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Disclaimer: The characters of the following story are due entirely to Joss Whedon.

A Rose Between Two Thorns
By: Erin

"You ready for this?"

Angel nodded, "As long as you're right beside me."

"Don't worry," Willow smiled, as they prepared to get off the plane, "I'll stay right beside you, the whole time."

They were in Galway, Ireland. Angel suggested that they take a tour of Europe. Willow was apprehensive, as she was still so unsure of herself, but she trusted Angel. They were going to travel through Ireland, England, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Germany. At first, Angel didn't want to go to the first two destinations, as there were many memories that he wasn't ready to face yet, but Willow persuaded that he should go and face things. He said he would, as long as she would go with him.

<I guess this must be hard for him.> She rubbed his shoulders, as they waited in a line for a rental car, "You sure you're okay?"

He nodded, "Yes, Willow, I'm sure," He studied her face for a moment, and then said, "After this, I'm going to help you."

She shook her head, "The only help I really need is a stake through the heart."

He shook her, "Don't you EVER say that, Willow. Ever."

"Okay, okay." She backed off, ending the discussion.

<I've never seen him like this. He seems so distant, and alone. Scared, and tormented. EVen more tormented than he used to be.> She finished brushing her hair, and then she walked out of the bathroom, and sat on one of the beds.

Angel looked up from a magazine he was reading and said, "Willow, could we talk?"

"About what?" She smiled.

"You."

She rolled her eyes, "Not this again! Angel, I told you where we stood on this issue. Case closed." She folded her arms across her chest, and turned away from him.

Silence.

"Angel?"

Silence.

"Ouch!" Angel had jumped on her, sending her flying across the bed. He was on top of her now, with a sheepish grin on his face, "Angel!" She pounded his back, "Get off of me!
"
"Not until we talk." He smiled like a cheshire cat.

"Fine," She relented, "Now, get off!"

He shook his head, "Can't do that."

Willow was getting frustrated, "Why not?"

"If I do," He explained, "Then you'll run, and we won't get to talk," He folded his arms on his chest, which propped him up so he could look into Willow's eyes, "So, we talk, and then I can get off."

"Gee," She commented dryly, "Such hospitality."

He chuckled in response, "Someday, you'll appreciate this," He changed the subject, "So, patient," He joked, pretending to be a shrink with a funny accent, which made her laugh, "What do vee have on our minds today?"

After she stopped giggling, she replied, "Actually, I have a 200 pound Angel on my whole body right now."

She swatted at him again, unable to get him off of her, as he chuckled, losing the accent, "Okay, I tried," He sobered, "But seriously, Willow, we need to talk. I've been worried about you, ever since Spike died that first time. And then, when he left, and when Buffy died, I wasn't sure how you were going to hold up."

"I'm going to live forever," She sighed, "I should get used to seeing the people I love dying," She looked into Angel's eyes, "Except for you, of course."

"You get used to it, after a while," He commented before asking, "Really, how are you holding up?"

"How would you feel if you were me?"

He thought long and hard for a moment, "Well," He scratched his chin, "I'd be upset, alone, depressed, and in desperate need of someone to love me."

"In a nutshell."

"So," He commented, "I will offer my services."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, "What kind of services?"

"I will hold your Kleenex's, I will be your companion, I will pick you up when you're sad, I will keep that smile on your face at all costs, and, on top of that, I'll hug you when you need a hug."

She smiled, "Thanks."

"Does that help you at all?"

"A little."

He rolled off of her, and they both sat up, "Well, that's all I had to say. Feel free to say more when you want to."

"Angel?"

"Hold me." He silently complied, wrapping his arms around her. <I feel this total sense of security when I'm in his arms. When Spike held me, I just felt excited. Maybe what we had wasn't love. Maybe it was lust.> She frowned, unaware that Angel was studying her, trying to read her thoughts again. <I just want to stay here forever. I love the way Angel makes me feel.>

<I love the way you fit in my arms, Willow.>

"Ah!" She jumped out of his arms, "How did you do that?!"

