Title: The Night Calls
Author: Kylia
Email: kylia_bug@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Nobody belongs to me, unfortunately. They belong to Joss & Mutant Enemy, and a few other people I don't know.
Rating: PG13 (for now)
Spoilers: general fourth season. And some rumors I heard about “Doomed”
Category: Willow/Spike – Who else would I write about?
Summary: Willow, still upset over Oz’s departure, attempts to ‘bounce back’ with some help from her friends.
Distribution: Fire & Ice. Anyone else, ask, and you shall receive.
Feedback: Yes, please!! I need to know if I should quit while I am ahead.
Author's Notes: This takes place after Something Blue & Hush. Oz has never returned, and The Scooby Gang is somewhat frustrated with the amount of time it is taking Willow to recover. Spike is still ‘neutered’ although he no longer lives at Giles. Mark is of my own creation.

Riley stood at the head of the conference table, handing out instructions for the upcoming mission.

"Okay. We have four hostiles. As we understand it, Hostile 17 is ill. We must take him alive. The others don’t matter. Capture them alive if possible, bring them in dead if not."

He looked at each of the people at the table in turn. Forrest eager, Graham expressionless, Mark had barely repressed anger shining in his eyes, and Buffy appeared determined. He nodded. "Let’s move out."

Professor Maggie Walsh watched the small team leave the conference room. She could wait for them to return with the hostiles. She was eager to begin tests on Hostile 17, and if what she had heard about the other hostile was true, she couldn’t wait to cut him open. A vampire with a soul. That wasn’t something you saw everyday.

Wesley knocked loudly and waited somewhat impatiently. After several seconds the door was swung open, revealing Giles. He looked different than the last time they had seen one another. He was wearing a sweater and a pair of slacks in place of his usual tweed.

"Rupert." Wesley stepped into the house, followed by Faith.

Giles looked at the Slayer warily. "Faith. How are you?"

Faith shrugged. "Five by five." Her eyes darted around the room. She saw Xander and the demon girl staring at her cautiously. She couldn’t help but smirk at the nervousness she saw in the boys’ eyes. "Don’t worry, I don’t bite." Her lips curved into a smile. "Oh wait, I do."

"Faith."

Faith turned around at the warning tone in Angel’s voice. She was about to speak when a noise from the top of the stairs averted her attention. Willow was standing at the top of the stairs staring at her with an expression she couldn’t read. She looked exhausted, like she hadn’t slept in far too long.

"Faith." She spoke as she descended the stairs. She walked up to the Slayer. "Thank you for coming."

Faith stared at the witch in confusion for a moment. She wasn’t expecting to be thanked. Slapped, yelled at, thrown out even, but not thanked. "Huh?" She asked dumbly.

"Thank you." Willow repeated. "I know this can’t be easy for you." She smiled slightly and then looked around the room. "Are we ready?"

Giles nodded. "Yes. Wesley and Faith will stay with Spike while I…"

"No." Faith cut Giles off.

"Excuse me?" Wesley asked.

"I’m going with you." She told them. She looked to Angel for support. He shook his head.

"Faith, no." Angel’s voice was firm.

"Fang, I’ll be a better use if I go with you. Wes can watch Blondie." Faith explained.

"I don’t think so." Angel was leery to put her in the middle of the present situation.

"She’s right." Willow’s voice was determined. We’ll need all the help we can get."

Angel sighed needlessly. "Fine, but lets get going. The sooner we get in there, the soon we get out. He doesn’t have a lot of time."

The group of seven filed out of the house and into the garage, climbing into the van Xander had procured for the secret mission.

Once they had gone, Wesley went upstairs to check on his charge. As he entered the bedroom, he found himself gasping at the site. He had never met Spike. The only thing he knew about him was what he had read in the Watcher’s diaries or what Cordelia or Angel had told him. The accounts varied greatly. The Watcher’s information on him depicted him as a ruthless killer who had taken great pleasure in torturing his victims. Angel however spoke of him with no small amount of sadness. He had a great amount of guilt for what his demon had done to the blonde vampire. Cordelia, on the other hand, had several amusing stories to tell regarding Angel’s childe.

