Angel sat down on one of the sofas between Cordelia and Wesley. He allowed his sombre face to relax into a less sombre one. He was enjoying himself.

Spike and Jenny sprawled on the second sofa, relaxing to the sweet music while Rose and Jack sat in the conservatory with a pot of coffee catching up on each other’s childhood.

Deep in the bowels of the Council of Watchers, something stirred in the dungeon.

Heat shimmered about Gorgon’s body; gradually green gold flames licked hesitantly up the prone figure, serpent scales sloughed off to reveal skin of coffee caramel the body arching gracefully in an imitation of a striking cobra and light as bright winter ice swept throughout the room.

An agonised cry pierced the silence as Gorgon surrendered to the light. The scent of honey and spring filled the air and as the light faded, Gorgon stood transformed. His eyes clear and green, bronze dread locks tumbled over his broad shoulders to his waist where a sheathed hunting knife rested against his unadorned thigh.

Gorgon straightened his arms, flexing his shoulders to spread wide his soft feathered wings, the colour of earth and autumn leaves. A gentle breeze ruffled his wing tips; a golden sparkle surrounded him as he faded from sight.

Gorgon stepped through the garden wall and discovered the ravages of Rupert’s wrath. The Magical garden was all but destroyed. He sighed and his breath stirred the honeysuckle to blossom, his gaze revealed all as it should be and he concentrated his energy on making the garden bloom. He had been charged with maintaining the earthly paradise of Rupert and Willow Giles.

In the wake of his footfalls, the chamomile lawn greened and softened from its frosted brown. He stooped to the stream and scooped the fallen leaves from its stagnant surface, the water burbled and sprang into new life at the stir of his fingertips, and birds sang on the boughs. Gorgon lowered his frame to a moss covered rock and welcomed the wildlife back into the garden.

The willow tree stirred and wafted, dipping supple, green tendrils into the stream. The sun shone softly filtered through the cool, green leaf canopy. He surveyed his handiwork and smiled, his fingers plucked a few herbs from the border and he ate whilst waiting for his friends return.

The set was finished and everyone settled in front of the roaring fireplace. The tree stood in the corner covered with treasured Christmas memories; Rose had the honour of putting the last bauble on the tree.

Rupert stepped back and sighed, "It looks wonderful Jack. You’ve inherited your mother’s eye for a tree." His arm slipped around his wife’s shoulders and kissed her hair. He looked over his friends gathered in his sitting room but found his gaze drawn constantly to the garden.

The Magical garden at the top of the barren winter earth was blooming again. Willow followed her husband’s gaze and gasped as she saw the sunlight sparkling through the trees.

"How?" she questioned smiling,

Rupert squeezed her arm. "I don’t know, let’s go see!" he said excitedly. They blinked out of the sitting room and walked into the garden. The air was warm and golden. They halted on the lawn at the sight of a stranger seated on a rock.

Gorgon stood and greeted his friends. "Master Rupert, Mistress Willow..." His wing tips brushed the sweet grass at his feet stirring the perfume in the air.

"Gorgon!" Rupert and Willow exclaimed together and dashed forward to embrace their friend whom they thought had perished. Gorgon’s wings enveloped them in a warm russet embrace.

"Rupert, I am here to preserve and protect your heaven on Earth. You and Willow can rest and relax here, leave everything to me."

They rested their heads on Gorgon’s shoulders and bathed in the love that radiated from him. Willow raised a sleepy head. "Are you an angel now?" she asked in a hushed tone.

He smiled down at her and answered in tones of liquid honey. "A kind of Angel, yes. But do not tell anyone, otherwise everyone will want me." He winked and chuckled, Willow giggled delightedly.

"Thank you for being here Gorgon, thank you for everything." Rupert murmured. Gorgon held the Watchers gaze for a long time.

"You are very welcome, Rupert."

The end.

Next: Death of a Rascal (sequel to Willow’s Secret, Prequel to Ripping Confessions)

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