A/N: I will be taking a break for about two months, at the most. There's some real life stuff that I need to take care off that's been weighing me down while writing these stories, and I'd like to get them out of the way ( I thought I could do those, and write these stories at the same time; but my other personal stuff has been suffering). The first being writing another draft of a research proposal for admission to a few PhD programs, and the second being learning SAP and Data Management techniques in a course at the local university. I hope you guys understand the need for this break, and I will get back to uploading the newest chapters at the end of the two months. Any further updates will be on my profile.

Crawford Street Mansion, 1200 hours.

Unable to get to the Magic Box, the local magic shop, Angel sat on the couch that remained in the mansion since the last time he occupied the mansion. He stared at Borzan's head, with its eyes closed, which was lying on the floor on its side. The ensouled vampire wanted to get rid of it, but the only way he knew to burn it to nothingness so that no ash, or bones, remained was to use living flame.

And to do that he needed access to ingredients. Once he arrived, and dumped the head onto the floor, Angel wen to the basement and brought out some of the items he thought he needed. Now, to get the rest of the items, he needed to wait until nightfall. He knew that with Borzan dead, Willow, Buffy and Faith were safe; and that they would be able to take over looking after the white haired young woman at the library.

He didn't want to show his face just yet since he feared what Willow would say to him. He hadn't thought about what he did to Willow for a few months. It was always at the back of his mind, just as the memories of all the horrible things he had done as Angelus. But bring back in Sunnydale brought that back to the fore. He knew that he managed to keep his mind distracted while they were researching the demon that Doyle had seen in his vision, but now that the demon was killed; Angel remembered all those memories. He placed his forehead into his hands while he heard Willow screaming, and then she was sobbing. He heard, and saw, everything he did to her as Angelus and hated himself.

And Spike was maniacally telling him so last night when they were researching the demon. Angel was surprised that Spike was in chains, much less alive. He remembered Giles telling him, while holding him back from dusting the immobile vampire, that they needed him for information on a group of commando's that had placed a chip in his brain.

"He's harmless!" yelled Giles at Angel while he and Doyle pulled him away, while Lily and Althanea just stood to the left while their hands were in their pockets.

"Look who's back," grinned Spike who was chained to a chair, "Angelus. Come to see your handiwork."

"Spike!" hissed Angel as he vamped out. It was then that Althanea strode towards Angel, grabbed his arm.. and in a moment of anger that Giles had rarely seen from the woman, growled that he needed to calm down; that Willow, Buffy, and Faith needed his help to survive what Doyle had seen in the vision.

"And we don't have time for your squabbles, is that understood?" demanded Althanea who was glaring into Angel's eyes. The ensouled vampire stopped himself before he could say anything, and instead just simply nodded his head. Althanea then let go of Angel's arm, and took in a deep breath before standing back.

"You think you'll ever be forgiven by these bloodbags?" mocked Spike, enjoying Angel's unease, "you had Dru torture the librarian, and then you tortured and ra…"

"That's enough from you," whispered Althanea as she waved her hand, and Spike became silent. Angel was smirking at the vampire who was panicking as he moved his lips, but no sound was coming out. The Vampire the glared at Angel and screamed a silent scream, he then mouthed words that he was sure were expletives at Althanea, Lily, Doyle, and then at Giles who was sighing while fixing his glasses.

Althanea glared at Spike, and then turned her head towards Angel, "we go to work, find out what we need to know about this demon, and then we kill it. Is there a problem?"

"None," answered Angel looking at Althanea. He then glanced behind her at the now silently screaming Spike, who was trying to break the chains that were magically enhanced. He then looked back at Althanea and said, "thank you for the silence."

"Let's get to work," the Witch calmly said as she walked past Angel.

Back in the present day, while looking up at Borzan's head, Angel imagined the pain that Willow must have been in when she was in Hell. But he just couldn't imagine the immense amount of pain no matter how hard he tried, it was just too much for his mind to process. One thing he was sure of was that Hell's magic kept Willow young; he knew that she spent centuries down there, and any normal human would have died out by now.

