Part 3:

< To go with Angel or to stand him up, that is the question. > Willow was still contemplating whether she should listen to Amy or follow her heart (I know it sounds corny, but it's true, I mean, have you seen Angel in leather pants). Angel was due in less than a half-hour and Willow was still pacing her around her bed.
"Look," Amy called to her, "You're dressed to kill, well, considering this is 1753, you look as good as they allow. You might as well see him." Willow stopped and glanced at Amy then returned to her pacing.
"I thought you said I shouldn't see him." Willow was practically making a hole in the floor.
Amy hopped off the bed and grabbed Willow by the shoulders, causing her to stop her rather annoying pacing fit.
"Damn it," Amy growled, "Stop pacing!" She then lowered her voice to a less agitated level, "Listen, I think you should have fun if you already made the date, then go. But just try not to couple up with him. In this life-time, he's a bit of a male-ho." Willow nodded and slipped out of Amy's shoulder hold.
Amy watched as Willow checked herself in the mirror, again. She just sighed, no point in telling her she looked fine, it had taken Angel nearly a year to convince her she wasn't mousy. 

< Two minutes 'til noon. > Willow glanced up at the clock once again. She hadn't been this nervous, or anxious since the first time Angel asked her out. Well, actually, this was basically the same thing only he's 200-years younger.
Willow had taken 3 hours just to pick out a dress; it would've taken her longer if it weren't for Amy's conjuring skills. Then there was the hair, and then the make-up. Amy was never going to let Willow hear the end of this.
Willow glanced at the clock in the lobby one last time and collapsed into the chair sitting next to her. Cecile then entered the room from her hiding place.
"You're really nervous about meeting Angelus," She asked softly, "Aren't ye." Willow gave a 'no, really' look to Cecile then smiled at her to prove there were no grudges.
"It's just he's so…" Willow groped her mind for a word to describe her Angel's human self. His 'grr' as Buffy called it.
"Handsome," Cecile offered, "Charming?" Willow nodded.
"Aye," Cecile sighed, "That he is, but be warned, he's fooled many a women by that." Willow gave Cecile an amused look, < If you only knew, little one. >
"I'm not fooled as easily as most women," Willow responded, "Anything he tries, I've seen." Cecile nodded towards the window to point out Angelus had arrived.
"I hope so." Cecile sighed and walked into the other room before Angelus had made it up the steps. < God he looks good in period clothing, not quite as good as in leather…But close. >
Angelus smiled in the way Willow had seen only once. He kissed her pale hand in way of greeting; Willow had light crimson painted on her face as he did so.
"I hope the day finds you well, Willow." Angelus lifted his head from her hand and stood straight again.
"It does," Willow hated formalities such as this, small talk was bad enough, but this way of speaking was driving her out of her hacker mind.
"Shall we then," He offered out the crook of his arm, which she took gladly and followed him into the courtyard. Willow was silently making a list in her head, for every difference between her Angel, she found a similarity to evil Angelus, and truthfully, it kind of freaked her out.
"Are you much of a horseback rider?" Angelus asked as they rounded a corner, revealing two lovely mares. One was a light brown color that looked as if a true artist had painted it on; the other reminded Willow of black beauty a bit, because of the dark shade of black it was. < What is it with Angel and black? >
"Wow," Willow near whispered, "They're beautiful." She petted the brown one's snout, causing Angelus to smile even wider.
"That one's my sister's," He joined Willow by the horse, "Her name's Queen. Don't ask me why." Willow smiled and nodded toward the black one.
"How about her," Willow asked, but was secretly trying to figure out how she was going to ride this horse because sitting 'astride' was considered unladylike.
"Beauty," Angelus replied and patted his horse, "She's mine." Willow couldn't help the smirk that slid across her features. < Black really is your thing isn't it, I thought it was just because of the vampire thing…>
"You're happy?" Angelus smiled; obviously pleased he had won one in Willow's favor.
