Part 1

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Angel listened as Willow hummed softly in her sleep.  He couldn’t quite make out the tune, but it was something light and airy.  He watched her for a moment, hating to wake her from a dream she was obviously enjoying.  She looked even younger in her sleep and Angel felt a slight pang of guilt at all the changes she was going through because of their relationship.  Everything was different for her now.

Somewhat reluctantly, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

“Time to wake up, little girl.”

Willow groaned slightly, refusing to open her eyes. “Do we need to go inside now?”

“You are inside.  You’re in my bed and it’s time to get up.”

She cracked an eye and looked at him. “I don’t remember coming indoors.”

“You wouldn’t.  I carried you in while you were asleep. Here, sit up and drink this.” Angel handed her a small glass of juice, pink grapefruit, her favourite.

Willow sat up, pulling the covers around her, took the juice and drank it down. Angel watched her, loving the way she looked in the morning, warm and slightly mussed from sleep.  He wanted her again. He always wanted her.  Being able to finally give in to his desires, after years of suppressing them, was still something he couldn’t get enough of.   And to have his passion and love returned was almost beyond his comprehension.  He’d given up on it ever happening years ago.

Handing him the empty glass, Willow said, “Bathroom.  I’ll be right back.”

Angel watched her walk away with a half smile on his face.  He didn’t think it was conscious, but her hips always had a little more movement when she walked in front of him naked.  He pulled the bedclothes back and sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed, waiting.  She returned and sat down facing him.

“You know you woke me up a almost an hour early, don’t you?”

Angel leaned over to her, capturing her face in his hands and kissed her gently, his tongue slipping into her mouth to briefly flick hers.

“Well, you said you’d probably have to research again tonight.  I think you should go home afterwards so you can get a full night of sleep for a change.”

“And you woke me up early so we can talk, right?”  She grinned at him.

“Talk…we *could * do that…” Angel pushed her slowly backwards onto the bed so that she was flat on her back and spread her legs.  Moving to his knees, but still sitting, he pulled her hips up and forward so that her legs rested on either side of him.  He pressed forward so that his erection was embedded in her slit, gently rubbing it back and forth across her clitoris. She moaned slightly, and ground against him.

Angel continued his gentle movements, at the same time as he ran his hands up and down her sides, finally covering her breasts.  Willow covered his hands with her own, pressing his palms into her nipples.  The puckered tips turned rock hard under his touch.

The gentle teasing was suddenly not enough for Willow. She arched her hips and pushed down, trying to force him to enter her.  Angel toyed with her for a while longer, bringing his cock down to her entrance but refusing to push in, instead pausing, then sliding back up to bump into her clit.

Willow took matters into her own hands, reaching to press his erection down to her opening and thrusting forward.  He entered her in a smooth thrust, both of them groaning at the sensation.  Their position wouldn’t allow for much movement and Angel rocked back and forth into her in short thrusts.  His tip was hitting her upper wall, hitting that most sensitive area.  Willow felt her muscles contracting as her orgasm started.  She dug her nails into the back of his hands as she climaxed, the waves crashing through her body as she went over the edge.

Angel gave her a moment to recover, then pulled her up so that she was on her knees, riding him.   He took a nipple into his mouth, licking it roughly.  Willow moved his face up to hers and kissed him, drawing his tongue into her mouth, sucking on it, matching the movements of their love making.  Angel groaned and brought his hand to the crack of her buttocks, sliding his hand back and forth.  Willow jumped and ground her clit into his pelvis as the pressure built again.  She bit down into his shoulder, clenching and unclenching her muscles.  Angel was shaking, trying to hold back his orgasm until she had her second.

“Willow…hurry…” Angel grabbed her ass, bruising the white flesh as he pounded up into her.  She nipped at his ear, swirling her tongue inside it.  Angel yelled out, “Willow!”  He stiffened, his cock twitching inside her, and gave in. His cold seed flooded her.  She could feel it hit the tip of her cervix, and moaned loudly as she came
again, harder than the first time, pushing herself down into his rough pubic hair.

They stayed in that position for a few moments, gently nuzzling one another, until Willow finally spoke.

“Good morning, Angel.”

