Disclaimer: Sure I own them, that's the reason all are happy together. But who am I kidding ... so sadly I cannot claim them. Please don't sue.
Rating: see the show? You can read this!
Spoilers: the whole BtVS and Angel-series; the previous stories in these series. You should read them first to understand this one. They can be found at the 'Land of Denial'. Especially for this story: "Gingerbread".
Summary: They go home - right in time!
Feedback: I need it! (Connemara.Scarlets@t-online.de)

"Are you okay?" Angel reached out to his girlfriend, sitting beside him in the car, and took her hand. He could feel the nervousness coming in waves from her. They had decided to go to Sunnydale this morning after finishing an urgent case and she had been distracted since then.

"I am fine," she replied, but the shaky hand the vampire held in his didn't make it very convincing.

"Come on princess," Doyle said from behind them. "I know this isn't going to be fun, but I am sure they'll get over it."

"You are just looking forward to see Cordelia again," Buffy shot back. "I still cannot believe this. You've seen her what five minutes and you cannot stop talking about her ever since."

"You are one to talk," he grinned. "You both should understand these things."

"Believe me, Doyle, I do," Angel told him, squeezing the slayer's hand and giving her a loving smile. "It will be alright, I promise. I will be there all the time."

She smiled back: "Still I am nervous. We should have gone immediately, but thanks to one of your visions we had to work on this stupid case for over two weeks. Banta-demons, I really hope we never come across them again." She turned and gave the half-demon a look.

"I cannot just turn my visions on and off you know, they kinda come as a surprise." Doyle leaned back and crossed his arms in front of his chest. This last case had been tricky and much longer as they'd expected. A bunch of Banta-demons, ugly, slimy looking creatures, had captured the family of an archeologist, who, through his work, had come across an ancient relict. Unfortunately the relict had already been given to a museum where it was kept safely guarded. The demons wanted to trade the relict for the family as it was said to help them to increase their strength. Because he feared for his wife and children the man had been inclined to steal it and give it to them, when one of Doyle's vision's had brought Buffy and Angel on the plan. After a long search and a tough fight they had managed to get to the family and had killed the demons.

The slayer sighed: "I know. I didn't want to complain, we saved a whole family and I am also grateful that Angel has his full strength back, but they suffered enough. It makes me sick they had to think I am dead. I never thought something like that could happen," she looked back at he boyfriend.

"You couldn't know," he tried to comfort her.

"Yeah, but we wouldn't be in this situation if I would have acted more rational, if I had listened to you. You told me I should give them a call, but no, Buffy had to be stubborn. Next time, just hit me!"

"I would never do that," he replied, his voice deep and serious. The mere thought of hurting his love was beyond imagination.

She was about to reply when they passed the Sunnydale-sign and her nervousness grew immediately. She let go of Angel's hand and stared out of the window not seeing the glances her boyfriend and Doyle exchanged. This was going to be a very interesting night.

********

Rupert Giles looked at his watch, it was almost midnight. He felt tired but restless at the same time. The town had calmed down again, he shuddered thinking about Willow, Amy and Linette bound to the stakes to be burnt as witches and slayers. They had been just in time. He had seen Joyce Summers there and as much as he knew that they had been under the influence of a demon he could not help but ask himself how much of the hatred she had shown was real. Her state of mind seemed to become worse and Giles made a mental note to visit her as soon as possible. He didn't know if it would help but someone had at least to try.

He was interrupted in his thoughts by a knock on the door, he frowned. Linette was already in bed, patrol had been boring - taking her word for it. Maybe Faith, he thought. The brunette slayer had left town for two weeks and was expected back any day.

Giles was surprised to see a dark haired man with blue eyes in front of his apartment: "Can I help you, sir?," he asked as politely as possible at that late hour.

"I am sorry to disturb you," the man replied. "And I also know it is kinda late, but this is an urgent business."

The watcher stepped back from the door to let the man in, avoiding to invite him with words. Surprisingly he shook his head: "I do not want to come in. I am only some sort of messenger, to soften the shock if you want to see it that way." He stepped aside and in view came a face that Giles never thought he would see again. All of a sudden he felt his breath was caught in his throat and his hands began to tremble.

"Oh god," was all he was able to whisper.

"Hey Giles," Buffy said, trying a shy smile.

"Buffy! Is that really you?," he said, before stepping outside and embracing her in a tight hug. "You are here, you are alive," he repeated again and again. He felt a rush of joy and relief wash over him.

"I am," she assured him. "And I am so sorry you had to believe I was dead. We had no idea..."

He slightly pulled back: "Where have you been? And why do you say 'we'? I think I do not know your friend?"

