See Part 1 for disclaimer
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Part Eleven
"Cordelia Chase, have you completely lost your mind!" Amy declared. All three girls were at the Chase home preparing for the Halloween party. "I remember the ghost costume Will was made to wear last year and technically, this costume is even more revealing."
The redhead shuddered dramatically. "Please, I'd rather not remember last year."
Her look suddenly turned mischievously reminiscent though and she grinned nastily. "The only good thing about it was when I walked straight through Spike."
"You did what!" Her two companions swung round to face her.
"How come you've never told us this before?" Cordelia demanded.
"Are you turning deaf, Cordy, I said I try not to remember. Believe me, being a ghost is not all it's cracked up to be." The petite girl shuddered again. "If it hadn't been for Angel, it would have been more horrible than it already had been."
"What do you mean by that?" Cordelia asked. "You'd already gone for Giles when Angel turned up."
"Yeah, and if you remember, I was with Angel when we found Buffy." Willow shrugged, "Now not to change the subject, well, actually, anything to change the subject." They all grinned at that, "Our costumes, Cordy, the real ones please."
After glaring at her, Cordelia returned the two piece harem costume back to its box. "It was supposed to be a joke actually but thanks Will, you sort of trumped it."
Willow grinned unrepentantly. "So what are our costumes for tonight? You and Angel have been doing a major cryptic act over the whole thing, you've had our curiosity meters overloading."
She threw herself down on one of the sofas.
"And you really haven't been trying to find out, have you, Will." Amy smirked.
"Hey I resemble that remark." Her infectious giggle had the other two laughing as well. "Smoochies are good."
Still grinning, Cordelia started to pull out box after box from behind the sofa. Her two companions watched in open mouth astonishment, Amy sinking onto the sofa beside the redhead.
"Dear goddess, Cordy, you must have maxed out Angel's credit cards." The blonde witch exclaimed eventually. "Those boxes look expensive."
"They are." Cordelia started to pull items out. "Angel got Spike to hand over his cards as well." She stopped for moment as if considering something. "That may had been more for the look on Spike's face than anything to do with how expensive these things were."
"I can sure see Angel doing that because it must have hurt Spike even to think about it." Willow murmured with a nasty grin that had the other two laughing.
Amy on the other hand was taking a closer look at the costumes and her eyes widened. "My god, Cordy, they're handmade."
"Yeah, I know!" The brunette replied as she picked up one of the items, scanning it as well. "So are the guys' costumes. Angel was extremely insistent. He said something about only the best."
Willow stood up and almost gently picked up one of the outfits. "They're beautiful, Cordy. Just one thing though..."
"What?"
"Is it my imagination or are there four costumes here."
"That's because there are four." The brunette replied as the doorbell rang. "Hold on a second while I go answer that."
She left the two witches looking at each other.
"She's up to something." Amy said bluntly.
"Tell me something I didn't already know." Willow murmured.
"I can feel the love out here, girls." Cordelia shouted back from the entrance hallway.
"Go answer the door, Cordy." The redhead yelled back with a grin as she put the dress she was holding down." Amy, have you noticed that there are four different styles here."
"There are! Will, you know history's not my strong point." The blonde witch responded as she reached out to take a piece of pizza. "Just what is Cordelia up to, do you think."
"I sense Angel's hand in this, more than Cordelia's." His girlfriend murmured, "At least where these things are concerned."
As if in answer to the blonde's question, the brunette returned with a familiar person. Seeing her, the other two girls looked at each other and simultaneously said her name in stunned shock. "Mrs Summers!"
"Hello Willow, Amy." The elder woman said quietly, smiling in response at the stunned looks on her absent daughter's friends' faces.
"Mrs Summers." The two girls chorused before giggling.
The elder woman's smile grew brighter. "In case you're wondering…"
"Which we were!" Amy inserted, smiling mischievously as she did so.
Joyce smiled back then continued. "Angel came by and invited me to the Halloween dance. Something about helping Giles keep an eye on things."
"Angel came by…" Willow repeated before breaking off to look at her two friends, an impish grin emerging. "Now I really am terrified."
"Has anyone got a phone I can borrow?" Amy murmured to no-one in particular. "I need to see if Spike's started breathing."
As both girls referred to the conversation from the Bronze, the three teenagers burst into laughter leaving Joyce Summers to look at all three of them with puzzled amusement, "I take it that's one of those things I don't want to know about." She said dryly.
