FF: Love Immortal 1/?

["David A. Knapton <belgin_tei@xxxxxxxxxxx>" <belgin_tei@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Love Immortal. 1/?
Author: David A. Knapton

E-mail: belgin_tei@xxxxxxxxxxx
Archived: NHA, others if you want it by all means take it but it's 
polite to let the author know you are doing so.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my perverted mind. The characters 
belong to the owners of BtVs and Highlander.
Spoiler: Season 1 & 2, set sometime after Passion but Angelus killed 
Oz not Jenny who is still working on the spell to restore Angel's 
soul, plus the Holtz storyline from Angel season 3 and the Shadows 
episode from Highlander are slightly different.
Rating: Possibly 18/NC17 overall, this part lower (15/R) for 
violence.
Pairing: Buffy/Willow (eventually) Giles/Jenny Xander/Cordelia.
Summery: One night Buffy comes across Willow fighting a man.
<> = Thought; [Flashback] = Ah duh Flashback.
Feedback: If you wish but be warned only obscene amounts of money 
will stop me posting more parts of this story if you don't like it 
and want it stopped or you can do what I do don't read stories you 
don't like!!!!
Special tanks to Joshua for his helpful suggestions.

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Buffy had been on patrol for about half an hour when she heard the 
sound of steel striking steel, she ran towards it, <Who on earth is 
fighting with swords?> As she rounded the corner to an alley she 
came to a stop, she stood staring at the combatants, she knew she 
should move, help her friend but her feet refused to move.

A man of about thirty, six foot with his hair down to the middle of 
his back held in a ponytail was duelling with Willow, he welded a 
Bastard sword. Although she generally didn't take in the things 
Giles tried to impart to her about being a slayer and all that 
entailed she had to admit to herself that she had a morbid 
fascination with weapons, <Go figure.>

The man held his sword two handed while Willow held the most 
beautiful Rapier Buffy had ever seen, one handed. With an expert 
eye Buffy could see that both were using their relative strengths 
against the other, while the man obviously held the advantage in 
upper body strength and a longer reach, Willow used her obvious 
better agility to avoid most of the man's attacks as well as having 
quicker reaction time because of holding her weapon one handed.

Willow's moves reminded Buffy of a ballerina she had no idea her 
friend could be so graceful! Although she couldn't seem to move she 
couldn't help but admire Willow's moves, Giles had started her 
practising with swords when she returned to school that September, 
she recognised some of the moves but not all! It was obvious Willow 
had been using a sword for sometime.

She watched as the man would try and overpower Willow, he'd swing at 
her midsection from the left then reverse it trying to catch Willow 
off guard, Buffy realised that this guy was as dumb as some of the 
vampires around town not learning from his mistakes, Willow went 
about educating him, as his reverse swing passed her she would move 
in quickly placing several cuts to his sides or upper arms before 
skipping back out of reach, it took the man a half dozen of these 
moves before he began to slow up, that was when Willow began her own 
attack. 

Buffy watched in awe as the redhead dismantled her opponent's 
defences, she would faint at the man's head or upper body and when 
he raised his sword to block Willow would quickly move to strike his 
exposed upper legs or his arms, she did this several times then 
finally as she stabbed him in his right thigh and he brought his 
sword in to take advantage of her exposed middle she quickly pulled 
her sword out and with a flick of her wrist sent his sword 
harmlessly past her allowing his own momentum to impel himself on 
her sword through the stomach; he fell to his knees breathing 
heavily.

Willow swung at the downed man's neck who raised his sword to block 
the blow, Willow had obviously anticipated such a move as her sword 
did not strike his but struck below the cross-guard hitting the back 
of the man's hand who let out a scream, dropping his sword.

Buffy saw Willow raise her sword again with the obvious intention of 
beheading the now defenceless man; her body seemed to start 
functioning again. She ran towards them, she had to stop her friend 
from killing the man then get her to Giles so they could work out 
what was wrong with her, "Willow, STOP don't do it!" she shouted.

But the shout came to late, Buffy heard Willow say, "There can be 
only one," as the redhead swept the man's head off. Buffy stopped in 
shock looking at her friend, Willow raised her hand, "Please stay 
back Buffy, you'll get hurt," she said as electrical energy began 
jumping from the man to Willow as well as the lights around the 
alley blowing them out.

<This isn't the friend I've known for over a year, it can't be,> 
Buffy thought then shook her head, <No this is my friend, whatever 
the reason she killed the man for we can work something out,> she 
had to get Willow away from here.

