Chapter 20

The moment she slipped in her bedroom Angel began to stirr and then blinked. She quickly moved to the bed and sat down by his side.

"Buffy," he said, taking her hand.

She smiled down at him, "Hey," she said gently and kissed him on the forehead. "Are you any better?"

"Hmmm," he replied and rubbed his eyes with his free hand, then reached out to cup her cheek and caressed her skin with his thumb. "I love you," he told her.

"I love you too," she returned and kissed the thumb that was tracing her lips now.

He closed his eyes for a moment, "It was really hard," he said finally. "I knew her such a long time. I knew her as a human girl. A beautiful, human girl. And I was responsible for what happened to her." When he saw her starting to protest, he laid his thumb over her lips. "I know it was my demon who did the deed, Buffy. But the pictures, the memories, are inside here," he pointed at his head. "I know everything. For me it doesn't really matter who was in charge then. Drusilla didn't earn what happened to her. She was innocent and sweet. What haunts me most at the moment is that I have no idea what's going to happen to her where she is now."

"She wanted to go there," Buffy tried to remind him.

"I know. But she is insane. She had no idea what she was doing, what she was wishing for. She had no idea what was going to happen to her once the portal was opened."

"It was the world or Drusilla," the slayer said stroking his cheek with the back of her hand. "You sacrificed her for mankind."

"I know," he sighed and sat up. "But that doesn't change the guilt I feel. This wouldn't have happened if she hadn't been made a vampire in the first place." He rubbed his forehead. "But I will have to live with it, won't I."

"I guess," she replied in a small voice, feeling helpless. So she decided to change the subject, "Do you want coffee? Mom's made some and if you want to come down I could pull the curtains."

"Alright," he said and tried a half-smile. "Just let me take a shower and dress, okay?" He leaned to her and kissed her again.

She squeezed his hand and then left the room.

*Angel - due to the daylight - stayed with Joyce when Buffy left an hour later to visit Giles at the hospital. His hand was in a thick plaster and his face was black and blue but he smiled when the slayer entered his room.

"Buffy, so good to see you."

"How are you?" she asked him and sat down on the chair beside his bed.

"I'm fine. This," he nodded at his plaster, "is just temporary. It'll heal in no time." He studied the blond's face for a moment. "Xander told me it was Angel who sent Drusilla and Acathla to hell."

"Yes," she nodded.

"And how is he holding up?"

Buffy had to fight the tears in her eyes, "He would be very moved if he would've heard you asking," she said and sniffed. "But to answer your question, he's been better. He had a terrible night, full of nightmares and ...," she shook her head. "I held him," she shrugged, "there's nothing else I could do. Just hold him and tell him that I loved him."

"It's hard to see the ones you love suffer," Giles told her with an understanding smile.

"Yeah," she sighed.

"You seem ... very close again. Not only physically, I mean. You already told me that, but in your hearts, your souls."

"We are," she replied. "Or I hope so. I think he really opens up more now. He trusts me. He doesn't expect me to reject him anymore by hearing about his past."

He had to smile, "Who would've thought that a vampire and a slayer would make such a couple."

"Tell me about it," she laughed, "sometimes I still can hardly believe it. But after losing him, I still could only think of him, his eyes, his arms, the way his presence was protecting me like a blanket. I made a vow, that if I should ever get the chance to be with him again, what I thought would be impossible at that time, I would never let him go." Wiping her tears away, she laughed again. "God, look at me. I'm pouring my soul out to you."

"You both have gone through a lot," Giles took her hand and squeezed it. "And considering everything it might be for the best. You would only endanger a normal boyfriend, not that a boyfriend did ever enter the concept of a slayer in the first place."

"Maybe the council needs to rewrite the handbook someday," she suggested. "Time changes and habits do. Slayers date, even vampires," she added with a little laugh. "Willow always said Angel was perfect for me."

"Willow is helplessly romantic," Giles said on a sigh. "But this time she might have been smarter than everyone."

"Another thing," Buffy changed the subject. "I saw Dru kneeling in front of you, down there. What did she do?"

"I'm not quite sure," he slightly shook his head. "I believe she hypnotizised me. She made me believe it was Jenny I was talking to and I told her about the reviving ritual we had found out about. It was ... very strange." He frowned, "I even thought I felt Jenny kissing me. Very strange indeed."

Buffy averted her eyes and coughed slightly remembering the passionate kiss between the vampiress and her watcher but not daring to tell him. "Yes ... uhm ... did she torture you?"

