"Is that a gun in you're pocket or are you just glad to see me?"
 
 

The moment Willow stepped out of the elevator her ears were assaulted by the sounds of Robert's expensive stereo system as a popular rap song Willow vaguely recognized played. Willow's rib cage ached as the stereo's bass pounded through her body. <Thank God Robert's not one of my neighbors or I'd have to move, no matter how cute he is. >

Kaitlyn gave Willow's hand a quick squeeze of encouragement before pushing the apartment door open. Willow's eyes widened as she took in the party scene before her. Every imaginable costume seemed to be represented in Robert's apartment. There were the typical ghosts and vampires along with more creative endeavors. Willow saw a woman sporting an elaborate gown that looked straight out of the 17th century next to a guy wearing a black suit to which he had pinned law briefs <Law suit, oh brother. > Willow couldn't help but smile.

What amazed Willow more than the costumes was the apartment itself. Even through the massive collection of bodies and dim lighting, the apartment's size and furnishings took Willow's breath away. Willow had never been to Robert's apartment before, though she should have known what to expect from his swanky upper east side address. The building in and of itself was impressive, what with its 34 stories and elaborately decorated lobby with its impeccably dressed doormen. Still, Willow wasn't prepared for the apartment.

The door opened onto an impressive foyer that widened into the living room. Willow eyed the stereo system that contained more than Willow's CD Player/tape deck system at home. Willow couldn't even identify half of the black boxes stacked on the wooden stereo rack. <My God, he has a fireplace. There's a fireplace in his apartment! I didn't even know NY apartments could have fireplaces. And look at that- he has a chandelier. Our old house in Sunnydale never had a chandelier. I thought those were made only for ballrooms in huge mansions. And look at those art prints on the wall. I think that may be a real Warhol. >

While Willow was standing in the center of the room gawking at the elaborate furnishings, Robert came up behind Willow and slipped an arm around her waist. Startled, Willow jumped, slipping out from Robert's grip. "Robert, hi."

"Willow." Robert smiled a slow, breathtaking smile that got Willow's heart beating faster. Robert looked dazzling in his costume, that of the classic vampire. He was dressed entirely in black, his long satin cape falling gracefully around his shoulders. When he smiled, his teeth looked extra white against the black of his clothing. His hair, which usually fell in loose waves around his face, was slicked back with gel, accentuating his angular cheekbones. The entire effect was stunning, and Willow couldn't think of anyone who had ever made a vampire costume look sexier. "I'm so glad you're here. For a second there, I thought maybe Kaitlyn had talked you into not coming. I was dreaming up punishments for her just before you arrived."

Kaitlyn rewarded Robert with one of her classic withering gazes. "What's wrong brother, afraid I was telling her stories about you, putting a cramp in your Mr. Charmer act."

Robert moved forward to slip an arm around Willow's shoulders, pulling her against him. "Oh, I think Willow's smart enough not to believe your tall tales, Sis."

Willow tensed up the moment Robert's arm went around her shoulder. She was hyperaware of his skin against hers, of the gentle motion of his fingers against her shoulder blade. He played with the spaghetti straps of her dress, fingering the thin straps gently. Every brush of his fingers against her skin sent shivers of electric fire through her body. Willow's mind battled for control, trying to concentrate on what Robert and Kaitlyn was saying but she found it incredibly difficult.

Before Willow could pull herself together to concentrate on the conversation, Kaitlyn had walked away, leaving Willow alone with Robert. "I don’t believe I’ve told you how beautiful you look in your costume."

Willow flushed with pleasure over his compliment. "Thanks, you look great too."

Robert dropped his voice and took on a Rumanian accent "Do vampires turn you on little Willow."

Robert’s comment was innocent enough, but it through Willow off balance. An image of Angel, the way he had looked the last time Willow had seen him, popped into Willow’s mind. Robert, a teasing light reflecting in his eyes, didn’t seem to notice Willow’s discomfort. "How about a dance? You wouldn’t disappoint me now would you?" Without waiting for an answer, Robert pulled Willow into his arms. Willow automatically slipped her arms up behind Robert’s neck. She wasn’t able to enjoy how close she was to Robert. Her thoughts were stuck on Angel.

Despite her attraction to Robert, Willow missed Angel. She would have given anything to know where he was, to know he was safe. Sometimes Willow imagined Angel showing up one day in New York City. Just walking into her office one night or knocking on her apartment door. Willow was able to romanticize their reunion on her head, a luxury she afforded herself since she had no real hopes of him actually appearing. It was all just a silly fantasy to her. In reality, Willow had no idea what she would say if Angel showed up out of the blue. She may romanticize the memory of him, but she had no idea how she felt about the flesh and blood Angel.

"Earth to Willow." Willow looked up to find Robert looking down at her. Wrapped up in her thoughts, Willow had quite frankly forgotten about Robert.

"I’m sorry, I must have spaced out there. I guess I’ve just got a lot on my mind."

Robert pulled Willow closer, so that their bodies were in contact. Her body responded to his, melting to fit herself into his frame. Her body’s visceral response to Robert confused Willow more. Now her thoughts of Angel, of her past feelings for him, were mixed up with her very real and present reaction to Robert’s nearness.

"Good to know it wasn’t me making you distant. A guy could get discouraged." Robert ran his palm up and down the small of Willow’s back. "Now, what can I do to get your mind to join me and your body here." Robert lowered his face to meet Willow’s and she realized he was planning to kiss her. <Don’t think about Angel. Angel’s gone. He left you. Robert’s here, right now, and he wants you. Angel never did. >

Their lips met and Willow frantically pushed her thoughts aside, giving in to the feeling of being with Robert. His lips were demanding, urging her to open her mouth so he could slip his tongue in to her mouth.