He shrugged, "I, uh,--"

"Out with it." She demanded.

"I cast a spell."

She widdened her eyes, "What kind of spell?"

"A mind-link creator."

She wriggled her eyebrows. <Angel?>

<I'm here.>

<This is too much.> She rolled her eyes, "Why did you do that?"

"I was scared you'd disappear, and I always wanted to have a vague idea on what you were doing. If you were sad, happy, whatever. I just wanted to know."

"So," She smiled slyly, "I have a stalker now, do I?"

"A completely Willow-Obsessed vampire. Right here, holding you close." She laughed quietly, and fell back into his arms, "I guess I was lonely, and I missed you."

"Just promise me one thing, okay?"

"Anything." He complied.

She turned to look up at him, "Don't read my thoughts without warning, okay? In case I'm thinking something I wouldn't even want a devil to know."

"Okay. I promise." He checked the clock, "It's late. You want to sleep?"

She nodded, "As long as I can stay in your arms."

"You okay?" She patted his arm soothingly, as they walked through the entrance of farmhouse's yard. It looked so familiar to Angel, and suddenly memories started to flood back, "Is this home?"

He nodded, "Yeah. They've changed it a lot, but it's still the same place. After a century, I think they turned the whole place into a museum. It's closed now, though, so we'll have to jump the fence."

"Sure." They leapt the fence in a single bound, and they found themselves facing a sign which read, 'Galway's Greatest Mystery.'

He tsk'd, "They turned this place into a Mystery House?"

"It could always be worse."

They broke into the place easily, and they found themselves looking at a very old kitchen, "It's just like it used to be." Angel muttered.

"Weird."

They walked around the room, Angel studying everything closely, while Willow just studied Angel. <He seems okay so far.> Angel was hiding his feelings from his companion, he couldn't help it. He didn't want to bother her with his problems, when she had her own to deal with.

<Angel?>

"What!?!" He hollered. Terrified, she shrunk against a wall, "Willow, I'm so sorry."

She approached him wearily, "Angel, I understand you're stressed and sad, and stuff, but talk to me, okay?"

"Okay." He vowed. They continued to walk around the house, reading the little plaques all over the house, "It's so weird. I didn't think they'd reconstruct the house. I didn't think this would affect Galway so much."

"I guess you guys meant more to the city than just a rich family."

"I guess so." They walked outside, where they were met with a graveyard. Headstones were there, marking the places of his mother, father, sister, and fiancée, "I'm not here."

"They never had a body--" Willow scanned the field, "Wait! Angel, look!" She pointed to a headstone, which read, 'Angel Kirpatrick -- Heaven took you up, to protect you from terrible sins. May God bless you.'

"Wow. I never saw this."

"They loved you." Willow was behind him, wrapping her slender arms around his waist, trying to offer him some comfort.

He took her hands in his, as they stood, over looking his grave, "You know," He spoke after a while, "It's weird, sitting here, and seeing my own tombstone."

"What do you want to do about it?"

"Would you mind if I bought some flowers for the graves?"

She shook her head, "As long as I can come along."


"Do you think they'll ever forgive me?" He asked after placing the flowers at everyone's graves--except his own.

Willow took the last rose from his hand, and placed it on his grave, "I think if they saw you right now, and really saw how well you've taken care of everyone-- including me --I think they'd forgive you instantly."

"That rose was for you."

"Well," She replied, "We can't have the people puzzled. Couldn't have them thinking why someone would put flowers on everyone else's grave, but not Angel's."

"Angel doesn't deserve them." He spoke in third person.

"Don't go there, Angel."

He looked down at her, and smiled while reaching for her hand, "Maybe," He then wriggled his eyebrows mischieviously, "I can't wait to see the papers."

"'Mysterious Griever Lays Flowers In A Secured Historic Site.'" She smiled, "Yup, I can see it now."

"We better go get some food," He said, pulling out an envelope from his inside coat pocket, "This will ensure us enough food for our stay in Ireland. Plus referals to other blood banks along our travels."

