Title: Going home

Author: weirdo1984

Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon
Comments: Always welcomed!

Summary: Willow was gone for two years but now she has to go home

Warnings/Spoilers: none

Chapter 1

Willow had been running for two years. She left SunnyDale and never looked back. She never talked to any of her friends they didn't even know where she was. Something had happened and she couldn't stay there. She felt like she had betrayed her best friend.

When Buffy was killed three years ago to stop Glory, Willow had gone to L.A to tell Angel and to ask him for his help. She wanted to speak to the Oracles. Willow asked the Oracles to bring back the slayer and they asked her if she would take the slayers place the next time she died. Willow agreed, she thought she agreed to die in Buffy's place, but she was wrong.

After Buffy was killed by a group of vampires six months after the Oracles brought her back Willow realized what they had meant by taking her place. Willow was now the slayer. Willow couldn't tell her friends that she was the new slayer. So she ran she didn't even leave a note explaining why she had to leave. She never said good bye to the love of her life.

Willow had been moving from town to town fighting evil, but now she had to return to Sunny Dale. There was something big coming and she had to stop it. She had to confront her past. Willow had heard Giles had moved back to England.

The redhead stood outside the Magic Box watching Angel, Spike and Xander all there. She watched Angel and a tear slid down her cheek. She had left him she wished she hadn't but she couldn't stay there. She took a deep breathe before entering the shop.

"Hi can I help you?" Xander asked turning around. His mouth dropped open, "Willow?"

Both vampires looked up when they heard the name.

"Hello Xander." Willow nodded.

"Willow?" Angel whispered. He had looked everywhere for her after she had disappeared, but he never did.

Willow looked at Angel and fought all the emotions she was feeling.

"There is trouble coming. I'll help then I will leave." Willow stated. She didn't really think any of them would want her there any longer then needed.

"Red, where have you been?" Spike asked walking over to Xander.

"Different places." Willow answered, "Look there is trouble and you guys can't deal with it on your own."

"How do you know?" Angel asked. He couldn't believe she was really there.

"Because it is my fault," Willow stated.

"Willow I think we should sit down and talk." Xander suggested.

Willow nodded and sat.

"Alright Red what do you know." Spike asked. He was not happy with the redhead. She had left them when they needed each other the most.

"His name is Caleb he is a very powerful wizard. I have been trying to kill him for the last couple of years. He is really dangerous." Willow explained.

"How do you know he will come here?" Angel questioned watching the witch.

"Because he wants to kill all of you," Willow replied softly. "I had to come back to finish this. This is my punishment and I won't let him kill anyone else."

"What do you mean one of your punishments?" Xander asked confused.

"And who has he killed?" Angel added.

"He killed a friend of mine about a year ago. Her name was Kristy, she was a witch and she was trying to help me stop him. He got to her before I could and he killed her." Willow answered ignoring Xander's question.

"Why did he kill her?" Spike asked.

"I wouldn't join him. He thinks if he kills everyone I care about I will. That is why he is coming here. He wouldn't have known about you guys but during on of our fights he got into my head and found out about all of you. He knows you all mean a lot to me." Willow clarified.

"Mean a lot to you? Bloody unlikely you left us not even having the nerve to leave us a letter." Spike growled. Willow had disappeared three days after Buffy had died.

"I had to." Willow whispered.

"No you didn't." Xander said sadly and Spike wrapped his arm around him.

"I did you don't know what had happened. I couldn't stay here." Willow replied.

"Why?" Angel asked. It had hurt him so much that she had left.

Willow was quiet for a few minutes then stood turning her back to them. "Angel do you remember when, I went and told you about Buffy's death?" Willow asked

"Yes." Angel answered not sure why she had brought it up.

"You took me to see the Oracles, and I asked them to bring her back. They asked me if I would take her place the next time she died. I agreed thinking they meant taking her place in death, but after Buffy died I realize what they had meant. They meant take her place as the slayer. I couldn't tell you." Willow stated and turned back to face them, "It was supposed to be me that died not her."

"Willow, why didn't you tell us? We could have helped you." Xander said.

"No you all would have been mad, mad that I took her place." Willow replied.

"No Red we wouldn't have." Spike declared.

"Spike you were in love with her, and you're telling me you wouldn't have been angry? Because I sure the hell am. I didn't want any of this. I wanted a normal life. I would rather die then have to do this, but that isn't even an option now." Willow stated tears running down her face.

"What do you mean it isn't an option?" Angel asked puzzled.

"The Oracles wanted a slayer for all of time, so more girls would have a chance at a normal life. So they decided to make it so I can not die." Willow said.

"How do you know this?" Spike enquired.

"I have died ten times." Willow declared.

"What?" Xander asked shocked.

"From fights, but I always come back, so now I live forever watching everyone I love die." Willow said looking at Angel. It was true he couldn't die of old age but it didn't mean one day he wouldn't be staked.

"Willow we would have helped you. You are my best friend, and I would do anything for you. You brought Buffy back sacrificing your own life." Xander said.