"Of course," Willow mounted her horse as best she knew how and sat rather uncomfortably at a side angle. < However these women were taught to do this I'll never know. >
"So," Willow shifted into the most comfortable position on her saddle, "Where are we going." Angelus smiled playfully, < There is a bit of my Angel in there isn't there. >
"I want to surprise you," Angelus mounted his horse, "Just follow my lead." < Hey, he gets to sit normally, damn chauvinists in the 1700s. >
Willow obediently shifted on her horse and turned it to follow Angelus' mare. Angelus couldn't help the smirk that spread across his face when he noticed his riding companion shifting uncomfortably. He figured he should probably help the little damsel in discomfort.
"We'll be going on a path that can only fit one horse," Angelus informed her, "If you would like, you could join me on my horse for that part of our trip." Willow was slow to respond, she didn't completely feel comfortable around Angelus, but this annoying sidesaddle thing was driving her insane.
"I suppose so," She was careful to keep her frustration from the stupid saddle out of her voice as she dismounted.
Angelus dismounted as well and tied the horse's reigns to his horse, keeping Queen behind his horse, so that they could climb the hill.
Willow waited patiently while Angelus finished his task and helped her onto his horse, although his hands lingered on her hips a second more than necessary. He then mounted behind her as she squirmed into a comfortable place against him, but keep at a straight posture, as to make her contact with Angelus at a minimum.
< Much better, > Willow thought, relieved to be out her annoying sidesaddle.
< Much better, > Angelus thought as he rested his hands on the reigns, placing them near Willow's hips.
Angelus gave the horse a light kick and walked as slowly as possibly, cherishing every second Willow remained in his arms. They eventually came to the single lane hill Angelus had warned about and ascended up toward the 'surprise' Angelus had promised.
Willow found it hard to stay in her stick-straight position she'd begun in and found herself relaxing in Angelus' arms, the moment she'd realized this she'd went straight-backed again. Angelus couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction to their contact. Willow didn't even register his response and was silently running through all the reasons this was wrong; and coming up with more reasons why it was right.
Angelus was by all means enjoying her company, but also realized the silence was going to drive one of them made, his mind groped for a topic of discussion that was enough to take Willow's mind off her mission to not enjoy this ride.
"You said you had a sister," Angelus said locating a topic of conversation, "Tell me about her." Willow raised her eyebrow, < O-Kay. >
"Oh Amy," Willow craned her neck to look at Angelus, "What do you want to know."
"Oh," Angelus smiled, "I don't know, what it was like growing up with her; in the Americas?" Willow was slow to reply, she was an only child all her life and her only friend was Xander. She thought for a minute and decided an effective way to change the subject.
"It was probably not that different from your childhood," Willow shrugged, "I mean, you have sisters." Angelus nodded his head and continued the ascent at a slow trot as he continued to ask questions about Willow, which made her glad that she was such a history nerd. She also drug some answers she couldn't get out of her Angel from Angelus; but she noticed he selected certain things to tell her and thought carefully about his sentences before he said them. < That's my Angel. >
As they continued to ride up the hill, Willow inevitably relaxed in Angelus' arms, but made no move to go stick straight again. She was beginning to enjoy Angelus more than Angel < Don't tell our little soulful bloodsucker though. >
"Close your eyes," Angelus whispered into her ear, making a tremor run down her spine, < Got to talk to my hormones about that. > She then closed her eyes and didn't catch the self-satisfied grin that crossed Angelus' face.
She could feel the horse continue to ride at a slow walk, but they seemed to be on smooth ground, no longer on the pebble-strewn climb it took to get there. The horse came to a calm halt and Angelus' hands moved off the reigns.
"Open them," He was anxious to see her response. She obeyed and opened her emerald eyes.
