Open Your Eyes: Blue Eyes Blue

Angel watched Illyria and Spike as they trained. Although she had refused to discuss anything that had occurred in Seattle, they both knew that indeed something had happened and it hadn't been good. The logical conclusion was that Wesley had rejected her, perhaps not able to wrap his head around the fact that Fred's body was alive but it now had a new "owner".

As much as he had grown to care for Illyria, he still couldn't blame Wesley for doing what he had done. It wasn't easy, letting one's guard down and loving someone that had the same face of their lost love. All the grief that Wesley went through...having come dangerously close to losing his sanity...loving Illyria would be like loving a ghost.

If one looked closely, beyond the surface, then it would be apparent that although the body was the same, Illyria was completely different. One would even venture far enough to say that she was nothing at all like Fred.

Fred had been innocent and naïve at times. Her strength had been her brain, always hiding behind others to protect her when it came to physical strength. But Illyria was different. Instead of relying on others to protect her, she let no man fight for her. Her strength was mortal, but still above average when compared to other humans and although she was smart, her intelligence was based more on wisdom rather than science and facts.

There had never been any confusion when it came to distinguishing the two. Fred had been Fred and Illyria was Illyria. He and Spike had helped her grow into a strong human and consequently had ended up becoming very fond of her. They would always lament and mourn Fred's untimely death, but life had to go on.

Besides, Illyria was deep down a good person. In a way, she had always been. Never had she killed without a justification. As for now, her new soul gave her a conscious, not allowing to do harm against anyone who didn't deserve it. Just like Fred had been, Illyria had also become an important addition to Angel Investigation. Her prior experience was priceless and they used it to their advantage.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Come on Illyria" Spike tried to goat her, get her adrenalin up and going. But nothing really seemed to work...ever since her return she had been so depress. Breathing, sleeping, eating, fighting and doing everything else purely because she had to, not because she wanted to.

He wondered what Wesley had to say to upset her so much, Illyria was not the type to grow upset easily, but something gravely upsetting had to of have been said. Honestly, he hadn't been surprised to see her standing at their doorstep once more. Sometimes love just isn't enough....

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Illyria made her way up the stairs of the Hyperion. It was late and both Spike and Angel had stepped out to do a little "patrolling". She would of have joined them, but they insisted that they could handle it and besides she could use the rest. Lately her mood had been quite depressive and all she wanted to do was close her eyes and surrender to sleep. At least when one slept all their problems momentarily disappeared.

Sometimes she wished she could disappear. Having sacrificed everything for him, for his love and he had sent her away as if she meant nothing. Now she was mortal and stuck in a world in which she could never have the one thing she wanted most of all – love.

In the beginning when she had been building up her strength and learning how to deal with her new "condition", all she had thought above was love. Reading every romance novel she could get her hands and dreaming of the day in which Wesley would look down at her and smile with so much tenderness in his soul.

But now that was all over and there was nothing she could do. Perhaps it had all been a great mistake on her behalf. Sighing to herself she was almost at the stop of the stairs when the sound of the lobby doors opening stopped her. Looking down she saw that it was the last person she had imagined ever seeing again – Wesley.

Their eyes were glued to each other and neither could say a word.

Finding his voice finally he moved to say what he had been dying to get of his chest. "Illyria...." Suddenly whatever might of have been said was cut short by the inopportune return of Angel and Spike with two very unexpected guest....

TBC