- Chapter 14 -

To The Rescue

The 'Not-Giles' had just succeeded in dragging Willow to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, when Severus, Harry and Remus caught up. McGonagall, Giles and Dumbledore right behind them. Instantly, Snape's wand was in his hand and he pointed it at Willow's abductor.

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" He shouted.

Immediately, the vice-like grip that Willow had been struggling against, released her. She stumbled slightly, then fell to her knees beside the form of the creature who had try to kidnap her. Her stomach was still contorting in pain, and she felt a blanket of darkness decend upon her from being this close to the forest. She could feel the evil and it made her shiver. Fighting for breath, she turned as she heard Harry call her name. Harry was at her side in an instant. He had just put his hand on her shoulder, when Snape was there as well. Willow took one look at Snape's face before diving into his arms. They closed about her immediately.

Giles was looking at the creature, which had taken on it's true form, that lay paralyzed on the ground beside the redhead. It was grayish, green in color with a long snout and large bug eyes. It's scaly skin had a slimy looking texture to it.

"A shapeshifter." Giles informed them.

McGonagall let out a gasp, her hand going to her throat in a shocked gesture. "What? But how? How could it have gotten into the school?"

"I have no idea, but I intend to find out." Dumbledore stated calmly. "Miss. Rosenberg, are you alright?" He asked Willow, who was currently being lifted up into Snape's arms. She was clinging to him tightly as she turned to look at the headmaster.

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore." She turned to look at Snape then. "I'm fine now."

Remus had a look on his face that seemed to say 'I knew it!' and Harry's face showed shock and dismay, but a little bit of understanding as well.

Dumbledore took in the way Snape and Willow were looking at each other, and calmly spoke. "Rupert, I believe you and Remus can take care of our little visitor here. Minerva, please escort Harry back to the Great Hall, I am sure his friends are worried about him."

"Yes, headmaster." The three agreed at once. Harry did not look too pleased, but consented too. Remus and Giles each took hold of the shifter and began to carry it toward Hagrid's hut, figuring he would know how to deal with such a creature. Minerva laid her hand on Harry's shoulder and began guiding him back toward the school.

Dumbledore looked again to Snape and Willow, who had yet to notice anyone but each other. "Severus, I am quite sure that Miss. Rosenburg has had a very eventful morning. Why don't you escort her back to her chambers and see to any needs she might have. I shall take up your classes today.

"Of course, Albus." Snape said, though he barely glanced at the man.

Not another word was spoken, as Snape carried Willow back into the school. It seemed no time at all before they stood before Willow's portrait where he stopped for an instant. Just long enough for Willow to mutter her password. Then, stepping across the threshold he shut the door behind them. He headed for the bed, intending to lay her down to rest. He was nearly there, when a streak of calico darted between his feet. He stumbled and went crashing down on the bed. Right on top of his redheaded cargo.

~*~

When the headmaster had asked if she was okay, Willow hadn't been lying. From the moment Snape's arms had closed around her, the pain in her stomach had vanished and the darkness had retreated. She felt so safe in his arms and she never wanted him to let go. He had lifted her into his arms, and after Dumbledore had issued his orders, began packing her back to her room.

Now this could get interesting. She thought.

Her mind couldn't help but start producing the most delicious images. They came to the entrance and she uttered the password. Then they were inside her room. And just as he was about to the bed, she heard a rustle from somewhere below her near his feet. He stumbled, crashing them both to the bed, trapping her beneath his delightfully well built body.

"Oof." Was all she could utter. He made as if to move off her and she clutched to him instinctively.

Oh, no you don't mister. Came the sound of Willow's voice in his head.

"That is totally annoying when you do that, you know?" Snape growled, settling himself down on the bed beside the redhead, who snuggled up close to his side. His brows bunched together in curiosity. "If you don't mind, how did you know how to do that, anyway?"

"It's our bond." Willow said simply, as if that explained everything.

"Ah, of course, how could I be so stupid." Snape replied sarcastically.

Willow rolled her eyes at him. "Alright, maybe I should vague it up for you?"

"Please do." Snape couldn't help but smirk at her comment.

Willow sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, his hand came up and began stroking her hair lightly.

"Well, remember last night?" The growl that eminated from his chest told her that he did indeed remember last night. "Well, after I left you, and before you start I have a good expaination for that, and it's not what you're thinking. I did want you. I wanted you so bad it scared me. But I also felt bad about the wanting, 'cos of Tara." Willow raised up then to look Snape in the eyes. He had a surprised expression on his face, as if he couldn't believe what she had just said. "Anyway, when I got back to my room, I cried myself to sleep." Snape winced at this revelation, but did not interrupt. "But later on something woke me up. I wasn't for sure what it was at first, but then I walked out onto my balcony and I saw her."

Willow went silent for a moment and Snape noticed that her eyes were moist with unshed tears. His arms tightened their hold on her in a way of comfort. Finally, she continued.

"Well, it wasn't really her, since she's dead. She was shot by a stray bullet when this guy named Warren tried to kill Buffy, uh, she's the vampire slayer in Sunnydale. Anyway, that was the reason that I... well, you know."

Snape nodded slightly to indicate that he did know what she meant.

"Well, it seems that I didn't have to feel guilty about the way I feel for you. Tara explained it all to me. You see, Tara and I had a bond, sorta like the one we share. We used talk to one another, in our minds, all the time. And that is how I knew that my feelings for you were special. Because my feelings for Tara were special."

Snape had remained silent throughout this whole thing since it's start. But at this point he found he could not help but ask a question.

"Willow, when you say 'your feelings for me' are special, what exact feelings are you talking about?"

"Why, my love for you, of course."

Whatever answer Severus Snape had been expecting, it had most definitley not been that. He had hoped, oh yes, but had never thought they would ever be uttered.

"Your..." His voice failed him at that moment.

"My love for you." Willow rose up on the bed to kneel beside him. "For some insane reason, I've fallen in love with you, Severus."

It was the first time ever that she had used his given name. He had rather gotten used to her calling him Cranky Pants or Sir-Sneer-Alot or any of the other silly little nicknames she had come up with to infuriate him. Snape couldn't explain it, but hearing her call him Severus made him feel very...happy. It was a strange feeling, for he had not felt this particular emotion in a very long while. It was a feeling that he had thought to never feel again, if truth be known. And now this lovely creature had stated that she loved him, that she wanted him. And he sure as hell wanted her. Did he love her? Severus had a feeling that he most possibly did, and had no idea why he hadn't realized it before this moment. But now that he had, he did the only thing he felt there was left for him to do.

He kissed her.

He simply brought his hand up to wrap around the base of her head and drew her mouth down to his. She came willingly, and sighed as his lips and tongue began to plunder hers. Willow knew they had to talk, to figure out what all of this meant. But she needed this, had wanted this since the night before, when he had kissed her breathless. She allowed her body to go limp and he pulled her to cover his body with her own. Oh yes, they could definitely do the talking thing later.

*~*~*~*~*

TBC...