Part 10

As Willow lay in bed she breathed a sigh of relief that she had gotten through her meeting with Angel and Spike without bloodshed. She wondered how long it would take Angelus to realize that when she said they were family she hadn't meant literally. She had seen the gleam in their eyes when she said they were family and knew what they were thinking. They were probably plotting now on how to turn her before they caught the vampire. Maybe if she used the excuse of waiting for her magick to get more powerful and that time is relative she could put them off.

Willow thought about Dru and the fact that she was a wild card. She may be insane but she knew things. Angel had told her once that it was Dru that told him Jenny was close to figuring out the curse. She just hoped that Dru wouldn't figure out that she had no intention of becoming a vampire now or later or that the ace up her sleeve was that she could be all soul giving.

She wasn't sure about Dru and William's relationship either. She knew he cared for Dru but he had only been a vampire 8 years so maybe it hadn't developed into the obsession that she knew. He seemed to flirt with her and want to spend eternity with her so that would be a plus.

Willow didn't think she was here to stop Jack the Ripper from killing the victims that had become infamous otherwise she would have been able to stop the first one instead of running into William. She knew that she was sent here deliberately but just maybe the outcome has changed. Maybe her goddess had changed this adventure in Willow's favor. She just wished she knew who sent her.

Willow's eyes popped open. Duh, Scrye. Willow scrambled out of bed and quietly crept up to the attic so she wouldn't be disturbed nor would she disturb others.

She cast a protective circle and lit the candles in the surrounding area. She brought out a bowl that she had found earlier in the attic. She filled it with water, raised her arms and said a simple chant. The water began to ripple and Willow was able to see images in the bowl. She saw herself trying on the dress in her attic at home. The next scene was a man dressed as a gentleman of the late 19th century but there was an older gentleman near him dressed in modern clothes. He looked familiar but she couldn't place where she had seen him. She saw the younger man take out a scrap of cloth and begin to cast the spell. When he looked up she was finally able to see his face. ETHAN. Why would Ethan Rayne involve her in his time travel spell? She waved her hand over the water again and it returned to clear. She gave a prayer of thanks to her goddess for answering the questions that she had.

Willow quietly made her way back down towards her room. She would think about the implications of what she had seen later when she had a clear mind.

~~~~

She had been able to avoid William and Angel for the last few days but she knew that Annie Chapman's body would be found tomorrow morning. There was no help for it she would be spending the early morning hours in Whitechapel and she just knew with her luck she would run into them. She just hoped it was William that she met.

Albert had attended the inquest into Polly Nichols death but unfortunately hadn't been able to find out anything helpful. It wouldn't be until more were killed that they were able to connect the murders anyway. Willow had tried to do a location spell to try to find Ethan but she had come up empty. Who knew there were so many witches in London? The crystal had just circled and landed over a lot of neighborhoods on the map of London that Albert had in his study. She had given up but would be prepared if their paths crossed.

She wasn't going to bother with a disguise anymore but she would wear clothes that would let her blend into the East End. Willow knew that she couldn't keep borrowing clothes from the poor box at church, sooner or later someone would notice. Hannah had overheard one of the upstairs maids discussing where they bought their clothes so Hannah and Willow went to the dressmakers a couple of days ago and ordered clothes for their "maids" as a gift. Hopefully that wouldn't raise eyebrows and maybe more of the WestEnders would become more generous with their staff. Willow planned to give all her clothes, when she returned, to Beatrice who had become her personal maid and a friend. They were about the same size and she knew that Beatrice would appreciate them. Beatrice had been saving money to send back to her parents to help with her younger brothers and sisters so she wasn't able to afford new clothes.

Willow changed into one of the dresses that Hannah had picked up yesterday. She looked at herself in the mirror and thought, well it was better than the first outfit anyway. She would be glad to be able to wear Jeans or shorts or even short skirts again. All the layers of clothes that women wore were suffocating. She wondered how bad it would be if she introduced the mini skirt about 70 years before it was supposed to be introduced.

She made her way to the Whitechapel area and saw the pub Ten Bells. As good a place as any to hang out. She knew that the next victims after Annie were the double murder. Elizabeth Stride spent some of her time here maybe she would be able to see her.

Willow sat down at a table in the back so she would have a good view of the pub. A barmaid took her drink order and Willow watched the people drinking and laughing. She jumped when she heard a voice in her ear say, "Buy you a drink pretty lady?"

Darn vampires always sneaking up on you. Willow turned her head and looked straight into piercing blue eyes. She seemed to be drowning in them. Her brain was sending her mouth words to say but her mouth wasn't cooperating. William just smiled and sat down next to Willow.

The barmaid returned with Willow's drink and took Williams' order. "How did you find me William?"

"Luck actually. I came here for a little early morning snack when I saw you in the doorway."

Willow absorbed this information. It seems with no trying on either of their parts they were being brought together. It must be fate and one of those meant to bes in all the multi timelines. That thought filled her with a warmth that she was meant to at least be friends with William . . . maybe more.

"Where's Angelus?"

William narrowed his eyes, "Why?"

Willow smiled and laid her hand on his arm, "Just wondering if I had you all to myself or if I had to share."

William smiled his relief, "Just me, luv. Angelus' had to leave for a little while with Darla." He placed his hand over Willow's and held it there before she could remove it.

She had totally forgotten about Darla. She wasn't sure if she would be able to meet Darla and not want to stake her. That would be a win-win situation, though. Darla wouldn't be able to harm Jesse and she would be dead before Wolfram and Hart ever existed or heard of her. True that meant no Connor but oh well. Or maybe Angel could have Conner with Dru. That would solve her William problem, too. Yep that was a win-win situation.

"You alright?" William was concerned with Willow being so quiet.

She smiled brightly, "Yep, just thinking."

"'Bout what?"

Killing Darla. "Fate."

"You think we were fated to meet? Dru said something the other night about me finding my red pixie. That you were a gift from the stars now and later."

"Do you feel that way? That I'm a gift?" She couldn't resist asking.

William just looked into her eyes for a moment and then began to lean forward giving her time to pull away. Willow watched as William leaned closer and thought YES I finally get to kiss Spike. That was the last thought she had as William's lips met hers.

She didn't know what she was expecting but this soft, gentle kiss wasn't it. It made butterflies leap in her stomach and her toes curl. Her hand slowly moved up his arm to caress his hair at the nape of his neck. Too bad she had to breathe soon. She reluctantly pulled away to catch her breath.

William looked into her eyes that had turned a darker shade of green and thought I may have started out to seduce her so I could turn her more easily but that changed with the kiss. Oh he still planned on turning her but the seduction was going to be a separate part now.