SPOILERS: This takes place after Angel loses his soul but before Becoming, which never happened in my 'verse. I will keep and discard Buffy lore as I see fit.

Part 4

Six Months later

Watcher’s Council Headquarters

London, England

Willow stood beside the immense stain glass windows that dominated the north end of the library. She stared straight out into the crimson tinted city streets that surrounded the beautiful red brick town house that doubled as the London based watcher’s Council headquarters. The sun had only just set an hour ago, and already Willow was on guard; positive, as she was every night, that this would be the night he would come for her. A dark prince emerging from the shadows to possess her once again. Taking on shape and form as he stepped through the barrier of her nightmares and entered her reality. Willow was so mesmerized by the passing cars and pedestrians, she failed to notice the sound of someone entering the room.

Willow jumped as the intruder laid a hand upon her shoulder. The scream died in her throat as she spun around and found herself face to face with Lydia Briggs, head watcher and chairperson of the Watcher’s Council, not to mention self imposed watcher and friend to Willow.

"Willow…" Lydia’s usually lilting voice was heavy with concern. "I’m sorry I startled you. And I’m especially sorry I’ve taken so long. I had no idea the meeting would end after dark or I would never have asked you to accompany me to headquarters today. I know you’re still skittish about being out at night."

Willow fought to slow her still racing heart. Taking slow, even breaths, she tried to focus on what Lydia was saying. Glancing out the window once more before responding, Willow bit her lip. "Well, luckily it’s not too late yet. I mean, the sun only just set an hour ago. I know I haven’t wanted to go out at night before, but, well, I’m going to have to eventually, so why not tonight." Willow attempted a smile but it faltered beneath Lydia’s appraising, sympathetic stare.

‘We could always spend the night here at headquarters." Lydia offered, "Almost every member of the council has done it at some point in time. It’s the reason why we have bedrooms here."

Willow shook her head vigorously as she felt a steel resolve settle through her. "No, we should go. I know you have some things to attend to at the house. As for me, I want to go out. It’s been 6 months already. I’ve allowed myself to be held hostage by my fears for too long. Besides, if I expect to start school back up again, then I’ve got to get used to travelling at night again, or else I’ll never have my life back. If I keep allowing myself to be terrorized by the memory of Angelus then I am still his captive and he will have won."

Lydia placed a reassuring hand on Willow’s shoulder. "You’re right. That doesn’t mean the threat of Angelus isn’t real. We all know how dangerous he can be. But if you want my honest opinion, I don’t think he’s going to be coming after you. It’s been awhile and if you were his prime target then we would have heard from him by now. As it is, he’s too busy playing cat and mouse with Buffy. I think it’s safe to say she was his true target as always."

Willow nodded as Lydia spoke words Willow had thought to herself many times over the months. <She’s right, Buffy was always his obsession. I was just a pawn in his game to torment her. > Willow should have been reassured by the thought, but a small part of her, deep inside- a part that had changed since her time spent as Angelus’ captive- ached at the rejection. Shame filled Willow at the irrational twinge and she shoved it aside once again.

Lydia was already making her way across the massive library, one perfectly manicured hand waving over the back of her right shoulder. "Come now dear, if we are going to make it home we must hurry. Roger has already brought the car around." Willow sprinted to catch up to Lydia’s quickly retreating form, trying hard to ignore the mercurial nature of her own feelings.
 
 

To Willow’s relief, the drive back to Lydia’s sprawling country home was uneventful. Still, Willow couldn’t help the flood of relief that washed over her as Roger, Lydia’s faithful driver and bodyguard, pulled the car through the black wrought iron gates and around the circular driveway towards the front entrance.

Sometimes Willow couldn’t believe 6 months had passed since Giles first brought Willow to the watcher’s Council for protection. Ever since that time, Willow had been staying with Lydia at her enormous home in the countryside surrounding London proper. From the moment Giles had first introduced Willow to Lydia, she had taken an immediate liking to the watcher. Willow had been surprised to find that Lydia, at the rather young age of 32, was the head of the entire Council. With so many stodgy old British men on the Council, Willow could have bet money that one of them would be in charge. As it turned out, Lydia’s late father was the previous Council head, and in honor of his memory and last wishes, the Council elected Lydia as the new head. Ever since appointed, Lydia had been slowly but surely bringing the centuries old Council into the 20^th century. Despite the circumstances of Willow’s stay with the Council, she was thrilled to be around Lydia and the Council during these changes. Willow was witnessing first hand the breaking down of centuries old traditions, and seeing the motion of bureaucracy that would have it’s final effects on Buffy and the way she did her job. Not to mention the fact that being involved with the Council helped keep Willow’s mind off all that had happened.