Nothing he had heard about the vampire prepared him for what he saw. He looked like death. Which considering he was dead should have been appropriate. But it wasn’t. He could feel the heat coming off of him. It was unnatural. The tremors, which racked his pale body, were further proof to just how close to permanent death he really was.

Wesley froze. He had thought he heard something. He strained his ears to see if anything else could be heard. When nothing was, Wesley relaxed only to be hurled to the floor when two men in camouflage came bursting into the room. They both ran to the bed and stared down at Spike in shock. One of the soldiers spoke into a communications device attached at the soldier. "Got him."

Wesley stood up carefully, and walked behind the two commandos. He noticed a heavy bowl filled with water on a small table near the bed. He crept towards it cautiously. Before he could reach it however, he felt something heavy hit him on the back of the head. He slumped to the floor, opening his eyes briefly, he saw the face of his attacker. Buffy Summers.

Buffy watched as Wesley and Spike were brought into a section of the compound she head never been to. Wesley was locked in a low-security cell, while Spike was taken to one of the labs.

"Where are the others?" Professor Walsh asked from behind Buffy.

Buffy turned around. "I don't know. They weren't at the house. The only other place I could think of would be Angel's mansion. He hasn't lived in Sunnydale for awhile, but he still owns it."

Professor Walsh nodded. "Take a team and go there. Bring them back here."

Buffy smiled slightly. She didn't know what was going on. Where Angel, Cordelia and Willow were, or how Wesley fit into it. The last she had heard was when Wesley had left Sunnydale to return to England after the incident with the Mayor. But yet here he was, back in Sunnydale, apparently keeping an eye on Spike. It didn't make any sense. She hoped Professor Walsh could get some answers.

She followed Riley out of the building, leaving Professor Walsh alone in the room. She smiled as she entered the lab where Hostile 17 had been brought.

"Let's see what went wrong." She told the unconscious vampire.

Xander parked the car near one of the many sewer entrances. He turned around and faced the group in the back of the van. "We ready?"

"Lets get it done." Angel opened the door and was thankful for the hazy weather and the splattering of trees that seemed to cover the tunnel entrance like a protective covering.

After several minutes and some well-directed turns, the group found the entrance. Angel looked to Faith. The two were going to remove the door forcefully if necessary. Luckily it wasn't. The door opened without much resistance. However they were then met with another door. This one was attached to a security device.

"Let me." Anya said with a smile." She approached the door and felt around the frame. As her fingers met with the sensors, she began to feel a long the edge for the switches he knew would be embedded there.

Cordelia watched the former demon, impressed. She was about to comment when her feet where knocked out from under her with the force of another vision. The images came to her with such force, her breath nearly stopped. "Oh God!"

"Delia? What is it?" Angel lifted her into his arms. "What did you see?"

Cordelia was shaking with fear. "They… they…" She stared at the group surrounding her. "We have to hurry."

Anya released the mechanism and the door slid opened, allowing the entrance into the compound.

Willow pushed past the others, her eyes darting around frantically. S he didn't know what Cordelia had seen in her vision, but she knew it had to be bad for it to have scared her so much.

"This way. We won't have to go too far. I just need access to one of there terminals." She pointed to a door off to the right. Let's try there first."

"Cor, What happened?" Faith asked as she stepped back.

Cordelia turned to the Slayer. "They were doing something to him. Experimenting on him." She whispered, allowing her fear to come through in her voice, if just for a moment.

Willow entered the room and was pleased to find a computer sitting on the lone desk in the office. She ran over to it, and ran her fingers expertly over the keyboard, searching its hard drive for the information she sought. When she found a group of files, which looked promising, she started saving them to a disk she had brought, bypassing the security measures.

