Disclaimers: If I owned them, would this be called fan fiction?
Spoilers: My stories “Phoenix” and “Guardian.” This series diverged after the Angel episode “Sanctuary” happened. It is now six years later.
Content: B/A, of course!
Distribution: If you have anything else of mine, you can have this. Otherwise, please ask.
Notes: Yes, you have to read “Phoenix” and “Guardian” for this to make sense. Both are located at my site at http://www.ficgoddess.com This takes place six years after "Guardian."
Feedback: Oh please oh please oh please!Part One
Willow’s voice carried strongly over her small, fascinated group of students. Gone was her shyness that had once seized her at talking in front of people. It helped that this small group was so interested in what she was saying. They were all here by choice; this wasn’t a class per say.
The group of them sat in a small circle of desks, various books propped in front of them. Willow – Ms. Rosenberg to her students – had her attention on a young man who had been eagerly speaking the moment before.
“This isn’t a demonology club,” Willow pointed out calmly. A good thing it wasn’t, too – not only did demonology hit too close to reality, it was likely to get her in trouble with the school principal. “I know the line between mythology and demonology can be fuzzy at times, but try and keep that in mind the next time we meet, okay?”
The boy - Joseph by name, and never went by Joe – nodded reluctantly. “Yes, Ms. Rosenberg.”
Willow smiled at him. “If you really want to research monsters,” she said, “I can recommend some books for you for your own time.”
Joseph smiled, obviously pleased.
Willow glanced at the clock. 3:45 PM. “That’s all,” she said pleasantly. “When we meet again on Thursday, be prepared to talk about your favorite mythological creature.”
A figure hesitated in the doorway, and Willow smiled. “Be as creative as you like. You can bring in a creature oriented story, like the minotaur in the labyrinth, or a lesser developed creature, such as the basilisk or the phoenix…” She could see her patient visitor stifle a laugh. “Off with you now. Or you’ll miss the late bus.”
The young people clambered out of their chairs in the cacophony of departing students, asking quick questions and waving goodbye to her as they streamed out the door. Their bright young cheerfulness was a contrast to the man who now stepped into the classroom to get out of their way, somber in dark clothes with centuries to his age.
For all that, his eyes twinkled with amusement. “Mythological creatures?” he asked.
Willow grinned back. “You know you’re my favorite mythological creature, Angel,” she teased.
The ex-vampire turned near-immortal warrior laughed openly. “It’s good to see you, Willow,” he said. “It’s been….”
“Two months, five days,” she replied. “She counts.”
Angel frowned, looking dreadfully unhappy for a moment. “So do I,” he said softly. He blinked at her for a second. “Where is she?” he asked. “I checked the apartment, but she wasn’t there, and she’s not in her office either.”
“She has a self defense class she teaches in the gym on Tuesday afternoons,” Willow provided.
Angel brightened visibly and started for the door. He stopped himself. “Willow…”
Willow chuckled. “It’s okay, Angel. I know I’m not the one you came here to see.” She crossed the space between them in a couple of steps and wrapped him in a brief, surprise hug. “It’s good that you’re here,” she said.
Angel simply smiled, and hurried on his way out of the room.
Buffy had been feeling something coming for days now. Her connection to the Hellmouth had only strengthened her ‘Slayer sense.’ Clarified it. This wasn’t a bad sense, though. No sense of danger or darkness. Just strength and light.
Anticipation.
Even as the thought of the sense’s probable cause made her smile, she tried her best to ignore it and teach her class. Ignoring it, though, only seemed to make it stronger.
She kept her focus on the class as best she could. “Pair off,” she said to them. “Take turns trying the new moves, and be careful.”
She watched them, correcting here and there, praising elsewhere. All the while her mind processed that something moving closer still. It was here.
Buffy turned towards the door to greet the face she knew she’d find there. It seemed the moment ran in slow motion. Delightful anticipation.
“Miss Summers!” The moment was broken, and Buffy spun instead to face one of her students. She was a small girl that reminded Buffy of herself, with the exception of the fact that the girl was completely normal. She stood with her partner behind her, looking incredibly frustrated. “I don’t get it,” she said. “How do you do it? I mean…”
“Because I’m so small?” Buffy asked.
