FanFiction Archive

Understanding

Part 3

Willow swore silently as she searched for the portable phone. She had searched for it everywhere and was only now on its trail because it was ringing. "I'm gonna kill Dawn for not hanging it back up if I don't find it in time!" She muttered to herself.

With a shout of triumph she fished it out between the sofa cushions and pressed the on button. "Hello?" She said somewhat breathlessly. Absently, she began straightening the cushions she had uprooted in her search.

"Willow?" Angel's voice was filled with worry. He leaned forward against his desk as he tried to hear if anything was going on in the background that would cause Willow to be out of breath. 'I don't hear any out of the ordinary,' he concluded, still worried.

"Hi Angel! How're you?" She asked, making herself comfortable on the sofa. She leaned against the arm and curled her legs under her, letting herself relax for the first time that day. She had been going non-stop since she had awakened. First, getting Dawn off to school, then to her classes, then to the grocery store, then back home to put away the groceries and straighten the house up. She was beginning to feel very sorry for all the single mothers and fathers who had to work as well as do all the housework. 'Thank goddess I have Dawnie to help me with some of the chores!' she said to herself.

"Is everything okay? You took a while to answer the phone," Angel
commented, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Ah, the couch monster ate it. But don't worry, I triumphed!" Willow assured him with a giggle, holding her fist in the air in what she hoped was a conquering motion. She rolled her eyes at herself as she realized what she was doing and quickly put her hand back down.

"Couch monster? Are you okay Willow? Did you call Giles?" Angel asked hurriedly. He grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and quickly wrote 'Couch monster, Sunnydale' on it. He stood up and walked toward the door to give the slip to Wesley to begin research. He opened it quickly, causing the others at Angel Investigations to look at him in concern.

Willow rolled her eyes and sighed. "It was a joke, Angel. I know you know what one is. You've even been known to make one on occasion. Though they're usually bad, but nonetheless, you should be able to recognize one. Do I need to come down there and give you lessons on recognizing jokes?"

Angel winced in chagrin. He quickly closed the door, ignoring the stares of his colleagues for his odd behavior. Crumpling the paper in his hand, he threw it in the wastebasket. "Thanks, but no, Willow. I do have a favor to ask you though," he said, sitting back down in his chair. He held the phone tightly in his right hand while his left tapped his knee in a nervous gesture.

"What do you need?" Willow asked, curious as to what the vampire would need from her. She grabbed a pen off the coffee table and began twirling it between her fingers.

"Well, if it's not too much trouble, I don't want to put you and Dawn out, and if either of you are uncomfortable with the idea, that's fine, but could I stay with you?" Angel asked in a rush. His fingers began drumming harder and more quickly on his leg.

"Geez Angel! Trying to take the Babble Award away from me?" Willow teased gently, the pen falling from her hand. She frowned as she retrieved it from the floor and began tapping it against the couch arm. "And yes, you can. Is there something wrong? Are evil vegetables going to attack Sunnydale or something?"

"No. Nothing's wrong. I'm ready." Came the quiet answer.

Willow's levity immediately ceased. She swallowed back the pain that surfaced automatically and cleared her throat. "Sure. We'd love to have you whenever you get here."

"Are you sure? I mean, I could stay at the mansion if you'd rather," Angel offered half-heartedly. In reality, he loathed the idea of staying at the mansion. It was dark, dank and held too many memories.

"Angel, the mansion is dusty and full of … nobody. You need people around and we are here ready to be those people. Or at least I am. Can I be a people all by myself? Anyway, when are you coming?" Willow asked, annoyed with herself for babbling during a serious conversation. 'Do I even know the meaning of a serious conversation? He doesn't need me babbling! He needs support. A babble-free support person.' she thought to herself. 'I will be babble-free the entire time he's here. Babbling will not interfere in the support or the conversations! No babbling!' she told herself sternly.

"Well, I was thinking of this weekend. Wes, Gunn and the girls said
they'd be okay without me for a few days," Angel answered. 'I love
it when she lets her mind wander like that. Not too many people are
comfortable enough with me to let themselves do that.' Angel mused
inwardly. Shaking himself he realized that he had missed what Willow had just said. "Sorry Willow, what'd you say?"

"I said that's fine. Dawn and I will expect you this weekend," Willow promised, nodding her head decisively.

"Thanks. I appreciate it," Angel said. The two were quiet for a few moments. Angel could hear a tapping in the background at Willow's that mirrored his own tapping on his leg. 'Guess we're both a little anxious,' he thought to himself. Finally, Angel spoke up again. "Um, so how are things?"

Willow winced. "They're … going. Some days are better than others. I try to keep busy. 'Cause a busy Willow is a Willow who doesn't think about things she shouldn't think about." 'Oh yeah, that was a very intelligent sentence!' Willow berated herself with a roll of her eyes.

Angel chuckled softly at her reasoning, knowing it all too well himself. "Yes, I can understand that. I've been redoing the filing. Cordelia isn't too pleased but it does keep my mind off... her."

"The filing? How many ways are there to file?" Willow asked, curious despite herself.

"Well, according to Cordelia there are many ways. For instance, I found a case we worked on last year filed under "A". It was a Boligoi demon who wanted us to find his nestmates. Very simple," Angel began the story.

Willow's eyebrows furrowed. "Okay. Did the demon's name begin with
an A?" She asked, confused.

Angel grinned. "Nope. His, or rather its, interpreter was a human who wore Armani when they came to our office. Hence, it was filed under 'A'."

Willow shook her head. "You gotta love Cordy. At least she keeps you on your toes!" She replied, a smile coming to her face.

"Yep! Did I tell you about the time …"

The two talked about inconsequential things for another hour, simply
enjoying each other's company.

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