Title: Addiction Ch.5
Author(s): Jerri Cocke and Jon Dale
Summary: How do you deal with an addiction, what is the most
important thing to you, or in this case, to Willow?
Spoilers: We are now totally A.U.
Disclaimer: Joss owns all, I own none. I do try not to break them
too badly before I return them.
Distribution: If you have, take. If not, ask. My site
http://geocities.com/lochnoir The Nekkid Shipper, Fire and Ice,
Willow's Lil Secret
Feedback: It gives me a happy.
Dedication: As always to our wonderful betas, Kari, Micki and Naomi.

Author's Notes: We've taken some libereties with Oxford geography
for the sake of the story and we hope you'll forgive us. The route
from the train station to Oxford proper does not pass Magdalen
College, but we needed them to see it, so...

Smiles seemed to follow the exuberant young woman as she tripped down the sidewalk. Her own smile was as bright as her emerald eyes. Willow had been in Oxford for a full month now. A month and she'd managed not to use magic. A month of laughter, tears and such heartfelt support that she'd managed to go forward with her life.

Today she finally had her appointment with the Don at Magdalen: Willow had seen the other Dons at several of the colleges already. The colleges were all attractive, but, she admitted to herself, Magdalen held a draw for her. A draw she couldn't explain, but she could feel it. She'd felt it when Giles had gotten tickets and taken her to the top of Magdalen Tower. When he'd packed a lunch and taken her to see the famous deer. When he'd shown her the long avenue of statuary that juniors of the college hung umbrellas on. He'd explained that it was a traditional prank that had a long history.

She giggled slightly when she remembered the photo of Giles they had found so long ago. A rebel in tattered blue jeans and a leather coat. She just couldn't picture him, in jeans and a junior's robes running down the row of statues hanging opened umbrellas on them. She figured that if Ripper had hung anything on the statues, it was nothing as innocuous as umbrellas.

There, that was New Hall, she had to be there. She entered the foyer of the building, searching for someone to direct her to the Don's rooms. Ah ha, there.

"Excuse me, can you direct me to Classical Studies, please?"

"Sure, up the stairs, second door to the right."

"Thank you." The redhead hurried up the stairs, it wouldn't do to be late. Giles had pulled strings to get the interview so quickly.

Willow spotted the appropriate door, knocked softly and waited for the gruff, `Enter.' She entered the untidy room - not unclean, just cluttered - and offered her hand to the tall, graying man.

"I'm Willow Rosenburg, we have an appointment."

"Yes of course, Miss Rosenburg, please have a seat. I've gone over your records and transcripts. Your work is excellent. Though, I have to wonder why you are interested in reading classics when you seem to have a decidedly technological bent."

"Well Mr. ... er, Don ... um, sir, what am I supposed to call you?"

"Mr. Grey will do." He smiled warmly at the nervous, young woman before him. "Although, I must confess, the juniors have somewhat more colourful ways of addressing me. Though, they don't think I know."

"Mr. Grey, I don't think the two fields of study are mutually exclusive. Computer technology, the internet could bring classic literature and mythos into the lives of everyday people all over the world. That is one of my goals."

Several cups of tea later, Willow strolled up the sidewalk. Things had gone swimmingly. Oh, wow, she was thinking in British, just how cool was that? She knew that she'd had a great interview. She was ecstatic. The argument over bringing classics to everyone who owned a computer had been fast and furious, but she'd held her own. Heck, she'd even won points for her side. Before it was over, Mr. Grey had said she'd make a fine addition to Magdalen.

She was still grinning as she ducked into Blackwells, the large booksellers. Giles had raved over the rare texts they had tucked away. If she looked hard enough she might find something special for him. Goddess knows, he deserves something nice for putting up with me this past month. This day just keeps getting better.

An hour and a half later Willow exited the store, a flat package wrapped in brown paper and tied with string tucked underneath her arm. The large carrier held in her left hand was strictly for her. Though if pressed, she might be willing to share with Giles.