“Mmmm.  Good morning.”

“Can we lay down?  My knees are a little stiff.”

They lay down on the bed, wrapped in each other’s arms.  Willow drew lazy circles on Angel’s back with her fingertips.

Willow broke the silence, reluctantly. “Is it normal for a couple to make love as often as we do?”

Angel pulled back to look at her.  “Depends on what your definition of normal is.”

“We’re not normal, are we?”  There was a wistful quality to her voice.

Angel did not want the conversation to go in this direction.  He wanted Willow happy, not thinking about the problems that were going to come with their relationship… their obsession.  But she was too intelligent of a girl to brush off with casual words of reassurance.

“Willow, you’re a seventeen, almost eighteen year old girl in love with a vampire that’s almost two and a half centuries older than you.  No, it’s not your typical high school romance.  Can you live with that?”

She smiled gently at him. “Yes, I guess I can.” She hesitated. “I really should get ready for school.  I have a test first period and I can’t be late.”

Angel sat up, pulling her with him.  “Come on, let’s get you in the shower. I’ll wash your back for you.”

“Won’t that involve you showering with me?”

Angel grinned, “Consider it water conservation.”

Part 2
 
 It was early afternoon. Xander sat in Giles’ office, listening to Giles give his interpretation of what was going on between Angel and Willow.  Oz had filled him in a little last night, but suggested he go to Giles if he really wanted answers.  Actually, Oz had told him to talk to Willow first, but Xander didn’t think he could sit calmly while Willow talked about having sex with Angel.

Giles removed his glasses, cleaning them on a handkerchief.  “Well, that’s it.  That’s what started their relationship, why it’s happening and why it will continue to happen, unless I can find something to end
the obsession.  Not having much luck with that, though.”

Xander looked at Giles. “Don’t you feel guilty about not telling your Slayer what’s going on with her ex and her best friend?”

“Well, um, yes, of course.  But it’s really not my place to do that.  Or yours Xander.”

Xander thought a moment. “They didn’t have this problem the first time they were together, did they?”

“No.  That was their decision alone.”

Xander made a sound of disgust. “Deadboy gets the girl again… it wouldn’t make them fall in love, would it?”

Giles was slightly taken aback.  He’d known that the couple were seeing each other frequently, but had no idea how serious that they had become.

“No, no it wouldn’t.”

“Didn’t think so.”

At that moment, Willow walked into the library and to Giles' office.

“Hey, Xander, Giles.  Want me to get on the net and start looking up stuff on the Boogeyman again?” She slid her book bag off her shoulder to the floor.

Xander looked at his friend.  He spoke with a hard edge to his voice. “I’m surprised you’d have the energy after last night.”

Willow looked at him curiously, then slow realisation dawned on her.  He knew. Somehow, Xander knew. “I…” She couldn’t think of anything to say. “I… I’m not too tired.”

Giles stood and spoke.  “I really need to look for a book in the stacks.  Why don’t you two stay here and…talk.”  He glanced meaningfully at Willow as he left his office, shutting the door behind him.

Willow sat in Giles’ chair, waiting for Xander to say something.  Maybe she’d misread what was going on.  “Did you get much accomplished last night?”

Xander snorted. “Not nearly as much as you.”

“How…”

Xander interrupted, “Did I know that you were letting Angel screw you last night?  Giles sent me to get him.” He paused, “Well, he didn’t exactly send me, he told me not to, but I blew him off.”

Willow’s entire body was shaking.  She’d never been so frightened in her life, not even when she Spike had kidnapped them and she was sure she was going to die.  There was a very real possibility that she’d lost her oldest and dearest friend.  Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this, Xander.  I never meant to hurt anyone.  All of a sudden it was out of control.”

Xander hated seeing her like this, but a part of him was glad for the pain she was feeling.

“Out of control… good choice of words for the problem you two have.  It doesn’t explain why you went to him in the first place, or why you’re in love with that… thing.”

Willow fought to reign in her emotions.  This was going to be her only chance at salvaging their friendship.  She needed him now more than ever.

“It didn’t start that way.  Neither of us thought it would be more than that one time, that one weekend.  It just happened.  And now we’re in love and I’m scared to death.” Her voice was quavering as she spoke.

