here with Angel, the man of her dreams, trading quips.

��� Angel couldn't believe she had gotten him. He may have been new at this joking thing but so far no had gotten him! He looked at her dumbstruck.

��� "I got you, didn't I Mr. Funnyman? You're stuck," she was laughing so hard she lost her balance and landed in his arms.� ::Well, here I am back in his arms and it feels so damn good,:: she thought to herself.

��� Angel's thoughts were in a similar place, ::this is good, twice in less than 10 minutes!::

��� Willow reluctantly let go of him as she felt a deep blush starting.

��� Angel felt her loosening her tight hold on him and was not ready to let go of her. He pulled her into a hug and began to speak into her soft red hair.� "Gods, it is good to see you little one, even if you got me."

"Well remember that," Willow responded into his thick chest. Angel slowly let her go, and they broke apart and looked into each other's eyes.

��� "Well little one, are you going to give me the tour?" he said slipping his arm around her shoulder.

��� "Sure, come on in." Willow led him into her small dorm room and said "This is the hall. Sorry the chandelier is out being cleaned. Over here is the kitchen," she said as she walked him to a counter that held her never used microwave. "That is my sub-zero fridge pointing to a little brown fridge in the corner, and this is my library."� She
pointed out as she walked over to the bookshelf that held her magic books. "And last but not least-- my boudoir." She said finishing her tour in giggles as she fell on her bed.

��� Angel looked at her with laughter in his eyes.� "The lady invited me into her boudoir, I thought she was not to have boys in there."

��� Willow could not believe he remembered that night!� She became nervous, because he did, that was sooo long ago. She had no idea what to say to that, but some how her mouth moved with out her permission.� "Well sir, times have changed, but only for you."

��� Angel was surprised and tried not show it. His little witch was all grown up and practically inviting him in to her bed! No she could not know what she just said to him. No way. Yet next thing he knew he was sitting on her bed saying---"Well mil' lady, that sounds enticing."

��� He took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on her hand, trailing it up her arm, until his lip brushed against, her cheek, right where her lips met with the flesh.

��� Willow was in shock. He just kinda kissed her! But what was she expecting? She had just invited him in to her bed. What was she doing? He was Buffy's! She had to get this under control before it went any farther.

��� Before she could speak, her phone rang loudly really loudly, making her and Angel jump.
After the second ring she looked at the phone and said wistfully, "I guess I should get that."

��� She reached for the phone and answered it. "Hello?"

��� The voice on the other line replied "Hey Wills, Xander said you were looking for me earlier."

��� "Oh, Buffy," she said as she looked guiltily at Angel, who was motioning for her to not tell Buffy he was there.� "How are you? Whatcha doin? Patrol go okay, no big bads?"

��� "Will, have you had coffee?"

��� "No, just woke up from a nap, yup me nappin'.� It's what I do best."

��� "How was your afternoon?"

��� "Oh, uh, good. Helped Dawn with her homework, watched TV, patrolled."

"Oh, really?� I could've helped dawn with her homework all afternoon.� Xander and Giles said�"

��� "What did they say?" Buffy asked wondering what Xander had told her she was doing. ::I hope I didn't just give something away.::� Buffy thought to herself.

��� "Oh, nothing.� Just that you were busy this afternoon, and I shouldn't bother you.� But I could of helped with
Dawn," she told Buffy, not buying a word her supposed best friend was saying. She looked at Angel as to say, "See?� They're hiding something from me."

��� Angel gave her with a look that said "get off the phone, we need to talk."

��� "Buff, I am really tired.� I am gonna let you go, k?"

��� Buffy was really worried now.�What had she done? "Are you sure? You sound like something is wrong.� Tell and I shall solve."

��� "Oh Buff, nothing is wrong, just really sleepy." Willow tried to fake a big yawn into the phone while trying not to laugh at Angel making faces at her.

��� "Well if you're sure, I'll let you go back to sleep.� It is late," Buffy replied to her best friend.

��� "K, goin' sleepy now, talk to you soon�"

��� Angel listened as the girls said goodbye. He knew something was up.� He could hear Buffy's voice over the phone; she was hiding something and he planned to know what it was by the end of the next night.

��� Willow hung up the phone, and her tummy growled. "Well jeeze, I guess I should eat something," she hinted at Angel.

��� "Well Willow, why don't we go get you something to eat and you can tell me about Buffy said to you," Angel replied as he stood up reluctantly from her bed.

��� Willow grabbed a coat to Angel's dismay, and off they were headed to Waffle House.

