Previously: She placed her hands on my face and dragged it back down to hers. Things progressed from there, and the last thing I was acutely aware of was my shirt being ripped off and us lying on my 'not so lived in' bed.

'You can exhaust me all you want' She whispered.

That was all I needed.

Chapter 20

We lay there in each other's arms. It was nice to be able to hold my slayer. Her body was warm compared to mine, as it normally was and in a strange way, having Buffy's body next to mine, somehow warmed me. I didn't get it entirely, but it sounded good.

Buffy sighed and rolled her head to look at the time. The clock read 11:20pm.

'Oh God! Dawn!' she sprung from the bed and began pulling on whatever clothing of hers she could find.

I was disappointed to see her want to leave so fast, but I did understand her reasoning. Dawn was still a teen; she needed love as much as everyone else. And a vampire like me could wait for as long as was needed. Buffy was changed by now and could see the disappointment on my face. She walked over to the bed where I still lay and placed a hand lovingly on my face.

'I have training tomorrow at the shop. Wanna swing by and give Giles a show?'

It was too good to miss.

'Sure pet' I beamed.

Buffy smiled, kissed my cheek and was gone in a blink of an eye. God! Dawn was lucky to have a sister like her.

Willow plonked herself onto the sassy black couch in her apartment. She had spent so much time teaching Dawn little things, she'd forgotten how messy her apartment was. She sighed and flicked her wrist, causing all of her clothes to fly into her cupboard, the empty pizza box to land in the bin and all of her mail to land on her lap. Normally Willow wouldn't use magic for such a simple task, but today she was just too tired. Getting up that early in the morning and then spending the day with two slayers had taken its toll.

Willow looked down at the mail and amongst the various offers of free stuff, junk mail and subscriptions, she found two letters.

The first one was from Angel. It read.

'Willow,

I know I could normally call but I lost my phone and didn't know if your number would still be the same. Don't ask me how I lost it, I cant exactly recall that myself.

I received a phone call from Spike yesterday. He said that Buffy was 'pretty pissed'. I know that I haven't tried to get in contact with any of you as of late, but I have been busy just like you.

I am writing to let you know however, that I am planning to travel to Cleveland and see how the gang and Buffy are doing.

Please don't tell anyone though. I would like it to be a surprise. Especially for Spike.

Thank you.

Angel.'

The letter was short and simple. It was sweet to see that Angel still cared about them, even if he was busy. Willow couldn't help but smile. The infamous Angel was going to make an appearance.

Willow placed the letter beside her and picked up the next one. Her name and address was written in a handwriting she didn't recognise. Not knowing what the letter could possibly be about she opened it. It read.

'Dear Miss Rosenburg,

You may not know me, but I am Kennedy's sister Claire.

A few weeks ago, we received a call from a man named Rupert Giles, saying that our Kennedy was coming home to us, in order to see our father, who is currently in hospital. Upon this news we were joyful. Our family would be together once more, before his passing. Her flight was supposed to land at 12:30pm the next day, only when we got there, we were told the plane was delayed by 24 hours. Knowing this we returned home. The next day we arrived at the airport to pick Kennedy up, only to have her not show. We waited two hours, then slowly drove home, thinking she may have already left.'

By now Willow was dreading what she would read next.

'We arrived home to an empty house. Kennedy had not come home. It wasn't until later that night a person knocked on the door. It was a policeman.'

Willow broke into a cold sweat.

'He had called by to inform us that someone had found Kennedy's lifeless body by the side of the main road. She had been drained of blood and had been like that for a good 12 hours.'

Willow couldn't believe what she was reading. Silent tears rolled down her face as she read the rest.

'We are sorry to inform you that your dear friend Kennedy is no more. We found a picture of you both and an address, so we thought you might like to know. There will be a funeral for my beloved sister in four days time. We would be honoured if you showed.

The address is as following:

'13 Pine Crescent

New York City'

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I thought you should know.

Sincerely,

Claire.'

The tears that fell from Willow's face had splattered onto the letter. How could this happen? First Tara and now Kennedy. Life was soo unfair! How could God do this to her!

Willow trying with all of her might not to go 'Dark Willow' again, sat on the couch, letter grasped in hand and tried to make sense of everything. Her world was crashing down around her and she couldn't do anything. She so badly wanted to run to Buffy, to howl on her friend's lap. For Buffy to tell her everything would work out in the end. But Willow was a big girl now, and could remember the time she lost Oz. How everyone had tired of Willow. She wouldn't do that to them again. No, not again.

Willow decided it was better to lock herself in her apartment and when the time came, honour her lover at her funeral.

Willow curled up on the couch and cried herself to an uneasy sleep.

Angelina couldn't help but stare at the demon. Not because he was green, but because he had picked up on her 'glum factor'. She hadn't answered him, so he asked again,

'Honey? You ok?'

'Umm… yeah I think so'

'Well I don't think you are… Come this way' and he lead her to a small, quiet corner table.

