Willow swam up slowly from the depths of sleep. The warmth of the air around her, the softness of the pillow underneath her cheek, the ache in her arms, clutching a stuffed animal against her chest...one by one sensations made themselves known, and she floated back up to consciousness.
"Ohhhh," Willow opened her eyes and quickly closed them again. "What a dream.
No more peanut butter and pickle sandwiches before bedtime, ever." She opened her eyes slowly, letting them adjust to the light streaming in through the french doors, and untangled her arms from around the plush toy plastered against her chest. "ACK!" A flash of green flew across the room and bounced against the wall. "MR. FROGGY!?!"
She rolled over on her back quickly and heard a squeak. An angry little bundle of fur shot out from underneath her and landed on the floor by the bed, glaring at her while it stretched.
"A cat? How did a..." Willow's eyes got big as realization hit her. "It wasn't a dream! Oh, no!" She clutched the covers around her. "He was here. Last night. In my bedroom. And he wants to have fun. With me. Oh, no."
She took a deep breath.
The alarm went off, making both Willow and the kitten jump.
The school day passed by in a blur. Willow knew her friends were worried about her absent mindedness, but she couldn't help herself. She replayed her conversation with Angelus over and over in her head, trying to figure out what exactly he was after.
After school, in the library, Willow returned her books on witchcraft and took the new ones Giles had found for her without really even looking at them. She dumped them on the table and took the empty seat next to Cordelia.
"What'll it be tonight, guys? Want to Bronze it?" Buffy jumped on to the edge of the table, swinging her feet in the air.
"Buffy." Giles reprimanded.
"Okay." She rolled her eyes and plopped down in a chair.
"I don't know about you guys but I'm in the mood for fun. " Buffy smiled happily. "I haven't had to kill anything all week, and I haven't seen Angel in days. Maybe he's gone."
"Doubtful." Giles put down his book and looked thoughtful. "Though his absence is a good sign. He may not be gone, but he may have moved on."
"Huh?" Xander asked eloquently. "Meaning what? Dead Boy's found a new hobby? Like collecting baseball cards or something?"
Giles took his glasses off and started polishing them with his handkerchief. "Not precisely. Angel - Angelus - has historically had rather an obsessive nature. Buffy is only the latest in a long line of these obsessions. He tends to fixate on beautiful, unusual women. The Watcher Journals mention quite a few of them...including Drusilla." He put his glasses back on and pushed them in place with a forefinger.
"Perhaps Angelus has decided that Buffy won't fulfill whatever need fuels this obsession of his and has found someone else who will."
"What?" Buffy looked outraged.
"Jealous much?" Cordelia smirked. She dug out her compact and inspected herself in the mirror.
"Not at all!" Buffy protested.
Willow closed her eyes.
"Earth to Willow, Earth to Willow. Come in, Willow!" Xander threw a wad of paper at her from across the table. It bounced off her shoulder and right into Cordelia's compact, obstructing her view for a moment.
"Do you mind!?!" Cordelia looked down at the missile loathingly and went back to fixing her lipstick. < I bet I know how it got smudged.> Willow thought to herself with a pang.
"Willow?" Buffy tapped her on the shoulder. "You feeling okay? You've been kind of out of it today...I mean, an 88 on a math quiz just isn't like you."
"What's up with that, anyway?" Cordelia asked, as she snapped her compact shut and stowed it away in her carefully coordinated bag. "Why do they make us learn all that stupid, useless math stuff ? Okay, I can see the importance of knowing how to figure out what 45% off regular price is, or how much longer it would take to pay off a Mercedes than a BMW, but calculus!?!"
"Cordy, we're talking about Willow now, okay, Honey?" Xander looked at Willow with concern. "An 88? What's the matter, Will? Are you feeling okay? Something wrong?"
This was the perfect opportunity to tell them. Willow opened her mouth to recount her midnight visit from Angelus, then closed it again.
She just couldn't bring herself to say anything. They'd think she was crazy! She could imagine the look on Cordelia's face when she heard that Willow seemed to be the latest "beautiful, unusual" woman Angelus had developed an obsession for.
And Buffy...she had definitely reacted with jealousy at the thought that her ex-honey had moved on.
No. She'd wait and figure out exactly what was going on before she told the others.
"I'm fine, guys, really. Just tired. I rescued a kitten last night and had to get up early to bring it to Amy's before school. It worked out perfectly; she's just about ready for her first familiar." Willow looked at her Winnie the Pooh watch." Oh! My after school computer tutorial started 5 minutes ago! I'll see you at the Bronze tonight, okay? Oz and the band should be on about 10!"
She scooped up her books and ran out the doors before anyone could say anything.
Part 4
Willow dragged herself up the last few stairs and down the hall to her room.
< What time is it? Two? Two-thirty? Thank God it's Friday. But it's not anymore, is it? It's Saturday. > A weary smile crossed Willow's lips at that thought.
< I can sleep late. And maybe catch a few cartoons, too, if I get up in time. > She tossed her books on the chair inside the bedroom door and flipped the light switch, almost falling over as she tried to kick off her shoes at the same time.
"What took you so long?"
"Eeeek!" Willow jumped back against the wall, banging the back of her head.
"OW!"
She shook her head slightly to clear her vision and tried to focus on the direction the voice had come from.