��� Once seated in a small booth in the back, a woman who looked like she was a reject hooker came over and took their order.� Angel looked at Willow, noticing the small changes in her since the last time he saw her. Her hair was shorter and curlier though still that same red, which he loved. The physical changes ended there. The emotional changes were the significant ones. She sat taller; confidence oozed from her, as well as sexiness he knew was beneath her child-like demeanor. The magic flowed from around her.� She had to be amazingly powerful now.� Her eyes no longer held the innocence he held so dear within his memory of her.� Although there
were glimpses of it, he had a feeling, she knew how to use it to her advantage now.

��� Willow looked at Angel and figured he was studying her, which would explain his quietness.� Since he was looking at her, she took the chance to silently study him as well. Of course, his looks have not changed, except for his eyes.� The pain that she associated with Angel was no longer present in his eyes.� They now showed love and kindness, that at times she remembered seeing on occasion. He just seemed lighter, if you could describe a vampire as "lighter"; he glowed with a happiness she was glad he had found, she thought to herself. One thing she did notice was that he was wearing a deep purple.� It just made him look more handsome.� ::If only, he would wear the leather pants with that shirt, it would be a dream come true,:: Willow thought as she sighed.

��� Angel noticed her sigh, and decided that he had enough studying and was going to ask her her about her call and that soft sigh. "Well Will, what did Buffy say?" Angel asked while gauging her emotions.

��� "Just that she is a big fat liar, a selfish bitch, and as big a slut as spike thinks she is, or until he fell in love with her, like the rest of the male population in the world, and some of the female population--I think Tara had something for her." Willow answered Angel.

��� Angel didn't have to gauge much.� She just let it all out! He was confused about the Spike and Tara comments, but was pleased that she was being so open with him.� He reasoned that if inviting him into her bed didn't open her up to him then he didn't know what would.

��� "Well Willow, don't hold back on me, tell me how you really feel," he said with a laugh.

"Oh goddess, I am sorry Angel!� I know you love her, but sometimes she just makes me sooo, well I would say mad, but that word does not encompass how I really feel. But, oh, I don't know how I feel, but by the look on your face I am still babbling so I'll stop now," she said looking up in to Angel's eyes.

��� "Willow, you can tell me you hate Buffy, and it won't bother me.�� I know how you feel, and you're right, I do love her, but I am not in love with her.� After I got back from hell, I started to see things about her that made me not want to be with her anymore.� Yes, I did love her, but I could not be with her."

��� Willow didn't know what to say. He had never said so much at one time to her, let alone something that made her that happy. Willow decided she should say really feel. But, oh, I don't know how I feel, but by the look on your face I am still babbling so I'll stop now," she said looking up in to Angel's eyes.

��� "Willow, you can tell me you hate Buffy, and it won't bother me.�� I know how you feel, and you're right, I do love her, but I am not in love with her.� After I got back from hell, I started to see things about her that made me not want to be with her anymore.� Yes, I did love her, but I could not be with her."

��� Willow didn't know what to say. He had never said so much at one time to her, let alone something that made her that happy. Willow decided she should say something before her mind started reeling even more.
"Well, Angel, tell me how you really feel," was all she could muster.

"I am sorry Angel, I was starving," she said looking at him sheepishly.

He told her not to apologize to him for anything, and if she thought that was bad she should see Cordy eat! They both laughed at the idea of Cordelia eating anything. Angel hated to end the playful mood, but he need to know all that was happening so he could find out how to solve it.

"Willow, when did all of this start?" he asked her.

"When did what start?" Willow replied innocently.

She did not want to tell Angel all about Tara. She had decided that she was going to do the truth spell, and she was sure that he had told Cordy to discourage her from doing it. She could just see Angel standing behind Cordy, instructing her what to tell her.

"Willow don't play coy with me, you know what I am talking about," Angel said to her. He didn't want to let on too much; he did not want to damage the friendship or what ever they were heading into, nor did he want to damage her friendship with his seer.

"When did Buffy start making you mad?" he asked a straight-faced Willow.

Willow was feeling better at his last remark; ::he just thinks I am mad at Buffy,:: she thought to herself. "I dunno when it first started. I guess today when I found out that she was lying to me, or Xander was lying to me. I do not know which one it is. I guess that means I mad at both of them. Oh yeah, I am mad at Giles too, he backed Xander up," she confessed, taking a deep breath. ::Angel is going to have to go away or doing something, because I cannot do the babble thing too well anymore,:: she thought to herself.

Angel was slightly amused by her display. She had been trying to keep from him what was going on but had just let him know she was mad at everybody. All he had to do was distract her and she would babble the rest of it out. He knew this was not the best way to do it, ::However it was the quickest way,:: Angel thought to himself.