"No," he shook his head. "That was Spike. He enjoyed it a lot. Talking about him, what happened to him? Do you know?"

"No," the slayer replied. "I have no idea. We were all looking at Angel and Drusilla, then we heard a scream. It was a horrible sound and when we looked there he was gone."

"So he could still be alive?" Giles' gaze was concerned.

"Probably."

"That's not good," he said after a moment. "He was very ... obsessed with Drusilla. So maybe he could be looking for revenge."

She gasped, "You think..."

He nodded, "Yes. And if Angel is the one who killed Drusilla, he is the one Spike will be looking for. You all need to be very careful."

"We will be," she assured him. "But we don't even know where he is. So maybe you're freaking for nothing." But inwardly she began to shiver. She didn't want for Angel to be in danger. And if this was about Spike and Drusilla he would be in mortal danger.

"Where is Angel by the way?" Giles asked.

"At home with my mom," seeing his surprised gaze she said, "we told her everything last night. It was Angel's idea and I'm glad. She took it really well. Buch better than I expected. But she wants to talk to you too."

"Any time," he patted her hand. "Maybe you should go back to him now. He'll be waiting for you."

"Yes, you're right," she replied and stood. "When will they let you go?"

"Tomorrow," he informed her.

"Oz will be back then, maybe he can come with his van. See you then," she said with a last smile before leaving the room again.

Chapter 21

The next weeks in Sunnydale were uncommonly quiet. Vampire activity was low, probably due to the Acathla-incident and Buffy's patrols would've been boring if it hadn't been for Angel going with her. He was recovering slowly from the events of that fateful night and Joyce got more and more used to the dark-haired vampire staying at her house during night-time, sometimes even during the days. When Buffy was with Angel at his apartment, her mother bit her tongue and didn't say a word, somehow sensing she mustn't interfere with their relationship.

Giles was released from the hospital and while he was still wearing the plaster Angel took over Buffy's training and so the three of them often spent the evenings at the library where the watcher was overviewing the training-sessions of vampire and slayer and Buffy was only too happy to see how the two most important men in her life seemed to become almost friends. When they were not training the vampire was only too eager to help with research or spent some time telling Giles about events he had himself lived through and the watcher was filling more and more pages in the 'Angelus and Angel Chronicles' he had started writing. It was to become the most detailed script about the life of a vampire.

All in all life was better than it had been for long and everyone began to relax.

It was Thursday and Angel was walking Buffy home as he did each night now when suddenly a bunch of about ten vampires encircled them. Strangely they didn't attack immediately. One of them who seemed to be their leader tilted his head, "What a nice picture," his voice sounded sarcastically through the night, "I didn't want to believe it. The slayer and her vampire pet. Sorry to disturb your evening, but there's someone who wants to talk to you both."

Buffy and Angel stood back to back, ready to fight whatever was coming but they go no chance as two bolts were hitting them and their worlds went black.

****

Buffy woke up to a burning ache in her shoulder where the bolt had penetrated her skin. Trying to move she found herself chained to a wall. It was only seconds later when the door opened and light illuminated the former dark chamber.

"Slayer," a very well known British voice came from outside and then the blond vampire entered the room, a smile playing on his lips.

"Spike," Buffy's eyes went wide. "What the hell do you want?"

"What I want?" he raised a brow. "What do you think?" his smile faded and was exchanged by an expression of pure hatred, "I should've known you'd forget about it that easily. Well, I can't," he hissed. "I will never forget."

"If you're talking about your loony girlfriend...," she began, but couldn't speak any further when Spike backhanded her roughly and her head snapped around. Recovering quickly she felt blood in her mouth. "It was her own fault," she added, swallowing the coppery fluid.

"Her own fault," he echoed angrily. "No," he shook his head. "It was the fault of your nice boyfriend. *He* made her, he drove her mad, it's his fault."

"Don't you think he knows that," she shouted, blinking the tears away. "Don't you think he suffers because he had to do this to her?"

"I really don't give a damn if he suffers or not, in my book he hasn't nearly suffered enough," a smirk played around his mouth, "you have no idea what he and Dru did, have you?" he began, enjoying the shock in her eyes. Leaning against the wall he crossed his arms and watched her face, "Just think about it. I was in a wheel-chair and Dru is ... was ... a very passionate woman. And she always had the hots for him."

