Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Buffy related characters. They belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, Fox, The WB, and all those. I do however, own Audrey, Alana, and Alfred. They're MINE!!
Rating: PG (can't think of why it would be higher)
Distribution: Sure! If you want. But tell me first.
Author's Note: Thanks to Kelly, LadyRHood, Juliet, Tracy, and Alana. You guys rock!
Spoilers: Becoming Parts 1 and 2
Time Frame: Two days after Becoming 2

A Future Untold

It was on a sunny April day that a man walked into a courtyard bearing a piece of paper. He stopped when he saw a young woman, about 18 by the looks of it, practicing with a crossbow. The man quickened his pace. When he got within hearing range he called out, "Audrey!"

The girl stopped her practice and walked to meet the man. "What is it Alfred?"

Wordlessly he handed her a piece of paper. She peered down at it.

Audrey looked up. So it was time. Time for the next Slayer to emerge.

Buffy got off the bus. She hadn't wanted to, but this was a far as it went. She looked around the coast of North Carolina. The sun was just setting. The red, orange, and purple rays bounced off the water as the sun descended. Everyone who watched drew in a deep breath of awe and satisfaction. All, that is, but Buffy. Her sad, cold eyes saw nothing, heard nothing but her pain. She was alone. Totally and utterly alone. And scared.

<No! I'm the Slayer. I'm stronger than this. I have to be!> she firmly told herself.

With a shake, she looked about for the nearest hotel. She located a Holiday Inn and paid for two nights. She didn't have much money or possessions, just what she could gather before leaving Sunnydale…. Unexpectedly the tears started to well up. She firmly pushed them and all thoughts of her previous life behind her. She was starting over.

***

Audrey sat silently in her room, looking at a picture of a smiling man and a radiant woman in a sailboat. A picture was all she had of them now. She hugged her small white teddy bear closer to her. She had tried to give up Gabrielle, her bear, but hadn't been able to part with the thing that had comforted her all her life. "One is forced to put away childish things" she had once been told. Well, she had done that. If she had to accept the weight of an entire world, saving everyone and fighting demons, she was certainly keeping Gaby.

Audrey shook her head to clear her thoughts. She grabbed her brush, which lay on the nightstand beside her bed and started to comb through her glossy, brown locks. She could see herself in her mirror, and she paused at the reflection.

Audrey Arlen was 18 years old. Her sparkling violet eyes could hold an edge that would make your blood run cold. Her face was oval, not so much so that she had a hard face, but just enough to make her face and neck seem slender. This was not the face that you would expect to see on a hero destined to save the world.

She paused in her reflections to wonder <Did the other girls look like me? Did they want this fate?> Audrey had been rigorously trained by her watcher Alfred since she was 15. She was an expert in all weapons and battle techniques, but she also loved the 'book' part of it all. She would much rather have been a watcher. She had rejoiced in all the lore that she was required to read and had researched past Slayers on her own time.

She had studied most on the most recent three slayers, Haley, Buffy, and Kendra. They were all nice names, and she had wondered what they were like. Haley was described as a happy redhead full of bounce and cheer until Fabin, a 900-year-old vampire had put the bite on her. Buffy was a blonde who had been rumored to be the strongest Slayer every recorded. In fact, she wasn't even dead. But, the brief time that she had died was enough to call the next Slayer, Kendra. Kendra had had jet-black hair and took her job very seriously. Audrey didn't think she would have liked Kendra. But, Kendra had died. A vampire named Drusilla had cut her throat. Actually, she was helping Buffy at the time, to get her boyfriend Angel back. Audrey found it all very confusing.

But, Kendra ~had~ died and now it was time for Audrey to assume her place. She was ready for it, and willing. Audrey had a personal vendetta against vampires. She relished killing them. After all, they were the ones who had killed her parents. On her 15^th birthday, her family had gone out to a play at night. The vamps had come suddenly up behind her and taken her parents. She was about to be next when Alfred came. He saved her, dusted the vamps, and took her home.

She had been so scared and confused. Thinking back, Audrey didn't know why she had trusted Alfred. Maybe it was because of his name. Yes, that must have been it. Audrey had always thought you could judge a person by their name. Her own name meant "noble strength" "Chosen" "Pledge" It was rather fitting for a Slayer. Alfred's name fell along the lines of "wise council, trusted advisor", and she trusted him more than she could say.