Once the files were copied, Willow decided to take a look at some of the encrypted messages. What she found, made her heart skip a beat. Several in fact. "Angel." She called softly.

When the vampire stood behind her, she pointed to the message currently on the screen. "Look, according to this they sent a team to capture us. To capture him." She looked up at him, her eyes starting to water slightly. "Wesley would be no match for them."

Angel turned around, letting his vampire senses take over. "He's here. He's close." He turned back to Willow. "See if you can find out where they took him."

Maggie Walsh looked through the microscope at the implant she had removed from Hostile 17. "Look what we have here. It's fused."

"You've found the problem?" Dr. Angleman spoke from behind her.

"It doesn't make any sense. It was fused somehow. This shouldn't have been possible." She shook her head in wonder. " We'll have to do some more test. Find out why."

"Where is he now?" Dr Angleman asked as he placed his eye over the microscope eyepiece.

"We moved him and the mortal he was with to block E." Professor Walsh explained.

"Excellent."

Wesley stared warily at the unconscious vampire. He had known the moment he woke up that he was in trouble. He looked around the bright cell with dread. The Initiative had captured him, and Spike. Buffy Summers had helped. He had desperately wanted to believe that there had been some misunderstanding between the blonde Slayer and Angel. But seeing her standing over him after having knocked him out, Wesley realized that she understood perfectly.

Spike groaned from his place on the floor. His head was killing him, bringing back the memories of the headache he had just before he had lost consciousness. He opened his eyes slightly, and winced at the brightness.

"Spike?" He heard an accented voice speak to him. He tried to place it, but couldn't. It wasn't Giles. He shielded his eyes from the bright light, and opened his them again. He looked over to where he thought the voice was coming from.

"Who the bloody Hell are you?" He snapped.

Wesley cleared his throat. "Wesley Windham-Pryce. I'm a friend of…" He hesitated, "Willows."

Spike sat up. "Willow? Where is she?" He asked growing concerned.

"I don't know." He told him honestly. He assumed that she was somewhere in the compound, but he didn't think that information would go over well.

Spike tried to remember what had happened. How he had gotten here. How he had been recaptured. He stalked towards the human. "What happened?" He demanded.

"Here." Willow pointed to an overhead map of the complex. "Block E. They have them together." She crinkled her brows in thought. "According to this, the easiest way to get there, will be to take this elevator down to the next level. Unless they know we're here, there shouldn't be too much…" She stopped as a feeling that was unfamiliar came over her.

"Willow? What is it?" Angel asked, concerned.

Willow looked up at the vampire, her eyes growing wide. "He's awake." She smiled brightly. "He's awake. I can feel him. He's confused, but awake."

"We don't have much time." Faith reminded them. "Lets get a move on."

Buffy groaned. "He's not here."

They had searched the mansion thoroughly and had not found any evidence of Angel's presence. It didn't look like anyone had been there in months.

"Now what?" Graham asked Riley.

"We go back. Regroup." Riley left the house, feeling slightly dejected.

Buffy followed the commandos out wondering where Angel could be. Did he return to Los Angeles already? Without even saying goodbye?

Spike stared at the watcher. Wesley had just finished telling him about what had happened. He had vague memories of hearing voices around him, but everything else was a blank. What surprised him most wasn't what the implant had done to him, but that Willow's friends had stood behind her. Everyone except the Slayer. That hadn't surprised him, but the others had.

Spike tensed. He could feel Willow. She was close. He wasn't sure when he had started being so intune with her. How it was he could sense her. He could also feel his Sire. Peaches was with her. He vividly remembered the dream he had shared with her. He knew that when he got out of whatever mess they had gotten into, he was going to make her his. He was tired of pretending they were just friends.

Spike approached the glass cautiously. He remembered the shock he had received when he had been here before. There was a silence enveloping the room. Apparently they were keeping him in a deserted area of the compound. He looked around his cell carefully, trying to find anything that would lead to escape.

