Graphic by Lady Deanna
Say Goodnight Not Goodbye

Author:  August528@aol.com
Disclaimer: I do not own nor profit from these characters. 
Rating: It will turn out to be NC-17
Spoilers: None that I can think of. 
Couples: B/A-AU fic 
Summary: Buffy left town to raise her unborn child. She is informed of a 
prophecy that once she dies that all slayers in the world will die as well. 
She is force to return to a past she had hoped to make disappear. 
Feedback: Yes I would love some! I get so sad when I do not get any!!! 
Note: Cordelia1978@juno.com-Is the wonderful Beta expert on this novel. Thanks 
Cordelia1978 for sparing some time for my craziness. 
Note: I heard the song "Say goodnight not good-bye" which was on Dawson's Creek, I believe the artists name is Beth Neilson? Or something like that. Anyway I listen to the song and this fic was created. Just a bit of unnecessary information I thought you might want to know. :) 

    Elizabeth Harris walked up the stairs and checked in on her daughter 
before she retired to bed. It was her usual routine; a habit she could not 
break nor had any desire to. Her only happiness in life anymore came from 
the love that her four year old daughter, Hope, showered her with. She
never knew that life could be so rewarding with a child of your own. Sure,
there were pluses to having a child, but there was also a great deal of fear 
as well. She constantly worried that someday, men in stuffy suits would approach 
her daughter and announce the painful truth of the world’s demands and
request that she aid them in helping save the world. 

    She knew about that because she had endured it for nearly ten years.
She had been told at the young and impressionable age of fifteen that she was
born to save the world from the constant tortures of the boogie men. She had 
reluctantly joined the good side and began to fight what she felt was a losing battle. But every day soon became a constant battle for her. It was not just evil demons that she had to fight but her own Slayer side as well. Throughout the long trip, she had made plenty of mistakes. 

Luckily, she had found a way out for her and, at the time, her unborn child. She changed her name, her location, and her profession. Only two people in the world knew who she really was and where she was. She had feared even letting those two people know, but in the end she knew that they might
need her again and she could not live with any more regrets. She had enough of those already.

Elizabeth had found a small place in the world where she could walk around without any fears or painful memories. She liked it here. She liked it a lot. It was also a safe place to raise her daughter. That was her true calling in life now, she knew that. Raising her beautiful and happy daughter. She
did not care that she was doing it alone. In fact, she liked it better this way. She had no one to answer to about any decision she felt needed to be made about Hope's future. She was the only parent that Hope would ever need. She made damn sure of  that. 

Elizabeth had even made a career that she was sure would provide her with enough funds to give her daughter anything she could ever want for. The two of them lived in a cozy little two-story house nestled in the woods a mile outside of town. She had installed the best of the best in security
for them as well. She knew that this comforted some of her friends who hated the thought of the two of them living alone. 

Her new friends did not know about her past and she was not going to let them know either. She liked living a normal life. Well, most of the time.

There were nights when she felt a tremendous urge to go patrolling just for old time’s sake. She fought those urges with every fiber of her being, reminding herself that a little girl would be left without her mother if she should fail on a patrol. Plus, she was no spring chicken anymore. She was not old but she certainly was not a vibrant teenager either. 

Settling under the covers, she reached for her new book and started to pick up where she had left off the night before when the phone rang next to her. She dropped the book from the sudden frightening sound that the phone had made. Not that she was scared of the phone, it just was so peaceful and 
unusual for anyone to call at this time of the night. 

"Hello," Elizabeth answered cautiously. She began to feel her old Spiderman tingles running down the length of her neck and into her spine as she waited for an answer on the other end of the phone. 

"They know you’re alive and they are coming for you," a voice whispered. 

"What?" Elizabeth felt her stomach hit the floor. 

"They know you’re alive and they will get you," the voice answered. 

"Who is this?" Elizabeth cried out with an angry tone. 

"It does not matter. It only matters that you are still the Slayer and always will be. Your sister was not even half the Slayer you were," the voice crackled. 

"What are you talking about? Who is this? I think you have the wrong number." Elizabeth played ignorant to what the mystery person was saying.


"She died a swift death. I fear yours will not be nearly as swift," the voice continued. 

"I do not have a sister and I'm calling the police if you call back." Elizabeth felt her heart racing at the news of her sister’s death. 

"It will not matter. They will get you and they will finish you off. Once your blood pours into the ground, all Slayers will die. No longer will the forces of evil tremble at the word ‘Slayer’," the voice threatened her. 

Elizabeth heard the phone click. The mystery caller had said all he or she wanted to say and left her trembling and shaking in fear. 

Who had called her? Who was after her? What did the caller mean by her sister’s death? She had not heard of any such thing. Surely, Giles would have called her if Dawn had truly died. Wouldn’t he? Gulping hard, she thought of her little sister, who acted so bravely by taking over the job of slaying when she left town. 

What was going on? She heard a sound coming from across the hall. 

"Hope!" Buffy felt her blood run cold as she remembered that Hope was

alone in her room. Jumping out of the bed she ran as fast her feet would
carry her to her daughter’s bedroom. 

She halted at the closed door. She told herself to stay calm. If someone was in the room she needed to be prepared for it. Pushing the door open slowly, she heard Hope’s tiny voice cry out as if in pain. Ice cold fear coursed through her veins rather than blood. 

"Hope," Elizabeth whispered as she stepped in the dark room. Rounding the table by Hope's bed, she flipped the light switch on the wall. The light caused her to blink a few seconds before she could focus her eyesight. Then she saw her small daughter’s form in the bed. 

Sitting next to her she glanced around the room for any signs of an intruder. She saw nothing and felt nothing. 

Hope began to cry out louder. Elizabeth stretched out her arm to wake her daughter up. 

"No...No...not my daddy!" the young child cried out in fear. 

"Hope, Hope, wake up." Elizabeth shook the girl slightly. She did not

want to cause her to freak out by waking her up so suddenly. 

"Mommy! Mommy!" Hope's hazel eyes opened up to look at her mother with such pain that Elizabeth felt it. Somehow, she felt the very emotions that her daughter was experiencing. ‘What was going on?’ Elizabeth asked herself. 

"Hope, it was just a bad dream," she reassured the little girl. Elizabeth held her daughter to her, placing soft kisses on her head while she rubbed her back. 

"No, Mommy, it was not. Daddy was there. He told me to tell you that we have to go to him. He says that we are in danger." Hope’s lips trembled as she remembered the image of the bad guys that were coming after them. 

"Honey, your father is dead. Remember, we talked about this and there are no bad men coming after us," Elizabeth spoke calmly, although her head was screaming that Hope seemed awfully convinced that she had spoken to her father. 

"You’re lying, Mommy, or else you have forgotten. Daddy is alive. He needs us and he wants to protect us," Hope informed her with tears slipping out of her eyes. 

"Hope, listen to Mommy...." Elizabeth paused. She remembered the call she had just received.

She stared into the eyes of her daughter and realized that Hope was not the type to tell fibs and that lately she had been having some bad dreams. Was it possible that she was destined to be the next Slayer?  Elizabeth  remembered her childhood and the strange things that had happened which
started the wheels of her destiny. Was it possible that she had ran away from her old life for nothing? 

"Mommy, I saw a pretty girl die in my dream," Hope informed her with a sob. 

"Hope...oh, Hope." Elizabeth squeezed her daughter tightly as she let the reality of what was happening sink in. 

The phone rang and caused them both to jump. 

"Come with me." Elizabeth picked Hope up and carried her into her room, where she closed and locked the door behind them. 

"Hello," Elizabeth answered. She was focusing on staying calm since Hope was with her. 

"Bu...Elizabeth, it's Giles. I fear I have some grave news," Giles began. 

Elizabeth dropped the phone before she could hear what he was about to say next. She did not need to hear it from him. She already knew. Dawn was dead. The creepy voice was real and Hope’s dreams were, too. 

Chpt.2

Willow was jogging her last lap when she saw someone approaching the track. It was not JUST anyone but someone she vaguely remembered from her long-forgotten past. Her heart raced as the face became clearer the closer she jogged. 

"What has happened?" she heard her voice ask while her head was still numb from the shock of seeing her old friend. 

"I fear that Dawn is...well...she is dead," Xander Harris spoke softly while his eyes were filled with unshed tears. He had grown so fond of  the little squirt and had enjoyed her brief crush on him during her teen years. Now, she was gone from this world forever. 

"No! That is impossible." Willow felt her feet stop moving. Her legs felt like concrete was holding them firmly to the ground as the words sank into her head. 

"I'm afraid it is not." Xander reached out and pulled the redhead into a hard yet comforting embrace. Both cried together as the reality of the situation hit them head-on. They had already experienced the death of a Slayer three times in their short lives. The last death was, of course, the hardest on both of them. Because it was the last.

"Oh NO!" Willow sobbed into his firm chest as she thought of how their last connection to the world of slaying was lost to them forever. The guilt that the Scooby gang had not been there to prevent her death was overwhelming, and in the back of their minds. 

"I know. Giles called me last night to let me know about the funeral arrangements," Xander explained as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. 

"How did it happen? Wait, do I even want to know?" Willow ran her hands through her hair nervously as she forced herself to again begin breathing. She could not believe this was happening to them again all over again. They had grown to love the Summers family as their own. Hell, it was 
the only family they had ever known or loved unconditionally. 

"He didn’t give me all the details. He could barely speak. You know Giles." Xander made a weak attempt at a smile, trying to lighten the somber mood they shared. 

"I cannot believe she died so young. She had so much potential. I will never understand why she picked up where her sister left off. I had tried so hard to persuade her to let it go, but you know Dawnie, she refused to listen to me." Willow felt her heart break at the memories of Dawn's youth and
the constant attention she needed from each of them. 

"When is the funeral?" Willow asked. 

"Two days from now. He wanted to make sure we both could come. He said something about calling a few significant others," Xander answered. 

"Does this mean that it is truly over?" Willow questioned with a guilty frown. 

"What do you mean?" Xander lifted her chin up to stare straight into her tear-filled eyes. 

"I mean…well...I'm not sure what I mean." Willow cried as more tears came flooding out as millions of emotions filled her heart and head. 

"Our past will always be a part of us. No matter if there is a Slayer alive or not," Xander reminded her. "Nobody can take that away from us." 

"When did you become so wise?" Willow produced a weak smile as she stared up at the one man she had always adored above all others. 

"If I had to give a precise date, I would have to say six months ago when I turned the ripe old age of twenty-eight," Xander laughed. 

"Oh!" Willow playfully hit his shoulder. 

"So take me to this big fancy house of yours, you filthy rich computer nerd." Xander took her hand and let her lead him to her car so he could follow her to her home. 

Xander and Willow had been the most devastated when they had lost Buffy four years earlier. After all, they had both had a turn at bringing her back from the grave. They knew that in the case of Dawn there was no choice or chance of hoping for such an amazing miracle. 

Neither had dared even discussing the mere idea of it after watching Buffy go through so much hell when they yanked her out of Heaven. Although they both knew how much they would miss Dawn, they were keenly aware that she was in the loving arms of her sister and mother. She was at peace and so loved. Neither would ever forget the days they helped raise the little teenager into 
womanhood. Nor would they would forget the love that she had given them. 

Chpt. 3

Angel walked silently into the room where he sat back to watch Connor sparring with Gunn. His son was so much a younger version of himself. He was quite amazed at how quickly he picked up his opponents’ moves and turned them against them. He was constantly proving himself a true miracle to Angel. 

"Oh come on, you’re not even trying!" Connor rolled his eyes in anger as Gunn took a step back. 

"LOOK, you’re pretty damn rough. I do not mind sparring but, Connor, you’re no young teenager anymore. You’re a full-grown man with supernatural strength," Gunn replied defensively. "I am no match for you these days."

"I think that is enough for today." Angel allowed his presence to be known. 

"Hey, Father." Connor chuckled at Gunn's sudden anger toward himself.


"What is so funny?" Gunn asked. 

"See, you can get angry so fast. Why can’t you take some of that anger and use it when we practice?" Connor asked. "Should make for a damn good fight."

"Because...well...because I do not want to hurt you," Gunn lied. ‘More like I don’t want him to hurt me.’ 

"Oh! How ‘bout we try ‘you do not want to get too cocky and get your ass knocked to the ground.’ That sounds more like it," Connor teased his father’s best friend. 

"I swear, someday I'm going to give you a royal ass-kicking." Gunn slipped a smile out of the corner of his mouth. He knew it was an empty threat, and knew Connor knew it, too.

"I will savor that day," Connor replied with his own crooked smile. 

"Are you two done sparring verbally?" Angel asked the duo. 

"Yes," both answered at the same time. 

"Good. I would like to take my son out for some dinner," Angel extended an invitation. 

"I'm afraid I cannot tonight. I have some patrolling to do." Connor apologized to his father. 

"Is that all you think of?" Angel sighed with disappointment. "Patrolling?"

"I'm afraid it is. I have nothing else to do," Connor answered while he put his shirt back on. 

"What about girls?" Angel asked with concern. 

"What about them?" Connor turned and stared at his father with an amused smile on his face. 

"Do you not ever consider dating any of them?" Angel asked. "You’re a good-looking kid, you shouldn’t have a hard time getting a date. I never did and you are my spitting image."

"Sure, I consider it. But then I think of all the troubles you have had with them and honestly, it does not sound like it would be worth it to me," Connor admitted. 

"But it is!" Angel shouted. Angel knew he was sounding like an overbearing parent but Connor had placed himself in a box and refused to come out of it. He was only concerned about his son’s lack of love and real-life experiences. 

"How can you say that? I mean, damn, Dad, you were cursed into a vampire by the first woman, the second…well...she almost caused you to become the demon again, and the third one, she sacrificed her whole future for you. What did you do in return for her? You forced her away from you. How can 
any of that be good for me?" Connor demanded with a confused expression on his face. 

"It's not that it is good, but it's a part of life, son. You are not truly living until you fall in love at least once," Angel replied. He put his hands in his pockets and walked closer to his son. 

"I know how it feels to fear rejection. Trust me, I know better than any of us. Still, you have to put yourself out there and hell, sometimes you lose but other times you win. I just want you to truly live, and not live your life ruled by fear," Angel gave his parental advice. 

"I will think about it," Connor answered. Reaching out, he hugged his father and then left the room. 

Angel looked at the open doorway and wondered if he was doing the right thing by pushing Connor out into the real world. Should he be pleased that Connor was becoming so protective of his feelings?

Angel was about to take a step when a vision hit him hard and suddenly. He had not experienced these in several months now. It hurt his head but he counted a few seconds and then it was gone as fast as it had came. 

"Damn!" Angel could still feel the sharp tingling sensation running up and down his spine. 

"Who are you?" Angel asked himself as the picture of the little girl kept coming to his visions. At least that is what he thought they were. 

Since Cordelia had moved out of the hotel and on with her life, he had been finding himself experiencing these strange sudden attacks of images flashing across his mind. They were different usually. But not all the time. 

"What is happening to me?" Angel asked out loud as he sat down in a nearby chair. 

He closed his eyes and pushed a replay button in his head to remember the details of the swift vision. He saw the usual child and then...yes...he saw her. Why was she in the vision? She was dead. How could she be popping up his head after all these years? What was going on? 

He jumped out of the chair and marched to Wesley's office. He knew that Wesley would be the best help he could have on the matter. 
 

Chpt. 4

Elizabeth had debated all night and morning as to whether she should bring Hope with her or leave her behind. She knew that Hope’s dreams might get worse, and that without her mother there to soothe her fears her little girl would be extremely confused and frightened. So with that last thought, she 
packed her a suitcase as they headed to the airport. 

It had taken a few hours before they arrived in LA. Once the plane landed Elizabeth could feel his presence. Sure, he was nowhere close to her but  just the thought they were in the same state could drive her senses wild and her heart crazy. She quickly hailed them a cab and gave the address to
the driver. 

Laying her head back on the seat with her daughter sitting closely  to her, she allowed herself to close her eyes for the first time since she had received the news of her sister’s tragic death. 

Giles had agreed that coming back to Sunnydale would be putting her life back in severe jeopardy. Between the death of her sister and the strange phone call she’d received, he feared that she was being stalked. She reminded him that since they knew her phone number, the odds were they knew her address as well. So either way she was danger, whether she was in Sunnydale or not. 

She then thought of her friends. What would they think when they saw her alive again? Would they be furious at her for her charade? Would they understand why she felt so strongly about faking her death? Would they even care? 

Then she let her brain slip into Slayer mode and reminded herself that she had saved their asses on many occasions and by leaving Sunnydale she had been doing them a favor. She knew that the fun and excitement of helping the Slayer was starting to grow thin and both of them wanted a chance at a normal life. As long as she was around and a part of their lives they would never have a chance at that. 

With that thought she welcomed a memory of Angel as it entered her head. Once upon a time he, too, had wanted the same dream for her. She had been so crushed and angry at his decision that she thought he was being selfish by making the choice for the both of them. Now, many years later and much wiser, she understood why he had chosen to walk away from them, from her.

She had hated it but he had made a wise and very unselfish choice. Now, she was being forced to come face-to-face with her decision and its consequences. Which included Willow and Xander's wrath when it was revealed to them she was not dead. 

She heard a soft purring sound and glanced down at her daughter and saw that she was asleep again. Oh how she wished she could go to sleep along with her. 

"Here you go, ma'am," the driver informed her, letting her know that they had reached their destination. 

Buffy turned to look out the window and felt her heart freeze as she stared up at her old house. 

"Here." Buffy handed him the fare for his drive and a tip as she got out of the cab, carrying Hope with her. 

"Let me help you," he offered as he jumped out and got her luggage for her. 

"Thanks." Buffy was relieved that he had suggested his help. 

Once the luggage was placed on the front porch, she fumbled through her keys. At last she found the key to open the locked door. Stepping inside, she was attacked by memories of her and Dawn bickering, Dawn laughing, Dawn crying as she realized their mother was really never coming back to them. And last but not least of all, Dawn telling her that she was taking her place as the Slayer. 

Buffy held Hope protectively in her arms as she allowed her Slayer instincts to listen closely. She neither felt nor heard anything to give her any reason to fear they were in danger. She walked up the stairs and went to her old room. Upon opening the door she was relieved that Dawn had kept her
room untouched. 

She laid Hope down on her bed. Picking up the phone, she dialed Giles’ number. 

"I'm here," Elizabeth informed him. 

Neither wanted to say too much over the phone. 

"Okay," Giles answered. 

She hung up the phone. She then checked the window and made sure it
was securely locked. Knowing Hope was safe in there she began to check the
rest of the house. Seeing no danger within, she went up to Dawn's room where 
she fell to her knees in front of her sister’s bed and, for the first time since
the horrible news, she allowed herself to mourn. 

Chpt. 5

Elizabeth pondered what she was going to do with Hope while she searched 
for her sister’s killer. Not to mention she was not sure if she should hide 
Hope's identity altogether. If this killer was out to kill her bloodline, 
then Hope's life was certainly in danger. Then there was the other problem. 
Once her friends discovered her fake death and then learned she had a 
daughter, it would bring up another question. Who was Hope's father? 

This was starting to become a very strange, odd and even painful 
experience. Elizabeth knew that her friends were going to be very furious
when they found her staying in this house. How could she not come to her
sister’s funeral? That was part of the reason she let her new life go, and the
other reason was because Hope's life might be in danger. She would take the
blunt of Willow and Xander's anger and hurtful looks if it meant keeping Hope 
alive. 

"I'm sorry it took me so long to get out of the apartment," Giles explained as he stepped inside and pulled her forcefully into an embrace.


Giles could not help but give her a longer and stronger hug. He had missed her terribly. With the loss of Dawn, he had felt so much guilt and responsibility for her sister’s death. He knew that as a Watcher he could do only so much, but he was still puzzled how he had managed to keep
Buffy alive this long and yet lost Dawn after only four short years. 

"Giles." Elizabeth pulled away enough so she could breathe normally once again. 

"I'm quite sorry." Giles wiped the tears from his face. 

"It's okay," Elizabeth assured him as she wiped her own tears away. 

"I…I...do not know what to say," Giles sobbed. "Nothing seems
proper."

Elizabeth pulled him back into a tight embrace. She understood his
pain and confusion because she felt it as well. She, too, had wondered
throughout the entire flight why Dawn had died so soon. She had personally 
helped with her training a year before she left. 

"I fixed some tea. Let's go to the kitchen." Elizabeth took his hand
and led a weary Giles behind her. 

"Eli...Buffy...I'm so sorry for letting you down." Giles began to
speak more calmly as he sat down at the table. 

"You did no such thing, Giles. I'm sure that none of this was your 
fault," Elizabeth answered as she poured them both a cup of soothing tea.


"When did you start drinking tea?" Giles frowned as he noted that she
had prepared two cups. 

"There is a lot about Elizabeth you do not know," Elizabeth chuckled.


"Do you want me to continue to call you Elizabeth?" Giles asked with
a worried expression. 

"Nah. I fear that once everyone sees me at the funeral that my new 
identity will be lost to me." Buffy stared down at the cup with a sad
smile. 

"I know how painful this all must be for you. I am so sorry that all
your sacrifice has been for nothing." Giles sipped his hot tea. 

"I knew this day might come. I know that this was my choice to come," 
Elizabeth answered him with a weak smile. "Nobody forced me. Dawn was my
sister."

"Still, I know how frustrating it all must be," Giles said angrily. 

"Giles, calm down. First, we need to discuss what happened. I need
all the details. I fear that mine and Hope's lives might be in danger," 
Elizabeth explained with a worried face. 

"Where is Hope?" Giles asked. 

"She is in my room," Buffy told the Watcher. 

"Are you sure it is safe to have brought her here?" Giles took off
his glasses and began to clean them. 

"I had no other choice," Buffy answered. Her hands were starting to 
tremble as she thought of the chance of something happening to Hope with
or without her protection. 

"I see," Giles sighed. 

"Well, what have you done about the funeral so far?" Elizabeth
changed the subject. 

"I...I...well, I had...nothing," Giles confessed. 

"Will you go with me?" Elizabeth asked. 

"Sure. Of course," Giles agreed. 

"Mommy!" Hope called out. 

Elizabeth flew out of the chair and ran to the stairs where she found
her daughter staring from the top step around the foreign house with fearful
eyes. 

"It's okay, sweetie. I'm here." Elizabeth walked up the steps and
picked her daughter up to give her a reassuring hug. 

"Where are we?" Hope frowned as she looked around the house. 

"We are at...well...my old house. This is where I grew up." Elizabeth 
decided to be as honest as possible with her daughter. 

"Oh!" Hope smiled. 

"Is everything okay?" Giles came around the corner to see Buffy
holding her daughter. 

It hit him hard. Sure, he knew that Buffy was carrying a child and he 
even knew some things about her, but it had been from a faraway distance.

Now, here she was in Buffy's arms. Giles could not help but wonder if Buffy 
knew who the father was of this beautiful girl. She resembled her mother, but 
not identically. 

"She’s...she...is...sooo…pretty," Giles commented as he stared at the
child. 

"Who is he?" Hope whispered to her mother. 

"He is your Uncle Giles," Elizabeth explained with a weak smile. 

Elizabeth had told Hope about Uncle Giles. She had made Giles the
child's guardian if something should happen to her. 

"Hello." Hope smiled happily down at him. 

"Hello." Giles hands trembled as he saw so much of the girl’s mother
in her. 

"Are you hungry?" Elizabeth asked her daughter. 

"Uh-huh." Hope rubbed her stomach, which had just grumbled. 

"Let's see if we have anything in the kitchen to fix for you."
Elizabeth walked past Giles as she headed to the kitchen. 

Giles just watched as mother and daughter began a normal routine that 
only the two of them had experienced. Giles felt such sorrow at the fact that 
Buffy had raised the small child on her own and so many miles away from her 
family and friends. He understood now why Buffy had been so persistent about 
faking her death in order to protect her unborn child. 

Chpt. 6

Elizabeth sat down on the couch after a long and horrible day. She
stared at the little girl who seemed oblivious to what was going on around 
her. Elizabeth couldn’t help but be relieved. She was not sure if she should even 
explain to Hope what was about to occur. Hell, she did not even know what 
would happen in the next five minutes, much less the next twenty-four hours. 

"I'm afraid that Willow and Xander will be arriving at the house in
the next half an hour," Giles informed her as he entered the room. 

They had spent half the day making all the funeral arrangements. 
Elizabeth was still shocked at the appearance of her sister’s body. She
had passed out at the sight of Dawn’s cold, numb body lying in the morgue.
Luckily, Giles had caught her in time before she hit the floor. 

Elizabeth had painfully picked out everything the way she thought
Dawn would have wanted it. She wept the entire morning as the guilt ripped her
from the inside and out. She should have been there to protect Dawn, she
should have refused to prove to Dawn how much faith she had in her Slayer
abilities. Instead, she was more concerned for her own child and her own
selfishness. She knew deep down she could have protected Hope from anything 
that was thrown her way. She just could not face Hope's father without 
remembering what had happened the last time they were together. 

Now, she was about to be confronted by two out of a handful of people 
that she had deceived. ‘How would they handle the news?’ she wondered.
She had kept up with them, although they did not know it. Giles had told her 
that Willow had ended up pursuing her computer knowledge and obtained a degree
which took her into her own business. She had made a small fortune all by
herself. Elizabeth was so proud of Willow. 

Then Giles had told her later that Willow gave Xander a loan to start
his own construction business that had been running smoothly. Although
neither had settled down with anyone, she wondered what was holding these two
great people from finding true love. 

