~*~

Angel lay in bed, wishing Buffy was there. Being stuck in bed was a whole lot less boring when she was there to talk to. He glanced at the clock, she'd be back soon, she promised she would.

"Hey! Lookie here, it's the Angel-ka-bob," someone said from the doorway to his bedroom. He looked up to see someone he hadn't seen in six years.

"Whistler?" he asked.

"Hey. So, Sewer-boy cleaned up his act…. Good job! Knew you'd do it for the right person," he winked at Angel.

"What do you mean 'the right person'?" Angel asked.

"Well Buffy of course! Come on Angel! You think I'm stupid? I know why you wanted to help her, I mean, who could resist the blond hair, the big eyes…."

"Get on with it, what do you want?"

"There are big things comin'. You think word hasn't gotten around that the Slayer's been found? The demons have been having a field day out of the past five years! They don't want some chick with superpowers coming and ruining it."

"The demon last night…." Angel trailed off.

"Bingo. And that was one of the easier ones to fight. She's in for quite a fight," Whistler said.

"What does any of this have to do with me?" Angel asked.

"You're supposed to help her. At least that's how it's foretold."

"Foretold?" Angel questioned.

"Fate. It's your destiny Angel. For you two to be together. You think that you just happened to walk by that alley two months ago by chance? You're destined to be together."

Angel just stared at him almost not believing what he was saying.

"So? You gonna follow your destiny?" Whistler asked then turned and left.

"Wait!" Angel shouted. He jumped out of bed, ignoring the pain and ran for Whistler, but he was gone. He heard the door to his apartment open and Buffy came down the stairs.

"Angel? What are you doing out of bed?"

Angel just stared at her.

"You need to rest, come on," she said as she took his arm and started to lead him back to the bedroom.

You gonna follow your destiny? Whistler's words echoed through is head. He grabbed Buffy's arm, spinning her back to face him, then captured her lips in a kiss

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy and Angel broke apart.

"Wh.what was that for?" she asked.

"I can't do this Buffy. This being away from each other. I can't do it. I don't want to do it. I know you think that this can't work because of what we are but it can. We can make it work. I don't want you on the other side of town. I want you here," Angel pleaded.

Buffy stared at him in shock then tears welled up in her eyes and a smile spread across her face. She hugged him lightly, careful not to put pressure on his wound.

"I want it to work too. I just wasn't sure you felt the same way," she replied. Angel let out an unneeded breath he hadn't eve realized he'd been holding in.

"How could I not?" he asked smiling.

Buffy smiled back, "So what do we do now?"

"I don't know.. You could move back here," he suggested, "I mean, if you want to."

"Of course I do! But I mean, I've got my job, and Willow and Xander are over there.."

"Then quit. And they can move closer! Or you can go visit them. I want you here,"

"I want me here too," Buffy replied. Angel smiled and kissed her again.

"Uh oh, they're gettin' snuggly again.." Doyle teased as he came down the stairs with Cordelia and Wesley.

They broke apart and Buffy blushed.

"Well it's about time!" Cordelia sighed exasperatedly.

"Funny Cordy," Angel said.

"Well, I'm assuming you're feeling better Angel," Wesley asked.

"Yeah, much better, thanks."

"Would you like me to research that demon?" he asked.

"Yeah, I already know a bit about it but it would help to know more. Come back tonight and we'll discuss it," Angel told them.

"Alright, later man," Doyle said.

"See you guys. By the way, if I have to come down here and I walk in on you two doing something gross I am so quitting!" Cordelia replied as she headed up the stairs.

Buffy and Angel just laughed.

"I'm serious!"

~*~

"So you're moving back in with him?" Xander asked.

"Yep," Buffy replied, shoving some clothes in her bag.

"That's great! It's so cool that you worked it out!" Willow exclaimed.

"Yeah, except for the part where he's been dead for over two hundred years.." Xander grumbled.

"Minor details!" Buffy replied.

"So are you two together, together now?" Willow asked.

"Yeah, we are," Buffy replied smiling. Willow smiled back.

"Wait a second! Since Deadboy's dead, then if you have sex, does that make you a necropheliac?" Xander asked.

Buffy stared at him in shock, "That's disgusting Xander,"

"Oh come on! He's not six-feet-under-type dead. He's up and walking and talking. And he certainly doesn't look dead," Willow comforted her friend.