The girl nodded.
Buffy smiled. “Perhaps a demonstration?” she asked. She had everyone’s attention now. They were eager for a show, and she was more than willing to give them one. “I need someone to help me demonstrate,” she said.
That was Angel’s cue, and he knew it, making his entrance to the gym. Buffy turned at last to look at him, grinning from ear to ear. She wanted to show him just how glad she was the he was there, but she couldn’t in front of the class. Instead she simply joked, “A willing victim.”
The class chuckled, and Angel smiled back but said nothing.
“This is my friend, Angel,” Buffy said for the benefit of the class. “We practice together a lot,” when he’s in town, “and now he’s going to attack me.” Buffy slipped easily into her fight stance.
Angel took a second longer, putting down his coat. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said with a teasing smirk.
Buffy loved every moment of their exchange, even if she wished their reunion were a little less public. Instead of replying, she just smiled, and an instant later ducked his initial blow. They slipped easily into their old patterns, anticipating each other’s moves. There was a hush over the gathering, the frequently rambunctious students now silent. Buffy was only vaguely aware of this, caught in the exchange of blows and blocks. They were evenly matched as always, in a battle that could have gone on for hours. Well, if they didn’t have other things they’d rather be doing this evening.
Angel ducked one of Buffy’s blows and abruptly stumbled. Overbalanced, Buffy went down as well, her full weight sending both of them crashing to the ground. Angel’s body cushioned Buffy’s fall, and he grunted with the impact.
Buffy found the wind knocked out of her, but not because of the fall. It had been over two months this time. Now she was on top of him, staring into his eyes….
“Your class,” Angel whispered.
Buffy felt herself blush slightly, suddenly reaware of their audience. Their applause slackened off as Buffy clambered to her feet. “Thank you,” she said to her students. Angel stood up a little slower, and – Buffy noticed with a bit of concern – he was slower still in straightening all the way, one hand pressed against his side. “I think that’s enough for today,” she said to the class. “See you all next week.”
The class gathered their things and wandered from the gym. Before they were all gone, Buffy turned her full attention on Angel. ‘A sight for sore eyes’ seemed a massive understatement.
Her gaze shifted to Angel’s hand, still against his side. “Are you okay?” she asked. “Did I hurt you?”
He shook his head. “Healing injury,” he explained. Buffy must have made quite a face, because he was quick to reassure her. “It’s almost healed.”
That didn’t reassure Buffy much. “How bad… What happened?”
“It’s not a big deal, Buffy,” he said gently. “These things happen. A demon was faster than I was.”
“It is a big deal!” Buffy yelled abruptly, two months of concern exploding to life. “Where was Jade?”
“I haven’t seen her for a while,” he admitted gently. “She leaves me to do things on my own now. She has other tasks.”
“Other tasks?! She’s supposed to take care of you!” Buffy was nearly shaking in distress.
“Hey,” Angel said softly, taking her easily into his arms.
Buffy burrowed her head into his shoulder, breathing in his personal scent. “I’m supposed to take care of you.”
“Shh,” he whispered in her ear. “I missed you,” he declared softly.
Buffy swallowed hard. “I missed you.” She pulled away only far enough to see his face. He smiled at her a bit uncertainly, and she smiled back as best she could, pausing to wipe her eyes. “Let’s go home.”
Willow did not bask in the joyous glow of reunion. She had been going to – to say hello, maybe even invite the two of them over to a group dinner. She had smiled when she heard the students leaving the gym, laughing at their teacher’s antics. But the image of the two of them standing in the gym, upset, near tears, with that tenderness that was ever between them, made her freeze.
She ached for her best friend, and for the love that was in and out of her life but never truly departed from it. Willow was silent as she turned away from the door and the heartbreaking scene within. When the changes began, it seemed that Buffy and Angel’s new natures were a wonderful bonus to them being together. Still in love, they could fight side by side through centuries.
Now it seemed as if their very natures were tearing them apart.
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