Part 2

The shower had been relaxing and refreshing. She had needed to be wide awake for the phone calls she knew she had to make. She had emailed everyone in Sunnydale to let them know she was coming to LA. It's not like she could have kept it a secret if she even wanted to. Especially with Giles being the one to let her know about Angel.

The last year she hadn't even come home for breaks. With her parents hardly at home and all the time she spent with the friends that she had made in England she just never went back. Luckily she, Xander and Buffy were the type of friends that even if you didn't see each other for years once you were together again it wasn't awkward. It was like you had never left.

Willow picked up her cell phone and dialed Xander's number first.

"You got me!"

"You wish, Xander."

"Willow! Are you in LA yet?"

"Yeah, I'm at Angel's. I got in this afternoon."

"God, Wills. I missed you. Giles said Angel would need your power in the coming battle but wouldn't say for what."

"Yeah me neither. Just that a big evil was coming to LA and Angel would need my help. I'm hoping Angel and Wesley will let me know what's going on when I go back downstairs."

"Have you talked to Buffy yet?"

"Nope, you were my first call. Why?"

"I'll let her tell you."

"Good news or bad?"

"A little bit of both but mostly good."

"Will you be able to make a trip here to see me while I'm here or will I need to come to Sunnydale?"

"If you can make a trip here before you leave that would be great. The building I'm working on is coming along but it's taking up a lot of my time. If you can't, just let me know and I'll say screw work and come see you. Even if I do have to put up with Angel."

Willow rolled her eyes. "You know, Xander if I could put up with you dating Cordelia you can put up with me staying with Angel and helping. Besides that sounded like you said it out of habit instead of meaning it. I think you may be growing up after all Peter Pan."

"Bite your tongue. I am not growing up, I may be getting older but that's all."

Willow laughed, "Keep telling yourself that Xan and you just might convince yourself."

Willow heard voices in the background, "Sorry Wills gotta go. They need the boss man on site. Call ya later?"

"See ya Xander. I missed you."

"Right back at you buddy."

Willow hung up with a smile. She didn't think he would ever change. She could see him as a goofy old man.

She wondered what Buffy's news was. She knew it couldn't have been too bad or Xander or Giles would have said something. She dialed Buffy's number.

"Hello?"

"Hi Mrs. Summers, it's Willow. Is Buffy there?"

"Willow, how are you? This is a really good connection, you sound so clear."

"Oh, I'm not in England. I'm visiting friends in LA." Buffy obviously hadn't told her mom about her coming and she didn't want to say anything either.

"That's great. Will you be able to make a trip over here? I know everyone would be happy to see you."

"I hope to."

"Hang on and I'll get Buffy."

"Willow! When did you get in?"

"Hey Buffy. I got in this afternoon."

"How's the LA gang?"

Willow tried to hear the silent 'and especially Angel' but it wasn't there.

"Everyone seems fine. I haven't had time to sit down and talk to everyone but Delia met me at the airport. You probably already know this but there are two new people with Angel now.  They seem really nice. I haven't seen Wes yet so I don't know how he is."

Buffy wondered at the no mention of Angel. Maybe she hadn't seen him yet. She wished she could be there to see his reaction to Willow. She knew from the last conversation they had he thought she would be the same. She hadn't dissuaded him from that thought. She wanted it to be a nice surprise how Willow finally came into her own. She knew she would. That was one of the main reasons she encouraged her to go to England. She wanted Willow to see herself how Buffy saw her. A beautiful girl both on the inside and on the out.

"Has Angel or anyone told you what you're up against yet?"

"No, I just told Xander all they said was that a big evil was coming to LA and Angel would need my help. Has Giles or Angel told you?"

"Nope it's been all very hush hush."

"Xander said you had some news to tell me."

"You know the last time I died. . ."

Buffy was interrupted by Willow's laughter, "You know our lives are definitely unusual when that statement is normal."

Buffy laughed, "You got that right. Anyway I did some heavy thinking. It sort of put my life in perspective. Made my priorities change. Angel and I had a long conversation on death, life and love. I finally realized that I hadn't really moved on from my feelings for Angel. . ."

Willow was hating this. She just knew Buffy was going to say that they realized that they would always love each other. Soulmates till they died, yadda, yadda, yadda.

"Sorry, Buffy. I missed that last part."

"A couple of months ago I went to an opening of a branch of my mom's gallery in San Francisco. That's why she didn't know about you coming to LA she's hardly been here. Anyway, I met this man. Kevin. He's one of the best things that ever happened to me. What I felt for Angel was fiery and explosive and was destined for failure. What I feel for Kevin is a gentle love. When he holds me I feel safe and loved. Just being around him gives me peace. He knows all about the slaying. He even helps with the researching and the slaying. As a matter of fact I might not be Slayer for much longer."

"Buffy that's great! I'm so happy for you. But one question, how can you not be Slayer? I thought it was lifetime commitment. God Xander said there was a little bit of bad news. You're not dieing are you?"

Buffy laughed, "No I'm fine. When I died last year another Slayer was called. Her name's Alicia. She just came to Sunnydale a few months ago. She had been slaying in Ohio but with the activity of the Hellmouth picking up her watcher sent her here. Anyway with Alicia here she's thinking about moving here permanently and taking over. I'll just help out when needed. I told Giles that I've spent six years fighting the forces of darkness I deserve to retire happily. So you want to be my maid of honor?"

"What? When are you getting married? And yes I'd be honored." Now she understood why Xander had said a little bad. He probably in the back of his mind always hoped for a chance with Buffy.

"Well we haven't set a date yet but as soon as we do I'll let you know. Angel seems to like Kevin a lot."

Willow blinked a few times. Had she just said that Angel liked Kevin?

"Angel's met Kevin?"

Buffy smiled. She would get those two together yet. If she couldn't have Angel, and she didn't want to have him anymore, the only other person on the planet that she would consider for him would be Willow.

She hadn't really ever thought of Willow and Angel together but not long after meeting Kevin she had a dream about them. Since then it just felt right.

"Yeah. I wanted the two to meet. Besides Xander and Giles they are the two most important men in my life. It had been long enough since Angel left and with the conversation we had I knew he would be okay with my moving on and he was. I think if it had been my first year in college it would have been too soon for Angel to like anyone I went out with. Besides most of the guys I dated that year was just a rebound thing."

"He sounds great, Buffy. I can't wait to meet him."

"Maybe we'll drive up one weekend."

"That would be great."

"I better go. I have to meet Giles. Love you Willow"

"Love you too Buffy. Tell Giles I'll call him later."

After Willow hung up with Buffy she lay back on the bed. Wondering if this was a sign of the apocalypse.  First she found out that a big evil was coming, then Buffy and Angel finally had moved on and Buffy seemed very happy and very much in love. Angel had even approved of Kevin. She wondered if it was going to be raining snakes or something next. With a half smile she got up to go downstairs.

Making her way down the stairs she heard laughter and followed the sound. Everyone was sitting in front of the TV watching "Never been kissed."

"Movie night?"

"Hey Willow come sit here. I was just going to get something to drink. Anyone else want a drink?"

"Yeah could you bring me back a soda?" Gunn asked with a smirk. He knew Cordelia had gotten up to force Willow to sit next to Angel but he wasn't going to let an opportunity go to tease her.

Cordelia narrowed her eyes at him, "Sure."

Willow smiled at Angel as she sat down. She turned back to the TV to watch. They were just at the scene where Drew's friend was teaching her class the proper way to put on a condom. Drew's character's condom flew off the banana and landed on the floor.

Willow mumbled, "I hate when that happens."

Angel turned shocked eyes to Willow. Had she just said what I thought she said?