Angel reached across the table, and lightly brushed his fingers across her cheek and brought them down to cup her chin. Bringing her eyes back up into his, he asked, "Why are you mad at them? Have they done something?"

Willow was still dealing with the shock of feeling Angel's fingers on her skin, but before she knew it she was spilling her heart out to him. She told him all about the Giles incident, which is what she was calling it, about Xander and Anya's conversation before Giles had told them she was there, about her phone call from Buffy, and about Cordy's insinuation that she couldn't do a spell right. She just let it all out. ::Maybe Angel could figure it all out,:: she hoped silently.

"Wow, little one, it sounds like you have had a rough few weeks. So, how do you want to solve this problem? Because it sounds like they're not listening to a word you say to them. Do you think this has to do with Tara leaving, or do you think it is something else?" Angel asked to her after the confession.

Willow didn't know what to do. Should she tell him about he spell or not? No, she decided, she was not going to tell him about the spell. She knew he would never go for it. She almost wanted to tell him what he could do to make her feel better, but that would just end up a repeat of what happened on her bed this afternoon. Of course, after that, she needed a spell to remove guilt. But Buffy was being a bitch, and Angel wasn't in love with Buffy anymore. As a matter of fact, she didn't know the PTB had anchored his soul! Willow only knew because Cordy had told her a few weeks ago.

Willow let her thoughts swirl in her brain for a few minutes. As did Angel, until a deep blush started rising on her cheeks, and she had opened her mouth, letting out another soft sigh. He couldn't take it a minute longer so he asked, "Little one, what is going on in that beautiful head of yours?"

Willow stuttered her reply "What did you just say?"

Angel had a bemused look upon his face as he said "You know what I said little one."

::So he had called me beautiful!:: she rejoiced silently, her mind beginning to race again. As he paid the bill and left a huge tip, he grabbed her hand and said in her ear breathlessly "Let's get out of here."

She willingly complied as he took her hand and they began walking the streets of Sunnydale, silently. Angel didn't know where they were headed, and he didn't care as long as she was still held his hand.

Willow couldn't take it any longer. She stopped and looked up into Angel's deep chocolaty eyes and asked "Did you just call me beautiful?"

"Yes little one I did," he replied as he looked down into her wide, sparkling emerald eyes. He leaned down and brushed a feather light kiss upon her lips. When she deepened the kiss he traced her lips with his tongue, begging for entrance.

Willow was shocked to feel his cool lips softly touch hers, all she knew was she wanted it, and she wanted more of it, harder and deeper, she wanted to taste him. She deepened the kiss and slowly traced her hand up his neck up to his sable colored hair, enjoying the shiver that went through his body. When he traced her lips with his cool tongue, she moaned against his mouth and opened up to him, pressing herself into his hard, delicious body. She wanted time to stop while she explored his mouth. Although she would be the happiest witch on the planet if she died right now of asphyxia, she needed to breathe. She pulled away from him, dazed.

All he could say to her was "Wow! That was amazing."

She looked at him and just nodded her head, not trusting her voice.

Angel's mind was going a mile a minute. He had never experienced a kiss that passionate before in his life! Never had Buffy kissed him with all the passion that he had felt come from Willow. Buffy had never completely let herself go with him. He wanted to pick Willow up in his arms and carry her to the nearest bed, but he would wait. He knew it wouldn't be her first time but he wanted it be like nothing else she would ever experience, so he would wait. He was not going to be like some boy. He was almost 250 years old so he could at least act like it.

"Little one I am going to have to get you back to your dorm, unless you want to come spend the night at my place." He looked to her face, to see how she would react to that idea. She just looked at him and smiled, and tightened her grip on his hand.

She answered his request with a simple answer "I would like that."

Her mind was racing. She was going back to Angel's! What would happen? She was sure he wouldn't let things get too far too soon, which she was grateful for, but she would like more smoochies, that's for sure.

Before Angel could say anything else to her, they were standing in the lobby of the hotel he was staying at. They took the elevator to the 6th floor, and stepped out into the penthouse suite. Before Angel knew what was happening, Willow had pulled him into another deep soul-searing kiss.

::Gods her lips taste so sweet, like strawberries,:: he thought to himself, before he lost all thought to the kiss.

They stood in the entrance way, kissing for several more minutes until Angel pulled them apart and looked into Willows' lust filled eyes, saying "Little one, we need to stop this before it gets out of hand, and we take this too far to fast. When I pull you into my arms and make love to you I want your feelings to be as deep as mine."