At their combined nods, she shook her head. "Teenagers!"
"If the cap fits…" Cordelia grinned, "Which it does."
"In that case, let's get to the more important part of the evening. Let's see these wonderful costumes then."
Cordelia sprang back round to the boxes. "Amy, this is yours. Angel thought you might feel easier with the sixties."
Amy immediately took the blue mini dress with flowing sleeves from the brunette, a look of deep approval lighting up her eyes. "He's right there. I can most definitely live with this." She said with a grin as she took the other boxes that contained the rest of her costume.
"Mrs Summers, we thought that you might enjoy the twenties."
"I think you better start calling me Joyce." She replied as she took the red fringed flapper costume Cordelia held out, "Especially if I'm wearing this."
"Of course." The three girls chorused immediately, wicked grins floating around the room.
"Wills, I'm telling you right up front that I had absolutely nothing to do with yours. Angel picked it out for you." Cordelia turned a knowing grin to the redhead. "I'll say one thing for your vampire; he sure knows how to pick clothes, no matter the century."
Willow merely blushed as the brunette handed over a pure silk Empire dress in a green that almost matched the redhead's eyes.
Amy reached over and touched the sleeve, sighing almost enviously. "It's beautiful dress, Willow. You'd knock him dead for sure… if he wasn't already dead that was and did I really just say that out loud."
"Amy, stop rambling. That's my thing." Willow rebuked almost absently as she ran her hand over her dress before literally shaking herself and turning a dreamy but sharp gaze to her fellow witch. "Besides, haven't you got your own vampire to knock alive or isn't Spike your date tonight after all."
"Willow!" Amy blush was almost as red as Willow's hair and she tried to hit the redhead who managed to deftly avoid it.
With the impish grin still lighting up her green eyes, Willow turned back to the brunette. "So what period costume did you get, Cordy?"
Cordelia pulled put a maroon dress that a definite renaissance cut to it. "I get to go medieval just so my idiot boyfriend can wear a sword for the evening."
"That is so not what I wanted to hear, Cordy." Amy groaned in mock pain. "Xander's dangerous enough on the dance floor as it is but a sword as well… words are beyond me."
"I'd never have known that if you hadn't said it, Amy. Would you, Joyce?" Willow said eyes glinting with a sheer look of roguishness.
"No Willow, I wouldn't have." Joyce Summers replied, an equally roguish look on her face.
"You are so going to pay for that Willow Rosenberg." Amy shot back at her.
"Hah! Just try." Willow retorted before grimacing. "On second thoughts maybe I will. He's going to insist on dancing with all of us."
"Goddess help us." Amy groaned.
"Hey, that's my boyfriend you're dissing." Cordelia objected half-heartedly.
"Our friend first," Willow shot back with a grin. "And you know the same thing went through your mind, Cordelia Chase. I saw it."
"Alright, maybe it did." She agreed. "But he is my boyfriend, so jokes aside; we better start to get ready, especially as our hair is going to take forever."
"That's our Cordy." Willow and Amy chorused, sending themselves and the others into a fit of tear inducing laughter.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Several hours later, Willow stood looking at herself in the long length mirror; green eyes wide open in sheer disbelief. "Th… that's me!" She said in astonishment. "That really is me, isn't it?"
"Yes, Willow dear." Joyce said quietly, smiling softly at the stunned look on the petite redhead's face. She had been watching her from the doorway. "It really is you, dear. That's what everyone else sees when they look at you."
"I… I've never believed it before." Her voice was even softer than normal, still unbelievingly slightly in its tone.
"I'm sure there's a certain handsome dark haired vampire out there that will manage to convince you, Willow." Joyce responded to the rhetorical question as she came into the room. "Talking of Angel, he gave me something to give to you when I found you on your own."
"He's already given me this dress and everything else." Willow turned round just in time to see Joyce pull out a long velvet box, "A jewellery box!"
"That's what it looks like to me." Growing amused, she held out the box to the petite girl. "I'm dying to know what's inside. Especially as he made me promise not to look inside."
"Subtle… not for once," Willow smiled shakily as she put the case down on the dressing table. She slowly opened the lid, took a quick look inside then slammed it shut. "By the Goddess…" She stuttered, paling.
Joyce moved forward and opened the box herself. Lying on the black velvet background was a beautiful and most definitely antique necklace. It comprised of a delicate looking silver chain of Celtic links and an emerald stone the exact shade of her eyes hung from the centre. With gentle fingers, the elder woman lifted it from its case and placed it around the petite redhead's neck.
