DISCLAIMER: Willow, Angel, Amy Madison, Buffy, Xander, Giles and everyone else
don't belong to me, they belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. No, really, they do...
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The title of this story comes from lyrics from the Elton John song, "The One"
When Stars Collide
By: Serendipity
Prologue
His vision blurred.
The first thing he noticed was the immense pain in his side. Next came the even greater pain in his
chest. He gritted his teeth.
The old, familiar ache was back.
Blinking to clear his sight, he tried to sit up, but felt something restraining his arms and legs.
He struggled weakly against his bounds but knew it was futile. Then the inevitable happened.
He started to cry.
Leaning back against the hard wooden surface, he proceeded to sob helplessly, drowning in the
frighteningly vivid memories which were both his own and utterly foreign at the same time.
His bindings were rapidly loosened and he lifted his head.
"A-angel?"
The meekness of the question only worsened his pain. Blinking again to clear the tears from his
eyes, he tried to get a good look at his capture. The figure was blurry and completely
indistinguishable except for one thing.
Red.
"A-are you okay?"
The blur took a step closer and suddenly he realized he hadn't answered her first question. Pulling
himself up into a seated position, he flinched slightly when she retreated a few steps.
"Willow? It's...it's me...."
He heard her let out a strange little gasping sound, almost like a choked sob. Her reaction was
enough to send him into tears all over again. He buried his face in his hands in embarassment.
"Oh Angel!"
She leaped onto the table with him, hugging him fiercely while they both cried.
"Angel, you're back, you're back..." she murmured repeatedly while rocking him soothingly back
and forth.
He shook his head again trying to get away.
It was terrible. The visions of how he'd attacked Willow. The bloodlust. The way he'd gripped her
neck with every intention of draining her.
He remebered how he'd pursued Ms. Calendar...the adrenaline thrill it gave him to see the terror in
her eyes...the snap her neck made when it broke. He could recall the smell of her cool skin as he
laid her out on Giles' bed and the feel of the roses he scattered on the watcher's floor. But most
vividly, he recalled the look of pain and betrayal in Buffy's eyes as she fought him. He'd never forget
how thin and pale she was when she was in the hospital and how he'd had every intention of using
that against her. It made him sick. They'd never forgive him. Never speak to him again.
Not that he could blame them.
"Willow..I-I'm so sorry...I-I..Jenny..she's..Oh God, I have to get out of here..."
pushing her away gently, he tried to wipe the tears away and limped towards the door.
"Angel! No, Angel, it's almost daylight, you can't go home through there!" she pounced off the table
and ran to follow him.
"I know," his voice sounded harsh and rough.
Not quite comprehending, she opened her mouth to respond but suddenly the truth hit her.
'He knew'? He WANTED to die? The realization was slow and odd. He intended to commit
suicide. A numb sensation invaded her body as she. He was going to purposefully go out into the
sunlight one last time and kill himself. How..sad. How..poetic. How....stupid. It was then that
something strange happened.
She got mad.
"What?!"
He jumped slightly at her high pitched shriek.
"You WHAT?!"
He was somewhat taken aback by her reaction.
"I just spent the last five hours anchoring your soul to your body and you WHAT?"
"Willow, please, just let me g-,"
"I don't THINK so," suddenly, she was on a roll. She was furious and tired, not to mention injured
both emotionally as well as physically. And she was not going to take it any more. "Do NOT make
me forcibly knock you out and drag you back to your apartment, Angel," she put her hands on her
hips in classic Cordelia style, " I am NOT going to let you die, do you hear me? Do you have any
idea what I went through to get you here?"
Unfortunately, he did. He knew only too well. "Willo-,"
"Angel, you have to FIGHT! Are you listening to me?"
Willow Rosenberg: motivational speaker, that's who she was.
"Buffy needs you! We all need you, w-what happened these past few weeks, that wasn't you," she
tried to reason with him, "That was something else, some horrible thing which is never coming back.
I made sure of that, and I'm not letting you waste this, Angel, I-I'm just not..." Her voice broke
towards the end but she managed to keep her eyes hard and demanding. Without the involuntary
trembling of her chin, it might have actually been convincing.
He shook his head in a show of resignation. He was tired. So very, very tired, "Willow, it's for the
best, please, try and understand." With that he turned towards the door and walked out into the hall.