Then everything went black. The power had been shut down. He felt his true face slip into place, so he could see in the darkness. He heard the main outer door burst opened. Angel was the first to enter followed by a brunette girl he'd never seen before. Cordelia, Xander and Anya came in next, with Giles and on their heels. He eyes swept past him to the one person he really wanted to see. Willow ran up to cell and pushed the door open. She jumped up into his arms, hugging him tightly. He could feel her tears against his neck.

"Shhh. It's okay." He told her as he spun her around the room, oblivious to the audience.

Angel felt a smile breaking across his features at the site of Willow in Spikes arms.

"Hey, we gotta get out of her." Faith broke into Willow's happy moment.

Willow pulled herself out of his arms, but didn't let his hand go.

The group left the cell and made their wait out into the outer hallway. When they reached the elevator, they rode up in silence. As they opened the door, when the elevator stopped, the found themselves faced with a large group of armed commandos. What surprised them the most was the person standing in the front, a rifle leveled at them.

"Slayer." Spike hissed.

"You don't look too sick!" Buffy sneered.

Angel growled at the snide tone in Buffy's voice and found himself wondering what he ever saw in her.

Willow pushed her way to the front and glared at Buffy. "Let us go."

Buffy stared at her friend, too shocked at the group, which faced her to say anything. She hadn't expected to see them here, any of them. She shook her head sadly. "You can go, but Spike stays here."

"I'm afraid they all stay." Mark spoke from behind Buffy.

Buffy whirled around to face the commando. "What do you mean?"

"According to our readings, there are two vampires, and three others who aren't quite human. The professor wants everyone."

Buffy turned back to face the intruders. "Sorry. It looks like no one is leaving."

Willow looked astonished. "Who are you?" She asked incredulously.

"I'm the Slayer." Buffy said as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

Willow shook her head. "No, you were the Slayer. Now… I don't know what you are."

Spike turned slightly and looked at Angel. They shared a silent moment, each knowing they would do whatever was necessary to get everyone out safely. Angel slowly made his way through the group so that he was standing on Willow's other side.

Willow took a step back and felt herself being pulled slightly to one side. Faith took her place in between Angel and Spike.

"Well, B, looks like we get to party after all."

Before Buffy had a chance to respond, Faith hit her hard across her face, knocking Buffy off balance and causing her drop her crossbow. Buffy stood up and kicked out at Faith. Faith moved out of the way easily.

"You're out of practice, B. Seems you've relied to much on your new boy toy." She spun around and delivered a hard kick to Buffy stomach, knocking her to the ground.

Xander was taking out some pent up aggression on Mark, who was discovering that and Angry Xander, with military skills was not necessary something you wanted to face.

Meanwhile, Angel and Spike were keeping the rest of the Commandos from getting anywhere near the rest of the group. The two vampires were a force to be reckoned with. They moved fluidly, as one. Despite the time that had passed since they had last fought together, they still were in tune with one another.

The fight had progressed out into the hall, allowing the others to move from the elevator. Willow looked around frantically, searching for something, anything that would help them escape. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a computer terminal. She noticed with a slight smile as Cordelia collapsed to the floor, faking a vision. It was a mockery of a true vision, but the Initiative wouldn't know that.

Wesley walked towards his fallen friend. "Don't just stand there, do something!" He shouted at Forrest, who had his rifle trained on the remaining four intruders. Forrest bent down to look at the girl, suspiciously eyeing the group. When he was close enough, Wesley grabbed the muzzle of the gun, and hit him across the face with it. Cordelia brought her leg out and kicked him, causing the commando to fall to the ground in pain. Anya hit him in the back of the head, causing him to loose consciousness.

