TITLE: If I Cry [sequel to 'Never Came Down']
AUTHOR: Samantha McCullah
EMAIL: saintangelus@yahoo.com
DISTRIBUTION: If you have the first part, go ahead and
archive this one. Anyone else, please ask.
SPOILERS: The Freshmen and City of...
RATING: PG
CONTENT: Willow/Angel, songfic, kinda sappy
SUMMARY: Willow and Angel have a little talk
DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Joss's. The song is owned by
Alison Krauss and Union Station.
"So..." Angel began, staring at anything in the
elevator but the redhead standing next to him.
"So..." Willow replied, also refusing to look at the
vampire beside her. Uncomfortable silence descended on
the pair as the elevator continued its drop. As the
elevator reached its destination, Angel finally looked
over at his companion. She caught him staring at her
and flashed him an embarrassed smile; he pulled the
gate open and ushered her inside.
"This place is....wow," Willow commented, awed at the
sheer size of his underground apartment.
"You haven't seen the bedroom yet," he replied
absently; Willow's head shot around and met his eyes.
The realization of what he'd said dawned on him.
"You'll see it on the tour. Which I'm going to give
you," he explained lamely; she nodded slightly. "Would
you like something to drink? I have tea a-and more
tea."
"Tea's good," she replied, sitting uncomfortably on
the couch.
"Milk? Sugar?" he asked as he set the kettle on the
stove to boil.
"Both if you don't mind," she replied and managed to
conceal her shock when Angel actually pulled the milk
from the refrigerator and the sugar from the cupboard.
He looked up at her and grinned sheepishly.
"Cordelia went shopping for me," he explained; Willow
smiled at the mention of a familiar name.
"How is she?"
"Good," he replied, moving over to sit across from
her. "She keeps saying I need to get out out more. You
know, stop brooding and date more."
"Oh," Willow replied, refusing to meet his eyes and
trying to keep jealousy and disappointment out of her
voice.
** It doesn't matter what I want
It doesn't matter what I need
It doesn't matter if I cry
Don't matter if I bleed
You've been on a road
Don't know where it goes or where it leads **
"H-Have you? Dated, I mean," she asked.
"No," he shook his head, smiling sadly. "I've, uh,
still got issues to deal with." He looked up and
captured her eyes with his. Uncomfortable silence
descended on them again. "Willow?" Angel finally asked
after several long seconds. "Why did you come here?"
"I, uh," she smiled weakly. "Missed you." Angel's head
snapped up.
"Y-You missed me?" he asked, meeting her eyes. She
nodded faintly, blush creeping up her cheeks. Angel
continued to stare at her, his insides screaming for
him to run over and claim her.
"Um, Angel?" Willow asked; he nodded for her to
continue. "Kettle's boiling." He jumped to his feet
and hurried over to the kitchen, happy to finally have
something to do with his hands.
"How's Buffy?" he asked, trying to act like the
lovesick vampire everyone assumed he was.
** It doesn't matter what I want
It doesn't matter what I need
If you've made up your mind to go
I won't beg you to stay
You've been in a cage
Throw you to the wind you fly away **
< Of corse he’d ask about Buffy, > Willow thought
sadly.
"She's...she's good," she replied, "Still not
completely over you," Willow smiled faintly, trying to
put up a brave face.
"That's...." Angel trailed off, not sure how to
respond. He poured the boiling water into two cups and
placed tea bags in them before heading over to Willow.
He set the tray on the coffee table between them. "And
Oz?" he asked; at Willow's startled expression, he
explained. "He's good?"
"Yeah," she nodded, accepting the cup from him.
"Xander?" Angel continued, hating himself for not
telling her. Willow raised an eyebrow at his question.
"Pretend I care."
"He too is of the good," she replied. "He never took
his road trip, ended up working in a strip club," she
laughed softly.
"Xander in a strip club?" Angel asked visibly
shuddering, earning another laugh from Willow. "You're
beautiful when you laugh," he stated seriously before
he could stop himself. Willow eyes widened.
"Angel?" she asked, softly.
"Willow," he stated.
"I...." She trailed off, certain she'd misinterpreted
his statement. "Tea's good," she finished lamely.
"Willow?" he asked, reaching out and touching the back
of her hand. Willow felt her breath catch at the brief
touch. "I need to tell you something." He opened his
mouth prepared to let the words of love spill forth,
but nothing came out. He looked away and stood up.
"You should really go. Before it gets dark." Angel
turned away from her so she wouldn't see the pain in
his eyes and thereby missed the pain that flared in
hers.
They rode up the elevator in silence, each lost in
their own pain. Angel pulled the gate open as the
elevator rolled to a stop, and he walked Willow to the
front door.
"It was good to see you," he stated, smiling softly.
"I know," she smiled, "Imean it was good to see you
too." Willow pulled the door open and stepped into the
sunlight.
"Willow!" Angel called out, halting her. "I--" he cut
himself off convinced that he was doing the right
thing by not telling her. "Tell Buffy...."
"Don't worry I will," she smiled sadly and turned away
from him. Angel slammed the door shut behind her.
** It doesn't matter what I want
It doesn't matter what I need
It doesn't matter if I cry
Doesn't matter if I bleed
Feel the sting of tears
Falling on this face you've loved for years **
Angel growled softly, stalking away from the door and
over to one of the office windoiws. With a cry of
rage, he slammed his fist through the glass; he
collapsed to the floor, cradling his bloody fist to
his chest.
"I love her," he sobbed.
******
Willow turned back to the building before she reached
the curb.
"I love you," she whispered, her own tears streaming
down her face.
*FIN*