Shaking his head, Angel got up again and paced around on the floor. All he could do was wait. Everything in him that used to scream 'go see, Willow. Beg for forgiveness' was now silent. Angel was afraid that she would never forgive him.

'Not that I deserve it,' thought Angel to himself while he rubbed his forehead. Stopping his pacing, the man then glared at Borzan's head, 'at least I can protect her, I can have vengeance on her behalf by destroying the head of this demon.'

Angel then looked out at the brightly lit sky, and then back at the head of Borzan.

'Just a few more hours.'

Crawford Street Mansion, 1700 hours.

Just sitting on the couch with his mind elsewhere, the ensouled vampire shook his head when he heard voices that were coming down the stairs, and then headed towards the front door. He could make out Lily and Doyle's voice, together with Giles and Buffy. The four of them were headed towards the front door as Angel stood up. He put on his jacket, and then picked up his car keys before heading for the door as it opened.

"Angel," said Buffy as she looked at the ensouled vampire.

Angel noticed her facial muscles tensing, doing their best to hide her anger, and he didn't blame her.

"Buffy," came the reply. He wanted to take a step forward and hug the blonde Slayer, that's what happened the last time he hadn't seen or heard from Buffy in the summer just before her Junior year of high school, when she went to LA to visit her father. He remembered how broken she was after the Master's death, and then they finally came together a few days later… after she destroyed the Master's bones; and just hugged. He remembered the closeness they had, but that was gone now as he stepped back.

Angel turned to Giles and told him that he was about to head out to the Magic Box to get some ingredients, since he wasn't able to go out earlier. He asked Giles and Buffy to stay with the head until he got back before turning to Doyle and Lily, asking the both of them to pack up the laptop and books back into the car.

"We're leaving?" asked Lily surprised while Doyle frowned, and both Giles and Buffy looked at each other.

"Buffy, Faith, and Willow are safe," said Angel while Buffy looked away from him, and at the severed head lying on the floor. Buffy then looked back at Angel, and was about to ask him if he wasn't going to apologize to Willow. But, as if he was reading her mind, Angel told Doyle and Lily that he didn't think that Willow would even see him.

"Much less remember you," said Giles fixing his glasses.

"After what happened to me?" Buffy finally opened her lips while she was rubbing the front of her neck, "I think she'll kill him… oh, maybe that's a good thing?"

"Buffy," said Giles.

"Why'd did she attack you?" asked Angel.

"She's getting her memories back out of order," replied Buffy after she sighed, and then put her hands into her trouser pockets, "she blames me for Oz's death.. thinks I killed her."

"But I did," said Angel nodding his head while looking away from Buffy.

"Yeah," replied Buffy, her hands now on her hips, "and you want to run away like a coward, Angel. Face up to her and…."

"You think I don't want to go to her, and get on my knees, and beg for forgiveness?" asked Angel while Buffy glared at him, "I remember telling Dru to go after Oz, I remember her coming back me with his blood on her lips and tongue. I remember everything, Buffy… I know it's my fault. I take the blame for that, for taking Giles, and for…. For everything I…."

"You tortured and raped her!" yelled Buffy, her voice reverberating through the stone walls while Giles looked away, "you…. you… and you want to run away?"

"When I saw her through the hole in the wall at the hospital," whispered Angel as he looked down at the floor while Buffy was panting. He couldn't stand seeing the rage and betrayal in Buffy's eyes since his heart was breaking at the thought of her hating him even more than he already did, "I remembered everything. Her screams, Giles' screams.. telling me to get away from her. I remember doing things to someone who always saw the good in me. How can I face her again, Buffy? I thought I could.. and… and what do you think she'll say and…"

"Like I said," repeated Buffy before she turned and was headed past Giles, and to the door, "you're a coward. Get out of my…"

"Buffy," said Lily, her voice begging the Slayer to stop and listen, "Angel told me what he did to Willow."

Buffy's hand was already on the door handle as her body froze.