"That's for sure!" Buffy laughed.

"One last question," Xander said, "What about the apartment? Where do we go?" he asked.

"You go no where," Buffy assured him, "Willow, you can take over my job at the diner and Xander, I got you a job interview there at eleven tomorrow morning. Don't be late," she told them.

Willow hugged her; "You're the best Buffy! Good luck to you and Angel!"

"Thanks! Bye! I'll come visit soon!" she replied then picked up her bag and left the apartment.

"Hmpf! Stupid Deadboy.." Xander mumbled.

"She's happy! Leave her alone!" Willow sighed, fed up with his jealousy.

"I still say this Angel guy is trouble,"

~*~

"So.. That's our li'l Slayer, eh?" said a British accent as he watched Buffy walk out of the apartment building and down the street.

"Yeah, that's her," said another voice.

"She doesn't look like too much trouble," the British voice chuckled.

"Don't underestimate her! She almost took out Angelus. And you saw what she did to your assassin the other night,"

"Angelus you say?" the British voice questioned.

"She thought he attacked her friends. It was really Darla though,"

"So what stopped her?"

"Darla. She attacked them, nearly had her, but Angel staked her,"

"Peaches staked his own bloody sire? To save the Slayer?! Bloody hell! Just when you think they can't get any softer.."

"Yeah. word has it he's in love with her,"

"The Scourge of Europe in love? And with a Slayer? Where in bloody hell am I? The Twilight Zone?" the British voice exclaimed, "So what about her? What does she feel?"

"From what I've heard, the feeling is mutual,"

A man with bleached blond hair stepped out of the shadows, still watching Buffy as she walked away down the road.

"I think we've found ourselves a weakness, what do you say Pet?" he asked with a British accent.

A woman with long brown hair wearing a long, white, old-fashioned dress wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Kill her for Mummy Spike, kill her for Mummy.." She said in a singsong voice.

The blond man smiled, "I'll kill her Ducks, don't you worry now.."

~*~

Buffy walked into Angel Investigations to find everyone standing around the office. Angel noticed her and walked up to her. He greeted her with a kiss.

"Hey."

"Hey, did I miss anything?" she asked.

"Nope, we were just about to start," Angel replied.

"Well, Angel, I haven't been very successful in finding anything about the demon from the other night. I'll continue looking of course, but." Wesley began.

"Look for anything on demon assassins, I think it may narrow down your search," Angel said.

"A-assassins?" Wesley asked.

"Yes,"

"Alright I'll continue looking," Wesley replied.

"Assassins? Are you sure about that man?" Doyle asked.

"Yeah," Angel was starting to worry, what if hearing this frightened Buffy away again?

"Well, doesn't that sound pleasant! So you mean you've got a bunch of Mafia-type demons on your tail or something?" Cordelia asked.

"Not mine," Angel replied,

"Then whose?" Doyle asked.

Angel hesitated.

"Mine, right?" Buffy jumped in.

"Yeah," Angel replied quietly, walking over to her and taking her hand.

"How do you know?" Wesley asked.

"Whistler came to visit me earlier this afternoon," Angel began,

"Whistler? Really? And he didn't stay around to say hello to an old friend?" Doyle asked.

"He's a busy demon,"

"What's a Whistler?" Buffy asked.

"I'll explain later," Angel told her, "Anyway, he told me that I'm supposed to help Buffy fight, because there are big things coming. Word has gotten around that the Slayer's back in business. The demons aren't too happy with this so they're trying to kill you, they don't want to have to deal with you ruining their fun," Angel explained.

Fear passed across Buffy's features, but was soon replaced with determination.

"I won't let them hurt you," Angel vowed, looking her straight in the eyes.

"I won't let them either," Buffy replied, "They took me down once, they had their fun five years, now it's my turn to play,"

"Buffy, this is quite big, we don't know what we're dealing with yet," Wesley said,

"I don't care, they're not winning this time," she said.

"Just a question, if they're after Buffy, then why'd the demon try to kill you?" Cordelia asked Angel.

"I got in the way. Just goes to show how determined they are. They'll kill anyone who tries to stop them, we've gotta be careful," Angel said,

"We just have to find out who's behind all this, then we're all set," Buffy said.