A yawn interrupted her thoughts. <Better get some sleep before tomorrow night> she thought drowsily, and quickly fell into a deep sleep. So deep, that not even her usual dreams assaulted her.

Buffy became disgusted with herself as she stumbled over a fallen tree branch for the second time. <Okay, witness my coordination> she thought. She drew herself back to the matters at hand when she heard someone approaching. She whirled around to face the newcomer. He was male, that was easily distinguished, but his face was concealed by the shadows. When he stepped into the light, Buffy gasped.

"Angel!! How? Why?" she sputtered, emotions warring across her face.

Angel said nothing. He merely starred at her. The silence was almost frightening. Finally, Angel spoke.

"Why? Why'd ya do it Buffy? I didn't deserve it. I thought you loved me."

"I-I do. Angel, I'm so so sorr….."

But Angel was gone. He had vanished right in front of her eyes. Echoing in her head, she could hear an anguish filled scream. Angel's scream.

***

"Angel!"

Buffy's cry threw her awake. She glanced wildly about the room, dazed and confused until her memory came back. She was sitting in her bed, in a Holiday Inn. Throwing the covers off, Buffy quickly got out on bed and poured herself a glass of water. Clutching it with shaking hands, Buffy sat down in a nearby chair. <It was a dream, it was only a dream> she reassured herself. But, God, it had felt so real. The hurt, the betrayal, the pain she had seen in his eyes was all too real.

She glanced out her window to the streets below. Wilmington was actually a pretty city. The ocean was a restful sight. But Buffy didn't want to fall asleep. She didn't want the nightmare to return. She threw on some clothes and started for the door.

She paused at the table near her door. A small stake was lying on it. <I don’t need it. They can't hurt me. I'm already dead.> She started to head out the door when she paused again, <But what if it's an innocent person being attacked. I have an obligation to fulfill no matter how much I want to die.> As if she had two voices, a devil and an angel waging war on her shoulder, she heard the devil speak. <Humanity be damned! What has it ever done for me?> But the sense of duty won out, and Buffy shoved the stake up her sleeve.

She wandered aimlessly around until she came to a park. There she saw a young girl, around her age, walking. That wasn't what Buffy feared, it was the vampire walking behind her.

***

Audrey prepared herself. She pulled on the jacket Alfred had given her for her 17^th birthday and shoved two stakes up her sleeve. With some encouraging words from Alfred, she was out the door.

Alfred and she had fought all day. He had wanted to accompany her on her first night out as the Slayer. She had argued that she felt even stronger than she normally did, and he wouldn't always be there when she fought. She might as well get used to going stag. Finally, Alfred relented. Audrey had been relieved. Sure, these reasons she had given him were sound enough but she really wanted to go out on her own because, well, she didn't actually know why. She just knew this was something she had to do herself.

Aimlessly wandering, looking for anything paranormal, Audrey soon found herself on a course to the park. Vampires really seemed to jam on parks. Why was that? She was growing tired of looking. She wanted to see some action. <Vampires, never around when you need 'em> she snorted to herself. Almost immediately, she felt a demonic presence behind her. <Took you long enough>

***

Buffy broke into a run. While running, she pulled out the stake she had stashed. She was almost in throwing range when the girl whirled around and neatly sent a stake into the heart of the vamp. He fell to the ground, ash.

<What the?>

Almost instantaneously, Audrey saw Buffy. She lowered herself into a fighting stance.

<Whoa!> Buffy thought. She hurried to calm the scene. "I know what you're thinking. But don't worry, I don't bite." <Did I just say that?>

Audrey halted a little at the girl's words. No, she didn't seem to be paranormal but there was something odd about her, something almost….familiar.

"Who are you?" Audrey demanded.

<Oh God. We can't go through this conversation. What is this? Fate's cruel trick?>

Breaking out of her and Angel's dialogue, Buffy replied warily, "I might ask you the same thing. However, since my mom taught me nice manners, I will answer first. My name's Buffy. Now be a good girl and answer my question."

"Audrey," she replied automatically before the girl's words sunk in, "Wait! Buffy? That's not a common name. D-did you…no! It's impossible."

"What's impossible cryptic girl? I'm not much good at these puzzles. Now, since you dusted a vamp, I'm gonna assume you are what we call a good guy. Am I right?"

"Buffy…Summers?" gasped Audrey, still in almost shock.

Buffy did a double take. "What the hell? How'd you know that! Who are you? I mean, really?"