With that thought she had to laugh at herself. Here she was living
all alone with just a four year old for company. She turned down every man
who asked her out. She was constantly on her guard. The truth be known, she 
felt it would be unfair to any man whom she had a relationship with. She would have 
to lie to anyone she dated’; she could never reveal her true identity or her 
past. It just was not worth hurting herself and someone else in the end. 
Knowing that, she took comfort in her solitude. 

"How do you think they will react?" Elizabeth gulped hard, attempting to 
swallow the lump in her throat as she stared up at the man whom she had 
adopted in her heart as her father. 

"I'm quite sure they will be upset at first. Then I think they will 
eventually come around once you explain everything to them," Giles sighed. 

"I hope you’re right." Elizabeth put her face in the palms of her
hands. 

Giles rubbed her back as more tears leaked out of her eyes. 

"Who cares? This is not about them. This is about...Dawn…and you," Giles 
comforted her. 

"Yeah, well, if they stick around it might include them. You know how it 
goes. The demons always like to take a friend of mine as a hostage. It was 
the other reason I left. I hated that they could not have a normal life. If 
Willow had never got involved she might not have been tempted into 
witchcraft. Xander would not have had his heart broken so much by ex-demons. 
I love them. I will always love them." Elizabeth began to sob. 

"They know you do." Giles felt his own eyes misting over. 

"Buffy, might I ask you something that has been...well...on my mind?" 
Giles looked at his hands nervously. 

"Sure." Elizabeth wiped the tears away and gave him her full attention. 

"Who is the father?" Giles stared toward Hope, who was busy entertaining 
herself with her baby dolls. 

"What?" Elizabeth felt the room start to spin. She was not ready to tell 
anyone who was her father yet. She wasn't sure if she ever would be. Even 
Hope's father did not know about her existence. And she wanted to keep it 
that way. 

"Whom did you conceive Hope with? I cannot figure it out. I'm sorry
if I’m overstepping my bounds, but as an ex-Watcher, I was curious as to 
Hopes origins," Giles explained. 

"Well, I can tell you this much, you do not need to worry about it. It 
was a one night thing and I screwed up. Simple enough," Elizabeth answered. 
She hated lying to him but she had no choice. 

"Fine. I understand. I hope someday you can trust me enough to tell me," 
Giles replied without arguing the point. When Elizabeth felt ready, she’d 
tell him.

"Thank you," Elizabeth said with sad eyes. 

Giles left the room to make some more calls while Elizabeth laid her head 
back on the couch. She closed her eyes and thought back to the night that she 
had conceived Hope. It was the last night she had been made love to. No one 
had touched her body in such a long time. She missed that form of intimacy 
more than she had thought. She told herself it stemmed from being back here. 
All the memories of him were here. She was starting to feel as if she was 
suffocating. Memories came flooding into her mind. Good, bad, funny, and even 
bizarre memories. Her eyes popped open at the sound of the doorbell. 

Standing up, she picked up Hope had took her straight up the stairs. 
Giles knew what she was doing but he did not understand why. 

"Xander, Willow." Giles smiled softly as he pulled them both in a bear 
hug after opening the door. 

"Giles." Willow returned a weak smile. 

"Old G-man," Xander teased lightly. 

"I'm so pleased to see you two could make it." Giles walked them toward 
the living room. 

"Of course we made it. After all, Dawn was a part of our family," Willow 
stated firmly. 

"Yes, well, she was a very unique girl." Giles chuckled, remembering a 
few sparring matches the two of them had suffered through before her death. She 
was just as rebellious as her sister. Unfortunately, she just had not been as 
lucky as Buffy. 
 

Chpt. 7 

Willow and Xander felt the awful awkwardness at being in the Summers home. 
Dawn was the last Summers family member and now she was gone as well. It 
seemed such a tragedy to have lost all three women so soon in life. 

"So what time is the service? Do you need any help with anything?" Willow 
asked. She began to fidget with her hands. She looked up above her head at 
the ceiling, being reminded that her beloved Tara had died in the room upstairs. 
She had exchanged rooms with Buffy soon after Tara's death. It was too hard; 
she just could not sleep in the bed that they had once shared. 

"Everything has been taken care of. The service starts at seven tomorrow 
evening," Giles informed her. 

"Why so late in the evening?" Xander frowned at the odd time. 

"Well, as you know, Dawn had made a few nicer demon friends. They wanted 
to attend the service." Giles chewed on the inside of his mouth as he waited 
for Buffy to make her appearance. He was still debating on whether he should 
just explain the whole situation himself. 

"Giles, you never did tell us what happened." Willow looked up at him 
with dark circles clearly under her eyes. 

"I'm afraid I cannot tell you much. I found her body....after...well...after she did not return from patrolling. She was sloppy with her reports, I fear. I had asked if there was anything stranger 
than normal going on that evening and she had been quite vague with me. I think she did not want to give the details until she had figured it out on her own. She was quite independent that way." Giles half chuckled, while tears stung his eyes as he pictured the last time he saw her in his mind.


"Yeah, well, the little slugger did have a rough time with the loss of 
her sister. I know that she wanted to be as big as Buffy. I remember telling 
her...that...she should just try to stay alive and not be as ...as...strong 
as Buffy was," Xander thought out loud of the one woman who had stolen his 
heart and changed his life. Xander had always known that Buffy would never 
see him as more than the brother she needed. 

He had accepted this place in her heart and moved on. Yet deep down 
somewhere he had always hoped that fate might change things, but it had not. 

"What killed her?" Willow asked, her face showing her controlled anger. 

"I fear I could not tell. It does not appear to be a vampire, if that is 
what you are afraid of," Giles answered. 

"Well, at least we won't have to worry about having to stake her," Xander 
sighed. 

"So, where are you two staying?" Giles had to ask since he noted they had 
not brought suitcases in with them. 

"I had planned on staying at the Sunnydale Inn but some convention is 
going on and they are out of rooms," Willow replied. 

"We were wondering if you thought it might be okay to stay here. That way 
we can help you box up everything," Xander explained with a weak smile. 

"It would be quite nice of you to stay here but I warn you I'm not boxing 
up anything. At least not yet." Giles watched their faces closely for a 
reaction. 

"Why not?" Willow questioned. 

"Because someone is going to be living here, at least for a short time," 
Giles said hesitantly. 

"What?" Xander cried out with shock. 

"Who would want to stay here? I mean, the house is great but with other 
people's things in it?" Willow wrinkled her nose at the thought of anyone 
living in the house. 

"I will," Buffy announced as she entered the room. 

Willow cried out in fear and Xander felt his blood drain from his body as 
he stared up at a ghost that looked just like Buffy. 

"I'm sorry, guys. I do not mean to frighten you," Buffy replied with 
tears in her eyes. 

"What in the hell!" Xander stood up, glancing at Giles and then back at 
the ghost. 

"She is real Xander." Giles knew what the young man must be assuming.


"What do you mean she is REAL?" Willow and Xander demanded at the same 
time. 

"I. Did. Not. Die," Buffy said, spacing between each word. 

"Yes, you did. I saw you die!" Willow shook her head in disbelief. 

"No, you saw something fall in the fire but it was not me." Buffy felt a 
single tear slip down her face as she awaited their anger and attack of words 
to begin. 

"I...I...saw...YOU!" Willow’s own tears began to pour out of her eyes as 
she shook her head in denial. 

"No, Willow, you saw a body that Giles and I had planned to throw in the 
fire," Buffy answered with a weak smile. "It was never me." 

"Holy Shit! I cannot accept this." Xander’s anger flared through his tone 
and his eyes. 

"You have to. I'm so sorry for having to lie to you all these years!" 
Buffy cried out as she wrapped her arms around her chest protectively. 

"Lied? You lied to us about something as big as death!" Willow yelled at 
her. 

"I had too!" Buffy stared down at the floor, wishing that it would open 
up and suck her down. 

"What could have been so important that you would have to lie to us? If 
you wanted out of slaying all you had to do was leave town!" Xander screamed 
at her as he began to pace back and forth. 

"NO, NO! I could not. Something would always be looking for me. Wanting 
to challenge me to my own death. I could not afford that risk any longer. I 
had no other choice but to fake my death." Buffy glanced at Giles for 
support. 

"Buffy is right. It was not just about her. She had someone else to 
consider." Giles stood up and began to defend Buffy's decision. 

"Who? For goodness sake, what about Dawn? Did you not think about her? 
She would have never taken on your role had she known your were alive. Who 
could be more important than your own sister?" Willow exclaimed as she 
thought of Dawn's personal sacrifice. 

"She...knew...she had helped me with the entire thing." Buffy bit down on 
her lip as she knew how hurt the two of them would feel to know that Giles 
and Dawn were both included in the charade while they had been excluded. 

"No...no..." Willow dropped her head into her hands as she began to weep. 

Xander looked down at her and then stared hard at Buffy with eyes that 
were filled with contempt and ice. 

"Xander, I'm so sorry but I had too." Buffy spoke hoarsely as she hoped 
to persuade him to understand. 

"I think we need some time alone," Xander stated with a cold voice. 

Xander bent down to hold Willow's trembling body. Giles and Buffy took 
this as their cue to leave the room. Buffy went to the kitchen where Giles 
followed behind her. 

"I knew it would not be easy. I just did not think it would hurt this 
much," Buffy moaned as Giles pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. 

Both knew that Willow and Xander would come around but it would take time 
and trust. Trust was earned and it took time. Buffy was not sure how much of 
either she had at the moment to share with them.
 

Chpt. 8 

Willow felt the room closing in around her. She sensed that Buffy truly
had felt sincere about her betrayal but she was just not prepared for all of 
this. 

"I-I need some air." Willow jumped up off of the couch and ran past
Xander and out the front door. 

Xander stood still. He was still trying to make sense of what had
happened over four years ago. Like Willow, he too had seen Buffy's body fall 
into
the fire. How many nights had he laid in his bed and thought about her over
the last four years? How many times did he imagine different things he could
have done to prevent her death? It had been torture. Yet here she was,
standing in front of them, saying that it had all been a lie in order for her 
to
protect something or someone. 

Xander wondered if Buffy had ever tried to call them or let them know
she was even alive. Would she have ever revealed herself if Dawn had never
died? This last question made him furious. 

"Xander?" Buffy walked back into the living room after she heard the 
front door open and shut, followed by silence. 

"Yeah?" Xander looked up at her with a pair of sad eyes. 

"Is Willow okay?" Buffy chewed on her lower lip. 

"Sure, you know Wills, she will bounce back from this shock. Hey, we
are used to you dying and coming back," Xander replied sarcastically. 

"Xand, I'm so sorry. I swear to you, I did not want to go like that.
I needed it to appear as if I had truly died. If not then...well...I would
have put myself in danger," Buffy tried to explained. 

"Tell me, what was so damn important that you had to fake your own 
death?" Xander demanded with anger. 

"I...cannot tell you..." Buffy was trying to figure out how she was
going to tell him about Hope without having to explain how she got pregnant
with her in the first place. 

"What? How dare you stand there and tell me you cannot tell me. Damn
it, Buffy," Xander snarled as his temper began to flare up. 

"I cannot tell you but I can show you." Buffy felt her heart sink.
She was not going to be able to hide Hope’s presence in the house from her 
friends. 

"What?" Xander frowned at her. 

"Come here." Buffy reached out her hand. 

Xander stared at it for a moment and then placed his own hand in
hers. 

The contact of her skin against his made him feel the reality of the 
situation come crashing down on him. 

"Buffy, why?" Xander broke down in tears. 

Buffy pulled him into a tight embrace. She allowed her own tears to
slide down her face as she just held his trembling body. 

"Come on." Buffy urged him to follow her. 

They went up the stairs and then stopped in front of her old room. 

"What I am about to show you will come as a shock. I also want you to 
know that I need you to keep this a secret," Buffy warned him as she exhaled 
deeply before turning the knob. 

Xander followed Buffy into the room. He was overwhelmed with memories
of their past as he looked around the room at all the things that had been
kept the way it was when she lived there. Then his eyes fell upon something
that was new to the decorations. 

"Who is that?" Xander stared at the small girl sitting in the corner
of the room playing with her dolls. 

Hope heard them come in and had just stared at the strange man who
was with her mother. 

"She is...my...daughter." Buffy forced the secret words out of her
mouth. 

"Are you serious?" Xander cried out in shock. 

"Yes," Buffy answered with a grim smile. 

"Hope, come here," Buffy called to her daughter who got up and walked 
slowly to her mother. 

"Hope?" Xander repeated the name. It was a pretty name for a pretty 
little girl, he thought to himself. 

"Hope is my daughter. I had to leave in order to protect my unborn 
child," Buffy explained as she picked up the girl and held her on her
hip. 

"Wow…I ...would have never guessed it," Xander sighed as he noticed
the resemblance in features between mother and daughter. 

"I know. I had no clue either until I was already four months along.
I was completely in shock. I knew that my life would always be in danger
but I refused to have my unborn child forced into that dangerous world," Buffy
said as she ran her fingers through Hope’s long golden locks. 

"So she is the reason." Xander could not tear his eyes away from the 
scene before him. 

"Yes," Buffy replied with a weak smile. 

"I see." Xander put his hands in his pockets and stared down at the
floor with a guilty expression. 

"Dawn understood that I had to protect my child. She was ready to be
on her own, so it worked out perfectly for her. Or at least...well...you
know what I mean." Buffy smiled warmly at her daughter, who was confused why 
this
strange man was in the room with them. 

"Who is he, Mommy?" Hope asked with a suspicious look in her eye. 

"This is my oldest and best friend, Xander Harris," Buffy answered. 

"He has the same last name as we do," Hope thought out loud. 

"Huh?" Xander's head popped up. 

"I had to change my identity, I used the name Elizabeth Harris,"
Buffy explained with an apologetic smile. 

"Oh," Xander replied with a bitter frown. 

"Hope would you like to come downstairs now?" Buffy asked her
daughter. 

"Yes, can I watch TV?" Hope pleaded. 

"Just for an hour," Buffy reminded her of the rules. 

"Okay," Hope giggled. 

"Willow is going to flip when she sees her," Xander warned her as
they walked out of the room. 

"Yeah, well, I do not regret leaving for Hope. I only regret that I
had was leaving you guys," Buffy admitted. 

"I get the picture," Xander replied dryly. 

"Good, then maybe you will help me find out who wants to kill me and 
Hope," Buffy said with a calm voice. 

"What?" Xander cried out. 

"Go into the kitchen with Giles, I will be there in a sec," Buffy
ordered as she took her daughter to the living room and turned on one of her
favorite shows. 

"I will be right back." Buffy kissed her daughter’s head before
joining Xander and Giles in the kitchen. 

Chpt. 9 

Angel walked into Wesley's office, where he seemed to be buried
underneath loads of books. 

"What are you doing now?" Angel cried out in dismay as he stared at
the chaos in the room. 

"I'm sorry, Angel. I did not mean to make a mess but I'm so close to 
discovering something big," Wesley exclaimed in joy as he wrote down a
few things in his notebook. 

"Okaaayy...look, I need to talk to you." Angel pulled a chair out and
sat in it. 

"Go on...I can research and listen at the same time," Wesley replied
as he continued to flip through pages. 

"I have been having these strange...visions. At least I think that is 
what they are." Angel frowned. 

"Go on," Wesley encouraged. 

"Anyway, these visions seem to show me a little girl. She seems to be 
crying out to me. The really scary part is that I keep seeing Buffy with this 
girl," Angel explained as he stared at the wall behind Wesley. 

"What?" Wesley cried out as he closed the book hard. 

"This little girl.." Angel began to repeat himself. 

"No, the part about Buffy," Wesley interrupted him. 

"Oh, I see her in them, too. That is why I do not think they are
visions. That and the fact that the Powers That Be did not curse me with 
those,
even after Cordelia...well…left." Angel found himself hating to say her name
out loud. 

"True. I do not think that the Powers That Be have given you the
curse, but what is Buffy doing in this vision?" Wesley gave him his full
attention. 

Angel wondered why he was so interested in Buffy. It was common
knowledge that she had passed way for real this time. After all, it had been 
four
years. 

"She seems to be...well...she is with the little girl. They seem to
be running away from something," Angel told him. 

"Ahh.." Wesley pulled his glasses off of his face and rubbed his 
forehead. 

"What?" Angel asked. 

"It seems that this prophecy that I came across while working
undercover at Wolfram and Hart had predicted that a Slayer would be involved 
in it," 
Wesley answered with a confused expression. 

"Keep going," Angel snapped. 

"Anyway, it appears that some ancient evil force wants to eliminate
the Slayers from the earth. In order to do that, they must kill the one true 
Slayer who carries the very source of good, and of course the first Slayer’s 
spirit," Wesley continued. 

"But Buffy is dead already!" Angel pointed out. 

"True. Still, she was brought back from the dead once what is to stop
it from happening again?" Wesley thought out loud. 

"I would stop it," Angel replied forcefully. 

"Why would you stop it?" Wesley asked curiously. 

"She was in Heaven before, and I believe she has returned there
again. I remember how hard it was for her to adjust the first time. She 
was...well...she nearly went insane," Angel answered with a worried frown
on his face. 

"I would not worry too much about it at the moment. I'm not sure if
there is anyone even strong enough to bring her back now," Wesley noted. 

"Right. Plus, Willow has given up on magic," Angel added with doubt
in his voice. 

"It has been so long since she died, it would take more than Willow
to bring her back." Wesley hoped to encourage him from fearing the worst. 

"Then why am I having this vision of her and a child?" Angel went
back to his main question. 

"I do not know for sure. I guess we could call Giles and see if he
knows anything about this," Wesley offered. 

"Yeah, could you call him for me? I know that he still hurts from the 
loss and whenever I talk to him, I find myself mourning her all over again," 
Angel requested.

"Sure, no problem." Wesley agreed to the deed. 

"Thanks, Wes." Angel smiled as he walked out of the office. It was still 
early enough to take a stroll so he headed in the direction of the gardens. 
All the talk of Buffy had caused him to remember what his life had been
like once, when she was a part of it. Angel still felt the tremendous guilt
over what had happened the last time they had been together. He knew she had 
forgiven him but he would never forgive himself. 
Chpt. 10 

Willow had found her way back to the Summers’ house after walking a few 
blocks. She was still unsure as to how to react to all of this craziness.
She just could not bear the thought of Buffy having to lie so horribly to
them. She had nearly died after losing Buffy not too long after Tara’s death. 

She had lost her lover and her best friend in less than a year. She
had needed Buffy so many lonely nights when she had mourned for Tara and what
they had shared. Instead of having that friend’s shoulder to cry on, she would
find herself crying even harder for losing Buffy as well. 

She walked into the house and heard voices from inside the kitchen.
She wondered what they were saying, and how Xander could bear to talk to her 
at all.
She knew she was acting out of anger and hurt; Willow told herself she had to
at least give Buffy a chance to explain what happened before she closed the
door on their friendship. She owed her that much. 

When she entered the kitchen she saw the three of them huddled
closely, just like old times. Her heart sank even lower at the sight of them, 
together. 

"Mommy, someone else is here," Hope notified them that another friend
had showed up. 

"Uh?" Buffy's head whipped around to see Willow staring at the child
and then back at them with bewilderment. 

"Willow, you’re back," Buffy stated. 

"Duh, who is that?" Willow asked with a confused expression. 

Xander waited for Buffy to make the same announcement to Willow that
he had already had the pleasure of enduring earlier. 

"Willow, this is Hope. She is my daughter," Buffy said with her hands 
wrapped around her waist. 

"She is your what?" Willow gasped. 

"Hope is my four-year-old daughter." Buffy hoped that detail would
clue her into why she left without having to go into it again. 

"Four?" Willow sighed as she glanced back and forth between mother
and daughter. 

"I think you understand now," Buffy said with a weak smile. 

"She is the reason you lied to us?" Willow cried out in disbelief. 

"Hope, would you like to watch TV for a little longer?" Buffy bribed
her daughter. 

"Sure." Hope jumped up eagerly. 

"I will take her," Giles offered as he followed Hope out of the room.


"You have plenty of explaining to do, missy." Willow demanded as she
sat down next to Xander and gave Buffy her full attention. 

Buffy sighed as she prepared to tell them both everything she could 
without revealing too much. She was not prepared yet to go into the full 
details of how Hope was conceived. Nor did she think they would be
prepared for it either. She would only give them so much to be shocked over 
for the day. Feeling her stomach do flip-flops, Buffy heard a voice in her head
reminding her that someday she would have to tell them, Hope, and the father. 
She prayed that day came much later in the future. 

Chpt. 11

The gang had spent the entire afternoon discussing the events of the past
that had led to the threat of the present, and then found themselves mourning 
together over the loss of Dawn. 

Giles painfully sat back and watched the magic trio grow closer than 
ever. He knew that eventually they would come to Buffy's aid and forgive
her. What he had not expected was that they would leave him to babysit Hope
while they went to the Bronze to do a bit of reminiscing. 

He had just checked on Hope for the third time in the past hour when
the phone rang. 

"Hello?" he answered. 

"Well, at last I find you," Wesley cried out in relief. 

"I'm sorry, I was not aware I was lost," Giles joked with his old pal. 

"Funny! I tried to call you at the shop and at home and then I was 
reminded that you sometimes stay at Dawn’s. How is the young Slayer doing?" 
Wesley asked cheerfully. 

"Oh God! Wes, you have not heard." Giles sighed heavily. He had forgotten 
to 
even consider calling Wesley and the L.A. gang about the news. Truthfully, he 
did not want Angel to know that Buffy was back yet. He was not sure how she 
would feel about revealing her secrets to him. 

"Heard what?" Wesley asked with a nervous laugh. 

"Dawn is...dead. She was killed two nights ago. I found her body the
next day when she did not return from patrolling," Giles answered with a
choked voice. 

"Oh...damn...I'm so sorry." Wesley felt his heart sink at the thought
of another Slayer gone from the world. Especially one that was sisters with 
Buffy. She had been the most amazing Slayer Wesley had had the experience
of knowing and reading about. 

"Thank you. I fear that I'm clueless at the moment as to what exactly
killed her. All I do know is that it was a swift death," Giles informed him. 
He
knew that the ex-Watcher would want the details of the death. They knew that 
a 
death of a Slayer was a clue that something very powerful was out in the 
world. 

"What...well...how...exactly?" Wesley asked awkwardly. 

"She had been sliced open from the throat to her navel." Giles felt the 
bile building up in his throat as the image of the body flash across his mind 
briefly. 

"Damn! I...I...do not know what to say." Wesley felt guilty for his lack 
of 
support in the matter. 

"I know what you mean," Giles replied sadly. 

"What did the Council say?" Wesley thought of their reaction to the news 
that two Slayers had died under Giles’ supervision. 

"Nothing. I have not told them yet," Giles admitted. 

"When is the service?" Wesley wanted to know. 

"Tomorrow evening at seven," Giles answered. 

"Why so late?" Wesley asked out loud. 

"Like her sister, she had made some friends out of the less dangerous 
demons. They had ask if they could come to honor her," Giles explained 
nervously. 

"I see." Wesley sighed heavily into the phone. 

"I hope to find out what it was that did this to her," Giles informed 
him. 

"If you need any help, please let me know. I'm sure Angel would gladly 
come down for a few days to help you out," Wesley suggested. 

"NO! No, that is quite alright." Giles felt his heart nearly jump out of 
his chest at the thought of Angel showing up. 

"Wellll...if you’re sure then." Wesley was curious why he seemed so 
against 
the idea of Angel coming to help him.

"I'm quite sure, thanks," Giles replied. 

"Call me and let me know what you find out," Wesley added. 

"I will do that," Giles agreed. 

"Well, I guess I will let you...wait I almost forgot why I called you." 
Wesley stopped himself from hanging up. 

"What do you need?" Giles asked. 

"Angel actually wanted me to call you. I fear he has been experiencing 
something rare strange of late," Wesley informed him. 

Giles stayed silent until Wesley finished with his story. 

"That is strange indeed," Giles agreed. 

"So, why do you think he is having these visions of Buffy and some little 
girl?" Wesley hoped his old friend was still as wise as ever. 

"I fear I do not know off the top of my head. I will get back to you as 
soon as I come up with something reasonable," Giles offered. 

"Take your time, no hurry," Wesley answered with a sad smile. 

"Thanks." Giles hung up and wondered how he was going to tell Buffy
about this latest news. Giles shook his head with grief. Giles now knew that
Buffy, Hope and Angel had some kind of connection. But what kind of 
connection 
was the question he pondered the rest of the evening. 
Chpt. 12 

Buffy was amazed at how many changes had occurred in the small town in 
just four years. She was starting to feel her age when they sat down at a 
booth and looked out on the dance floor. The club was loaded with young 
teenagers. She envied their carefree existence. 

"Wow, it really has changed," Buffy commented softly as she took her 
drink 
from the waitress. 

"I know. I remember when we could not wait to grow up and now look at the 
three of us...still not quite there, are we?" Willow joked. 

"Nope!" Xander sighed with a weak smile. 

"I envy you Buffy," Willow glanced at her. 

"Uh?" Buffy frowned. 

"You look so great! No one would have thought you had a child," Willow 
complimented the young girl’s firm body. 

"Yeah, well, you did not see me at the end of my pregnancy. I was as fat 
a cow." Buffy shivered at the memory. 

"I bet you were lovely." Xander showered her with a soft smile. 

"Oh yeah, I had men lining up outside of my delivery room, begging for a 
date with me," Buffy laughed. 