Willow could not believe this was happening. Angel had deep feelings for her! When did that happen? How did that happen? She was about to get lost in her thoughts when she realized she had not spoken a word to him in 10 minutes and figured she should try. "Angel," she began softly, "I don't what this to get out of hand too fast either, but I do have feelings for you. I have had them for a long time, and I want our first time together to wonderful."

She looked at him and decided that she needed to diffuse the situation with some of her well-placed humor; she slowly moved out of Angels embrace and took a look around the room. "Well,it is not as nice as my place but it will do," she said looking dead serious at him.

Angel let out a deep hard laugh and replied "Little one, we are going to have to teach give you some taste."

She shot back at him "I have taste! I choose you didn't I?"

she thought to herself but got even more excited by the Dasani water that she had recently become addicted to. She grabbed a bottle and settled herself on the couch, and snuggled into the cool arms of her vampire.

Angel reveled in the feel of her in his arms. He had questions he wanted to ask her but was unsure exactly how to ask them. He decided the direct approach was the best. "Willow I have some questions I want to ask you."

"Okay, ask away," she answered steeling herself for anything he might ask.

"You mentioned something about Spike and Buffy and Tara earlier and I wanted to know what you meant," Angel asked as casually as possible so as not to arouse any suspicion on her part that he still wanted Buffy.

Willow's mind went automatically to those very thoughts, but she pushed them down. She knew he was no longer in love with her best friend.

She filled him in on Spike falling in love with his mortal enemy and about all the things Tara did and said about Buffy. Angel was in shock with everything Willow said about his grandchilde. He knew that Spike had feelings for Buffy, but what shocked him the most was the fact he had tried to act on those feelings. However he was not too surprised since he knew that Spike's mind worked in twisted ways. If Spike couldn't kill her the next best thing for him to do was fall in love with her. It was amusing. Yet what Willow told him about Tara was not so amusing. It sounded like the girl did have feelings for Buffy, however he did not know Tara.

Willow's story had taken a lot out of her, as well as the events that had happened between them. He pulled her tighter in to his arms knowing that he loved her more than anything in the world.

As Angel tightened his hold on her, Willow knew in her heart she was falling head over heels for the man who held her so tightly in his cool embrace. It was funny to her because she thought she was done with men. Tara had opened her up to a new world, which Willow had loved and treasured but that world was not enough for her, she wanted more and now she knew what that more entailed.

"Little one," Angel spoke softly in to her hair.

"Mmm?" Willow replied to him in a lustful yet sleepy tone.

"Are you sleepy?" he asked her hopeful that he could carry her into bed and wrap his arms around her body while they slept.

"Uhmmm, will you stay with me though?" she asked tentatively.

Angel's response was pulling her into his arms and carrying her to the bedroom and laying her on his bed. His hands traveled down her body as he relieved her of her skirt, then her shirt. He left her momentarily with a questioning yet longing look in her eyes as he went to the armoire and grabbed her on of his oxford shirts to sleep in. He slowly wrapped it around her fiery skin and then began buttoning each button until there were three left. He looked down into her cleavage and could not bring himself to fasten the button that would hide that view from him.

Willow sat back and allowed him undress her, not wanting to lose his touch. Her skin craved it. She looked into his eyes when his hands were no longer on her body, she watched him retreat to a closet and return with a soft, supple oxford shirt that smelled of him. She sat up and let him drape the cool comforting cloth around her achingly warm body. She watched his face as he slowly placed his fingers on the buttons to hide her body from his eyes. She knew he did not want to clothe her but felt he needed to.

Willow slowly moved her hands to his body and pulled the tail of his shirt form his pants watching the lust play in his eyes as she slowly unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off of his body. She placed feather light kissed down his sensitive abdomen, as she reached the zipper on his pants, she slowly pulled on it and freed him form the suddenly too tight pants. She was surprised when she got there, not because of the evidence of his arousal but because he was wearing Scooby doo boxers.

She giggled as he realized why she had stopped. he chastised himself. They had been a gift form Cordy on a day he was missing the `good ole days'. Cordelia had thought herself quite humorous that day. If truth be told, he had thought so too, but in this situation he lost all thoughts of humor. However they did not seem to bother her as she just continued on removing his pants with a knowing smile.

When she returned from her trek, he placed a sweet soft lingering kiss on her lips as he pulled her on to his chest.

---

Neither of them spoke about what had just transpired between them. Willow drifted off to sleep with the new images of Angel in her mind. As he slowly stroked her hair, Angel could still feel her burning fingers on his cool skin. He wanted her, there was no hiding that fact. He felt her float in to dreamland. He whispered to her "I love you little one" as he too feel asleep.

