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Part 2
Buffy spent the morning with her mom. She wanted to try to go and see Angel and Dru in the afternoon. Her mom had agreed that if Buffy aided her in getting the work done, that she could go. Buffy helped her mom and they finished up around 2 pm. Joyce told Buffy that she could go, and Buffy reached for the phone to call Angel. He answered after the second ring. Buffy told him that she was on her way over. He smiled at the thought of an afternoon visit with the love of his life. They talked a few minutes more, and then Buffy grabbed her backpack that contained her slaying supplies. She gave her mom a quick hug and kiss and started out the door.
Angel sat down to wait on Buffy. Dru was still asleep and he didn't want to bother her. He was guessing that she had gotten much sleep recently with the choices she had to make, and the threat of Spike's anger. He decided that it was best if he just allowed her to sleep. He did check in on her after the phone call. Angel wanted to make sure that she was still there. He was still afraid that what had happened so far had been part of a dream, and that she was still missing without an explanation. When he had checked on her, he did cover her up. Angel was glad that Dru seemed to be at peace for once. He heard a knock on the door and went to answer it, staying in the shadows. He saw it was Buffy, and invited her in.
Buffy walked in and over to Angel. She hugged him and gave him a kiss. When she pulled away, she asked about Dru. Angel explained that he had just checked on her and that she was still asleep. Buffy knew that it would be best if the two of them stayed quiet for a while then. She shared Angel's ideas about Dru not getting much rest recently. Buffy was sure that things would hopefully change that now. She followed Angel into the library where they shared a tutoring session, and a tai chi workout near sunset. They used tai chi to maintain a balance that was needed for both their lives, and slaying. Buffy loved sharing the training sessions with him. It helped to balance the frustrations they felt at not being to be together because of his curse. Buffy knew that Willow was working on a way to change that, but was experiencing a few difficulties.
Dru woke still a bit disoriented from lack of sleep. She looked around and remembered where she was. She got up, and realized that Angel had been the one to cover her up again. Dru was hungry and headed to the kitchen. She heard voices, but would investigate them in a few minutes. She poured enough to stop the hunger for now, and drank it. She went to find the source of voices she was hearing earlier.
As she neared the library, Dru saw the shadows that were on the wall. They were made by the flames that came from the fire place. She walked in, sat down and watched as Buffy and Angel worked on the kata. She admired the gracefulness and quiet peace that seemed to come from just watching. She wished that she had taken the time to learn something like that years ago. Dru waited till after they noticed her. Buffy was the first to see her, and told Angel. They both walked over to her and sat down near her. "How are you? Feeling a bit better now? We tried to keep things quiet while you rested. You seemed tired when mom and I picked you up last night." Dru smiled. "Yes, I feel better. I was tired, I had been up for quite a while the night I went to talk to you about my decisions concerning my future. How long have you and Angel been working on that? You seem to know it well. Plus, it appears to be very calming to both of you, like it gives some type of inner peace or something." Dru looked at both of them. "Well, it does. Would you like to learn it? I taught Buffy shortly after my return. She walked in and saw me using it to regain both my strength and balance in life after my little unexpected trip. We both use it to keep balance in our lives. I've been working out with Buffy and helping her with her training. She doesn't have to pull her punches with me and maybe I can help with yours as well. I haven't heard from Giles on that matter though. But with the possibility of Spike still being around, I hope that we hear something soon." Angel watched Dru when he mentioned Spike to see how she reacted to it. He noticed a hint of sadness but there was also a lot of determination in her eyes and face. He knew that she would deal with whatever got thrown her way. "I would like that Angel. I sure could use that balance and peace right now. It is a lot harder than I thought it would be, but I'm not going to give up. I did tell Spike about what I was going to do with my future. He was extremely calm about it. I'm not sure if that was good or bad, but I'm guessing that it was bad. I'd rather wait till after Giles agrees to this though. I don't want you and Buffy in any type of trouble with him." She smiled. Buffy and Angel returned it and then spent the next hour or so talking with Dru about what had been happening in Sunnydale on the days that she didn't follow them.
