****

Buffy and Angel sat at Father's table once more, this time in a planning session with Robin and Marion. They had found reference to Conakur, after long hours of looking through the books supplied to them. What they had found had shocked them. Conakur was a true demon, with no mortal blood tainting him, and one from the seventh ring of Hell. He somehow had managed to escape, though the specifics on that were sketchy at best. They knew to fear him. Now they just needed to find him.

"Buffy?" Father Thomas's voice interrupted her quiet listening to the other three plan out how to best find him. Buffy looked up, sending him a questioning glance. "Do you think it would be possible to speak with my young charge?"

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "I do not think the Council of this time would want me impressing on her."

"It is not the Council I ultimately answer to. It is God's. And she is one of his children. One of the few Chosen."

"But not yet."

"But possibly soon. Our time is a dangerous one, even without the added threat of the demons of darkness. She has little over a year left before she is too old to be called. The calling may come sooner than that."

Buffy nodded, knowing all too well the matters of being called. "Where is she?"

"In the garden in the back."

Buffy stood from her seat, moving silently from the small house into the foggy early morning air. "Mira? Could I talk with you for a moment?"

Mira moved gracefully from the shadows. Even without the mark of the fate, she had the predatory grace that marked a hunter. If she was called, she might do well enough to survive a longer period than most. "Of course, milady."

Buffy waved off the comment. "Buffy, please. I'm nothing but a sister to you in ways. Father Thomas asked that I talk to you."

Mira was curious. "About what?"

"Being the Chosen One."

"But I am not yet called."

Buffy shrugged one shoulder. "Things change, Mira. I became the slayer and my life changed forever. Sometimes I damn the fates for my destiny; but there are other occasions when I am able to take pleasure in my life. Not from killing, though cleaning the evil is a good thing. From the simple things. Slayers fight for the good of the world. I fight so that the world can go on. So that people can live their simple lives without fear.

"I don't know the secret to surviving this life. I've done the best I can. I can't tell you what will happen if you are called. But I can tell you what might help."

"What?"

"Trust your instincts. You have them for a reason; use them. And don't block your emotions. They give you fire. Anger, passion, revenge. They all work well in a fight as long as you don't lose sight of your objective."

"And that is?"

"To kill the bad things, and don't get dead while doing it," grinned Buffy.

*****

"All right, do we have everything?" asked Robin a few mornings later, as the four travelers gathered in the main room of Father Thomas's home. Buffy, Angel and Marion nodded, each one holding their saddlebags. "I think we're ready then," he said, turning to their hosts. "We appreciate all the help you've given us, Father."

Father Thomas waved his hand. "Quite all right, Robin. It was technically my sworn duty as a Watcher to help out." Father Thomas shook hands with Robin, Marion and Angel who moved to stand near the door. He then faced Buffy, who was standing nearby. "It was an honor to meet a slayer such as yourself, Buffy. It gives me hope for the future."

Buffy smiled tightly, holding back her tears, as the older man hugged her. "Thank you for everything, Father."

Father Thomas bowed his head slightly in respect. "Fight well and stay safe, my dear."

"I'll try," whispered Buffy, moving to hug Mira. "Remember what I told you, okay? Even if you're never called, they'll still be assets to you."

"I will, Buffy."

Silently, Buffy crossed the room to take Angel's hand, giving one last wave to the Watcher and Slayer wishing them luck as they stepped into the late London night.

****

Buffy gave a small groan as the foursome slowed their mounts as they approached a nearby village. Marion, who was currently riding beside her as they followed Robin and Angel, gave her a sidelong glance.

"You all right?" Buffy nodded, then shook her head, causing the older woman to laugh. "Well, which is it?"

"I'm just not used to riding. Before this, I'd never ridden before. I'm not hurting as bad as I was on the ride going into London though."

Marion grinned at her. "So it's a plus."

Buffy laughed. "Definitely."

"So..." Marion looked down at her reins with her next words. "You're a slayer."

"Um, well, yes. But that isn't what you really wanted to know."

"You're from the future." Buffy nodded. "Is it different?"

"I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be answering questions like that, but yes. Coming here is a totally different world. I'm the first to admit that I'm a girl of my times, but being here..." Buffy trailed off, searching for what to say that would tell Marion what was going on in her mind. "It doesn't seem wiggy being here. You guys fight for the good, and are respected for that."

"Isn't that what you do, though?"

Buffy lifted a shoulder. "Well yeah, I fight the demons and stuff, but no one but Angel and my friends really know what's going on in the shadows. Everyone just thinks I'm a strange girl who gets into a lot of fights. At least they did. At my school, I was elected Protector of the Year," she amended.

Marion smiled, getting the gist of what the blonde was trying to get across. "Sounds to me like they appreciate you."

"What are you two talking about?" asked Robin, as he and Angel slowed their horses so that all four rode side by side.

Marion winked at Buffy, and smiled at the outlaw. "Picking up some men at that tavern over there."

*****

Buffy shifted the quarterstaff in her hand, getting used the length and uneven weight of it. She tilted her head at her opponent, who stood opposite about a yard from her. "I'm not so sure this is a good idea."

