Nowhere else to turn (Angel/Open)

[yolanda7g]

Angel nodded, brow lowered as Willow expressed her fear. It was completely understandable. Sometimes no matter what a person knows rationally or logically, the emotions can still remain. He reflected on what to say to her fear when he heard Willow's voice shake a bit and Angel looked at her. He saw her tears. Angel's eyes shifted downwards, in slight hesitation. It was a lot of pressure for Willow, to be thrust into a world...a world he's known for more than 100 years, and to be brought in so young, without any real way of knowing if the things she was doing were wrong or right. There wasn't exactly a handbook for that.

Angel leaned over and put an arm around her, trying his best to be comforting. "Hey..." he started. "Hey, Will...it's okay." He paused and said, "No one will die because of you." Another paused. "I know it's hard. I know."

At the moment he was at a lost for words. There's not much he could do to provide comfort in a situation like this. The reality is, in the world above the Hellmouth, anything could happen. There wasn't any real comfort for that. The only solace was the fact that it was pretty certain they were doing more good than bad. Although sometimes Angel debated even that fact in regards to coming into the slayer's life.

[archer]

Willow felt a little shocked when Angel put his arm around her, she hadn't expected that, she didn't feel anything like when Xander put his arm round her though, so it was OK. "How do you know these things Angel? How does any of us know?" She said hurridly wiping the tears away from her eyes, feeling more then a little silly now. "I wish I could be as sure and as confident as you are."

[yolanda7g]

Angel sighed again, and said honestly. "I don't." A pause. "What I do know is that we can't run away because of might happen. If we do that, then what will happen will be much worse."

He let go of her and said, "I don't have all the answers, Willow. None of us do. But we all have a part in this fight, and that includes you Willow. There's a reason." He removed his gaze from her, in slight uneasiness, suddenly feeling useless. It was one of the reasons why he kept to himself--moments like these. Moments where he would feel sympathy for a friend he cared about, and he couldn't help them when he wanted to. Sometimes, the world was too complicated to leave room for comfort.

[archer]

Willow smiled weakly at Angel, "Thanks Angel, I'm just worrying too much as usual." She laughed a little and put a comforting hand over his, "You've really helped, honestly you have, and you're right we can't run away, I'm not saying I'll be casting spells in the next five minutes but next time I'll be ready." She smiled at him

[yolanda7g]

Angel smiled back, some of his load lifted. Willow would be alright. They both would.

"I think the world can spare five minutes," Angel said light heartedly, giving her another reassuring glance.

He knew that the road ahead, for both of them, would be hard. Handling the cards you're dealt with is never easy and sometimes the best thing is to make the best of what you have. Sometimes the only cards you have are guilt, fear, and uncertainty. Then again, if the drive is there, those very same cards could win the game.

(end?)

[archer]

Willow got up to leave, "I'd better get back, the others will probably think I've done a runnr or something." She joked and gave Angel the first genuine smile she'd done all evening and headed towards the door. She smiled to herself thinking about everything they'd all been through and how many times they'd all thought about throwing in the towel, but still they kept going and supporting each other.

(Yes)