Disclaimer: Not mine, never have been, never will be, don't want them
to be (except Angel…) don't claim them…It's all Joss, Mutant Enemy
and the WB/Fox.
Rating/Content: Whatever BtVS (the series) is rated, there's nothing worse
than a cuss word or a kiss.
Spoiler: Becoming one and two, Angel From Hell
Summary: Buffy has to deal with life; Angel, Nightshade, her friends.
(It's never ending.)
by: Star
Part One
She pulled her jacket around her tighter, though it wasn't really cold. If there was a chill, it wasn't external, and not even the fires of hell could warm it… The cemetery was empty. Well, not really empty, if one counted vampires. Only two tonight, though. And she wasn't really patrolling to kill vampires…then, was she really patrolling..? The leather jacket wasn't more for warmth or stealth, more like security. And not in the safe way. She looked at her watch. 11:00pm. Only 11:00? Should probably head home…unless he shows up. What if he showed up right after she left? Right. Well, patrol for 15 more minutes, then we'll (we..?) call a quits…Right. She sighed, and made a decision. "I'm NOT waiting any more, I'll just march right up to his door, and…then… decide.. what to do." Decision made, (sort of) she headed towards the Bronze. Her shoes clicked hollowly in the empty streets. Why were the streets empty? Her mind asked the question, and stored it as a precaution some where in her brain, but it didn't really register. Nothing really did any more. Only one thought ever really took precedence. Even then, it was less of a thought, and more of a…non-thought. Reaching her destination, she stopped, and stood gazing at the door for the remainder of her 15 minutes. "I can't." She mumbled and turned away. She forced herself to stop (jeez, this night was weirder than usual…weird is usual? Shut up). "No. I have to. If I don't…I never will…Right." She sighed again and raised a fist to knock on the door. Her fist stayed raised for a little while, then it dropped, and she almost turned away. After doing this a few times (and around 11:40) just as she raised her fist to knock the door opened. And she greeted Angel with her fist raised in the air like she was about to punch him. "Angel!"
"Buffy."
"Hi," She tried to smile. "Haven't really seen you around." She also tried to sound casual.
"No. Um…haven't been around…to be seen."
"Oh yeah. Um…I noticed."
Angel looked down. "Well, sorry but I've gotta be on my way. Good night."
"Night." Buffy also looked away as Angel walked by. "Angel?"
"Yeah." He turned around, his eyes never meeting hers.
"Why are you…we doing this? To me…ourselves…" Her heart was in her eyes as she spoke, and it was clear there was far more she wanted to say.
"Cause sometimes things aren't the way we want them to be. That's life. Can we talk later? I've gotta go." He turned slowly and walked away. Paused, looked at her, then began walking even faster.
"Where are you going?" She started to catch up to him. "I could keep you company…"
"I don't think that's a very good idea…" He tried to explain with out looking at her.
"It's not a problem, really. I don't have school right now."
"Buffy…" He turned, almost exasperated. "You can't come with me. You don't want to. I'm a vampire. I'm headed for a cold dinner."
"Oh." She stood her ground. "Sorry."
"No problem, not your fault. Talk to you later." He started off at a rapid walk again, and this time she stayed back.
"Yeah." Buffy said softly. "Night, Angel."
* * *
"Damn it!" He cursed under his breath as he turned a corner and was sure he was out of her line of sight. It had been so hard… But she had to let go. She couldn't depend on him anymore. They couldn't ever go anywhere with their relationship and he should have listened to his first instincts. He HAD to stay out of her life, but at the same time all he wanted to do was hold her and kiss her. It hurt so badly, as if he were ripping his own heart out. He wondered if this was the right thing to do… "Of course it is. Don't be selfish…
* * *
The eastern sky was already lightening as Buffy quickly approached her house. She opened the door quietly, not wanting to wake her mom. As she stepped into the kitchen there Joyce was standing there, phone in hand dialing a number. "Mom?"
"Oh my God Buffy!" She slammed the phone down and rushed over to hug her daughter. "You didn't come home last night, where were you?"
"Jeez Mom, don't break the phone…"
"What happened last night?" She insisted.
"MOM," Buffy gently broke her Mom's hold on her. "It's okay. I just lost track of the time. I came home as soon as I realized what time it was."
"Were you with Angel?" Her mom asked accusingly.
Buffy's eyes flashed angrily and with hurt at the same time. "No."
