Previous Part
Return to Willow Index
"I don’t know if I can do this," Willow said as she approached the school, Nikita, Michael and Birkhoff surrounding her. She had been preparing herself for the coming meeting since Madeline and Ops told her that she was going to be able to help her friends, but as the time approached, she found herself growing more and more nervous. (How will the react? Will they accept me? I’ve changed so much since I’ve been gone, will they even want to still know me) The four people were silent as they entered the school, following Willow’s lead. It was very different from the trip to get to Sunnydale.
Michael, Nikita and Birkhoff had bombarded Willow with questions about Sunnydale and her past as soon as they left the briefing, wanting to know more about what they were about to find themselves in. They also wanted to know why Willow had never told any of them about her past. When Willow explained that she knew that there was a good chance that she would be canceled because they thought she was crazy, they understood that. They had seen operatives canceled for less. And Walter loved the idea of trying to invent new weapons that would take care of the demons and vampires that Section was sure to find themselves battling now that they knew about them.
"You’ll be fine," Nikita reassured the scared girl. "They’re your friends. They’ll be thrilled to see you."
"They love you, Willow. No matter what," Michael said.
"I know, it’s just that I’m not the same person I was when I left them. So many things have changed that I’m afraid that they won’t be able to accept me for who I am now."
"They will if they care about you," Nikita told her. She felt bad for Willow. She knew how tough this must be for the girl, finally being able to see her friends but knowing that she wouldn’t be able to stay with them. Her heart broke for what she must be going through. "Besides, you told me that Liam, I mean Angel, would be waiting for you, so that should help."
"Yeah, it does." Willow smiled at the blonde. "He can’t wait to see you guys. He’s missed you. He felt bad for making you think that he was dead but he never even assumed that you would know the truth, let alone accept it. You do accept it, don’t you?"
"Yeah, it just takes getting some used to," Nikita assured her. Michael and Birkhoff nodded. "I never knew Liam as Angelus, although I’m sure that was his past was one of the reasons he was so good at what he did. In the short time that I knew him, he was just someone that I could talk to. Who helped me get over my fears of what I was to become."
"I’m just glad that I know how he beat me all the time. Him being a vampire gave him an unfair advantage."
"Yeah, that’s it. So what’s your excuse for my kicking your ass all the time," Willow grinned at Michael.
"I’d say, the fact that you had him trying to kill you would be a good enough reason to learn how to fight," Michael said as he remembered exactly how good Liam was at killing people. He shuddered as he thought of how many times Liam had even gone beyond what Madeline would consider extreme in order to extract information from hostages. Willow stopped as the group reached the library doors.
"Here we are," she announced in a hushed voice. Inside she could hear her friends laughing at something someone had just said. (Probably Xander) Willow grew sad as she remembered her childhood friend and everything that he had to go through when she had disappeared. She wished there was some way she could make it up to him, to all of them, but there wasn’t. And the fact that she was back would not help any, because she was not staying. Nikita could see the hesitation in Willow and went over to her.
"Do you want us to go in first?" Willow looked over at the blonde, grateful for the offer.
"Would you mind? I think I need a few more minutes to prepare myself," Willow said, trying to will away the butterflies in her stomach. She didn’t understand it. She worked for an anti-terrorist organization and had gone against vampires and demons, but the thought of seeing her old friends scared her to death.
"No problem. Come in when you’re ready," Michael told her.
"Do you want me to stay out here with you?" Birkhoff asked, concerned about Willow. The two of them had had a long talk on the trip and he knew how much she was affected by her return to Sunnydale. Willow smiled at him.
"No, thanks though. I think I just need a minute to myself."
"Okay," Birkhoff leaned over and gave Willow a small kiss, making sure she knew exactly how much he loved her. "We’ll see you in there." Willow backed away from the library doors and watched as Michael, Nikita and Birkhoff entered. Once the library doors were closed, she went back over to them so she could see what was happening inside.
"So, does anyone have any idea of what the mayor’s next move will be?" Cordelia asked, not noticing as the library doors opened, allowing the three operatives to enter.
