Title: Demons from the past

Rating:PG-13

Disclaimer:Not smart enough, or enough money so it ain't mine. DAMN YOU WHEDON!

Summary: My first real sequel, all others have been fakes, kind of an AU of S7 so a bit more original than most.

++++

//she was stumbling through the cemetery, she could feel the light pink the sky as the sun rose.

Her whole body hurt.

The blood seemed to seep from a hundred different places, all sending pain through her.

She needed to get to the top of the hill, before they stopped her.

It was the right thing, she knew it, but it hurt so much.

Finally stopping at the hills peak she fell against the tree and slid down into a sitting position.

She almost passed out from the blood loss. But she had to stay focused.

She was going to make everything right. For once in her whole existence she was going to do something right.

Using the last bit of strength she squared her shoulders and pulled down the hood covering her face from the world and gazed at the last sunrise she ever would see.

Blue and white flame engulfed her the moment the light hit her body//

Willow woke up with a start. Her eyes looked around expecting to see the sun rising, and it's rays burning her away. All she was met with was darkness.

The dreams were getting clearer, stronger.

She had had the first one the night they restored Angel's soul. It was interesting to say the least. The spell had gone off without a hitch, except when they went to go check on him they saw something they hadn't expected. Slice-n-Dice holding a struggling Connor by the neck four inches off the floor. Faith was about to attack when Angel yelled for her to stop.

It was then that they noticed that Gunn was unconscious and there was a stake lying on the floor.

Gunn proceeded, after waking up with a headache, to fill them in. Apparently Connor had the intention of finishing Angelus once and for all. That was the reason he gave, but willow could sense something, something darker, stirring in the hotel.

But she couldn't put her finger on it.

That was the night she had the dream, just the sun rising and blue flame. Each night after the dream would become longer, clearer. She didn't have any idea what it meant, or if it meant anything at all.

Everyone was filled in about the situation and in true form Angel offered to come down and help out. Willow wasn't sure but before she could say anything Slice-n-Dice said that even when the Followers leave to attack Sunnydale they'll still be under attack, and if they weren't there to fight then LA would be lost. That answered the question.

The witch could see the recognition flash through Angels face, and for a good long minute he stared at the black clothed demon. She knew Slice-n-Dice saw this and understood. But to his credit he said nothing and didn't show reaction. When they got Angel out of his daze her heart had jumped, for a moment she wondered whether he would spill everything, but luckily he was all business.

After the meeting was done she remembered looking for the dark demon, but found no one. She had been so engrossed in her search that she started when Angel called her name. She knew the conversation was coming, and in the end she left Angel sitting in his chair, his face closed like a stone door, The swirling emotions behind his eyes barely held back..

She didn't know whether Angel had tried to speak to his former childe, if he had he gave no mention of it.

The next few days were filled with attacking, defending, scouting and hunting. And things didn't cool down for a second.

One minute they're attacking a Bringer armory, the next they're being chased by a horde of them. Wesley had spent a good hour looking through his books to find the name `Bringer'.

They fought every day, again and again.

The bandaged gash on her arm was definitely going to scar. She accidentally caught a `bringer knife to the shoulder when they were ambushed.

They fought for four days, bringer, sorcerer, demented college professors ect.

ON the whole the battle was put to a stalemate. They would attack and be fought off, the bringers would attack and they would be slaughtered. It would go back and forth for what seemed like forever.. She didn't want to think what it would have been like if Slice-n-Dice hadn't been there to cut them down.

She had begun to worry about him, more than once he had come in with a cut, or limp. He never said anything, but she feared the worst. The only thing she could could think of was that sinse his body was no longer being soaked with dark energy, his supply was drying up, becoming weaker. She feared what might happen when the dark energy was gone.

What she did know was that each day he was becoming more and more like the Spike they knew, not cocky and arrogant, but his movements started to be more and more recognizable, his voice showed the most change.

No one else recognized it other than Angel.

Angel himself was a bit more broody than usual, and who could blame him.

Cordy and Connor? Bleh.

Cordy and Connor having a baby? Vomit worthy.

The last two days they stopped being attacked and their attempts to find Bringers were less and less successful. Slice-n-Dice informed them later that the Followers moved on to attack Sunnydale. So with a quick kiss and hug they set out.

On the way back she filled Faith in about what had been going on with Buffy and the gang., which seemed weird because she had spent the last week with the slayer, but never got the chance to explain everything. The two themselves had gotten closer during that week, quickly forgetting the bad blood between them. Willow explained everything, well except about Slice-n-Dice. And any questions about the demon were quickly headed off.

Willow had been a bit surprised when the door opened to reveal a tall redheaded Irishman.

And in true style Faith immediately went into horn dog mode.

The Irishman, who they learned was a watcher named Jarod, showed them in while ignoring a sultry Faith who was being very suggestive and provocative that even the witch had a passing thought about the slayers mouth talents.

Introductions were made and Giles suggested they debrief each other. The witch had to physically stop herself from screaming.

