It took a while for Angel to realize that they weren't alone. He
should have sensed his Sire's presence the moment he stepped over the
threshold, but Willow had distracted him. She was babbling excitedly
about saving the girl and being a part of the team again. She was so
beautiful when she was excited. He shouldn't have kept her on the
sidelines for so long, helping people was a part of her. It was
because he was focusing on Willow and her inner and outer beauty that
he didn't know that Darla was there until they saw her perched on their
bed.
"My, my, looks like I've created a monster. Found out that it was safe
sex as long as the slutty slayer wasn't involved and you can't get
enough of it. Bad taste to go after the best friend though, even if
she has a mind like a sieve." Darla stood up and smoothed her skirt.
She watched as Angel pulled the girl protectively behind him. "I'm
Darla, Angelus' Sire. You may also know me as the killer of your
friend. What was that boy's name? Johnny?"
"Jesse." Willow stepped from behind Angel. The sharp pounding that
accompanied so many of her memories of Sunnydale started as she thought
of Jesse's death. Her memories that involved Darla were unclear, but
she knew one thing. Darla wanted to hurt Angel. That wasn't going to
happen. "You are not welcome in our home. I want you to leave."
"Excuse me?" Darla's eyes widened and she laughed in surprise. The
chit wasn't afraid of her. She wasn't even taking the opportunity to
use Angel as a big, cuddly shield. The red headed witch was fighting
for her man and it was actually amusing. "Oh, you and I have got to
talk, little girl. There's some crucial information that my boy has
been keeping from you."
"Get out, Darla." Angel growled, his eyes flashing yellow. He gripped
Willow's shoulders. Darla was going to tell her everything.
"There is nothing you could tell me that I would need to know."
Willow slipped her arm around Angel's waist. "I trust Angel."
The love shining from the girl's face was too much. Darla couldn't
wait to wipe it off. "Then I guess Angel told you about our night
together. Tell me, my boy, were you already married that night, not so
long ago, when we made love for hours?" Darla reveled in the anguish
that permeated the air. She was going to make Angel pay for not loving
her, not wanting her. His little child bride would hate him and he
would have to live with it. He had thought it was complete despair
that had driven him into her arms, well he would soon find out what
real despair tasted like.
"Willow?" Angel crushed his wife, because that was how he thought of
Willow - as his wife - to his chest so she couldn't run away. She
couldn't leave until he explained. "Oh, God, please let me explain."
He wished that Darla had told Willow about Buffy. It was possible that
she would have just blocked that information, that it wouldn't have
hurt her as badly as this knowledge. Now Willow believed that he had
betrayed her. That when he and Darla had sex, he had cheated on her.
With a heavy heart, Angel let Willow pull away. He couldn't keep her
against her will. "Angel." Angel forced himself to look down at her
tear stained face and his heart broke at the turmoil she was in. "I'm
so sorry, Angel. I should have been here. I shouldn't have let you
push me away."
"It wasn't your fault." Angel held Willow as she sobbed in his arms.
He couldn't believe her reaction. Through the link, he didn't feel
hate or recrimination, only sorrow and regret. "I needed to hit
bottom to realize that what I did made a difference and that it was my
choice to do good, it wasn't forced on me by my soul or the Powers.
I'm sorry that my actions hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you. I
love you, Willow."
"I understand and I forgive you." Willow touched Angel's cheek. "I
love you too, Angel. I always will."
The girl had forgiven him. Darla was astonished that instead of
running away in a hurt, jealous rage, the girl was embracing Angel.
Darla growled, noticing too late that it only drew Angel's attention
back to her. Angel gave his bitch one last kiss and then stalked over
to her. He grabbed her arm, but this time it wasn't for fun.
"I believe Willow asked you to leave. I'll show you the door." Angel
hauled Darla downstairs, his anger increasing with each step. His
snarls had reached fever pitch as they stopped at the front door.
"Are you going to stake me now? For your bitch this time instead of
the slayer?" Darla snarled back.
"No, I'm taking a cue from you." Angel leaned in real close and
whispered seductively in Darla's ear, "Thank you, Darla. One night
with you secured my soul permanently. I love Willow and I can be with
her even though she makes me deliriously happy."
"Until she remembers that you aren't her husband." Darla found herself
shoved onto her ass on the cold concrete. Her boy was lost to her,
but she could still hurt him. "Pathetic! You're pathetic, Angel!
You will lose her!" She screamed at the closed door.
*****
It was taking too long. A whole week had gone by and apparently Willow
still hadn't remembered a thing about her. She tried not to think
about how Willow had also spent the whole week as Angel's wife. Buffy
paced her living room. And she just bet that Angel, Cordelia, and
Wesley were just clamoring to tell Willow all about the best friend she
couldn't remember. Angel was probably too wrapped up in enjoying his
new life with Willow by his side. He certainly hadn't complained about
having to fawn over her when she was in the hospital. His soul was
permanent, was this sham marriage in name only? Or were they...no, of
course they weren't. Angel would never take advantage of Willow like
that and he knew that Willow would never do something that would hurt
Buffy when she was in her right mind. No, it wasn't happening.
"Hey, Buffy, I'm home," Dawn called as she entered the house. "The
movie was pretty good, you should have come with us."
"And miss out on her exercise?" Spike set down his magazine. He had
been watching the slayer pace from his dark corner all afternoon. He
had been her shadow ever since Xander had predicted a meltdown, not
that she noticed. As far as Buffy was concerned, Spike didn't exist.
The only thing on her mind was Angel and what he was possibly doing
with Willow.
"No one asked you to be here." Buffy couldn't tear her mind from the
thought of Angel and Willow together even to reassure her sister. Dawn
needed her, but she couldn't think of her sister right now. She had to
do something. She couldn't stay here. She had to get her best friend
and Angel back with her, where they belonged. "I'm going to Los
Angeles." Buffy grabbed her keys and brushed past Dawn on her way to
the door.
"Buffy, no!" Dawn looked to Spike for help. "You'll hurt Willow."
"Slayer, don't be stupid." Spike jumped from his seat. When it became
clear that Buffy wasn't listening to either of them, he grabbed a
blanket from the couch. He threw it over for cover and ran out into
the afternoon sun. He hurtled himself into the car as Buffy reversed
down the driveway.
Dawn ran for the phone and shakily dialed Giles' number. She prayed
that nothing would happen to Willow. She prayed that this was
something her sister wouldn't some day regret.