She froze in her tracks, her attention on the dress in the window. It wasn't what everyone thought of as Willowy, well unless you considered that long ago All Hallows Eve. It was as far from Willowy as it was possible to get. She loved it on sight. It was black, tight, short, and leather. It was also on sale for a really good price. She thought only of her parents credit card as she pulled the door open.

'Okay, so maybe I got just a little carried away. But I didn't have anything that went with it.' Willow shouldered the garment bag, as well as the large sack containing shoes, stockings and lacy black underthings. 'Next time, I bring a packmule. Or a Giles. A Giles would come in very handy right now.'

"Hello gorgeous, what's a pretty girl like you doing out alone? Need a hand with those bags?" The boy, and he was a boy, couldn't have been more than 17. He was eyeing her like she was a sweet in a shop window.

"I'm alone cause I want to be, and I've got it. Thank you, but no thank you." She didn't like the looks of the young man, he had a cold look in his eyes that reminded her of the swimming team, during the championship season. A look that said, I own everything and everyone, if I so choose. She juggled her load and kept walking.

He was following her, she could feel him behind her. His footsteps echoed behind her. His breath was audible. She wished he would just go away. If it comes down to it, I can drop him. I've staked vampires, a pimply adolescent tough shouldn't be that big of a deal. She was so busy with her plan of attack, she never noticed that there was someone right in front of her. A startled gasp later she looked up from the pavement and noted that it was a very attractive someone. The woman had long black hair and sea green eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you." She glanced behind her, knowing her advantage was gone. He was still there. She couldn't drop packages and get her weight behind the bag of books from the ground.

"Oh," She shook herself slightly. "It's not a problem. I can see where you might have been distracted." The Englishwoman's eyes never left the boy standing on the other side of Willow. "Well, my lad, it looks like you've been at it again. Why don't you clear off and leave the lady alone. Or would you like to deal with me?"

"You're not that tough, you bleeding dyke."

"I'm tough enough to have taken you down once before. So why don't you just leave?" Her fists were clenched, but as the young tough left, they relaxed into graceful hands. One of those hands was extended to Willow. Once Willow was on her feet, she helped the redhead collect the dropped packages.

"Hello, I'm Maude. Are you alright?"

"Hi, I'm Willow and I'm dandy, thank you. And thank you for running him off. I wasn't in the right position to drop him with one of my bags."

"Oh, you're American. On holiday are you?"

"No, I just moved here. I'm going to school here."

"Well welcome to Oxford. You'll have to excuse the idiots. Do you have family here?"

"I guess everwhere has jerks like that."

A few minutes later Willow was tripping down the street, feet barely touching the ground as she thought about her new friend. She was only a few blocks from home and she couldn't wait to tell Giles about her wonderful day.

A large drop of water plopped onto Willow's nose. She looked up at the sky, just in time for the deluge to hit her square in the face. The rain was cold, miserably so. It only took moments for the redhead to resemble a drowned rat. She sped her pace, trying to get home before she got too much wetter.

Finally, there was the last corner, nearly there. Willow shivered as she glanced quickly to her left, than her right. All clear, she hurried to get across the street. She heard a blaring horn just as she felt someone grab her from behind and throw her back to the curb. Her knee stung as she landed on it, ripping her jeans and her skin.

She looked up at the policeman, no, 'bobby' she reminded herself. "Thank you, I'm sorry for the trouble."

"Miss, we really encourage Americans visiting us to stay alive. Please remember to look right and then left. We'd like to keep you from going home in a coffin."

Willow blushed bright red. "Of course, I'm sorry. Thank you very much." She gathered her somewhat sodden packages and very carefully checked traffic again. Just as she stepped up on the curb a car raced past, splashing her. She groaned, "Just what I needed. And it was such a good day."

She entered the building, nodding gratefully to the older gentleman who held the door for her. Soon, very soon she would be warm and dry and ... and ... finally, there was the door. She tried to get her key out of her pocket, but she just had so much. Her hands were full, she was squelching she was so waterlogged. Goddess, I just want to get inside. One motion of her finger, made without thought had the door to the flat swinging open.

It halted with a fleshy thud and rebounded, before being stopped. Giles appeared, one hand clutching his nose, which was seeping blood.

"Willow, what have you done?"

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