Without even thinking she bounded out after him and leaped into the air, tackling him from behind.
"Wi-, OW!" he shouted as she grabbed two fistfuls of his hair and pulled him down to the ground
with her.
"You are NOT leaving here, got it?" she growled through clenched teeth.
He stared up on her in shock. What had happened to the meek, shy, passive girl he had known
mere weeks before? Little Willow Rosenberg had seriously grown up on those past few weeks.
Thanks, in a large part, to him. This fact put him in a very awkward and troubled position.
And he knew it.
So there they were, with her hovering breathlessly above and him lying flat on his back below. They
stared at eachother unwaveringly as a true battle of wills took place. She bit her lip in frustration and
narrowed her eyes for effect. He kept his face completely blank except for the occasional wince
when she readjusted her grip on his hair.
Neither could help but wonder exactly how they'd gotten into this position to begin with...
Part 1
Her lungs felt like they were going to spontaneously combust.
She rounded yet another corner, slipping slightly on the polished linoleum as she raced for the
red sign marked exit. That sign was her only hope.
"Wiiiiiilloooowww????"
She was stupid to have tried this alone, she knew that now. She had been especially naive to think
he wouldn't sense what she was doing and come after her.
"Wiiiillow? Ooooh Wiiiiiiillllooooowwww...come out come out wherever you are..."
The pure evil inherent in his voice caused shivers to run up her spine.
"Aw, come on, Wills, come out and play."
His voice sounded so close. Gasping, she urged her legs onwards, terrified out of her mind. She
was completely defenseless ever since the scuffle in the library which preceeded her hasty exit.
During it, he'd caused her to drop her cross and stake.
She rapidly approached the doors. Reaching, she slammed into the metal bar, shoving it in with all
her might, praying for it to give. It stuck fast.
< Locked. Oh no...locked...oh God... > Tears filling her eyes, she turned just in time to see him
launch right into her, a satisfied snarl on his game face.
She shrieked and ducked, somehow managing to dodge his body as it hit the door full force, denting
it. She rapidly crawled past him and took off running the way she'd come. She heard him grunt as
he picked himself up and raced after her.
"Naughty, naughty, naughty...."
Squeezing her eyes shut, she raced through the blackness, willing that awful voice away. < I wonder
if this is what Ms. Calendar felt just before he killed her... >
She'd give anything to see Buffy standing at the end of the darkened hallway, stake in hand, poised
and ready to kill. But that wasn't going to happen. Buffy was gone, out of town for the weekend.
Neither Giles nor Xander knew she was here. And there wasn't any chance that they'd happen upon
her or even wonder where she was. Giles was at a Watcher's meeting and Xander was out with
Cordelia. At the time, the fact that she'd be alone made this night seem perfect to attempt the ritual.
Now she knew it had been complete stupidity on her part. He had found out somehow. He'd most
likely felt the soul preparing to re-enter. It didn't take a genius to figure out who was responsible or
where they'd be. Nevertheless, he'd caught her completely off guard, especially because she'd been
so close..so very close to completeing the ritual. Just a few more seconds and she'd have finished it.
And none of this would be happening.
"Aw, c'mon Wills, you've gotta play NICE," on that final word he pounced, knocking her off her
feet.
Survival instince kicked in fiercely and she shoved him away with all her strength, while turning and
pushing herself upwards on her hands and knees, her feet scrambling to get a firm grip on the floor.
"Nope, Willow, I think that's a bad idea."
Calmly, he reached out and grabbed her long red hair, dragging her down. She screamed
repeatedly and he flipped her over easily, straddling her hips.
"Tsk tsk tsk, Willow, you've really gotta stop (bang) doing (bang) that (bang)."
To accentuate each word, he slammed her head into the floor, causing her vision to grow foggy. He
stared at her thoughtfully before smiling again.
"Ya know," he began conversationally, "I've been pretty lonely since Darla, and well, Dru, in case
you hadn't noticed, is a bit of a..how shall I put this?" he paused, pretending to look for the right
word, "nutball." He shot her a charming smile, "So, I was wondering, Willow. How would you feel
about keeping me company for the next couple of centuries?"
She moaned weakly.