"You're so smart." She followed him out into the front yard, and over the fence. They walked to a local hospital, and from there, they got their meals. They got back to the hotel minutes before the sun started to rise.

"Whew," Willow exclaimed, flopping down on the bed, "That was very close. We were almost dusted."

"Yeah."

"You're not going to eat?"

He didn't answer at first, "I'm just thinking."

"'Bout the house? Your family?"

"Yeah."

Willow put her glass of blood down, and enveloped him in a bear hug, "C'm'ere, Slugger." She held him tight, "You need a hug."

"Thanks." He rested his head on her shoulder, as she swayed back and forth, trying to rock him to sleep.


"Morning, Sleepyhead," She teased as Angel stirred next to her, "You feeling any better?" He nodded, "Want some food? I put it in the ice bucket to save for you."

He chuckled, "Thanks." He took the bag from her, and drank its contents hungrily.

"Now," She smiled, "We just have to wait for the paper."

He cracked a smile, relaxing Willow, "I can't begin to thank you enough. You have no idea. I don't deserve you."

"Do we have to have this conversation again?" A stern, yet loving, look crossed her face, "I really don't want to launch into it again. It makes me cry every time," She explained, "To see you discredit yourself like that."

"Then," He responded, "You must know how I feel, every time you say you wish you were dust," Her heart lurched, fully understanding what he meant, as he continued, "Every time you apologize for something that wasn't your fault, or every time you push yourself further away from the world and your friends. It has to feel the same way."

"When your heart melts, and the tears start to fall," She recalled past feelings, "I never know how to make it better; I only know I want it better right now, so you'll stop knocking yourself down, but I can never reach you--"

He cut her off, adding, "Every time you threaten to walk into sunlight, every time you hold a stake to your heart," He added to her sobs, with his own, "If I couldn't reach you fast enough to make you stop, or convince you that I need you, Willow, I don't have a damned clue on what I would do without seeing your face every night when I wake up," He tried to wipe her tears away, "Willow, I couldn't go on happily without you. I need, want, love you more than anything in this world."

"Angel," She sobbed, falling against his chest, embracing him while he did the same, holding her dear to him with his strong arms, as they comforted each other, "I love you."

"I love you." He kissed her lightly at first, but they soon heated it up. Before Willow knew it, they were lying down on the bed, him on top of her. Their sadness brought them closer. They were bonded in a way no one else could understand.

It started to get hot and heavy, Willow being touched with fire and ice all at once, as Angel tried to please her. But, all at once, it stopped, and Angel started to cry, "I can't."

"Why not?"

He wiped a tear away, "The curse." He colapsed into her arms, and to them, the world just seemed to stop. Two lonely souls alone in a dark, empty world.

Willow picked up a phone, while she watched Angel sleep. <Maybe he won't want to help. He has good reason not to, but, maybe he'd have a change of heart...?> Nevertheless, she dialed the number.

"Hello?" The familiar British voice was like angelic music to her ears.

"Giles!" She whispered excitedly, "It's so glad to hear your voice!"

He was happy as well, "Willow! Are you alright? Oh! This is so nice, to hear your voice again!" He paused, and asked, "Has anything happened?"

"No, not really," She replied, "I'm fine. I'm just worried about Angel."

"How so?"

She glanced over at his sleeping form, "Well, is there anyway to alter the curse?"

"What do you mean?"

She tried again, "Like, adding conditions to it, so it's stronger?"

"Willow," His voice sounded concerned, "Are you two--"

She protected them both, "We're in love, Giles. It's so nice. Not a crush, like it was with Xander or Jesse. Not in lust, like with Spike. Love. It's real. But," She added, "We can't do anything about it. He's scared he'd lose his soul."

"Good for him to be concerned." He spat out.