Buffy pulled back as well and laughed slightly: "Sorry, this is Doyle. He is a half-demon, but he is a nice guy," she looked back at the Irish man a gave him a smile. I have been in LA, but this is a far too long story to tell in front of your apartment."

"So, do come in," he invited the two persons in front of his door. Doyle stepped in. When Buffy hestitated he looked at her expectantly.

She nervously bit her lower lip: "That would lead us to the 'we'-point. Uhm, there is a third person with us," she said, reaching out with her hand and pulling the man beside her into the light.

Giles' eyes went wide and he let out a short gasp: "Oh god, Angel. I assume it is safe to say he is Angel, right?"

She smiled and nodded: "He is. So if you would invite us in, we could explain."

"Buffy," came Angel's soft voice. The vampire had seen the look of shock on the watcher's face and he had no intention to put pressure on the man his demon had inflicted so much pain on. "Maybe he needs some time. Giles, I understand that ... I can wait in the car." He was about to step back, but Buffy was firmly holding onto his arm.

"No. I thought we agreed. We are an 'us'-package now." She gave him an half-angry glance.Seeing the determined look on her face, he sighed but also gave her a slight smile.

"Of course," Giles had watched their little conversation. He was astonished how easy it was for him to accept Angel again, surprisingly the man standing before him shared only the the slightest resemblence with the cruel demon. "Do come in," he said. "All of you."

*******

Half an hour later they sat in Giles' living-room, gathered around his table. The watcher had made tea and was listening to their story. He looked at Angel:

"So you really went to hell ... and came back?"

The vampire nodded: "Yeah. But it is not really ... hell. It is called demon dimension."

"I know," Giles said, taking another sip of his tea. "Hell is just easier to understand," he smiled. "But I think we can skip the common terms between us. After all we are all experts. This is really extraordinary. And you have been working as private investigators?"

"Sorta," Buffy took another cookie. "We only do special cases, well mostly. Demons, vampires and stuff. And mostly Doyle gets visions so we know where to look for people in need."

Giles nodded: "Buffy, I understand why you needed time, after ... you thought you'd killed Angel, but why didn't you contact us later?"

The slayer looked to the ground: "First I was afraid. You know, that you all would be so angry with me and ... Angel," her gaze fell on her lover. "He was very weak after ... he came back." She looked back at Giles: "You have no idea. Angel tried to tell me I had to call you, but ... I am so sorry," tears welled in her eyes. "And you have to believe me. I didn't know you thought I was dead. We were about to come as soon as we knew but then Doyle had a vision ... I am so terribly sorry." Tears were now running down her cheeks and Angel moved closer to her on the sofa, putting an arm around her shoulder, to give her as much comfort as possible.

"I am not angry, Buffy," Giles assured her. "I am so happy you are alive." He gave her a warm smile and she smiled back, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.

"What the hell is going on here?" a sleepy voice came from the stairs. Linette had woken up by the noises coming from downstairs. She looked at the people in the living room when her slayer senses kicked in. She approached the table pointing at Angel: "You are a vamprie," she exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Yeah, he is. Do you have a problem with that?," Buffy jumped up, standing in front of her still sitting lover, ready to protect him. She looked at Giles: "Who is this?"

The watcher sighed: "Linette, calm down. They are all friends. Buffy, this is Linette, your ... uhm ... replacement."

"Buffy," the young girl asked. "You mean that is Buffy, the dead one."

"I am not dead," the slayer sighed, placing her hands at her hips. "So you are a slayer, hm?"

Linette looked Buffy straight in the eye: "Yes I am. And we were told you are dead."

"Linette, please," Giles tried to intervene. "Why don't you take a seat and listen."

The girl gazed at her watcher, then she nodded and sat herself to his side, while Buffy got back to her lover's side.

"Does she live here?," Angel wanted to know.

"Yes. She is an orphan, so I thought it was the best to have her with me," Giles explained. Linette maybe I should introduce you. You already met Buffy, this is Angel and ... Doyle, right?"

The half-demon nodded: "Alan Francis Doyle, at your service miss." He slightly bowed his head which made Linette giggle. This guy was definitely fun and Angel, wow, now she could understand why the other slayer had fallen for him.

Buffy raised an eyebrow: "Alan Francis? You never told me ... us!"

"There was no reason to tell," Doyle replied. "What is the reason to know my first names when you'll never be in the position to say it lovingly," he teased.

"Doyle," Angel growled at him, but the half demon only shrugged and grinned.

"So... uhm ... Buffy, am I right to assume that you and Angel have been ... uhm ... living together?" Giles felt embarrassed and uncomfortable asking a question like that but it seemed inevitable in this special case.

The slayer nodded: "We have and to answer your next question. There is no danger. The curse is different, no more happiness clause."