Buffy just stood there looking at the light show, her thoughts 
becoming confused as it continued, was Willow possessed? She turned 
back to the thing that had obviously taken over Willow's body, the 
creature screamed, the energy seemed to wrap around her, lifting her 
into the air. Buffy looked up as the window above and to her left 
blow inwards, looking back to the thing that had control of her 
friend she saw that she was now on her knees, supporting herself 
with the sword. As Willow rose on unsteady legs Buffy slowly 
advanced on the girl she had thought of as her best friend, she held 
her stake at the ready unsure how effective it would be against 
whatever this creature was!

Willow saw the look on her friend's face, the sort of look that she 
always had when she was preparing to fight, Willow gave her a little 
smile, "Buffy its okay, its not what you think!" she said trying to 
reassure her friend.

"What that my best friend is a cold blooded murderer who goes in for 
decapitation?" screamed Buffy with some sarcasm.

"Ah yeah I did kill him by-by taking his head, but I ah really 
didn't have a choice! Please Buffy you must believe me," Willow 
pleaded, "I-if I hadn't he would've taken mine. I didn't want you to 
find out this way honest I didn't," she said, "Honest," she repeated 
so quietly that Buffy only just heard it, Willow looked at the 
ground, "Ever since you came back this summer; I've been trying to 
find a way to tell you..." she trailed off for a moment before 
looking at the slayer, tears in her eyes. "The others... they told 
me I had to be careful who I told... b-but you're my best friend and-
and being the slayer and your destiny and all I sort of figured that 
you would understand," the tears began to rundown her cheeks, "I'm 
so so sorry really I am, please say you understand I don't know what 
I-I'll do if you say you don't wanna be my friend anymore," said 
Willow wiping her cheeks on the sleeve.

Buffy's features softened almost instantly when she saw the tears. 
She dropped the stake and closed the distance between them, 
gathering Willow in her arms. Willow had supported her when she had 
found out she was the slayer and more recently when Angel had turned 
against them and killed her boyfriend Oz, she had never once seen 
any anger from Willow, not like she did from Xander and Cordy.

The Dingo's had been loading their equipment into Oz's van after a 
gig at the Bronze after it had closed, the gang usually made a point 
to help, what with Angelus on the loose but Buffy had been in 
hospital having caught flu that had been doing the rounds they were 
all with Buffy saving some children. Angelus had appeared with a 
cadre of vampires killing them all, but what they had done after the 
band were dead was what had been more upsetting, Angelus had taken 
the bodies back into the Bronze and he and the vamps had set up the 
equipment and using poles etc had placed the bodies on the stage as 
if they were performing. Willow had cried in Buffy's arms for 
almost an hour solid when they had found out the next day. 

No, Buffy resolved to be there for her friend. "I'd never do that to 
you Will, you've always been there for me and I'll help you through 
this, whatever it takes, you're my best friend. Now lets get out of 
here before someone comes nosing around," Buffy tried to smile 
reassuringly at her friend.

Willow smiled back, "Thanks," she said as they started out of the 
alley then stopped, "Oops almost forgot," she said running back and 
picking up the dead-man's sword before returning to Buffy. "Let's go 
back to my house, my mum and dad are away again," Buffy nodded as 
they exited the alley.

>From the far end of the alley a shadow seemed to detach itself from 
the surrounding gloom, "Well well well, that is interesting," mused 
Angelus as he looked down at the body then at Buffy and Willow as 
they crossed the street and disappeared. "So little Willow is an 
Immortal," he bent down and stuck his finger into the quickly 
congealing blood and brought it to his mouth sucking on it, a moan 
escaped his lips, "Mmmm immortal blood, its been to long," he said 
to himself as he rose and exited the alley.

[Flashback]

London, 1762

Darla finished draining the old man and let his body crumple to the 
ground; she smiled as she watched Angelus finish off the old man's 
niece, he let out a contented sigh as he let the girl's body slip 
from his arms to fall next to her uncle's, "I so love the young 
ones," he said to Darla as his face changed back to human, "Their 
blood is so much more refreshing and filling."

Darla swayed her hips seductively as she walked up to him, grabbing 
Angelus' head and pulled him into a passionate kiss using her tongue 
to lick the little blood off his teeth and lips. She released her 
grip smiling up at him, "Yes the young ones have refreshing blood 
but by no means the best, there is a creature called the slayer who 
hunts our kind, her blood is the most potent of all. Just behind 
hers is immortal blood but the great advantage with their blood is 
that you can drain them again and again and they come back."