"Giles," She responded to his tone of voice, "I know you have it out for him, because to you, he's caused a lot of pain and trouble. But, right now, he's not anywhere near you. He's with me. He's so unhappy, Giles. His house was recontructed and turned into a museum about his family's murder! He even has an empty grave. We visited it last night, and I assume we'll be going back. He's so empty. If you could just see his eyes, Rupert--"

"Willow, you know I'd do anything for you," He responded, cutting her off, "I won't be happy about it, but I'll look. I'll get someone to help me."

She smiled through her tears, which had started running down her face, sadness mixed with gladness, "Thank you, Giles!!"

"Please don't call me Rupert again, though."

She laughed softly, which was music to the Watcher's ears, "Thank you, so much! You've made me so unbelievably happy."

"I can tell." She glanced at the stirring form in the bed next to her, "I have to go. I'll call you as soon as I can."

"Yes," He said, "Please. I'll research the spells, using that program of Jenny's."

"Bye." She hung up the phone, as Angel reached behind her,

"Did you get the paper yet?" She shook her head,

"That was Giles."

He kissed the top of her head, "Oh?"

"He's going to help us," Angel tried to ask a question, but Willow cut him off, "You will just have to wait and see!"


"Angel!" She exclaimed the next day, after they had made their second visit to the gravesites of Angel's family, "We made the headlines!"

He laughed, "You seem delighted."

"I always wanted to be famous!" She flopped next to him and read parts aloud, "'In recent nights, visits have been made to the gravesites of Galway's most famous victims, the Kirpatricks. No one sees them, and they don't set off the alarms. They come and go, completely invisible to the town,'" She smiled, "We're invisible! Hear that?"

"Yup." He smiled happily.

Willow continued reading, "'Luckily, they haven't done any harm. On their first visit, they brought flowers. They're second visit, they wrote letters. Many townspeople think this is a sick joke, but for now, the police say they won't try and track them down,'" Willow put the paper down, "Those letters really threw them off, Angel."

"It made me feel better," He shrugged, "I didn't say anything that would give me away," He pointed out, "And besides, you wrote a letter to Megan."

She nodded, "I thought it would make her feel better that someone was loving you, and taking care of you. It was more for myself than anything else, same reason why you wrote those letters--to explain to them to an extent, and tell them that you love them, and apologize," She smiled, "But I know they understand now. Spirits aren't foolish."

"I know." He recalled the night where he and Buffy were possessed by two lovers, on the night of the Sadie Hawkin's Dance, "They're pretty smart."

She took his hand in her tiny one, "What are we going to do tonight?"

"Well," He checked the clock, and saw that they had a few hours left, "We could eat, and then maybe we could go for a walk?"

"Are you planning on visiting the site?"

He shook his head, "Too risky. People will be waiting," He shook his head, as if exagerating his decision, "When we start back for home, I was hoping we could stop back here, so I could say good-bye."

"Of course."


"Please remain seated until the plane comes to a complete stop." They were in England now, a few days later. Willow laughed inside, thinking about the people camped outside the museum, waiting for the visitors. Angel had a few good laughs, too, and that made her even happier to see him smile again.

Willow looked over to Angel and smiled, "What do you have planned for here?"

"Shopping," He replied, "A musical, or opera, perhaps. How do you feel about sightseeing?"

She eyed him, "Daylight, remember?"

"I thought we'd do some private sightseeing."

"Oh," She smiled, and then thought of something, "Maybe I should call Giles. He might have some places for us to check out."

He nodded, "Good idea."

They stood up, and followed the other passengers off the plane, "You sure you want to take me shopping?"

He laughed, taking her hand in his, "Willow, I think my credit card is ready for you."

"You sure about that?"

He replied, "Yes, I'm sure. Now, let's go."

"How do I look?" Willow paraded out of the dressing room wearing an olive green, satin gown. It had a strapless, tight fitting bodice, and a semi-full skirt, which trailed to the ground. She wore short gloves that matched, and around her shoulders hung a matching sheer scarf.

"Willow, you look--" He shook his head, "I'm speechless." <You're looking pretty hot, there, Chickie.> He smiled, sending the message telepathically, so the salewoman wouldn't hear.