"To get killed. This demon would have to be pretty powerful," Doyle said.

"And I'm gonna take him down," Buffy said and walked downstairs to Angel's apartment.

"Buffy," Angel called after her. He caught her by the arm as she crossed through the living room. "Buffy," he repeated. She turned slowly to face him. She hid it well, but Angel could still tell she was scared. "You don't have to be brave," he told her.

"Yes I do. I'm the slayer. It's my destiny, right?" she spat.

"No, you don't. You don't have to be brave all the time, no one can be brave all the time,"

She looked up at him, tears forming in her eyes. "I lived in fear of those things for five years. I was afraid to go anywhere at night because I knew they were out there, even though I could fight them, but I didn't want to," she whispered.

Angel hugged her to him. Cursing the Watcher Council for throwing her into this, she was too young.

"I don't want to die.." She whispered. There, she'd said it; she'd admitted it. She bet that Angel thought she was a chicken now.

Angel pulled away from her then put his hands on her shoulders. "Look at me Buffy," he told her. She looked up at him; a tear ran down her cheek. He brushed it away then put his hand back on her shoulder. "You are not going to die. You hear me? You're not going to die. Not if I have anything to do with it," he told her.

"No, I'm not letting you get messed up in this, you saw what happened last night.." She said putting her hand lightly on his side, "I'm not letting you get hurt or killed because of me."

"I'm already messed up in this, I've been messed up in this since I first saw you," Angel whispered.

"Angel.." she said shaking her head.

"No, Buffy.. Do you want to know what Whistler said?" he asked.

"I already know what Whistler said," Buffy replied bitterly.

"No, he said more. But it's none of their business," he told her motioning upstairs to where the others were. "Do you want to know?"

"Yes,"

"Alright. Whistler is a good demon; he works for the Powers That Be. Five years ago he came to see me, to tell me I was supposed to help you. But you disappeared."

"So. you're saying you already knew who I was, before you met me in that alley?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah. but let me finish. He came to see me while you were out earlier today, he told me about what's happening, and that I'm supposed to help you, that helping you is my destiny," Angel explained.

"So, risking your life for someone who's supposed to kill your kind is your destiny? Why?" Buffy asked.

"Because.." He stopped, not sure how to word it, or even how she would react when he told her. "Because we're destined to be together," he said.

Buffy looked up at him in shock.

"I know it sounds crazy, but the Powers don't lie.." He whispered. Please don't reject me.. He pleaded silently.

Buffy stared at him in wonder. Destined to be with him? It did sound crazy, she barely knew him. But for some strange reason, she didn't care that it was crazy. She was actually happy about it. She sighed happily, "That's the best news I've heard all day," she murmured.

Angel smiled slightly then hugged her again. "We'll get through this, I promise," he vowed.

"I know. I've got you now, right?"

"Right," he answered. She nodded then laid her head on his chest.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy and Angel walked through the park followed by Wesley, Doyle, Cordelia, Willow and Xander.

"We really shouldn't have brought them along, they could get hurt," Buffy whispered to Angel.

"It's been a week and there hasn't been anything. It's okay, don't worry," Angel assured her.

"This is boring! Where are all the vampires? We need some action here!" Xander said.

"If I remember correctly Xander, last time you came up against a vampire you ended up knocked out on the floor," Angel chuckled. Well, he agreed with Buffy on one thing, they definitely shouldn't have brought Xander along.

"Hey! I was off my guard! You think you can take me Deadboy?"

"Down boys! Be nice," Buffy warned them, "Xander, you need to fight the bad vampires, not the good ones," Buffy scolded, "And I know he's being obnoxious but could you at least pretend to tolerate him?" Buffy asked Angel.

"He called me Deadboy again.." Angel grumbled.

"Maybe if you're nice to him he'll stop,"

"I try to be nice to him, it doesn't help!"

"Shhh," Buffy told him then took his hand. "What time is it?" she asked.

"Late," Cordelia yawned.

"You guys can all leave if you want to, we'll be okay by ourselves," Buffy told them.

"Until you start playing tonsil hockey! If we leave you won't be patrolling!" Xander shouted.

"Xander.." Willow warned.

"We'll be fine, you guys can go home, it's late," Angel said.

"You sure?" Doyle asked.