"I'm sorry honey," Joyce went to hug her daughter. "I just worry."
"Let go of me." Buffy's voice was cold, with and underlying tone of steel.
Joyce stepped back slowly. "Okay honey, whatever."
"I'm…going to go take a shower and get some sleep." Buffy put a hand to her forehead. "Have a good day at work." She turned and walked out of the kitchen, up the stairs.
Part Two
Her curtains stirred gently in the early morning breeze and sunlight spilled through them, coloring the floor of her room honey gold. The slight breeze gently played over and cooled her bare shoulders as she held the towel around her body. She never moved, rarely blinked, her gaze never wavered from the sunlight, except to the shadows gathered in the corner, cringing away from the sunlight. In those shadows she saw so much…
Blood tinged tears fell down a pale face that hadn't been touched by sunlight in centuries. Betrayal and pain flashed in the dark depths of wide eyes. Flashing blues and reds flared and receded, swallowing the only thing left to lose… Cold dark rains…A second so close to the skeletal hand of death, it's chill left a mark near the throat, and in the heart…months of endless pain, never ending…Contemplating death, and the release it might bring…Tears that were burned dry…There was no end. There would never be an end to all the pain and torment. Ever. It was fate. Beyond fate, beyond control…Vision clouded with black, sliced with blue than red and through it all two sad brown eyes…
* * *
"Buffy!" The door creaked slightly as Xander opened it. "Wake up!"
Her eyes opened slowly, the rest of her body unmoving. She blinked. Buffy's head moved slightly as she turned to look at him, and it took a while for her brain to register that Xander was in her room and she needed to wake up. "Xan?"
"Buffy are you okay?" He asked, his soft with concern.
She blinked again, squeezing her eyes shut and forcing them open. "Um…yeah. I…" She ran a hand through her hair. "I was out really late last night patrolling…I'm just tired."
"Buff, it's 2:40 p.m. Giles sent me, he called but you didn't answer. Willow had an AP class, so she couldn't come…are you sure you're okay?" He sat down beside her on the bed.
She sat up slowly and moved over so that he had more room to sit comfortably. "Oh," She said finally, not really answering his question.
"So, what kept you out so late?" His eyes didn't meet hers. "Angel?"
"Yes and no." She replied after a second of thought. She was fully awake now. She looked down, and tucked a piece of hair behind her ears.
"What do you mean?" Xander looked at her.
Without looking up, she sighed. "I…I haven't really talked to Angel since that first night that I fought Nightshade. He's…been avoiding me." She shrugged. "I guess it doesn't really matter…"
"But…it matters to you." He tried to catch her eyes with his.
"Yeah…" She nodded slightly. "I guess it does."
"Well," Xander stood. "We'd better check back in with the book man." He held a hand out to her, to help her up. "We should be there after three, and you can talk to Willow."
She took his hand firmly; knowing there was more in his gesture than just helping her up. He would be there for her, always. No matter how tough, or how angry he was he would always be there. It was good to know that you had such friends.
"Nice PJ's." He commented.
She looked down at her flannel nightshirt, thankful it was there, that she had remembered to put on her pajamas. For some strange reason she had the feeling she hadn't…"I LIKE them! They're very much…in…the comfortable zone of clothes."
"Hey!" Xander raised his hands in defense. "I said they were nice."
She half smiled. "Well, let me get dressed."
"Okay," Xander shrugged, not moving. "Go ahead."
"Xander!" She pushed him out the door.
"Alright alright!" He raised his hands defensively as he walked out and she could hear him going down stairs. Her forced smile faded. She sat down on her bed, and ran a hand through her hair. Buffy sighed again, then stood up to get dressed. Oh well, just deal…
* * *
Xander rushed into the library with his usual enthusiasm. An impulsive smile curved Buffy's lips. Her friends…Then it darkened. She would get them killed. It would happen someday. If not tonight, then tomorrow. But she didn't want to lose them. She needed their friendship, wanted it! But, she wouldn't endanger them anymore. She just couldn't. She took a deep breath, and pasted a smile on her face, as she opened the library door. "Hey."
"Hello Buffy." Giles looked away from the book he had been reading. "How are you today?"
"Okay." She sat on the counter. "Was out late last night. Not a lot of activity."
"That…that would make sense." Giles set down the book down on the table. "I believe that Nightshade is gathering forces. I've been reading on her, and she has no reserves about uneven odds. She is quite… the vampiric leader."