"You mean...," Buffy swallowed hard. She didn't want to show the hurt she felt, but she couldn't help it. Angel and Dru ... the mental image made her nauseous.

"Of course," he grinned evilly. "And they were anything but quiet. The moaning and groaning sounded everywhere in the factory and the mansion. It was sickening and I couldn't do anything because you put me into that damned wheelchair."

Remembering that it had been Angelus then and not her Angel, Buffy took a deep breath, "It was the demon who was with Dru," she told Spike, "Angel had nothing to do with it and you know that." Suddenly it hit her, "Where is he?" she demanded, panic entering her voice. "What did you do to him?"

"You'd like to know that, wouldn't you?" he pushed himself off of the wall and stepped closer. "He killed my godess, my love. We were meant to be together forever and he took her away from me."

"What did you do to him?" she asked again, swallowing a sob.

"Nothing," he replied, surprising her. "So far that is. You can calm down. We never intended to hurt you. Not tonight anyway. And Angel," he licked his lips in anticipation, "we will bring him to a nice place. A very nice place indeed. Not far away from here. Then we close all the doors and just leave him on his own."

"What...," her mouth was suddenly dry, somehow knowing that there was something esle.

"Don't worry about yourself," he said turning towards the door. "I'm sure your friends will find you... as soon as the sun is up." Reaching the door he stopped again and looked at her over his shoulder, "Oh, I forgot to tell you, the house Angel will be has windows, nice, large windows ... and there are absolutely no curtains." With that he closed the door behind him.

"Angel," Buffy cried and tried to free herself from the chains holding her. "Nooo, Spike," she shouted only to hear his laughter when he and his minions left her helpless.

*****

Angel had no idea where they were going. The only thing he knew was that he was sitting in a car and that he had been blindfolded. Spike hadn't talked to him directly and Angel knew his grand-childe well enough not to ask for Buffy. But he was sure she was still alive, because he just knew that he would feel it if she wasn't.

After a while the car stopped and he was roughly pulled out and the blindfold was removed. He could see a large, old building in front of him.

"Now, peaches," Spike came around the car, "how do you like it?" he asked, nodding at the house. "Nice, isn't it? It'll be yours," he suddenly laughed, "for the next," he glanced at his watch, "three hours. Then," he shrugged and laughed even harder. He turned to his minions, "Get him inside," he ordered. "Oh, by the way, you never asked about your little slayer."

Angel stopped and slowly turned his head, "Buffy?" he finally managed to ask.

"Not here," Spike answered with a grin, "but then, you've guessed that much. She's," he shrugged again, "I made her happy, if you know what I mean. Really, really happy," he raised his brow suggestively, making it very clear what he meant.

"You will hate the day you were born," his grand-sire's eyes flashed yellow.

"Oh, I don't know," the blond vampire grinned, "I only thought it was fair, you know, you had Dru and I...," he trailed off.

"I will kill you," Angel hissed at him and struggled against his captors, trying to kick into Spike's direction.

"Hardly," his grand-childe stepped back from him. "For one you will be dust in a few hours and now, get him inside."

The vampires obeyed instantly and Angel was pulled into the house and chained to the wall. The chains were newly installed and he was sure it had been Spike's doing. He seemed to have planned all this for a while.

Angel didn't struggle anymore when they bound him to the wall, his head was filled with images of Buffy being tortured and abused by Spike and he wanted to cry out in pain.

"Enjoy the sunrise," Spike smirked and gestured his minions to follow him. "I'd say it was nice knowing you," he said before leaving the house, "but it'd be a lie and as you know, lying is a sin." He laughed and then he was gone.

"Buffy," Angel leaned his head against the wall, closing his eyes. "Oh God, Buffy, I'm so sorry," he whispered, grief and guilt almost overwhelming him. "Forgive me."

Chapter 22

Buffy had stopped struggling against her chains. Her wrists were bloody and torn from her fruitless fight the hours ago. Now she was just standing and staring at the little window above her where the sky was getting lighter, announcing the new day and with it the sunlight. The sunlight that would kill the man she loved.

A sob escaped her throat. Where was he, she wondered? Was he thinking of her? Was he afraid? She almost had to laugh at that thought. Of course he wasn't. He was probably hoping she was alright, it would be so Angel not to think of himself. She vowed that Spike would pay for this. She would make him pay for what he had done, and he would never forget not to mess with a slayer. It had been a fault not to kill her she decided. Last time he had ended up in a wheelchair, well, this time, he would not be able to stand up again after she was finished with him.