"I'm so sorry, guys." Buffy gave them a serious smile. 

"I know. I'm sure it was hard on you...being all alone." Willow thought 
of 
how it must have been for Buffy to be pregnant and then having a child, with 
no help from anyone. 

"It was, but you know what? It was wonderful, too." Buffy sighed happily. 

"So, care to dance with me, old momma." Xander offered as he stood up and 
extended his hand toward her. 

"Would love to but remember this old woman has not danced in a long 
time," 
Buffy warned him as she allowed him to lead her to the dance floor. 

Willow watched the couple dancing together. She had always suspected that 
Xander still carried a torch for their little Slayer. She also knew that 
Buffy would never return those feelings toward their best friend. Now that 
Buffy was no longer slaying, she wondered if Xander might have a chance with 
the normal, everyday kind of woman that Buffy had became. 

Willow sipped on her glass of wine as she sat back and stared out at the 
rest of the crowd. She was about to give up on seeing a familiar face when 
one face stuck out of the crowd. The very face she did not want to see nor 
did Buffy if she was guessing right. 

Willow saw that he had noticed her and was walking to her booth. She said 
a silent prayer that Buffy and Xander did not return to the table too soon. 
She would try and find away to get him to leave before that happened. 

"Well, well, look what the cat has dragged back in." Spike smiled evilly 
as he stared down at the redhead who went instantly pale when she saw him in 
the crowd. 

"Hello, Spike." Willow smiled sweetly toward their old archenemy slash 
gang member. 

"What's a good looking woman like you doing in a place like this?" he 
teased her as she sat down across from her. 

"I...I...well...I was .." Willow struggled with her words. 

"Came back for Little Bit’s funeral did ya?" Spike's smile faded as he 
thought of young Dawn Summers, who had tried to follow in her big sister’s 
footsteps. He had warned her that she was not cut out for that kind of life 
but she 
had been as headstrong as her sister. 

"Yes," Willow replied quickly putting on a sad face. 

"I heard her death was swift." Spike revealed the information that had 
been shared with him. 

"Yesss." Willow trembled at the image that flashed across her mind. 

"I was crushed to hear about it. I came to pay my last respects to her," 
Spike explained his sudden presence back to Sunnydale. 

"Oh." Willow mouthed the word. She was still nervous with the future 
confrontation she was sure would happen once Spike saw that Buffy was alive 
for the second time. 

"So, when is the funeral?" Spike asked. 

"Seven o'clock tomorrow evening," Willow answered. 

"Good. I'm glad Giles made it in the evening. I can come along." Spike 
sighed heavily as he thought of the last funeral service he had attended, 
four years earlier. 

"Sure," Willow replied. 

"Are you okay?" Spike frowned at her odd behavior. 

"Yeah," Willow cried out. 

"Okay, well, I need to head out. I have a few leads on the matter and I 
personally will find pleasure in taking down the bastard who did this to 
Dawn," Spike announced as he stood up from the booth. 

"Be careful, Spike. We do not know what it was or what its true purpose 
was," Willow warned him. 

"I do not bloody care what the purpose was. I just want it to die," Spike 
snarled. 

"I know." Willow understood. 

"Wait...what do you mean "WE"?" Spike thought about how she had worded 
her fears. 

"Giles and me, of course," Willow thought quickly. 

"Oh. Well, tell him I will be around soon to talk to him," Spike said to 
her 
as he left the booth. 

Willow felt tremendous relief flow through her entire body once she saw 
him leave the club. Her eyes glanced back at the dance floor and she saw that 
neither Buffy or Xander had seen the stranger approach her.
Chapter 13 

The next day had come all too sudden for the gang. They were getting 
dressed for the funeral. Hope watched the grownups all wearing black
clothes and sad faces. 

"Mommy, what is wrong?" Hope asked with a pouty lip. 

"My sister, Aunt Dawn, has passed away," Buffy reminded her. 

"I know but where did she pass away too?" Hope asked with curious
eyes. 

"She went to heaven, baby." Buffy felt her heart tremble at having to 
answer such questions for her daughter. 

"Can we go see her?" Hope asked. 

"No, once you go to heaven you cannot come back," Buffy replied with
a weak smile. 

"Oh! Are you going to heaven?" Hope’s eyes filled with tears. 

"NO! No, I will never leave you." Buffy pulled her abruptly in a tight 
hug as she prayed that she would be able to honor that promise. 

"Buffy are you ready?" Giles asked as he entered the bedroom. 

"I think so." Buffy wiped back the fallen tears. 

"Come on, Hope, I'm going to take you with us." Buffy made the
decision at the last minute. 

"Are you sure you want to take her to the funeral? Although there
will be good demons, the word could be passed that not only you’re alive but you
have a daughter," Giles reminded her. 

"Shoot!" Buffy moaned. 

"I want to stay here." Hope started crying. 

"Okay, shhhh...you can stay here with Mrs. Cooper." Buffy had almost 
forgotten about their neighbor who had volunteered to watch Hope when she 
brought a casserole over the night before. 

"I will be back soon. You be good and remember, do not talk to strangers," 
Buffy warned her as she placed soft kisses on her silky cheeks. 

"I promise. I know there are bad women and men. I won't let them take 
me," Hope assured her. 

Buffy gave Mrs. Cooper strict instructions before she left the house. It 
was not until they had entered the familiar graveyard that Buffy wondered 
what Hope meant by her statement. 

"Giles, Hope said she knew about bad men and women but she also said she 
would not let them take her. What do you think she meant by that?" Buffy asked 
him with a concerned frown. 

"I’m not sure," Giles answered. 

They had walked up to the tombstone that had already been set in
place. Buffy stared at the name on the stone. On the right side of it was their 
mother's grave. It was then that Buffy reflected on how Dawn was not truly 
born of this world. Did she go to heaven, too? 

Buffy looked around at the faces that had started approaching the grave 
site as the preacher began to read from the Bible. Buffy saw a handful of 
familiar faces, she also noted their confused expressions as they looked upon 
her face. She knew that everyone was trying to figure out who she was and why 
she looked so much like herself. 

She felt the tears springing to her eyes as she listened to two of Dawn's 
close friends give a sweet eulogy about what a great person Dawn had
been. She began to sob, Xander put his arms around her and held her close to him.
She laid her head on his shoulder for comfort. 

Then as the coffin was being placed into the ground she felt her Slayer 
senses going crazy. She knew that several of the people here were demons.She 
glanced around the crowd and tried to figure out what was sending danger signals at her. 

Then from a few feet away she saw the platinum-blond haired man leaning 
against a nearby tree. She felt a large lump form in her throat. She had completely forgotten about Spike. He had been quite close to Dawn. In fact, she had always suspected that Dawn had a crush on him. She had been relieved to learn that Spike did not return those feelings for her little sister. 

The service was finished and everyone began to walk away when Buffy
felt a hand reach out and grip her shoulder. 

Buffy turned slowly, waiting for an attack and instead saw a face that had 
caused her knees to grow weak and the entire earth shake underneath her
feet. 

"Buffy?" he asked with pain and confusion. 

"Yes, it is me." Buffy forced the words out of her mouth. 

"Wha...How...Uh?" Angel shook his head a few times and stared at her
from head to toe before taking a step back. 

"I...I...do not have time to explain right now." Buffy took out her kleenex 
and wiped her runny nose before turning her back from Angel and walking
away. 

Giles saw Angel standing in front of Buffy and swore under his breath. He 
was sure that Wesley had sent Angel, although he had specifically asked him not 
to. 

"Angel," Giles called to him as he saw Buffy turn her back toward Angel 
and walk away. 

"Giles...what is going on?" Angel demanded as he took long strides toward 
the older man. 

"I’m sorry, Angel. I told Wesley I did not need your help," Giles apologized. 

"My help? Who brought Buffy back?" Angel asked angrily. 

"No one brought her back, Angel," Giles sighed. 

Giles knew that Angel was not going to take the news of Buffy's not-so-
dead existence these last four years as well as the others had. In fact, if 
he was a betting man, he would wager that Angel was going to raise some hell 
about being left out in the dark. Giles prayed that Buffy was prepared for 
this sort of thing. Not once had they ever mentioned Angel’s name in the passing 
four years. Giles had noticed on many occasions she never even inquired about 
her soulmate. 

Why had Buffy not felt the need to know about Angel’s safety or personal 
life for that matter? What had caused her heart to grow so cold toward the 
one man with whom she was born to be with?

Chpt. 14

Buffy was emotionally exhausted. She was not ready to deal with 
anything at this moment. She had watched as they had placed her little
sister underneath the ground. So many questions, regrets, and painful memories
were flooding through her mind. Yet she knew that Angel was not going to give
her time to mourn her sister before he came rushing to the house to have his 
questions answered. 

Buffy knew she had to hide Hope or she would have to keep Angel out of 
the house. This was not the time for him to discover the truth behind why she 
left. At least, not now. Buffy had enough to deal with, with some evil lurking about wanting to kill her and her daughter so that the Slayer line cease to exist. 

As Buffy stepped out of the car and headed toward the house, a long-forgotten 
memory came flooding back. 

Buffy remembered why she had hated Angel enough to keep her death a secret from him. Cordelia Chase. The damn brunette who always envied Buffy had somehow managed to get a hold of some power and her soulmate. Buffy felt the pit of her stomach burning as her hatred for the girl swam through her veins. 

Buffy had seen the couple together moments before she had made up her 
mind to leave this world behind. Shutting her eyes, she forced the tears back 
from falling out of her eyes at the image of Cordelia and Angel kissing one 
another so passionately. Then to make matters worse she saw how happy Connor 
appeared to be that his father was in the arms of Cordelia. Buffy had felt 
nausea at the happy family picture they had created in that moment. 

Buffy never allowed them to know she knew. Buffy did not want to hear the 
reasons or explanations, she just did not care. It was wrong. The entire thing was wrong. Angel was too good for someone like Cordelia. How many other 
women had he betrayed her with before she had fled town? First there was Darla, whom he had slept with after she had been brought back from hell.

When he was Angelus, he had taken Dru to his bed. Then there was the time he
had protected Faith, the woman he claimed to have been faking attraction for
when he slept with her. Yet when Faith had betrayed her and nearly killed
Angel he had protected her from Buffy. 

Buffy wished she could feel an ounce of love in her heart toward this 
man. Instead she felt only bitterness and disappointment in him, in them. 
Now, she was going to have to face the man whom she had sworn never to see 
again for the rest of her existence. 

Buffy struggled with the reasons she should have to explain anything to 
him. Buffy knew in her heart that if she did not give him a good enough explanation then he would only investigate further, and then she ran the chance of him learning more than she wanted him to know. 

"Willow, do you think you can keep Hope occupied in the room until after 
I leave?" Buffy asked her friend as they walked to the kitchen. 

"Sure, is everything okay? I know you were quiet because of ...well...what we both had to watch but is there more?" Willow asked with a worried expression. 

"I fear that Angel was at the funeral and he approached me. He will want 
to talk and I'm not ready for him....I just feel bad that I've had to neglect Hope," Buffy explained with a weak smile. 

"No problem," Willow answered. 

Buffy went up to her room to change clothes and then she stepped into the room 
where Hope was laying down. 

Buffy was relieved to see her daughter had fallen asleep without any interruptions. As a Slayer, she knew how tiresome it became when one had nightmares rather than catching a few good winks at night time. Kissing her daughter’s head she shut the door behind her. 

The second her foot hit the top stair she heard the doorbell ring. Buffy did not have to guess twice who was at the door. 

Buffy listened as Willow answered the door and she heard the familiar male 
voice answer. Buffy took a deep breath and descended the stairs to face the one man who had broken her heart more times than he even knew. 

Chpt. 15

Buffy walked down the stairs with a casual grace. Angel’s light brown
eyes softened as he looked upon the face of the woman he had thought died
years ago. Angel could not believe that this was the woman for whom he had
grieved for so many nights and days. Angel tried to stay calm but several emotions raced through his veins and up to his head as her eyes fell upon his face. 

"Let's go talk." Buffy spoke softly but her eyes exposed the frustration 
she was feeling at being forced to even have the conversation with him. 

"After you." Angel stepped back to let Buffy pass him. 

Seconds later they were both outside of the Summers home heading in the 
direction of the cemetery. Both felt the awkwardness and familiar attraction 
that seemed to constantly draw them to one another. Except this time not even 
the burning attraction was enough for either of them to forgive the other for 
their sins. 

"I'm sorry about Dawn. I came here to pay my respects for her. She helped 
me out a few times." Angel broke the silence. 

"Thanks for helping her," Buffy spoke softly as she found the old oak 
tree that she had often sat under while waiting for vamps on cold winter 
nights. 

"I found that being with her was liking being with you," Angel explained 
as he leaned up against the tree and threw his head back to stare up at the 
full moon above them. 

"I'm not going to blow smoke up your ass, Angel. I left because I had 
to. My life was in danger and there was nothing here worth holding on to.I 
took the easiest way out. Only Dawn and Giles knew the truth. I know I hurt 
some people with this horrible lie. But you would think that someone would 
actually be thrilled that I was actually alive rather than dead," Buffy growled as she crossed her arms around her chest with a defensive stare into his eyes. 

Angel gulped hard as he saw the anger in Buffy's green eyes. 

"Buffy, what happened to you? I mean, what was the threat that made you run 
away? Why is it safe for you to be back now? Or is it?" Angel cried out in frustration as his hands rolled up in fists by his side. 

Buffy considered his questions for a moment before she gave him an answer 
that would appease him and allow him to leave Sunnydale once again. 

"I got a call the other night from a mysterious stranger that IT planned on 
killing me like it had Dawn. It knew I was alive. It also informed me that 
once it killed me then the Slayer legacy stopped with me. I came back to 
avenge my sister’s death and to prevent the death of all Slayers that will 
come to be one day. There was no more point in hiding now that it knew I 
existed after all." Buffy rolled her eyes as she sighed. 

Angel sensed that Buffy was tired of the same old song and dance where 
her life was in danger. Angel knew by his own experience how tiresome it 
became to discover another horrific prophecy, one after the other. 

"Buffy, why did you not feel safe enough to tell me the truth?" Angel’s 
eyes exposed the pain that he felt from being left out of such a big secret 
about her. 

"Maybe I thought that if everyone saw you truly grieving me then it 
would be even more believable, or perhaps I just ......" Buffy’s voice cracked as 
she forced the tears back. 

Buffy looked up at the man she had saved so many times, the same man who 
had left her over and over again. Buffy knew she was better off not loving at 
all if he was the example of how love was supposed to be. 

"What Buffy? Why are you so angry with me?" Angel asked with a frown.


Angel reached out and grabbed her shoulders firmly. 

"Look at me," Angel cried out as he noticed the way she struggled to even 
look him in the eyes. 

"Why? Why do you care? I mean seriously, Angel, why do you bother with all 
of this?" Buffy broke away from his grip and threw her hands up in the air. 

"With what, Buffy?" Angel cried out. 

"With this! You, me, we...what a laugh." Buffy’s temper flared. 

"Why are you so angry with me? Damn, Buffy, you’re the one who made me 
believe that you were dead all these years! What is wrong?" Angel shouted at 
her with his own temper threatening to boil over. 

"You just don't get it! You make me so sick! I buried my sister today, 
Angel. I buried a young woman whom I was forced to leave, to carry on my 
stupid destiny! Just to return four lousy years later and start all over again! My sister’s death was in vain! How dare you give me the damn "Oh, Buffy, why 
are you so mad at me?" routine!" Buffy's hand rose and with all her strength 
she slapped him across the face. Buffy watched as Angel’s face swung to the left, 
slamming into the tree. 

"I...I..." Buffy felt numb as she stared at his turned face. Buffy closed 
her eyes tightly and hoped that this was all a bad dream. When she opened
them again she saw a pair of eyes that proved that her theory was wrong. Buffy
felt her knees turn to Jell-O, felt her heart racing, her mouth grew dry. 

"I'm so sorry," Buffy whispered as tears streamed down her face against 
her will. 

"No you’re not! You are pissed off. That is okay, Buffy. Just ....do not 
lie to me." Angel glared at her. 

"I cannot do this...not now..." Buffy wiped the tears angrily. 

"You’re hiding something from me. I can smell the fear you are trying to 
hide from me. I will find out what is really at the root of this," Angel warned 
her with a weak smile. 

"Just GO home, Angel. Do what you do the best....leave me," Buffy said 
with a cold tone. 

"NO! No, I won’t let you push me away...not now...not ever again." Angel 
shook his head in disagreement. 

"God! I hate you! I honestly hate you!" Buffy snapped at him as she turned to 
walk away. 

"Go ahead, say you hate me. I know you do not mean those words. Lord
knows how many times I tried to feel the same way to make it easier to go
through each day but it won't last. It never does!" Angel called out to her as he 
stared at the back side of her walking away from him. 

"Go home, Angel! You’re not needed here." Buffy stopped momentarily and cast a 
sideways glance at him before turning back and walking home. Alone. 

Angel shook his head. He felt the warm tears slide down his own face as he felt his heart break at the thought of how much rage she had felt toward him. Angel trembled as he wondered what could have Buffy that damn scared, that she would push him away again. 

Chpt. 16 

Giles sat at the kitchen table waiting up for Buffy to return from her 
visit with Angel. Giles thought about the earlier events of the day; he
had made sure to look at all of the people who attended the service. None of
them were particularly alarming or strangers. Giles knew that whatever threat
was out there, was still out there. 

"I'm home," Buffy sighed as she walked through the kitchen door. 

"I see that." Giles gave her a weak smile. 

"Waiting up for me?" Buffy smiled softly at the protectiveness that
Giles still had for her. 

"Pretty much," Giles admitted. 

"It was horrible, frustrating and most of all horrible." Buffy gave him 
the quick version of her meeting. 

"I see." Giles got up and made her a fresh cup of tea and sat it in front 
of her. 

"No, you do not see. I...I...thought that this part of my life was over, 
Giles. I wanted it to be over. Maybe I was just fooling myself or taking
a break but it is never going to be over, is it?" Buffy laid her head down
on the table in defeat. 

"I fear not. I think you know that your destiny rules you, not the
other way around," Giles replied. 

"I wanted a normal life for Hope. I mean, it's kinda funny." Buffy
sipped on the tea. 

"I remember when I lived in this house and my mother kept insisting
that I have some sort of normalcy in my life. I had been so furious that she
and Angel had kept insisting on that issue. Now, here I sit, pissed off that
my normal life was taken from me and now I'm back where I started. Well, not 
exactly from the start. Now, I'm short a mother and a sister." Buffy took a 
few more sips of tea, struggling to keep her nerves calm. 

"Buffy, I know this is probably not the right time to ask you this,
but I think that if we are to get you back in training and prepared for this 
dangerous demon, then you and I should be honest with one another." Giles 
paused for a second. 

"I'm listening." Buffy frowned. 

"Buffy, I know how you are. I have practically raised you myself. When 
you have something bothering you, you are weaker in battle. I need to know 
why exactly you were so insistent that Angel not know you were alive and
if there is connection to him and Hope." Giles held his breath. 

"Why is that important again?" Buffy rubbed her temple as she felt the 
first signs of a headache coming on. 

"Buffy, Wesley called me the other night while you guys were out. He
was concerned about visions that Angel had been having of you and a young
girl. Wes said that the young girl in the dreams was warning Angel that his life
was in danger," Giles explained with a worried frown. 

"I did not tell Wesley that you were alive, Buffy. Angel was quite
upset that he was dreaming about you after all these years but even more
concerned about the child's warnings." Giles went further with the explanation. 

"Where are you taking me with this?" Buffy asked. 

"Buffy, it is obvious that Hope was the child that was with you, who was 
warning Angel. It makes sense. You told me that Hope was starting to show 
signs of Slayer dreams. In fact, you said she told you that Dawn was dead 
before you got the call," Giles reminded her. 

"Shit." Buffy dropped her head back on the table with a loud thud. 

"What is the connection? We have to start finding answers to these questions if we are to come up against this...demon or whatever the hell it is that is after you," Giles warned her with a sympathetic smile. 

"I do not have the answers. I do not know the connection." Buffy
pushed the large lump that had formed in her throat down with a hard gulp. 

"Buffy, you have to trust me. I know trust is an issue with you. I understand your fears. But if we are to keep you and Hope alive we need to work together as a team. Can you remember what that was like?" Giles pleaded his case. 

"Yes, I can remember. I can also remember people I love getting hurt. I'm not sure if this thing with Angel’s supposed visions is even connected to the recent threat against my life." Buffy stood up and walked to the counter to pour herself another cup of tea. 

"Perhaps you’re right," Giles answered with a hurt look in his eyes. 

"Giles, I will tell you this much. I thought that Angel was my soulmate 
once upon a dream. I was wrong. A Slayer has no room in her life for love. 
Human or vampire," Buffy spoke with her heart. 

"I'm sorry to hear that." Giles stood up and put his empty cup in the 
sink. Turning around, he leaned up against the sink as he stared at her. 

"What now?" Buffy hated when he stared so hard at her. It always made 
her wonder if he could see straight through her. 

"Buffy, I think you and I both know that Angel is not going to leave until he knows you are safe," Giles informed her. 

"I will have to find a way to convince him that it is necessary for him to stay out of my life." Buffy glared. 

"Your life? Or Hope's?" Giles did not wait for an answer, he strolled out 
of the kitchen. 

Giles knew she would not give him an honest reply to that question. He had 
suspected many years ago that Hope might somehow be Angel’s child. How
was the million dollar question that kept him up at night. What or who could have 
made it possible for a Slayer and a vampire to conceive a child, and when? All 
these questions would have to be answered soon, whether Buffy liked it or
not. Giles’ gut warned him that Angel, Buffy, and Hope were the keys to this
mystery and only the three of them would be able to stop this threatening force
from destroying the Slayer line forever. 

Chpt. 17 

Buffy found herself deep in research the next day. The second that the 
sun had risen, she was up with Hope. Mother and daughter spent the morning 
together. Buffy took Hope to a diner where she had visited often with her own 
mother, then they went to a local store to buy some new clothes and a few 
toys to occupy the four-year-old. Once that was done they went to the magic 
shop to proceed with the more serious business. 

Willow was thrilled at the thought of babysitting while Buffy got back 
into shape with Giles. Buffy was relieved that her body had not forgotten
how to fight. Giles was excited to see her instincts were still intact after all 
these years. 

After four hours of non-stop practice they sat down at the books. Buffy 
was struggling to keep her eyes open as she went through one book after
the other. 

"Xander, I do not mean to bring up bad memories of the past but what 
happened to Anya?" Buffy could not help but remember the ex-vengeance
demon turned back to vengeance demon, who used to own and worship this shop. 

"I do not know. She hung around for a few months after your death and 
then she left one day and never returned," Xander replied with sad eyes. 

"Do you regret not marrying her?" Buffy asked. 

"I usually don't until I get home to an empty apartment. When I see couples happy during the holidays and when I see old friends who have started families, then I really feel like a jackass for losing her. On an average, no." Xander flashed her a lopsided grin. 

"I see." Buffy smiled back. 

"How about you? Do you regret your affair with Spike ending?" Xander
asked. 

Xander had been crushed to discover that Buffy had slept with Spike.
It had been one thing when she had fallen for Angel who had a soul, but
Spike had been a demon. Xander had felt as if there was something severely
wrong with him that she had never given them a chance. After all the things he
had done for her, he always thought that someday she would see that he was
the one solid thing that stuck by her side. 

"NO! I hate the way it ended but I do not regret it. I think we both
knew we made better friends slash enemies than lovers. Especially when my
heart would never truly believe that what we felt was love," Buffy confessed. 

"What was it then?" Xander had wanted the answer to this particular 
question for several years now. 

"I think that we had found a few common traits between us that made
us feel closer to one another. I mean, we both knew what it was like to die
and come back from the grave. We both loved Angel and we both knew how it
felt when he abandoned us. Then there was the fact that were both lost. I
mean, here I was, a Slayer who had no feeling or need to do the one thing I was 
born to do. Then there was his chip. It kept him from being the only thing he 
knew how to do. We were both just frustrated at how life had turned on us. It 
was never love." Buffy sighed heavily as she remembered the cruelty she had 
been forced to inflict on Spike in order to get him to see the truth about them as a couple. 

"I guess that was a hard time for you both," Xander thought out loud.


Buffy was shocked to hear a sympathetic note in his voice. Buffy knew
that Xander hated all vampires, with souls or without. Still, she had to
remind herself that he was no longer the young man he once was. Xander had grown up while she had been away. 

"It was," Buffy agreed as she slammed the book closed. 

"Have you found anything new yet?" Giles asked as he stepped into the
room with another pile of books in his hands. 

"NO!" both cried out in agony. 

"I think I should trade with Willow. She is better at this research
stuff than me." Xander offered to watch Hope to allow Willow to come to the
shop in his place. 

"Call Willow and have her bring Hope with her. I would feel better if

Hope was with me when it grows dark," Buffy confessed. 

"Sure." Xander understood as he left the table to make the call. 

"I called the Council this morning to let them know about this latest 
threat on the Slayer line. I feel that they might have resources that we do 
not have at our disposable," Giles explained. 

"Sounds peachy to me." Buffy pushed her hair back out of her face. 

"Have you had any dreams?" Giles hoped that her Slayer dreams might
give them some clues. 

"Not yet. But then that would require sleep, which I've been short
on," Buffy chuckled. 

"I know how hard all of this is on you." Giles patted her hand. 

"Yeah, well it would not be my life if it wasn't complicated," Buffy 
replied with a long yawn following her statement. 

