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Disclaimer: I don't own of the characters. They belong to Joss Whedon, WB, etc.
Buffy Summers couldn't believe it had been almost a year to the day that her world had changed forever. Kendra had died and Angel had . . well been sent to Hell. Absently she played with her ring: a claddagh, the ring Angel had given her the night they had . .
"Earth to Buffy, you gonna tell me where to turn or not?" The voice was that of Pike, her old friend from LA When she had left Sunnydale a year ago she had went to him for help.
"Uh, the next exit takes you straight to Sunnydale High." She was returning to watch her friends graduate, an honor she would never receive. Glumly she began playing with her ring again. It was one of two pieces of jewelry she wore faithfully, the other was a silver cross necklace also given to her by Angel. Pulling herself from her thoughts she smiled sadly at Pike and said, "I never thought I would be able to come back here."
"Is it because of whatever happened that you won't tell me about?" Pike inquired.
She had never been able to bring herself to explain about falling in love with a vampire and causing two of her friends deaths to him. All he knew is that her mother had kicked her out after finding out that she was the slayer. "Yeah," was the only answer she could manage.
As Pike parked the car in front of the school Giles saw her and came running out of the building. "Buffy why did you stay away so long? I know the portal was closed or never opened. Where's Angel?"
"In Hell," the last question was the only one she could bring herself to answer.
"Oh, well then that would most likely be why you stayed away so long. Ah, Buffy who's your friend?"
Buffy snapped herself awake and introduced them. "Giles this is Pike, a friend from LA He knew about me from day one. Pike this is my watcher Mr. Rupert Giles, better know as just Giles."
They nodded at each other as Pike began to question her. "Who is Angel?"
"A long story. I'll tell you after the ceremony."
After the ceremony the Slayer and all her old friends gathered in the library, well there was one extra. A girl named Roni, as Giles explained she was the slayer called after Kendra.
After Buffy had briefly explained what had happened, leaving out the part that the curse was put back on after the portal was opened forcing her to . . kill Angel to save the world.
At the same time in the mansion Akathla's statue was located a group of gypsies were speaking quietly to themselves. When they had muttered their last words a brief explosion took place.
When the last of the dust had settled the gypsies had fled and in their place were to very confused people. Well neither of them were actually human and both had a great hate for the other. A very confused Angel and an outraged Amilyn; the original demon who tried to open Akathla.
After both of them had gotten out of the direct light a moan of horror came from Angel as he slowly remembered the events leading up to his being trapped in Akathla's Hell.
Amilyn laughed and tormented Angel with phrases such as, "How does it feel to know you hurt her so much? Or, Doesn't feel good being back on solid ground?"
Angel for the most part ignored him while he waited for sunset so he could find Buffy or Giles and have them explain what had happened to him. He didn't want to remember because if he did it would prove that he had once again hurt the ones he loved most because of one bad decision he had made. He could only hold on to the small amount of hope that it was all a nightmare, a terrible nightmare.
Back in the library the friends looked around stunned after the shock wave had passed. Nothing had been damaged and no one had been hurt but Buffy had a growing sense of dread in her stomach as she slowly stood to her feet and addressed Giles who didn't look to surprised. "All right Giles, you don't seem to surprised, what gives?"
"Well." he began slowly trying to figure out how to tell her this, "a few days ago a young gypsy woman," he hesitated again as she flinched realizing the significance of a gypsy, "approached me on my way home and said that Angel had not suffered enough and should still continue to suffer for all eternity. When I asked her how they would accomplish that she told me not to worry they would take care of it. Realizing that I knew nothing about what happened I began doing some research on Akathla and it appears that around a year after it has been opened and closed it can be destroyed with a certain gypsy spell. Apparently that spell also releases anyone trapped in it."
"Angel," Buffy said softly, "and that other guy who tried to open it."
Giles nodded. "His name is Amilyn, he is a very strong demon but not a vampire."
"So that shock wave was most likely from the destruction of Akathla." Roni pointed out. Ignoring the look Buffy gave her she continued, "Now we just kill this Angel and Amilyn and everything is over."
"No, it isn't that easy." Buffy said regaining some of the strength in her voice.
Giles started to agree with her but Buffy cut him off as she usually did.
"First of all," she started, her voice growing stronger with every word, "this guy Amilyn is probably really strong so we need to find out some more about him and Angel . ." with the mention of Angel's name her voice trailed off.