"Yeah, you guys can go. We'll see you tomorrow,"

They all left and Buffy and Angel continued walking.

"So, what do you think they'll send after me next? A Two headed dragon? Giant snake?" Buffy asked.

"Buffy.."

"What? Can I help it if I'm worried? That thing they sent after me a week ago I could barely fight! What am I gonna do now?"

"Stop worrying. Everything will work out fine, I promise," he reassured her.

"So you've said. But it never works that way! And they could try to get to me through you and that-"

Angel silenced her with a kiss, they were so caught up in it that they didn't notice a person approaching them.

"Well, isn't this a Kodak moment," he chuckled.

They broke apart, Angel stared at the person in shock.

"Nice to see you again Peaches, haven't seen you since. was it China? The Boxer Rebellion?" he asked.

"Yeah.. Wishing it had been longer of course," Angel replied.

"So, heard about that pesky curse. what a shame. Although you did get this little thing out of it so it can't be all bad," he chuckled, checking out Buffy.

"So you're the big bad Slayer aren't you cutie? You don't look so tough.."

"You wanna test that theory?" she snapped.

"Ooh. feisty one ain't she? Always had good taste Peaches.. I'll have fun killing her,"

"Leave her alone Spike," Angel growled.

"Sorry Angel, not gonna happen. It's not part of the deal. I'll see you around Peaches.. Watch your back blondie," he said then turned on his heel and disappeared.

~*~

"So who was he?" Buffy asked when they got back to the office.

"William the Bloody. People call him Spike though," Angel answered.

"William the Bloody. that sounds familiar.." Wesley said.

"I wouldn't doubt it. He'd probably be in one of the books at least,"

"I'll go check."

"New threat?" Doyle asked.

"Yeah, most likely," Angel sighed.

"Just a vampire? That's not that big and scary," Cordelia said.

"It should be. This isn't just any vampire," Angel interjected.

"I've found him; '.William the Bloody, sired in 1880, nicknamed Spike because he tortured his victims on railroad spikes.'" Wesley read.

"Ewww! That's gross!" Cordelia shuddered.

"Sired in 1880? He isn't even half as old as you Angel, what are you so worried about?" Doyle asked.

"Oh." Wesley muttered.

"What?" Cordelia asked.

Wesley looked at Buffy nervously, "He's killed two slayers, on in 1900 and one in 1977,"

"That would be something to worry about," Cordelia muttered.

Buffy just stared down at the floor, her eyes wide. She looked up.

"He seemed like he knew you Angel, why?" she asked, changing the subject.

A guilty look passed over Angel's face, "That's because I sired his sire," Angel whispered.

"Oh! Good going! So you're partially responsible for bringing your girlfriend's assassin into the 21st century! Good job!" Cordelia said sarcastically.

"'Delia.." Doyle warned.

Buffy walked over to Angel and put her hand on his arm, "Don't feel responsible, it wasn't you, it was the demon,"

"We're the same person.."

"No, you're not. Besides, he's only killed two slayers, I mean, how many others have there been? I'll be fine," she told him, but was also trying to convince herself.

"You'd better be, I can't lose you," he whispered to her. She hugged him.

"Don't worry," she whispered in his ear. "So, how about we find where this Spike-guy is hiding so we can go kill him, hmmm?" She was gonna find this guy, and kill him. There was no way in Hell she was dying now. She finally had a life worth living. and someone to live it with.

~*~

Drusilla twirled over to Spike and peered over his shoulder as he flipped furiously through an old, leather bound book.

"What's my Spikey looking for?" she asked.

"Hold on a second pet, I'm busy,"

"The stars won't be happy, they won't sparkle anymore.." She hummed.

"What are you babblin' about Luv?" Spike asked staring at her in confusion, she was a nutty one.. Then he saw it.

"Ah ha!" he shouted triumphantly.

"What is it?" Dalton asked.

"The spell, I found it!" Spike announced.

"You can't perform that, it's too complicated. You'll need a sorcerer, or a witch,"

Spike grabbed him by the throat, "Then find me one," he growled. He dropped Dalton then he scampered out of the abandoned factory they were living in.

Spike swept Drusilla off her feet and span her around the room.

"This will be priceless Luv, you just wait and see.." He chuckled.

~*~

Angel came down the stairs and found Buffy sitting curled up in a ball on the couch.

