Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Email me
Summary: Angel appears in Willow's bedroom late one night, but things don't go exactly as Willow planned.
Distribution: This site, and anyone else, just ask
Disclaimer: The characters or the show do not belong to me, they belong to Joss Whedon, the UPN and those lucky people. Please don't sue.
Willow
That night it all started, I was getting undressed and putting my PJs on as I usually do before I sleep at night. Or not as the case may be. Anyway, I heard a knock on my side door. I look, and it's Angel. I let him in, even though he might be evil, cause well...vampire. I'm not allowed boys in my room though, but Angel's not a boy, he's a man...well, vampire-with-a-soul. He probably wants to know something about Buffy. He’s never gonna notice me. As if, a silly little schoolgirl who can't kill things with her bare hands. I ask him what he wants, and he says he wants me to track down Ford on the net. Ford just moved here from Buffy’s old school. Angel’s not paying Buffy much attention at the moment, I wonder why? So Buffy clamped onto Ford and Angel got jealous and thinks Ford’s evil.
I turn to Angel
‘I really don’t think there’s anything to be found on him, Angel. If it’s Buffy you’re worried about then pay her more attention, ask her out for coffee.’
‘You’re right, Willow’ he says. Then he sits down on my bed. ‘Life used to be so simple until...’
‘You found Buffy?’ I ask.
‘No, until I came here,’ he says. Then he pulls me towards him and picks me up and carries me out of my room. He asks me if I would like to be stronger, like him. I know what he means and part of me knows it’s bad, but...that night I was turned. Angel sired me. My parents never noticed I was gone that night. I still live at home; I still go to class. Angel found the Gem of Amarra before I was sired, and gave it to me. It’s only been two weeks and the others never notice. Angel and I meet up in secret to hunt. I have to be careful to not let the others see me. But tonight Angel and I have something special planned. And it’s not a candlelit dinner.
Buffy
Today...well nothing much happened today. There’s no monsters or whatnot going on. It’s kinda spooky actually. ‘Course, Giles says there’s no reason to be less on your guard as usual. But I’ve been patrolling round the clock and I’m so tired * Yawn * And Angel hasn’t been by in a while. I miss him. Even when he couldn’t possibly be here, like in the daylight, I miss him. I don’t let it show though. Willow’s not helping. I always thought she was sympathetic but lately…perhaps she’s tired. I am, loads in fact. But I wanna keep awake in case Angel shows up. You never know with him, all the broodin’ an’ sneakin’ around.* Sigh * I think I’ll just stay up this half-hour...Zzzzzz.
Angel
Willow’s fun. Or was fun, I should say. But then, she’s not gone yet. Then again, neither am I. Tonight will be fun.
Giles
There’s something going on. I can feel it. Well, it helps by having the prophecies here. But I can feel it. Buffy says the paranormal has been more normal and less, well, para lately, and that just makes it feel even stranger. Like the calm before the storm.
Oh, there’s the door. It’s only Willow.
‘Hi Giles’ she says ‘Can I come in?’
‘Of course Willow’ She looks at me sadly.
‘Giles, I’m really sorry, but I have to do this...actually I kinda wanna do this.’ I feel a blow to my head from behind, and see her smiling. No, not Willow, not now...
Angel
We put him in the back room. He looks so helpless. Willow’s talking to him now. Hmm...well I guess I gotta do my job...this will be the best night of my life.
Buffy
I think I’m dreaming...I must be. My entire dying thing must have somehow screwed me. Angel would never do that. Okay, so I just had a dream. I...well lets just say I have prophetic dreams only sometimes, and, no, this isn’t one of them, it can't be. Angel-speak of the...well, vampire. He’s here, now. I quickly hide my diary.
‘Angel’ I say.
‘Buffy.’ He says. Then-
‘Let’s take a walk. I want to show you something.’ I hope he’s being romantic, but then I don’t know what Angel’s idea of romance is. I’ve only known him a year and a half and he’s not exactly an over-sharer. I tell him to turn round while I dress, then we slip out of the window. He walks with me, and leads me into the graveyard. We sit on the grass and he holds me. He whispers to me to close my eyes, and I do. But I don't trust him. But then after the dream...I can feel him moving, walking away. I open my eyes...and grab an axe in front of my nose. Angel is holding the axe, and he laughs. Then I feel a blow to the back of my head and collapse. My dream was a prophecy...