"Look Buffy," Xander began slowly, "you destroyed him once, you can destroy him again."
"Why didn't you tell me Xander, about the curse?" Buffy asked angrily. "If you did maybe I would have been here all year in school with you guys like I wanted to. Maybe I wouldn't have had to destroy the one person I truly loved." She stopped to catch her breath as everyone but Roni and Pike caught on to what she had said. "Maybe if I had known, I could have stopped him from pulling out the sword then I wouldn't have had to kill him. Yeah, that's right, the curse worked. It wasn't Angel trying to kill me that I sent to Hell. It was Angel that loved me that I sent to Hell!" With that last sentence she ran out of the library and into the daylight while the others watched her in amazement.
"You didn't tell her!?!" Willow's words were a combination of disbelief, outrage and surprise.
"Yo, guys you're forgetting that there are a couple of people who don't know the whole story." As Pike said that Roni nodded in agreement. "So why don't you fill us in and then worry about who didn't tell who what. Judging by how upset Buffy was she won't be back for a while so start from the very beginning. As in when Buffy moved here."
Willow sighed knowing they had to tell them and started telling the story as she knew it.
It was dark by the time Buffy had reached where she wanted to be. She had taken no shortcuts, rather she had taken the longest way possible. As she opened the door to Angel's apartment she realized how tired she was. Quickly making sure no other demon had taken up home here she laid down on the bed and fell into the soundest sleep she'd had in over a year.
After the sun had set and Amilyn had gone Angel slowly began to make his was home. Once he was there he figured he would call Giles and find out where Buffy was. He had gone by her house and her mom looking suspicious said that she didn't live there anymore. When he reached his apartment and opened the door he was surprised to sense that he was not alone.
Slowly he looked around the apartment. It was just as he had remembered it, except that there was someone in the bed. As he got closer he realized that it was Buffy. Slowly he reached out and touched her cheek.
She rolled over and murmured, "Angel?"
He smiled tenderly at her and said, "Go back to sleep I'm sorry I woke you."
But she would have none of it. She sat up and kissed him hesitantly at first than more passionately and possessively like she was scared he would disappear before her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said her voice faltering. "So, so very sorry. I wish I could have known, could have stopped it from happening."
The haunted look in her eyes told him everything he remembered was true. "Me to," he said gently. "But right now all I care about is how much I love you . ."
"I love you, too." She broke in.
He touched her face and said, "Why don't you get some sleep and we can talk in the morning." She was asleep soundly in his arms before he could figure out how to say anything else. He stayed awake all night watching her beautiful face and listening to her deep breathing just to assure himself that she was alive and well.
Willow and Giles looked up as Buffy walked into the library the next morning. She wore a man's white shirt and the same pants from yesterday. Willow thought that although she looked tired she somehow looked happier than she was the day before.
"Okay, both Angel and that Amilyn guy are alive and well. Don't worry Angel isn't going to a problem because the curse is still on, but he thinks Amilyn could be a major one. We need to find out his strengths and weaknesses as soon as possible. Angel says all he really knows about him is that he likes to use swords and is pretty tough. Oh, and he'll be by as soon as it gets dark." They had spent most of the morning talking. Buffy would have said more but Xander broke in with a speech of his own.
"Okay, the guy hasn't even been back 24 hours and we are already getting info and practically taking orders from him. Oh, and Buffy, why exactly are you wearing one of his shirts?" A withering look from Buffy and an elbow in the stomach from Willow shut him up pretty fast.
"I agree with Xander," Roni said slowly. "I mean how do we know that he is really on our side and that they aren't working together?"
Giles answered quickly before Buffy could start in on her. "If Angel was against us he wouldn't hide it. He . . ah . . the demon in him loves to torture people, especially young women. He wouldn't have been able to keep himself from saying or doing something to hurt Buffy. Besides, I trust her instinct. She was the one who originally said he was good, she was there when the curse was lifted and put back on. I think of all of us she can tell the difference best."
The look of amazement on Buffy's face wasn't entirely from Giles' speech. It was more from Roni's words. "You guys didn't tell her anything?" She asked that question incredulously.
For the first time Cordelia joined the conversation, "Of course we told her. She just has a thicker skull than you, if that's possible. She thinks she knows it ALL." Ending on that she rolled her eyes.
After that they began training. Buffy verses Roni with various weaponry. She easily beat Roni and in-between fights Buffy and her friends caught up on what had happened during the year.
