| Chapter five After two long days and half the money they had saved was gone, Willow and Cordelia made it to Maine. The visions had lessened to one a day, letting them know they were doing the right thing. Camden was a small tourist town, right on the coast. It was clean, quaint, and flooded with people from all around the globe. Finding a place to stay was a challenge, and they had to settle on a hotel in Rockland, a couple of towns over. They arrived around noon. Giving them time for a well-deserved nap. Neither girl could see straight, fatigue made just standing up right a challenge. Their tongues would probably be permanently green from the consumption of the Mountain Dew they had been drinking for the caffeine. Not even the knowledge that they might be reunited with the vampire that night could have stopped them from passing into a dreamless sleep. Willow was the first to wake up, her stomach queasy from the fast food diet that all road trips required. Opening her eyes she noticed that Cordelia was still dead to the world, and in the same position she had falling asleep in. The clock next to the bed indicated that it was only six, a couple of hours until sunset. Anticipation rocked through her. Angel was here, somewhere, waiting until it was safe to leave his lodgings. What was he doing? Was his face shoved into one of those old books he loved to pretend to be reading? Giving off the impression that he was doing something other than brooding. Or were he and Buffy snuggled together, whispering their undying love to one another? Groaning she shoved her face into the pillow, trying to erase the last image. She had to make this as painless as possible. She had to prepare herself for the on sought of emotions that seeing the two together was surly going to bring. If she were lucky they�d find Angel, see that he was safe, and go on their merry way. To another town, and the loneliness that would take over her life yet again. �You awake?� Cordelia yawned. �Humph.� Willow still had her face firmly pressed into the pillow. �Hungry?� �Humph.� �I call bathroom first.� Willow could hear Cordelia shuffle through one of the bags she brought up to the room and close the bathroom door. Twenty minutes later the door opened again, �Your turn.� Willow made herself move into action. Opening her own bag she choose shorts and a shirt to wear. Nothing all that impressive, seeing that they hadn�t the money anymore to spoil themselves on designer labels. ********* They sat in a small dinner, sipping on coffee, trying to think of ways to comfort each other. Waiting for the sun to go down was playing havoc on their nerves. They were so close, yet by the way the second hand took its time to circle around the clock seemed like it was taking forever. �More coffee?� The young waitress asked. Both girls jumped at the intrusion. �Yes please.� Willow watched as the steaming liquid quickly poured into her cup. �Do you know where we can find the piers?� The young girl laughed. �Where can�t you find a pier around here? The harbor is down one block to the right. You�ll find at least four piers there.� �Great.� Cordelia said into her cup. �Couldn�t make it easy now could they?� The young girl smiled at them and went on her rounds of refilling coffee. The sky started getting dark, and they decided it was time to go. Walking down the still crowded streets they didn�t see the dark man enter the dinner they had just left. They looked for hours. Walking up and down each pier, with no sign of the Vampire they were searching for. �I can�t walk another step.� Cordelia ungracefully slumped down on the edge of the last pier they had searched. �I need to rest.� Willow sat next to her, resting her head on her friend�s shoulder. The water below had a calming effect, as both girls stared out to sea. �It�s beautiful here.� They sat in silence, trying not to feel lost after their little set back. They had both been so sure it would be easy to find him. How hard was it to find a brooding vampire on a wooden pier? �It�s still early, maybe he waits until the people go to sleep.� Cordelia broke the silence. �Makes sense...This waiting around sucks.� They sat around for another hour, until their earlier fatigue caught up with them. They hadn�t slept very well on their trip up here, and the six-hour nap hadn�t restored them enough for an all night vigil. �I can�t keep my eyes open.� Willow yawned. �I say we get a good night rest and start all over tomorrow night.� Cordelia took one last look at the water and stood up, helping Willow to her feet. As they walked down the pier, they looked over to the other three, and stopped in their tracks when they spotted a lone figure standing at the end of the one closest to them. He was thirty feet away, but they could see his shadowed profile. The figure�s stance just screamed Angel, but if that wasn�t enough to convince them, the dark trench coat the person wore made it a dead lock. Who else would wear a coat in the middle of summer, even in the cooler Maine climate? �Angel.� The girls whispered together. They were frozen in place, stuck staring at a person from their past. He was oblivious to them. He turned and started back toward the landing and both girls jumped into action. �Angel!� Willow cried out, when she realized that he was leaving. The figure seemed to jump, and turn toward her direction. The three of them stood staring across the water that separated the wooden docks, trying to convince themselves that this wasn�t a dream. Angel nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the familiar voice cry out into the night. Looking in the direction it had come from, he felt his un-beating heart climb up into his throat. Willow and Cordelia stood one pier over, both looking right back at him. They stayed that way for a moment, until the girls started racing down the wooden slats, their feet making thudding sounds that echoed into his soul. Taking one step then another he found himself running as well. Reaching the landing first he turned in their direction. They were feet away, and the two girls threw themselves at the vampire, knowing with all their hearts he�d never let them fall. His strong arms gathered them to him, kissing the tops of the red and brunette heads. He didn�t want to let them go, thinking that they vanish the second he loosened his hold. Where had they come from? Why were they here? Had they been looking for him, were they in trouble or perhaps hurt? Making himself put the girls down he inspected each of them for any signs of abuse. They were wiping tears from their eyes, and controlling the emotions that tore through their bodies. Willow reached out to touch him again, reassuring herself that he was there. As soon as her hand made contact Angel embraced her again, slowly rocking them back and forth. Cordelia watched and gulped back the tears that were blinding her. They had found him, and she hoped they wouldn�t have to give him up too soon. |
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