CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:
DIDN'T KNOW YOU CARED

SHE WASN'T SURE IF SHE was in pain or relief―︎both of which were two very different things. The only thing that Willow knew for sure was that one moment she was standing in the lab, being handed the necklace that was supposed to help her, and then the next minute she falling down on her knees, a hand placed tightly around the necklace almost like she was trying to rip it off. Like it was harming her. But she knew that wasn't the case.

The alien inside of her was attracted to the crystal around her neck, something in it made the alien long for it, lurching its entire self forward in hopes of being able to grab a hold of it. But when the alien reached out to take control of Willow's body, taking Willow's hand and reaching out towards the necklace and as soon as it had grasped the thing, the necklace seemed to have sucked it completely out of Willow's body. The pain of the alien being ripped apart from her body after being attached so long was agonizing, but the relief of the alien's grip on her no longer existing made her want to relax.

Natasha could only watch her with worry. She had went to catch her fall but Annabella had been quick to shake her head, telling her not to touch Willow, seeing as neither of them knew what the hell would happen if she wore to do so. It physically pained Natasha to stand there and do absolutely nothing whilst her girlfriend―︎were they officially dating?―︎ was writhing in agony on the floor. It seemed to last forever, and the longer she stood there the more anxious she became. And then, it stopped.

Willow now had her back laying on the floor, mouth open slightly as she desperately inhaled air into her lungs. She laid there on the floor for a few moments, her eyes closed as she breathed heavily. Natasha glanced up at Annabella, asking a silent question to which the woman nodded. Natasha was quick to fall to the ground, pushing hair out of Willow's face and reaching over and grabbing her hand. She placed her other hand against Willow's cheek, her eyes frantically searching the brunette's face. For a moment there was nothing and then Willow opened her eyes.

"Jesus." Natasha let out a sigh of relief, closing her eyes as her shoulders relaxed slightly. She bowed her head slightly, squeezing Willow's hand. "You scared the shit out of me, you know that?"

Willow smiled slightly as she looked at her. "You were worried about me?" She asked. "Aw, Natasha, that's so sweet. I didn't know that you cared so much about little ol' me." She placed her free hand over her heart, her smile widening as Natasha scoffed and rolled her eyes. She gently gripped Natasha's hand, allowing the woman to pull her into a sitting position before pulling both of them up off the ground.

Annabella watched Willow with careful calculating eyes. She watched her every move, every mannerism. She crossed her arms gracefully over her chest as she watched the brunette. Willow turned her head to look at Annabella. Annabella stared at Willow, nodding her head towards the examination table. Willow jumped up on top of it, placing her hands in her lap. Annabella made her way over to Willow, quietly examining her. "How are you feeling?" Annabella started to check her vitals, starting off with her blood pressure and heart rate.

"I feel. . . fine?" Willow furrowed her eyebrows slightly. She knew that something was different, but she wasn't sure whether or not that was a good thing. She felt empty almost, like a part of her had been ripped away from her. And, well, a part of her had been ripped from her grasp. The alien had taken the bait, reached out for it like it was worth a million dollars. And just like that, the once beautiful blue gem was now covered a pitch black. Willow hadn't even noticed it before, not until now. "Is it supposed to do that?"

Annabella and Natasha both followed her eyeline, staring at the gem and watching as the gem's last dot of blue was swallowed by just blackness. Natasha raised an eyebrow and slowly turned her head to look at Annabella, hoping and praying that the necklace what doing exactly what it was supposed to be doing. Her shoulders relaxed once more when a wide and beautiful smile sprouted onto Annabella's face. She pulled away from Willow, clasping her hands together. "That it's interesting indeed. It's seems my magic has worked a little too well and has taken the alien completely from your system, storing it into the necklace."

"How the hell does that even work?" Natasha questioned. Willow was quick to shush her.

"Don't answer that." Willow quickly cut Annabella off before she could say anything. Willow turned her head to look at Natasha. "Don't question it, Natasha. Whenever you question something, something else always goes wrong. And right now everything is going right. I mean. . . I'm finally my own person. I finally have the chance to be free and do what I please and not be scared of just out right attacking people when I lose control."

Natasha smiled at her before nodding her head. "Alright. No further questions then."

Annabella smiled at the couple. "I just need to do a body scan of you for a moment, just to make sure everything it alright. So, if you'll lay down for me." Willow did as she instructed and Natasha stepped back in order to give Annabella room. The woman stood over Willow, running a hand above Willow's body, muttering a small spell that allowed her to look inside of her body. When she was done, the woman stepped back and Willow sat up.

Willow turned to look at her, nerves suddenly attacking her. "Well?"

Annabella smiled. "You, Willow Michaels, are a free woman."