Little John gave her a bemused look, tapping one end of his own staff in a large palm. He said nothing though.

Buffy sighed and shrugged, moving to attack. They four of them had reached the compound earlier that morning, disclosing the information that they had learned to Friar Tuck and Little John. Both had been understandably concerned at what they could be facing, but had become confused at what Buffy had then disclosed. She'd told them, at Marion and Robin's reassurance, of what she was, and what she did.

Little John had been less than willing to believe that any higher powers would select a girl as small as she to fight such opponents, leading to their current position in an open field a little ways from camp. Their friends were positioned on a crop of rocks, watching with interest.

"Oh dear," moaned Tuck as he watched John hit Buffy in the stomach with the end of his staff, "I do hope that John doesn't hurt her."

Angel tried not to laugh as he recognized what Buffy was doing in letting John get a couple of hits. She was waging his skill, trying to give him a chance, instead of disarming him with one blow. He'd already seen at least two openings of which she'd opted not to take advantage of.

"Is something funny, my friend?" asked Robin, wincing at a particularly large crack of wood.

Angel shook his head, gesturing to the sparring going on. "Just watch. Buffy hasn't even tried to fight yet."

"She seems like it to me," said Marion, her eyes not leaving the two.

"She's being polite," replied Angel. "She doesn't want to hurt his feelings."

A minute later, the spectators recognized the change in Buffy's fighting as her moves became faster, more accurate, forcing Little John into a small retreat. Seconds later, she was holding both quarterstaffs. There seemed to be some sort of communication between the two, ending with Buffy shrugging as she returned his staff, holding hers lightly, with no fighting stance. The three outlaws' jaws fell open with disbelief as with only two knocks of wood against wood, Little John was on his back.

"Good heavens," breathed Marion, shaking her head.

"I guess Buffy being this Slayer, she needs to know how to fight?" ventured Tuck.

Angel nodded. "As many possible ways of fighting as well. You three saw her using the sword that day we met. It's one of her best," he said, rubbing a particular spot on his torso.

Robin's smile faded and he turned somber. "I have a feeling that before your mission here is over, we'll have another chance to see her in action."

"See who in action?" asked Buffy, walking toward them beside Little John. "Here, lover," she said, tossing Angel John's staff, "You need to practice, too. So, see who in action?"

"You in the fight against Conakur. We were talking about your fighting abilities."

Buffy nodded her head, casually twirling the length of wood in a circle. "Well, we know who is and what he's capable of doing. We just need to know where to find him. Any suggestions?" She looked at the two that had stayed behind at the compound. "Did anything happen that could be tied to him?"

Tuck shook his head. "Like we said before, it was quiet. Not even Prince John was terrorizing villages."

Buffy shook her head. "I don't like that. Whenever things get too quiet, it always means bad news."

Angel nodded, standing up and moving away from the four outlaws as he began to slowly spar with Buffy. "All right, so we have to figure this out."

Buffy agreed, smirking at Angel. "So Angel, tell me. What would you do first, if let's say, you were a newly released demon, that is of course, after finding a hide out?"

"Oh that's really cute, Buffy," he said, jumping out of the way as she ducked from the pot shot he took at her head.

"No offense or anything," she amended, grinning at him, and knowing that he wasn't mad. "I'm just trying to figure something out."

"Uh-huh," he said, shaking his head and smiling at her as he began to press an advantage. "Okay. Let's just say, for the moment that I was a demon. I've just been released from years of torture in my own personal hell."

"So what would you do?" inquired Buffy, somersaulting over the end of the quarterstaff.

"Get some minions, then try and give an example of my power," he replied, catching his weapon against hers and kicking out to break the stalemate.

"What are they talking about?" whispered John to Robin.

"I'm not sure, but I think they're figuring out where Conakur is hiding."

"You'd take the first opportunity to do so, right?" said Buffy.

"Unless I had a pending grudge against someone that I wanted to lash out at. Yes."

"All right then." Abruptly the fighting stopped, and Buffy turned toward Robin, leaning her cheek casually against the length of wood. "So, Robin, where is the nearest abandoned ruin, or otherwise large enough area to hold a raging demon, to that town where we met?"

"The Sturnworth Ruins," he said immediately, his mind trying to catch up with what had just passed between the couple. "You believe that Conakur is there?"

Buffy glanced at Angel, almost ninety-nine percent sure of what they had came up with, but shrugged at the famous outlaw. "It's worth a shot."

****

Robin took a sidelong glance at the diminutive blonde seated beside him at the fireside. They'd decided since their mounts had been on such a long journey not to leave until the morning, so at the moment, they were just biding their time. John had departed for parts unknown, while Marion had retired to her tent for the remainder of the night. Angel had accosted Friar Tuck, leading him off to the privacy of Tuck's tent to talk.

Buffy had muttered something about immunity to things holy and taking the chance while he could get it, but Robin was a little confused on that point. At the moment she was whittling a stake with an almost care free air as he prodded the flaming logs with a stick.

"Buffy, may I ask you a question?"

Buffy glanced at him, her movements of carving the wood pausing for only a moment. "I don't see why not. You know pretty much everything there is to know about Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

"You and Angel...Um..."