"Don’t go in panic mode, but there was no answer at the house," Xander 
announced as he returned. 

"What?" Buffy felt her senses going haywire at the thought of something 
happening to her daughter and best friend. 

"Like I said, no answer, but that could mean several things. Willow
could have taken her to the park or out for ice cream." Xander gave positive 
reasoning. 

"I will be back. Call me on my cell if they show up while I'm out." Buffy 
bolted out of the shop. 

"Damn, she is jumpy these days," Xander sighed with a worried smile. 

Giles shook his head in agreement as he prayed that Buffy found Willow 
and Hope before anything else did.

Chpt. 18

    Willow had not intended to be out so long when she had set out to the
park. Hope was having so much fun that Willow could not resist allowing
her to have a few more minutes to play. It was when she noticed that the sun
was going to go down in an hour or so that she began to panic.

Willow was relieved when Hope seemed okay with the thought of leaving
the park.

"Did you have fun today?" Willow asked the four-year-old, who was holding
her hand tightly.

"Yes, I did. Thank you, Willow." Hope yawned.

"Maybe we should call your mother and let her know that we’re heading
back to the house in case she gets worried," Willow thought out loud as she
pulled her cell phone out of her purse.

After a few rings she was relieved that someone finally answered the
phone at the shop.

"Hey, Xander, it's me. I was just going to let Buffy know that I'm
heading back to the house with Hope. We lost track of time at the park,"
Willow
explained.

"Well, you better just head over here at the shop. Buffy was freaking
out when you guys were not at the house," Xander warned her.

"Shit. I did not mean to worry her," Willow cried out.

"I know, just come on, get your cute ass over here." Xander relaxed
knowing that Willow and Hope were both safe.

"Can you call Buffy and let her know for me?" Willow had left Buffy's
cell number back at the house.

"Sure thing," Xander agreed as he hung up the phone and then dialed
Buffy's number.

Xander gave Buffy the news and heard the sound of relief in her voice
once she knew that her daughter was safe and coming to the shop.

*************************************************************************
*********

Buffy was about to turn and walk back to the shop when she heard a
strange sound not too far behind her. The hair on the back of her neck
began to rise. Buffy knew that meant something dangerous was lurking not
too far from her.

Buffy felt her stomach knot up at the thought of having to fight so
soon after returning home. Buffy had not told Giles, but she feared that she
might not have the drive or strength that she once possessed.

Buffy decided to go in the direction of the shop. A couple more blocks
and she would be safely within the circle of her friends.

Then it occurred to her. If this was the threat that was following
her then she would be taking it straight to Hope. She could not afford to
allow that. So she took a left turn rather than a right at the corner of Maple
and headed toward the Bronze.

A few minutes later she stopped in her tracks as she felt a familiar
ache in her stomach. Buffy prayed she was not wrong about her decision and
turned
around on her heel and walked straight toward the threat.

Buffy felt the alarms going off in her head as she reached around the
oak tree and pulled out the thing that was following her. With all the
strength she could muster she threw it straight to the ground before even
considering if it was human or demon.

"Hey!" Angel cried out as his head hit the pavement.

"Why are you following me?" Buffy demanded.

"I told you I was not leaving town," Angel reminded her as he stood
up, wiping the dirt off of his clothes.

"I remember what you said, Angel, but I had hoped that you remembered
what I told you as well." Buffy gave him a disgusted look.

"It seems that you have lost your touch. I mean, I followed you for
quite some time," Angel pointed out.

"I know. I had hoped to keep you away from the shop where my friends
were," Buffy replied.

"Why?" Angel asked with a confused look.

"I did not know it was you at the time. I thought you were something
evil. Oh wait, you are," Buffy replied sarcastically.

"I see you are still angry at me," Angel responded calmly.

"I see your still a stubborn jackass," Buffy snapped.

"Why don't we talk about this threat that is after you," Angel
suggested.

"No. Go home, Angel." Buffy lifted her chin in a defiant stare.

"No, Buffy. I will not leave until I know you are safe. I can’t stand
going to another funeral of yours," Angel exclaimed.

"If I die it will because you are making me lose my concentration,"Buffy
lied.

"Buffy, I do not...." Angel stopped in mid-sentence as a cold, numbing
sensation rushed up his spine and hit the base of his head.

Both of his hands covered his head as a vision came flooding through his
mind. One...two...three...and it's over, folks. The vision had come and
gone so swiftly that he had to take a few seconds to recover the images that
had flashed in his head.

"What is wrong, Angel?" Buffy knew something had just happened.

"I...I...had another vision." Angel struggled with the words.

"What was it about?" Buffy felt her heart stop in mid-beat as she
waited for his response.

"The little girl in my vision is calling out to me. She keeps telling
me that she needs me. I do not understand why she needs me," Angel thought
out loud.

Buffy felt fear flow through her entire body.

"What does the little girl look like?" Buffy inhaled deeply and held
it until he answered her.

"She had long blonde hair, around the age of four or five. She is so
beautiful and innocent," Angel answered.

"What is after her?" Buffy asked urgently.

"I do not know. Sometimes she is with you and then sometimes she is
all alone," Angel explained.

"Angel, when did you start getting visions?" Buffy asked with a
bewildered look.

"Around the time...I...Cordelia left the business," Angel replied.

"Oh." Buffy’s face openly showed her hate for Cordelia.

"Do you still hate Cordelia?" Angel shook his head in disappointment.

Angel would never understand why Cordelia and Buffy felt so much
animosity for one another.

"Hate is too soft of a word," Buffy snapped as she turned around and
began to walk back in the direction of the shop.

"I see," Angel said.

"Whatever." Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Buffy, tell me why you are so mad at me and why do you hate Cordelia so
much." Angel bit down on his tongue while he waited for a reply.

Buffy felt the urge to punch his lights out but restrained herself.

"Let's just say that I hope the two of you are happy," Buffy
answered.

"What? I just told you that she left the business." Angel frowned.

"But she is still with you, right?" Buffy replied with a flash of
anger.

"Why are you so interested in Cordelia?" Angel asked.

"I'm NOT!" Buffy cried out defensively.

"Look, I need to go. I have a few things that I need to check on, but
this is not the last time you will see me," Angel warned her.

"Pleeeease, Angel, just go home." Buffy exhaled deeply.

"The more you want me to go makes me want to stay even more. I know
there is some reason you want me to leave town." Angel turned away and
strolled off into the night.

Buffy watched as he disappeared back into the darkness.
Chpt. 19

    Giles found a strange envelope outside of the Summers home as he opened
the door to check for the morning newspaper. Opening the envelope, he began
to read the short note.

*** One down, one to go. It won't be long, Slayer, before the world
crumbles to its knees and the righteous and pure will be no more. Spilling
your blood upon the earth will satisfy my revenge and those who look down
upon me will once again see the power that I truly hold in the palm of my
hands. There will be two warriors but only one champion will rise from this
battle. ****

Giles read the note three more times before closing the door. He felt
his heart race as he tried to make sense of the threat. But what bothered him
even more was the fact that they were still so clueless as to who could be
the possible threat. Buffy had accumulated a large number of enemies over the
years.

"Good morning, Giles." Buffy walked down the stairs with her daughter in
her arms.

"Good day," Giles replied with a weak smile.

"I thought I would do some research of my own tonight. I think it is time
to show the Hellmouth that I'm back and that I will not go down without a
fight," Buffy informed him as she sat her daughter down at the kitchen table.

"Can I go researching?" Hope asked with a hopeful smile on her face.

"No, I'm afraid that until you learn how to read you will not do Mommy
much good with research," Buffy answered with a proud smile on her face. She felt
her heart break at the thought of her daughter wanting to help do research.
Buffy remembered all the times that she and Dawn would argue over the same
topic.

"Hope, you can stay here and help me," Giles suggested to the adorable
four-year-old.

"What are we going to do?" Hope looked at him with a pair of curious
eyes.

Giles felt his heart skip a beat at the eyes that looked upon him.
Those eyes were identical to her mothers except for the soft brown flecks in
them.

"I was hoping you might help me a special project." Giles sounded
secretive.

"Okay." Hope was not sure what he meant but she sensed that it was
something exciting and so she agreed.

"Thank you." Buffy glanced at Giles.

"Any time. I want you to make sure that you are extremely careful," Giles
warned her.

"I will." Buffy placed her hand over her heart.

"Good. Now lets talk about how Angel might be able to help us." Giles
knew that he was approaching rocky ground but after reading that note, his
instincts screamed that Angel had to stay in Sunnydale in order to keep Buffy
and Hope alive.

"Giles, I have already told you that we do not need him." Buffy made Hope
a bowl of cereal.

"I have already told you that we do." Giles refused to give in to her
disagreement over the subject.

"Why?" Buffy exclaimed.

"Buffy, tell me honestly that your instincts do not scream that Angel is
a key player in this. I'm not sure how or what part he plays but he is
connected, no matter how painful it makes you feel." Giles forced his voice
to stay calm.

"Fine. I will do whatever is needed to keep us safe but he is not to
know about Hope," Buffy warned him with an angry snort.

"Fine," Giles agreed as he left the room.

Buffy looked down at her daughter, who was chowing down on the bowl of
cereal.

"Mommy, why do you not like Angel?" Hope asked with a mouthful of
food.

"Hope, do not talk with your mouth full," Buffy scolded her daughter.

"Sorry. But why do you not like Angel?" Hope repeated after
swallowing.

"I never said I do not like Angel, I...Hope, when you have dreams do
you see a man named Angel?" Buffy held her breath as she waited for Hope's
answer.

"I'm not sure what is name is, except that I know that he is my
daddy. Is my daddy's name Angel?" Hope asked with a hopeful expression.

"Hope...honey....just eat." Buffy sighed heavily as she stormed out of
the room before she was forced to lied to her daughter. Buffy knew there would
come a day when Hope would want to know about her daddy, she just did not think that Hope would be this damn close to the man.
Chapter 20

Spike was dumbfounded when he received the latest gossip. His head was
spinning with questions and possibilities that might explain how or why Buffy
Summers was alive again. Leaving the bar, he jumped on his motorcycle and
flew across town to the Summers house.

Spike parked the bike a few houses down and walked into the front yard,
leaning his head back slightly he stared up at the room that had belonged to
Buffy.

Was she really alive? What sort of magic brought her back this time? Did
she still look upon him as an enemy only? Did Buffy not know he was still
in town? Had she been at the funeral? Would she believe that he still cared
about her but just as a friend? Would she still cast a disgusted look toward
him? He felt his body tremble as he thought back to the last day he had seen
her alive.

"Spike, is that you?" Willow asked as she stepped out onto the front
porch.

"Uh?" Spike nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Sorry." Willow chuckled.

"Hey, I...I..." Spike was at a loss for words.

"Yes, Spike, she is alive." Willow suspected from the moment she saw him
standing in the front yard that he had heard the rumor.

"How?" Spike gulped hard.

"She was never dead. It appears that out little Slayer lied to us in
order to go incognito to live a normal life," Willow explained with a weak
smile on her face.

"Buffy? A normal life?" Spike asked with a perplexed expression.

"Yeah, it seems that Buffy was in great danger at that time in her life
so she decided to make it look like she had died. She had hoped that would
stop evil from trying to kill her." Willow wanted to tell him more of the
details but she knew the importance of keeping Hope a secret from everyone,
even Spike.

"When will she learn that evil will always be drawn to her like a moth to
a flame." Spike sighed heavily as he fought to keep his feelings of betrayal
from showing on his face.

"Look, I did not know, nor did Xander. The only two people who knew were
Giles and...Dawn." Willow felt the pain of Dawn's death resurface in her
heart. Willow knew that although Spike was evil, he had truly appeared to
care about Dawn.

"Little Bit. Makes sense. I still cannot believe she is gone." Spike
pulled out a cigarette and lit it up.

"So, where is the never-dead Slayer?" Spike inquired.

"I believe she went out on patrol tonight," Willow answered.

"Figures. So that explains why I saw Angel poking around last night."
Spike blew smoke into the air.

"Oh," Willow replied with a weak smile.

"Who killed Dawn?" Spike brought up the painful question.

"We do not know. All we know is that what killed Dawn is after Buffy now.
The demon called Buffy that night and warned her that it knew she was really
alive and that once it killed her, it would stop all Slayers from being
born," Willow confided to their ex-arch enemy.

"Shit!" Spike sighed with disgust.

"I know. I fear it will never stop." Willow sat down on the bottom step.

"Not for Buffy, but it can for you. All you have to do is move on with
your life," Spike suggested.

"I tried that and look where I am again." Willow snorted.

"You do not have to be here," Spike reminded her.

"Yeah, I do. It is where I belong. I might not be destined to fight evil
but I know in my heart that this is where I truly belong," Willow answered
with sad eyes.

"Well, it must be nice to know where one belongs." Spike threw his
cigarette down on the ground.

"Yeah, it does," Willow agreed.

"Well look, I plan on sticking around until I find the son of a bitch who
killed Dawn and then....hell, I do not know what will come after that." Spike
chuckled with a sarcastic smile on his face.

"Be careful, Spike," Willow warned him.

"Always, Red." Spike replied, using his old nickname for her before
turning down the street and heading to where he had parked his bike.

Spike thought about what he had just learned. He sensed there was much
more to Willow's story but had decided to not ask questions that he feared
she could not answer.

Chpt. 21 

Buffy had rounded her way back to the Bronze within the two hours she had
been out patrolling. She felt invigorated by the six kills. Buffy had feared
all day that she might have lost the magic touch that she once trained daily
for. Yet the last two hours proved that once a Slayer, always a Slayer.

Walking into the club she was once again thrown back into the past.
Memories flooded her mind of all the good and bad moments spent in this
building. She was pleased to see that this was still a local place for the
kids to hang out. Buffy wasn't sure what they would have done without this
place.

Music blared around her. Buffy listen closely to a song that she had
heard a few times on the radio, and her body began to sway from side to side
along with the seductive beat.

Buffy felt drawn to the dance floor. Walking with steady steps, she found
her way to the center of the dancers. Closing her eyes, she listened to the
voice and the words of the singer.

My latest little mood
I dark a shade of blue
still I draw closer to you
my pretty little dress begins to look a mess
infatuation come through

Buffy felt her hips gliding back and forth and felt her heart ache as the
words began to sink into her mind. She did not even budge when she felt
a body pressing up against her backside. Long muscular arms wrapped
around her in a protective hold.

and tonight me with you
look at things the way you do
indulge me please
I'll take the breath you breathe

Buffy knew the body that was next to hers. Although in a faraway place in
the back of her head, she heard the screams that warned her to push him away,
but her soul begged for her to ignore her head. Buffy felt him turn her body
around to face him. She continued to close her eyes and wrapped her arms
around his neck as their bodies moved along with the rhythm of the sultry
voice.


Take heart I'm telling you
my life has come too soon
but somewhere I will find time
in every other way you've told me what to say
these final words are now mine

Tonight me with you
look at things the way you do
indulge me please
I'll take the breath you breathe


Make the dream come true
show me how to comfort you
indulge me please
I'll take the breath you breathe

Buffys heart skipped a beat when she felt soft, cold lips touch her
forehead. Buffy refused to open her eyes, knowing that it would break the
magical spell that held this moment together. Instead, she squeezed tighter
to press the hard body closer to her. Buffy thought of all the nights she had
dreamt of this moment. The way they were once, the way they could never be
again.

You may have walked away
were still as close as when I gave
deep in your gentle eyes

An tonight me with you
look at things the way you do
indulge me please
I'll take the breath you breathe
An tonight me with you
look at things the way you do
indulge me please
I'll take the breath you breathe

Make the dream come true
show me how to comfort you
indulge me please
I'll take the breath you breathe

The song ended all too soon for the both of them. Buffy felt tears burn
the back of her eyelids. Opening her eyes, she stared up at the man who had
danced with her. Buffy cast him a crooked smile.

Angels smile was identical to hers. Both knew that the strong attraction
between them would never die. Although they had both shared many moments in
the arms of others, and even cared deeply for other people, no one would ever
replace this bond between them.

"I see you have been following me," Buffy broke the silence with a husky
voice.

"I can't help it, Buffy. I try to listen to your words but my heart pleas
for me to listen to it instead," Angel confessed as he picked up her hand and
brushed his lips across the back of her fingers.

Buffy gulped hard. It had been over four years since a man had touched
any part of her body. Four long years.

"I fear our hearts do not carry the wisdom that our heads do." Buffy
smiled bitterly as she thought of the times that they both had shared with
other people.

"Buffy, the bitter Slayer to the end," Angel chuckled with a sigh.

"I fear that love created the woman before you," she replied. Buffy's
eyes darkened with sadness as she looked down at the large, cool hand still
holding her own.

Angel was not sure how to respond to that statement. He saw the pain
and confusion surfacing upon Buffy's face. Angel wanted to weep at the pain
he was sure she tried to hold inside.

Acting on impulse and lust, Angels  free hand reached out to circle
around her neck and with a strong grip, he pulled her closer to him. The touch of
his lips on her hers was so light it tingled. He held still, his mouth barely
meeting hers, while tension built. Framing her face, holding her head still,
he kissed her with power, and with finesse. He kissed her and murmured
formless words that inflamed her - formless words that made her head spin,
her heart sing.

Chpt. 22

    Buffy had nearly forgotten how a kiss from Angel would make her forget
about everything and everyone else. She moved her head carefully, slowly,
from side to side under Angel's and heard another stifled groan. Buffy’s
hands
slipped away from his neck to glide up and down his backside. His back
rippled
beneath her hands. His chest pressed hers. She wanted to be naked - skin
against skin with him.

Buffy felt the cold walls that protected her heart start to melt and felt
something wet pour down her face. Angel pulled away, breaking the moment of
passion between them.

"You’re crying," Angel stated.

"I am?" Buffy asked with amazement.

"Yes, are you okay?" Angel felt guilty for causing her any more pain than
life had already inflicted on her.

"I...I...think so," Buffy answered as she struggled to slow her pulse
down.

"I'm sorry, Buffy. I cannot resist the chance of loving you the way I
always dreamed I would if you were alive again," Angel confessed with his own
tears slipping down his face.

Buffy sobbed loudly, putting her hand up in front of him. She had to
block his face from her sight; had to get out of there as fast as she could
before she regretted telling him how many times she had longed for his touch,
his voice, his love.

Buffy took a steady breath and then turned around and ran out of the
building without giving him a chance to go any further. She could not afford
to let him fool her into believing that he still loved her or that he was her
soulmate. Because she knew that soulmates never, never, betray each other.
Buffy knew at that precise moment that her anger was not just directed at
Angel, but herself as well.

Buffy told herself that too much damage had been done by them both to
ever have a loving, trusting, and pain-free relationship, now or ever.


*************************************************************************
****

A few feet away, someone watched the couple dance and then the
passionate scene that played out between the Slayer and the vampire.

"Go ahead, make promises that neither of you can keep. Because I promise
you, Slayer, your days are numbered." With a pair of red eyes and a heart
made
of stone, the threat waited until the vampire left before walking out of the
shadows.

Chpt. 23 

    Buffy tossed and turned. The dream was growing more vivid, more real than 
she had ever experienced before. The air was musty, the sky was blood red, 
and she could hear voices whispering. 

"Hello?" Buffy called out into the darkness. 

Buffy felt her heart racing as she sensed great danger drawing close
to her. 

You are nothing. You are nothing. 

A hideous voice screamed out at Buffy. She jumped at the loud sound. 

"Who are you? What do you want with me?" Buffy yelled back with a
furious glare. 

I am more than you can ever imagine, Slayer. I have sacrificed more than 
you ever dreamed of. I will take you down. I will take them all down.
Nothing will stop me. I know more than you could HOPE for.

Buffy felt as if someone had just poured ice cold water through her veins 
at the mention of her daughter’s name. 

"Why do you want me dead? I quit. I quit slaying years ago." Buffy’s 
hands 
folded into small fists next to her side as she glanced back and forth around 
the darkness. 

Slaying is in your blood. No one quits slaying. You know death is the 
only escape from your destiny, from your bloodline.

Buffy was growing nervous as the voice grew closer. Buffy squinted
her eyes, hoping to see something that might reveal who was behind all of
this. 

Tell me, Slayer, which do you fear most, dying or dying extremely
slow?

Buffy bit down hard on her lip to calm herself. Buffy had hoped that
the voice would reveal more about itself rather than asking so many questions
of her. 

"I fear neither," Buffy lied. 

Haha! You never lied well. 

Buffy felt a cold wind brush against her. She began to walk in small 
circular motions, glancing at anything she might be able to see. Only 
darkness surrounded her, and the red-colored sky. 

"Why now? Why all of a sudden are you coming after me?" Buffy had
often wondered about this particular question. Buffy hoped knowing why the
sudden revenge theme, might help her figure out who was behind all of this. 

For years I have watched you come and go into this world. For years I
have suffered because you exist. Happiness and power that belonged to me was 
given to you instead. You shall die, Slayer. You and all of those who love
their precious Slayer. 

Buffy listened closely to the voice. It almost sounded like a
female's voice but she was not one hundred percent sure of it. 

"Why did you kill Dawn? Dawn was never a true Slayer," Buffy growled.


It brought you home. It brought all of them home. Everyone will watch
as you suffer, as you die. 

Buffy had suspected the reason but wanted to hear it for herself. 

"I will not let you kill me. I have killed everything that has
threatened my life before this. What makes you think YOU can stop me?" Buffy
challenged the mysterious voice. 

Always the conceited one. I have the knowledge that the others did
not have. I have been beneath you and above you. I will destroy you. 

Buffy thought about the answers that were given to her. She prayed
that she remembered all of this by the time she woke up. 

"You’re a coward. If you were really that powerful then you would
have shown yourself. Why do you hide from me?" Buffy called out with a
sarcastic smile on her face, while her heart raced with fear. 

I will say no more. We will see each other very soon. HOPE you say
all your good-byes for real this time, Slayer. 

Buffy felt a strong breeze come out of nowhere and then as if she was
in the middle of a tornado the wind blew harder, faster until she was lifted 
off her feet. Whispers filled her head as she swirled around and around
in complete darkness. 

She sat up abruptly in bed, panting, and turned to look at the clock. 
It was only four in the morning. Slipping out of the bed, she raced to her 
daughter’s room, where she found Hope sleeping peacefully, unharmed.
Buffy caught her breath as she saw that everything was okay. 

She ran her hands through her knotted hair, thinking about her dream
as she went downstairs to the kitchen. The voice had been so real, so close
to her. Whoever was after her was playing the game cautiously. Buffy did not 
like a smart and patient demon. 

Buffy poured herself a glass of water. Gulping it down she set the glass 
down on the counter. She was about to go back to bed when she heard a
strange sound coming from her back porch. Buffy felt her Slayer senses 
tingling.
It was not human, whatever was out there. 

Buffy opened the kitchen drawer and pulled out a spare stake. Opening
the door, she crept outside. Just as she was about to step around the corner
she saw him. Her pulse quickened as she felt a sudden need to go and throw
her arms around him and confide everything to him. Instead, she walked 
toward him 
wearing an angry frown. 

"I could have killed you," Buffy informed him as she held the stake
by her side. 

"Yeah, you could have, but where would the fun be in that." Angel
produced a weak smile as he watched Buffy walk closer to him. 

"Plenty...these days," Buffy replied with a heavy sigh. 

"We need to talk. I just had a horrible vision and let me tell you,
it scare the hell out of me. Literally," Angel warned her as he put his
hands in his pockets. 

Buffy saw the fear in his eyes and wondered if the threat had visited 
him as it had her earlier. If it had, then why was going after Angel and 
Hope? Why not just kill her and get it over with? she asked herself. 

"Talk." Buffy wrapped her arms around her chest tightly as she prepared 
to listen to everything he had to say. While fighting the need to ask him
to hold her...forever. 

Chpt. 24

    "It was so strange this time, I mean, it was completely different from
the visions. I was standing over here watching your room." Angel started to 
explain and then realized he had just told on himself, he blushed. 

"Anyway, when I saw this...strange cloud floating over your house.
Then I heard these whispers in my head. They were saying something...I could 
not 
make it all out," Angel explained with a frown. 

"What were they saying?" Buffy asked curiously. She had heard the
whispers too, but the dark voice had risen over them, preventing her from 
hearing
it. 

"Something like, the light is pure, the heart is true....I'm not sure 
about the others." Angel shook his head, frustrated. 

"The light is pure, the heart is true?" Buffy shivered as she felt goose 
bumps run up and down her arms. 

"Are you cold?" Angel noticed her shivering. It was then he realized
that she was wearing her pajamas outside. 

"A little," Buffy admitted as her teeth started to chatter. 

"Let's go inside," Angel suggested. 

Buffy's face went ghost white. 

"NO,!I mean, the others are asleep. I do not want to wake them up."
Buffy hoped she recovered from her panic-stricken look. 

"Are you okay?" Angel asked with a pair of worried eyes. 

"Yes. Damn, Angel, you act as if I'm a piece of fine China or
something just as fragile." Buffy rolled her eyes with disgust. 

"You are precious to me. I would not want to cause you any harm. I 
...I...missed you so terribly and had so many regrets. I vowed that if I
ever had another chance with you I would protect you with my own life," Angel 
cried out. 

Buffy felt the pit of her stomach doing flip-flops at the sound of 
sincerity in his voice. She wanted to believe everything he told her but 
she knew from past mistakes that Angel might truly love her, but he was
lousy at proving it. 

