They were supposed to meet Giles in a few minutes for another Buffy search party meeting.

"Nothing. It's been two months. I'm pretty sure Buffy and Angel aren't together, or she would have come back by now," Willow said. "She would, right?"

Xander winced.

"Uh, Will, I've been meaning to talk to you about that," he said.

"What?"

"Um, I couldn't do it. I didn't tell her that you were recurring him. I couldn't. I saw her and I thought about you in the hospital bed and I couldn't do it."

"Xander! How could you?," Willow said. "I mean, I understand you were mad and everything and we all know you weren't happy about me trying the curse again, but don't you even care about Buffy at all? You have Cordelia, and she has nobody! You're so selfish!"

Xander had never seen Willow this angry. This was not like Willow at all.

"Wills, calm down, come on. I thought if Buffy knew she wouldn't want to hurt Angel and well, he could have used that against her, and I wasn't about to have him kill her. No thanks," Xander said. "Sorry if you disagree with that."

Willow stared at him, and then her harsh expression softened.

"I guess I can understand that, but don't think for a second that I don't know your motives weren't completely saintly, Xander Harris."
Xander shrugged.

"Maybe not, but she obviously saved the world," Xander said.

Willow smiled. "I knew she would. I just wish I knew what happened with her and Angel.

She must be so upset! We have to tell Giles right now."

"Tell me what?," Giles said, popping his head from behind the stack of books.

Willow jumped up from the seat.

"Giles, you scared me," she said.

Giles smiled at her.

"I realize you're still a bit frazzled from the whole experience. And yes, who wouldn't be, in your position, I suppose?," he said, scratching his head and looking down at the floor.

"Xander has something to tell you, Giles," Willow said.

Xander glared at her,but he knew it was time to confess.

"When Buffy confronted Angelus that last time, or we assume it's the last time since we haven't seen the two of them in months," Xander said.

"Xander, stop being so circuitous," Giles said. The shred of patience he usually reserved for dealing with Xander had disappeared a month ago.

"I'm getting to it," Xander snapped. "Look, she didn't know exactly that Willow was re cursing Angel."

"You didn't tell her?," Giles said. "When you came to get me, you didn't tell her what was happening?"

"No," Xander said.

Giles continued to stare at the floor for a few minutes, speechless.

"Go ahead and yell at me. I already feel awful, and Willow already laid it on pretty thick," Xander said, looking at Willow. She was staring at Giles, trying to judge whether to leave the room or not.

Giles looked up and Xander and Willow saw his eyes were welled with tears.

"I suppose you would expect me to, wouldn't you? As her watcher it was my responsibility to look after her, and I should be angry with you for not giving her warning, but honestly I think you did the right thing."

Willow's eyes widened as Xander breathed a sigh of relief.

"You do?," Xander said.

"Even though we know she was ready to kill Angelus she's still 17 years old. That part of her that was in love with Angel was going to hold her back. My God, now I know what she's been doing this time. She's by herself. She must have killed him," Giles said.
Willow began to shake.

"What do you mean she killed him? Are you sure, Giles? Maybe they are off somewhere having a moment, or many moments," Willow said. "Warm and fuzzy moments."
Willow tried to sound optimistic but deep down she knew the time for that had long passed.

Giles scratched his head again.

"Only Angel's blood could close the vortex into hell. He's gone, as sure as we are standing here," Giles said.

They all looked at each other emotionless. Nobody knew what to say.