She'd been driving for hours and fought almost constantly for a week. The very last thing she wanted to do was repeat everything. She tried to used Buffy's absence as an excuse but Giles just sent Faith to get her. So grinding her teeth she recounted everything. Well almost everything. Giles filled her in on what had been happening there, and willow had to raise her eyebrows in surprise.

They had been busy.

After getting the First aid kit for the bleeding demon, the bed was too tempting of an invitation. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

Getting out of bed she noticed the close she had fallen asleep in were now thoroughly wrinkled and disheveled. A bit groggy and disoriented she opened the door out of the room and into the hall. She noticed the cracked open bathroom but did not investigate, she knew who was in there.

Walking down the stairs she could hear the voices in the living room, Giles debriefing the rest of the group. Wanting to get some food first before she got involved in the war planning again she bypassed the living room and straight to the kitchen.

The witch made it three feet passed the kitchen door before she was pinned by the angry stare of her best friend.

Willow froze, like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car. Willow took a good look at her friend's face. Her eyes were tearing up. She could tell the slayer was keeper her jaw set to keep her lip from quivering. But it wasn't that that kept her feet planted in their spots. Buffy's eyes held a rage that only her friends saw, and not often. She looked like she was a second away from either screaming in rage, or breaking down into sobs.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Her voice was thick, holding back a hundred different emotions.

"What?"

"All this time and it was him"

It didn't seem like the slayer was hearing what her friend was saying, but willow tried anyway.

"Buffy what's wrong."

"After everything, and you didn't tell me he was alive."

Something clicked in willows mind //she knows// The witches eyes widened.

This was bad.

"You knew, even after you watched me_.you knew and you didn't tell me."

Both of them were fighting the many emotions threatening to spill out.

"Buffy, he. He asked me not to tell anyone."

That obviously was the wrong answer, cause the rage in Buffy's face was released. The slayer began to walk forward, not caring if anyone heard.

"So that's it huh, he asks you, and suddenly that's it! Our friendship, any responsibility to me gone! Even after I gave my trust to you again, even after all you've done!"

Buffy punctuated the by giving Willow a light, but firm push. Willow knew that the yelling was alerting the others but anger now boiled in the witches blood, and a mean hate that only known once before, infected her voice.

"What were you going to Buffy, huh! Tell him you love him, tell him your sorry. Tell him all the things you should have when it might have mattered!"

She hated the taste of her own words, and the anger slightly dimmed when she saw the tears that had been building in the slayers eyes fall. But she drove on.

"Listen, I know that I have a lot to apologize and be forgiven for. But Buffy_"

The witch paused, trying to get control, trying to be able to say the words that needed saying. Buffy was holding on to her rage with all she had, but failing miserably.

"I sent him to hell. I killed him, and I did all this, what's happening now is because of me. I feel it every day."

With each word Willow calmed and reigned in her anger. And with each word Buffy's grip keeping her anger with her lessoned.

"He deserves to, more than anyone, to make me pay, for what I did to him. But for some reason he forgave me, just like that he forgave me, after everything. And if he could do that then yeah I would keep a secret. So yes, it's above you, our friendship, my responsibility to you. Even after everything I've done."

She spat the last words. Buffy had supposedly forgiven her, obviously that wasn't the case. Buffy flinched at her words brought back to her. Bowing her head she spoke.

"I'm sorry. I have forgiven you Will, for everything. It's just_"

She could feel more tears welling up, staring to her right, not meeting her friends eyes.

"I missed him, and I thought I was moving on, and now to have all this, and then him."

"Buffy I wanted to tell you, Every day. But each time I remember, I remember where I sent him, the place that sometimes wakes me up at night screaming. I remember that and I remember he spent an eternity there. Because of me."

Buffy finally met Willows eyes. Without a word The both smoothly hugged each other. The only noise a occasional sniffle as they cried silently.. The quiet was broken after what seemed like an eternity.

"Why."

They separated , arms still around each other. Willow looked in Buffy's eyes, asking a silent question.

"Why didn't he want me to know?"

The tears were rising in her voice, and immediately she was being hugged by the witch. Whispering her answer.

"I don't know Buffy. I don't know. But I think you need to ask him yourself."

Buffy pulled out of her arms a look of fright in her eyes. But Willow had already put on her resolve face.

"Buffy, he's here, now, alive. Don't waste this chance".

Putting on her own resolve face and nodded.

"Thanks Will."

Willow relaxed with a huff. Finally letting her smile show through. The wieght of her secret was lifting off her shoulders. Buffy was almost out the door when Willow stopped her.

"Buffy. Tell him. Tell him, before it's too late."

The slayer didn't turn but paused for a little while. Then out the door, leaving willow in the living room smiling. So engrossed that she hadn't noticed a stern face Watcher and friends behind her standing in the doorway.

"Willow."

The voice startled her and she turned, smile still in place.

"I think there's something you need to tell us."

Her smile faded.

++++

A/N: HA HA! I'M BAAAAAAAACK!

I know this chapter isn't really new, but it is a revision. I got some advise that I agreed with, this chapter fizzled.

So I changed it, reBuilt it, made it faster, stronger, it is THE MILLION DOLLAR CHAPTER!

Sorry

Anyway I hope this adds some meat, and if you like it tell me for the love of PETE!