<Watch it, Buster.> "Thanks," She winced, "Um, do you prefer the short gloves with the arm thingy, or the long gloves?"

"Which do you like?"

"One minute, okay?" She nodded to the saleslady, "Um, could you bring the long gloves back here?"

"Of course." She returned with the gloves. Willow removed the short ones, replaced them with the long ones, and used the scarf as a sort of headwear, to hide her face.

"What do you think?"

Angel complained, "It hides your face," He turned to the lady who was still waiting, "I think we'll take everything that she liked." She nodded, and went to tend to packing each dress and its accessories.

<Angel?! Really?>

He smiled at her. <No problem. We'll be attending balls, and operas. Can't have you wearing the same ol' thing.> He laughed. <You know, you'd look cute in a paper bag.>

"Thanks." She smiled, and rushed off to go get changed.


"Well, well," Angel spoke with a British accent, watching Willow walk out of the bathroom, with her hair done up, and her makeup on, "You look ravishing."

She giggled, as she glanced in the mirror, expecting to see herself, but then remembered that she didn't have a reflection, "How I'd love to see what I look like!" She turned to Angel in a panic, "Is my shadow on right? Is my lipstick between the lines?"

He laughed, and then studied her face, "Everything seems to be in order--"

"Okay," She tried to feel her hair, which was done up in a loose bun, with a few curls hanging down in front, "Is the hair ugly? Bird nest-y?"

"I'm not an expert at this stuff," He answered, "You know how I do my hair."
She nodded, "Run a bit of gel through it and wait for it to dry. Yup, I know how you do your hair, but I can't do it that way," She asked again, "Please, what does it look like?"

He walked up to her, "Trust me, it's very elegant. Do you want me to get someone in here to tell you that?" She nodded, "You don't trust me, do you?"

"It's not that," She replied, "I just need a girl to tell me what I look like. It's a girl thing: makeup, and hair."

He understood, "Okay." He picked up the phone, and dialed down to the front desk. After having a conversation with the person working, he hung the phone up, "Some one will come up soon."

"You look fine," A cleaning lady, who looked no older than nineteen, said, "Nothing is out of place, not even a loose hair."

"Thanks." Willow smiled politely.

Angel picked up his coat, and pocketed the room key, "Are we ready?" He asked as the girl left them alone.

"Yup." She smiled.

"Well, then," He replied, "Let's go."

Willow stopped in her tracks, "Angel?"

"Yes?"

"Where are we going?"


Angel took her to an opera at London's finest theater, "How did you like it?" He asked after they got back into their limo.

"Angel," She replied, starry-eyed, "You're amazing."

"Really?"

She took his hand, "Really," She then spoke of the evening, "I mean, the opera was a little mind shattering, but, it was really tragic. And, it was nice to be there with someone special." She cooed.

Angel picked up on it, taking her hand, "Well then, if we're going to talk that way," He stroked the back of her gloved hand with his fingers, "This whole trip has been great."

"I know." She fell back against him. <I hope Giles found something. I better call him tonight.>


"Hi," She had dialed Giles' number the minute she had changed into her nightgown, and was surprised to hear a girl pick the phone up, "Are you the new Slayer?"

"Yeah," She replied, "I'm Lisa. How did you--"

"I'm a friend of Giles'," She answered, "Is he home?"

She answered by yelling for Giles, "He's be there in a minute." She replied, and then dropped the phone.

"Hello? Willow? Is that you? How's London?" Giles seemed stressed.

She had to smile. She could see him being totally stressed out, trying to cope with another Slayer, "How are you?"

"Well enough," He replied, and then said, "I've found a few things about that curse you were looking for."

"Really?" She squealed, "Can you e-mail them to me?"

He answered, "I'll get someone to."

"Do you want us home, to help, or anything?"

"No," He responded, "I was thinking about having another Watcher come up though. I'm getting much to old to be doing this sort of thing."

She smiled sadly, "Giles, we'll come home as soon as we can."