"What do we do about Spike?" she asked.

"I don't know. We'll work it out though, don't worry. Everything will be fine," Angel assured her.

"He's killed two slayers Angel. and he's younger than you! I'm. I'm scared," she whispered. He brushed her hair back out of her face.

"Don't be. You have nothing to worry about. He lays one finger on you and I'll kill him. I won't let him hurt you Buffy, I promise,"

"I know, I trust you." she sighed, "This isn't gonna stop is it? They'll always be after me," Buffy asked.

"That's the price you pay when you're a slayer. But you've got Willow and Xander, and Cordy, Doyle and Wesley, and you've got me. You won't be alone," he told her.

Buffy laughed bitterly, "I don't think I could do this on my own," tears began to form in her eyes. Angel pulled her into his arms.

"You won't ever have to,"

Buffy closed her eyes and sighed. At least for now she was safe.

~*~

"This is the spell?" the sorcerer asked.

"Yes," Spike replied.

"Where is the one that this will be used on?" he asked.

"Huh? Oh! The Bloody poof, Angelus or Angel as they call him now. he's probably off shagging is li'l slayer," Spike replied.

"Get him," the sorcerer said.

"What?"

"He must be here for the spell to work,"

"Bloody hell.. Alright boys! We're off to find ourselves Angelus let's go!" Spike ordered angrily. This was extra work that he didn't want to have to do. He lead a rather large group of vampires and demons out of the factory.

~*~

"So what are we looking for?" Buffy asked. As her and Angel walked through the park.

"Nothing. We're walking. I didn't bring you here to patrol," Angel told her.

"Then why are we here?" Buffy asked.

"What? We can't talk a walk through the park unless it's to look for something? Other couples go for walks through the park," Angel asked.

"Other normal couples. And I'm not saying that we can't. it's just that we don't," Buffy replied.

"Well, I guess we've changed that now, haven't we?" he asked.

"I guess," she answered smiling, but it soon faded away, "You don't think we should maybe keep an eye out for Spike, do you?" she asked. Angel stopped walking and turned to face her.

"No. Please Buffy, stop worrying. At least for now. He wouldn't ry anything this early after he revealed himself," Angel told her.

"Don't be so sure of that," someone said from behind Angel, Buffy looked past him and her eyes grew wide. Angel turned around to find Spike standing there with at least a dozen vampires and demons. There was no way they could fight all of them.

"Run," Angel told Buffy. She grabbed his hand and they took off towards the apartment. Angel spotted an open manhole not far from them and pulled her towards it.

"This way! It'll be easier to lose them!" he shouted. Buffy nodded then jumped down the manhole. Angel jumped down after her and led her towards his apartment. He climbed up a ladder and through the trap door to his apartment. He pulled buffy up after him them slammed the door closed and locked it.

"Buffy?" Angel asked, turning towards her. She was sitting next to him on the floor staring blankly into space. "Buffy?" he repeated, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes and cupping her face in his hands. She looked up at him, tears in her eyes.

"Shhh. Everything's fine now, we're safe,"

Buffy threw herself into Angels arms and held onto him so tightly that if he had been human he probably wouldn't have been able to breathe. He helped her stand.

"Come on, you should go lie down,"

He led her towards the bedroom.

"There were so many.." She murmured

"Don't worry," he told her kissing the top of her head.

"Angel.. I don't think I'm gonna make it out of this alive," she whispered.

"You will. I'll make sure of it."

"You don't have to reassure me Angel. I'm a slayer, we die fighting.. I'm starting to accept that."

"No, you're stronger than the rest of them, you're different. You won't die," he told her almost desperately, "You can't die.. I." he stopped.

"You what?" she asked softly.

"I love you," he whispered.

Tears finally started falling down Buffy's cheeks, "I love you too," she replied.

Angel crushed her to him, "I can't lose you," he murmured.

"You won't. I'll always be with you," she put her hand over his heart, "In here, no matter what,"

"Buffy.." He whispered, then his lips met hers. Neither of them realized they were moving towards the bed until the back of Buffy's knees hit the edge of the mattress and they both fell onto it. Angel broke the kiss and looked at her a long while.

"Do you want this?" he asked.