Xander straightened up, and slid to the edge of the couch.  That old feeling to protect her rushed back to him, despite his anger.

“He doesn’t hurt you, does he?  If he does I’ll go stake him right now.”

“No! He’s never hurt me!”  Not quite true, she had the marks of his fingerprints on her behind at the moment. But it was only in the heat of passion that he ever bruised her and she liked it.  “I’m so sorry, Xander.  I never wanted to cause you or Buffy any pain.”

Xander knew that this was the turning point.  He could walk out now and that would end it, or he could forgive and keep their friendship.  He looked at her; her eyes red-rimmed from tears, quaking in fear at what she feared would come.  He couldn’t do it.  Despite everything, she was Willow.  He couldn’t throw it all away in anger.  He needed her in his life as much as she needed him.

“What are you so scared about then, Will?”

The words rushed from Willow’s mouth in a torrent.

“I’m scared to death I’m going to lose you and Buffy.  I don’t know what I’m going to do about college; I can’t go to Harvard or MIT, not when I’d have to be back here every month.  I’m terrified that I’ve found the man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with and I’m not even eighteen. And he’s a vampire!  I’m going to be an old woman and he’s going to be the same forever.  I can’t ever have lunch with him on the lawn on a summer day.” Her voiced softened. “And I’m never going to have a real Stephanie.”

At the mention of that name, Xander’s mind spun back in time.  When Willow was about to turn seven, all she’d wanted was a baby doll. Mrs. Rosenburg had been very specific in her instructions to the parents of the children invited to Willow’s birthday party.  Absolutely no gender-biased toys.  Books, games, puzzles all of those were fine, but she wouldn’t let Willow have what she really wanted.  But Jesse and Xander hadn’t listened.  They let their mothers pick out presents for Willow and then each had taken a five- dollar bill from their mother’s purses, went to the drugstore and bought Willow a doll. It had been a cheap thing, plastic, with blonde hair, blue eyes that opened and closed, and a squeaky little voice that said “Mama” when you laid it down.  Willow had squealed with excitement when she’d torn off the newspaper they’d clumsily wrapped it in.  She’d named it Stephanie
after one of the girls on Full House, her favourite show.  Sheila had been furious, but Ira had finally stepped in and calmed the waters.  Willow could keep her, but was only allowed to play with her for an hour a day.  She’d loved that doll, cooing to it and smothering it with motherly affection that she never had.  Xander had got the belt
for stealing, but it had been worth it to make his friend so happy.

Xander’s mind moved back to the present.  She was too dear to him to leave her now.  He stood, walked over and knelt next to her.  Her head was down and sobs racked her body.  Xander watched as a tear fell fromher cheek, staining the pants leg of her overalls.  Somehow, he knew he’d never forget that, the teardrop spreading, leaving a tiny wet patch.

He put his arms around her, comforting her with small words.  This was his role.  He’d wondered for a long time what his purpose was in their little group, but it always came down to this.  He was the one they leaned on when everything was too hard to handle.

Willow clung to him, letting the frustration and fear seep from her body with the tears.  When she finally calmed, he pulled away from her.

“You don’t look so good, Will.”  He handed her a tissue from the box on the desk. “You should go to the girl’s room and wash your face before Buffy sees you and wonders what’s wrong.”

Willow nodded. “Are you going to tell her?”

“No, you are.  And I don’t want to be anywhere around when you do.”

“I want to wait until after graduation.  I’d like the rest of the year to be as normal as possible.  If that’s okay with you.”

Xander considered this for a while.  “I’d like that too.  But don’t expect me to be happy about this, Willow.  And I won’t lie to Buffy to cover for you in this, ever.”

“I wouldn’t want you to.  There’s too much deceit as it is. I don’t like the lying.”  Willow hugged him tightly. “Thank you for not hating me, Xander.  I love you, you know.”

Xander returned her hug. “Let’s go get you cleaned up and get some caffeine in you before we start the research marathon.  You look tired.”

“Okay.  I want coffee.”

Xander chuckled. “Of course you do. Willow?”

“What?”

“I’ll always be here for you, Will. I love you, too.”
 

End

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