"Immortals?" asked Angelus wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Yes my dear there are not many of them and they look human, unless 
you happen to take one by accident or they tell you of their 
immortality, the only way to find them is to be there when they 
fight another of their kind," Darla explained to her lover as they 
walked out of the back street and headed towards a tavern.

--------------

York, Aug. 1764

"Angelus wake up, your Darla has a surprise for you," said Darla 
shaking the other vampire.

Angelus opened his eyes looking up at Darla who had a cat that ate 
the cream smirk on her face, "Where have you been? You left two days 
ago," he said smiling as he went to grab her.

Darla move out of range still smiling, "Later my dear but first your 
present," she told him grabbing his arm and pulling him up off the 
bed. She looked at the body of a young maid slumped in the corner, 
looking pointedly at Angelus, "How many times must I tell you not to 
feed on the staff, good servants are so hard to find."

"Sorry Darla I got thirsty last night," he told her as he allowed 
her to pull him towards the door of their bedroom.

Darla smirked at him, "We will not need to worry about getting 
thirsty again my dear," she told him as she led him into the cellar, 
chained to the wall was a young dead man. 

Angelus turned frowning towards the man then Darla, "Why the 
redecoration Darla?"

"Do you remember when we were in London a couple of years ago I told 
you about immortals?"

Angelus smirked as he looked at the man, "You mean?" he interrupted 
her.

"Yes my dear, I came across this one fighting another in the woods 
just outside the city," Darla smiled as her vampire hearing picked 
up the man's heart begin to beat, "Get ready for a real treat 
Angelus," she told him as she watched her lover morph his face as he 
closed the distance with the immortal.

[End Flashback]

--------------

Willow opened the front door and led Buffy into the living room, she 
placed both swords on the table, on turning to look at Buffy, she 
still saw the unease in her friend's eyes.

Willow looked around in a nervous way, "Did you want a drink Buffy?" 
she asked unable to look her friend in the face and see the 
suspicion that she knew was there.

"What are you?" asked Buffy.

"Ah that's sort of complicated," Willow began worrying her hands, 
looking at Buffy she could see that her body was tense as if she was 
ready to attack at any moment. Willow slumped down on the settee 
holding her head in her hands, tears beginning to flow.

Buffy was at Willow's side in an instant drawing her into a 
hug, "Don't cry Will I'm here, I-I'm sorry for acting like you're 
the enemy. Whatever you've done, I'll help you... somehow, I don't 
know how but together we'll get through this," she said while 
rocking Willow back and forth. "First thing tomorrow we'll talk 
with Giles he'll know what to do."

Willow raised her head from Buffy's chest, she shook her head, "I 
don't know Buff, I think we better talk to my teacher first."

"Your teacher?" frowned Buffy, "What do you mean?"

"The person that found me when I died the first time," she saw the 
shock enter Buffy's eyes. "When someone like me who is destined to 
become immortal is born we age normally until our first death when 
the immortality kicks in, after that we stop ageing, I'll look as I 
am now for as long as I live. Anyway the person that finds you 
usually teaches you the rules of the game and how to fight."

"'Usually' becomes your teacher?" asked Buffy still frowning.

Willow sighed, "Yeah usually, unless your unlucky to be found by an 
immortal that is after an easy Quickening." Willow saw the next 
question entering Buffy's eyes, "A Quickening is what you saw 
tonight, when an immortal beheads another they get their Quickening, 
sort of their knowledge and power, which makes the winner a little 
harder for the next immortal to kill," she explained.

"So you were lucky and got a good guy to teach you!"

"Yeah she's been very nice; I just hope I never have to fight her."

"Why would you want to fight her?"

"There can only be one Buffy, at the Gathering when all the 
immortals that are left will be drawn to one place to fight for the 
prize, we will fight until only one of us is left and that one will 
have the power of all the immortals that have ever lived, it will 
give whoever it is the power to either rule humanity forever or help 
it into a golden age."

"So how did this happen to you?"

"Well if you mean how does a mortal become an immortal, no one 
really knows for sure, the only thing that we know for sure is that 
we are all foundlings, I was found in the Sunnydale mall by security 
and taken to the children's home where I was adopted by Ira and 
Sheila Rosenberg less than a month later. They don't know that I 
know, I guess this being Sunnydale and all they forgot to tell me," 
Willow let out a large sigh her shoulders fell in a dejected way.