"Good!" he leaned in closer to her, "Cause I have a real thing for red-heads," he murmured
seductively into her ear.
Her eyes widened and she struggled against him again.
"Aw, c-mon," he started laughing, "it'll be f-,"
She spit in his face.
His eyes immediately darkened and he pinned her arms down harshly on either side of her head,
immediately cutting off circulation at her wrists.
"Or I could just kill you, you little bitch, it's your choice," he snarled angrily
"A-angel, please," she gazed at him fearfully, "I know you're in there....please Angel, fight this..."
Angelus just smiled wider, "Yeah, keep trying, you stup-," suddenly, his smile froze and he squeezed
his eyes shut, as if in pain.
"N-no...NO.." he howled in anger. His face shifted back to human and he looked up at her.
"Willow? Is that you?" he asked cautiously in clear eyed confusion, "Willow, what's going on?"
"Angel?" she gasped.
"Nope, just kidding," he burst out laughing and his face shifted back to its boney grimace. He
backhanded her viciously, splitting her lip and causing it to bleed painfully, "God, Willow, for one of
the "smart" kids, you're really really dumb."
"Bastard!!" she shouted at the top of her lungs in pure frustration.
"My goodness!! Such language!" Angelus stared at her in mock-horror before laughing again.
That did it.
She forced herself to meet his gaze boldly, and began to calm her irregular breathing. She was as
good as dead, provided he didn't turn her into a vampire. She knew that. But it was odd how
different people confront death. It felt like all the terror had ebbed out of her body in these last few
seconds as she gazed at him with silent, calm fury. She felt numb but resigned to her fate. And she
wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her squirm anymore.
"Go ahead, Angelus. I'm ready."
He furrowed his brow and looked at her, first in surprise and then in disappointment, "Aww, but
now you're not playing the game..."
"Sorry," she muttered darkly.
"Oh, well, that's okay. The games over anyway..." with that, he leaned over, fangs bared, "Welcome
to eternity, Willow...."
"Get away from her you jerk!"
Both predator and prey snapped up to stare at the unexpected intruder.
Angelus frowned as he took in the slender, blond teenager, totally unimpressed, "Who the hell are
you?"
< Amy?! > Willow's mind was completely in turmoil < What on earth?? >
She smiled at him, her normally green eyes glowing a soft white, "Get off of her, asshole."
Angelus smiled back, recognition flickering over his features, "Oh yes, now I remember, you're
Sabrina the Teenage Witch, right? With the psycho mom...yeah. Look, hon, tell ya what, I'll finish
here and then we can play together. I'll even give you a head start," he nodded at her charitably,
"Go on now. Shoo."
Amy silently cocked her head to one side.
He turned his attention back to Willow, "Now, where were we?" he plunged forward again.
She gritted her teeth.
He was an inch away from her neck when a pulse of liquid yellow light hit him from the side,
knocking him off of her.
Angelus fell into the wall, slightly stunned. He stared up at the blond girl in shock.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Amy smiled smugly, "I *told* you to get away from her, you
arrogant son of a b-,"
Snarling, he picked himself up and leaped. Swiftly, she held her hands out in front, thumbs and
forefingers joined to complete a circle. Before he could get within two feet of where she was
standing, another pulse of light shot out and hit him square in the head, fiercely knocking him back
into the wall. He slowly slid down, unconscious.
Willow almost cried with relief. She pulled herself up on her hands and knees, crawling away from
the vampire's prone form.
"Are you alright?" Amy asked, crouching beside her.
"Yes, thanks so much Amy...you have..umm..really good aim...and timing" it was then that the
red-head noticed her friend's odd clothing. Her hair was slightly mussed and she was wearing a
flannel night shirt over her jeans.
"Umm..aren't you gonna stake him or something, Willow?" she darted a nervous glance at Angelus,
"It's really gonna suck if he wakes up, especially since I-," she stopped suddenly and leaned heavily
against the wall for balance.
"Amy? You're shaking..."
"I-I guess I'm just not used to knocking out homicidal vamps, sorry, just give me a second," she
shook her head slowly, "It's going to take me at least a week to recharge after this one..."
"Out of curiosity, how did you know I was here?"
"Oh," she took a deep breath and smiled, "Well, this is going to sound really weird..."