"Angel feels.. I mean there's no word to describe how he feels about what happened… he knows what he did was the ultimate betrayal," said Lily while she approached the blonde Slayer, and then placed a hand on her shoulder, "but do you really want Willow to remember what he did to her, in her current state? You saw what happened, Buffy… her mind is fragile right now. If she sees Angel…"

"She could really break," said Angel softly as Buffy closed her eyes while Giles whispered that they were right.

"Her mind is broken, but slowly repairing itself," said Giles, "but seeing Angel would bring those memories back and… and it could shatter her psyche. We could lose her, Buffy. And this time for good."

"Fine," said Buffy as she turned and nodded at Giles. It was then that Giles, Buffy, Lily, and Doyle went back to Giles' car so that they could head back to his apartment and pack up the laptop, and the books they brought over from Los Angeles. In the meantime, Angel drove over to the Magic Box and gathered all the ingredients he needed to create the living flame. It would be a few hours later that he, Giles, Buffy, Jenny, Lily, and Doyle watched as the blue coloured flames rose up into the air while Angel was chanting a spell. He then bent down, picked up Borzan's head and the threw it into the fire.

Everyone jumped back when the head opened it's eyes and screamed. The scream was reverberating through the while room as the skin melted off the bone. The scream faded as the entire head caught fire, and then the fire was gone.

As was the head.

There was nothing that remained, not even ash. It would be thirty minutes later that Angel and his team left Sunnydale. Before leaving, he told Giles that he'll continue to help people in Los Angeles.

"And if you ever need anything," whispered Angel while glancing over at Buffy who was sitting in Giles' car with Jenny. He looked back at Giles and continued, "I'll come running."

"This is going to be a difficult situation for everyone," said Giles while Angel nodded his head.

"I don't expect you to forgive me for anything, Giles," said Angel, "but I am sorry for everything that's happened. Especially with Willow losing her parents."

"I have already spoken with Ira and Sheila's lawyer," said Giles as Angel accompanied the Watcher to his car, "we'll be going to court tomorrow so that we can have Willow placed under my guardianship."

"She needs stability now," said Angel nodding his head.

"Althanea suggested taking her to Devon," said Giles, to which Angel agreed, saying that it was better that Willow was taken away from the Hellmouth. Giles continued after nodded his head, saying that, "it would help with her recovery. Althanea believes that the coven could help her regain her memories in their proper order, and repair her psyche, thus making her whole again."

"But she won't be the Willow we knew," whispered Angel.

"No, she would not be," said Giles as he reached his car, "but we believe she will adapt. For now though…"

"I'll stay away," replied Angel, "I'll come if you need me, and if Doyle gets another of his visions."

Giles nodded his head before Angel turned around and walked towards his own car where Lily and Doyle were waiting. It was time to leave. All he could do was silently wish Willow a quick recovery, and made it a point to keep in contact with Giles on how she was going along. He wanted to wait until she was fully recovered before making his presence known to her.

Or if she finds him after her recovery. Either way Angel knew that there was a lot to talk about with the young woman.

Sunnydale Mercy, Willow's room, 2000 hours.

Tara nervously walked through the hallway after getting off the elevator towards Willow's new room. She looked around at the repairs that had already started, and then at the black stain on the floor where Borzan's blood had pooled earlier. She then walked towards the nearly destroyed room and noticed the holes were covered by large plastic sheeting. Tara then turned to another hallway, and walked a few steps down before arriving at a door.

Giving a soft knock while holding onto her bag, Tara wondered if she was doing the right thing by coming to this particular room.

'We're strangers,' thought Tara to herself as she stepped back, 'she saved my life and.. and there's something about her that's so angry, but sad. Shaking her head again, Tara told herself that she was just here as a person who wanted to thank the person who saved her life. Smiling as Althanea opened the door to the room and stepped back, Tara told herself not to say anything. She wanted to tell the woman that maybe it was a mistake, that she was still a stranger to the white haired young woman.