"That must have hurt."
Willow looked at the vampire stretched out comfortably on her bed. His black satin shirt and black leather pants glowed in the soft light from the bedside lamp.
The white of the pillows behind his head threw his dark hair and eyes into sharp contrast, and blended in with his pale skin. He lay perfectly still, staring at her, not moving, not breathing...just waiting with a perfect stillness no living person could ever achieve.
Willow tried to look away, but couldn't. She could feel her heart start to pound, and her breathing speed up as the fear poured into her. < I should have revoked his invitation this morning, no matter how late it would have made me. But no, I couldn't ruin my perfect attendance record with a tardy. I wonder if being dead will count as an absence, or if they'll give me the perfect attendance award posthumously.>
"Willow, you really need to learn to relax." Angelus smirked at her and folded his arms behind his head, stretching and rearranging himself more comfortably on the bed.
"Relax!?!" She asked, incredulous. Anger mingled with her fear. "You want me to relax!?! You're a vampire, remember? The doesn't-have-a-soul kind. The kind who attacked me at school, and gutted my fish, and stalked my friends, and killed my favourite teacher. I REALLY don't think relaxation is an option here."
The vampire on the bed heaved an exasperated sigh. "This isn't going to be any fun if you keep doing the deer in the headlights thing every time you see me," Angelus complained. " So, let's make a deal, shall we?"
"A deal?" Willow repeated suspiciously. She didn't know what was going on here, but she had a feeling she wasn't going to like it.
"A deal. A truce, if you will. I promise I won't kill you or your little friends...for the time being."
Willow's eyes narrowed. He actually sounded sincere.
"In exchange for my not killing you or your friends, you agree not to stake me, or douse me in holy water, or whatever else is going through your mind right now."
He patted the bed next to him. "Come here, little Willow. All I want to do is talk. Is that so bad? Small price to pay for your friends' lives, I'd say." He looked at her expectantly. "So, do we have a deal?"
"Why should I trust you?"
The vampire shook his head mournfully. "I'm hurt, Willow. Truly hurt." He looked angry now. "I may have a few faults, but I don't break my word."
Willow looked at him carefully, trying to make sense of the situation, to see what was going on in his mind. He certainly seemed sincere. Should she - could she - trust him? Did she dare?
Before she knew it he was in front of her, grasping her shoulders hard, staring into her eyes.
"I was born and died in a time when honour meant something, Willow. I have never broken my word once...not as Angelus the man, or Angelus the vampire."
His grip, and his voice, softened a little." I give you my word that I will not hurt you or your friends until I'm through with you, as long as you agree not to try to hurt me." He backed up a little, giving her space.
"I don't think Buffy will go along..."
"This has nothing to do with Buffy! This is between you and me! I can deal with the Slayer...without hurting her, if I have to." He threw up his hands in exasperation and went back to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Trust in my word or it all ends here."
Willow wasn't sure what to do.
It came as a shock to her, but Willow realized that she did trust him to be true to his word...and suddenly, she wasn't afraid of him anymore. She sat down on the bed next to him gingerly. He looked at her, his surprise evident on his face.
Willow looked down and contemplated the carpet. It seemed strange to her to be sitting next to him without being afraid. It was so...normal. Almost like sitting with Angel, or even Xander.
"You know, I'm not supposed to have boys in my room."
Angelus threw back his head and laughed. Willow flushed, not sure what was so funny. The last 24 hours had seemed like one really bad dream, and she sincerely hoped she'd wake up some time soon. She stood up and grabbed her books off the chair, moving them to her desk by her computer. She kicked her shoes into her closet, taking off her sweater and throwing it on to the heap of clothes on the floor before slamming the door shut, all the time pointedly ignoring the vampire on her bed.
"Willow."
She went to her dresser and removed her watch, dropping it carelessly into a ceramic dish overflowing with bits of jewelry and ribbon. The feel of heavy hands on her shoulders startled her, and her eyes grew wide as she looked up at the mirror in front of her and saw only her own reflection. She closed her eyes.
She considered turning around, but decided she didn't have the energy. She felt tired, and drained, and just wanted to be left alone.
"Pretending I'm not here isn't going to help, you know." He was obviously amused by her efforts at avoidance behaviour.
"Did I hurt your little feelings? I couldn't help laughing. You're just so unpredictable, little Willow! It's been a long time since I've had so much fun!"
A shiver ran through her as she felt the hands began to knead her shoulders.
"I know what a good girl you are." The voice was slightly condescending.
"I don't want you to worry about breaking the rule about entertaining boys in your room."
Willow felt a flicker of hope. It was quickly replaced by something else as Angelus' hands slid down her shoulders to her upper arms and she was pulled roughly back against his chest. She felt his cool breath ruffle her hair as he leaned in to speak softly in her ear.
"So let's get this straight, Willow. I'm not a boy. I'm a man. Or a vampire. Or even a demon, if you prefer. But I am definitely NOT a boy."
Willow swayed as his hands suddenly let go of her. She felt a gust of wind as the french door to the balcony opened.
"Good night, Willow."
She rested her forehead against the mirror in front of her and took a deep breath.
She wasn't sure what game Angelus was playing, but she knew she was out of her league...and that he'd be back. Soon.