Giles was doing some research trying to find a way to convince the council members that training her could be an asset rather than a hinderance when it came to slaying. He was having a rather difficult time of it. He couldn't find any references to back what he was saying, but he had saw her in action. Dru had a slayer's heart, despite the fact that she was still a vampire. That night in the library, she could have just walked away from that attack, but didn't. She found a way to help even the odds for Buffy, Angel, and himself. She took on four of them and dusted three, that was very good for a slayer who really didn't have any formal training while alive. They were sending a second watcher though, so that may be a help. This one could probably help him to decide how to proceed, but he wasn't sure where they stood when it came to training a vampire. Giles never gave the council Dru's name, but they might have told the one they sent to stake her on sight. He just couldn't allow that, not till he knew that she had returned to evil. Right now that just wasn't an option, she was still on their side. Giles promised himself that he would find a way to try to get the new watcher to see things as he did. He wouldn't be easy, but he felt up to the challenge. Dru had become another special case recently. He had to let Dru know about what was going on and called Angel's.
Angel answered the phone, and listened to what was being said. He knew that a second watcher might cause major problems for Dru. He also understood that it would increase the chances that the council could be swayed to listen to the arguments that were for Dru instead of against her. He promised Giles that he would wait on him to come over before saying anything to her. He told Giles that she had returned to the mansion and was staying with him. Angel glanced over at Buffy and Dru. They were talking like old friends. He was glad that some progress had been made in that area at least. It may help to prove to this new watcher that things have definitely started changing on the hellmouth. Angel said goodbye and hung up the phone. He had promised not to let the girls patrol till after Giles talked with them.
Giles couldn't believe his luck. He had found Dru without looking for her. She was staying with Angel which meant an easier time of dealing with any problems that arose in her new life style. He also found out that Buffy was there for a visit. Angel promised to keep both of them there till after he arrived, so he jumped into his car and started towards the mansion. He hadn't gone there since the night of torture he had received at Angelus's hands. That was still an all to vivid memory, but he knew that the one who resided there now, Angel, was different. He understood the differences between the demon and the ensouled individual. They may share the same face and body, but that was where the similarities ended. The same could really be said for Dru now. She had changed once her soul was restored as well. The differences between the demons and the ones with a soul were noticeable. Giles had forgiven Angel for what had happened with Angelus, but he still hadn't forgiven Dru. She didn't ask for his forgiveness, but the way she acted told him that what she had done in Sunnydale still weighed heavily on her heart. Giles still wasn't sure of what he would do concerning her requests, but he would do something.
Angel returned to Buffy and Dru. He told them that they weren't to go anywhere till after Giles arrived. Buffy wasn't very fond of that idea and voiced her opinion.&nsbp; She tried to leave and Angel stopped her. Dru wasn't all that ready to see Giles yet either and tried to sneak out while Angel was busy with Buffy. He saw her and released Buffy long enough to snag Dru. He blocked the door to the library hoping that they wouldn't figure out how to work as a team against him. Buffy and Dru kept trying to find ways out of the library only to have their attempts cancelled everytime. Buffy and Dru looked at Angel, then each other. Both girls smiled and Angel realized that there was an unspoken agreement that had just passed between them. He backed up as both girls moved slowly towards him.