"More than anything," she answered

He kissed her again, then there were no more words spoken for a long time.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cordelia walked down the stairs into Angel's apartment. She'd came into the office two hours ago. He owned the freaking place and by what she could see he was still asleep. She walked over to his room and stood in the doorway, she smiled slightly when she saw Buffy with him, her head resting on his chest, and Angel's arms wrapped around her. Then she noticed the clothing strewn around the room. She blushed bright red, closed the door to his room and ran up the stairs, bumping into Doyle.

"Is Angel down there?" he asked.

"Yeah, he and Buffy are asleep. and very naked.." She shuddered, as cute a couple as she thought they were, she did not like the mental images she was getting right then.

"Naked? You mean.. No!" Doyle said, unbelieving, "Angel? You've gotta be kidding! The guy is like a monk in that sense!"

"Not anymore! But just leave them alone. I'm sure they're happy so, I think that's what matters," she said as she picked up the mail then sat down on the couch in the front of the office.

"You're in shock aren't ya?" Doyle asked.

"Oh yeah. But I'm pretty sure I'm right about the them being happy part,"

Doyle laughed.

Wesley walked into the office, "Is Angel around?" he asked.

"Oh yeah, he's downstairs having sex with Buffy," Cordelia replied casually as she sorted through the mail.

"Ah, I see, I'll talk to him later if he's busy," then it registered what Cordelia had said, "What?!"

~*~

Angel opened his eyes and tried to sit up, and realized he was being weighed down by. Buffy's head. He smiled down at her. She was sleeping peacefully, her arm draped across his stomach. He let his head fall back on the pillow while he rubbed her back. Buffy stirred then half opened her eyes.

"Decide I was more comfortable than your pillow?" he asked.

"Mmmm." Buffy groaned sleepily, "Yeah, definitely more comfy," she looked up at him.

"Good morning," he said then kissed her.

"'Morning" she yawned.

"Still tired?" Angel asked.

"Hmmm, I wonder why.." Buffy teased.

Angel smiled, "Go back to sleep," he told her.

Buffy snuggled deeper into his embrace and closed her eyes, "Love you," she murmured.

Angel smiled again then kissed her forehead, "I love you too,"

~*~

An hour later Buffy and Angel were finally awake and dressed and went up stairs to the office holding hands. Cordelia looked up from the filing cabinet drawer she was going through when she heard them.

"Hey! Look who finally decided to make an appearance! Good afternoon you two," she greeted them.

"Hello to you to Cordy," Angel sighed.

"Hey Angel. Buffy.." Doyle greeted them, with a goof grin on his face.

"What's going on guys?" Angel asked.

"I think we should be asking that question," Cordelia answered,

"You guys. know, don't you?" Buffy asked blushing.

"Oh God! Yes! I mean, next time could you at least close the door?! I mean, I'm gonna come down and see what's happening when you're two hours late for work and all you have to do is walk up a flight of stairs to get to the office! Maybe you should think up a system or something, like a sock on the doorknob, or maybe a rubber band-"

"'Delia! You're embarrassing them!" Doyle interrupted.

"Sorry. But I don't want to walk down there and see that ever again!"

"Ever thought of knocking? It is my apartment after all," Angel asked.

"There's a new approach 'Delia!" Doyle gasped teasingly.

"Oh shut up!"

~*~

"Well, that was embarrassing, this afternoon," Buffy said as her and Angel walked through the park.

"Yeah," Angel chuckled, "Cordy's good at embarrassing people. but they would've found out sooner or later,"

"True," Buffy replied as Angel wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, "but I would've preferred that it was later rather than sooner," she grumbled.

Angel laughed, "Yeah, I completely agree,"

Buffy looked up at him smiling, "You never laugh."

"I've never been happy enough too before," he told her. She smiled again, "And it's all because of you,"

"Glad to help," she looked around them nervously, "Are you sure it's safe to be here? I mean, after what happened last night,"

Angel's expression darkened, "We can't stay in hiding Buffy," he answered.

"What if they show up again?" she asked.

"We fight,"

"All of them?"

"Is there any other option?"

"Um. run?"

"Buffy.."

"Sorry. it's just. I don't want to see you get hurt again. I don't think I could bear it if I lost you," Buffy murmured.

"You're not going to lose me. You found me, now you're stuck with me, forever," Angel told her,

"Oh dear! What a horror!" Buffy groaned sarcastically.