Buffy wrapped her arms around Willow's shoulders pulling her back 
into a hug, "If your mum and dad didn't tell you all this, how did 
you find out?"

Buffy felt Willow laugh into her chest, "How do you think, I'm a 
computer nerd, after my teacher explained about my parents not being 
my parents I hacked into the social service computer as well as 
several adoption agencies computers."

"So how did you die it wasn't a vampire was it?" asked Buffy worry 
in her voice.

"No it wasn't anything Hellmouthy, it was so stupid I feel 
embarrassed telling you," she blushed lifting her head off Buffy's 
chest again.

Buffy smiled for the first time that night, "How Will, I promise not 
to laugh."

"I fell down the stairs and broke my neck," Willow's blush deepened 
as she looked down at her lap.

"Ouch that must have hurt! Why are you so embarrassed?"

"Well all the other Immortals I've met have died in battle or been 
shot or hung or something and living on the Hellmouth and all 
falling down some stairs makes me feel like their all better than 
me," sighed Willow.

Buffy looked rather sternly at her best friend; "You have got 
nothing to be ashamed of, you couldn't help how you became immortal, 
what I saw tonight proved that, ok I haven't seen any other 
immortals fight but I've used a sword a few times, you are good."

"Funny my teacher keeps telling me the same thing," laughed Willow.

"There you go then she has obviously had some experience with this 
so she would know what she's talking about don't you think?"

"Well yeah I guess, I'll thi..." Willow stopped speaking, her body 
going rigged as she stood up.

Buffy also stood up touching her friend's arm in concern; "Will you 
okay? What's wrong?"

"Another immortal is near, I hope I don't need to fight again 
tonight, I feel too pooped," she explained going to the table to 
retrieve her sword, holding it at low guard she went towards the 
front door, just as she got there someone rang the doorbell.

"Do immortals that are after a fight usually ring the bell?" asked 
Buffy also moving towards the door. She may not understand all that 
was going on but if as Willow had said she wasn't in any shape to 
fight again tonight she would step in and stop it, she didn't know 
how but she would try.

"I don't know I haven't met all the immortals," smiled Willow, she 
looked through the spyhole in the door, letting out an audible sigh 
as she saw who it was, she rested her sword against the wall, "Its 
my teacher," she said as she opened the door.

"Willow I need to speak with you, I just heard there's a head... ah 
Buffy what are you doing here?" said Jenny.

"Your Willow's teacher?" said Buffy a little stunned as well as 
angry, Ms Calendar had already kept it secret that she had come here 
to watch Angel, now this.

Jenny looked worried for just a moment before recovering, "That's a 
strange thing to say Buffy? Of course I'm one of Willow's teachers 
you know that have you hit your head? Do you want me to take you to 
a doctor?"

"Jenny I told Buffy what we are, she knows about our immortality!" 
explained Willow not sure how Jenny would react.

"Why would you do that Willow? You are entitled to tell anyone you 
wish about yourself but you had no right to tell anyone about me," 
Jenny chastised the redhead who blushed.

"Hey don't take it out on Willow, she has nothing to be ashamed of 
you're the one with all the secrets and how dare you stop her from 
telling her friends!" Buffy stepped between her friend and Jenny 
invading the latter's personal space.

"I did not stop her from telling you anything about her immortality 
just to be careful that's all," Jenny retorted a hardness coming 
into her eyes.

Willow started to get worried when she saw the look come into 
Jenny's eyes, she didn't want them to fight, she grabbed Buffy's 
arm, "Please stop, please don't fight," she pleaded with them.

Buffy relaxed slightly at Willow's touch but continuing to look at 
Jenny, "Alright but only because it's you asking Will," the slayer 
said coldly.

Jenny shook off the angry feeling for the moment and turned to 
Willow remembering she had come to warn the redhead, "Willow I came 
here to warn you that Duncan phoned to tell me that a head hunter 
was on his way to Sunnydale, his MO is to challenge new Immortals 
that have not yet taken a head and still training. Willow please be 
careful around town until I have tracked him down..." Jenny frowned 
as her pupil let out a sigh, "What's wrong Willow?"

"He found me earlier tonight on my way to the Bronze," the pupil 
told the teacher.

"Yeah and if his swordsmanship was anything to go by I'm not 
surprised he picked on the newbies like Will here but he picked the 
wrong one when he went after her," smiled Buffy pulling the young 
Immortal into a hug, the pride in her friend evident in her voice.

