BS

The carriage lurched to a stop, and Willow had to brace herself against the wall to keep from falling to the floor. She took a deep breath and stepped out as the door swung open, grabbing the footman's outstretched hand and landing soundly on the cobblestones.

Willow had been talking with Elizabeth pretty much since she had woken up only hours prior, Liz had been a big help in telling her everything she needed to know about her family and the surrounding families. This included reading diaries, naming portraits, and learning family secrets.

As Willow entered the party, she could immediately pick out a few faces and remember quick facts about them. She felt like Robocop, but quickly refocused as she noticed someone approaching her.

"And who might you be?" The woman asked snobbishly, flipping her dark hair over her shoulder.
"Willow Rosenberg. Lovely to make your acquaintance, may I ask your name?" Willow asked, fake smile in place.

"Cecily Addams, this is my party." She replied, sneering. Willow only nodded her head absentmindedly and breezed past Cecily. She had spotted a butler carrying hors d'oeuvres, and Willow hadn't eaten since lunch. Which was about 100 years from now.

After skirting several guests and smiling at anyone she made eye contact with, she had gotten within five feet of the waiter only to run into a brown-clad back.
"So sorry, please excu-" Willow started, but when the stranger turned around she was met with a pair of very familiar baby blues.
"Spike?"
"Pardon?" Spike asked, and Willow realized that this man was not 'Spike'. He was still William Pratt, he had a mother and a sister. He was still human.
"Oh sorry. William right?"
"Quite, but our acquaintance seems to have slipped my memory."
Huh? Oh, we haven't met.
"Willow Rosenberg, we haven't met but I recognized you from a picture."
"Picture?" Pictures hadn't been invented yet.
"Sorry, portrait. Meant to say portrait."
"I see, lovely meeting you miss Rosenberg."
"Please, call me Willow. How are you?" She asked, deciding to find out what Spike was like before he was turned.

"I'm quite well, have you met the happy couple yet?" He gestured towards two Faith and Wesley look-alikes. Faith looked utterly disgusted by Wesley's arm in hers. Willow stifled a giggle.

"I'm afraid not, but from here they don't look too happy." William laughed at this, and Willow was mesmerized by his smile. She had never really seen him smile before, only his trademark smirk. "It was nice to meet you William." She turned to leave and caught sight of the butler again. You're not getting away so easy this time, buddy.

Willow finally caught him and was stuffing her face with food when she felt a soft tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see Giles in a fancy suit, without glasses, and much younger. She swallowed quickly and swiped the back of hand across her mouth. He smirked and she held out her hand to shake. He brought it to his lips, kissing it softly.

"I'm Willow"

"Warren Giles, lovely to make your acquaintance." His eyes were younger, his cheekbones were well defined, and his lips were fuller than his older counterpart. She blushed deeply and he released her hand, albeit reluctantly.

"Care to dance?" He asked. A new song had just begun and they were near the open floor.
"I'd love to"
He tugged her gently out to the floor, placed one hand on her hip, and held the other beside them in a slow waltz. He whispered softly in her ear

"You look lovely tonight." She could feel his breath on her neck
"Thank you." She blushed again as his lips brushed against her ear.
"What a pretty name. Willow." His hand trailed down her hip and back up again teasingly. "I want to show you something" He led her off the floor.

"Where're we going?"
"You'll see" he smiled cryptically and pulled her outside. Once they were in the gardens he led her through a series of twists and turns until they reached a large brick wall twined with vines and lit by a single oil lamp. Warren settled a hand on her hip, beginning a small circuit around the little oasis. Dancing slowly to his own beat, he led her along. Warren rested his cheek against hers and they swayed gently. He turned and brushed his lips against her neck just below her ear. Willow tilted her head back slightly and he kissed along her jawline, nipping softly and running his hands up and down her hips.

Suddenly she was pressed up against the wall, his lips were against hers and his hands were on her necklace. He yanked hard, but the jewelry wouldn't give. Warren continued kissing her, probably hoping she hadn't noticed. Willow pushed him off.

"What the hell!?"

"I could ask the same!"

"You tried to rob me!"

"It isn't yours!"

"Why are we yelling?!"

"I'm not sure!"

"Let's stop!"

"Alright"

"Go pickpocket someone else, I'm more trouble than I'm worth."

"I think not. That stone is very dangerous and it would be better for both of us if you just gave it to me for safekeeping." He held his hands out, palms up and began to slink towards her. Willow narrowed her eyes and he stopped.

"This necklace is mine, the stone is mine, I can handle the danger."
"Please, trust me." He pleaded
"What's so dangerous about it anyway?" She asked coolly, maybe it was magic...

"It's called the Gem of Amara. It could mean the end of the world as we know it if that were to fall into the wrong hands!" He was turning a bit red and willow had to stifle a giggle, he really did look like Giles. Wait, the Gem of Amara, as in the rock that could give a vampire immortality? Almost true immortality, only cutting off their head would stop them. He was right, this was no child's toy or pretty bauble.

"You're a watcher?" Giles' eyes widened, it must be true then.
"How do you know about that? Are you a spy? That explains the American accent... Who sent you? Why are you here?" He was speaking more slowly now, trying to wheedle information out of her. Not today, Warren.

"That's not for me to say, goodnight." Willow fled, skirting the twists and turns of the maze until she reached the house again. Deciding not to make a fuss, she ran around the house and into the street, jumping into the nearest carriage and shouting her address to the driver. She relaxed onto soneone's lap.

"Willow?"

"William?" She then remembered where she was sitting and jumped to the next seat.
"What are you doing here?" He asked
"I was trying to escape a wa-"

she remembered that becoming a vampire had probably been William's first and only run in with magic.

"-aiter... Waiter. Very persistent about the cheeses. What are you doing here?"

"N-nothing!" He stuttered, stuffing a small book into his waistcoat.
"Not so fast." She reached over and prized it out of his hands. Flipping it open, she realized this must be his poetry book Buffy told her about. She skimmed some of the texts. He really was a terrible poet. Oh, wait, here's a good one.

It was about a woman, and by the sound of it, the perfect woman. It mentioned something about her dark hair and lovely dresses, her manners, her smile, her laugh, and Willow felt herself falling in love with this girl. It was an amazing poem. Willow glanced up as she read the last line.

"William this is-"

He was gone.