"Great." Buffy jumped down. "So, you don't think she's gone, she's trying to kill me…again."
"Well, Buffy…you are the slayer," Willow said hesitantly.
"Willow…" Buffy stopped, and inhaled. "I know. And…nothing I can do can change that. But…So, Giles. What's our plan of action?"
"Well, we don't really know exactly what they are up to, so all we can do is train."
"Yeah, and I bet Buffy has the perfect music." Xander nodded sharply.
"Actually, no." Buffy almost looked ashamed. "I'm music-less girl today."
"That's quite good…Ah, well…I mean what a shame. Um…damn." He took off his glasses. "Well, we'll do some flexibility exercises, then calisthenics."
"Sounds like fun." Buffy turned to her friends. "Well, laters."
"We're all going to the Bronze tonight." Cordelia spoke up. Buffy hadn't even noticed her. "You and Angel should come."
"Angel..? Um…I think he's busy."
"Well, but you'll come. Won't you Buffy?" Willow picked up her books.
"Maybe. I'll let you know."
"Well, later Buff." Xander led Willow and Cordelia out.
"I thought she was over it." Cordelia said as soon as they left the building.
"What are you talking about?" Xander looked at her as if she were crazy.
"Well, in all your guys' relief to have her back, you haven't even noticed something's wrong."
"Well, Cordelia think of what she has been through." Willow looked at her, then Xander.
"Well," Cordelia shook her head. "I don't expect her to be like party girl or anything, but she has Angel back, she's home, her Mom is okay with the fact that she's the slayer…she might even get back into school. Seems like she should be okay."
"Well, maybe…" Willow started.
"No." Xander interrupted. "Angel has been avoiding her. She hasn't really talked to him."
"And have you noticed, I don't mean to sound shallow, but she hasn't been dressing or looking like Buffy. She hasn't done make-up, and the nicest thing she has worn has been her outfit today."
"Yeah. And baggy jeans and a maroon tank top isn't exactly Buffy." Willow noted.
Xander was silent for a moment. "It seems like all Buffy has, right now, is her…'slayerness'. She's even distant from her friends, her life."
* * *
He watched her at her favorite exercise, thoughtfully. Never had he seen her so intense that she didn't laugh or smile. He had seen a sorrow dropped upon her so dark it should have broken her…but it didn't. He witnessed the greatest pain beyond knowledge…and she had made it through that. So what could be holding on to her now..?
Part Three
"How can you be so sure?" She tossed her hair, her hands on her hips.
Nightshade looked from the blonde over towards a cluster of shadows. An eerie smile crept over her lips. "Because he knows EVERYTHING about her."
"And, most importantly," The voice added. " I know her friends. Such weakness! Friends, though they have come in handy for her I suppose."
"But," Nightshade stood, fiddling with her wineglass. "Without her friends, and with His Lord in town…" She began to laugh.
The blonde crossed her arms. "The sun is about to rise. Another wonderful day of school."
* ** *
"What a terrible day for school!" Cordelia squinted up at already bright sun in the eastern sky. "We should be at home, Willow, tanning or doing something important!"
"Cordelia- you could get skin cancer from tanning too much." Willow said, sincerely concerned.
"Maybe." Cordelia nodded her head at the validity of Willow's statement. "But I would die tan."
Xander nodded with a smile that spoke his mischievous thoughts openly. "I would 'tan' with you."
"Well Cordelia. You wouldn't even need a swimsuit. We'll all be baked to a crispy brown by the end of the week." Oz took Willow's hand even as he spoke to Cordelia. "The forecast is calling for clear skies, and a low of 85 for the next week."
"Well- that's not that bad. What's the high?" Xander asked.
"110." Oz said bluntly.
"No, that's not bad. Not bad at all." Cordelia rolled her eyes.
The sun was on their backs as they climbed the steps to school.
* ** *
"So- we have a meeting with the principal today." Joyce said brightly as Buffy sat herself on a stool in the kitchen, still in her flannel PJs.
"God it's hot already." She mumbled, running a hand through her hair. "I didn't sleep well last night.
"Oh, anything in particular?"
"No." Buffy looked down. "Not really."
"Come on honey, you can tell me." Joyce leaned on the counter near where Buffy was sitting. "I know all your deepest darkest secrets, I'm don't think that you could surprise me any more."
"Um…just bad dreams," Buffy shook her head slowly. "Nothing huge or important."