'I see you like Seabreeze' Angelina observed.

'If I could, I'd live on the stuff sugar' the demon said.

'Name's Angelina… and you are?'

'Krevlornswath of the Deathwok clan…'

A blank look from Angelina. 'Krevla – what?'

The green demon sighed.

'Or Lorne for short' he flashed her a white smile.

'Well Lorne, its nice to meet you'

'Nice to meet you too Angel cake'

She was slightly taken back at the nickname but didn't say anything. It kinda sounded cool.

'So why so glum?'

'I don't get it. Why am I glum?'

'Don't play coy. You know why… Don't make me make you sing'

'huh?'

Lorne sighed.

'I'm an empath demon. I can read auras, minds, emotions, etc. But only when people sing'

'Whats that guy feeling then?' Angelina pointed to the demon who had sung 'Mandy'.

'Extremely depressed. Bad relationship. Girlfriend left him for a chaos demon on the eve of their wedding'

'Ouch'

'Exactly. Now back to you'

***

They had sat there most of the night. Lorne and 'Angel cake'. They had spoken about many things, most of them being about her feelings; telling a complete stranger was slightly nerving but Lorne was nice and she came to trust him easily.

Lorne had briefly told her about Pylea and how he had come to be here. That and how he had left a bunch of his friends to fight for their lives. It was something he regretted everyday, and because of it, had drunk way more than what he would normally.

Angelina felt sorry for him in some ways. Maybe she could teach him to fight?

Lorne had drunk so much alcohol, but it didn't affect him like it did her. She could tell if she had anymore, she'd never get home safely. Gravity was a big issue when she was drunk.

Angelina had looked at the time and said her goodbyes. It was time to go home to bed if she wanted to get round to see Willow tomorrow. She always slept in late because she was always up all night. Angelina was trying hard to change this, as Lorne had found out and so he let her go. They had told each other that they would no doubt be here the next night, and that they would look out for each other.

Angelina was on her way home, stumbling along the street. She could tell that someone was walking behind her, but keeping their distance. She wasn't going to attack unless they attacked first. After all, she had just left a demon bar. There was a possibility that one of the demons were heading home too.

Angelina was nearly home, when she tripped on the gutter and fell. Only she didn't fall. Cursing softly, she looked down to see a pair of green hands holding her up. She could hear laughing and once she was set on her two feet, she turned to see Lorne chuckling to himself.

'You live this way do you?' She queried

'This place isn't colourful enough for me. You just looked like you weren't going to make it home. Thought you could do with a hand and hey! You did'

'Not colourful enough hey? You should see my place. Colours everywhere'

'Would I blend in with a wall?'

'Possibly… depends what suit you wear I guess' Angelina swayed on the spot.

Lorne made a grab for her arm just as she swayed too far back.

'I can handle myself'

'Not as well as I can Angel Hair'

'Touché'

'So where's this place of yours? I'm not leaving until your home' Lorne said as Angelina was about to say she 'could handle herself' again.

Angelina nodded in defeat. She wasn't going to win against him. He was bubbly and bright, and right now she couldn't really stand straight. She knew that. She just didn't like the idea of needing help.

Lorne helped Angelina to her apartment and when they reached the door, she walked inside. Lorne was about to turn away, but Angelina stopped him by asking him if he wanted to see if he 'blended into the walls'. He smiled and stepped inside.

The apartment was colourful. Nearly every wall was a different colour; blue, red, yellow, purple, orange. She had a real thing for colour. There were crystals everywhere and it very much reminded Lorne of his psychic friend.

Angelina was stumbling towards what looked like the kitchen. Lorne followed her in and found her drinking water.

'Want some?' she offered the glass.

Lorne gripped the glass and took a sip 'Thanks Angel Puff'

Angelina gave him a quick tour of the apartment. Lots of colour, lots of cushions. It was very cosy; a demon could rest here quite easily.

'I'm going to bed now, feel free to snoop around' Angelina joked.

Lorne had been busying studying a crystal, he didn't realise she had gone until he turned around.

'Ange?' he ventured down the hall.

There she was, lying on the bed, in purple boxers and a black singlet. Lorne whispered 'goodnight' and turned to let himself out.

'Lorne?'

'Yes?'

Angelina went from the slayer, to a scared little girl. 'Would you stay?' she squeaked.

Lorne had learned from her song 'My Immortal' that her father had left her and her mother just like he was about to. She had never seen her father again. He understood the reasons for becmong the scared little girl. She thought he might lose him; a person she so readily let into her life.

'Sure Doll face' he settled himself down next to her on the bed.

'Thank you' she sighed and within moments she was sound asleep.

Why she took such a liking to this demon she didn't know. All she knew was that she could trust him; more than probably anyone else.

She would have to introduce him to Willow and the gang; after she met them of course. But for now, Lorne was her secret.

No, he wasn't a secret. He was a confidante. He was a friend...

Lorne was her friend.