"Amy, we live on the Hellmouth, I doubt that."
"I dreamt it."
"Dreamt it? Like, had a vision?"
"Something like that. I was asleep and it was like I was having a nightmare but it was so real. When
I woke up, something told me that it *was* real. I just threw some clothes on and raced here as fast
as I could."
Willow nodded thoughtfully.
"Nothing like this has ever happened before either," Amy continued, "It was very strange, it felt
almost like I was here, watching you get chased."
"Well, you've obviously gotten pretty powerful these past few months, maybe that has something to
do with it."
"Yes, my power does seem to grow as I get older, only it's still limited. If I over-exert myself doing
something," she glanced at Angelus, "It takes me awhile to get back up to full strength."
"You should really consider talking to Giles about this. Actually, I've been doing some extremely
fascinating research on Techno-paganism and I've found some stuff you might be interested in," she
broke off from her blissful chatter when Angelus groaned softly, "actually, we should probably do
something about *him* first."
Slowly, Willow stood and walked over to the vampire's body, "We can't kill him, not after I've been
trying to save him for so long and especially not after everything he's done for all of us. We need to
get him back the library somehow."
"What are you going to do?"
"Anchor his soul to his body. Permanently."
"ALONE?!"
"Well, yes, unless you're interested in helping out."
Amy sighed softly," Hey, why not? It's only a school night. I only have an exam tomorrow at 8am,"
she rolled her eyes but grinned, "Besides, sleep is highly overrated."
Willow smiled and turned her attention back to Angel's tall, well-muscled form, "I..uhh...don't
suppose you have enough power left to 'zap' us there by any chance?"
Amy shook her head, "I couldn't get him three feet down the hall on what power I have left."
Willow bit her lip in frustration and shrugged. "Well, I guess we'll have to do this the old fashioned
way," she reached down and grabbed one of his arms.
The other girl sighed. Grunting, she stood up, walked over and grabbed the other. Carefully, they
began to drag the body down the corridor.
"He had SO better appreciate this," she muttured under her breath.
Willow smiled, "Oh, he will, Amy, he will."
Part 2
"Willow, let go of my hair."
"No."
"Willow, Don't be unreasonable!!!"
"*I'm* being unreasonable?" she spat, "Explain how *I'm* the unreasonable one when
*you're* the person trying to commit suicide!"
He paused. She had a point.
"Angel, I'll let you go on one condition. You give me your word you won't try and kill yourself."
"I....can't..."
"Fine then. We stay here."
He cursed softly under his breath. He could very easily get away from her, but was taking
extra-careful precautions not to hurt anyone. Especially after everything that had happened.
"Willow, you're probably the only person on earth who feels this way, do you realize that? D-do
you realize that if Xander or Giles were here, they probably would have staked me hours ag-,"
"They're just mad, Angel, they'll get over it. They'll come to understand that it *wasn't* y-,"
"But it *was* me, Willow. Angelus is Angel. We can't be separated, we can't be differentiated,
*never* make the mistake o-,"
"You *are* different, Angel. I don't care what you say. There is a very big difference between
you and Angelus. How can you even imply that there isn't? I can't believe that y-,"
"Willow, I live with the demon every day of my life. You don't know. You don't understand. You
can't. That demon is an inextricable part of who I a-,"
"*Angel* is in control of the demon. Angelus is not. There's your difference. Don't argue this with
me Angel, you're gonna lo-,"
"It isn't a question of winning or losing, Willow. This is for the best. My dying will end the misery
I've inflicted on ev-,"
"*Angelus* inflicted-,"
"*I* inflicted!!! If I die now, Giles, Xander, Buffy and you can live on in peace. Do you have any
idea how much pain it'll cause Buffy if I just come sauntering back into her life? As if I haven't hurt
her enough that she has to live with this additional burden? Things can never be the same between
us. And my even existing will always be this awful unspoken request for us to be together. I can't do
that to her. I can't cause her that kind of stre-,"
"Oh, so killing yourself is the better option?" She was furious,"you think that if Buffy finds out that I
restored your soul and then you commited suicide that THAT wouldn't kill her even more? Do you
realize how much your death will haunt her for the rest of her lif-"
"Please, let me die in peace. I can't face everyone after what I've done, especially Buf-,"
"Don't be such a coward, Angel," she whispered coldly.