"My-my name's Audrey Arlin. I'm a Slayer, like you."

Buffy's mouth dropped open.

"A Slayer?" questioned Buffy, incredulous. "This is just my luck. I come almost 2,500 miles to get away from my friends and slayer connections to meet up with the new Slayer of all people. This is just great!"

Audrey tried to speak but Buffy was not finished.

"Why can’t you people leave me alone?" she all but screamed, her tone indicating she was not talking to Audrey.

Confused, Audrey finally managed to get in a word.

"Listen, I don’t know what you are talking about, but why don’t you come home with me tonight? We can talk to my watcher and sort everything out."

Suddenly, a vamp popped out and rushed at Buffy from behind. Before Audrey could even react, Buffy drew out her stake and flipped the slayee to the ground. She paused, stake aimed at heart

"D’ya mind? We were talking" she drawled before plunging the stake into the vampire.

Buffy stood and dusted herself off "Anyways, you were saying?"

Audrey just stared. "Well, you were rumored to be the strongest Slayer."

"Who me? I don’t think so. And I’m retired. I’m through with slaying." Buffy remarked as she turned to go.

"No! Wait!" cried Audrey, "Just come and talk to Alfred, and me. I want to talk to you. Find out about this job. About you."

Buffy hesitated. Then, she seemed to surrender to something.

"All right. I was running out of money anyways. Lead on."

The stone mansion that Audrey led Buffy to was gorgeous. It was 3 stories tall and looked to be from the 18^th century.

"Gee, how d’ya manage to live in such small quarters?" remarked Buffy dryly.

Audrey didn’t answer, instead striding quickly up to the door and letting Buffy and herself in. She led Buffy up the stairs and down a long hall. At the end of the hall, they ran into a door. Audrey knocked once and barged in. A man was seated at a computer, typing, with his back turned to the girls.

Audrey cleared her throat and the chair swiveled to face them. It was all Buffy could do not to gasp. The man that sat before them was YOUNG! He couldn't be more than 25. This couldn't be Audrey's watcher. Her brother maybe…

The mystery man rose quickly and strode towards Audrey.

"Audrey! Back so soon? Is something wrong?" he exclaimed before finally resting his gaze on Buffy, "You brought a friend?"

"Al, where are your manners?" Audrey chided, obviously enjoying the thought of how her watcher was going to react to her next few words, "Buffy, this is my watcher, Alfred Williams."

On the word ~watcher~, Alfred's eyes bugged out. He shot her a quick "what-are-you-doing?!" look which Audrey impishly ignored.

"Alfred, I would like for you to meet Buffy Summers. A Slayer"

***

Buffy settled into bed about 2 hours after her meeting with Alfred. <It's a good watcher name> she thought with a snort. He sure didn't look at all like a watcher. He was about 6 feet, dwarfing Buffy. With sandy blond hair and twinkling blue eyes, he totally destroyed the mold she had cast for all watchers. Well, from the look on his face she wasn't exactly his vision of a typical slayer.

The corner of her eyes caught sight of the phone on the nightstand and for a moment, she wanted to call Willow. <No! She needs to forget about you. She's safer that way><Should I call Giles?> It was midnight, which would put it at 9 o'clock in Sunnydale. <No, not even Giles.>

It was on that thought that Buffy drifted into an exhausted, dreamless sleep.

***

<Buffy Summers! She's not what I expected,> Alfred thought with a chuckle. He hadn't been able to believe his ears when Audrey had introduced her as a Slayer. But, she had the skill and the Student ID to prove it. He had asked her about a license but she had mumbled something about her mother and a plate before turning away.

After he had been convinced that the small girl was in fact the Buffy Summers, he had sent Audrey to find Buffy a room to stay in and got Buffy to promise to attend Audrey's training session in the morning.

There was something that that girl was hiding. But, to judge from her eyes and attitude it wasn't likely that she was going to divulge anything anytime soon. Well, extreme times call for extreme measures. He turned to his computer and opened up an e-mail message. Then he began typing a message for help to the Watcher's Council.

It was around 11 o'clock at night when the phone rang. Giles eagerly picked up.

"Buffy? ~pause~ Oh, no sorry. ~pause~ Who? ~pause~ About Buffy? Why not now? Is she okay? Where is s- ~pause~ Fine, tomorrow morning. Thank you. Good-bye."