"Well, I understand, You must have terrible dreams, slaying all those vampires in cemeteries…"
Buffy almost smiled despite herself. Her mom clearly was still uncomfortable with the whole slayer thing. Yeah, and if the vampires she slayed nightly where her greatest cause for nightly dreams… "Yeah, but…the vamps in the cemetery aren't that bad." At her mom's look of confusion, she tried to elaborate. "Most of the vampires that I slay every night are 'new'. They aren't very old or very smart, and aren't usually much trouble. It's not the actual SLAYING that makes life so difficult…well, kinda."
Joyce shook her head and sighed. "Whatever you say honey." She opened the refrigerator door and took out some orange juice. "We have a meeting with principal Snyder soon." She repeated.
"Joy." Buffy glanced at her mom strangely before picked up the glass of orange juice that her mom poured her. "You already said that. And, hey, I see why! A half hour with the troll would make anyone's day better."
"Well, I'm sure they'll let you back in. You name has been cleared after all."
"Yeah. That's what Giles says." Buffy sighed.
"Giles?" Joyce stopped and looked at her daughter. "You've had contact with him?"
"Yeah." Buffy shrugged. "Mom, he's my watcher. He trains me, let's me know what might be coming. He's been pretty crucial to my survival."
"Oh." Joyce turned away, and even though she didn't say anything, Buffy could tell that she was fairly upset.
"Well, I'm going to get dressed." Buffy stood, and walked upstairs. If only it were the every day vampires that I had nightmares about, and not those special ones…
* ** *
Frustrated, she flung the covers back. There was no point in trying to sleep. Glancing at her clock again, she saw it was only two minutes later since she last checked; about midnight. She pulled off her pajamas and slipped into her usual slayer gear, and soundlessly crept out the window.
* * * *
Buffy didn't notice the perfect velvet sky, or the stars that were splattered against it in perfect clarity, evolving around the world in their infinite patterns. Oh, but she did. She always did. Loneliness drove one to do that. A smile crept along her lips, it would be the perfect night to die…
* ** *
"Angel!" Buffy gasped, and lowered her stake. "I…I'm sorry." She quickly and indiscreetly tucked her stake away. "I…"
"You seem to be doing that a lot to me lately." He simply looked at her.
"Yeah," Buffy forced a smile. "What better way to greet a loved on than with a fist sandwich or a stake through the heart…I…I didn't mean that." She looked down. "No…no. Wait, I did. Mean it, I mean."
Angel just continued looking at her, with a strange mixture of emotions on his face. His lips almost smiled at her strange choice of words, but there was an infinite sadness in his eyes, and pain etched in his handsome face. "Buffy…" Before either of them could drew another breath, something hit Angel hard from behind. He fell forward, knocking Buffy down. They both scrambled to their feet knowing it could be their lives. Hearing someone behind her, Buffy kicked out and spun to face the vampire. Both of them. "And here you are! Again, interfering with my life!"
A red headed vampire lunged at her, Buffy ducked and tripped him just in time to take on the next vampire who she staked easily. His companion however, wasn't so easy. "Buffy!" Angel called, "I need a stake. Now!" She tossed him one, and was aware of him staking a vampire. She kicked the red head down again, and this time he ran. She sighed, and walked over to help Angel up.
"You okay?"
"Never better. You?"
"Not that great." She said honestly. " Why are you avoiding me?"
"Buffy…"
"And don't give me the crap you did the other night. I just want to know the truth."
Angel looked down at her. "You know, somehow, we have to move forward. Because if I tell you the truth, we'll end up right where we were before. And we can't be caught in that circle anymore."
"I think I understand." She looked up at him, catching his eyes. "But, I don't want you to shut me out. I still want to be a part of your life! And I want you to be a part of mine…" She half smiled. "Or the lack there-of." He didn't say anything immediately, and she swallowed. "Of course, if you don't want me in your life…" She gasped suddenly and fell, clutching her side.
"Buffy!" Angel cried, lunging forward to drop by her side. Something hit him, then laughed. "I don't think there's anything that you can do lover-boy!" A harsh female voice laughed, and a blade from out of nowhere sliced his chest below his neck. The voice laughed again. "How'd that feel?"
"Stings a little, but doesn't hurt me, in the scheme of things. Sorry to bust your bubble." He shrugged. "What are you anyway?"
'Just someone seeking a little revenge." She laughed again, then her voice faded.