Willow silently moved towards the computer, thankful that everyone was causing a big enough distraction for her to do what was necessary. It only took her a few seconds to get into the system. She smiled broadly when she realized this particular terminal housed the main system, gaining her access to everything. She found the environmental controls, and starting shutting down power in all sections, and then activated the computer's self-destruct sequences. She had found the program when she had tapped into the computer earlier. This particular safety measure was well thought out, and would not only affect this system, but any computer connected to it on the network, or by a modem, effective shutting down all of the Initiative's files, wherever they may be housed. She smiled to herself, as the lights went out, leaving everyone in complete darkness.

Willow made her way back to the group. She couldn't see anything in the darkness, save for two pairs of glowing golden eyes. The Commandos seemed to be at a loss. Without their fancy equipment, and clocked in darkness, they didn't know what to do.

"This way." Willow whispered, knowing that both Angel and Spike could hear her. Her eyes met one pair of golden, and she knew instantly whom they belonged to. S he smiled, knowing he could see it in the darkness. "We can get out this way. She pointed off behind her. "But since I can't see, one of you growly bears will have to lead the way."

The second pair of golden eyes moved, and headed in the direction Willow had pointed. Willow stayed behind, making sure everyone got out before she and Spike followed.

After several minutes and numerous corridors, Angel came to a door. "Is this it?" He asked.

Willow pushed through the small crowd to look at the door. She took a close look at the door reaching out a hand for the flashlight Xander had brought with them. When he handed it to her she trained it on the door, examining the numbers.

"Yes! This leads to the sewers, so we should be alright until either nightfall, or until one of us can go back and get the van."

She pushed the door opened and sure it enough, it led to a darkened sewer tunnel. Willow stepped through and held it open for everyone else to follow. Once everyone was out of the building and standing in the damp tunnel she looked around.

"Where to now?" Anya asked.

"Not sure." Willow admitted. "I'm not the sewer expert here."

All eyes turned towards Angel. He scowled slightly, although he couldn't help but see the humor in the situation. "This way." He pointed to their left.

As the group followed the vampire, Willow stepped back until she was walking alongside Spike. She reached for his hand in the darkness. "How are you?"

Spike squeezed her hand knowing it was just like her to be more concerned for him than anything else. "I'm fine, Red."

"So, how long do you think it will be before they get the power back up?" Xander broke the silence that had overtaken the tunnels.

"Not for awhile. I completely shut everything down, fried their system." Just as the words were leaving Willow's mouth the sounds of several small explosions could be heard behind them.

Willow froze as the explosions started getting louder. The ground shook slightly.

"Come On, Red. We need to get out of here." Spike picked the slight redhead when he realized she wasn't going to move on her own. He ran ahead of the group until he reached Angel.

"We need to get out of here." He whispered. "I don't know what happened back there, but it sounds like the whole building is gonna come down."

Angel looked at his childe cradling Willow in his arms. She seemed to be in a state of shock. "I know. Hiding out in the tunnels until nightfall isn't an option anymore."

"Xapper," Spike called behind him. Xander came up behind the two vampires. "Did you say you had a van around her somewhere?"

Xander nodded. "Yeah, it's…"

"Go get it. Now!" Spike snapped.

Xander ran past the vampires but stopped about a yard ahead of them. "Which way?" He asked sheepishly.

Spike groaned. Faith made her way through the group. "I'll show you."

Faith and Xander made their way through the tunnels ahead of them. After they were out of site, Angel turned back to Spike.

"Will she be alright?" Angel asked, concern evident in his voice.

"I don't know." Spike told him honestly. "I hope so."

A silence enveloped the group as they made their way through the tunnels and waited for Faith and Xander to return.

Cordelia entered the kitchen silently and prepared a mug of warm blood for Angel. As she watched the seconds tick away on the microwave she thought about all that had happened in such a short time.

It had been nearly eighteen hours since they had rescued Wesley and Spike from the Initiative labs. Eighteen hours since the Initiative had come crashing down around them. Eighteen hours since Buffy had died.