"Stop it. Okay. I mean it. I do not want to hear any more of this
shit. If you loved me so much, Angel, then you would not have constantly 
broken
my heart," Buffy reminded him. 

"Buffy, you know as well as I do that everything I did was with best
of intentions. I'm not perfect. I do not have all the answers. I screwed up.
If memory serves me right, so did you," Angel pointed out her own flaws. 

"I'm not going to stand out here freezing my ass off while having a 
pissing contest with you. Are we done with discussing your vision?" Buffy 
asked. 

"Fine. For now. But I'm coming over tomorrow to talk to Giles. We need to 
sit down and try to form a plan against whatever is after you," Angel 
informed her. 

Buffy wished that Angel would quit getting involved with this problem
of hers. She sensed that the longer he stayed, the more danger he put his
own life in. Although Buffy could never, ever, fall in love with Angel again,
she still cared deeply for him. If she was the cause of his death or anything 
remotely close to it, she would be torn with guilt. Guilt was not a luxury 
she could afford at the moment. She needed to concentrate on the threat
that was growing closer to her and Hope. 

"Angel, you are a fool. I swear." Buffy threw her arms up in defeat
once she saw the stubborn look he glared at her. 

"I probably am," Angel answered. 

"You need to go, the sun will be up soon," Buffy reminded him. 

"I know. Go on, get back inside. Once I see you are safe in the house 
then I will leave," Angel replied. 

"Okay." Buffy started to turn and walk away when she felt his hand
reach out and grip her shoulder, turning her back toward him. 

"What now?" Buffy moaned as she recognized the look in his eyes. 

Angel did not speak a word. Pulling her next to him he wrapped his
arms around her tightly. Buffy stiffened, then relaxed as the seconds rolled
by. 

"I love you, Buffy. No matter how angry or bitter you are toward me,
I will always love you," Angel whispered in her ear. Then, placing a soft
kiss on the top of her head, he released her. 

Buffy refused to look up at him. Instead, she just turned and ran
inside of the house. Closing the door behind her, she leaned up against it. 
Buffy's
body quivered. It was not the cold air that caused her nerves to scream. It
was the fact that Angel could still move her with just simple words. Empty
words. 

Chpt. 25 

    Angel had arrived at the Summers home the moment the sun had gone down. 
Buffy had been relieved that she had sent Xander and Hope to a movie and
gave him strict instructions about calling before they decided to return home.

Buffy knew that Willow, Xander, and Giles were all curious as to why she
wanted to keep Hope away from Angel. She knew that they deserved the truth but
it did not seem fair to tell them about Hope's true origins without telling 
the 
father first. Which, in that case, if she was never forced in that situation 
she 
was not about to freely give this information to him. 

The four of them had sat down discussing everything they knew so far. 
Giles showed them the letter, Buffy explained about the dream, and Angel 
described what he had seen as well. 

"It sounds like a superior being. I mean, it might be human or part
human, but it definitely seems to have power," Willow thought out loud. 

"What do you mean?" Angel asked Willow. 

"The form that it took, the way it came into your dream. It takes
quite a bit of power to do those two things," Willow explained. 

Giles agreed with Willow’s theory. Both knew all-too-well about the
power of magic and what it took to use it. 

"Yes, Willow is quite correct," Giles answered. 

"So, I'm up against something magical?" Buffy suggested as she sipped
on her cup of tea. 

"Maybe...maybe not." Giles pulled his glasses off as he thought of
all the possibilities and demons that possessed such a power. 

"I got this strange feeling that I have encountered this thing
before. I mean, it said it knew me, that it had been beneath me and above me,"
Buffy thought out loud. 

"Precisely what I was thinking. It could be possible that this being
was once human," Giles speculated. 

"We could look up what sort of magic could help a human do these
things," Willow offered. 

"Let's go look that up," Giles agreed as he took his cup of tea and 
followed Willow to the den where she had her computer set up. 

Buffy looked across the table at Angel. They had somehow been left in
the kitchen alone. 

"I guess we just sit here and wait," Buffy said as she began to tap
her fingers on the table. 

"Do you know if Willow still has any Wicca connections? I was
thinking that she might be able to get someone to place a spell over the 
house to 
prevent this thing from bothering you here," Angel responded as he stared 
into her eyes. 

Angel could not help but feel like a starving man whenever Buffy was
near him. Especially after believing she was dead for the past four years. The
vampire wondered if he would ever grow tired of just watching Buffy. Something
inside of his head told him that it would be useless to even try. The 
attraction 
between them was so strong that even after all these years, the lies, the 
betrayal and the vows that had been broken, he still wanted her just as
much as the first time he laid eyes on her. 

"Not a bad thought," Buffy replied with a weak smile. 

"I...I...well...I just wanted to explain about the other..." Angel 
stopped 
in mid-sentence as he stared past Buffy. Buffy gulped hard as she saw the 
look of pain and misery shine through his eyes. With a slow movement she
turned to see who had caused such strong emotions from Angel. 

"Hello, Peaches. I suspected that you would be here." Spike leaned up 
against the wall, staring at the couple who had not heard his entrance. 

"I guess some things don't ever change." Spike clucked his tongue as
he gave them both a suspicious glance. 

"Why are you here?" Buffy rolled her eyes toward Spike. She felt her 
heart race as she realized she was in the room with Angel and Spike at
the same time. Buffy knew the math. This equation was not a good one. 

"I came for Little Bit’s funeral and wanted to find the bastards who 
killed her," Spike replied with a bitter tone. 

"I...I...I'm sorry, Spike." Buffy was apologizing for more than
Dawn's death and they both knew it. 

"Are you now?" Spike asked sarcastically as his eyes glared furiously
at Angel. 

"I am. Look, I'm in no condition to deal with this right now." Buffy 
stood up. 

"Maybe we should go outside and talk," Spike suggested with a strange 
look on his face. 

"I do not want to go outside with you, not right now." Buffy hoped to 
find a compromise with him. Buffy knew that if Spike got riled up he might 
say or do something foolish that would reveal things to Angel that she
was not prepared to have to explain at the moment. 

"Fine." Spike wrapped his arms around his chest. 

"What is going on?" Angel had caught the unspoken words that were
passed between them by their eyes. 

"Nothing," Buffy snapped as she walked past Spike to find the others.


Angel and Spike glared at one another, both sensing a territorial
battle that still existed after all these years apart. 

"I know you cared about Dawn and I also know that she cared for you,
but Buffy does not need any more turmoil in her life at the moment. Perhaps
you should just stay out of this," Angel suggested. 

"Perhaps you just keep your bloody nose out of my business. What I do
and who I do it with is none of your concern," Spike growled at him before 
turning away from his sire and followed in the direction that Buffy had
went. 

Angel was not sure what had happened between Buffy and Spike but he
sensed it had caused them both much pain. 

Chpt. 26

    Xander and Hope had enjoyed the latest Disney movie. Once it was over 
they had agreed that ice cream was needed. Xander sat at the ice cream
shop sharing a big hot fudge sundae with the adorable four-year-old. 

"Do you like these much?" Xander teased her as she shoveled the ice
cream with rapid motions. 

"I love them," she said as she swallowed a mouthful. 

"I can tell. Are you about ready to head home?" Xander asked. 

"Yep! I know Mommy will be worried about me." Hope’s happiness seem
to fade as she remembered the way her mother’s behavior had changed since
they arrived in this new place. 

"Yeah, but you know what? All Mommies worry," Xander informed her. 

"Really?" Hope looked at him suspiciously. 

"Yep," Xander promised. 

"Do all Mommies cry a lot?" Hope asked as she licked the chocolate
substance off of her fingers. 

"No, well...it depends. How often does she cry?" Xander felt his
heart go out to both the little girl and her mommy. 

"She used to cry only a little but since we got here she cries every 
night. I hear her," Hope explained with a worried face. 

"Well, you have to understand that Mommy misses her sister a lot. You 
remember, the one that went to heaven," Xander answered with a weak smile. 

"I remember. Aunt Dawn came to see me once. She told me everything would 
be okay soon. I just had to be really strong for Mommy." Hope began to lick 
the spoon at this point. 

"When did Aunt Dawn come to see you?" Xander felt shivers run up and
down his spine. 

"The first night we came here. She came to my room," Hope told him as
if it was a normal thing to see a dead person. 

"Are you sure it was Aunt Dawn you saw?" Xander felt like he was
about to choke on his tongue. 

"Yes, she was all white and pretty. She said that I would have all
the answers soon. I asked a lot of questions," Hope explained. 

"What questions did you ask?" Xander felt his pulse racing at the odd 
conversation he was having with the four-year-old. 

"I asked her why the bad guys were always after me and Mommy and 
who...who...was my daddy." Hope’s head dropped slightly as tears formed
in her soft hazel eyes. 

"Did she say who was your Daddy?" Xander gulped hard. Although knew
all of them had come straight out and asked who was Hope's biological father,
they were all curious to the answer. 

"No, she said she could not tell me." Hope blinked her eyes as tears 
slipped out of them. 

"It's okay." Xander embraced her tightly. 

"I know," Hope sobbed. 

"Come on, let me call your mother and let her know we are on our way 
home." Xander kissed the top of her head and felt his heart break for the 
tiny version of Buffy. 

Xander picked up the phone and heard silence. The pay phone was out.
He tried to think where the closest one was located. Then with a frown he 
realized that the closest one was about two blocks away. Xander debated
on whether they should walk that far out of their way or just head to the
house. 

He heard a slight growling noise from the corner of the building. 
Scooping up Hope, he ran to his parked car. Throwing her into the
passenger side, he raced to the driver’s side and jumped inside. Two seconds 
later the car was surrounded by vampires. Xander felt fear course through his veins 
as he counted at least seven vamps surrounding them. How was he going to get
her back to Buffy safe and alive he asked himself ?

Chpt. 27 

    It had been awkward at first but the five of them had started to make 
progress with the research when Buffy felt a freaky shiver run up and
down her spine. Buffy's head popped up from the large dusty book she had been 
reading from and her eyes were wide with fear. 

"What's wrong Buffy?" Spike had been glancing at her from time to
time when he saw the fear cross her face. 

"Something is wrong," Buffy announced rather calmly. 

"Uh?" Willow and Giles gulped hard at the dazed look Buffy was 
displaying. 

"Something is WRONG?" Buffy's voice began to raise with panic. 

"What do you mean?" Angel jumped up and crossed the room to her side.


"I...I..." Buffy shook her head back and forth as she refrained from
using Hope's name out loud. 

"I need to go patrolling." Buffy flew out of the chair and out of the 
room before they could even blink. 

"Go after her," Giles ordered both vampires, who looked a bit spooked
by Buffy's odd behavior. 

Once they were out of the house, Willow looked at Giles. 

"Something is wrong. I feel it," Willow confessed as she thought of
Hope and Xander out on the town. 

"Let's get a few weapons and follow them," Giles thought out loud. 

Willow did as ordered and together they began to head in the direction 
they both felt the power surging from. Willow prayed that she would never
be forced to conjure up magic again, but her heart warned her that if it
meant keeping them alive she would take the chance. 

Giles sensed the same thing that Willow had. Something powerful was
out there. His gut instincts told him that Buffy had sensed Hope in danger.
This was not going to end well he feared for any of them. 


*************************************************************************
******

Xander pulled Hope onto his lap as he held onto her tightly, trying
to figure out a plan out of this mess. The vampires just kept circling the
parked car as if they, too, were trying to figure out how to get the humans 
out of the car without destroying it. 

Just as Xander thought he would have a nervous breakdown he felt the 
earth beneath them start to tremble. 

"What now?" Xander cried out loud. 

A gush of wind came out of nowhere straight toward the car and the 
vampires around it. Xander could have sworn he saw fear in their eyes
moments before the wind picked them up and threw their bodies away from the
parked car. 

Xander held Hope tightly as he closed his eyes waiting for the
tornado type of wind to throw the car as well. Nothing happened. 

Xander opened his eyes one at a time and saw a white light
surrounding them. 

"Hope...Hope?" Xander whispered into the little girl’s ear as she sat 
quietly with her head snuggled into his neck. 

"Yes?" Hope pulled her head away to look at Xander. 

"What is going on?" Xander wondered if the four-year-old knew more
than he did. 

"It's okay, Xander. It's okay," Hope assured him as her eyes blinked
from a white/blue-colored back to hazel. 

"Hope, are you okay?" Xander pulled her further away from him. Xander 
stared deep into her eyes in hopes of seeing if he had imagined what he
had just seen. 

"Yes, I'm okay." Hope gulped hard. 

"What is going on?" Xander demanded as the white light began to fade
and he heard soft unformed whispers. 

"I...I...do not know," Hope admitted. 

"Did you do this?" Xander was not sure why he had asked such a
question of a four-year-old in the first place, but it had come out anyway. 

"I...I...do not think so," Hope sobbed as she saw the way he stared
at her as if she had done something wrong. 

"It's okay." Xander pulled her back in a tight embrace as he rubbed
her back. 

"We will be okay." Xander sighed heavily as the light faded completely 
away and he saw that indeed they were safe. 

"Come on, let's get out of here." Xander put her back in the seat and 
placed the seat belt on her before starting up the car. 

Just as he turned the ignition over he felt the ground tremble once 
again.  Something deep down inside of him told him that they were not going to be
so lucky this time. 
Chpt. 28 

    Buffy felt the sweat rolling down her back as she ran faster than she
ever had before. Her heart was leaping out of her chest the closer she got to
where she felt the surge of danger. Buffy forced the tears back in her eyes as
she prayed that she would get to Hope in time. Buffy's mind flashed back to
Dawn's mangled body, blinking the image away as she forced the air to flow 
through her heavy lungs. 

Then as she came around the corner of Burke Street, she stopped dead
in her tracks. There were vampires thrown all around the street as if 
something big had come through there and tossed them aside. Buffy saw Xander's car parked in the middle of all of this chaos. 

Buffy’s spine tingled horribly. Danger was still close by and with the 
amount of sensations coursing through her body, she knew it was not
coming from the vampires laying about. 

She glanced around nervously. Buffy saw nothing that would have
caused such a feeling to course through her veins. Taking slow, steady steps 
she made her way closer to the parked car. Buffy’s foot got caught in a 
pothole. Looking down underneath her feet she noticed a crack that ran from where she stood all the way toward the car. Buffy gulped hard. 

Buffy chewed on the inside of her cheek as she continued toward the
car. She thought she heard moans coming from the vamps around her. She showed
no signs of fear where they were concerned; instead she forced herself to
keep walking. 

As she finally approached the car, she saw there was no one inside of
it. Buffy thought she heard a sound come out of her own mouth but was not
sure. Her mind could not comprehend what she thought might have happened. 
Buffy began to shake her head back and forth with a confused expression on her 
face. 

Buffy ran her hands through her hair as she just stood there, staring
at the empty car. Moments later, Angel and Spike came around the corner.
Both vampires felt the awkward atmosphere they were walking into. Angel found 
Buffy staring at a parked car. 

"Look." Angel hit Spike and pointed toward where Buffy was standing
with her back toward them. 

Both men watched cautiously around the area. Neither felt quite 
comfortable with the dozen or so vampires laying about as if they had
been blown away. 

"Buffy," Angel called to her as they drew closer. 

Buffy heard Angel's voice but did not respond. She felt cold and
numb. 

"Buffy, what happened?" Angel asked as he stood next to her, glancing
at her with concern. 

"Whose car?" Spike looked at the nice model car that Buffy just kept 
staring at. 

"Buffy." Spike frowned as he glanced at Angel and then back at Buffy.


"Buffy, sweetheart, what is wrong?" Angel reached out and turned her
to face him. 

Buffy looked up at him with such a broken hearted expression that
both men felt as if there was more to this scene than either had a clue about.


"Buffy, please...talk to me," Angel pleaded with her. 

"I...I..." Buffy felt the world start to spin around as she thought
of her beautiful daughter, who might be lost to her forever. Buffy blinked a 
few times before the faint feeling overwhelmed her. She allowed the darkness to 
engulf her as she gave into it. 

Angel reached out just in time as she passed out cold. 

"What the bloody hell has her so scared?" Spike growled as he sensed 
something terrible had happened and that it involved the same thing that
had taken Dawn from the world. 

"Angel!" Giles shouted as he and Willow jogged toward them. 

"What happened?" Willow panted heavily. 

"I do not know. We found her just standing here, staring at the empty 
car," Angel replied with a worried frown. 

"Oh no!" Willow stared at the car before them. 

"What? Whose car is this?" Spike demanded. 

"It's Xander's." Willow glanced at Giles, who shared an exchanging
frown with her. 

"Okay, I'm tired of having to ask this, but what is going on?" Angel 
growled toward Willow and Giles. 

"Is she okay?" Giles glanced at the vampires nervously. 

"She just fainted," Spike replied. 

"Well, let's get her back to the house. Safety is an issue and then when 
she wakes up, if she wants to, then she will tell you everything," Giles 
replied with a stubborn lift of his chin. 

"She will tell me," Angel vowed as he lifted her up in his arms and
led the group back to the Summers’ house. 

Chpt. 29 

    Buffy woke up with a start as she cried out from a horrible dream. 

"HOPE!" Buffy cried out as she jumped up from the couch. 

"Buffy." Angel sat in the chair closest to her. He had refused to
leave her side until she woke up. Angel was trying to contemplate what it was 
that had Buffy so scared. Sure, Xander was a close friend, almost a
brother to her, but he had never seen her act as if there was no hope when 
one of her friends was taken by an evil force. 

"Angel?" Buffy blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the light
in the room. 

"Buffy, are you okay?" Angel asked gently. 

"Yes." Buffy shook her head in agreement as tears began to sting her
eyes when it dawned on her that it had not been a terrible dream, but reality.
Hope and Xander were gone. Buffy was not sure how she was going to get them 
back safely. She was still clueless as to what even had them. 

"Good, ‘cause I have a few questions to ask and I want answers," Angel 
replied sternly. 

"Oh." Buffy sat up in a sitting position to face Angel as he began to
ask her things she did not want to answer. 

"What is really going on here? I mean, I know there is something truly 
evil after you, but…well, there is more to all of this. You are keeping 
something from me. I want the truth. I do not know why but I feel like I 
should be told the truth," Angel began to interrogate. He knew he did not 
have much time before the others came in to check on her. 

"Angel...I…I do not know how to tell you. Its been so hard the last four 
years. I had to leave. I had no choice. I never wanted to come back here. 
I…I..." Buffy wrapped her face with her hands as she began to cry hard. 

"Buffy, calm down and start from the beginning." Angel knelt down in 
front of her as he pulled her hands away from her face, staring deeply in her 
eyes. He saw that he had been correct about his instincts. Buffy had been 
keeping a secret from him. 

"Angel, do you remember what happened before I was supposed to have
died?" Buffy asked as she cleared her throat. 

"Do you mean between us?" Angel asked. 

"Yes." Buffy nodded her head. 

"Of course. After you died, I replayed the last days we had shared in 
mind over and over again," Angel confessed a sad sigh. 

"Well, I bet I remember it differently than you do," Buffy answered
with a touch of anger in her voice. 

"What do you mean?" Angel frowned at her. 

"You see, there were secrets between us. Secrets that I wished I had
never known or had. You hurt me, Angel. You really hurt me." Buffy’s hands
clenched up into fists as she allowed her mind to go back in time and remember
what had started the events that changed her life forever. 

Buffy had discovered that Angel was missing and the gang feared 
that something horrible had happened to him. Buffy had flown to L.A.
without hesitation to help her soul mate. When she arrived it was clear to her
that both Fred and Gunn were holding back details from her regarding the
events that had led up to Angel’s disappearance. 

Then there was the fact that Wesley was no longer a part of the group
and Cordelia was gone as well. All they knew for sure was that Angel had left
to meet Cordelia and neither one of them had returned. 

Buffy began searching high and low when she had come face-to-face
with this boy whom Fred and Gunn explained had come from another dimension 
and was quite powerful. The moment her eyes fell on Connor she sensed 
something familiar about the young teenager. 

It was not long before he learned that she was looking for Angel. That 
was when the battle began. The two fought long and hard. Buffy was amazed at
how his fighting technique was a lot like the one that Angel had taught her.
However, Buffy had been fighting longer than him and she finally got a break 
and gained the upper hand on the battle. Once she had pinned him down and knocked him unconscious she brought him back to the hotel tied up. 

It was when he woke up that Buffy got the first shock of her life. Connor 
began to scream at Fred and Gunn. Buffy sat there like a bump on a log.
Her entire body had frozen up when the words came crashing into her head and 
heart. 

"He is not my father! I do not care if he did try to save my life. He 
murdered my real father. There is no way I will ever look at Angel as 
anything but a demon. Both he and Darla are demons. They were never meant to 
be my parents," Connor had screamed. 

Buffy turned to Fred and Gunn to see if any of this made sense to them. 
When she saw the embarrassed look cross their faces, she knew that what he 
spoke was the truth. Somehow her ex-lover and his sire had produced a child. 
In order to produce meant that Angel had slept with Darla, with that thought 
alone Buffy nearly vomited right there on the spot. 

"You two have a lot to tell me," Buffy growled as she glared at the 
couple. 

"Buffy, it was not our place," Fred began to stammer nervously. 

"Yeah, I mean we thought he would have told you if he wanted you to 
know," Gunn answered defensively. 

"NO! I want to know what the hell is going on here, if you want me to 
find him. I cannot help you if I do not have all the answers!" Buffy yelled 
out as she began to pace back and forth. 

Ten minutes later, Gunn finished the long saga of how the vampires had 
conceived a child and Darla gave her life in order to protect their 
offspring, while Angel did everything he could to protect his son. In the end his 
protection had been futile when Wesley took the child and ended up giving him the very enemy Angel was protecting him from. Once Connor returned from the dimension he was out to kill his own father. 

"This is...is…crazy!" Buffy threw her hands up in the air as she fled
to the backyard to get some fresh air. 

She stared up at the night sky as she took long, deep breaths. She
began to have doubts if she wanted to even find Angel after hearing this 
tale. 

Two days later, after torturing Connor and doing some fast leg work,
Buffy had found Angel underneath the sea. Once he was back at the hotel she
allowed him twenty-four hours to regain his strength before she tore into his
ass. Angel had pleaded with her to understand why he had kept the whole 
ordeal from her. Buffy was about to leave town when Cordelia arrived with news that Buffy and Angel were needed desperately in another realm. 

That was when Buffy learned that Cordelia had been turned half-demon
in order to keep her visions. She had seen the odd exchange of looks between 
Angel and Cordelia from time to time. Buffy thought little of it at first. It was 
after they returned from their trip in the other realm that she came to see 
just what those looks meant between the couple.

Chpt. 30 

    "Buffy, tell me. I want to help you but I cannot unless I know
everything." Angel’s voice brought her back from the past. 

Buffy glanced at his face for a second before she looked away as she
began to take them both back in time. Back to where they had created the most 
wonderful and beautiful daughter than even she could have imagine or Angel 
even knew. 

**** Back in time****************

"I'm serious, Angel. The Powers That Be want you two to go to the
other realm." Cordelia sighed heavily as she stared up at Angel with soft 
eyes.

Cordelia had not been too pleased to see that Buffy was at the hotel when
she arrived but once she discovered that it was Buffy who had found Angel,
she had to remind herself that that was the important thing. Although 
Cordelia had sensed that she had walked in on an argument between the ex-lovers she could still feel the strong attraction between them. 

"Why would I or Buffy just jump up and rush off to this realm to save 
some people? Where were the Powers That Be when I was under the sea for 
nearly a week?" Angel asked with a disgusted expression. 

"I'm sorry, you know that I have no control over how they do things.
I just know that this realm needs you. My orders were to come and get you two
and show you the way to the portal," Cordelia explained with compassionate
eyes toward the man that made her heart flutter. 

"Yeah, well what happened to you?" Angel checked to make sure the
door to his office was still closed as he forced himself to speak softly. 

"Angel, I...I was trying,.." Cordelia bit down on her lower lip. 

Cordelia debated on whether she should tell Angel that she was on her
way to confess her love to him when the final test was presented to her. She
wanted to tell Angel that she loved him but, then remembering what she felt 
between Buffy and Angel earlier, she knew deep down inside that their
love would never come close to the love that those two had experienced. 

"I'm sorry, my final test was presented and I had to make a choice
and I made it," Cordelia said firmly as she exhaled deeply. 

"So you had to choose between me or the test?" Angel asked. 

"Yes," Cordelia answered. Cordelia's heart ached as she saw the pain
that crossed his face before he covered it up. 

"Fine. I see." Angel gulped hard. 

"Look, we need to hurry." Cordelia wanted to get off of the subject of 
them before she changed her mind and confessed everything to him. 

"So, Buffy and I are supposed to fight what again?" Angel asked. He
knew that this unexpected trip might be what he needed to keep his mind and
heart from considering what he had almost had with Cordelia. 

"They did not tell me, exactly," Cordelia admitted. 

"What about Connor?" Angel looked toward the other room as he thought
about his son who tried to kill him a few days earlier. 

"He will be contained until you get back to patch things up with him. 
While you’re away it will give me time to do my power thingie on him and 
hopefully convince him that you’re not that bad." Cordelia chuckled weakly. 

"What if Buffy and I cannot get back?" Angel thought suddenly. 

"You will. Both of you will. I just know it or they would not send
you two." Cordelia hoped she was correct about that sudden assumption. 

"Why the two of us?" Angel asked with a frown. 

"I don’t know. I thought it was a bit strange too. I'm learning not
to question them," Cordelia admitted. 