He looked down at Buffy. "I'm sorry, Buffy. I wish I could have stopped this." He leaned near her mouth, felt a faint and unsteady breath. "Please hold on." She lay unconscious, her blonde hair spread out in a silky vale, contrasting strongly with the blood. And over head, the stars continued circling. They wouldn't fall, or die they way they should if Buffy died…Angel's head swam with grief as he stroked her hair. And the wind whispered… "A perfect night to die…"
Part Four
"Eww. That's just disgusting. Not only is she a mortal, but she's the one mortal in all the world who's supposed to kill us. Angelus, what's gotten into you? You know, I'm really disappointed in you?"
"Tare." Angel stood up to his full height.
"Yep. I suppose I am."
"You have no business here in Sunnydale. Get out."
"Ah! But I thought it would be like old days! Minus Spike, Darla and Drusilla. Of course, it wouldn't be that hard to get them back. Except Darla that is. She's hanging with the other ashes of our kind. I've heard that it was your doing. Then I heard you were back."
"It will NEVER be like that again. I'm never going back." Angel said darkly.
"Well, I have news for you. You CAN'T go back. Not even the 'happiness' she," This he spit, as if there was a bad taste in his mouth. "Brings to your pour pathetic soul. The spell the young witch cast on you was a spell of restoration, not a curse." He laughed as it registered; Angel's face unable to hide his churning emotions. "The news I like, is that she will never be alive to find out the happy news!"
"Wanna bet?" A female voice came from behind him. Tare turned to meet a fist flying for his face. The simple punch threw everything into chaos. Angel spun and staked one of Tare's followers who was gawking. The black girl, who had interfered, took care of two more, and the remaining two scrambled away.
"This isn't finished Angel!" Tare screamed as he ran. "It will never be finished."
"Yeah. They always say that." Angel mumbled under his breath. "Thanks for your help. Who are you?"
"Angel?" Her accent was thick. She spoke clearly, even if she was a little hesitant. "I have read about you. And heard about you."
"Yeah. I'm a popular guy. Do I know you? Or maybe you know Buffy?" His worry for the Buffy made him more straightforward and less secretive than usual.
"I know of Buffy. I am Sheyrena. Or Rena. I am the Vampire Slayer."
She smiled. "Well, the other one at least." She looked at Buffy. "Is this her?"
"Yeah. Some invisible girl, I think, stabbed her. We need to get her to safety immediately. Some place where I can treat her wound. I believe that she is in grave danger of dying."
"Alright." Rena nodded, and he noticed her tiny black and gold braids. "To her watcher? I believe it is Mr. Giles?"
"That would be him, but let's get her to my apartment, it's closer." He bent down and picked her up. "She's still alive."
"She won't die." Rena said confidently.
"How can you be so sure?" Angel held Buffy securely, as they hurried towards his apartment. And inwardly wondered how he came to be carrying his dying 'girlfriend' who had been stabbed by an invisible girl, after fighting a group of vampires, back with the other slayer, who he had barely met when he was attacked by Tare and his group…
"Because she would be dead already if she was going to die."
"That's encouraging."
"Probably not, but it's the truth. Anyway, tell me how you came to have your soul returned after you got out of…Hell."
"How do you know my soul is returned?"
She smiled. "Because Buffy is still alive, and so is Tare, and you're not on his side. But if I'm wrong, I have a stake."
"I didn't know it at the time, but it was Willow, who casted the spell…"
* ** *
"That's quite a story." Rena said attentively, as Angel finished.
"I suppose. It's just, everything is so out of balance…I can't explain it." Now that the threat of Buffy dying had dropped considerably, he felt himself wishing he hadn't been so open with the new slayer.
"In more ways than one." Rena turned to look Angel directly in the eyes, the light shining on her black skin. "That's why Tare is here."
"What do you mean?" Angel glanced at Buffy, concern for her evident in his eyes. Every time he glanced at her, he was flooded with memories. Of the last few times they'd been in here together. Memories that he would cherish beyond forever, and another he wished he could banish…"What? Could you repeat that?" He asked Rena, turning back towards her. "I'm sorry…my mind sort of slipped…"
She shook her head. "No, it's alright. I've been where you are before." Her voice softened. "I think anyway. Sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision…" She was interrupted by a small moan.
"Buffy!" Angel rushed to her side, and took her hand. "Buffy?"
"Angel?" She said weakly.
"How do you feel?"
