author: Lucinda

content may be similar to the series, with violence involving humans and nonhumans, moderate sexuality, and alcohol, though it probably won't be as serious.

pairing: Willow/Doyle, mentions of past tense Willow/Tara

fifth in 'Lucky Charm'

disclaimer: I own nobody from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel the Series.

distribution: WLS, NHA, Bite Me please, Wic, anyone else just ask.

notes: AU. Hero never happened. Cordelia hooked up with Wesley, and Doyle's crush on her faded.

thank you to Gabrielle for taking the time to beta read this one for me - you're the best.

Xander was the first person to notice. She was still quieter than she'd been before Tara had gone away, but not so sad. He kept giving her these puzzled looks during research. Buffy was cheerfully oblivious, as usual, and while Giles fussed a little, he didn't really seem to have any ideas why she was getting over the pain, thinking it was just time.

"So, my bestest pal in the whole world, is there something going on?" Xander asked, walking with her to go pick up some food. "Anything to tell your best buddy about?"

"I'm feeling better," Willow shrugged, and glanced at him. "Why the sudden interest? It's not like everyone was rushing to try and keep me company when Tara left."

"You have the happy smile. That one that says you're thinking of a special someone." He grinned, and put his hand on her shoulder. "You can tell me, did you and Tara get back together?"

"No, Tara and I... we're not together, though she's at least talking to me again." Willow shook her head, sighing. "The time for that is past, and it's not coming back. I've just... It's..."

"You met someone else?" Xander blinked, putting the clues together faster than she'd expected. "But you haven't... either someone else from college, or from that trip to LA. Umm... You aren't... you're not hooking up with Cordelia, are you? Because that would be just too weird."

"No, not Cordelia. She's not my type, I prefer someone a bit quieter, less confrontational about life." Willow chuckled, and grinned at him. "Though she is looking good."

"For the love of God, tell me it's not his undead broodiness." Xander begged, his eyes pleading. "Anyone but him."

"Angel? Eeep, no. Although he's doing better in LA as well, I'm not considering a romantic relationship with him. Besides, he's sort of got a maybe-thing with this police detective. I'm not sure how it'll work out."

"Not that I really care, but why don't you think it'll work?" Xander asked, and then grinned.

"This detective reminds me a lot of an older Buffy. Blond, pretty, confident, and has issues with vampires, but she still thinks he's attractive." Willow shrugged, commenting, "People can be so weird sometimes."

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "And if not the walking dead or my ex, who caught your eye?"

"His name's Doyle. He works with Angel, so he knows about the weirdness that rattles and does ooky things in the night, and he's not repressing. He knows that I'm a witch, and it doesn't scare him." For a moment, she let her mind drift in contemplation of Doyle. "He's a little older, and a little strange, but I like him. He makes me smile and feel special."

"First, how much older are we talking about, and second, does this mean it's love?" Xander looked serious.

"First, it's sweet that you're worried, but since you're involved with Anya, you're in the glass house on this one. He's got about ten years on me, so he's a little older, but not Anya older or Angel older." Willow tried to look serious, be she knew that it wasn't working very well. "And it's not love yet, but it could get there. I like him, and I want to find out if it could be more."

Xander nodded, ducking his head a little. "Okay, I get your point there. But if he breaks your heart, I'm going to have to hurt him. Anya's got lots of ideas, and she'd probably help just for the reminder of old times."

"Thanks for what is probably completely unneeded concern." Willow gave Xander a quick hug and smiled. "I'm planning to transfer to UCLA next quarter. After all, you know how Buffy keeps trying to push us away, saying we should get out and have normal lives while we can?"

"If this Doyle guy works with Angel, I don't see normal happening. And what do you mean, you're leaving?"

"Buffy thinks we can just walk away from all of this and forget, just be normal." Willow shook her head, wondering how Buffy could get such a strange idea. "After everything, Sunnydale hurts. There's so many bad memories, and with the Initiative here, it's not like she needs us as much as she used to."

"What about me? Were you just planning to vanish?" Xander sounded hurt, almost sulky.

"Xander," She glared at him, feeling exasperated. "First off, if I was planning to just vanish, would I tell you that I'm planning to change colleges and where I plan to go? Second, there's this newfangled invention called the telephone, just in case the old-fashioned idea of writing letters doesn't appeal to you. And third, do you really want to marry Anya and try to raise a family over the Hellmouth?"

"Ummm... no. Hellmouths have been found to be bad for children and everyone else." Xander sighed, and looked sheepish. "Overreacting, right?"

"I know it's only because you care," Willow smiled. "Unless there's big evil in LA this weekend, Doyle's coming to visit me. You can meet him then."

"So, after Oz and Tara, now you're taking a chance with this older guy. Well, I've got Anya." Xander grinned, and glanced at the horizon. "Who would have seen this one, a few years back?"

"Expect the unexpected should be our motto, considering where we live. Besides, considering everything, I don't think either of us would be happy with someone who didn't know what's out there." She took a deep breath, and then looked at Xander. "There's something else about Doyle, and I want you to try not to freak out, okay?"

"Okay..." Xander frowned, stopping outside the Espresso Pump. "What am I not going to like about this guy?"

"He's divorced, and the reason for the divorce was that they found out he's half Brakken demon." The words rushed out, and she looked at her friend, eyes pleading with him to be calm.

"Umm." Xander blinked, clearly trying to put thoughts in order. "Have we seen one of those here?"

"No, they're non-violent. A lot of them also have some clairvoyant or precognitive abilities. Doyle gets visions of people that Angel needs to help." Willow explained, and then looked at her friend. "I think he could make me happy, Xander."

"I got to tell you, this wasn't what I was expecting." Xander shook his head, obviously choosing his words carefully. "I think I'm a bit freaked out by it, but... If he makes you happy, if he's not dangerous, I can deal. But still, if he breaks your heart or hurts you, I'm going to hurt him back."

Willow grinned at him, feeling relieved. "Good. I mean, not good that you're freaked, but good that you're trying to deal. Anya wasn't anybody that I was expecting for you, but... We're trying to deal with her and all that she says and does and did. Who really turns out to be everything that we expected anyhow?"

"I'm looking forward to meeting this guy." Xander said, and then pushed the door open. "Now, we need caffeine and sugar, or else someone's going to fall down for a nap over those old books and something bad will happen that we don't know how to deal with."

"I guess so," Willow shook her head ruefully. "Sunnydale really doesn't ever let up, does it?"

"Not really."

end Lucky Charm 5 - Talking About Luck