Willow still had trouble recalling her rescue. As Angelus’ prisoner, Willow grown weaker and weaker until the days blended into the nights and the only times Willow felt alive were the times Angelus was with her, inhaling the essence of her life through his lips.

Willow didn’t much like to think of those weeks. The shame she felt over everything that happened was too much for Willow to handle. People could tell her it wasn’t her fault Angelus had targeted her and kept her locked up- and she knew that much was true. Nor was it her fault he had drunk from her nightly, not to mention the other uses he had found for her body. No, that wasn’t Willow’s fault. Her enjoyment and pleasure, on the other hand- well, Willow was definitely to blame for that. No matter what Lydia said (she was the only one Willow had or would confide the whole truth to), Willow would always blame herself, and she couldn’t help the disgust she felt with herself for falling victim to Angelus’ seductions. Not to mention the fact that she had done all those things with Buffy’s boyfriend (Okay, ex-boyfriend, but still).

Willow wasn’t sure how aware Buffy was of the things Angelus had done to Willow while holding her captive. When Buffy had broken done the door to Willow’s prison, Willow had been passed out on the bed, emotionally and physically drained from the previous night’s activities. So Buffy had found Willow on the bed unconscious and naked. Wrapping Willow in a blanket, Buffy had carried Willow all the way back to the library where Giles was waiting. It wasn’t until many hours later that Willow finally awoke, confused and disoriented. Before she knew what was happening, Giles was insisting Willow be taken out of Sunnydale immediately, before night fell and Angelus realized Willow was gone.

So by that night, Willow'’ bags had been packed her parents reasoned with, and Willow deposited on a plane to London with Giles as a companion. Giles had believed it was the safest place for Willow, and Buffy had agreed. Willow hadn’t voiced much of an opinion one way or the other, being too drained too do much beyond quiver in fear at every sight and sound. Shock and disbelief that her nightmare had finally come to an end had left Willow mute. She refused to talk about what happened, and after a few attempts to get her to open up, Giles had let it go. It wasn’t until Willow had spent a month with Lydia that she had begun to speak of the nightmare that still haunted Willow’s nightly dreams.

Under the Council’s, and more specifically, Lydia’s protection, Willow had begun to slowly move on with her life. The nightmare in which Angelus came to reclaim what had been taken from him were coming less frequently, and Willow’s courage was slowly returning. Three months ago Willow would have had a hysterical fit if she’d been forced to leave Lydia’s home after sunset. But now, here she was arriving home well after dark. And of course, nothing was happening to her. Just as Lydia had predicted. It helped that they heard from Giles at least once a week for updates on the Angelus situation. The last update had come 3 days ago, during which Angelus had been at home in Sunnydale, wreaking the usual havoc. Willow was safe in England, for now.

Willow followed Lydia up the stone steps to the front entrance. As Lydia lingered in the foyer, talking to the house staff on the day’s events, Willow kissed Lydia good night and headed up to her bedroom.

Willow adored every aspect of Lydia’s family home. Upon first laying eyes upon the centuries old mansion, Willow had fallen under the spell of its charm. The house had history, having been in Lydia’s family forever, and there was so much to explore

Willow’s bedroom was located halfway down the hall of the second floor hallway. A couple of doors down was Lydia’s own room, much to Willow’s comfort. Though it was only 10PM, Willow was tired. Perhaps it was the sweet summertime scent carried on the breeze through Willow’s open window, or the rhythmic chirping of the crickets outside but within moments of entering her bedroom, Willow was sprawled face down on her bed, her eyes drifting closed as she succumbed to sleep. Willow relaxed, the giddiness she felt over having safely ventured outdoors at night subduing to gentle sleep.