"It's not necessary."

"You need our help."

He didn't want to admit it, and Willow knew that, "Enjoy your trip for as long as you can, and when you come back, then you can help me."

"Fair," She responded, "Don't forget the e-mail!"

"I won't. Take care." She hung the phone up, as Angel emerged from the bathroom wearing pajama pants.

He smiled teasingly when he saw her, "Willow..."

Her heart melted, "Don't look at me that way--" She tried to run away, but he tackled her, sending her to the floor, "Angel! When I get up--"

"You're gonna hurt me?" He smiled, charm oozing around him, making Willow want to slug him even more.

"Grrr.." She growled, as he made his move. He started to tickle her, "Angel! Stop that! That tickles!" She repeated over, and over again, but it did no good. He continued to drive her insane, her innocent laugh filling the room.

"What the--" Willow had mustered enough of her vampire strength to flip them over, so she was on top, "Willow..." His voice now contained mock-warning.

"You're gonna hurt me?" She quoted him from before, as she started teasing him, running her fingers along each sculptured muscle in his arms, chest, stomach. She was tormenting him, while planting kisses wherever she thought they belonged.

"You don't play fair!" Angel commented cryly, trying to resist her skills. She leaned over him, letting their mouths meet in a delicate kiss, and when Angel tried to deepen it out of sheer arousal, she jumped up,

"Play time's over!" She laughed gayly.

Angel rolled his eyes, "You definitely don't play fair."

The next day, while Angel cat-napped, Willow spent her time studying the articles Giles had got sent to her. <Interesting..> She scanned the contents, over and over, before making a few educated guesses. <This might work.> She scribbled down a few verses, then hiding them in one of her bags, and went back to bed.

"What's going on tonight?" She asked him after they washed and changed.

He just shrugged, "How about we go for a walk?"

"Sure." They headed out of the room, and out of the hotel. Angel led the way, taking them to a park, "This is so eerie."

"Yeah," He muttered, "I guess so."

<What's wrong with him?> "Angel?"

"Hmm?"

"What's wrong? You're so distant!" She pulled him around to face her, and they stopped walking, "Talk to me."

"You're hiding something."

She paused, "It's about your curse, Angel," She gave in, "I wanted to see if there was anyway to, well, you know."

"Willow," He spoke softly, "I'm sorry; I thought it was worse than that. But," He added, "I don't think there's anyway to change it."

"Don't be so pessimistic, buddy," She spoke defiantly, punching him lightheartedly in the arm, "Besides, Giles sent me a few articles that will help."

"Giles did?" He shook his head, in disbelief.

She nodded, "Believe it." He took her hand, and they resumed walking. Willow relaxed by his side, glad that they had smoothed things out.

"Willow," He slowed their pace, "Are you happy here, travelling like this?"

She snorted, "Why would you ask a question like that?"

He shrugged, "I just wanted to make sure I wasn't dragging you along with me, against your will or something."

She stopped them again, not saying anything, but leaning up to kiss him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he pulled her in closer by wrapping his arms around her waist, "Does that answer your question?"

He chuckled, as they continued walking, "I think so..." He paused, and listened, "I hear a--" A vampire jumped out from behind a bush. Neither of them had a stake on them, but while Angel fought hand-to-hand, Willow ran over to the bush, and broke off a branch, to use as a stake. She tossed it to him, and he successfully staked the vampire, "Whew."

"Good job. You handled it well."

He caressed her cheek, "I'm just glad you weren't hurt."

"Aw..." She teased, leaning up for a quick kiss, before they continued walking. They exited the park, and headed down a street, "Um, where are we headed?"

"I dunno," He shrugged cryptically, "I just thought we'd see how far we could get."

"What if we get lost?"

He laughed at the panic in her voice, "Don't worry, Will'. If we do, we'll just hail a cab, and get driven to the hotel."

"Oh. I see you've thought of everything," She smiled up at him, "Good."


"I'm getting sick of planes," Willow complained, as they boarded the next plane to France. They had decided to make France their last destination, and then they'd return to help Giles.