Giles arrived at the mansion. He went up to the door and noticed that it was standing wide open. He pulled a stake and went cautiously inside. Giles wasn't sure what had happened, but he wasn't taking any chances. He rounded the corner to the library when he heard a squeal. He took off running and stopped when he saw where it had came from. Angel was being tackled by both girls. He would tickle one and the other would come to the rescue. At the present moment, Dru was trying to save Buffy from a vicious tickling by Angel. He smiled when he seen Buffy laughing. It had been a while since she was that happy. He dropped the stake on the floor to get their attention. All three looked up. Angel quickly got up and helped Buffy to her feet. Dru stepped off to the side. Giles went into the library and sat down. He motioned for all of them to join him. Buffy and Angel both grabbed Dru and brought her in to join them. They all sat down and listened as Giles explained what he had been told about Dru by the council. He also explained about the arrival of the new watcher. She knew that there would be problems. She wasn't sure if she liked the idea of a new watcher showing up in Sunnydale to train her or kill her, whichever the case maybe. When Giles finished, he looked at Dru. She had been extremely quiet during the whole conversation. He could tell that she was not at all happy about this news, and he really couldn't blame her. After all, this could mean her death. He asked her about her thoughts on the information he had given her. Dru looked at him and said, "I understand why the council won't commit. They don't want any problems, should I fall back into old habits. It was to be expected. I just hope that you can convince this new watcher that I won't harm them. I am sorry about all of the trouble this is causing. It was definitely not my intention for that to happen. I will await your decision still on whether or not you want to train me. I won't push it. Just being here is good enough for me. I'm alive and happy. I won't forget all that's happened to me in such a short time. Thank you for at least trying. That means a lot to me. I am still rather tired, so if you will excuse me, I'd like to go lay down." They all nodded, and Dru got up to leave.
Buffy watched as she left. She knew that the news had upset her, but was unsure how to comfort her. Buffy decided that would probably be best if she allowed some time to think. She told Angel that she would see him the following day. Angel started to protest but Buffy stopped him. She told him that it would be best if he stayed with Dru right now. Buffy had a feeling that Angel shared her concerns that Dru may attempt to run again. He finally agreed, but only after Giles said that he would accompany Buffy on patrol. Buffy and Giles left Angel's and headed to the cemetery. Angel closed and locked the door. He went to check on Dru and found her writing in a notebook. He realized that it was her journal and left her in peace. As he turned to leave, Dru looked up. "Angel?" He turned and faced her. "I'm sorry about earlier. I just wasn't sure how to handle the news that Giles gave me. It was not exactly what I was expecting to hear. I hope I didn't upset anyone. You probably think I'll run again. I'm not planning on doing that. I have to face this now. If I start running, then I'll never stop. I'll be going to bed soon, I just wanted to write some things down before I did. Night, Angel." He smiled. "Night, Dru. No, I don't think that anyone was upset. Buffy and Giles are concerned about you though. I think that is why they wanted me to stay here with you. I'm glad that you have decided to stop running. It really isn't any fun." Dru smiled. She closed her diary and walked over to the bed. She pulled the covers down and crawled in as Angel left. He went to his room and laid down. Buffy was supposed to call once she got home, and that was all that he was waiting on before going to sleep.
Buffy and Giles talked about Dru. She told him of her concerns, and how she felt about the possibility that Dru may become her partner. She told him how she felt about everything that had been occurring recently. Giles was glad that Buffy had chose to open up to him. She asked about his feelings on everything, and he told her. His biggest concern was that once she was trained as a slayer, that she may return to the side of evil and use that training against them. Buffy understood that one to well. She had thought about that as well. After a very quiet patrol, Giles took her home. She went inside and called Angel after closing and locking the door. Angel was happy to hear that she was safe at home, and told her of the short conversation he shared with Dru after she left. Buffy said that she could understand Dru's point of view, and that she was glad that she was still there. She told him that it was her turn to go to bed now. Angel let her go after saying that he loved her and couldn't wait to see her again. Buffy said the same to him and hung up the phone. Buffy and Angel both headed to their own beds and laid down for some rest. Giles arrived at home and did the same.
Spike was in his room getting ready to go out for a bite to eat. The
phone rang and he answered it. It was Duncan. Spike smiled as
Duncan told him that he would back in town in two days. Spike made
arrangements to meet him at the motel room in the evening two days from then.
Duncan agreed and hung up. Spike was happy. His dreams of getting
Dru back would soon be a reality. Spike went to the nightclub he
had stopped at the day before. He found another bite to eat, but didn't
get any further than the alley behind the nightclub for that one. Spike
returned to his room and laid down. He was ready to dream his future
again.