Buffy had moved into Pike's small apartment. After a pause to assure Xander she had slept on the couch she continued. In LA she'd gotten a part-time job as a teller at a local bank and had slain a few vampires just to stay in shape. Then wanting to see her friends again she had come back to Sunnydale for the graduation ceremony.
Apparently just after she had disappeared Roni had shown up. Oz had gotten a small recording contract and was out of town for weeks at a time. Willow guaranteed Buffy that they were still together. Before long it was dark and Angel had shown up.
After he had kissed Buffy and been introduced to the newcomers they got down to business. It was decided that Angel, Buffy and, against Buffy's protests, Roni would look for Amilyn and the others would research him.
"So, how exactly did you guys meet?" Roni's question was simple enough but Buffy didn't like it.
"Well Roni, let's see, I'm the slayer, he's a vampire. How do YOU think we meet?"
Her words caused a small laugh from Angel. "Actually I was following her to warn her about the Harvest. She balanced herself on an overhead pipe and tried, literally, to knock me into next week. I'm sure Giles filled you in on the rest." His last words sounded sarcastic, maybe even a little sad.
"Angel, is that Amilyn?" Buffy's question interrupted his thoughts.
Looking ahead he nodded and said, "Let's follow him, quietly."
Slowly they followed him to a burnt up warehouse that he appeared to be staying at. The place gave Buffy the chills. It was the same place Angel, Spike and Dru had resided in until Giles tried to burn it down. Angel reached out and took Buffy's hand. Squeezing it gently he explained his plan, "I'll go look around, you stay here. Don't come in after me no matter what. If anything happens . . Roni, you go find Giles: Buffy you go back to my apartment and I'll contact you there as soon as possible. Got it?" He looked at Buffy who reluctantly nodded her head.
While the girls waited, Roni fumed about the orders. She didn't like being told just to "Go get Giles," or Buffy being told to, "go back to my apartment and wait."
Buffy was on the other hand only mad that she couldn't go in and that Roni was there.
A sudden shout from inside caused both of them to become instantly alert. "Angel!" She was ready to run inside when Roni grabbed her arm.
"Buffy, he told us not to go in."
"I don't care," she said pulling her arm from Roni's grasp. "someone's hurt. Go get Giles. Tell him that Angel's hurt. Have him drive here and bring some blankets. It'll be daytime soon. Hurry!"
"Now calm down Roni. I can barely understand you. Let me get this straight: Angel told you guys to wait outside this place, someone screamed and Buffy took off inside."
Roni nodded to Giles. "She said for you to bring your blankets and a car."
As they all loaded into Giles' car Willow asked the question no one wanted to here. "What if we get there and . . they're dead?"
Buffy and Angel were far from dead. If fact they had just ran into each other, literally. Angel had been coming from the direction of the Bronze and Buffy from the warehouse.
When she had went into the place Angel and Amilyn were gone and only a young girl was there. Most likely the one who had screamed. She had told her to stay there and when her friends got there to tell them she would be in touch.
Apparently Angel had chased after Amilyn, but had eventually lost sight of him.
They were now back at Angel's apartment. Arguing. He wanted her to get some sleep. She wanted to go back out and look for Amilyn. Finally they called Giles who was now back at his house. He told her just to get some sleep and be at the library the next morning just before sunrise.
As Angel watched her sleep, he realized how much she really loved him and he vowed to make up for what he had done.
"There must be more than this." Buffy sounded very frustrated. She and Angel had shown up at the library long before sunrise so he could help with the research.
"Buff," Xander said tiredly, "this guys been in Hell for God knows how long. What kind of recent info could there possibly be."
Angel came up behind her and whispered "Relax," in her ear. "We'll find something. But I have to agree with Xander. Amilyn has spent the last 2-3 centuries in Hell. We have to find some of the older books or watcher diaries."
"My father might have something." Pike said hesitantly. He had confessed to her for the first time on the way to Sunnydale that the reason he lived alone was because his father had been a watcher. "He just sent me his new address. Apparently he has a new wife and a 2 month old baby. Why don't you go check it out." He handed her a slip of paper.
Buffy looked at the paper and nodded mutely.
As Buffy stood in front of 1630 Revello Drive her thoughts ran wild. This was her . . her mom's house. A baby brother or sister, stepfather, and Pike as her stepbrother.
"Buffy?" Her mom looked up and sounded amazed. A small baby girl (pink clothes) lay in the basket next to the garden her mother was working on. "Oh, honey I'm so sorry. Where have you been?"
