Wesley stared un-easily as Cordelia paced in front of him babbling in a mix of fear and glee, her voice getting louder and louder as she went on. 'Shoot me now' thought Wesley bitterly as he continued to stare. Lorne had grabbed him the moment Gunn left with Willow this morning. He outlined everything he had learned from his chat with the little red head last night.

Aspirin.

And Cordelia over heard every word.

Wesley needed aspirin.

"Cordelia.." Wesley started softly as he rose slowly out of his chair.

"But Wesley!" Cordelia demanded. "This is big! I mean, that prophecy matches everything we already know and that Lorne was able to find out! This is going to affect all of our lives both good and bad. But what about poor Willow? What's she going to do when she finds out? It was a bad enough shock to get everyone plus two years of her life back. What is she going to do when we have to tell her that even though she doesn't love Angel, he loves her and is having HIS BABY!

Just then a loud thud was heard just outside the door. Both Cordelia and Wesley stiffened before taking a couple steps to look out the open door to Wesley's office. They saw Angel on his knees. The look of shock was moulded on his handsome face.

"Angel..." Cordelia asked softly as she stepped further out of the office and closer to Angel. "Are you alright? How much did you hear?"

"Oh just about everything."

"You were listening in?" asked Wesley.

"Didn't mean to...Vampire hearing."

Before another word could be said the front door burst open and in came a laughing and smiling Gunn and Willow each with a couple suitcases on each arm.

"What's going on?" asked Gunn cautiously.

"We need to call Sunnydale." said Angel softly from his kneeling position on the floor.

Aspirin thought Wesley.

I need Aspirin.

The day was spent quietly avoiding each other until the Sunnydale crew arrived. Wesley making copies of the prophecy and finding any other references with Fred's help. Gunn, Cordelia and Lorne trying to keep Willow occupied and calm. And Angel was in his office brooding. Brooding and thinking as he read and re-read the prophecy over and over again.

It all seemed like a blur. He loved Willow.

Love.

Pure love.

But she didn't love him back. But the prophecy said that instead of giving him back his humanity they would give him a permanent soul, and a child who would contain the power to heal those favoured by the powers. Who would be able to turn back the clock of time without knowing it, to re-create the past the way it was originally supposed to be.

But only if Willow's blood was shed and she died.

Angel could feel his face grow darker. She was already pregnant. He listened to the heartbeats carefully when she entered the hotel this morning with Gunn.

His child.

He was going to have a child, a daughter at that. A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he began to wonder if she would more like him or like Willow. He sighed as he remembered. She didn't love him, she was having his child and then she was going to die. Would she grow to love him? Had she ever thought of him as more then just Buffy's boyfriend? Angeles had liked her. A little too much, so he left her alone, taunting the slayer, always meaning to come back her but then she gave him the soul and Buffy sent him to hell. Oh his demon was furious over that, he moved Willow to the top of his list to torture and kill. She has given him more humanity then anyone and he would take deep pleasure in getting his revenge. But now the bonded soul would keep Angeles in chains forever. But that didn't answer how could he make up for all the years they didn't spend together, as lovers, or at least as friends? She even restored his soul, just so he and Buffy could be happy. Sighing again he pulled his hand over his face as a soft tapping came at the door. Angel stood up and answered it.

"Angel," Fred said softly. "They're here."

With a slight nod and a heavy heart Angel followed Fred out to the main entrance where he was greeted by the sight of Willow being mobbed with hugs and kisses from the Sunnydale crowd. The tears ran down her face softly as she smiled brightly at them. She was so happy now, and it pained him so much to think of how she was going to react to the news. How everyone was.

Please let this go right Angel prayed. Willow's already has been hurt enough she didn't deserve any more pain.

"Willow?" Giles asked softly as he knelt in front of Willow and patted her hand. "Willow can you hear me? Are you alright?"

Willow was sat, perched on the edge of the couch, trying to control her breathing as she vainly remained in control as she absorbed the information she had just heard.

The prophecy, the child, Angel confirming that he loved her, her child to be the power's greatest saviour, the fact that she would die.

"I – I don't know what to do?" Willow began as the tears began to flow. "Buffy? Buffy what should I do?"

Buffy looked fondly at her friend, she looked so lost, so frightened, so much had happened. It had been nearly two years since she had last seen her. Two lost years, full of lies, but here was Willow, her Willow, asking her for help. Buffy didn't love Angel anymore, she loved him as a friend, but nothing more. She and Xander had found peace in each other's arms. Standing up she stepped lightly over to Willow and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her tightly. You should follow your heart and your instincts. This prophecy has already started Wills, we can't change that part, but we can make a difference on how the future turns out. Besides I'm kinda looking forward to being called Auntie Buffy."

Willow grinned widely at Buffy as she dried her tears. Buffy matched her grin as Willow grabbed Buffy in a fierce hug. Everything would be ok in the end; she knew it, thought Willow as she glanced up to see Angel watching her and she continued to grin.

The Sunnydale gang stayed until sun set the next day, things had forever changed between the two groups. They were closer now, more united. As everyone else went home or to bed Angel and Willow were left alone for the first time since she had woken up in his bed when Gunn first brought her home.

"Willow, I know that you don't love me but I love you, and I promise that I will always take care of you and our child. I will do anything it takes to make sure both of you are safe." Angel breathed out as he stepped towards Willow, reaching his hand out to lightly stroke her hair.

"You're right Angel, I don't love you," Angel looked down, trying to mask the pain in his eyes. She placed her hand on his cheek and gently raised it so he could see her. She looked him in the eye, tears beginning to well up in her own. "But I think that I could grow to love you."

And then he placed their very first kiss on her lips. Soft and sweet, and very tentative at first, but it wouldn't be the last, thought Angel as he once again promised himself to thank Gunn everyday for bringing Willow back into his life.