She was pretty sure that she was in the basement of the old factory, the one that had burned down the night Angelus had killed Jenny Calender. How would anyone find her here? Again her gaze flickered to the window above and she could see the faintest hints of red. Even if they would find her now it would be too late for Angel. She had no idea where they had taken him to, no idea where to start their search. She didn't even realised that tears were streaming down her face when she heard a faint noise from above.

Only seconds later the door was pushed open and a flashlight iluminated the room. "Buffy?"

"Willow!," the slayer cried, recognizing her best friend's voice.

"Giles," the red-head yelled while running towards Buffy, "She's here. Xander, Oz, she's here."

"Buffy," Giles stepped into the room. "Are you alright," he asked instantly.

"I'm fine," she cried almost hysterically, "Get these off  me, get these off me," she repeated again and agian, rattling the chains holding her to the wall. "We need to find Angel. He'll kill Angel."

Willow and the watcher exchanged a quick glance, then Giles asked, "Where is he? What happened?"

"I don't know," the slayer replied desperately, "Spike's men attacked us, then I woke up here. He said he'd bring Angel to a house with large windows and no curtains," the last word was merely a sob. "We need to find him - quick."

The same minutes the chains clicked and her hands were free, but nobody seemed to move. Irritatedly she looked at them, "Come on, we need to get going."

Xander who'd entered the room some minutes ago, shook his head sadly and nodded towards the window where the morning sun was shining into the room.

****

Angel had been feeling the sunrise approaching for quite some time. He'd tried to free himself from the chains, even if only to hunt Spike down and kill him for what he had done to Buffy. Buffy. The thought of her sent a stabbing pain through his heart. To think that Spike ... He shuddered at the mere thought. God, what he would give to see her once again. To see her smile, to feel her soft skin to hear her voice.

He was so deep in thoughts that he almost jumped out of his skin when suddenly a well known voice said,  "Angel, my friend. Seems you got yourself into some trouble."

"Whistler," the vampire whispered disbelievingly.

"Yeah. Who else has to save you all the time. First from becoming the New York rat's worst nightmare and now from a horrible flamy death," the demon sighed and bent down to look into Angel's face. "I fear I can't open these chains, they are magically altered."

Angel rolled his eyes, "Oh great. So what? You're going to stand here and watch me burning?"

"No need to be sarcastic, my friend," Whistler slightly shook his head. "Actually it won't be necessary. There's some message I have to give you. From the Higher Powers. As I told you Acathla was your destiny. In preventing the demon to swallow mankind into hell you fulfilled said destiny." The demon turned away from the vampire for a moment and looked around, "Nice setting. I think Spike's becoming inventive."

At the mention of his grand-childe Angel's eyes flashed yellow and the anger he felt suppressed any other motion in him. "Spike," he hissed. "He's going to pay for this."

"Oh, oh, my boy. Don't you forget something. You're still a vampire and sunrise is only minutes away," Whistler leaned his back against the wall and crossed his arms.

The vampire looked at him irritatedly, "You said you came to save me."

"Oh, wow, ten points for the bloodsucker," the demon exclaimed. "So you *have* been listening to me!"

"Don't push your luck," Angel growled.

"Look who's talking," Whistler said with a grin, nodding at the chains. Then he sighed, "Well, it's nice teasing you, but even this is only interesting for a while. So let's get to business." He pushed himself off of the wall and clapped his hands. Behind him a figure materialized in a sort of mist. She wore a white, floor-length dress, her long black hair was falling freely down to her bottom.

"May I introduce. This is Siobhan," the demon said with a bow.

"The sorceress?" Angel asked in awe, remembering the name of the woman.

"The very same," Siobhan smiled and stepped forward. "I'm here to prepare you for your reward."

"Now you've both been talking about my reward," the vampire replied narrowing his eyes. "What *is* this reward?"

"Did I forget to mention it," Whistler shook his head in mocked suprise. "The reward is humanity. The moment the sun will rise you're going to be human, my friend. If our lovely friend her knows how to do her job, that is."

****

Buffy sat in the backseat of Oz's van, her face was expressionless, her eyes showed so much despair and pain that Willow had to bite her lip not to cry out loud. The slayer hadn't talked since they'd left the factory, she had refused to let her friends look after her wrists, she was just sitting there and staring into the rising sun.