"I…" Her voice grew a little stronger. "I think I'm okay…" She started to sit up and gasped, falling back on the pillows. "Or not. What happened?"
Before Angel could answer, Rena stepped in. "Hi Buffy. No, you don't know me, but Angel will fill you in. And I know that this is really abrupt, but my slayer sensed are telling me that you need to be alone with Angel. I'm going to finish your patrol- check on our friend Tare; otherwise I'd explode in here. I will see you around sunrise."
"Who is she?" Buffy watched her leave.
Angel stood and looked down. "I thought you were going to die." His voice was soft, almost inaudible.
"Sorry to disappoint you." She snapped. Angel flinched at her harsh words. "Sorry. I didn't mean that."
"I…I know. You were stabbed by…something invisible. It sounds crazy…"
"No." Buffy said thoughtfully. "No it doesn't. I dealt with an invisible girl a couple years back. She could be back." She stirred a little, and inhaled sharply, closing her eyes against the pain that shot up her side.
"Oh. Well…she stabbed you in the side. I saw the knife she used, and heard her laugh, but never saw her." He adjusted some of her pillows, so that she would be more comfortable.
"Great. What fun I have these days."
"Then it got worse."
"Worse?" Her eyes found his, and she felt her heart melt again.
"Tare is here."
"Angel, who's Tare?"
Angel sat down on his bed beside her, then stood up and turned so he wasn't facing her, speaking quietly so that she had to strain to listen. "Back when I was…young, in a manner of speaking, there was sort of a group. The Old Ones- one of many names. They weren't all necessarily old vampires, but very powerful. For the most part, they didn't live or travel in one large group. It would create too much conflict among vampires. Many lived countries apart. At one time, it included The Master, Darla, Drusilla, Spike, Nightshade, Tore…and me. I guess it was sort of like a council. Members came and went, sometimes one was never sure exactly who was in and who wasn't. We were very powerfull in my time with them, and did the world a lot of damage."
He glanced at Buffy and found her listening intently, so he continued. "Sometimes councils were held, with huge feasts…" His voice dies. "The things I did that included the old ones…well, slayer hunts are only the beginning." He looked at her again.
She looked down. "Wow. You have had quite a life. You keep popping up with these weird…" She looked up at him. "I…so this invisible girl is after me, a slayer hunter is in town who wants the old ways back, and Nightshade is still lurking somewhere, waiting to bite my neck. And on top of it all…"
"On top of it all what?" Angel sat down by her.
"You." She whispered. "I don't know what to do about you. If it's right, if it's wrong…What you want…"
"Buffy…"
Suddenly, Angel's door flew open. "Hi, I'm back. It's great to see you. They're coming. Buffy, you're awake!"
"This is the other slayer, Rena." Angel mumbled, being caught off guard in an emotional conversation.
The black girl smiled, having been semi-formally introduced. "Hi Buffy. I've heard of you…it's been said that you may be the greatest slayer…"
"Well, right now this great slayer thinks we need to check in with my watcher…who's coming?"
"Oh! Tare and company." Rena looked at Angel. "We need to help Buffy to…where ever her watcher would be."
"Um…right." Angel moved over to help Buffy to her feet. As she stood, pain shot through her side, she felt as though she were draped on him like a rug. And she was all too aware of the feel of his body against hers…They started out the door. This would be a long trip.
* * * *
Or not, the thought flashed through Buffy's mind as they were hit so hard Angel fell, dropping her to the pavement by the door of the closed Bronze. She gasped, pulling herself forward so that she leaned against the wall, in the shadow. Rena punched a vamp in the face, spun and kicked another. She was attacked from behind and she grabbed his arm and flung him over her head. Angel kicked the vamp he was fighting knocking him down…and through it all, the haze of desperate battle, Buffy saw a tall form with broad shoulders walking ever so slowly towards them. She watched him, and as he drew closer, determined he was a vampire. Suddenly, she was no longer aware of her fear of being discovered by their attackers. She pulled herself to her feet, letting him come closer to her. He smiled. "You are the slayer." When she didn't answer, he continued. "The unexpected, it's what you are good at seeing. But what about the expected, which catches you by surprise because you aren't expecting it..?" She heard a scream, and turned to see dust exploding where Angel had been, then to see Rena fall. No emotion rose in her, she just watched. She turned to look at the vampire who had been talking to her. "You see; when a threat is great enough, or hate deep enough, it's ever so possible that the impossible can happen. Which then leads to the unexpected."