Willow awoke with a start, as she often did when she found herself somewhere other than her own bed. Not that that had happened since Tara. She looked at the clock on her bedside table. She had been asleep for her normal four hours, but she was not going to leave Angels protective arms that encircled her. She thought about what had happen in the last twelve hours since Angel showed up at her dorm. The thought that had made her the happiest was when she heard Angel tell her that he loved her right before she fell asleep. That thought had turned into some rather graphic dreams of the man who was presently nuzzling her neck.

"Little one, I know you're awake, and I demand that you go back to sleep." Angel surprised her enough to pull her from her probing thoughts.

"I am sorry sweetie, I didn't mean to wake you up, but I do have to go to school today," she lied to him, knowing she needed supplies for the spell she was going to do tonight.

Angel didn't want to let her up but if she had to go to school, then he had no choice. He knew how important it was to her. "Okay, little one, up you go. I'll call room service and order you some breakfast. What would you like?" He said as he got up from bed, giving her a show.

Willow watched his movements as he removed himself from the confines of the bed they shared. He slowly uncovered his body, with a grace Willow supposed one would get after 250 years. However she could feel he was letting her know what she was missing by getting up.

"Just some toast, with strawberry jam, please," she replied to Angel's request.

Angel walked out into the living room of his suite. If she thought he was going to order her toast then she didn't know him very well.

Willow dislodged herself from the bed and headed to the bathroom, knowing that Angel was not just going to order her toast. She just hoped what ever he got her came with strawberries.

After Willow had showered and dressed in one of Angels' shirts and her skirt from last night, she left the bedroom to find Angel sitting in the kitchenette with a plate of chocolate chip pancakes covered in strawberries in front of him. Her jaw dropped. How in the world did he know?

Angel sat and sipped his blood, as he watched Willow walk into the room and saw the breakfast he had ordered her. "Its getting cold little one" he told her.

"How in the world did you know that was my favorite? "she asked him.

"There are a lot of things I know about you, and by the way my shirt looks good on you," he replied huskily.

"I am sorry, I hope you don't mind but mine had something on it." She knew he didn't, she could tell by the look in his eyes.

"Anything of mine is yours," he told her. "Now sit down and eat your breakfast."

They sat in comfortable silence as she ate; he watched her try to eat slowly even though he could hear her stomach rumbling.

Willow devoured her food, trying her hardest not got get any of the strawberry juice on Angel's midnight blue shirt.

Angel was glad she was wearing his clothes; if she ran across anything of the not-so-nice population of Sunnydale, they would smell him on her and stay away. It was also a shirt that Buffy has never seen so she wouldn't recognize it. And damn did she look good in it! It made her bright hair shine, her skin look creamier, and her eyes looked like the deepest darkest emeralds he had ever seen. He wanted to take her right there, smear the strawberries all over her and lick them up very slowly. It was taking all his willpower not to.

Willow finished her breakfast and thanked Angel for it by giving him a very soft gentle kiss. Angel returned the kiss and deepened it. Pulling her in to his lap, he asked, "Do you have to go?"

Willow wanted so desperately to stay with him in this position and make love to him but could not. She HAD to get the ingredients for her spell. She still needed to know what they were hiding from her. She may have Angel but she just had to know. The old saying 'curiosity killed the cat' popped into her head. She dismissed the thought quickly. She should have taken that as a warning but could not know at that moment how things were going to change that very night. Angel could tell by her silence that she was contemplating staying with him. So he asked "I am going to take you silence as a yes." He picked her up and carried her to the couch ignoring her pleas that she couldn't stay.

"Angel put me down, now!" she demanded.

He did as he was told, his mother taught him well.

"I have to go to school, I have a paper due," she said, feeling terrible about lying to him again.

"No stay with me little one, I promise you'll have more fun," he said wickedly.

"Angel, don't do this! You know I have to go," she whined.

"I know, but I just want you to stay with me---please."

"Look at me�do you see this face? Do you know what it is? Huh, do ya mister?"

Angel looked at her, it only took a minute before he recognized the look.

"Yup, that's right, it's my resolve face--- you know not to mess with it right?"

Angel knew what this meant. There would be not passionate lovemaking when she had that face on. "Alright you win," aas all Angel could muster.

Willow got so excited she almost forgot she had to leave. She had won their first fight and it was not an easy thing to do when she had to say no to that angelic face. She turned to leave--- again, when she felt her feet leave the ground. Before she knew what hit her, Angel's arms embraced her, and his lips met hers. It was in that moment that she knew she could never leave him again. When the kiss ended Willow mumbled "I wonder if UCLA, would accept me?"

With that she walked out the door into the waiting elevator, leaving a baffled, yet excited Angel.

---

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