Willow
Buffy. Giles. My friends, and now they’re both tied to chairs with a fire burning in front of them, almost reaching them. And I’m watching them, not doing a thing. It’s really quite ironic.
‘Sorry, Buffy,’ I say, putting on my puppy-dog eyes. Angel appears by my side. ‘And Giles,’ I say
‘Well, it’s sad, but it has to happen’ Angel says, ‘You were great while you lasted.’
Then the fire starts blowing towards them. Angel laughs.
Giles
Well, I can figure out exactly what’s happened. Willow’s been turned. We can still hope...I haven’t yet seen her teeth, but the old Willow would never attack us willingly. She would never have been strong enough.
‘Buffy!’ I whisper. ‘Buffy!’ There’s no answer. I hope she’s not...I wont even think about that. How are we gonna get ourselves out of this one...
Buffy
I come to, and I’m strapped to a chair. It’s strangely hot...I open my eyes, and then I open them wide. There’s a fire in front of me...and next to me is...
‘Giles!’ I say. Where are we? Where’s Angel? He replies, pointing around the fire. There’s Willow and Angel...kissing!?!? Oh my god...my insides hurt but I quickly push them away. Angel left me a while ago; I can feel it now. I just refused to accept the truth. My eyes water but I make out it’s just the heat.
‘Giles, can you move at all?’ He answers no. I try to break the bonds but it’s impossible. I’m not going to die this way...I'm not.
Everyone
Willow starts towards the fire, holy water and knife in hand. The fire’s getting hotter, and it’s making even Angel and Willow uncomfortable. Giles is struggling in his bonds but Buffy is just sitting there.
‘Willow.’ Buffy says.
‘Yes, it’s tragic, I know.’ She replies sarcastically. ‘A student and school librarian found burnt to death in an abandoned warehouse.’
‘This can’t be you...’ Giles says pleadingly. Angel is just sitting there watching.
‘Sorry. Have to disagree with you there.’ Willow retorted.
‘So you plan to burn us.’ Buffy states.
‘Oh no slayer, a lot more than that.’ Angel speaks in not much more than a whisper; still they catch every word.
‘Angel’ Buffy says, her voice perfectly steady. He laughs, then speaks something in Gaelic. Willow takes the knife and makes a mark on her forehead, lips, and chest. Then she takes the knife to Angel and does the same to him.
The fire’s burning stronger and stronger, almost reaching Buffy and Giles. Buffy struggles, trying to undo her bonds. The fires reached Buffy now, and her bonds on her hands have burnt away. She jumps out of the chair, undoes Giles’ bonds and drags him out of the fire, unconscious.
Meanwhile, Willow and Angel are facing each other. Willow draws a circle around them with fire spurting out of her hand. The circle must not be broken. Buffy stands, wondering what to do. Willow...Willow’s her friend. And Angel...she knows what she must do now. Willow pours the holy water into the middle of the circle and flames fly up to the ceiling and flames go around the circle. Buffy hesitates. The only way to Willow and Angel is through the circle. She breaks into a run before she reaches the circle, and flies through it until she’s there inside it too.
Willow and Angel smile. They press their palms together and a sword appears through their palms, tying them together. Buffy’s face goes dark and she reaches up to the sword. It takes all of her strength to pull it out of their hands, and she throws it up towards the sky. There’s lighting, and thunder, Buffy’s face flashes white in the darkness, and rain comes pouring down outside.
The fire disappears, and Angel and Willow flash white, then blue, all the while Buffy’s face is pure white, frozen to the spot with the tips of her fingers touching the sword, while the sword balances in the air. Suddenly there’s darkness. There’s a pause, and then...FLASH! There’s a flash of white and then the warehouse’s gone, Angel’s gone, and Buffy and Giles are in the street. At their feet is a tree, sprouting out of the ground...
It's a willow tree.