"And what good did it do me?" Willow asked, "I didn't want to leave. I had to now Caleb has come to take you all away, and I won't let that happen. This is my problem it shouldn't be yours."

"Oh but it is their problem." a male voice said behind them. Willow whipped around to find Caleb.

"Who are you?" Angel demanded.

"The one who is going to kill you," Caleb smiled.

"Get out!" Willow yelled, "I won't let you hurt them."

"You know how you can make this stop." Caleb stated looking at the redhead.

"I won't." Willow said.

"Fine." Caleb smiled and looked at Xander, "Oh he is the best friend."

"Don't." Willow said stepping in front of Xander.

"You know this will all stop if you agree to be my sorceress." Caleb replied.

"No!" Angel yelled making Caleb turn to him.

"Oh I know about you this will be fun." Caleb smiled as he threw his hands up and shot Angel across the room.

"Stop!" Willow shouted as she threw her hands up magic coming out of them. Caleb reflected the magic into Spike and sent the vampire to the ground.

"You know you can't win this." Caleb stated before disappearing.

Xander kneeled beside Spike, "You alright?"

"Yeah I'm ok, you?" Spike asked.

"Yeah," Xander nodded and ran his hand down Spike's cheek.

Willow walked over to Angel, "Angel, are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine." Angel said getting to his feet.

"I'm sorry." Willow replied.

"It's not your fault Wills." Xander said walking over with Spike.

"Yes it is. He found me because of the magic I was using. He won't stop until you are all dead." Willow explained, "We need to get Giles here. He is in as much danger as you all are."

"I'll call him." Xander said walking to the phone.

"Tell him I will come and get him, it will be safer that way." Willow instructed.

"Get him how?" Spike asked.

"Magic," Willow answered.

Xander got off the phone with the ex-watcher after letting him know what was going on, "Alright he is waiting for you. How are you going to get there?"

"Transportation spell." Willow responded then said a few words and disappeared.

Angel sat down heavily on a chair he couldn't believe the redhead was back.

"Angel, are you ok?" Xander asked sitting at the table. He knew how hard it had been on the souled vampire when the witch left.

"I don't know." Angel replied truthfully.

Willow and Giles appeared in front of the group a minute later.

"Well that was quite interesting." Giles stated.

"Are you dizzy? I think you should sit down the first time can be tough." Willow said concerned.

"Yes I think I will." Giles replied and sat beside Angel.

"Giles it's good to see you." Angel greeted.

"You too," Giles nodded.

"Giles you can stay with Spike and me." Xander offered.

"Thank you." Giles replied.

"Red do you know anything else about this Caleb?" Spike questioned wanting to get as much information as he could if his Xander was in trouble.

"Not much." Willow said, "But I promise I won't let him hurt any of you. I should go and patrol. I will see you tomorrow." With that she turned and left the shop.

"Willow!" Angel called making Willow turn around, "I'll go with you."

"Angel you don't have to." Willow replied.

"I know I want to." Angel said.

Willow nodded and they started to walk, "I'm sorry I left." Willow whispered.

"I looked for you. I looked for a year, when I couldn't find you I thought you were dead." Angel replied.

"I just didn't want to hurt any of you. It felt like I betrayed Buffy." Willow looked at him.

"You didn't betray anyone. I am sure Buffy understands why you did what you did. I just wish you had told me I wanted to help." Angel said.

Willow stopped walking and turned to him, "I thought I was doing the right thing. I knew I would just hurt you. You and Buffy never worked out because of the whole Slayer/vampire relationship. I didn't want to put you though that again." Willow replied sadly.

"Willow, Buffy and I didn't work out because she couldn't get past the fact that I am a vampire. You could, you loved me despite that. I always thought you left because you realized you deserved better then me." Angel declared.

"All I ever wanted was you. I have loved you since the first time I saw you. I just didn't want to hurt any of you, so I thought running was the best thing to do. We had been through so much and I didn't want to cause any more pain." Willow said.

"We always get through things because we have each other." Angel replied running his hand down her cheek. A tear ran down her face.

"I've missed you so much. There were so many times that I wanted to call you just to hear you're voice." Willow said.

"I wish you had." Angel replied.

"It wouldn't have been fair to you." Willow said shaking her head.

"What wasn't fair was not being able to talk to you or hold you." Angel replied.

Willow put her head down. She never wanted to hurt him. Angel cupped her chin and made her look at him, "Will you stay here after this is over?"

"I don't know if I can. I can't expect everyone to want me here. Not after everything I have done." Tears burned her eyes.

"I want you here." Angel replied softly, "I need you here."

"I need you too." Willow said quietly as she caressed his cheek. Angel closed his eyes loving her touch.

"I've missed you so much." Angel said opening his eyes. Willow rested her head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer.

"I'm sorry I left." Willow murmured.

"Just don't do it again please?" Angel begged.

"I won't." She promised. She never wanted to leave him again, "We need to patrol."

"Alright," Angel smiled.