"Fine, I will go but let them know that I want Connor protected until I 
return. If he is hurt or disappears before I get back then I’m done with 
them," Angel stated sternly. 

"I promise I will watch him." Cordelia's hand crossed her heart. 

"Let’s get this over with." Angel sighed as he walked past her and back 
to the room where Buffy stood next to the wall, just staring at Connor with a 
pair of hurt eyes. 

"Buffy, are you up to this?" Angel asked with concern in his eyes and 
voice. 

"Why not?" Buffy replied sarcastically. 

"Show us the way." Angel picked up his jacket and slipped it on as
they walked out of the hotel, following Cordelia to the portal where he was 
sure that he and Buffy were being tested for some unthinkable reason. 

Angel stared at the portal then back at Cordelia who smiled weakly at 
him. 

"Hurry back," Cordelia said as she gave him a swift hug. 

"Take care of him," Cordelia warned Buffy. 

Angel looked at Buffy then without another word the warriors jumped
into the portal at the same time. 

Cordelia watched as the portal closed behind them. 

"I hope you guys know what you are doing." Cordelia stared at the
brick wall for a few more seconds before heading back to the hotel. 

Chpt. 31 

    Neither Buffy nor Angel had expected what they were both witnessing. 

"Uh? What kind of trouble could be here?" Buffy asked with a
bewildered face. 

"Really," Angel replied as his eyes scanned the beautifully scenic
view. 

They had landed on a cliff-side by the ocean. This world appeared to
be paradise, full of wild tropic flowers and erotic smells. Buffy looked up
at the bright blue sky above them and then went into panic mode. 

"OH GOD!" Buffy threw Angel down on the ground and began to cover his 
body with hers frantically. 

"What are you doing?" Angel cried out with a nervous laugh. 

"The sun!" Buffy reminded him as she pointed up toward the bright yellow 
ball above them. 

"Wow! So that is what it looks like," Angel teased her. 

"Why are you not burning?" Buffy frowned as she pushed herself up on her 
hands, but still covering his body with her shadow. 

"Because The Powers That Be would not send me to a world during the 
daylight if I could not withstand the beams. I must admit they are pretty 
cool about finding these places." Angel smiled as he glanced past her and
up at the sky. 

"These places?" Buffy replied with a sarcastic smile. 

"Yeah, when we were sent to find Fred it was the same way. Except..." 
Angel then remembered how ugly the demon had been that had came out
during the sunlight. 

"Except what?" Buffy asked. 

"Except I became horribly ugly and ferocious," Angel spoke softly as his 
eyes glanced away with shame. 

"Surely you won't become demonic this time. I mean I need THE Angel
in order to stop whatever evil force is behind this beautiful island." Buffy 
chuckled as she shifted her weight. It was then that she felt something 
different about Angel. 

"Angel.." Buffy gasped as she choked on her own heart. 

"What?" Angel rolled his eyes as he pondered what now was going
through her crazy head. 

"Look." Buffy pointed at his chest. 

"Yeah, so?" Angel laughed. 

"Okay smarty pants...breathe." Buffy jumped off of him and stood over
him. 

"Uh?" Angel laughed as he stood up and then realized he was taking 
breaths. 

"What in the hell?" Angel coughed as it dawned on him what Buffy was
trying to point out a second ago. 

"Nah, I think hell has nothing to do with this miracle." Buffy chewed
on her lip as she watched the vampire who had stolen her heart take his
first human breath after all these years. 

"I...I’m...breathing." Angel looked at Buffy with tears in his eyes. 

"I know." Buffy smiled with her own tears glistening in her eyes. She 
stepped forward and placed her hand over his chest. Thump.Thump.Thump
went his heart. 

"How is this possible?" Angel cried softly. 

"I don’t know, but I fear that although it is great and all, shouldn't we 
need you vampirish in order to beat the evil thing?" Buffy hated to end their 
happy moment but reality kicked in and fast. 

"Oh yeah..." Angel sighed heavily as he remembered the old saying
that everything comes with a cost. 

"Then again, what could be evil in this place?" Buffy hoped to sound
more positive about the situation rather than feel the uncertain dread that
Angel being human could not do either of them any good. 

"Right." Angel smiled weakly. 

Buffy and Angel just stared deeply into one another's eyes. Angel
began to think about the one other time he was human and the things he and
Buffy had enjoyed. He felt guilt rush over him as he also remembered that 
Buffy had no memory of that day, thanks to him. 

"Angel, could I kiss you?" Buffy licked her lips as she felt her
entire body start to tremble. 

"Are you sure that is wise?" Angel licked his own lips. 

"Your soul is intact if you’re human, right?" Buffy inhaled deeply as
she stepped closer to him. 

"I...guess so." Angel shrugged his shoulders as he also stepped
closer to her. 

Neither was sure if it was the tropical environment that caused this 
instant passion to course through their veins or just the fact that Angel was 
human. Neither truly cared for the source of the incredible yearning they 
both felt. Because they both wanted it so much that they would die in this 
moment, together, two hearts beating as one. 

His lips brushed hers, and his tongue cautiously entered her mouth.
Her response was the quivering breath he had hoped for. His kiss began to
wonder to her cheek, and to her ear, to stop at her neck where he began to
nibble. He then planted soft, playful licks at the exact sensitive spot that 
he knew drove her crazy. Every touch of his lips and his tongue brought waves of 
pleasure to her waiting body. Lost in the rapture of his kisses along her 
neck and his breath against her skin, she closed her eyes to savor his touch. 

His hand reached down to her blouse and slipped in between the low
cut opening. He then notice she was not wearing a bra. Drawing one breast
free of its confinement, he slipped his mouth away from her neck to land on 
her soft nipple. His tongue circled her tender flesh surrounding the pink spot, 
stopping to gently bite the bud itself. His teasing nips and flicking of his 
tongue brought ragged breaths from Buffy. Lost in the feelings, her hands 
reach out to grab his head, pushing it closer to her heaving chest. 

He kissed her lips, sliding his hands down her neck and shoulders to find 
and slowly unbutton her blouse. He spread the fabric wide and let his hands 
roam freely over her. His fingers softly squeezed and rolled her nipples, and 
she arched her back to get closer to his touch. Gradually, his touch became 
rougher, building with excitement. She whimpered and moaned until her sudden 
gasp let him know he'd gone too far. He lowered his lips to kiss her very 
tender and slightly ravaged flesh. 

His hands moved to the button of her pants, where he ripped it open
and yanked the zipper down. Pulling his mouth away from her body he looked 
down at her waist, and then bending down he began to pull down the fabric that
covered her body from his touch. 

Buffy looked down at the man who was about to make love to her right
in the open daylight of a realm that they knew nothing about. Buffy began to 
have doubts if this was such a wise thing to do at this moment. Then 
reminding herself that they might never have another opportunity of having 
Angel in human form, she pushed all her fears and concerns out of her mind. 
Instead, she relaxed and told herself to enjoy this miraculous moment in time 
they would probably never be able to experience again. She was about to know 
what it was like to be made love to by Angel as a real man. This time, when 
it was done they would be together. She knew that she would have traded her 
soul for a moment like this, if she had even an ounce of hope that it might 
exist. Yet here she was, soul intact and Angel’s as well, both about to 
experience the best moment of their existence. 
 

Chpt. 32

    
Buffy woke up to hear the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. 
Opening her eyes slowly, she began to wonder if she was dreaming. Then,
feeling a strong muscular arm pulling her closer to the warm body next to her,
she knew she was not dreaming. It had all been real. The entire day. 

Buffy closed her eyes tightly as she fought back the tears of
happiness that were threatening to break loose. Angel and Buffy had made 
passionate love over and over again until they both were completely devoid of 
energy. She smiled weakly as she remembered the way it felt to see Angel as 
just a
man. No brooding, sad eyes, or regrets, just two people exploring their 
bodies 
discovering secret spots that they could actually enjoy with a open 
conscience. 

"Buffy?" Angel sat up on one arm as he looked down at Buffy's face
from behind her. 

"Mmm…" Buffy moaned. 

"Are you okay?" Angel had fought to keep control of his needs but he
was so afraid that any second this moment they shared would disappear. He
wanted to give her everything that they had once secretly shared. 

"Yes, I'm fabulous." Buffy chuckled as she stretched her sore legs out 
straight. 

"Good, I was afraid I might have lost control there for a second." Angel 
smiled as he placed a soft kiss on her bare shoulder. 

"I think we both lost control," Buffy stated as she rolled over on her 
back to look up at his face. 

"It felt great didn't it?" Angel smiled smugly. 

"Totally." Buffy smiled softly as she wrapped her arm around his
neck, pulling him down to kiss him. 

"Ahh..." Angel groaned as he felt himself hardening once again. 

"As much as I would love to continue this I think we better start 
setting out on this journey before our time is up or we get caught
unaware and die." Angel pushed a loose piece of hair away from her face as he
stared deep into her eyes. 

"I think I could accept dying at this moment." Buffy sighed softly. 

"Me, too." Angel agreed as he thought to himself how he would love to 
store this day away in his heart and mind for when the time came that they 
had to return. Angel was no fool, he knew that this would all end soon 
enough. In fact, what scared him the most was the fact that when they
returned things would go back to the same way. It would mean that Buffy would 
have
to suffer after all with the knowledge of what it was like to see Angel
in daylight slash human form. 

"What's wrong?" Buffy frowned as she saw a second of pain cross his
face. 

"Nothing, just considering what life will be like for us when we return. 
I mean, I know I will hate it but I will go on as before. But what about 
you?" Angel asked. 

"Trust me Angel, I've grown used to you leaving me right when things 
finally get heated up between us. This won't be any different." Buffy’s
voice revealed the anger she still held against him for leaving her so many
times. 

"I hate the way that I hurt you," Angel replied with a long exhale. 

"I hate the way you hurt us both. I mean, I think we could endure 
anything 
together a hell of lot better alone. I mean, look at our past. I have died, 
you would have died had you been human when Connor sent you to the ocean 
bottom. We are stronger together than apart. Yet you can't stand the thought 
of me not settling down with a human man and having children. Are you blind? 
I mean, the odds for that are so slim. So instead you would rather that I 
have short, flighty affairs until the day that I die. ‘Cause, lover, I do not 
ever see myself finding the opportunity to give up slaying until I truly stay 
dead." Buffy’s hands glided up down his bare chest as she licked her
lips. 

"I know what you say is true, Buffy, but I'm not strong enough to
stand by and watch you give up your future for a man who has immortal future."
Angel reached out and ran his hands through her hair before leaning down to
kiss her once more before jumping up and getting dressed. 

Buffy watched his naked backside for a few minutes before she forced 
herself up and dressed. She sensed that Angel was more scared of watching 
her die when he knew the odds were he would probably die way before she
did. His enemy list was growing larger by the day. 

Buffy was about to ask him something else when she heard a strange
sound coming from the east side. 

"Is that music?" Buffy cried out in dismay. 

"Nah....well..." Angel shrugged his shoulders when he too began to
hear the pounding of the drums. 

"I think we have found the direction to our enemy." Buffy sighed
heavily. She knew that once they took this evil force down they would have to 
be sent home. Thinking of what awaited her back there, she prayed that 
perhaps she would die in this realm. Because, so far, this realm had
provided her with a wish come true, even if it was only temporary.

Part 33

Buffy and Angel headed toward the sound of the music. Both wondering what kind of creature they were up against that played such beautiful music. When they finally reach the source they hid behind a bush to check out the enemy from a safe distance.

They watch as a mermaid sat on top of a rock playing a harp. There were other mermaids laying about listening and giggling. Buffy glanced at Angel to see if he believed his own eyes cause she wasn’t.

“Okay we are supposed to kill Ariel and her friends?” Buffy whispers with an dumbfounded look.

“Who is Ariel?” Angel looks at her confused.

“Never mind.” Buffy shook her head as she forgot he didn’t grow up watching Disney movies.

“Do you think they are the enemy?” Angel asks her.

“I’m not sure. I don’t get any strange vibes from them.” Buffy shrug her shoulders.

Buffy told Angel to stay behind the bushes while she made contact first since she still had her slayer powers. He was hesitant but then agreed.

“Hello. Excuse me?” Buffy spoke softly as she approached the frightened looking mermaids.

“Who are you? How dare you come into our private domain?” The beautiful red headed mermaid who had been playing the harp demanded.

“I’m sorry I just heard the music and I had to find the source of it. It is so beautiful.” Buffy explained with a honest smile.

“You could hear it?” The blond next to her looked puzzled.

“Sure. It was heavenly.” Buffy answered.

“Your not from this world.” The red headed one announced with a suspicion look in her eyes.

“No, I’m not. I’m afraid I got sent to this realm for some reason unbeknownst to me at the moment. All I know is that the Powers That Be requested I come here.” Buffy explained as she kept a safe distance between them.

“The Powers sent you.” The blond look at the other mermaids then back at the red headed one. Buffy sensed the one who played the music was their leader.

“Yes, they sent me and someone else.” Buffy answered as she looked behind her at the bush.

“Is there someone hiding over there?” The blond look frighten again.

“Yes, but he isn’t here to cause you any harm nor am I.” Buffy promised.

“A MAN!” The girls began to squeal with delight.

“Yes, he is my boyfriend. They sent us here with no clue why. Do you know why they would send us? I mean, usually it is to help people but we are not sure who would need help here on such a beautiful world.” Buffy looked around at the tropical surroundings.

“It is beautiful here but quite dangerous.” The red head answered soberly.

“What sort of danger?” Buffy asks.

“What is your name?” The red head asks.

“It is Buffy. I am a slayer.” Buffy said proudly.

“So you’re the one who has went beyond all expectations of the slayer linage. I am proud to meet you. I am Deleigha. I am the princess of the mermaids. I’m afraid that we are being hunted down for our magic.” Deleigha explained with a sad look in her eyes.

“Who is hunting you?” Buffy looks concern.

“We are not sure of their name or origin but they began about six months ago coming into our realm killing us off one by one.” Deleigha answered.

“Is it okay if my friend comes over here?” Buffy asks.

“Is he safe?” Deleigha looks concern. So far all male mortals were a threat to their species since the beginning of time.

“Yes, I promise he wants no harm toward you.” Buffy vouched for him.

“Very well.” Deleigha agreed.

“Angel.” Angel stood up and walked slowly toward Buffy. The mermaids began to whisper and giggle. Buffy knew that they were probably thinking about how fine looking he was for a mortal man.

“Hi, it is a honor to meet your majesty.” Angel bowed properly toward her.

Deleigha could see that he was not once so pure at heart but that he was working toward redemption. She also knew that she had called upon the powers that be to send her champions to help them defeat the enemy that was threatening to destroy their species.

“I am honored as well.” Deleigha smiled warmly at him.

“Tell us about this enemy. How does he attack and what can he do with the magic you posses?” Angel started in with the questioning.

“Well, our magic is contained in our hearts. So they cut them out and with the heart they posses our magic and they can do just about anything they wish. In fact they can even grant wishes.” Deleigha answered honestly.

“Have you seen any of these attackers?” Angel wondered.

“One was spotted before we found my sister dead.” Deleigha answered with tears in her eyes.

“He was not a mere mortal man. His face appeared as one but then changed form. They come out at night and they first suck the blood of the mermaid out of her neck and then seconds before she dies they take her heart. I’m sure they perform some satanic ritual for what ever they seek.” Deleigha answered.

“Sounds like vampires.” Buffy looked at Angel with a frown.

“My thoughts too. But why they would steal their hearts and how did they learn of this place to begin with?” Angel asks out loud.

“Well, we need to hunt them down and find out.” Buffy suggested with a determine look on her face.

“You will help us then.” Deleigha looked relieved to know they had extra help in this task.

“Yes, we will. When the sun goes down your best safety will be to stay in the water.” Buffy suggested.

“I thought as well too. It’s just that it is hard to sleep under water lately with all the tropical storms that come about at night.” Deleigha explained.

“Is that unusual?” Angel asks.

“Yes, for this time of the year.” Deleigha replied.

“Maybe they are using some sort of magic to play with the weather in order to force the mermaids out of the water at night so they can attack them.” Angel gave him theory.

“You might be onto something there. I wish we had Willow here she could do a spell to help us locate them.” Buffy sighed.

“Does anything else exist on this realm besides you?” Buffy wonders.

“No. WE were sent here to be kept safe from mortals who had been seeking us out for years and capturing our kind and killing them.” She said angrily.

“I understand.” Buffy scratch her head as she wondered what the gang back home would think of this story when she return?

“Okay, well if you have to stay out of the water tonight I need you to find wood and make a cross, like this.” Buffy shows them her necklace.

“Why?” The blond one asks.

“They fear these.” Buffy explained. The girls seem to like hearing that.

“We will start searching the island and return here hopefully before the sun goes down.” Buffy stated as she grabbed Angels hand in hers as they began to head up toward the hills. She sensed that if they were hiding here they were in some long dark caves.

Chapter 34:

Angel was puzzled why he as a vampire in the other realm was made human? He also wondered if his strength was the same? He would know soon enough when they caught the demons. He had lived many years but in all that time he had never laid his eyes on mermaids. He thought they were fiction stories that sailors made up with the crude and lonely minds while out at sea. He couldn’t wait to tell the others about this adventure he laughed to him self.

“I wonder why Mermaids hold magic?” Buffy thought out loud.

“Maybe because they are connected to the sea?” Angel suggested.

“Yeah, but what sort of power would that be worth to vampires?” Buffy frowns at him.

“You never know dear. We vampires think we will end the world every other day.” Angel laughed at the irony that he was one of those vampires in the past.

“True. Still, I have a hunch that something is missing from this equation.” Buffy confessed to Angel.

“Do you think the mermaids are lying to us or holding back something?” Angel asks with a curious look in his eyes.

“Maybe. Maybe both.” Buffy replied with a heavy sigh.

“Which cave should we start on first?” Angel looked at the two caves that were next to one another.

“I take the left you take the right.” Buffy offered.

“Uh, Buffy, this is going to sound pretty lame but I’m not sure if I have any strength since I’m human and all.” Angel looked embarrassed.

“So …OH! Okay we will stick together.” Buffy fought back the laughter that was threatening to spill out of her mouth. It was funny a situation having Angel need her protection when it was the one thing he was always providing her with.

As they entered the cave they both pick up on the horrible smell. Angel was trying to remember what he was reminded of that would belong to that smell? He came up blank. But his head was screaming he knew this smell and alarms were going off in his head and the racing of his heartbeat. If he had still been a vampire he would be able to smell the rats out quicker. However he wasn’t so he had to use his instincts like Buffy did.

They were coming around the corner when Angel thought he felt a strange vibration underneath his feet. He pulls Buffy back from going around the corner.

“What is wrong with you?” She whispers.

“I felt something. Like a vibration.” Angel explained as he waited for another such feeling.

He was about to let her go and consider him self-stupid when they both felt it.

“What is that?” Buffy frowns up at him.

“I’m clueless on this.” Angel admits with a worried sigh.

“Maybe we should wait until they come out of the caves to hunt to attack them?” Buffy offered knowing that a battle with in this dark and narrow cave could put their enemies at an advantage.

“Are you sure?” Angel looks surprised by her sense of patience. She had changed a lot since he last saw her.

“Yeah, it’s always better to have a plan and be prepared for these things. This is not one of the times that I should do the surprise scene.” Buffy felt good about her decision as they headed back out of the cave.

Once outside they found a comfortable spot to wait for the sun to go down.

“What if this isn’t the right cave?” Angel suddenly asks.

“It is. I can just feel it.” Buffy looked at him with a smug smile.

“Miss I still have my hero powers.” Angel teased her.

“You do too. I’m sure of it. They wouldn’t send you here completely defenseless.” Buffy stated with a certainty that Angel wish he felt.

Chapter 35:

<<<<Back to the present time>>>>>

Angel had listen to every word. Yet he looked at her with a blank face the entire time.

“You don’t remember do you.” Buffy stated rather than asked.

“I …I…want to Buffy. I really do but that is not what I remember exactly.” Angel scratches his head nervously as he stood up and walks away from her. His back was turn away so she could not see his face.

“Angel, the bottom line is this, we bought the bad guys. They were some stupid vampire lackeys for a powerful warlock. After we killed them Deleigha and the mermaids granted us each one wish before they took us to the portal that brought us home.” Buffy stated as she rubbed her eyes. She wanted to cry so badly but she had to stay strong. She had to stay focused so she could find her baby. Their baby.

“What did I wish for?” Angel stood with his back still toward her.

“I figured it was this. That you never remembered the time we spent as both humans. Because we shared another magical night together after we defeated the vampires. We were so happy and excited about the magic of the moment that we nearly forgot we had to go back home.” Buffy explains as her memory brings back the images of them making love on the sand. She pushed them to the back of her mind where she had tried to bury them for the past four years.

“ What did you wish for?” Angel turns and looks at her with a blank face.

“I wished for a child. I knew I could not wish for you to be human in this realm. I knew how important it was for you to redeem yourself. So I wished that I could have child with you. We DID.” Buffy gulps hard as she stares at her feet. She waits for it to sink into his head.

“WE DID WHAT?” Angel spoke slowly but with a high pitch tone.

“We have a daughter together. She is almost four years old. She is the reason I had to fake my death. I had to get her away from here away from the danger. I was not about to loose something that I had been granted. I knew I would never have you.” Buffy stated with eyes filled to the brim with tears.

“We have a daughter?” Angel glances around the room as if he expects her to just pop up out of somewhere.

“That is the reason I am so scared Angel. Xander had her in his car tonight. They are both missing.” Buffy’s lower lip trembled with pain and fear.

“Buffy, I…I’m sorry I can’t believe this.” Angel storms out of the room leaving the door wide open.

Buffy closes her eyes as the tears slide down her face and onto her lap. Sobbing and moaning she prays to God that her daughter be safe and that after they find her and rescue her that Angel could forgive her for keeping this from him. She understood his anger and confusion but she also had another secret to tell him. One that he had kept from her and she had pretended to forget as well. If she could get past that then he should understand why she made her own choice in this. If not then she had really lost him and maybe Hope forever.

Chapter 36:

Spike had seen Angel run out of the house like his pants were on fire. He knew that Buffy was awake for sometime now. He could barely make out their voices but he knew they had shared a private conversation while they sat down here. Spike walked upstairs and found her door wide open with Buffy curled up in a ball crying her heart out. Although Spike knew there was no future for them he still had a soft spot for the Slayer. Sitting on the bed he wraps his arms around her and holds her tightly so that she could feel some sort of support for what ever it was she was going through. He was still puzzled at what exactly had her so upset other than the fact that Xander was missing. He knew she loved the boy but not to this damn extreme.

“Buffy, Shh…Shh.” Spike tried to calm her down.

“I’ve lost them both.” Buffy moans as she wipes her tears away and looks into Spike’s compassionate eyes.

“Who? Xander and Angel?” Spike asks.

“And HOPE.” Buffy sobs.

“Hope like as in “We have lost all hope in her survival?” Spike asks with a frown. He remembered her screaming that word out earlier but didn’t pay much attention to the small fact.

“NO. Hope is my daughter. She is the reason I left Sunnydale and slaying.” Buffy explained as she straighten up and moved out of his arms.

“No shit! Who is the father?” Spike asks suddenly feeling his own ego being damaged. As he recalled he was her last lover before her fake death.

“Angel is. We went to fight in another realm while I was in L.A. and we saved these mermaids who gave us each a wish. I wished for a child with Angel. I didn’t realize I was pregnant until I was nearly four months along.” Buffy explained as she grabbed a tissue and blew her nose.

Spike jumps off the bed and looks at her as if she has gone mad.

“Fucking mermaids? Where were you two in Never Never Land?” Spike snaps.

“I don’t know where the hell we were but we beat the bad guys and we were granted a wish. Angel wished not to remember that while we were there the powers that be made him human. Of course we were so excited by this that we made love several times before we came back.” Buffy sniffs and grabs another tissue.

“Are you fucking serious?” Spike glares at her with disbelief.

“I swear Spike. I didn’t know when you and I were together that I was pregnant. It was why I had to fake my death. I had to get me and Hope out of Sunnydale. I didn’t want demons trying to kidnap my child for ransom and I wanted to live long enough to watch her take her first steps and hear her say her first words.” Buffy inhaled deeply trying to control her self before she began to bawl again with those memories flooding her mind.

“I see your point. You aren’t lying. I bet peaches wasn’t too happy about this.” Spike sighed heavily as he understood why Angel race out of there so fast. He was probably shitting his pants at the moment like Spike did momentarily.

“So this demon who is after you, you think it got Xander and Hope.” Spike thought out loud.

“Obviously. You saw how the place looked. You saw the fear in the vampire’s faces. It had to be IT that got them.” Buffy gulps hard as she tries to control her maternal instincts from letting herself run out the door and beg this demon to exchange her life for Hopes.

“Maybe, maybe not. Maybe they ran off somewhere and hid.” Spike suggested.

“NO, Xander would have called us by now.” Buffy shook her head in disagreement.

“Well, lets get our Asses up and start researching and hunting this bastard down and save your daughter.” Spike handed her hand to help her get up off the bed.

Buffy smiled tenderly at him. Spike always amazed her at how supportive he was when it came to helping her. Even though they would never be a couple he made it clear they would always be friends. Friends were a blessing and men well as she learns in her past they come and go. Friends stay forever. Following him self down stairs she went to the kitchen to face Willow and Giles and to give them the quick run down about how Angel was the father of the baby and then they would start doing some major research toward this evil being that she was going to tear apart piece by piece if it had laid even one finger on her baby.