She then turned the girl back to the mirror and stepped back, nodding. "Yes, just what you needed to finish it off. Angel has most definitely thought of everything."
Willow raised trembling fingers to the necklace, and then drew them away. "Oh Goddess, this is so unreal… I have to be dreaming."
"It's not a dream, Willow this is reality, your reality." Joyce answered her own smile growing. "It's just that sometimes the real things, the true real things feel like dreams. You've just been lucky to find it so young."
Willow swallowed and turned away from the mirror, only to gasp. "Joyce… you look fantastic. How ever did you manage to get your hair like that?"
"To be honest, Amy waved her fingers and voila…" Joyce smiled, accepting the change of subject. "Cordelia had to find her a picture in an old fashion book."
"History never has been Amy's strong point." Willow giggled. "How's Cordy doing or is she still having trouble with her hair."
"I did hear Amy ask how come Cordelia knew so many colourful swear words." Joyce sat down on the bed and grinned. "In fact, she was mock demanding to know when she taken to hanging around the docks and Spike and whether she should let Xander know."
Willow giggled just as the sound of two sets of feet thundered up the stairs. Amy arrived first, flushed and laughing carrying her dress matching colour boots. "Help! Cordy's gone mad." She giggled. "She just will not accept her hair's not long enough for the style she wants."
Joyce caught hold the witch and made her sit down. "Catch your breath Amy and put your boots on. We'll deal with Cordelia."
On her cue, Cordelia entered, holding her long skirts in one hand and ribbons in the other, her dark hair flying wildly around her face. "Willow, help me please. The car's due in ten… Oh wow! Nice necklace and it's real." She ended on a squeal.
"Calm down, Cord. You can drool over it later." Willow drew her friend over to the mirror, grinning as she did so at the not so typical possession obsessed remark. "Let's see what I can do for your hair. Close your eyes and don't open them till I say so."
She started to murmur the spell she had used on her own hair and closed her eyes. Doing so, she missed the fact that her emerald pendant began to glow with an unearthly light in time with the gentle cadence of the words she was murmuring.
Amy and Joyce Summers however did not. They shared a stunned look.
A moment later, Willow opened her eyes. "Okay Cordy, open your eyes."
The brunette did so and found her self, staring at the two long plaits. They fell to her knees and were entwined with the ribbons the same shade as her dress. "Oh wow, Wills! Major mojo good."
"I thank you." Willow actually curtseyed, then looked around the bedroom. "Has anyone seen my gloves? I know I saw a pair that went with my dress."
"Downstairs on the sofa," Cordelia replied just as a car horn blew outside. "That must be our ride to the Bronze, so let's go. We've got an entrance to make."
"Don't forget your cloaks. It's turned cold outside all of a sudden." Joyce started after the tall brunette and the slender redhead only to stop at the strange looks all three teenagers were now giving her. She smiled with pure impishness, "Boxes on the porch outside, my dears."
As one, the three girls looked at each other then giggling shot downstairs. The elder woman followed at a slightly slower pace, picking up the redhead's pale green gloves on the way past the living room. She arrived on the front door step in time to receive her own period cloak from Willow. "Forgot something, Willow?"
"My gloves, thanks Joyce," Willow grinned pulling them on. She turned to Amy who was just fastening the last button on her floor length hooded blue coat. "You have so got to let me borrow that, Amy."
"As long as I get to borrow that peacock set of yours."
"Done."
"We will be if we don't get going." Cordelia pilled up the hood of her mantle as Willow drew her own hood over her hair. The two blondes followed their example.
"Cordy?" Willow suddenly asked. "What's Oz going as?"
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
"I can not believe you man." Xander adjusted his sword belt yet again before looking over at Oz once more. "Don't you get enough of that round full moon?"
"I don't get to be me though." The werewolf brushed down a Bohemian lace collar over the red velvet Victorian smoking jacket he was wearing. He had also dyed his hair back to its original colour to fit in with the werewolf look he had chosen for the evening. "Get over it, Harris."
"Yes indeed, Xander." Giles agreed as he walked into the room. He was wearing an original 1920s gangster suit complete with black fedora. "That must be the third time this evening that I've heard you and I'm bored by it. I hate to think what Oz must be feeling."