"With an old friend." Buffy responded slowly. "I'm looking for David Pike, and I DON"T have time to play catch up."
"My . . husband." Joyce replied. "He's in the kitchen." She picked up the baby and Buffy followed her inside.
When David looked up Buffy could see the resemblance between father and son. "Honey, this is my daughter Buffy. Buffy this is your half sister Celia. Now sit down and tell me where you have been the last year. Oh, by the way, that friend of yours, Angel, stopped by a couple of days ago. You aren't still seeing him are you?"
"Not now Mom." Buffy interrupted her mother and turned to David.
"Your son sent me here otherwise I wouldn't be here. We are looking for any books 2-3 centuries old that might contain information about the demon Amilyn."
David looked amazed. "You're the slayer?" When she nodded he asked who her watcher was.
"Rupert Giles."
"Well let me go see what I have." As soon as David left her mother started in on her.
"Honey you don't still believe all that stuff do you?"
"Mom look," Buffy began, "it is who I am, what I am. I've excepted it and you should to because from the look on David's face he's going to be helping us.
Surprisingly her mother nodded slowly. "Will you at least move back in?"
Buffy shrugged. "I'm not sure. I'm 18 now and it would be easier on everyone if I got my own place."
Joyce nodded again. "Well no matter what you be careful and stay in touch. And always remember if you need a place to stay you're always welcome here."
Just then David came back down. "I found some stuff. I'd like to talk to your watcher though so why don't I give you a ride wherever you're headed."
Buffy nodded and they left for the school.
As Buffy and David walked towards the library Roni came flying out. As Buffy bent down to help her up she said, "Man he is strong. Buffy how did you ever beat him?"
Figuring she was talking about Angel she explained, "He made me mad. He forgot that when I'm mad I fight best."
"Oh, I suppose that makes sense."
"Did you find anything?" Giles began questioning her before he even said hello.
"Yeah, and its good to see you to." Buffy shot back. Angel came up behind her and put his arms around her waist.
"It's good to see you."
"Okay," Giles got everyone's attention. "Buffy, Roni and Angel will attack tonight. I think we have enough information to fight him effectively. The rest of us will follow a ways behind to take care of any vampires that show up. Angel, is there anything else of importance that we should know?"
To Buffy it took him to long to shake his head no but she knew him well enough not to push. "David, you're not coming with us." Before he could reply she continued. "My mom can't be alone tonight. I don't want her to loose all of us. If something happens she will need you more than we will."
He agreed and left.
Buffy and Angel looked after Roni like she was crazy. They had just gotten to the warehouse. She had taken off inside without even checking out the area first. "Oh well, we'd better get in there." Buffy nodded to Angel's words.
Just then they heard a voice say, "Hey there, need any help?"
"Xander, if you come in you'd better stay well out of the way with Angel."
He nodded to Buffy's statement.
As they went in Xander could see Roni and Amilyn fighting. It seemed like Buffy saw something too. She took off to the other side of the place.
Angel saw Roni go down about the same time the vamp Buffy was fighting turned to dust.
Buffy also saw Roni get cut in the side. She quickly cried out, "Angel, Xander one of you get her to a hospital. I'll take care of Amilyn."
Angel looked at Xander who could see that the vampire wasn't going to leave. "I'll take her, you stay here with Buffy." Angel nodded to that. Xander grabbed Roni and took off.
As Angel slowly circled around with a stake Buffy fought Amilyn.
Steel hit steel, fists hit fists. Buffy suddenly felt a sharp pain in her arm. Looking down she saw a long gash running down her arm. Ignoring the pain the best she could she continued to fight. As she managed to stab him in the stomach he screamed and turned into dust before her eyes.
What she saw behind him surprised her even more. Angel stood there with a stake in his hand.
"I thought he wasn't a vampire. He sure didn't look like one." Buffy exclaimed as Angel used his shirt to bandage her arm.
"He wasn't" His simple answer confused her even more.
As they walked to the hospital to get her arm looked at and see how Roni was he explained how Amilyn had become a vampire.
He slowly came upon a crouched figure near the Bronze. It smelled of the fresh blood he always longed for. Seeing that it was Amilyn he slowly moved toward him.
As Amilyn looked up he begged him to save him and turn him into a vampire.
He fought to control the demon in him and eventually lost. The demon won and turned Amilyn to a vampire.
