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Chapter Thirty-Eight

"Okay, what was that about?" Cordelia asked as Douglass pulled Lindsey from
the room.

"I dont know. Buffy was asking him something then Douglass interrupted."
Aria walked over to the slayer who was sitting alone again.

"Where did Lindsey and Douglass go?"

"I dont know, guess somewhere to smooch." Buffy shrugged.

"S-smooch?" Aria looked at her in disbelief.

"You know, what boyfriend and girlfriends do." Buffy looked at the redhead
oddly. "They are boyfriend and girlfriend right? Well, thats what she said
anyway. I assumed he was with Willow."

"Willow? Oh no shes not with Lindsey. Nope, youre right. Douglass and
Lindsey are together. Yep." Aria turned to the group that was watching
closely. "Buffy was telling me that Douglass and Lindsey went to...smooch.
You know, what boyfriend and girlfriends do? She thought that he and *Willow*
were dating."

"Willow? Lindsey? Nope not them." Cordelia shook her head.

"Smooches?...Not bloody-humph...yep you know those two love birds." Spike
glared at Gunn who had nudged him in the ribs.

"Okay." Buffy looked around wondering at their odd behavior.

"Theyve been fighting you see so its a surprise to hear that they went
to...smooch." Aria covered shooting a glare at her friends.

"It sounded like Lindsey was going to say that Willow was seeing someone."
Buffy felt a little left out having to ask who her best friend was seeing.

"Willow? Seeing someone? Not that I know of." Aria backpedaled.

************************

Douglass moaned as she pressed herself further into Lindseys embrace.
Goddess he was a good kisser. Kisser...kissing...Lindsey. "No." Douglass
untangled herself and near ran across the room from him. "Oh no you dont.
Its taken me a month to get over what happened and I *will* not let you come
back and just start kissing me like nothing happened."

"Douglass, I messed up, I know that. God how I know that! And Im not stupid
enough to think that a few kisses will take that away but I care about you.
Ive never met anyone like you. Youre smart, beautiful, spontaneous and
have so much passion that it scares me sometimes." Douglass couldnt control
the tears that swam in her eyes. He was saying everything she had dreamed he
would say but her heart ached knowing that what she felt for him could never
be fulfilled. Though her friends may have an aversion to helping him, they
would. One day they may even like him, after he proved himself. But nothing
romantic could happen between herself and Lindsey. It would be like spitting
in her friends faces, loving the man that had tormented them for so long.

Lindsey knew he was losing and it was better to back up for now. Too much was
happening and if she needed time to think and see that he was intent on
changing, then fine, hed give her space. "Douglass, I wont push but when you
decide that we stand a chance Im here. Ill always be here." Sadly he
turned around and headed upstairs, this was what angel had meant. She may
never take him back and if he wanted to change he had to do it for himself,
having Douglass take him back was just an added incentive.

************************************

"Is that it?" Angel looked at Willow and Giles who had collapsed to the
ground, their clothes drenched in sweat. Both eyed Angel as though he had
lost his mind. Willow groaned as every muscle in her body screamed in pain.

"What did you expect? A light show?" Giles asked sarcastically.

"No, its just everything Ive...weve gone through, that spell seemed so
easy." Willow agreed with his words, for such a huge gift the spell had been
relatively easy.

Angel stood and walked around the rooftop concentrating on his inner self. He
could still feel the demon inside but instead of it fighting, it sat
cowering. He no longer heard its words of torment. The beast was silent.
Angel gave a half smile then whooped for joy, racing over he scooped Willow
up and swung her around.

Willow squealed in delight and hung onto Angel. Giles watched smiling as the
two friends celebrated but the watchers smile faded when something dawned on
him. Angel and Willow were in love. Dear God, Id rather face Glory on PMS
than Buffy when she finds out. Giles thought.

Placing Willow back on the ground, Angel leaned in and captured her lips, the
kiss didnt last long and wasnt filled with the passion he would soon show
her but with friendship and gratitude. He was the first to pull away leaving
a dazed witch in his wake.

Giles cleared his throat. "Yes well." The vampire and witch jumped at his
words forgetting that the older man was even there. "We should go and tell
the others, Im sure theyre anxious to hear the news."

*************************

"Did it work?" Buffy rushed to Angels side putting her arms around his
waist. Willow stepped away and walked to where the rest of the group was
standing.

"Girl, you okay? You look youre going to pass out." Gunn reached out as
Willow started to sway.

Smiling gently Willow nodded her head. She purposely kept her back to Angel
and Buffy not knowing just how much more she could take seeing them together.
He was sending so many mixed signals and right at that moment she was too
tired to sort it all out.

"Wheres Douglass?"

"She and Lindsey went to talk." Aria went on quickly to explain. "Buffy was
asking Lindsey some questions, one being if the two of you were dating. He
almost told him that you and...well Angel were a thing when Douglass stopped
him and pulled him from the room."

"When was that?" Willow started to get worried.

"About ten minutes ago." Gunn saw that the red head was worried and tried to
put her fears to ease. "He wont hurt her Willow. He knows that wed kick his
ass."

Cordelia watched in disgust as Buffy had a death hold around Angels waist.
"Youre not going to stand here and just let her throw herself at him are
you?" Cordelia hissed. "What about that saying fight for your man...okay
vampire."

"He's not my anything but friend. I may have feelings for him but that
doesnt mean that he feels anything for me. Im tired and just want to go to
bed." Willow went to her room without taking another look in Angels
direction. Tears were falling from her eyes before she could get the door
shut and all she wanted to do right then was have a good cry and get some
sleep.

"Peaches," Spike hollered across the room. "We need to go find where Brat and
Lindsey holed themselves up." Spike was getting nauseous watching the slayer
manhandle his Grandsire. Angel pried Buffys arms away and looked at Spike in
raw gratitude.