What she saw drew the breath from her lungs and left her speechless, before her lie a scene only described in such beauty by a Shakespearean poet, even then not quite capturing it's true beauty. The sight before her was as a masterpiece, a wonderful landscape of verdant trees was held up by a golden leaves caused by the autumn's ether. As if the colors were painted by a true artist and genius, aureate and bronze bejeweled the entire area. Every image Willow had ever had of Ireland changed within an instant.
Angelus didn't miss the look of pure awe in her expression, which caused him great pleasure. He wasn't quite sure why he wanted to please this woman so much, but her very presence caused emotions that had been left untouched for the entirety of his essence. He was still attempting to betray the belief he could actually be falling in love with Willow.
Willow glanced back at Angelus with a beautifully overwhelmed look on her face, "It's gorgeous," Her voice was barely more than a whisper because of her near breathless state.
"I'm glad you're pleased," He smiled almost adoringly as his eyes etched every detail of this redheaded goddess into his memory < My Willow…>
< There's my Angel, > Willow thought pleasantly, < Peaking through the edges of Angelus is the fantastically romantic and sweet Angel I grew to love. >
"What is this place," Willow asked dreamily and unwittingly laid back into Angelus chest. Unexpected sensations ran through his body as he moved his palms to rest against her stomach. He tried to focus back on her question.
"I've come here since I first learned to ride," Angelus managed to get out after some interference, thanks to Willow, "It's my favorite place to go, just to think or just play or draw. I have sketchbooks full of images from this very site."
"Wow," Willow spoke softly, "They must be beautiful." Actually, she'd seen them, if Angel was proud of one thing, it was his sketches. He had a remarkable talent for it.
"Aye," Angelus nodded, "I'm very proud of them; perhaps you'd like to see them sometime?" Willow smiled at him pleasantly.
"Perhaps sometime," Angelus traced small circles on her stomach with his finger, "I could draw you." Willow blushed and quickly changed the subject. 
"So", Willow stammered, "Aren't you going to show me around?" Angelus realized he was making her uncomfortable and quickly dismounted.
"Oh course, milady," He smiled his melt-anyone-in-the-vicinity smile and helped her off the horse, allowing his fingertips to linger on her hips a few seconds more than necessary.
"Thank you," Willow smiled nervously and allowed Angelus to escort her around the ethereal foothill that not even she could describe to it's full beauty < Just like Angel, you'd have to see him to believe there could be a creature this beautiful. >
Willow was lost in her own musings as Angelus told her of times when he and his brothers had played here and other tales of this spot, even a local legend associated with this area. When Willow did finally register what Angelus was saying, he was setting up a picnic lunch.
He had spread out fruits and those tasty little cheeses that Angel kept at his house, for when Willow came over. Angelus also had that just-out-of-the-bakery-fresh bread and wine, < Oh yeah, I'm old enough to drink back then. >
She sat down on the grass across from where Angelus was setting up their picnic. He grinned and joined her, sitting as close as humanly possible without making her embarrassed.
Willow picked up a piece of fruit that had been placed out and bit into it, making juices dribble down her chin. Angelus watched her intently and forced down the increasingly strong urge to kiss her. Willow wiped the juice from her chin and looked over at Angelus, < Why was he staring at me? >
Noticing the unusual look on her face, Angelus forced his eyes from her and turned his attention to the picnic he laid out, although his mind's full concentration was focused on Willow. He couldn't get over this weird feeling he was having toward her, < Not love. > He tried to convince himself, but his emotions were being persistent; he elbowed his affections toward her aside and tried to make polite conversation.
"Are you enjoying this," He motioned to their surroundings and then subtly to himself.
"Both are noteworthy," She smiled, < Self important much? >
< He's used to women falling all over him. >
< Can you really blame them? >