Willow closed her eyes and granted him the access he desired. Part of her couldn’t believe this moment she had been fantasizing about for the past year, quite literally since the day she had met him, was actually happening. The other part of her mind was telling her to stop thinking and go with the moment. Willow was following the advice Buffy had given her all those years ago. It was time to seize the day.

Robert’s kisses matched his personality. They were forceful, demanding, but not in a bad way. Willow had learned the hard way not to depend on a guy for anything. She knew how to be independent. Still, it was nice to surrender control for awhile, to allow Robert to control both of their wills.

Robert pulled away suddenly, looking over Willow’s head at someone. Disappointed, Willow realized someone had interrupted them. A pirate Willow vaguely recognized as one of Robert’s friends, stood behind her. ‘Yo, sorry Rob man, but you told me to let you know if anyone tried to go upstairs and well, some people did."

Robert glared at his friend. "No, Mark, I told you to stop anyone who tried to go upstairs."

Mark looked confused. "Oh."

Robert muttered a curse under his breath. "I better go take care of this. I’m sorry Willow, price you pay for being the host of a party like this. I’ll be right back." He planted a quick kiss on her lips before going off with mark the pirate. Willow stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, dawning embarrassment holding her motionless. Willow realized for the first time that her and Robert had been the center of several people’s attention during their very public display of affection. She noticed a couple of girls giving her dirty looks from their spot by the buffet table. <Well, well, well, jealous much. >

Willow scanned the room for Kaitlyn. Unable to locate her, Willow grabbed a beer from a nearby ice chest and wandered over to the huge picture window across the room. Willow couldn’t remember the last time she had seen a view quite like this. The NYC skyline was really quite breathtaking.

Standing by herself, Willow took the opportunity to try to sort out her jumbled feelings. She wondered how things had gotten so complicated. Yesterday there’d been no questions needing any answers, except for if Robert liked her or not. Otherwise, Willow had known that Robert was the guy she wanted to be with. He was all she thought about. Even though she had never forgotten Angel, and still thought about him, those feelings had never detracted from her feelings for Robert. Only now they were threatening to unbalance Willow. Nothing had changed in her life except now Willow was wondering if maybe Kaitlyn was right. Maybe she was in love with Angel.

<So what if I am. He’s not here, and he’s not in love with me. Besides, I’m in love with Robert. Or at least I could be, once I get to know him better. I can be happy with him as long as I forget about Angel. Angel is the past. Robert is the future. >

Willow found herself slightly comforted by her own inner ramblings. Truly nothing had changed except she had allowed herself to indulge in secret fantasies and desires that could never and would never come true. On the other hand, her relationship with Robert had made a 180-degree turn. Gone was the inconclusive flirting of a few days ago. Robert was clearly interested in her as more than a colleague or a friend or as some girl to flirt with playfully. They were moving forward, perhaps into a relationship, and Willow was ready for it.

Arms embraced Willow from behind. Turning her head upwards, Willow gazed into Robert’s golden eyes. "I’m back beautiful."

Willow leaned up to brush a kiss to his lips, delight evident in his eyes. "I’m glad."
 

Angel felt out of place at the party. Halloween always made him uncomfortable, especially after that Halloween where Giles’s old friend had turned everyone in Sunnydale into their costumes, yet even before that, dressing up as ghouls had never appealed to Angel. But tonight it was necessary for Angel to blend in. He adjusted the cape on his shoulders, feeling silly in his vampire paraphernalia. He only wore it cause he thought Willow might get a kick out of the irony. It would be worth it to hear Willow’s delightful laugh.

He spotted her by the window, absently sipping from a can of beer, apparently lost in thought. His eyes roamed over her costume, taking in her red velvet hat, then slowly traveling down to study the red sequined dress, his eyes widening at her bare shoulders and the considerable amount of leg the slits in the dress revealed. Angel remembered the way her legs had looked that night in her room, the way they’d made every rational thought fly out of his head. Those memories paled in comparison to seeing her live and up close. She was, if possible, even more beautiful than he remembered her. His eyes devoured her pale skin with the light blue veins glowing faintly beneath her skin. Her hair, as red as pigeons blood, hung down her back like a cape. Angel wondered if it was soft as he remembered. Her eyebrows were bent in concentration, the way they always did when she was thinking, a trait Angel found incredibly endearing. It made him want to lean over and brush kisses over her brow bone.

Two years without her, and now here she was, same as he remembered her, only more so. More beautiful, more real. She was less than 10 feet away from him. He could reach her in 5 steps and touch her silky hair. He could hold her in his arms, talk to her, tell her how much he had missed her. He knew she would understand. She would forgive him, and things would be right again.

He started to approach her when a handsome blond, the same guy from the parking lot, joined Willow by the window, pulling her into his arms. Angel watched with a sinking heart as the two cuddled in each other's arms. He winced as Willow tilted her head up, beckoning the guy to kiss her, which of course he did. They stayed locked in an embrace for what seemed like an eternity to Angel. In that time, Angel’s hopes disappeared, slipping out of his hands as a handful of sand. <What was I thinking? She’s in love, she has a boyfriend. She doesn’t need me in her life, as a friend or otherwise. >

Angel thanked whatever fate there was for stopping him from revealing himself and causing unnecessary trouble. It was best if he didn’t talk to Willow. She obviously had a new life and a new guy. His reappearance in her life would only serve to disrupt things. Angel pushed his way through the crowd toward the door. When he finally reached it, he felt compelled to turn back for one last look. The blond was whispering into Willow’s ear, and she was laughing, her face lit by her soft smile. Angel couldn’t remember seeing her happy. <That’s the way it should be. She deserves to be happy. > Angel slipped out of the apartment with the image of Willow’s brilliant smile in his mind and the overwhelming feeling that he was making a terrible mistake by walking away.