Chapter 37:

Buffy was getting prepared to go out and hunt for her daughter with Spike’s help when Angel came through the door looking at her with intense fear in his eyes.

“What is wrong?” Buffy tries to stay calm although her instincts are screaming in panic mode.

“I had another vision while I was out.” Angel answers in his usual calm voice.

“And?” Buffy shouts.

“Hope is fine. She is with Xander. Something is around them. Some sort of shield is protecting them. But the thing that is after them is trying to get through it.” Angel answers with a painful look at the others in the room.

“What did the “Thing” look like?” Giles questions.

“I couldn’t tell exactly. It was like it wore a black sheet over its real form. Like a widow wears when they mourn in the old days.” Angel closed his eyes trying to remember any detail that might help them with this investigation.

“Willow I need you to do a location spell.” Buffy stated as she looks at Willow.

“I’m on it.” Willow runs out of the room to get the ingredients she needs.

“I’m going to look and see if there is anything that might match that vague detail.” Giles frowns as he walks out of the room.

Spike stared between the two star crossed lovers and felt suddenly like a third wheel.

“I’ll go help Willow.” Spike coughs as he walks out of the room.

Buffy and Angel are left alone. Buffy stared at his chest. She can’t even bare to look into his eyes. She already knows how angry he is and she can sense his pain.

“Buffy. Buffy look at me.” Angel demands harshly.

“Yes,” Buffy forces her head to lift up so their eyes can make contact.

“We will get her back. After that I don’t know.” Angel’s voice was hoarse from the pain he was trying to hide from her.

“Okay.” Buffy agrees as her eyes drop back to the floor.

Angel grabs her arms and presses her into his chest. She wraps her arms around him and holds on tightly as she cries her eyes out. Angel cries as well as they both fear loosing their daughter. Angel knew already how hard it was to loose a child. He had lost Connor when he was a baby. He wasn’t about to let anything harm this child. This time he would find away to stop it. With that thought in his mind he released Buffy kissing her on the cheek.

“I need to make a few calls. We need reinforcements and my guys are good.” Angel states with confidence.

Buffy just nods her head as she wipes away the tears that she had shed. She takes little deep breathes before going in search for Willow. She felt a little fewer burdens now that Angel was going to help her and not be so angry toward her. After this was all settle then they would both deal with the consequences of their actions. Right now they both had agreed to focus on the problem at hand and not the mistakes of the past.

She finds Willow getting set up in the living room. Spike hands her everything in the order she requests. Then both Spike and Buffy step out of her way while she performs her magic. A few minutes later Willow opens her eyes and informs them she cannot locate the evil that is causing this but she has located Xander and Hope. The shield is made of goodness or other wise she wouldn’t have been able to locate them both so easily.

Buffy is ready to go after them but both Angel and Giles prevents her from going.

“We have to know what we are up against before you rush out there getting all of you killed.” Giles warns her.

“What if this thing figures away to break the shield? How can I live with that?” Buffy screams at them.

“Buffy, you know from the past that we have to be patient and you have to put all personal fears aside in order to conquer the evil. It knows your weakness lies in your daughter. If you let it know that then it has already killed you and Hope.” Angel lifts her hand and squeezes it supportively.

“My guys will be here in a couple of hours. That gives us more time to try and figure out what this thing is and how to kill it.” Angel assures her as he puts his arms around her shoulders.

“Okay. A few more hours. But after that I’m going to get my daughter and Xander.” Buffy warns them all as she walks away and heads upstairs to her room.

Lying down on her bed she tries to rest to prepare her self for the hardest battle of her life. She had to win this one. Lives depended on her as usual but these lives were more precious to her than the rest of the world. She would do anything to save them both.

Chapter 38:

Connor was on his way to help his father in Sunnydale when his cell phone began to ring.

“Hello.” Connor had not even bother to look at the caller I.D. not many people had his number.

“Connor, hey it’s Cordelia. How are you doing?” Cordelia speaks in her usual peppy tone toward the boy.

“Fine. What’s up?” Connor frowns as he looks at the time on the radio clock. Why would she be up this late and why would she call him out of the blue?

“Nothing. I was just wondering where you guys are? I tried calling the office but no one answered.” Cordelia replied.

“We are on our way to Sunnydale. Dad needs our help. Where are you?” Connor frowns as he picks up something that he can’t quite figure out. Something about her voice doesn’t sound quite like her.

“I’m at home in my bed. I was just bored and thought I would call you. Why is your Dad in Sunnydale?” Cordelia asks further.

“I’m not sure. He just ask if we could come help him with a project.” Connor replies with a frown as his instincts are roaring in his gut.

“Oh. Well, I guess I will check in with you guys later.” Cordelia sighs.

“Hey Cordy!” Connor cries out.

“Yes,” Cordelia replies.

“Are you okay?” Connor asks with concern.

“I’m fine.” Cordelia sighs.

“Are you sure?” Connor repeats.

“Yes, I’m positive now go help your father with Buffy and her latest problem. Bye.” Cordelia hangs up.

“How did she know it had to do with Buffy?” Connor asks out loud.

“What?” Wesley glances at him sideways as he is driving.

“Cordelia. She just called me out of the blue and wanted to know where we were heading and then she said go help your father with Buffy. How would she know that Buffy was alive?” Connor looks at Wesley with a serious frown.

“Holy crap! That’s right. We just discovered she was alive and no one else outside of that house knows.” Wesley agrees.

Both men stare at one another with sudden clarity and fear in their hearts. When Cordelia left the hotel she made it pretty clear that she hated Angel and she would never ever forgive him for leading her on and then dumping her like trash. When Angel had return from the realm where he and Buffy had spent together he was not quite the same around any of them. Although he couldn’t remember much of it he still seem to mourn for something that no one or him self could understand.

Cordelia had made a serious play for him and he had rejected her. She was pissed off. She had sworn that one day he would regret letting her go. A month later Buffy is said to be dead. Was it possible that Cordelia was the bad guy in this scenario? Had she found out before the rest of them that Buffy were still alive and hiding with her child? There was no doubt about the rivalry between the two women. But was Cordelia capable of holding on to so much pain and anger that she would kill Buffy’s sister and then try and kidnap her child? That was the question he would have to ask his father once they made it to Sunnydale.

When they arrive at the house Connor rush straight to his father and he repeated the entire conversation that he had with Cordelia and his fears. All of them agreed that Cordelia was capable of being mean but none of them could imagine her killing Dawn.

“Wait! Wait!” Buffy shouted out over the voices.

“The thing that came to me said she knew me better than any of my enemies. She had been beneath me and above me. It makes sense. Cordelia was above me in status and yet below me when it came to my strengths and my friends. She has gone along with several of our past battles. She knows my weakness and my strengths. What I haven’t figured out is why she is after me now? How was she capable of killing Dawn? What sort of magic or weapon does she hold in her power that is helping her fight against me? That is the key to finding out how to stop her.” Buffy announces to everyone in the room.

“It can’t be Cordelia.” Angel shakes his head in denial.

“LOOK! It is. It makes perfect sense. NOW you better figure out who is worth saving here. Our daughter or your ex-whore!” Buffy shouts at him with pure venom in her voice.

“Daughter?” Connor looks shock as he stares between his father and Buffy.

“We will fill you in.” Willow pulls Connor out of the room.

“I mean Angel. I will kill her once I get my hands on her. She murdered my sister and took my child. She will not hesitate to kill me if I let her. So you better choose which one of us you want to help.” Buffy warns him as she storms out of the room with her hands clench in fists by her side as she prepares her self to feel nothing. Absolute nothing. She would have to be numb to all human feelings. She was the slayer. The slayer didn’t have a right to personal feelings. She had to make sure that the evil was destroyed from this world. Cordelia would never be a normal human again. She had murdered a human and she had touch some sort of dark magic that would never let her free from it. She had no choice even if this wasn’t personal. She would be force to kill Cordelia no matter what.

Chapter 39:

Buffy knew the others would figure out how to destroy Cordelia but she couldn’t wait. She slipped out of her bedroom window like she had so many times in her youthful past and went after Cordelia. She was going to find her daughter and Xander to make sure they were both safe. If Buffy were right Cordelia would be waiting for a full party of people to come after them. She wouldn’t expect just Buffy her self to come alone. She hope that would give her a slight advantage to throw her off when she saw that she was not worthy of all the others attention.

Buffy wasn’t fool by any of this act that Cordelia was putting on. This was more about gaining the attention of those who had looked down at her. She wanted them to see her full strength and how she could defeat a slayer where others had failed. She wanted them to think that she was more of a woman than Buffy. Buffy felt slightly sadden for Cordelia that she had felt the need to go this far to prove once and for all that she was the better woman for Angel’s heart.

Still, Buffy would kill her. Eye for an eye. It was the rule. Buffy couldn’t take the chance of any enemy being set loose to just later come back after her with more strength or magic behind them. She learn a long time ago that no matter how hard it was that she had to destroy the enemy once and for all or it could cost her, her life or those that she cared the most about. That was too high of a chance to take for a slayer or anyone else for that matter. The only difference was that she would be able to go through with the death of her enemy while others might be too hesitant about killing a mortal. What they couldn’t see was that Cordelia was no longer human. She had lost all her humanity the moment she had killed Dawn. She was a monster as far as Buffy could see. Nothing and no one would be able to persuade her other wise.

******************************************************

They had finally managed to find the source of Cordelia’s power. It was the black cloak that she wore. It was a magical object that held great power and death to any who went up against it. The only way to stop it was to take it from the one who wore it. Once it was removed from that body it would destroy the host. It was the cost of the power that it had used while being worn. The others were half relieved to know the source and the way to destroy it. While they were all a bit sadden to think that there was no way that Cordelia would be able to live and redeem herself for her horrible actions.

Willow went upstairs to locate Buffy to let her know what they had discovered. Sunlight was starting to come up so they would have to wait until that evening to go after Cordelia. When Willow went to the rooms she found them empty. She went back to Buffy’s and that is when she notice the window opened. Willow knew from Buffy’s former history that she had often snuck out of that window to go out slaying at night. Willow didn’t want to be the one to tell the others what she had discovered.

“What’s wrong?” Angel asks as he steps behind Willow.

“She is gone.” Willow gulps hard.

Angel stares at the open window and understands what Willow means.

“Shit! I told her to wait. Now she is going after Cordelia a lone and with out the answers to how to destroy Cordelia. Why can’t she ever just wait!” Angel roars.

“You know Buffy when it comes to those she loves nothing not even hell its self can stop her.” Willow looks up at Angel with a slight smile of pride in her face while her eyes show the fear she feels for the life of her best friend.

"What am I going to do with her? I mean seriously Willow. We have a child together. How are we going to work this out? I'm still a vampire. How will a child as young as Hope understand why her daddy can't take her to the park when the sun is out?" Angel ran his hands throgh his hair frustrated.

"I don't know." Willow shrugs her shoulder with a look of compassion toward him.

"She has to stay alive this time. I can't loose her again. It killed me Willow. Every time I closed my eyes to sleep I would see her face there. I had so many regrets. I can't go through that again. Cordelia is my fault. I rejected her and now I understand why. My wish must had been for us to forget. Both of us. I guess the baby in Buffy's stomach had some sort of magic from that realm which caused her to remember before me. I am the reason Cordelia is pissed off. I'm the reason Dawn is dead." Angel moans.

"NO, Cordelia is the reason. Cordelia made these choices. You didn't. You have to listen to Buffy when she says that Cordelia who we all knew is dead to us. Buffy will kill her. She has too Angel. Not out revenge but because its her duty. Any enemy must be destroyed or you leave an opening for that enemy to return stronger than before. Remember. You use to tell her that and so did Giles. She is only doing what she was train to do." Willow comforts him.

"I know but I fear it might get her killed someday." Angel sighs as he knows all too well the true reason why Buffy had to kill Cordelia but it still didn't cause him to feel guilty for the battle that had been formed between the two women. He knew that Cordelia's hatred was caused by his lack of love for her. While Buffy was strengthen by the love he had shared with her. He knew that one of those two women would die. He just hoped it wasn't Buffy.

Chapter 40

Xander was not sure what was protecting them he was just hoping it kept up. Cordelia was saying all sorts of strange things and throwing balls of fire at the shield. Xander was still shock that Cordelia was the big evil behind all of this. He would have never seen this coming in a million years. He knew she was pretty damn cold at times but he also remembered a side of her that was fragile and weak that she hid from everyone else. The girl before him was nowhere near to being fragile or weak. Instead she looked pretty damn pissed off and powerful to him. Hope just stared at the cloak figure in front of her and continue to chant something that Xander could not make sense of. He was pretty sure she didn’t know what it meant either. She seemed to look like Willow had when the power had taken her over.

He wondered if Buffy knew that Hope had this magic inside of her? Something instinctive told him that this was all new for even Hope. He just prayed she could keep it up until Buffy and the others came to rescue them.

Cordelia began to scream like a mad hyena as her last ball of dark magic failed once again.

“I swear I will find away to get you.” Cordelia spoke with intense hatred toward the little girl who looked just like her mother.

“Cordy why are you doing this?” Xander pleads with her.

“You of all people should understand why. You…your…just like him!” Cordelia spoke between the teeth as she grinded them.

“Like who?” Xander cried out.

“ANGEL! You remember him the one who stole your beloved slayers heart and made you look like a puppy compare to him. The bastard who threw me out of his home and told me he would never touch me.” Cordelia began to scream madly as she raises her fist up in the air causing lighting bolts to fly out of her fists.

“Wow!” Xander whispers to him self.

“She will die you know. I will be the one who will kill her once and for all. There will be no parts for any of you to try and bring back to life once I am done with her. I sold my soul to kill that bitch. I will have her blood run over my hands before I can be freed from this madness.” Cordelia points to the black cloak like garment that appeared to be made of some sort of shiny black metallic material.

“You mean if you don’t kill her you can’t take that off?” Xander asks curiously.

“Precisely. In order to wear this you must pay a price. The blood of a slayer can release this from me. I knew this when I put it on. I knew that it would motivate me at my weakest moments to go after her and destroy her. I hate her Xander. I hate the way she kept your heart from me. Even you would have dumped me for her if she had given you any clue that she was interested in you. How dare her come to my TOWN and take away everything that belonged to me.” Cordelia screams.

“Yes, but she also saved your life on many occasions.” Xander reminds her.

“Don’t you get it? Buffy brought all the evil with her. It is attracted to her like a moth to a flame. How do we really know if our lives would have been better off if she had never came to this town?” Cordelia argues with him.

“We don’t and we can’t but what we do know is that when the evil was there she put her life on the line for each one of us. Even YOU.” Xander sighed with compassion.

“I don’t care. I want to kill her. I’m going to kill that precious daughter of hers first. I want her to watch as I tear her up. It’s too bad she didn’t get to watch as took down her little puny sister.” Cordelia licked her lips with a wicked gleam.

“You…killed…Dawnie.” Xander felt as if all the air had left him. Instead of feeling scared or even sympathy he now felt sudden and intense anger toward the girl he once love.

“Duh! I’m the big evil remember.” Cordelia rolled her eyes at him as she continues to pace back and forth trying to conjure up away to break the shield around them.

“Not anymore.” Buffy stood a few feet away from where Cordelia stood. Cordelia felt her blood turn to pure cold snow. It was time.

“So at last the little mommy has arrived. Took you long enough to figure out who I was.” Cordelia glares at her with blood red eyes underneath the dark cloak.

“I must admit you had me going there Cordy. You see I knew you were down right rude and unfeeling but I never saw killer in your heart. Too bad that I have to kill you now in order to save you.” Buffy spoke with confidence as her hands sat firmly on her hips.

“How do you suppose you will kill me? I’m not a vampire and that stake up your sleeve won’t do you any good against me.” Cordelia laughed evilly.

“Let my daughter and Xander go and you and I can fight this battle between us. I knew someday you would bring this on yourself.” Buffy demanded.

“NO! NO! NO! You don’t give me orders. I’m not one of your simple-minded lackeys anymore! Screw you Buffy. I’m going to kill your daughter.” Cordelia vowed.

Buffy looked past Cordelia to see the protective shield around Xander and Hope. Something told her that Cordelia would have already killed them both had she been able to break down the shield.

“What’s wrong you can’t get to them?” Buffy cocked an eyebrow.

“Oh I will.” Cordelia warn her.

“NO you won’t.” Buffy shakes her head as she begins to take steps toward Cordelia.

Cordelia for a slight moment feels fear and sudden doubt about her plan but then she sees him step into the room and she remembers why she sacrificed her life and became a murderer in the first place. Angel. Buffy. Together with a secret child.

Cordelia throws her hand up in the air causing a burst of air to knock them all to the ground. Leaning her head back she begins to chant a evil spell to hopefully knock the shield loose so she grab the precious little daughter of the two people who hurt her the most.

Chapter 41:

Buffy pull with all strength to rise up against the powerful wind and began to crawl toward her daughter and Xander. Something instinctively told her that she could get inside of the protective shield. She needed to be sure her daughter was okay. Angel also began to crawl but he was after Buffy. He needed to tell her how to stop Cordelia from killing them all. He manages to grab her ankle to stop her just as the wind abruptly halted.

Cordelia open her eyes and fire began to spurt out toward the couple. Both rolled quickly away to find cover.

“Buffy, listen to me.” Angel tried not to shout too loud for Cordelia to hear him.

“The cloak. It’s magical. Take it away from her and it will kill her.” Angel informed her with painful eyes.

Buffy darted away from the next shot of fire and consider what he said. The only way to stop her was to really and truly kill her. Buffy knew what it was like to take a life of someone you cared deeply for that had turn to the dark side. She just never imagined that her archenemy in High School would literally be that in life. Then Buffy thought of Dawnie and remembered she was so full of life and so many years to live. Cordelia had taken that away from her and if given the chance she would do the same with Buffy and Hope. She couldn’t feel sorry for her. She would grieve for the loss of the Cordelia that she once knew and tolerated but at the moment she had to concentrate on killing her to set them all free and safe again.

Willow knew the magic that Cordelia was using in order to throw the firey balls at Buffy and Angel and she also knew how to stop it. She began to chant a counter spell to prevent the fire from actually burning anyone. It took a few seconds before it began to take affect but when Angel and Buffy both saw that the wood was not burning that she had hit they both looked at one another with a questioning look.

“DAMN you Willow. I will kill you after them.” Cordelia shout loudly.

“Don’t think so.” Buffy jump over the table with lighting speed and threw her body over Cordelia’s causing them to both fall onto the ground.

“Let me up you bitch.” Cordelia growled between gritted teeth.

“Cordy say a prayer.” Buffy warns her as she holds the girl firmly down on the ground.

“Screw you!” Cordelia spit in her face.

Not hesitating she pulled the cloak off of Cordelia. Everyone watch as the beautiful and vibrant body of Cordelia began to burst into flames. Her screams were filled more with anger and hatred than pain. With in a blink of an eye she was gone. All that was left was the cloak that Buffy held in her hands.

Everyone just stood there staring at the burn mark on the floor where one of their friends had died. Both Angel and Xander felt a sudden heartfelt regret for the way they had treated her when she had needed them the most.

The shield disappeared and Hope rush out toward her Mommy.

“MOMMMY!” Hope squealed excited.

“Hope. Baby are you okay?” Buffy pick her up in her arms and squeeze her tightly not ever wanting to let her go.

“Yes Mommy.” Hope giggled.

“Xander how are you?” Willow asks, as she knows that Xander must be grieving for the girl he had once loved dearly.

“I will be fine.” Xander mumbled as he walked out of the room and headed toward the out doors.

Spike, Giles, and Willow saw the way Angel was staring at the scene before him of mother and child holding onto one another. They all gave each other a knowing look as they followed Xander out side.

“What was protecting you like that?” Buffy wonders out loud.

“Me and Aunt Dawn. She whispered the words to me to say over and over and over. I did and that mean old lady couldn’t hurt me.” Hope answered with a pleased look.

“Aunt Dawn told you?” Buffy frowns with a painful look in her eyes.

“She also told me to tell you that she loved you and that it was her time to go. She will always be near us to protect us.” Hope stated calmly.

Buffy was a bit freak out about how easy it was for Hope to talk about her dead aunt she had never met. How was it possible that Dawn was able to communicate to Hope but not her? Also how was it possible for Hope to chant magic words and make them work? She would research those answers later after she had time to take her baby home and get her fed and wash up.

“Come one lets get you home so I can feed you and then bathe you.” Buffy kissed her dirty cheeks.

“Look Mommy it’s him. The guy in my dreams.” Hope pointed toward Angel who stood half in the shadows and half in the light.

“You’re the little girl in mine.” Angel spoke softly as his eyes soak in every detail of the tiny little thing.

“Are you my Daddy then? Cause Aunt Dawnie said that when it was all done I would see the man in my dreams and he would be my Daddy.” Hope informed them.

“She said that?” Buffy gasped. It was true then that Dawn had communicated to Hope. Buffy wanted to weep but she had to stay strong for all three of them and what lied ahead for them.

“Yeah.” Hope shook her head up and down.

“Lets get home and we will discuss everything then.” Buffy sighed as she held onto tightly to Hope and headed back to the house where the others would be waiting for them.

Angel said nothing but followed them keeping his distance as he thought about what kind of future he could possibly have with a daughter like Hope. He feared he would have a very small part in her life. He remembered how sicken and repulsed Connor had been when he saw Angel’s demon side. He didn’t want something that pure and precious to see that side of him. He couldn’t stand watching her look at him with disgust or terror in her eyes.

How was he going to be able to walk away from another child he asks himself? He remembers how much hope and optimism he had when Connor was a baby. But evil had stolen him away from him. He had a second chance to be with this child as she grew and to be a strong solid person she could count on. He couldn’t walk away not now.

Yet he wonders if Buffy intends on making him do it? After all he reminds himself she never revealed that they even had a child to begin with. Did she feel that he would be a threat to their daughter? He told himself to stay calm and later he would discuss all of his questions and fears with Buffy and together they would make a decision on what was best for Hope and them.

Chapter 42:

The gang had given Buffy and Hope time alone. Buffy had made Hope her favorite sandwich and after she ate it she gave her a warm bubble bath that had made Hope quite sleepy afterwards. Buffy tuck her daughter into the bed and lied next to her.

“Hope I’m sorry you had to go through that.” Buffy whispered to her.

“It’s okay Mommy. That woman was really sad inside.” Hope yawned.

“Sad?” Buffy frowns at how perspective her daughter was to be so young.

“Yeah, she was hurting so much inside. I just wish that she would have found away to make the pain go away with out having to die.” Hope answered as she snuggled up against her mommy.

“Me too.” Buffy agreed as tears stung her eyes.

“I love you precious. I wont ever let that happen again.” Buffy promised her as she kissed her soft forehead.

“You can’t stop all the bad people in the world Mommy.” Hope whispered as her eyelids began to close.

“Yeah, well I can’t stop them from hurting you.” Buffy gulps hard.

“I love you Mommy.” Hope sighs as she falls into a heavy sleep.

“I love you too Hope.” Buffy allows the tears to stream down her face as she wraps her arms around Hope as if they are barriers from anything harmful that might try to hurt her.

Buffy closed her eyes and saw the hatred in Cordelia’s eyes as she burst into flames. Buffy began to feel horrible. This was the part she hated. She understood why Cordelia hated her but she had never ever intentionally tried to be her enemy. In fact she had tried so many times in the past to show Cordelia that they could be friends and that she was never a threat to her. Unfortunately that effort was lost on Cordelia.

Somehow Cordelia had discovered that Angel and Buffy had conceived a child together after he had thrown her out of his life. Buffy knew that Cordelia had grown to adore her hero. When he had thrown her out like plain trash it had destroyed her. Buffy knew this because so many times in the past she had felt the same way when Angel had walked out on her. Yet she never went to the dark side to find comfort in her pain she reminded her self. She was stronger than Cordelia. Much stronger.

Closing her eyes she prayed that Dawnie somehow helped Cordelia find her away into Heaven rather than Hell. Now that she knew that Dawn was meant to go this way she felt some of the pain ease up. Not all of it though. It would take time. She knew that from past experience. For now she allowed her self to sleep with her daughter held tightly with in her arms.

Angel had cracked the door open a bit to double check that the girls were really out of danger. When he saw them laying so closely to one another in such a gentle and pure embrace his heart melted. These two women were his. Mother and daughter. They were his responsibility now. He knew that no matter how frighten or scared he felt about causing them harm by being in their lives he would be in it. He knew that they might suffer more with out his protection and with out his love. He loved them both. He would not allow another opportunity of watching his child grow up get away from him. Something told him that Hope already knew that he was different and that she was too. With that knowledge he told himself he would give them time to bond before he force his way into their lives.

Chapter 43:

Angel had left that evening to clear up some things in L.A. He needed to tell them about the death of Cordelia. He knew how hard it would be on them because although she had left on bad terms they still cared deeply for the girl she once was.

While he was there Angel tried to figure out how he was going to approach Buffy with the subject of their daughter. He was not going to let her cut him out of Hopes life. He already knew how that loss felt.

“Hey dad.” Connor stepped into the dark office.

“Hey son.” Angel smiled proudly at him.

“I was wondering what you had planned next?” Connor sat down in the chair in front of his father.

“What do you mean?” Angel frowns at him.

“You now have TWO children. From what I gathered she is also very powerful. She needs a dad in her life. She needs you. So why are you still here? What are you going to do next?” Connor sat his hands in his lap and stared hard at his father.