"Who are you?" Were the only words she could force from her mouth.
"You'll find out soon…all too soon." Then she fell.
* * * *
"Angel! Rena!" She screamed, and Buffy's eyes flew open, and she looked up to see who was comforting her. "Xander! What…how did you..? Angel, Rena, they're in danger. They were killed, I didn't even see who killed them…I watched it happen, and I couldn't stop them. I was hurt, I'd been stabbed…"
"Chill Buffy." Cordelia spoke up before anyone could. "You aren't dead- du?! And neither is Angel and I don't know who this Rena is, but God that's a pretty weird name…"
"Okay, Cordi. I think she's up to date now."
Buffy closed her eyes tight, and inhaled. "Xander help me up."
"Think clearly Buffy. What happened?" Willow asked gently.
"I…I was hunting, and I ran into Angel. We…we were talking, we haven't been seeing eye to eye… so to speak. A small group of vamps attacked us, then something stabbed me, Angel said something about an invisible girl…"
"Like that one freak chick that tried to cut my face open! It was terrible!" Cordelia gasped.
"…Yeah. Anyway, she stabbed me. Angel took me back to his apartment, and when I woke up, Rena was there. It's so muddled."
"Well," Giles came out of his office. "Angel said you had a bump on your head, that could attribute to your…your earlier panic. You were simply dreaming."
"It wasn't a regular dream, Giles." Buffy shook her head. "I think it was prophecy dream."
"You were attacked when you were with Angel. You were stabbed, had a bump on the head. Part of it may be the full moon…it may have…uh… wigged…you out."
"Giles…"
"Buffy, your tired. You're hurt, you need to sleep." Willow picked up her coat. "Why don't we help you home, and tomorrow morning you'll feel better."
"You…you guys are sure?"
"Yeah." Xander laid a hand on her shoulder. "Once you get a good night's sleep, you'll feel better."
"Giles?" Buffy asked again. "Do, you agree with them?"
"Yes. I'll check in with you tomorrow morning."
"Alright." Buffy let Xander, Willow and Cordelia help her out of the library.
"If there is a tomorrow morning…" Giles turned and walked into his office, stepping over four unconscious bodies…
* * * *
Something inside him screamed. It pounded on the walls of his skin, it ranted and raved, and planted terrible visions in his brain… "Angel?" Rena looked at him closely. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." He stated firmly. "Nothing is wrong. Nothing will go wrong. There is nothing to have bad feelings about." This he said more to himself than anyone.
"Then why am I having to tell myself the same thing?" Rena looked at Angel, and then they both turned around and sprinted the other way.
* * * *
"Will, Xander, you've been really quiet. Are you guys okay? Is there something terrible that is about to happen that I don't know about?" She tried to kid, though the pain in her side made it pretty hard to smile.
"No." Xander didn't even look at her.
"Nothing that concerns you." Willow stated.
Buffy planted both feet, and stepped back. "What's wrong? You're totally not acting like yourselves!" She looked at them, and they both shrugged, and looked at each other. She turned away, then turned back. "Are you sure there's…nothing…wow guys you HAVE changed." She turned and sprinted as fast as she could, a sharp pain in her side.
* * * *
"Buffy!" Angel called to the slayer sprinted towards him. "Something's…"
She ran straight into him. "Wrong. Yeah, NOW you tell me!"
Rena stared behind Buffy. "Glory! What are those?"
"Just a few minutes ago, they were my friends." Buffy looked up at Angel.
"Facilimorphs."
"Facial-whats?!' Buffy exclaimed, staring at them as they came closer.
"Facilimorphs. They are like shape-shifting demons. Only, they don't really shift, they use illusions. The slightest doubt on the seer's part will dissolve the illusion."
"Great! Now we know that they really have green skin and black hair. Can we kill them?"
"If you be-head them." Rena called. "I ran into a few of these back home."
As both slayers took a fighting stance, Angel spun around, hearing voices. "Tare."
"I told you it wasn't over."
"You are stupid enough to challenge us, two slayers and all!" Rena called.
"Well, alone. Yes they would be stupid." A female voice from out of now where boomed. All three turned, trying to determine the owner of the voice. It laughed. "Hello, Buffy. I'm here for another lesson. You're last." Chaos erupted.