"I see," smiled Jenny, "Well done; now maybe you will start 
listening when I tell you that you are as good as any other 
Immortal." 

"Yeah I told her the same thing earlier, you must be a really good 
teacher to get her so good since the summer!" said Buffy, Jenny gave 
the slayer a small smile at the complement.

"Okay with both you and Buffy telling me I guess it must be true," 
smiled Willow relieved that with them concentrating on her maybe it 
would stop them fighting? Hoping it was the best thing to do she 
looked with pleading eyes at Jenny, "I think you should tell Buffy 
the truth so she can come to trust you again, please Jenny," Willow 
pleaded.

Jenny sighed looking first at Willow and then at the angry 
slayer, "Lets all sit down shall we?" said Jenny gesturing towards 
the living room; Willow nodded leading the way and sitting on the 
settee she pulled Buffy down next to her. Jenny took an easy chair 
and began her tale.

"I was born Janna in a village near Brasov in what is now Romania in 
the year 1436 I died in the spring of 1460 when Vlad Tepes, you will 
know as Dracula, came to the man that I married, a wealthy merchant 
named Mugur who had displeased Tepes." Buffy and Willow saw tears 
standing in Jenny's eyes, "He had his men drag everyone in the 
household into the courtyard where he had them impelled in front of 
myself and my husband. After it was over Mugur went insane at the 
sight of people he had thought of as friends rather than servants, 
he tried to attack Tepes for which he ordered his men to impel my 
husband and as a reward for defending their king they could use my 
body anyway they wished before they impelled me next to my husband," 
the tears had started running down Jenny's cheeks.

"Jenny I'm so sorry why didn't you tell me this before?" said Willow 
her own tears running down her face.

"Yes why, didn't you realise how much recent pain could have been 
avoided, we could have helped each other so much," added a misty 
eyed Buffy.

"Isn't it obvious? Because it is painful, very painful, I am only 
telling you now so that you Buffy will understand why I have done 
the things I have done since I've been in Sunnydale," explained 
Jenny. Taking a deep breath to try and calm herself enough to 
continue, "I managed to grab a dagger from one of my captures 
plunging it into my chest before they could rape me. The next thing 
I knew was waking up very cold next to my impelled husband, our home 
had been looted, in my despair I walked out into the streets not 
understanding how I had survived stabbing myself? Anyway when the 
local people saw me they called me a demon and stoned me to death, 
the next time I woke I was in a ditch several miles from the town. 
That was where a family of gypsies found me and took me in.

"I lived for many years with that family and its decedents. Some 10 
years after joining them I found out what I was when I meet an 
Immortal called Marcus Constantine, he stayed with us and taught me 
everything I needed to know then after I took my first Quickening he 
left, which happens quiet often after the pupil proves themselves." 
Jenny looked at Buffy, a slight tightening of her neck 
muscles, "After some forty years I became my tribe's protector which 
I remained until the late 1890's I had travelled to see Marcus in 
Italy... The day before I returned was when Angelus killed my 
family, I went insane, travelling to the tribe's meeting place I 
told them what had happened, I begged the tribal wise-woman to find 
the killer, she told me that I was not to harm the killer she then 
preformed the ritual that cursed Angel," she saw the anger begin to 
form in Buffy's eyes, "I swear to you Buffy I didn't know about the 
clause of perfect happiness! Buffy Angelus did things to my family 
that not even Tepes had done, I was so angry with him all I wanted 
was to destroy the monster that had done such things to my family."

"I'm sorry for what he did to your people Ms Calendar really I am 
but you should have told us at the start, Oz and the others may have 
been alive if you had!" said Buffy, sad for what Angel had done but 
also angry and frustrated at Jenny for not saying anything.

Sensing Buffy's growing frustration Willow grabbed her hand giving 
it a gentle squeeze, "So what happened after your family died," she 
asked Jenny barely above a whisper.

"I abandoned my tribe feeling that I had failed them, I returned to 
Marcus staying with him for several years before coming to America. 
I had left my old life and hatreds behind me when I came here then 
three years ago I was contacted by my tribe who told me that the old 
woman as the tribal wise woman is known had felt something change in 
the curse and that Angelus would soon return and face the twice 
chosen on the Hellmouth. They asked me to come here and watch for 
signs that the curse was weakening."