“I don’t know son. I mean the fact remains I’m still a vampire. I don’t won’t to frighten her and then there is her mother.” Angel gulps hard as he sees Buffy’s face cross his mind.

“ I would think that the two of you together would be better protection for a child. I don’t understand how you two keep fighting the love that is there between you both.” Connor sits up and leans his chin on his hand. His eyes show his curiosity in the odd behavior between his father and his true love.

“It’s just not simple for us. If we get too close I can become Angelus. You know that. I can’t risk any of your lives. I love her so much Connor. It’s hard to resist the temptation of holding her of just touching her hand with out wanting to devour her.” Angel explains with a hoarse voice.

Angel covered his face with his hands as he thought of the pain he had endure being near her before.

“So you’re telling me that the curse is what keeps you two apart.” Connor sat back and began to consider options to help solve that problem.

“Trust me son I have thought of everything and there is no cure.” Angel chuckled as he saw the look in his son eyes that reveal what he too had pondered about for years.

“You know dad you might be wrong. Do you remember when you reveal to me about that lost day you two had together. The day you walked like a man.” Connor asks.

“Sure. I think of it almost every day when I can’t go outside.” Angel chuckled sarcastically.

“You were turn human and when you went to the powers that be they said you were released from your duties. Why can’t we find the same demon and change you again?” Connor cried out with excitement.

“It’s just not that simple. I mean it had been a pure accident that day. The fates had not planned it. To be redeemed I must be granted by them. It must be when they feel it is time for me.” Angel sighed heavily.

“To hell with their plan. I mean shit; you have done everything they have ever asked from you. Why can’t they grant you this? I will gladly stay in your place. I will be their champion if it will free you from this nightmare.” Connor jumps up shouting.

“Connor do you think that I would want a life like this for you with out having the strength to protect you?” Angel asks.

“It’s like you said Dad when it is my time it is my time. Even you can’t stop that.” Connor cocked an eyebrow as he reminded his father of the things he had lectured him about.

“I’m telling you Dad Hope and Buffy will need you more than ever. Hope is not like most girls. I can sense it. It’s almost as if I can feel her reaching out to you…to me.” Connor reveals as he looks up at his father sadly.

“I won’t let you stay behind for me. If I were to be set free then I would want the same for you.” Angel declared.

“Besides I don’t think that I would be much help if I lost my vampire strength. In fact I remember I wasn’t.” Angel shook his head wearily.

“What if we just ask for the curse to be lifted?” Connor suggested with a weary look that match his fathers.

“We will think about it.” Angel walks over to his son and held him tightly.

“I love you boy.” Angel whispered.

“I love you too old man.” Connor chuckled but held on tightly.

Chapter 44:

“He just left!” Willow exclaims with a furious glare at the people in the room.

“What did you expect Will? It’s what he does best.” Buffy shrug her shoulders as she reach out to pour her self another cup of coffee.

“Yeah but that was before all of this? I mean he now has a daughter. Wouldn’t you think that would cause great joy in him?” Willow frown angrily as she made her own cup.

“Maybe that is what he fears the most. Perhaps he fears his happiness might release the curse and Angelus would be released.” Giles offered a hopeful theory to the cold behavior of Angel.

“True.” Xander half agreed as he lean in the middle of the girls.

“And lets face it we don’t need that happening.” Xander shivered at the memory.

“No, we don’t.” Buffy looked into the next room where Hope and Spike were playing some silly video game. Buffy was amazed at how sweet Spike had been with Hope. Hope didn’t seem to fear him either. Buffy wondered if Hope knew what Spike truly was? Then shaking the horrible thought she turn her attention back to her friends.

“I hate to bring this up at the moment but we need to discuss this new power that Hope has.” Giles brought up the subject that had everyone curious.

“What do you mean?” Buffy frowned at them.

“Buffy, I felt it. When I came into the room where she had the shield up it was strong. I mean REALLY strong.” Willow’s eyes widen.

“She said that Dawn told her the words to chant. Maybe it was just the source of the spell?” Buffy offered.

“You don’t get it Buffy, if you and I were to sit down and both perform the same spell it would not go the same way. What I mean is that my power being stronger would cause the spell to work stronger where yours would be weaker. Sure Dawnie gave her the magical words to use but it was Hopes source of power that made it so strong and last that long.” Willow explained.

“So I have a little witch. I guess it’s safer than her being a slayer.” Buffy took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Yes, but where did the magic come from? Neither of you have magical powers? Sure you have the strength but not the magic.” Willow chewed on her lower lip as she began to search through her head for a possible reason for Hopes miraculous powers.

“She has a valid point I must say.” Giles agreed as he took his glasses off to wipe them. Like Willow he too was puzzled by the magic that Hope held inside of her small body.

“I must say it was sort of creepy when we were in the car and her eyes turn all whitish and blue.” Xander shivered with a disgusted face.

“What did you say?” Giles asks.

“Her eyes they had changed colors. They were like a marble that was white but blue.” Xander replied.

“Willow we need to do some research. Buffy do you remember the name of the mermaid that you said that you had help when you and Angel were in the other realm?” Giles asks with an anxious smile.

“Sure it was Deleigha.” Buffy sighed.

“We will be back. Come on I have more books at my house.” Giles pulled Willow with him as they left for some research duty.

“This must have all been pretty hard on you.” Xander walked over to Buffy and put his arms around her.

“It has. It does hurt that Angel seem to not care about Hope.” Buffy admits to him.

“I’m sure he does. Hell, I’m sure he is freak out about the whole thing. Let’s face it I’m not a fan of his but for a vampire who was not ever supposed to have kids he not only has one but two now. It would definitely make me wonder what was going on.” Xander squeezed her.

“Maybe your right.” Buffy answers as she kisses him on the cheek.

They hear the laughter of Hope ringing through the house as she beats Spike once again.

Chapter 45

It was four a.m. in the morning when the phone rang through the house waking up the sleeping occupants.

“Hello.” Buffy answered with a raspy voice.

“Buffy we need you here as soon as you can get here.” Wesley begged.

“Uh? Wes?” Buffy sat up trying to wake up and listen to what had Wesley so scared.

“Buffy, its Angel. He needs you. It’s bad. Come quick.” Wesley spoke rapidly as he hung up the phone.

Buffy sat there staring around in the darkness of her room wondering if this was some sort of trick or if Angel was really in trouble? Stepping out of the bed she went to find Willow in her room.

“Willow.” Buffy tapped on the door as she slip inside and woke her up.

“What’s wrong?” Willow sits up with a frighten frown.

“What would you ask that?” Buffy wonders.

“I felt something bad.” Willow answered honestly as she wipes the sleep out of her eyes.

“Shit. Wesley just called and begged me to get to L.A. that Angel was in a lot of trouble and he needed me.” Buffy replied.

“Lets go then.” Willow jump out of the bed and began to look for clothes to wear.

Buffy went back to her room and did the same. As they headed down the stairs they were surprise to run into Giles.

“I go the call too.” Giles explained before they ask.

“Xander is aware of the situation and is going to stay here with Hope.” Giles stated as Buffy looked up toward the stairs where her daughter slept peacefully.

“Okay lets do this.” Buffy exhaled deeply as she joined her friends to go and rescue the father of her beautiful daughter.

**************************************************

“Connor this is worrying me.” Wesley frowns as he paced back and forth across the room.

“Look they aren’t going to harm him. He is their champion. They just want to speak with Buffy.” Connor rolled his eyes as he fought back his own fears.

“Why? Why would they want to talk to the slayer before giving Angel an answer? Why would they hold him as if for ransom?” Wesley’s mind was running a mile a minute with theories of what could go wrong.

“Look when Buffy gets here we will know more.” Gunn spoke up from where he had been sitting quietly for the past hour since he and Connor return to tell Wesley what the Powers that Be had told them to do.

They heard the door fly open as Buffy came running inside.

“What is wrong?” Buffy shouts at the three men just standing there with scared looks on their faces.

“Buffy, let us explain before you go rushing in.” Wesley pleaded.

“Make it quick.” Buffy warns him as Willow and Giles joins them in the room.

“Let me tell her.” Connor stepped in front of Wesley and stared at the woman who had stolen his father’s heart. The only woman Angel had ever truly and purely loved.

“Dad wanted to find away to be with you and Hope. I encouraged him to try. We finally came up with only one conclusion and that was to go to the Powers that Be and request his freedom. They sent Gunn and me a message to have the slayer come to them. We don’t know what is going on beyond the portal. We haven’t see dad since he went in there.” Connor explained with concern eyes.

“What do you mean away to be with Hope and me?” Buffy frowns as she feels her heart beating rapidly at the thought of Angel trying to find away to be with them after all.

“He wanted to be human. In fact he was going to demand it. He would agree to go through any test they put before him in order to be mortal.” Connor answered as he glanced around the room at the others.

“So he…is in trouble…because of me?” Buffy stammered as she felt dizzy with sudden fear and yet excitement that he still loved her.

“Yes. He wanted us to be a real family.” Connor replied.

“Family.” Buffy felt tears sting the back of her eyelids as she closed her eyes to fight back the tears. She had to stay focused. She needed all her strength, instincts, and power to save him even if he couldn’t be mortal.

“Take me to him.” Buffy whispered as she smiled gently at Connor.

The entire group headed out together. They all wanted to be there to know what was going to become Angel’s fate.

Chapter 46:

Buffy stepped into the portal and felt the familiar tingling sensation when one goes through such a thing. Regaining her wits and her focus she looked around the room that was filled with soft colors and an air of peace and tranquility.

“Come closer.” A male voice beckoned.

Buffy said nothing but did as she was asked.

“Finally we meet you in person.” A female voice speaks.

Buffy still stays quiet. She finds it odd that she feels no danger in this room. Although the fact that these two beings have not showed her their true form did still keep her in a cautious mind.

“Here we are.” They heard her thoughts as they appeared to her.

“Mind readers.” Buffy sighed with a weak smile.

“Where is Angel?” Buffy asks politely to the male and female that reminded her of the picture of roman gods.

“He is here with us.” The female lifted her arms up and the cloudy air that had surrounded them seems to disappear and the room was more solid.

Buffy saw Angel lying on a marble slab with a peaceful expression on his face.

“What’s wrong with him?” Buffy gulps hard.

“He is fine. We have started the phase of removing the demon with in him. He is now sleeping in peace. Peace is what he needs.” The male power comments.

“Peace is what he deserves.” Buffy informs them.

“He wants to quit his mission early to be with you.” The female began to circle around Buffy, as she looks her over.

“I don’t think he would want to give up the mission. He just wants a normal life again.” Buffy says.

“But he was never normal before the demon entered him.” The female chuckled.

“What do you mean?” Buffy frowns at her.

“Each is born with a destiny. You know this.” The female power refers to Buffy’s destiny of being a slayer.

“Yes, but I don’t think anyone dreams of being turn into the undead.” Buffy replies.

“He had to become the evilest person in order to appreciate the gift of a soul. Some mortals take it for granted. Angel had seen both sides of the coin and knew the true value of a soul that is why we are going to grant him this if you are willing to help him.” The male walks toward Buffy.

Buffy feels suddenly uneasy.

“What do I have to do?” Buffy asks them as she looks back and forth at them.

“You must give him a part of your self.”

“You have to share your blood, soul and power with him.”

“What will happen to me and him if I do this?” Buffy feels the pit of her stomach clench up at the thought of dieing and leaving Hope behind.

“He shall become mortal but he will have your strength as the slayer.”

“No man has ever held this power.” Buffy reminds them of the rules of being a slayer.

“Yes, but he is unlike any other male mortal.”

“It’s up to you. He can stay as he is. It’s fine with us.”

Buffy pick up on their lack of patience with her and their sarcasm toward her.

“So let me get this clear. If I share my power with him this will make him a slayer but a mortal one.” Buffy chews on her lower lips as she considers the consequences of her actions.

“Exactly.” They said in union.

“What about the whole blood and soul part of this ritual?” Buffy asks.

“You do not trust easy.” The male sighs.

“Would you?” Buffy snaps back.

“No, I wouldn’t.” He agrees with a smile.

“It’s part of the ritual but nothing will be lost. You will not become a vampire. You will be the same. Only Angel will experience the changes.” The female promised her.

“Fine. Lets do this.” Buffy agreed.

“Awaken.” They both say in union as they raise their hands over their heads. Angel sits up on command and opens his eyes. Looking around the room his eyes lands on Buffy.

“Buffy?” Angel frowns.

“It’s me.” Buffy smiled sadly at him.

“Why are you here?” Angel asks as he looks at the powers that be with a angry frown.

“You want to be set free we needed her in order to do that. We cannot allow you to leave the mission. We need you in the end. In order to stay a champion you must share the powers of one that is mortal. We called the slayer.” The female explained.

“It’s okay Angel. I want to do this.” Buffy smiled warmly at him as she walks up to him.

“Come lets do this before I change my mind.” The male shook his head in disagreement with the final decisions of the gods above.

Chapter 47:

Buffy and Angel were placed in a pool of glowing water as the female power handed them a strange mystical looking knife.

“Slice your hands and place them together.” The female orders.

Angel performs the act first and then hands the knife to Buffy who does the same and then their hands entwine together.

“Now close your eyes and allow your heart to open up. Open your minds and souls.” Both powers order.

Buffy looks into Angel’s eyes with endearment as he too shows her the same thing as they close their eyes.

The powers that be began to chant words as the liquid begins to boil and swirl around them. Both tried to focus on keeping their minds and hearts open and not frighten of what might be happening to them.

The could hear lighting shooting above them and then both saw the universe in their minds. Stars, moons, planets, and smells of all that was beautiful came through their minds and into their hearts. Their hands began to burn and itch as they held on tightly.

Then they heard a strange sound that roared through the room and wind blew around them as they both shivered. Then they saw colors flashing through their minds and felt warmth and tender feelings flowing between them. Buffy felt as if she would cry from the pureness of the emotion that had possessed her.

“Two has become one. These two share the same heart, soul, and power. Together these two champions will become one for all that is good in this world and others.” Both powers that be shouted out as the ground beneath them shook.

Buffy gulps hard as she feels as if they are both floating into the air. Light as feather. They were both free. Breathing in and out felt wonderful. It was like heaven.

Then suddenly out of nowhere they began to feel as if they were plundering back to the ground. Heat. Hot air. Warm air. Cool air. Freezing air. Then it all was normal again.

“Open your eyes.” The female ordered.

Both hesitated for a brief second before they open their eyes.

“It has been done. From this day forth Angel you are mortal. You are also a slayer. This means you still must fight for the cause. You have been granted this right because of the children you two have born. They too will be champions for the side of good when the final battle comes.” The male stated with a warning look at them both.

“What?” Buffy looks at him with a fierce look. She suddenly wondered if they forgot to tell her everything.

“Connor and Hope are very strong and powerful mortals. Because of your love and your strengths these two will someday fight by your sides. Do not ever think that they have escaped their destiny. No one does.” The female explained with a soft smile.

“Now go. We need our rest. You need your rest. Remember together you are much more stronger for not only each other, your children but for the world too.” The female advised them as she watches the two soul mates head to the portal opening.

Taking each other by the hand they stepped through the portal that brought them back to their realm where the others sat looking as if they were prepared for the worse news possible.

“Well?” Connor shouts as he runs to his father and hugs him tightly.

“It has been done. I am mortal.” Angel answered with a weak smile toward his friends.

“Feel.” Angel placed their hands over his chest where his heart truly beated once again.

“What does that mean for us?” Wesley asks with a concern look.

“Nothing. I still have my strength.” Angel answered.

Giles and Willow both walk up to Buffy who had been quiet the entire time.

“Buffy are you okay?” Giles noticed the paleness of Buffy’s complexion.

“I’m fine.” Buffy says just as she faints to the ground.

“What happen?” Giles shouts at Angel as he kneels down to lift up Buffy in his arms.

“Let me have her.” Angel tried to get her.

“NO! YOU tell me now what they did to her!” Giles shouted angrily.

“She is sharing her slayer powers with me.” Angel answered.

“What?” Wesley stepped up with a shock look on his face.

“That has never happen.” Giles growls.

“It was the only way they would free me from the demon. I still have to fight for the cause. In order to have the same strength they needed to dip into another mortal’s strength and that was Buffy’s.” Angel explained in deeper detail.

“No wonder she fainted. Her power source is low.” Willow realized as she looked at Angel with a weak smile.

“I swear nothing happen to her. They agreed that only I would go through the changes.” Angel remembered hearing the conversation when he was asleep.

“Lets get her home. I’m sorry Angel but she is like my daughter. I…lets go.” Giles half apologized for accusing Angel of hurting Buffy.

Angel watch as they left with out trying to stop them. Angel knew he had enough to work through before he could face her again.

“Guys lets go back to the hotel. I still need to research these changes and make sure everything is right before I see her again.” Angel tells his friends.

“I can’t believe it.” Gunn laughs as he hugs Angel.

“Me either.” Angel agrees with his own excitement.

The four guys walked out in the sunlight together for the first time ever.

“Finally you get to be a normal guy. Must feel great.” Wes patted Angel on the shoulder as they walked to the hotel enjoying the sunrays with their best friend.

Chapter 48:

Buffy woke up a few hours after they had reached the house.

“Angel?” Buffy sat up searching the room for him.

“He is in L.A. still. We brought you back.” Willow explained as she got up from the chair where she had been sitting watching Buffy.

“Is he okay? I mean is he really okay?” Buffy asks frantically.

“Yes, at least from what we saw of him.” Willow answers as she sits next to Buffy and pushes her loose hair from her face.

“Oh.” Buffy answered with a disappointed smile.

“Giles was worried about you and didn’t really give anyone a chance to do anything. He was pretty upset with Angel when you fainted. I’m sure Angel is testing his new strengths before he comes to you.” Willow suggested.

“Yeah, that is what I would do too.” Buffy produces a weak smile before the tears began to spill out of her eyes.

Willow reaches out and pulls her into a hug.

“Shh…it’s okay. I just know it.” Willow promises as she speaks in a soothing voice.

“I’m just so happy and yet so scared.” Buffy explains, as she holds on tighter to Willow.

“I’m sure you are.” Willow feels her own tears slipping down her face.

“Was it painful?” Willow asks as they separate and looks at one another.

“Not really. It was rather mystical and yet peaceful. It was like two souls that were joining. Literally.” Buffy answered as she wiped her face.

“You two will soon be together for real at last. I sense that great things are going to happen for you two.” Willow predicted.

“Really?” Buffy looks at her with doubts.

“Really. Now lets go see your daughter and Giles. They are both worried for you. Hope wasn’t upset that you were sleeping when we brought you in but she did seem to think that we were hiding something from her.” Willow admitted with a sheepish smile.

“Yeah, it’s not every day you have your mom carried into the house asleep in some ones arms.” Buffy laughs.

“Come one.” Willow helps her up off the bed and together they go downstairs to show everyone that she is truly safe and fine.

Spike had arrived after they had come back from L.A. and discovered what had went down. He was a bit shocked and even envious at first but then he looked at Hope and knew it was only fair that she had two normal parents in her life.

“Hey.” She calls out as she enters the room where the three men are drawing pictures with Hope.

“MOMMY!” Hope jumps up and runs toward her. Buffy picks her up in her arms and starts putting kisses all over her soft little chubby face.

“I’m fine everyone.” Buffy informs them as she continues to love on her daughter.

“I could do for some food though.” Buffy informs them as she smiles tenderly at them all. She sees the relief all of their faces as they each look at her with love and loyalty to her.

*******************************************************

Angle finished eating the last piece of pizza with Connor when he finally felt like he would explode.

“Look Dad I better warn you right now. You have to really exercise eating like that.” Connor teased him.

“I will keep that in mind.” Angel laughs at his young and lean son.

“So what are we to do next?” Connor asks curiously.

“I’m glad you asked. How do you feel about moving to Sunnydale?” Angel asks as he watches his son’s expressions closely.

“I will go where ever you need me to go.” Connor looked at his father with genuine loyalty.

“What about Buffy and Hope? I mean how do you feel about them being a part of our lives?” Angel asks.

“I’m proud of Buffy. I mean she is one hell of a woman to do what she does. She sacrifices anything necessary in order to keep this world safe from evil and willing to do anything for those she loves.” Connor answered.

“Hope, well, it’s kinda of cool to have a little sister.” Connor smiled tenderly at the thought of being a big brother.

“I love Buffy. I want to spend the rest of my mortal life with her. I’m sure you know this already but I wanted to say it out loud. Mortal. I am finally able to share my life with her. It has always been my dream. I’m not sure how she is going to deal with all these changes but I hope I am able to persuade her to marry me.” Angel announces with a wide grin on his face.

“Marriage?” Connor nearly chokes.

“I want to do it right. I want to make her my wife as well as my soul mate.” Angel answered.

“Then I will support you.” Connor answers as he reaches out and hugs his father.

“What’s all the hugging about now?” Gunn walked into the room.

“WE are going to move to Sunnydale where dad is going to marry Buffy.” Connor announces the great news.

“No shit.” Gunn smiles at the two of them.

“Yeah, of course you and Wesley are more than welcomed to join us or you can stay here to keep the business going. It’s strictly up to you two.” Angel offered.

“I’m with you my man.” Gunn shakes his hand.

“Where are you going?” Wesley walks in as he over heard the last bit of the conversation.

“Sunnydale. I want to marry Buffy and fight for the mission there.” Angel announces as he braces himself for Wesley’s disappointment. He knows how much Wesley had put into this business and was worried how upset he might be that Angel would be willing to walk away from it.

“When do we leave?” Wesley’s sober face breaks into a smile as he shakes Angels hand as well.

“I say we get the ring before you just show up there.” Connor suggests.

“Then my friends lets close up the place and go to a jewelry store.” Angel opens the desk drawer and pulls out his wallet and places it in his jean pocket.

Chapter 49:

Buffy was sitting outside on the front porch when they arrived. She had been wondering whether she should call him or if he would call her once he felt it was safe enough?

“What are you guys doing here?” Buffy smiled inquisitively at the gang.

“Well, Angel wanted to move here. I hope you have enough room for all of us until we can find a place.” Gunn stated seriously as he walks past her.

Buffy frowns as the guys as they all walk past her and into the house. Then she sees Angel standing there at the first step of the porch.

“What is going on?” Buffy laughs with a nervous look in her eyes.

“Lets go for a walk.” Angel reaches out his hand toward her.

Buffy walks to him and with a second of hesitation she puts her hand in his as he leads her to a place he already had in mind before he got there.

“How do you feel?” Angel asks her as they walk.

“Just like normal old me.” Buffy answers.

“How about you?” Buffy looks up at him with enthusiasm in her eyes.

“I’m alive. For the first time ever I am alive. I mean even more I became a vampire I wasn’t alive. This is such a thrilling feeling for me and I wouldn’t have it today if it weren’t for you and your love.” Angel tells her as he releases her hand and puts his arm around her shoulder.

Buffy feels like she is dreaming. It was her biggest fantasy ever and it had come true. How long had it been since such a miracle had happen in her life? Hope. Hope had been the last good thing to happen to her.

“Angel, I don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything. I would have done it even if you weren’t Hope’s father.” Buffy wanted him to know.

“I know you would. You see I believe that the powers that be put us together for a bigger reason than she knew. I mean we just thought it was about the mission but I believe in my heart now that it was about two champions finding peace and comfort in one another’s lives. They knew that we belonged together and together we are stronger than apart. You were right.” Angel looks around to see that they had finally reach the place he had wanted to take her.

"I'm also sorry for misunderstanding the relationship you had with Cordelia." Buffy bites down on her tongue at the bittersweet memory of the woman who she was force to kill in order to save her daughter and Xander.

"I'm sorry that I consistently made decisions for the both of us. It was wrong for me to do that. The longer we were apart the more we hurt. It was stupid for me to think that you deserved a normal life. You were the slayer after all. Your life would never be considered normal. I guess I was scared that someday you would hate me or resent me for what you might have had." Angel explained.

"I only wanted you. I knew that my life span was considered short for my field of work. Children were a long shot for me. I only wanted to enjoy the time I did have on this earth. I wanted to be with you because you actually made me feel more normal than even my family and friends. You made me feel at ease with who I truly was. I didn't feel like such a freak in my own skin." Buffy gave her theory.

Angel was amazed to hear her confess this fact. He had never saw it from her point of view. However he wouldn't let him self feel guilt because he was about to make it up to her.

Buffy looks up to notice they are standing in front of the old mansion where Angel used to stay. The same mansion where she had sent him to hell.

“Buffy, I love you and I hope that this isn’t too sudden for you but I want to make this life of mine right this time. I want to do and feel everything possible. You know you are my soul mate. I have gone to hell and back and never regretted a second of it because it brought me to you. I love you. You are my best friend, my equal in battle and my soul mate. Will you now be my wife?” Angel kneels before her and opens up the velvet box that holds a ruby ring with diamonds around it.

“I was going to go with just a simple diamond but I thought of the blood we shared and the ruby seemed more appropriate for us.” Angel explained his reasoning for the strange engagement ring.

“It’s beautiful.” Buffy cried out as she handed him her hand. Angel slipped the ring on her hand and looked up at her with tears of happiness in his eyes.

“I love you. I will love you until the end of time. Together we are stronger. I never ever want to hear the words good-bye from either of us. Good night perhaps but never good-bye.” Angel vowed to her.

“Never again. Never again.” Buffy agrees as tears of happiness flow down her face. Angel stands up and pulls her into his arms where they seal the promise with a tender kiss.

THE END!

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