* * * *
Never had she fought in such chaos before. Or such a variety of demons. Vampires, invisible girls, and facil-what-cha-ma-call-its. Never had she taken such a beating, and never had her side hurt so badly. The only way to keep herself conscious was the to focus on the battle that could very well be her last, if she wasn't careful. She spun, kicked a vampire, ducked under a punch thrown by a morph demon, grabbed its arm, and threw it over her head, into a wall of a building. Suddenly, she was hit, and fell backwards into Angel. She pushed away from him, and back-fisted the vampire she had been fighting, and staked him. She grabbed the next one, kicked him in the groin, and staked him. The invisible girl hit her again, and her stake went flying. "Damn it!" She screamed. How the hell was she supposed fight morphie-things, vampires silently so that she could fight the invisible person. Angel staked another vampire. Rena catapulted a vamp through a window, and it shattered. Another vamp assaulted Buffy from behind. She grabbed him arm and flipped him over her head. He landed flat on his back, and she was stake-less. When he stood again, she kicked the sense out of him, hoping that would do temporarily. A morph thing attacked her, and as she fought him off the thought ran through her head. "How can I behead him?" Then it hit her, about the same time an invisible girl did. She grabbed for what looked like thin air, made contact and flung her into the nearest wall. Where she noticed another vampire waking up from his enforced nap. She backed as she fought the morpher, till she was near the broken window. She turned her back to him, and when he went after her, grabbed his arm, flung him over so that his neck landed right on the edge of broken window, still in the frame. Then she stomped on his head, beheading him. The other morph that had been fighting Rena saw the bloody green mess that was his brother, and ran. Rena and Angel staked their last vamps. And something knocked Angel to the ground. "Silence!" Buffy ordered. And she stood frozen, listening. Quite suddenly she spun, and kicked. There was an audible thud. She froze again. Listening for breathing, footsteps anything. She walked slowly silently over to Angel. "I need your coat."
When he threw her a confused look, she hushed him immediately. "I'm cold." He handed her the long black coat, and she feigned putting it on, then leapt forward bringing it down over the head of the invisible girl. The she proceeded to punch the crap out of the black coat.
"Wow, Buff. I never knew you hated that coat so much."
"Xander?" She looked up wearily. "Is that really you? Where's Willow?"
"I'm here." Willow answered softly. "We came to warn you about the shape-shifter things. But, we see that you have found and taken care of them."
"Don't let her get away." Buffy- then and there- passed out.
* * * *
She was suddenly aware of light shining on her face, then blocked out by a dark figure leaning over her. "Angel..?" She tried to sit up. "Where…what happened? How did I get here?"
"Lay down." Angel said in his soft sexy voice. "You're in your room. You passed out after you fought Tare and his vamps, the invisible girl and two of those facilimorphs. You had a mild head injury and a loss of blood because your side wound was re-opened. You are supposed to take it easy, for a couple of weeks." He half smiled. "Which - for the slayer - translates into a couple of days."
"Yeah, I guess. What about Rena?"
"She followed Tare here. He got away, but most of his men are as good as ash. She sort of has a personal grudge against him. She followed him out of here."
"I wish I would have gotten a chance to get to know her better. She seemed pretty neat. I think we might have been friends." Buffy put a hand to her head. "Who put the hammer in my head with out my permission?"
"Buffy." Angel said sort of distantly. "We need to talk. Buffy, I found out that…well, a lot of our problems, my…concerns about being involved with you…well…not much to worry about."
"What do you mean Angel?" Buffy looked up at him, feeling concern and fear fuel her so that she wasn't aware of how awful she felt. "You're not leaving are you?"
"No. I would never leave now." He gazed down at her, his brown eyes soft.
Buffy sighed. "These past few weeks have been so unreal. I feel like I have been walking through a dream or fog or something…"
"Buffy, I was told- by Tare- that I wasn't recursed." Angel touched her soft hair. "And I believe that he's right. He's an expert in magic, always has been…"
"So, how…" She looked up at him with eyes that held all possible emotions swirling.
"Willow restored my soul, she didn't recurse me." He watched her waiting for the news to sink in.
Suddenly her jaw dropped. "Oh my god Angel!" Tears started streaming down her face. "Oh God!" He bent down and hugged her and she wrapped her arms around him tightly. She buried her face in his chest, and cried the happiest tears of her life.
"I love you Buffy. And I always will."
"I love you." She leaned her head against his chest. Buffy fell asleep in Angel's arms. Her last thought as she drifted off, was that her Angel was with her finally, at last, forever.
The End-