She couldn't believe she was dead. It was a shock. It was so much that she missed her, because truthfully she had never liked her. If Cordelia were being perfectly honest, she could say she detested Buffy Summers. She had put Angel through so much, caused him so much pain, some of it recent, that she couldn't bring herself to feel for the Slayer. But it was shocking. But what was even more troubling was Angel's reaction to it. She had expected him to crumble, fall apart at the lost of his one true love. That hadn't happened. He hadn't shed a tear. Hadn't even spoken about it. That worried her.

Angel stood on the balcony, staring up at the stars. So much had happened in the past twenty-four hours. So much lost. He thought about what had happened. When Willow had shut down the Initiative's computer system, she had triggered some sort of security measure. It set of a series of small explosions running through the entire compound. Within several minutes the building was collapsing around them.

The small group had barely escaped without injury. Well most of them had escaped without injury.

Angel had sent Faith and Wesley back to Los Angeles several hours ago. He didn't know how long he would be in Sunnydale, and he needed someone to keep an eye on things. Giles had left as well, with Xander and Anya. The trio needed to grieve in peace.

Angel heard the balcony doors open. He turned slightly. Spike came outside and lit up a cigarette.

"How is she?" Angel asked quietly.

"The same." Spike sighed needlessly. "Is everyone gone?"

"Yes. Giles took Xander and Anya home, and I sent Faith and Wesley back to LA."

"So, it's just you are your girl?" Spike smirked slightly, but the humor didn't reach his eyes.

"My girl?" Angel questioned. "I think you've misunderstood my relationship with Cordelia."

Spike snorted. "You love her. She loves you. What's to misunderstand?" He sat wearily on one of the patio chairs.

"It's not that simple, Spike."

"Dammit, Angel! It is that simple." He grabbed Angel around the neck and swung him around so he was facing the opened balcony doors. "Do see her?" He growled in Angel's ear. "I almost lost her tonight." He let his sire go. "I still might." He turned to watch Willow. She was lying across the bed, her arms wrapped firmly around her body, staring vacantly at the ceiling. "We're eternal. They're not." Spike walked back into his bedroom, leaving Angel alone with his thoughts.

Spike was right. As hard as it was for him to admit that Spike could possibly be right about anything, he was right about this. He ran a hand through his hair as he walked back into the house and headed downstairs. He needed to talk to Cordelia.

Spike sat on the bed and pulled Willow into his arms. "Come on, Red. You have to come back to me." He felt her shiver, and smiled slightly. It was the first reaction he's gotten out of her since the first explosions had gone off.

"Red? Willow?"

Willow slowly unwrapped her arms from her own body and clung to his. "Spike?" S he whispered. Is it really you?" She looked up into his blue eyes.

"Yes, baby, it is."

She ran a hand across his cheek. "You're cold."

He chuckled. "I am dead." He gently reminded her.

"You were so warm, before." He took a deep breath to keep her tears from falling. "I thought… I thought…"

"Shh. I'm alright." He tilted her face up slightly a pressed his lips to hers.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as he coaxed her mouth open, sliding his cool tongue inside to duel with hers. They were locked in a passionate embrace until her lungs demanded oxygen. He pulled away reluctantly and lay her head against his silent chest.

"Wow." She whispered. "That was better than the dream."

He chuckled. "I love you, Red."

Willow looked up at him, too afraid to believe what she thought she'd heard. What she saw in his eyes surprised her. She smiled. "I love you too."

Willow took a deep breath as her mind wandered back to what had happened that evening.

"What have I done?" She whispered. "I killed them, didn't I? Buffy's dead, isn't she?"

"Yes, pet, she is." Spike held her trembling body closer as she cried.

Cordelia pulled the mug out of the microwave. She turned towards the door and startled slightly. Angel was standing in the doorway, staring at her with this odd expression on his face.

"Hi." She smiled slightly. "I, uh I thought you might be hungry." She handed him the mug.