Giles wearily replaced the handset on the receiver and leaned back in his chair. Buffy had been missing for 5 days. A word with Synder told him Buffy was expelled. Willow had found Mrs. Summers in tears, demanding to know where her daughter was and "what the hell was going on": Giles had sighed in relief when Willow and Xander had volunteered to handle that area. <And now I get this call.> A Ms. Pevets from the watchers council, who would tell him nothing beyond the fact that Buffy was safe.

Until tomorrow then.

***

<Ouch!> Was Alfred's first conscious thought. His head cleared and he saw Audrey hovering over him with an ice pack, and Buffy in the background apologizing and swearing she hadn't meant to hit him so hard.

"It's all right Buffy. That was a fantastic right crossover. I hadn't seen it coming."

He and Buffy had been training all morning. After a time, he had switched over to sparing with quarterstaffs. She had mumbled something about Friar Tuck and started to defend herself half-heartedly. Then, without warning, something in her snapped. Eyes burning, jaw set, she really came at him. Within seconds she threw and out-of-nowhere crossover and well, the rest was history.

<She is the Slayer.>

***

Buffy chewed her lip nervously. She hadn't meant to hit him so hard. <It was just…I don't know,> she sighed.

They had been sparing with quarterstaffs no less. She hadn't been interested. With only half her mind on the fight, her thoughts began to wander…To the last time she had used quarterstaffs. The day she had first kissed Angel. Her body had sagged as the reminders started to pile up. Suddenly, her grief turned to anger. Anger at life, at fate for handing her this whole icky life filled with sad, lonely things. She began to lash out at the nearest tangible object which had been, unfortunately, Alfred.

He was being really nice about it, now that he was conscious. She sent Audrey for more ice and helped Alfred to the couch in his study.

"Alfred" she broke off, "That name doesn't fit you. You're much too young. Maybe in 30 years, but for now you need a new name. You're last name's Williams? No, that won't work. Wills? Yeah, that'll work. And if you don't like it, I'll hit you again," Buffy finished with a quick grin. "Seriously, though, I never meant to hit you like that. I just-"

"You just what?" asked Wills softly.

"I don't know. I was just thinking about the last time I used a quarterstaff and it.. reminded me … of something..very painful. Finally, I just got mad and well, you know the rest," she added with an apologetic grin.

" What was it that was so painful?" prodded Wills gently.

"Nothing" came the short reply, the tone stopping all further questions in that area.

Wills held up his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. But would you help me to my computer?"

"Sure"

With Buffy all but carrying Wills, he was soon set in front of the monitor. As he booted up Buffy began to giggle. He shot her a questioning glance.

"It's just that I never expected to see a watcher in front of a computer. Mine wouldn't even go near them. Giles once called it a 'dread machine'," she imitated in her best British tones. "He left all the technology to Willow and Ms. Cal-" Her voice cut off and her lips pressed together in a thin line as she stared at some unseen picture. Just as Wills was about to break the silence, Buffy turned and walked out of the room saying something about finding Audrey and the ice.

He sighed. She wasn’t ready, not yet. He swiveled back to the screen and clicked on his "New Messages" file. One new one.

As Willow and Giles sat, Xander paced. Giles had informed the two of them of the meeting but had decided Oz and Cordelia should be left out of this one. As the doors to the library opened, Giles and Willow rose; and Xander stopped short. A young woman strode through, followed by a rather short man. Before anyone else could speak, the young woman held up a hand.

"My name is Alana Pevets. I assume you are Mr. Giles but I am afraid I do not know the two of you."

"I'm Willow and this is-"

Xander cut in, "Her friend who wants to know if Buffy is okay"

Alana tilted her head. "Of course. Buffy has been in Wilmington, North Carolina for the past 2 days. She is staying with the current Slayer, Audrey Arlin and her watcher. Mr. Williams is the one who informed us of Buffy's whereabouts."

"So that good for nothing bastard didn’t hurt her?" demanded Xander.

"If you are referring to Angel, on the contrary, Buffy was the one who hurt him." Alana pressed on, ignoring Xander's smile. "She sent him to hell, literally. But, not until after his soul was returned to him."

Willow gasped, "Poor Buffy." She murmured.

But Alana continued, "Now, we need to sit down and get the whole story straight so be can figure out how to best help our Slayer."

"I told that smart assed kid to stay away from her. In the shadows, where he belonged. But did he listen? No. Still…poor kid," Whistler murmured to himself.