Her final words left him speechless. Incredible rage built up within him and he growled dangerously.
Shifting, he prepared to break her hold and to end this childishness once and for all.
It was then that she took that opportunity to scare the living daylights out of him.
He watched in horror as her face suddenly crumpled, "I'm sorry, Angel. I-I didn't mean that."
He blinked as her unexpectedly warm tears began to fall on his forehead.
She let go of his hair, drawing away slightly.
"I just..I-I just know I can't *force* you to stay. I'm not Buffy and I'm not a slayer and I'm not
strong. I'm just me. And I know that's not alot and I know that's not nearly enough but..It's just
that...it's just that it's been so scary and lonely without you here, Angel. Buffy's been so sad and
she's been isolating herself from everyone and ever since Xander and Cordelia started dating..I-I've
been so alone. And I never realized how much I missed you until you came back and now you want
to go again and I don't know what to do."
In one split second, she had gone from an angry, demanding force to be reckoned with, to a
frightened, vulnerable 16-year old who was gawky, lonely, and felt completely out of place.
Just like him.
And then she did the one thing that would change his mind forever.
"I've missed you so much Angel. Please don't leave me again...please don't leave *us* again. We all
need you. I need you."
She stared into his eyes the way that only she could: with such sincerety and innocence that he felt
his own heart breaking.
He sat there, staring back at her, still in mild shock. Numbly, he reached into his pocket and pulled
out a green silken handkerchief.
She accepted it gratefully and blew her nose.
He never *did* understand women. Even after over 200 years, they somehow always managed to
completely shock him at the strangest moments. They had this uncanny ability to constantly keep
him guessing. He never quite knew what they were planning on doing nex-
Suddenly, she thre herself into his arms.
He fell back slightly, before recovering his balance. Holding her awkwardly at first, he gradually
grew more comfortable with it. It was defintely strange. Not quite the same as holding Buffy when
she was upset. Buffy was strong. He always knew she'd snap back, no matter what was thrown at
her. She was the slayer. Willow, on the other hand was much more fragile. Easily broken. She'd
need someone to protect her. < Someone like me? >
"Angel?"
"Hmm?" he responded absent-mindedly stroking her hair.
"That was really embarassing. I'm sorry." She drew away from him and he could see that although
her eyes were still red and somewhat puffy, she was better.
< Hmm..maybe not so fragile after all...> "No, you shouldn't be embarassed by it, Willow. Anyway,
this was my fault not yours. I should be the one apologizing," he sighed heavily, "for alot of things."
She sat across from him, staring sliently at her hands.
Dim light was already beginning to filter through the hallway. "Let's get you home."
She looked up in surprise, "D-does that mean that you're staying?"
He managed a weak smile, "Yes, I guess it does."
"OH Angel I could just kiss you now!!" she shouted jubilantly, but quickly blushed when she saw his
eyes widen in surprise, "B-but i won't...because those are the kind of urges you..umm..repress.." she
finshed meekly.
He smiled kindly to ease her embarassment, "C'mon, let's go, we don't have much time if we want
to make it to the boiler room and down to the tunnels."
"Okay, but I need to clean up the library first. If I don't, Giles will know that I-," she clamped her
hands over her mouth as if she'd just said something she wasn't supposed to.
"Wait, Giles didn't know you were doing this?"
She considered lying, but quickly dropped that idea, "No," she admitted weakly.
< Well, aren't we just full of surprises? > He furrowed his brow and gave her an odd look before
shrugging, "Okay, we'll deal with that later. First, I'll help you clean up and then we'll get out of
here," he responded simply.
Willow nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.
They stood and walked back towards the library.
"So," he began conversationally, "Xander and Cordelia, huh?"
"Yeah."
He didn't miss the slightly disappointed and disgusted tone in her voice.
"Wait..I had nothing to do with that, right? I didn't drive them together or something, did I?".
Despite herself, Willow giggled, "No, no you didn't, Angel."
He paused to hold the door open,"Thank goodness."
"Why, what do you think of them as a couple?" she asked, walking past him into the library.
He paused, searching for the right words.
"Um....ew?"
The door slammed shut behind them, slightly masking the gales of laughter which echoed down the
empty hall.
End Part 2