"Aw," He teased, "Poor baby."

She punched him in the gut, with as little effort possible, "Darn Tootin'." He laughed, as they sat down, and buckled their seat belts. The plane took off, and the flight attendants started to serve drinks. Willow and Angel both declined, as they didn't possess a need for such nutrition, and they decided to read magazines. Willow picked a computer magazine, as she was still very much interested in her hacker abilities, while Angel picked a culture-based one. After a bit of reading, Willow gave up, bored our of her mind. <I'm really learning to hate these flights!> She pulled out her organizer form her carry-on bag, and looked over her schedule.

"What's wrong?" Angel leaned over, concerned because of the face she was making, "You look upset."

"Huh?"

He warned, "Don't hide from me," And then, he repeated himself, "What's wrong?"

She shrugged, "Tomorrow night, well," She hesitated, "It's my bad night."

He smiled, "Well, we'll just have to tie you down, won't we?"

"If I try to hurt you," She whimpered, "Stake me, okay?"

He rolled his eyes, "We are not having this conversation here."

She raised her hands as if in protection, "Okay, okay!" She closed the subject by picking up the boring magazine again. <When will this trip ever be over?!>

"Soon, I hope."

"Angel," She mock-growled, "Would you *please* tell me when you're going to that!?"

He shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face, "Sorry." He was trying hard not to laugh at the tone in her voice, but at the same time, he knew it was serious--he shouldn't just jump into her mind.

"Forgiven." She smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder. <Angel?>

<Hmmm?>

<How much longer?>

<I don't know.> He patted her head, "Try and get some rest."


"We're here!!" Willow excliamed excitedly, rushing into their hotel room, "Finally!" She added, with an exasperated tone in her voice.

Angel laughed, wheeling in their luggage, "It's nice to be able to settle in," He checked his watch, "We still have a little bit of time, you want to go for a walk?"

She nodded, "Just let me clean up, okay?"

"No problem."


Angel kicked a rock, and watched it roll down the sidewalk, "What do you want to do tomorrow?"

"I have no idea," She shrugged, "Just keep me out of harm's way. Lock me in a cage if you have to. Tie me up, whatever." He was silent for what seemed like eternity, after she had said that, so without even thinking, she read his mind, "Bondage!" She shrieked, "Angel, have you lost your mind?!!?"

He chuckled, "I was letting my imagination wander, Willow," He took her hand, "I wouldn't dream of--"

"What if I try and seduce you, to get you to lose your curse?" She cut him off, as the thought occurred to her.

"I won't let that happen," He teased, "As hard as that will be to resist you." He smiled down at her, and then kissed the top of her head.

She wasn't about to be deterred from the subject at hand, "I'm serious, Angel. You have to figure out something, anything," She paused, "And if it comes to staking me to save you, I want you to do it."

"Willow, I could never do that to you."

"If I hurt you in anyway," She started, "I don't know what I would do!"

He added, "Let's not worry about that until later."

"If you think that's best."

"I know that's what's best."

Willow laughed, "Okay, Wise One. What else do you know?"

"I know," He paused, "That you want to kiss me."

She giggled, "I always want to kiss you." They stopped and shared a long, passionate kiss, "Anything else you know?"

He glanced at his watch before answering, "That we only have about an hour to get back to the hotel."

"Let's go, then."

"Willow," Angel growled, "Quit your pacing!" She cowered, and sat back down on the bed. He saw how worried she was, and softened, "I'm sorry, Will'."

"I understand," She accepted, "I have to be making you nervous."

He patted her on the back reassuringly, "It'll work out."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Trust me," He replied, and then asked, "Do you want anymore to eat?"

She nodded, "Fill me up!" She giggled, taking another bag of blood from him. She drank it's contents quickly, and added the empty package to the pile she had gathered.

"How many did you have?"

"Six."

He then asked, "Full yet?"

"I think so."

He stood up, "Phase two, you ready."