"I have no idea," Buffy said. She looked up and saw the three new arrivals. She took in their appearance and felt apprehensive. There was something about them that wasn’t right. "Can we help you?"
"Actually, I believe it is we who can help you," Michael said, taking on the role of leader that he always assumed when on a mission. "We worked for an organization that has some information that leads us to believe that you and your friends are in danger." Michael didn’t say anything about how they had gotten that information, figuring he would leave Willow’s name out of it until she was ready to face her friends.
Michael, Nikita and Birkhoff looked around the room, putting names to the faces that Willow had shown them. They remembered the stories that the witch had told them about her life in Sunnydale and couldn’t believe that this group in front of them, these children, had done everything that she said they had. But as Michael looked into their eyes, he could see that they were all older than their age. There was a hardness in them that reminded him of some of Section’s operatives and he found himself sad that they’re youth had to be given up so that they could fight against the demons that others didn’t believe in.
"And what kind of trouble would that be, exactly?" Giles asked from the door of his office. He had heard the comment Michael had made and was curious about the three operatives.
"That a terrorist organization is going to try and attack you so that you do not interfere in the mayor’s plans," Michael stated simply.
"And you would know this how?" Buffy asked.
"Michael has his ways," came a voice from the darkness of the stacks.
"You know this guy, deadboy?" Xander asked, as Angel entered the library. Buffy was staring between Angel and the three people at the entrance to the library and saw as their faces actually softened at the sight of the souled vampire.
"Liam," Nikita said, smiling and running over to the handsome man, throwing her arms around her lost friend. "I can’t believe it’s really you. I mean, she said it was you, but I didn’t really believe her."
Angel laughed at Nikita’s babbling, realizing that it was caused by her friendship with Willow. He lifted her off the ground, swinging her around, making her laugh like a school girl. "It’s me, Kita. It’s me."
Birkhoff walked over to him. "It’s good to see you Liam. It hasn’t been the same without you." Angel set, Nikita down, taking Birkhoff’s offered hand.
"So I heard. Congratulations on your new living arrangements. You’ve made her very happy and, from what I hear and see, I would say that the feeling is mutual," Angel teased the young man in front of him. Birkhoff was like a little brother to him and Angel was glad to see him find happiness at last. Finally, Angel turned to face Michael.
"So, what about you Michael? Happy to see me, or are you in the mood for another fight. See if you can beat me yet," Angel taunted the younger man. "From what I heard, you’ve been getting soft. Letting a girl beat you and all."
"Yeah, well, considering the reason why she had to learn to fight, I would say you should be damn proud of her." Michael said, before grinning at the man in front of him. "Damn, it’s good to see you. It’s been too long."
"I’m sorry. I didn’t have a choice," Angel said sincerely. He had missed his former friends and the time he had sent in Section. He was just glad to see that they were all still alive and together.
"I know. Red explained it to us. Sorry about Spike and Drusilla," Michael felt the need to say, remembering Willow telling them how hard the vampire had taken the loss of his childre.
"Thank you. I’m just glad that she was there or else I would have had to have dealt with losing you and Nikita," Angel said, squeezing the blonde at his side. He saw Buffy stiffen at the gesture, but didn’t let Nikita go. He had missed the blonde, even though they were only friends.
"So I hear you and Kita here have hooked up. Must have made Ops and Madeline so happy," Angel stated, sarcasm lacing his words. Michael actually laughed at the vampire’s face.
"You know Ops and Madeline," Michael shrugged. "But, considering our numbers are up, they are willing to live with it. Anyway, you know Red when she puts on her resolve face. Not even Madeline is able to resist."
"I bet."
"Excuse me, remember us. Who are you people and how do you know Angel and why are you calling him Liam?" Buffy asked. She was not happy about the turn of events that had just taken place in the library. Especially when Michael was talking about this Red person and her resolve face. Only one person had a resolve face that Angel knew well and that’s when it hit her.
"You took Willow," Buffy accused the group. At her words, the tension in the library increased tenfold as the teenagers quickly got into a defensive position. "Where is she?"
"I’m right here Buffy."