As Angel took the mug from her, their hands brushed slightly sending a bolt of electricity through both of them.

Cordelia took a step back, trying to distance herself from Angel and the emotions he was bringing out in her.

"I think we need to talk." She told him as she sat down at the kitchen table.

Angel drained his meal and walked over to the sink to rinse out the mug. There was something odd about her tone. It brought an irrational fear through his dead heart. Maybe she didn't feel anything more than friendship for him. Maybe Spike was wrong.

"What about?" He asked cautiously as he sat down across from her.

"Buffy." She spoke quietly. She didn't want to upset him, but she knew he would feel better if he talked about it.

"What?" He asked dumbly. He didn't what he had expected her to say, but that wasn't it.

"Angel, you don't have to pretend you aren't upset. You're true love is dead." She placed a hand comfortingly over one of his, ignoring the sensations the simple touch brought forth. "Angel, We're… friends. I want to help."

Angel placed his other hand over hers and smiled. "Thank you." He sighed needlessly. "It's hard to explain." He stood up and walked over to the other side of the kitchen, trying to focus his thoughts, so he could explain how he felt.

"I am saddened by her loss. I'll miss her, but… She isn't… wasn't who she used to be. She wasn't the same girl I fell in love with. I'll always have a place in my heart for her, but she no longer has sole possession of it." He paused, not sure how to continue. "I've fallen in love… with someone else."

Cordelia felt her heart stop, or maybe that was wishful thinking. "Oh." She was barely able to say the word.

"Yes." Angel smiled. "She's intelligent, and beautiful, and witty, although she isn't very tactful."

Cordelia looked up at him sharply.

"But, she has a keen fashion sense, and doesn't mind my eating habits."

"Angel?" Cordelia asked carefully. "Are you saying… what are you saying?"

Angel walked over to her and lifted her out of her chair; he placed a hand gently across her cheek and tilted her face up to meet his. Leaning down he placed a gently kiss against her lips. "I love you, Cordelia Chase."

Willow awoke the next morning, nestled in a pair of cool arms. Spikes arms. She opened her eyes to find him staring down at her.

"Morning, luv."

"Good morning." She snuggled deeper into his embrace, resting her head against his chest.

Willow felt his body tense slightly. It seemed as if he wanted to tell her something, but was afraid to. All of a sudden, she felt this fear go through her.

"You're leaving." She stated sadly.

"Peaches' asked me to go back to Los Angeles with him." He tilted her head up so he could look into her beautiful green eyes. "How do you feel about UCLA?"

"Is this everything?" Xander asked as he carried what he hoped was the last bag.

Willow laughed. "Yes, that's everything."

They had just finished packing up the dorm room. They had taken all of Buffy's stuff to her mothers, and were now packing the last of Willow's stuff into the back of Cordelia's car.

She hugged Xander tightly after he closed the trunk. "I'm gonna miss you. Anya too."

Xander grinned. "We'll come and visit. Soon. So tell Deadboy Jr. to stock up on the munchies."

"What will you do now?" She asked him quietly, feeling slightly guilty for bailing on him.

"We're gonna go… somewhere. Travel a bit." He told her.

"Really?" Willow asked, surprised.

"Yeah," Xander walked back with towards the dorm room, for one last check to make sure they didn't forget anything.

"With the Initiative gone, and Giles returning to England, there isn't reason to stay. Besides Anya said something about having fifty-one more states that we need to make love in."

Willow made a face. "Too much information." She giggled.

Willow took a last look around the room she had shared with Buffy. "It's all different now. Nothing will ever be the same, will it?" Her voice had a hint of sadness.

"No, Will, but it'll be better." He hugged her tightly.

She nodded. "Yes, it will."

She closed the door behind her for the last time. "I had better go. It'll be sunset soon, and we need to get going." She hugged him one last time and climbed behind the wheel of Cordelia's car.


The End