"Alright, alright, I get the picture." Xander grinned, looking round the Watcher. "Hey Deadboy, when are we meeting the girls."
Just entering the room, the dark haired vampire threw a look at the clock on the wall as he fastened a cloak around his shoulders. "The car is supposed to be picking them up about now, so we have ten minutes to get to the club."
"You should have allowed for a longer time, Peaches, because he…" From his position by the door, Spike pointed at Xander, "Is going to be tripping over that bloody stupid sword the whole way there!"
"I will not." Xander objected only to do just what the younger vampire had predicted. "Damn!"
Angel barely hid his grin at the smirk on Spike's face at being proved right. "Just carry the thing, Xander. The girls will make you take it off before you dance with them anyway. There is no way they will let you ruin their costumes."
As Xander went to say something in response, Giles and Oz simultaneously slapped their hands over his mouth.
"Just do it, Xander." The Watcher ordered quietly. "For once in your life, just do as you're told."
With a muffled grumble, the teenager removed his sword belt and stormed out of Angel's apartment and with the barest of grins breaking his lips. Oz followed him catching him with ease. "You're an idiot, Xander. You should have known and not needed to be told.
"Alright Oz, I've got the point, there's no need to rub salt into the wound. Junior will do enough of it as it is." The younger man replied scowling over his shoulder at said blond vampire. "He won't be able to help himself."
"Spot on Xapper," That particularly snide remark earned Spike a smack round the head from his sire. "What the hell was that for?" He snarled at Angel.
"If you ruin this evening for Willow…" His sire growled letting the barest hint of fang show as his eyes flashed gold. The younger vampire backed down immediately understanding the unspoken threat in his voice.
The dark haired vampire turned to the Watcher. "So Giles, what do you think the girls are thinking at this moment."
"Can't you tell?" He asked curiously. "Through the link I mean."
"It's closed at the moment." Angel grinned. "Willow murmured something about fair play in preventing pre-emptive emotional spoilers before she set up the block."
"Always knew Red had it in her." Spike grinned. "She's getting you back for holding out on her, Peaches."
Angel grinned as well, remembering the redhead's very pleasurable attempts to find out about the ball. The Watcher merely shook his head. He had walked in on some of those attempts and had always ended up with a severe case of the blushes.
"That most definitely sounds like our Willow." The Watcher agreed, returning the smile. "I have to tell you, Angel, there are times when that young woman reminds me of someone I know but it always slips away just as I try to pinpoint it."
"Memories can be like that, Giles." The elder vampire replied. "It will come to you when you least expect it."
"So it would seem." He replied. "I also hadn't realised that you two had gained so much control over your link."
"It's getting stronger almost every day." Angel responded, his smile fading slightly. "Actually Giles, I think we may need to talk. It's not only the link, its Willow's magical abilities as well."
The older looking man frowned. "Are you sure? It may just be the link."
"Not from what I've been sensing." Angel looked up just in time to catch sight of the limousine bringing the girls to the club turning into the top of the road leading to it. "We really need to talk about this, Giles."
"In school on Monday then, it will give me a little time to look in some books I have at home." The Watcher replied as he caught sight of the car as well. "I take it that's the girls' car ahead of us."
The vampire actually checked the time on an old fashioned fob watch. "If Cordelia kept her promise, it should be."
"You made the cheerleader promise to be on time." Spike uttered in genuine shock. Even he was aware of her reputation of always being late for everything. "What did you do, threaten her?"
The dark haired vampire merely smiled and moved towards the car, just as the door opened. He held out his hand and a silk encased one emerged to take it. He then assisted Willow out of the car… into a stunned silence as the other four men caught their first sight of her.
Catching the dropped jaw of even Spike, Willow smiled shyly, a slight blush touching her cheeks.
"You look beautiful, Willow." Angel murmured his eyes wide as caught his first true sight of her. "I can't wait to see what the dress looks like if you look this good in the cloak."
The blush grew more pronounced and she lowered her head for a moment. Seconds later, she raised it and with an impish glint in her eyes suddenly replacing it, she curtsied. "My Lord is too kind."
Angel raised her hand to his lips for a second murmuring, "My Lady is worth every kind word," and then linking her hand in his arm, he led the way into the club.
*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
And we have the next chapter and with just a hint of the main story as well!
A litte disappointed though in the amount of reviews I am receiving! I've got used to 5 to double figures with my previous three stories!
As always though, looking forward to what you do have to say ;op
