Author's Note: This was an idea I had written down that I wanted to post in time for the holidays. It takes place during and after the events of Amends albeit some of the storylines are manipulated quite a bit. Enjoy!

No matter where you drove to or where you walked within the Sunnydale city limits, you couldn't pass a single house without it decked in a whole array of Christmas decorations. Lights, inflatable snowmen, snow globes; you name it.

It was like the city had become a winter wonderland in the blink of an eye.

And in a way, it has.

It's been snowing continuously for two weeks straight and it kept on piling.

Ever since Angel and I had our fisticuffs on the hilltop that night.

The weather people over at Channel Five were still trying to figure out what was causing it.

Yet, there were still too many unanswered questions.

But Angel and I knew.

The problem now was, since that night, I haven't heard a peep from him.

He was not at the mansion. Not at the cemetery. Not at his old apartment. Not even at Willy's.

Though for the millionth time, it would be my next stop on the daunting, endless search for the man I had loved.

That I still loved.

I was making my way through a bustling downtown, kicking two feet of snow left and right as I trudged my way through the thickening crowd.

Oh, and did I mention that it was Friday night, the few days after Christmas?

Yeah, you heard right. There were shoppers galore, bags smacking against one another as they tried to make a clear path towards home.

There was a long trail of customers out of the Espresso Pump that ended at the entrance of Sun Cinema. Pretty soon, they'd be running out of mocha and steaming cups of hot chocolate.

It was nice, however, to see my two favorite places adorned in lights and wreaths. It added to the festive spirit of the season when my mood as of late was nothing short of gloom and doom.

That and it was a mere twenty degrees outside.

Not even the demons and vampires had wanted to come out and risk freezing their asses to death except those that were planning on getting loaded.

And it was perfectly fine by me. It gave me a somewhat respite from breaking my nails and coming home with blood on my hands.

Speaking of which, they were developing frostbite. Which meant I needed to get to Willy's as soon as I can.

I pushed my way through the burgeoning crowd, turning left onto the alley that led to the back door of the bar.

Here, there were no passerby's.

Just the pungent scent of garbage, decomposed food, and smoke filtering the air.

I was alone.

Up ahead, I caught the small sign signaling "Willy's Bar" and stood beneath it, turning to face the door.

I didn't bother to knock.

Alcohol, cigarettes, and a strange, unidentifiable odor welcomed me into its arms as it assaulted my nostrils.

Ick. I almost gagged.

A couple of demons caught sight of me and immediately escaped towards the front entrance. I searched the dingy surroundings, looking for the familiar bartender that I've come to go to for vital information.

We were almost pals in that way.

"Oh, hey, look, it's the Slayer. The Slayer is here," Willy announced, silently alerting the numerous demons littering the bar that it was time to pack up and haul ass before trouble began to brew.

Half of the bar emptied itself out, with the exception of a blood orange demon with red irises muttering something that I barely detected as it was making its way out the door.

"You heard about Angelus? Vampire's not looking right these days."

A taller demon with spiral horns walking alongside him snorted with disdain.

"You call that a vampire? Boozer's more like it. Doesn't seem to enjoy drinking blood anymore I hear," it huffed.

I glanced at them before shifting my attention to a nervous Willy with an arched eyebrow, demanding answers.

"Care to tell me what that was about?"

He wipes his forehead with the back of his arm, dishtowel in hand, his eyes averting mine.

"Uh, I have no idea what he's talkin' about, Slayer. Honest. He had a few too many tonight. Doesn't know what he's sayin', you know?" he sputters.

"How about you tell me the truth? I need to know what's going on with Angel. And if you don't tell me, I will break every little bone in your bony little hand. Got me?"

"Okay, Slayer, okay! Just don't mention this to my patrons, alright? Business' been slow. I need the money to get through the holidays," Willy pleads.

I said only one word. "Talk."

"You're not gonna like what I gotta say."

"Talk." I kept my face passive.

He leans close, elbow resting on the polished oak tabletop.

"Word in the underground is that something big is goin' down, and it's still spookin' the demons. Something that might have to do with your Angel."

"Any idea what that is?"

Willy pauses; the nervousness in his expression replaced with unquestionable tension.

The look on his face made my stomach tighten in knots.

I wanted to retch.

Instead, I watch him wrack a hand through his hair. He pours a finger of bourbon into a shot glass before gulping it.

"Patrons here and there tell me The First has been lurking around somewhere. It didn't leave, not when you confronted it. It made you believe that it was gone. Something was keeping it here this entire time without anyone being made aware of it."

"Let me guess…Angel?"

Willy didn't respond; his mouth thins into a narrow line.

I kept my body steady.

"But why Angel? What does The First want from him?" I almost snap, breaking my resolve.

This was not good. This was so not good.

Once again, I see Willy pause before answering. "I don't know for sure, but there's been rumors circulating recently. Bad ones. Don't know if there's an ounce of truth to it but I heard The First used Angel to break free from his, you know, eternal damnation."

I kept mum. Bile rises in my throat.

"I usually don't tell my customers this, but you being the Slayer and all, I'd be careful. Last I heard, The First is planning to use Angel to go after you. And it's gonna use him to exploit what makes you the most vulnerable."