But then Tara remembered Althanea telling her that Willow needed a stranger around her, someone that she didn't know. And all Tara could now wonder was.. why?

"Thank you for coming, Tara," said Althanea as she closed the door behind Tara, and then led her to a curtain that was already pulled forward. Tara looked at the table, and saw the boxed food, and a large bag at one end of the couch which some clothes peeking out. The blonde witch then asked Althanea if she was staying in t he hospital, to which Althanea nodded her head. She then told Tara that Willow's friends had been ordered home to rest, that she could tell they were exhausted.

"I know it's a big ask," said Althanea in her English accent as she slightly pulled the curtain that separated Willow's bed from the rest of the room, "but could you just stay with her?"

"I just don't understand why," asked Tara as she looked at the sleeping Willow. The blonde could see that Willow's face was peaceful as she slept under a blanket. She went to the sleeping girl, and stood next to her bed with Althanea standing next to her. It was then that Tara felt goosebumps on her arms, so she glanced over at Althanea and knew… from that reaction, that she was standing next to a witch. Tara could feel the magic that was coming off her.

"You… you're a witch?" asked Tara as an impressed Althanea nodded at her.

"Jenny, Joyce, and Cordelia did say you protected them with a shield," replied Althanea, "but the reason I asked you here is the same as before. You don't know Willow, and I think that's for the best… she could have someone to talk to about certain details of her life when she returns."

"When she returns?" asked Tara surprised, "what do you mean?"

"I know I asked you to come by," said Althanea who suddenly felt foolish, "I wanted to ask you to be a sort of therapist for her. And I know you're going to say that you're not… but when you came into the room earlier today, I felt Willow's reaction to you. She was calmer, and it felt to me as if she didn't have the burdens that I… that her friends and I know she carries."

"If… if you don't mind me asking," said Tara as she looked back at Willow's face, "where is.. is she being tak… taken to?"

"Have you heard of the Devon Coven?" asked Althanea as Tara's head snapped back towards her with eyes wide open.

"The Coven of White Witches?" asked Tara, her voice stammering with awe, "you… you mean… I mean.. is Willow… Willow's a…"

"She's complicated," said Althanea, not wanting to tell the truth about Willow, Niko, or the whole Halloween incident, "but she would need someone to talk to when she gets back. You know about magic, you know.. I'm guessing everything about the supernatural."

"Somewhat," replied Tara as she looked at Willow, "I read in the paper that she was kidnapped. So… so I'm guessing that the demon that attacked us took her away?"

"That story was a lie," whispered Althanea as Tara turned her head back at the older woman, "what happened to Willow was much worse. Look, perhaps I was wring in thinking that you shouldn't know the truth until you talk to her… but, but maybe you need to know what you… what we'll be dealing with. Willow… was… was sent to Hell."

"What?" asked Tara, her voice reaching a high pitch before she covered her own mouth with her hands. She then lowered her voice and asked, 'what' again.

"To us it was one and a half years," said Althanea as she walked to the left side of Willow's head and brushed her white hair, "but to her… it was over nine hundred and fifty years."

"Goddess," whispered Tara. And then she remembered the anger, the sorrow, the anger, and the madness in Willow's eyes the first time they met, "it… it…."

"I can't imagine the torment that she went through there," whispered Althanea "all I know is that her memories of us are fragmented, and something like what she experienced damaged her psyche."

"Her humanity is there too," whispered Tara as Althanea glanced back at her, "when I was attacked by the demons, she could have left me there. I mean she could have killed the ones attacking her, and left me to die. But she didn't."

"And she didn't harm her parents," said Althanea, "that's my feeling too on her humanity."

"How was she sent to Hell?" asked Tara, "I mean… why?"

"That's a story for when she's recovered, Tara," replied Althanea, "are you willing to just talk to her? I mean once we get back? It'll help if she talks to someone she's comfortable with.. like I said earlier, and she's comfortable around you. Even though you two don't really know each other."

"Yes," Tara nodded her head vigorously, "I'll do it."

TBC.