"Pause please. Who exactly are you?" asked Xander, eyeing Whistler curiously.

"Long story kid. M'name's Whistler. Let's spare ourselves the trouble and leave it at that."

Finally, Giles spoke up. "We don't seem to be going anywhere at the present and I for one would be most gratified to hear some details. What I know is sketchy at best."

"Ya might wanna sit down for this one. I'm an immortal demon sent down to train and prepare the one person who could overcome evil and triumph for the side of good"

Willow looked confused. "But Buffy already has a watcher."

"Not Buffy. Angel"

***

An hour later, when the group finally felt like they had gotten the sequence of events down, Willow sat down at her computer and began to type.

***

Audrey brought up Alfred lunch a little late. About 2:30. That's when they got the message. From a Willow Rosenburg. After checking to make sure Buffy was still outside, they opened the file.

"Audrey, check the window "

"Yep, she's still out there."

"I'll dial. H-hello. Ms. Rosenburg? This is Mr. Williams. Audrey's watcher. We got your message, and we are confused.

***

"Guys, guys, shut up. It's Mr. Williams. No, stop, put that phone on intercom. Yeah. Mr. Williams?"

"Yes?"

"Okay, let me introduce everybody."

***

Audrey made it to her room after hanging up with Buffy's California connections before she burst out into tears, The entry that had been submitted to the Watcher's Council about Buffy's career had been facts, with no deviation into the emotional level. Audrey had had no idea of the traumas Buffy had suffered through.

Even worse, the selfish side of Audrey spoke up, she was scared for herself. <If it can happen to Buffy, it can happen to me.> Audrey grabbed Gaby and held her tight.

At the sound of the door opening, Audrey looked up. Buffy's head popped in.

"Sorry, do you know where….hey! what's the matter?" Buffy crossed the room and sat at the foot of the bed, "Are you okay?"

Somehow, the fact that Buffy could still be concerned about anyone after the pain she had suffered undid Audrey completely. She threw her arms around the small 17 year old.

"Hey! Um, okay," said Buffy, gently. She slowly pulled back. "Audrey, what is it?"

"How can you care about me after what you've been through?"

Buffy face became a mask. No emotions could be seen. Her eyes however, were a sea of conflict. Pain and sadness warred against Buffy's control. A single tear rolled down Buffy's face.

"How do you know what I've been through?" she inquired in clipped, impersonal tones, as so to not give way to her emotions.

<Oops! Okay..think Audrey.>

"Ah, we just got the report for the last year on you from the Watcher's Council. Every watcher keeps one on his or her Slayer. On the Slayer's death, the watcher sends the journal to the Council who archives it and sends it on to the current Slayer. W-we, um, since you aren't dead, we haven't gotten your report, but since your disappearance, your watcher turned over the journal for the time being." Audrey realized she was rambling and quickly shut her mouth. She waited for Buffy's reaction.

 "A Council? Man, I miss out on everything. First a handbook, now a council." Buffy said in a desperate attempt to change the subject. This conversation could quickly become too painful.

Audrey, although incredibly sweet, wasn't that great at taking a hint, and pressed on. "Is Angel the secret you've kept from us? Or is there more?"

"Fine, you wanna go there? Do you really want to hear the whole story? I'll tell you." Buffy's voice increased in volume and became shrill. "I put everyone I loved in danger. I hurt every single on of them. My watcher was tortured, Xander suffered a broken wrist, Willow went into a coma, my mom couldn't handle my slaying job and kicked me out of the house, my principal expelled me from high school, Kendra died!. And Angel…" Buffy couldn't go on. She started to sob hysterically. Her breath coming out in pants. Finally, she managed to whisper through her tears, "I sent the kindest, most gentle, most loving man, the best thing that ever happened to me, to hell. And he thought I hated him. He held out his hand to me and I didn't go with him. I let him go by himself. He's alive, in darkness, and alone. But so am I. When he left, he took me with him. I'm not me without him. He was my better half, and I never got to tell him that."

"Buffy, if he loved you, then he knew. The same way your friends knew that you never meant to put them in those situations. That you love them."

"I may love them, but I can't let them love me. Its too dangerous."

"Maybe they know that. And maybe they don't care."

"Maybe they should care!" Buffy screamed.