Buffy stopped her carving all together, turning to face the older man. An encouraging smile on her face, she took a moment to search Robin's face, lit by the firelight, causing him to shift as she stared too long into his eyes. "You don't usually ask others about their relationships do you?"

"How did you know?" He asked, slightly taken aback by the younger girl's astuteness. Though at this point, he told himself, he shouldn't be surprised by anything she did.

"You're usually a lot more forthright with your inquiries," she replied, making a face as she replayed her words in her head. "Ooooh, I'm so killing Giles when I get home. I'm starting to talk like him. Note to self, spend less time with the G-man." Ignoring Robin's utterly confused look, she forged on. "Anyway, I figured you weren't asking me about being a slayer if you put Angel's name out there, too. What did you want to know?"

"Isn't it difficult letting him fight with you? I mean, you're close to him, and you fight with him. Isn't it hard not to let that fact make everything else fade away?"

Buffy's mouth opened slightly, and she tilted her head as she answered. "You mean like fighting against the forces of darkness? Or in your case, jealous and spoiled princes trying to overthrow the crown of his brother?" She shrugged, again ignoring anything Robin might be about to say. "We just don't. We know the importance of what we do and that no one else is able to do it. Plus, not everything is as peachy back in the future between us as we make it seem here."

"What do you mean?"

"Your friend Olwyn helped to clear up a few problems for us so that we'd be able to help out. And don't ask, 'cuz I'm not telling."

Robin accepted this with a nod. "But don't you think you would fight better if you weren't together?"

Buffy sighed, twirling the knife she'd been carving with, idly with one hand. "All right, Robin. We're going to stop hedging and get to the point, because I'm not known for my patience. I'm going to tell you a little story.

"Yes, Angel and I fight together, and we love each other. We've found that working together is a whole hell of a lot easier than denying our feelings and dancing around the other, though. Two friends of ours liked each other a whole lot. However, before they were able to tell each other what they both felt, one of them was murdered. The moral of this story? Don't let your chances slip by. Okay, sure, the life I live is tons more dangerous than yours, but the theory still applies.

"Angel and I learned the hard way that you can't take things for granted. Shitty things happen and the world is always changing. So we take the things that we can have, and cherish them. Sexual tension went to a whole other level where we were concerned." Buffy paused, gripping the knife by the blade and throwing it toward a nearby tree. Beginning to rise, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "You want my advice? Stop skirting the issue and letting things like duty come between you and Marion."

Robin watched thoughtfully as Buffy dislodged her knife and disappeared toward the tent that she and Angel had been given for the night.

****

"Have a good confession with Tuck?" asked Buffy, as she pulled aside the blanket that served as a door and found Angel sharpening their swords.

Angel nodded, putting the weapons aside and pulling her onto his lap. "Tuck's a good man."

"He is," agreed Buffy, combing her fingers through his hair. "You didn't..."

"Tell him what I was?" Angel shook his head. "No, but I think he may suspect. I had him bless our swords."

"Good thinking," said Buffy, shifting so that she could place her head on that spot in his shoulder that seemed made for her.

One of his hands traveled up from its place on her hip to gently caress her long hair. "So what did you occupy yourself with while I was talking with him? Get into any trouble?"

"Answered a few of Robin's questions about us. He wanted to know how we can be together and not overlook our job."

"And what did you tell him?"

"That we'd learned the hard way to cherish what we have while we have it."

"You think he's going to do something about Marion?"

"I hope so," sighed Buffy, placing feather-light kisses right below his ear. "I genuinely like the both of them, and want them to be happy. Marion tries not to show it, but the situation is getting to her."

"Do you think she's going to get fed up?"

Buffy shook her head faintly, arching into his touch as a finger traced down her arm. "I'm not sure. I don't think so. She's so in love with him she's willing to stand the heartache just to be with him." Buffy paused as a low moan escaped her lips at Angel's soft ministrations. "She was telling me about this time when a childhood friend of theirs tried to win her heart by making them think he'd changed his loyalty to Prince John and wanted to help Robin. This friend, Sir Guy, tried to get Robin out of the way, and for a short time, everyone thought Robin had died. She said that she'd almost given into Guy and had been tempted to stay with him, but her heart wouldn't let her."

"Have you ever felt that way?" asked Angel, pulling back to look into her eyes.

"What way?" murmured Buffy, trying to comprehend his meaning through the haze of passion.

"Like it would be easier if you loved someone else?"

Buffy groaned, placing her hands on either side of Angel's face. "This is the last time I'm going to say this. I love you, Angel. I've tried dating other guys, remember? In my misguided attempt at getting a normal life? It doesn't work that way for me. I need someone in my life that understands what I'm facing and fight by my side. I need you, Angel. No one else."

Angel nodded softly, his hands raising to be placed on top of hers. "I think I just need to be told that every once in a while."

"I'll tell you every damn hour if that's what it takes to get it through that thick head of yours that I don't want anyone else."

Angel chuckled, kissing her palms. "I don't think that's necessary. I love you, Buffy McKenna."

Buffy's eyes shot wide open at that, her mouth falling open before giving a happy laugh and throwing her arms around his neck.

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