There was silence for a minute before it was broken by Buffy, "I 
understand why you came here and why you wanted to kill Angelus, 
after what he has put all of us through over the last couple of 
months I want to kill him too, but I still can't forgive you for not 
telling us the truth."

"Yes Buffy we will both carry the guilt with us to the end of our 
days, I feel as responsible for Oz, Theresa and the others as you 
do, I wish that I had listened to Willow and told you all what I am, 
but when you died last year and that confirmed that you are the 
twice chosen and your obvious deep love for Angel and he for you, I 
had hoped the prophesy would not come to pass."

"So where's this prophesy? I'd like Giles to see it if I have to 
face Angelus I want all the details, I don't want anymore surprises, 
if you are going to join us I want it all out in the open. Well 
everything except you two being Immortal I'll keep that secret if 
you want but if you want to show good faith I think you should tell 
the others they deserve that from you Ms Calendar," said Buffy.

"I will bring the prophesy to the library tomorrow..." said Jenny 
giving Buffy a little smile before turning serious again at both the 
young women, "I'll consider telling them about my Immortality before 
school tomorrow," Jenny finished with some hesitation, it had been 
over 80 years since she had told anyone of her immortality. She 
stood up looking down at the two, "I'll leave you two then until 
tomorrow, good night," she said as she saw herself out.

They were silent for a few moments before Buffy released Willow to 
look at her, "You okay Will? Do you wanna go Bronzing?" she asked.

"No I'm pooped, Jenny told me it can be a little overwhelming when 
you take someone's Quickening but it's still a shock to the system," 
Willow half smiled, "I think I'd just like a long soak then bed."

"Want me to scrub your back?" Buffy smirked.

Willow blushed, "Buffy! I'm not that sort of girl," she said 
swatting her friend's arm.

"Okay Will I'll phone you later when I've finished my patrol," said 
Buffy getting up.

Willow followed her to the door holding it open, "Bye Buffy see you 
tomorrow," she said smiling as she closed the door and began to 
ascend the stairs. <Yeah right Willow Rosenberg your not that type 
of girl? One of these days I'm going to shock her by not blushing 
and backing down when she says one of those things!>

--------------

Jenny got out of her car she began walking to her front door when 
she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye, she spun to see 
a vampire step out of the bushes, she sighed dropping her purse and 
drawing her sword, "I really don't have time for this," she said 
watching as another two joined the first.

"As a teacher I though you would have time," came a voice from 
behind her, whirling around to see Angelus stood by her front door 
with a sword of his own, "Hi teach," he smirked.

"If it's a sword lesson you're after I am more than happy to oblige 
Angelus," she said taking up a defensive stance after decapitating 
the first vampire that had tried to attack her from behind.

"Hmmm let's see? Ah no I don't think so!" he said pulling a gun from 
his jacket and firing a tranquiliser dart into Jenny's chest, he 
watch as she fell to the ground, "Bring her boys," he told the other 
two vampires who picked her and her sword up. Leading the way 
Angelus smirked, "Everyone is in for a treat tonight boys the only 
thing better than Immortal blood is slayer blood," he told them as 
they disappeared into the shadows.

[Flashback]

York, Sept. 1764

Angelus rushed into the cellar to find Darla drinking from the 
immortal's neck, "Darla we have to leave Holtz is coming he'll be 
here in minutes," he shouted to her before turning and running back 
up into the house and through to the stables.

Darla smiled up at the chain immortal's who was groaning 
quietly, "Such a shame dear boy, oh well it was fun while it lasted 
Garrick." As she climbed the steps she grabbed a lit lantern and 
threw it into the straw covered floor, the flames had already taken 
a hold before she closed the cellar door.

[End Flashback]

--------------

Willow sat at her vanity table combing her damp hair as she spoke to 
Buffy, "Thanks for being there for me tonight Buffy ... I wish I had 
told you before tonight to Buffy ... I've been thinking about what 
you told Jenny about telling the others about her Immortality, I'm 
going to tell the others tomorrow," she got up to feed her 
fish, "Yes I'm sure Buffy, it's been eating me up inside keeping it 
secret from everyone I love," she frowned as she saw a brown 
envelope on her bed, "Yeah okay everyone except Cordy," she said as 
she lifted the flap and pulled on the piece of string she saw, she 
let the phone slip from her as she pulled out her dead fish.

Willow could hear Buffy's frantic cries to her as she retrieved the 
receiver from the floor, "Buffy do you think I could stay at yours 
tonight?" she asked looking around her bedroom nervously.

--------------