FIC: A Time for Revenge (3rd of 3 parts)(1/2) If that makes sense

["Angelina " <angelina2006@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

TITLE: A Time for Revenge (3rd of 3 parts)(1/2)
AUTHOR: Angelina 
DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. 
SUMMARY: Willow decides to end things once and for all
DISTRIBUTION: If you want it e-mail me ? I'll say yes.
SPOILERS: None really, set at some point in Season 2, before Passion 
AUTHOR'S NOTES: All feedback welcome. "Mochas?" "Yes please!" This 
follows A Day of Revelation. I haven't had time to finish this yet 
but I thought I'd post what I've done so far as it seems to end on a 
bit of a cliffhanger anyway. I'm going to try to finish it soon.



Willow sat on her bed trying to regulate her breathing. Her stomach 
felt like it was trying out for the Olympic gymnastic team and her 
mouth was as dry as the Sahara desert. She took one last deep breath 
and stood up. She checked her bag of supplies; a crucifix that she'd 
put on once she was out of the house. Even though she wasn't 
particularly religious she still felt guilty whenever she wore a 
cross ? like she was disrespecting her parents or something. She 
also had stakes, a crossbow and plenty of Holy Water. Her main ally 
would be the sunlight ? if she could stay in the sun as much as 
possible Angel couldn't get her. Her plan was simple: kill Angel.  
She wasn't stupid enough to think it would be easy. He'd managed to 
survive over 2 centuries without dying. But she reckoned she could 
work his ego against him ? taunt him, attack his pride, force him to 
make a mistake and give herself the advantage ? then do whatever was 
necessary.

Zipping up the bag she realised her hands were shaking. More than 
anything she wanted to be with Buffy. But Buffy had suffered enough 
at the hands of Angelus and Willow was going to end it now. She 
walked to her dresser and picked up a photo of herself and Buffy. It 
had been taken at a picnic in the park; Willow was seated on a 
blanket and Buffy was sprawled across her lap. They looked so happy, 
so carefree, and very much a couple ? Willow wondered why this had 
never occurred to her before. Willow gently kissed the picture, a 
solitary tear running down her cheek. She placed it back down and 
picked up the letter she had written to Buffy. She was going to drop 
it off at Buffy's house on the way to the mansion. Buffy would not 
yet be back from the hospital so she couldn't try to talk Willow out 
of her plan. The letter was an explanation of what she was doing and 
why.

*****

At Buffy's house Willow rang the doorbell and Joyce answered.

"Oh, hi Willow, Buffy's not home yet, I'm picking her up later on."

"Yeah, I know, I just wanted to give you this. I might be here when 
she gets home but I may not be able to make it?so if I'm not here 
will you give her this for me?" asked Willow holding up a white 
envelope.

"Sure Willow, but don't you want to come in and wait? The hospital 
are going to call to tell me when she's ready."

Willow felt tears welling up and fought them back valiantly before 
answering. "Ummm, no, I have something I have to do first."

Joyce noticed the quiver in Willow's voice. "Are you OK Willow?" she 
asked, concerned.

"Mmm hmm, I'm fine?I?I have to go now." And with that she turned and 
fled before allowing her tears to flow freely.

Joyce looked at the envelope in her hand, puzzled by Willow's strange 
behaviour. Then the telephone rang.

*****

Meanwhile, Jenny Calendar sat hunched over her computer terminal.  
Listlessly she searched through pages of text. She now appreciated 
how punishing the curse really had been for Angel. The guilt she 
felt over her deception and its consequences was bad enough. She 
marvelled that Angel had been able to stand the guilt he must have 
felt. Suddenly a line of writing on the screen caught her eye.  

"Oh my God?this is it." She whispered, afraid that if she spoke too 
loudly it might disappear. She could barely believe it. She hadn't 
thought it possible ? a way to reverse the curse. And it wasn't 
anything very complicated. Some basic ingredients and a bit of Latin 
chanting were required?.and an Orb of Thessela. She phoned Willow's 
house but there was no answer. <<Never mind, I'll do it as a 
surprise for all of them>> And she quickly got to work preparing the 
spell.

*****

Buffy and her mother were in the car on the way home. Buffy was 
looking forward to seeing Willow so she was surprised when her mother 
said, 

"Willow stopped by earlier."

"What? Why?"

"She said she might not be around when you got home and if she's not 
there I've to give you and envelope."

"Well, where is it?" asked Buffy, a strange feeling of dread was 
building up within her.

"Let's wait and see if she's there or not first" said Joyce smiling 
at her daughter's impatience.

"Mom, I really think I should see it now, it may be important, and if 
she's going to give it to me later it won't matter will it?" 

Something in Buffy's voice touched Joyce's heart, an urgency that she 
very rarely heard from her daughter. She handed the envelope to 
Buffy who grabbed it and ripped it open. She read it, every word 
weighing her heart down a little more.

"Dear Buffy,
Somehow that beginning doesn't seem adequate but it'll have to do 
because I'm in a hurry. I'm writing this hoping you never have to 
read it. But in case you do, I'd better get my apology in now. I'm 
sorry. 

I've gone to kill Angel and if you're reading this it means I 
haven't come back. I want you to understand that I love you more 
than I thought humanly possible and I don't want to ever leave you.  
But I have to do this. I have to stop him from hurting you any 
more. You probably think I should have told you this first huh? But 
you would have stopped me. You've saved my live countless times.  
Let me do this one thing for you.  

If the worst has happened and I can't be with you in person, please 
know that I'll always be by your side. I know we'll be together 
again, someday. I want you to be strong, like you always are. And 
keep fighting the good fight. For me.

I'll love you forever.

W"

"Mom, when did you speak to Willow?"

"I don't know, just a little while ago?"

"Drop me off here."

"What? Buffy, you're just out of hospital, you need your rest?"

"Mom please, just trust me on this, I think Willow's in trouble?she's 
going to?do something I don't want her to do."

"Well honey, you can't run Willow's life for her"

"Please mom, I won't be long, I promise, I'll find Willow and we'll 
come straight home"

Joyce stopped the car reluctantly and Buffy sprang out of the door, 
ignoring her mother's shouts of "One hour, no longer!"

Jenny prepared to begin the ritual. The Orb was in place. She 
looked over the Latin again to get in straight in her head. Then she 
began.


TBC