Audrey, undaunted replied, "No matter what you think, they will continue to love you and be there for you. If you want to blame yourself, go right ahead, but let me tell you, there is plenty of blame in this world to go around without arguing for a greater share of it."

Buffy, somewhat subdued, let her gaze fall to the bed. She seemed to shake herself in an attempt to regain control of her emotions, her pain. "How'd you get to be so smart?"

"Well, I am older than you. That and years of soap operas."

Buffy laughed and looked around. Her gaze settled on Audrey's bear.

"Who's this?"

Audrey's cheeks began to glow a faint red. "Its just Gabrielle. She's kinda my security blanket. My parents gave her to me on my first birthday. I always keep her near me. Pretty stupid, huh?"

"Not really. Back home I have a stuffed pig. His name's Mister Gordo. See, 'gordo' means 'fat' in Spanish, so I thought the name fit. Anyways, he's always been there for me…and for others. I used to tell him all my problems, from when I was first called to be the Slayer to when my parents got divorced and I got kicked out of my old school. That's why mom and I moved to Sunnydale. Which, my luck, turned out to be a hellmouth. A regular vamp party town."

"Oh. Your parents are divorced?"

"Yeah, a couple of months after I was 'called'. Sometimes I think they broke up because of me. They couldn't handle everything. They didn't know the reason I got in fights and stuff. And then they would get into fights about my fights and…so, what about your folks?"

Audrey's eyes clouded. "They're dead. When I was 15. Vampires."

"Oh, I'm sorry. So this is like a vengeance gig for…." Her voice trailed off.

"What?"

"Nothing. I was just going to say the same thing to you that I said to someone else very special a while ago."

"Angel?"

"How did you..? Oh well, points to percepto girl."

Audrey opened the door before her and walked into the garden. In it stood 3 people. Two women and a man.

"Hello Kendra. Angel. Jenny." Audrey greeted them.

<Um, how do I know them?>

Angel stepped forward.

"You have to take care of her Audrey,"

"You've got a tough job ahead of you. She's been through a lot and suffers so much." Said Jenny solemnly.

"You're good for her. In helpn' you she heals herself." Was the statement given by Kendra.

"I know she is hurt, but what can I do?" Audrey cried.

"Be her friend." Advised Angel, "Let her know that no one blames her and that she is loved. She's so innocent and fragile."

"I'll try, but I still don't see how I'm going to be able to help."

Leaving her implied question unanswered, they all replied in unison, "Go, she needs you now."

***

Audrey woke up with a start. It had been a dream. <But the message was real.>

From next door, she could hear Buffy tossing and turning. A whimpered "Angel" was all that it took to get Audrey out of bed and into Buffy's room."

"I'm sorry." Buffy mumbled in her sleep.

"Buffy. Wake up, wake up. You're having a nightmare." Audrey gently shook Buffy's trembling body.

"Angel!" Buffy cried before shooting upright. She shook her head to clear it before she saw Audrey. "Audrey! Oh! He blames me. I tried to say I was sorry but he said I wouldn't have done it if I had loved him. But I did. I still do.": Buffy threw her arms around Audrey and wept softly into her shoulder.

"Buffy, he knows that. He doesn't blame you. He knows you love him and that you had to save the world. If anything, he is proud of your strength. Don't ever doubt that." She said fiercely.

"But how do you know?" came the startlingly childlike plea for reassurance.

"What else could he think? He loves you."

"Really?"

"Yes" replied Audrey firmly. "Hey, how 'bout we go downstairs and talk over a cup of hot chocolate or something."

Buffy smiled. "That'd be nice."

***

A few days later, a letter came…for Buffy. Curious, she opened the thick envelope. Five letters spilled out onto the bed. Her curiosity burning brighter, she picked up the closest letter.

Buffy grinned.

Eyes brimming with tears, Buffy picked up the next letter. To her surprise, she saw it was from Oz.

Next was from Cordelia.

<Sweet, if tactless.>

Buffy starred in shock at the piece of paper before her. She then dropped it like it was a snake. She hissed in anger. <He did it because he was jealous. He didn’t want Angel to come back. He's always hated Angel. He--> She took a deep breath <Whoa girl. Things might have turned out better, but they might have turned out worse. Its over now and anger won't change anything.> <Still, he should have told me,> the evil part of her mind spoke before Buffy firmly pushed it down and picked up the final letter.

Buffy slowly let the last page fall. She crossed over to the desk and pulled out some paper. She began to write.