Angel watched from a chair as Willow's changing took place. It was remarkable, but at the same time, terrifying. She'd shiver and shake, making Angel want to rush to her side, unchain her and tell her that things would be alright, but he couldn't because then she'd flee and terrorize the city.

The next sign of her transformation was the eerie glow that projected from her eyes, and then he knew it was complete, "Angel..." Her voice cooed, resembling Drusilla's, "Let me go, please."

"I can't do that, and you know that," He picked up a magazine, leafing through it lazily, "And you know it's for your own good."

She growled, her face transforming, as she struggled against the bonds, "Damn you, Angel! Let! Me! Go!" She wracked her body back and forth with increasing force. It was hard for him to bear, but in his mind, he knew it was a trap. She was using his protective instinct for her to escape by thrashing viciously against the chains.

"Willow!" He mustered up enough courage to yell at her, in attempts to silence her, but he knew it would do no good, so after thinking up another idea, he walked over to her with a cryptic smile on her face, giving up no information.

She knew he had something in mind, but she wasn't sure what, "Angel's got a secret." The vampire would cock her head from side to side as she chanted over and over, until he was crouched over her.

"I do," He smiled, tracing her cheekbone with a single finger, "It's a big secret."

She smiled with glee, "Tell me!"

"Uh uh," He shook his head, "That would ruin the game." When she shut her eyes in frustration, he rolled his eyes, not knowing how much longer he could entertain her. If she was anything like Dru, it could take a long time.

"More, more, more," She cried in glee, "Oh Angel, more, more, more!"

He was right. She was very much like Dru, which bothered him greatly. He had to tease her with pain and pleasure mixed, and luckily for him, she loved it. He hated every minute of it though, and decided that he couldn't wait until the night was over.

"Angel?"

"Yes, Love?" He rolled over, to see his Willow back.

She nodded, answering his unspoken question, "Did I hurt you in anyway?" He shook his head, "How much time is left?"

They had decided that she would stay cuffed up until the next night. He checked his watch, "An hour."

She shut her eyes, and fell into a light sleep. Angel smiled, and turned back to reading his book. He was glad that she was back to her normal self. If anything was ever normal.

He waited until she was breathing heavily, and then he picked up the phone, "Hello, would Anna be there please?" He waited until she came on the other line, "Anna, did you happen to do the research?"

"Yes, I did," A youthful voice quavered, "Just the way you wanted it."

"Did you find anything useful?"

"You'd be surprised," She replied confidently, "There are a few clauses to the curse, but I don't know how well any of these will work---"

He growled, quietly so that Willow wouldn't wake up, but loudly enough to threaten the gypsy girl, "What do you mean?"

"Well, you have to have a good handle on the magical arts," She replied meekly, scared by his demeanor, "If you have that, you're in the clear."

Angel thought long and hard, to someone who could work magic better than Willow, and he recalled an event that once, Buffy had told him the story of Amy, the witch. Maybe she'd be able to help, "Yeah, I think I do." He calmed.

"Well," She responded, "I'll fax the information to your apartment today."

He agreed, "Good. I won't be home for another week, though."

"Doesn't matter."

Willow stirred from the bed, "Angel?"

Angel panicked, not wanting her to know what he was planning, "I have to go." He hung up abruptly, and then turned to Willow, "Hmm?"

"What were you talking about?"

He shook his head, "Nothing."

She tried again, "Who were you talking to?"

"Myself."

She groaned, "You're impossible." He smiled and walked slowly to her bedside, "You have a secret. I don't like it."

He studied her eyes for a moment, to see if she was fully changed back to normal, and then he recalled when they had to play the game. She didn't remember.

"What's wrong?"

"You don't remember?"

She looked at him confusedly, "Remember what?" He launched into the story, as he undid her bonds. She didn't flee like she would have if she was bad, instead, she said, "I'm sorry I said that then."

"Why?"

She replied, "It was in bad taste."

He smirked, "Forgiven."

She ignored his comment, and asked, "When do you want to go home?"