As he once again gained control of the demon in him he realized what he had just done. He then swore he would destroy the monster he had just created.
When he finished Angel turned to Buffy with sorrow in his eyes. "You probably hate me now."
Buffy thought a moment so she said what she wanted to right. "No I don't. I know that you can control the demon in you because I've seen it. Everyone looses control Angel. I did. You were the one there when I finally broke down and cried. In fact you probably saved a lot of peoples lives. He was weaker because he was a new vampire. The shot at Roni was lucky. Plus YOU killed him, that proves to me that you are the same guy I fell in love with even more. Anyway, it's not like anyone else has to find out." Ending on that she looked up at him and smiled.
Running his fingers through her hair he smiled back. "You know what?"
"What?"
"I love you more than I ever thought it would be possible to love someone." He pulled her close as they walked into the hospital.
Willow saw Buffy and Angel first. As they walked over it was obvious that she had lost a lot of blood. She was kind of pale and Angel was helping her walk. But Buffy was only concerned about Roni. After assuring Buffy that Roni would be okay she went to get a doctor. By the time the doctor had a room for Buffy Angel was carrying her. She was unconscious when he laid her on her bed. Then the doctor made them leave.
As they sat down in the waiting room Willow asked, "Angel do you think she'll be okay?"
"She has to be, I couldn't take it if she wasn't."
Willow nodded. "Me either. When she left town I felt so lost. She always loved you. You know that right?"
Angel sighed. "Yeah, I love her too. More than anyone could imagine. Where is everyone else?"
"Giles and Pike are with Roni and everyone else went home."
Angel then got up and went up to the nurses desk. Willow could see him writing on something. When he got back he handed her 2 pieces of paper. One was a number and the other was folded. "Look Willow, I can't stand being here any longer." She nodded as he continued. "That is my phone number call me as soon as Buffy wakes up. The other paper is for her. Just make sure she gets it."
"Okay."
Willow sat there waiting for what seemed like forever. Finally the doctor came out and explained what he had done. "I cleaned the wound and stitched it up. She is asleep and I'll release her as soon as she wakes up." Willow nodded. Then she called Angel and went to sit with her friend.
"Willow?" Buffy's voice pulled her from her sleep. "What's going on? Where's Angel?"
"Buffy you're awake. Okay, you're in the hospital. You passed out. The doctor said he'd release you as soon as you woke up and could walk on your own. Angel went home." Willow dug through her pocket for the piece of paper he had given her. "He wanted me to give you this."
Buffy stared at the paper uncomprehending for a moment. In Angel's writing he had said never to forget that he loved her and had drawn a claddagh. "Will I gotta get out of here before he does something stupid. Where are my clothes?"
Willow handed them to her and helped her friend dress, then she watched as Buffy ran past the doctor and out into the night.
Angel stood inside his apartment holding a sharp stake in his hands. He thought that it would be better this way. Then he heard a knock on the door. Ignoring it he took a deep breath and was ready to shove the stake into his heart when Buffy broke the door open.
"Angel what are you doing?"
Her arm had a clean white bandage on and she was so beautiful. Swallowing he managed to get his voice. "Buffy if you loved me you'd let me do this." He knew it was an unfair statement but he just wanted to get it over with.
"If you loved me," Buffy started, struggling to keep control of herself she continued, "you wouldn't leave me here all alone."
"Alone?!? What about your family, Giles, Willow, and everyone else? You'll never be alone Buffy. You would be better of without me."
Again Buffy began pleading with Angel. "You're the one I love, the one I want to live my life with." Her voice grew louder with every word. "You're the one that understands me, what it's like to have your life ripped out of your hands and controlled by something or someone you can't stop. All of them, even Giles chose this life. I didn't. You didn't. I need you Angel. I Love You!"
With her final words she burst into tears. Angel stood motionless for a moment and then dropped the stake and took her into his arms. "I love you so much Buffy. I just don't want to hurt you anymore. It's your choice though."
Leaning against his chest she murmured, "I want to be with you"
Slowly he lead her over to his bed. He sat down and just held her as she
cried. Eventually she fell asleep. He stood up and took off her shoes and
pulled the covers over her. He then took of his shirt and shoes and slipped
under the covers holding her tightly to his chest. He too soon fell asleep
next to the women he loved.
This is my first fanfic. Please send any comments, good or bad as long as
they are constructive. Use one of these addresses: eh81@aol.com or Erin_Michele_81@yahoo.com