"I see," the watcher said, taking his glasses off and rubbing them with his shirt. Putting them back on he said with a warm smile: "I am so glad you are back for good now!"

Buffy looked to the ground, she had dreaded this more than anything, because she knew she had to disappoint them again. It had been one of the reasons she had avoided coming back.

Sensing her discomfort, Angel reached out and squeezed her hand, then he looked at the watcher: "Giles, as much as we would like, we cannot stay. We are needed in LA, well at least I am needed there, I have a duty to fulfill. But Buffy and I have discussed this and she is not willing to leave me."

The slayer smiled at him gratefully: "Giles, I am sorry. But I do not want to be separated from him again. Besides, we are helping a lot of people. I do not want to give it up and as you have a slayer in Sunnydale...," she trailed off.

"But what about school?," the watcher wanted to know. "And you are still underaged."

She smiled: "Only for another week and I will go back to school in LA, Angel and I have already talked about it. I will take evening classes next year as our patrols start around midnight. Vampires have a different life-style in a big city, I would have never guessed, how different they could be from the ones in Sunnydale. It's a little bit like the people."

"But you will stay here for some days? I mean you have to tell the others you are back. You will, won't you?" Giles looked at her nervously and made a sigh of relief when she nodded:

"We will. Of course the others have to know I am alive. And I have to see my mom." When she saw the shaddow clouding the watcher's face she felt a knot forming in her gut. "What is it, Giles? Is she...?," she did not finish the sentence, to afraid to ask the question.

"No, no, she is fine," he assured quickly, knowing what her question would have been. "Physically she is fine. But she is not able to deal with your death. To be frank, she is not able to deal with the whole situation. She still cannot accept you were ... are a slayer. Honestly I am not sure, how she is going to take this, especially you and Angel. She has become very bitter."

Another tear rolled down Buffy's cheek: "I caused this pain," she whispered.

"No," Giles interrupted her. "It is not your fault. She just. She cannot deal with reality. She wants her dream, a nice normal daughter, someday happily married and some children. She is angry with the fate. She feels betrayed, because all the dreams of her life seem to slip from her hands."

"He is right, love," Angel said beside her. He cupped her face in his right hand. "Don't punish yourself for that. You did not choose to become the slayer. If your mother really loves you, she will accept you the way you are. And I know she loves you very much. Maybe she will be angry first, but I am sure given time she'll come around."

"I love you," she whispered, giving him a short gentle kiss, then she looked back to Giles: "He always knows the right thing to say."

"It seems," the watcher smiled. "I never thought I would say that again, but I am glad you are here with her, Angel. She needs you. I think you are the only person who can understand her completely."

If he had circulation, the vampire would have blushed. He felt embarrassed by the fact that the man he had wronged so much would treat him like a friend. "I ... I don't know what to say."

"Then don't," Giles replied firmly. "There is nothing to say. I can see it in your eyes that you feel guilty, but you are not the demon. You had no control over your body when he used it."

"I know," Angel told him. "But I share the memories and it is hard to deal with." He took a deep breath: "But helping people and saving some souls is a way to make amends."

"Ya know man, this is all very nice, but I get really tired," Doyle interrupted the others.

Giles looked at his watch: "We should all get some sleep. Why don't we meet tomorrow after sunset in the library. I am calling the others, so they will be there. What do you think?"

"A good idea," Buffy nodded. "We will be there."

"Where are you staying?" the watcher wanted to know.

"What about Spike and Drusilla?" Angel asked suddenly.

Everyone stared at him: "Why do you want to know?" Giles asked back.

"I just thought, we could probably stay in the mansion at Crawford street. But only if they are gone." Buffy had told him about her deal with Spike but as his childe was anything but trustworthy they could not be sure he would stick to the plan.

"They left after ... but Spike, he came back," the watcher explained. "He kidnapped Xander and Willow."

"Oh god," the slayer gasped.

"Nothing happened ... well he didn't kill them or anything. He wanted Willow to do a lovespell for him. Obviously Drusilla left him and he wanted to get her back."

"Dru left him?," Angel asked with a grin on his face. "Poor Spike." Buffy shot him a look but could not help but giggle herself. A real vampire love drama, she thought, who would have guessed.

"However. Oz and Cordelia rescued the others, while Spike was away. After that he disappeared." Giles didn't feel it was his place to explain the other things that had happened during Spike's short visit.

"So the mansion should be abandoned," the vampire said. "Then we are going to stay there. It's lots of space and is vampire proof."

"Good. So we meet you tomorrow night."

The group stood up and Giles showed them to the door. Buffy gave him a quick hug and he squeezed her back. The first time in months he had the feeling everything would be alright again.

When he closed the door he looked at Linette who smiled. He could not help but smile back. Buffy was home.

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