Angel looked at the photo on his desk. Buffy. His true love. She had been all that he had ever wanted. He had hurt her badly. He still felt guilt over what Angelus had done to her. They had shared so much, but it hadn't lasted. She'd given up, moved on. He could finally be with her, but she didn't want him. He closed his eyes and sat back in his desk chair.
 
 

The image of laughing green eyes and red hair came to his mind. Willow. She had gradually replaced Buffy in his mind. Since the wedding, he could think of no one else. He had never thought of Willow as anything other than Buffy's little friend. He had been blind. She was an intelligent, beautiful, caring woman. He had made so many mistakes in his years. Leaving her was his biggest.
 
 

He had just hung up the phone. He had called Buffy. He needed to know how Willow was doing. He couldn't bring himself to call her. He could imagine how angry she must be. She had to hate him. He had turned his back on something so marvelous, turned his back on her offer of love. He couldn't believe she loved him. She deserved so much more. Buffy had been suspicious. He had known that by the tone in her voice. She had no idea he had come back for her wedding. Willow had kept his secret. The phone rang again, breaking his trance.
 
 

Angel felt fear clutch him as he pounded on Willow's door. Buffy had called him hysterical. She had sensed that something had happened between him and her friend. She told him that she was worried about Willow. She told him that Willow had told her that she loved her, something that she never did unless they were facing death. He had gotten into his car and driven straight to Sunnydale. Now, he was trying to get into her apartment. He scowled and kicked the door, wood splintering in several directions.
 

He called her name hoarsely as he made his way to her bedroom. He froze. His eyes taking in her pale features, the hand hanging beside the bed, the empty bottle laying on the floor. Tears filled his eyes as he fell beside the bed. He laid his head beside her body, his words of denial falling softly from his lips.
 

He felt a hand on his head. Startled, he looked up into green eyes.
 

"What's wrong? Is it Buffy?' she asked, her eyes growing with fear.
 

He smiled. "I thought you were dead."
 

She blushed and shrugged. "I thought about it...never been a quitter."
 

"When I saw you laying there..." his voice broke up. He felt her hand on his face, her eyes looking at him lovingly.
 

"I knew you'd come around eventually" she whispered.
 

"I love you Willow" he said softly, amazed at the emotion going through his body.
 

"Come to bed, my Angel" she said, smiling at him.
 

He moved up and took her lips with his. "Always your Angel" he said, smiling at her.