< Leave me alone. >
"I'd say my company is more than just," He leaned toward her more, "Noteworthy."
< Okay, back off, any closer and you'd be on top of me. >
< Maybe that's what he wants…>

< Just give in.>
"Well," Willow said dapperly, "What would you consider your company?" Angeles smiled that self-satisfied smile that Willow knew so well, when Angel realized he had her exactly where he wanted her. < Smug bastard. >
He lowered his head and moved his mouth near her ear, "Absolutely amazing," He whispered; Willow shivered as a tremor ran through her body.
Angelus realized that if he was ever going to have a chance to relieve the craving to kiss her it was now. He brushed his fingers alongside her cheek gently and turned her head to have her face him. He cupped her chin and kissed her tenderly.
< This is such a bad idea, > Willow thought as Angelus' tongue licked the outline of her lips, silently asking for invitation.
< Shut up and enjoy it. >
She opened her mouth, allowing Angelus to enter and greedily explore her, taking in every essence of her that he could in such a short time. Willow responded passionately to Angelus' maneuver and bit down delicately on his lower lip making him deepen the kiss even more.
Willow realized that it was getting way too hot in their little picnic spot and gently moved away, inducing a groan of protest from Angelus as he tried to pull her back into the kiss. She almost let herself be rejoined with his soft, sexy, beautiful…< BAD WILLOW. >
Her pure side won out; she backed away from him and stood up.
"We can't," Willow mumbled, more to herself than Angelus, "Bad... Bad, not good. Can't. Wrong. Amy's gonna… Oh dear goddess, this is wrong." Willow had unconsciously started pacing, leaving Angelus to be simply baffled by Willow's response; < This is a new reaction…>
Angelus watched her pace for a while, muttering something about this being wrong and some kind of time line. < Who's Angel. > He finally gave in to curiosity, and annoyance, he wanted to know what was going on.
"What's so wrong," Angelus said with a hint of harshness, obviously not pleased with Willow's reaction to their kiss, "What's bad about me and you?"
"What," Willow asked breathlessly, realizing that she'd have to explain her upstart.
"And who's Angel," Angelus continued to barade her with questions, "And what does a timeline have to do with this, and how does Amy get int…" Willow realized the only way to cut him off was the thing that had spun her into pacing frenzy number two; she kissed him.
Angelus was surprised but quickly responded. All the questions he had asked seemed to melt away and his brain lost all sense except feeling. < Willow…>
Willow was silently cursing herself from the start of the kiss, but the rational side of her brain dulled out and she figured this was easier < And a hell of a lot more enjoyable, > than answering all the questions Angelus would inevitably ask.
Willow finally ended the kiss because of her burning need for oxygen. Angelus was needless to say pleasantly surprised by Willow's boldness and searched for her mouth again.
Willow almost complied but a loud sound, followed by pouring rain interrupted their moment. < No, this day could not get any worse. >
Angelus led Willow to under a nearby tree, but she was already soaked, "Well, that rain isn't going to be kind and let up, like ever, is it?" Willow said.
"We'll have to stay here until it does," Angelus nodded, "Unless you want to catch your death in that rain."
"But what are we going to do in the meantime?" Willow asked innocently, playfulness underlying in her voice.
"Oh," Angelus grinned, "I'm sure we can think of something…" He lowered his head down until his lips touched hers.

Part 4:

Back in the present…

Angel was worried about Willow and didn't feel comfortable leaving her alone after her best friend had met her death.
He approached her French doors leading into her room from the balcony and noticed the light was on. He tapped gently on the glass opening on the doors.
He waited a few beats and opened them himself, fearing something had happened to her. His eyes surveyed her roomed, noting the ritual setup and… < A spell book? >
Angel grabbed up the book and looked curiously at the page it was open to. < In Latin, figures. >
He read it under his breath while trying to figure out its purpose, "Ego advoco custes tractus. Proficio ego, vox vocis nefus qui evenio prius. Inclino rursus diei, transporto rursus tractus. Fero tuli latum rursus, transporto absens. Ostendo vox vocis, monstro via." He then remembered it's translation in Latin.
"Oh no," Those were his last words before infinite blackness. He could feel the floor falling from beneath his feet then cool raindrops on his body; he opened his eyes. Suddenly he felt warmth, then burning. < Sun. >
He ran into a nearby grove of trees that gave him coverage from the fatality of daylight. Thanks to the rain, the sun didn't do a lot of damage; he would have been dust without the clouds' obstruction. His eyes crawled over the landscape, then onto the town below him. It tugged at a long lost memory, or one he blocked out, for certain reasons. He recognized the town, the landscape, the familiar smell of the Old Irish countryside, but most of all he recognized the faraway scent of his beloved Willow. She was definitely here, but he couldn't search for her until darkness fell. His vampire sense told him that wouldn't be for hours; he could wait, he's a very patient person, < You have to be when you've lived for 200 years. >

After the rain had all but gone, it was nearly sun set. They rode together on Beauty enjoying the other silently.

Angel watched from a safe area of darkness as the sun set. As soon as darkness had fallen over Ireland, he silently descended the little hill and entered the town, a mysterious stranger, in search of Willow.