"Is that so?" Angel asked smirking.

"Course not. You, me, forever. I'm liking the sound of th-" she didn't get to finish her sentence because she was ripped away from Angel's side and lifted off her feet. She looked down at what was holding her; it was one of those horned demons that had attacked them a week ago. Angel charged at it but it caught him by the throat and held him in place. It turned its focus back to Buffy and growled.

"Now c'mon mate! We're not 'ere for the Slayer! I told ya that already! Get Peaches there and let's get a move on!" Spike told the demon as he walked out from the bushes. The demon growled again.

"I know she killed your brother! I'm sorry! But we'll kill 'er later! Just take Angelus and get a move on!" he sighed exasperated, you could never find competent demons anymore.

The demon hurled Buffy through the air into a lamppost. She smashed the side of her head into it and fell limply to the ground like a rag-doll - unconscious.

"Buffy!" Ange shouted.

"Ah! Get a hold of y'self mate! She's the bloody Slayer! She'll be fine in no time. not that it'll do her much good. we'll just kill 'er anyway,"

Angel struggled against the demon's grasp. Another demon with a rock as its hand came up behind Angel. he swung his hand at his head, the rock connecting with Angel's skull, successfully knocking him out.

"Good job.. Well? What are you waitin' for? Pick him up and get goin'!" Spike shouted. The demons roughly picked Angel up off the ground and dragged him away.

~*~

Buffy's heart pounded in her ears. Her head ached and felt like it was pulsating in time with her heart. She brought her hand up to it and her fingers touched something warm and sticky.

"Miss?" came a voice.

Buffy forced her eyes to open. The blackness faded to gray, then strange colors swam before her eyes before they focused on her hand, her fingers coated in blood.

"Miss? Are you alright?" came the voice again.

She turned her head to see a man crouched beside her. She sat up.

"Whoa! Just take it easy! Lie back down and I'll call an ambulance,"

"No!" she paused, "Angel.."

"Angel? There aren't any angel's here,"

"Angel? Where is he?" she asked.

"Who? Th-there wasn't anyone else around. I don't know who you're talking about,"

"No." Buffy half gasped-half sobbed. She stood up and shakily ran to the office, ignoring the man's protests behind her.

~*~

Cordelia was sitting infront of the computer pretending to work when really she was playing solitaire, Doyle was sitting on the couch watching her, trying to think of ways to get her to notice him, and Wesley was sitting in another chair still flipping through a dusty, old, leather bound book for some sort of clue as to what was going on when Buffy stumbled through the door and dropped to her hands and knees to try and keep the room from spinning.

"Buffy!" Cordelia exclaimed rushing to her side, followed by the other two, "Oh my God! What happened to you?"

"Is he here? Tell me he's here! Please! Tell me he's here!" Buffy pleaded ignoring Cordelia's question.

"It's alright, just calm down. Someone get the first aid kit, that's a nasty gash," Wesley said as he helped Buffy over to lie on the couch.

"I'm on it," Cordelia answered.

"Wh-where is he? Tell me please!" Buffy begged.

"Where is who?" Doyle asked.

"Angel! He came back here right? He-he had to've," Buffy stammered.

"We haven't seen Angel since he left with you," Wesley answered as Cordelia gave him the first aid kit and he began to clean Buffy's cut.

"How did this happen?" Cordelia asked.

"I." Buffy trailed off, she didn't really remember everything clearly, she was too dizzy, her head hurt too much, "There was a demon. Spike sent it after us. I-it gabbed me and Angel tried to stop it but he couldn't. Th-then Spike showed up and. That's when I got thrown into the lamppost. I don't remember anything else except I woke up and they were gone. All of them," Buffy's tears started to fall, "Spike has Angel! Oh God! No! This can't be happening! No. not Angel.."

Doyle knelt down in front of Buffy, "Listen to me Buffy, Angel is strong. He'll be fine. Spike can't hurt him," he told her gently. Then took her hand, "We'll find him. Don't you worry, you'll get him back," he vowed, trying to take away some of the despair he saw in her eyes. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to have someone you love ripped away from your side and to not know where they were. He glanced up at Cordelia, and put himself in Buffy's shoes. He shuddered at the thought. He squeezed Buffy's hand reassuringly, not sure how else to could help her.

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