Willow waved good-bye to Angelus who smiled back, then rode off with thoughts of nothing but Willow riddling his head.
Willow couldn't quite bring herself to go back to the room and Amy, so instead chose to take a walk and get some much-needed fresh air to clear her head. She waited until Angelus was completely out of sight, then silently moved through the streets that lined with carriages and people. Not many were out, since it was after sunset; all that roamed the streets after dark were the drunkards and the few occasional couple enjoying the night air.
Her mind went remorseful as she passed a couple about her age speaking sweetly to the other. Her thoughts drifted to Angel, then to the harm she'd done by altering his future. < At least he isn't here. > She continued to walk through the near empty streets, feeling a haunting shadow of guilt creep through her system.

 Angel's thoughts rang the same after every moment. He had been wandering the roads of Galway for what seemed like an eternity, but he still couldn't find his Willow. He knew she was here, his questions were of course, where, why, and how.

Willow was so caught in deep thought that she nearly bumped into a dark-haired man with black clothes.
"Sorry," Willow mumbled as she walked around him and toward her nonexistent destination.
< That looked like Angel. > She thought idly, then her heart nearly stopped as she heard her name from his mouth.

"Willow?" Angel's voice softly asked after he'd nearly ran into a redheaded woman who appeared to be as in deep thought as he. He had caught a glimpse of her face before she apologized and passed him, it had to be her.
He took notice as she stopped and turned around; it was definitely Willow.
"Angel?" Her voice was low and unbelieving.
"How did you get here?" They asked in unison.
"After we found Buffy," Willow answered first, "I asked Amy to do a time rift so we could go back and save her, but Amy did the spell wrong, so we got stuck here." Willow took in an unnecessarily deep breath.
"I accidentally triggered the spell," Angel smiled, "But I'm glad I'm here with you." Willow smiled back.
"We better get to the Inn," Willow told him, "We can talk more in there." Angel grabbed her small hand in his strong one and allowed her to lead him to the Inn.

Amy heard the door open and was anxious to know what happened with Willow and Angelus.
"How'd your date with Angelus go?" Amy asked before looking up. When she did, she saw a very confused and very hurt vampire standing next to Willow.
"What?" Angel asked, as the expression on his face grew more and more pained.
"Umm," Willow stammered, "I ran into him and, um, he, well, he asked if he could call on me again. And, I just couldn't say no." Willow eyed Angel nervously gauging his reaction. Surprisingly, it wasn't anger, but worry.
"Do you have any idea how much of a bastard I was when I was alive," Angel asked her, "Did he do anything to you? What happened?" Willow's face visibly paled; she didn't want to lie to Angel, but technically it's cheating.
"Umm," Willow hesitated, "Nothing happened. I mean, he rode me up to this really pretty foothill area. And then, we just, you know, we kissed." Willow thought she saw his game face flash, but it happened so quickly, she couldn't tell for sure.
"Are you going to see him again?" Angel's voice underlined with jealousy, though he tried to hide it. Willow paled even more and started nervously fidgeting with her hands.
"Well, we," she bit her lower lip, "He asked me if he could, you know," She looked down at the floor nervously, "See me again… tomorrow."
Angel bit down on his tongue to keep the flow of curses that threatened to erupt from his mouth. He knew that she didn't mean for it to happen, but he couldn't help the feeling of jealousy that threatened to overwhelm his senses.
Willow saw Angel's reaction and looked to Amy for relief. Amy mouthed 'what am I supposed to say?' to Willow. Willow gave her a 'just think of something' look.
"Angel," Amy reasoned softly, "You do realize you're being jealous of yourself. Willow was just responding to you." She emphasized 'you', "And really, Angelus started it." Willow mouthed 'Oh, that really helped.'
"I'm not jealous," Angel insisted, "I'm just worried about you Willow." He kissed the top of her head, "I just don't know if I, well, he will try to do something that will end up hurting you. Although, I can't blame him for falling for you." He offered a small smile, which she returned.
He put his hands around her waist and kissed her tenderly, then deepening it…
"Okay," Amy said, "You guys have private time, I'm gone for a few hours, have fun." She hurried out the door and ran down the steps. < Lust bunnies. >
"I really don't have to go," Willow whispered as they drew back from the kiss.
"We don't have to talk about it right now," Angel let his lips linger merely inches from her mouth, "I was worried about you." He reclaimed her lips and gently moved his finger along the outline of her jaw.
"But you can't blame me," A smile exploded on Willow's face, "I mean Angelus is a hottie."
"Come here," Angel laughed and kissed her.

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