They were driving to the house Angel was supposed to be in. Giles and Willow had stopped at the vampire's apartment to get something belonging to him and used it for a location spell. The question was, would they find Angel or just his ashes?

Suddenly Willow touched Oz's shoulder, "Over there," she pointed at an old wooden building with large windows. "It has to be there."

"Are you sure?" her boyfriend asked.

"The spell says it's the house," she replied and gazed at Giles who nodded in confirmation and slightly touched Buffy's shoulder. She almost jumped out of her skin. Her body was tense and her eyes huge in her pale face.

The moment the car stopped she was out of the door and ran towards the house, when suddenly a painful scream sounded through the morning air.

Chapter 23

"Angel," the cry tore from Buffy's throat. Without looking at her friends who seemed frozen in shock she ran towards the entrance of the old house, shouting over her shoulder, "Bring whatever you can to cover him," and disappeared inside.

*

And then she saw him. His hands were chained to the wall, his clothes torn and bloody, his whole body trembling and again he cried out in what only could be pain. Yet she couldn't move. She was frozen on the spot and could only stare at him.

Xander and Willow who were the first to follow her inside almost colided with the unmoving form of the slayer.

"What?" the red-head asked slightly shaking the blond's shoulder.

"Look," she replied in awe and pointed at the vampire.

There he was, looking dreadful but he was also lying in full sunlight and it was only too visible that he didn't burn.

"Angel," the slayer whispered, cautiously stepping closer, finally reaching him and kneeling down, but not daring to touch him. "Angel," Buffy repeated his name and slowly reached out to touch him. The moment her hand touched his, his fingers gripped her hand and squeezed, almost painfully.

He wanted to talk to her, but pain ripped through him in waves, threatening to consume him, eating at him. Pain, he hadn't known before. He remembered Darla's words from so long ago, 'Birth is always painful', she'd said and by God, she was right. Squeezing Buffy's hand even harder, he held on to her, the warmth of her hand, the pulse he felt his only lifeline through the mist of pain.

He cried out again, not able to stop the sound. He hated himself for it, hated that it would frighten her. The woman he loved, the woman who had suffered from Spike's hand. Buffy, he wanted to shout, but his throat had closed up, the words stuck inside of him.

More pain.

More hot waves.

He heard her voice again, whispering, crying, shouting. But he was too far away to react. He felt his hands go limp and then blessed unconsciousness surrounded him.

*

"Angel, no," Buffy shouted the moment she felt the life slip from his hands. Her grip on him becaming harder, "Stay with me, please Angel," she cried, tears spilling from her eyes. She was completely unaware of her friends standing behind her or of Willow who was kneeling beside her now.

"Buffy," a tentative hand touched the slayer's shoulder. "What happened?"

"Giles," the blond's voice sounded urgent. She ignored the red-head at her side, for she couldn't tear her gaze away from what she was seeing right in front of her, but wasn't able to proceed.

"What?" the watcher asked and stepped closer.

"Tell me, I'm not imagining it," she said.

"Buffy," Giles voice was compassionate. He didn't understand what was going on, he had expected the vampire to burst into flames, but he was sure he had died. He put a hand on the slayer's other shoulder,exchanging a worried glance with Willow in the process. "Buffy, I'm sorry," he said.

"Sorry?" she asked confused. "No, I don't want you to be sorry. Look," she pointed at Angel's chest and Giles and Willow almost did a double-take.

"Oh my God," the watcher whispered in disbelief.

"Oh...," was all the young witch could breathe.

"What is happening?" Xander demanded from behind, then gasped when he noticed what the others already had.

The vampire's, or was he even a vampire anymore, Xander wondered, chest was moving in a steady rythm.

"Angel," the slayer whispered in awe and hesitantly touched his chest. She almost flinched at the unfamiliar warmth radiating from his skin. And there was something else. Buffy moved her hand a little bit and put it over his heart. "How?" she asked, looking at Giles. "He breathes, he is warm and ... and he even has a heartbeat," she told her stunned friends. "Giles, how is this possible?"

"I...," the watcher shook his head and cleared his throat, like the others he was overwhelmed by what he was watching. Watching with his own eyes, yet he still wasn't able to completely trust them.

"I'll be damned," Oz rubbed the back of his neck.

"Does that mean, he is human?" the witch wanted to know. "Or what is he?"

Giles stared into four pairs of expectant eyes and all he could do was shake his head. "I have ... no idea," he said after a moment. "Maybe he'll be waking up soon and be able to tell us. Honestly, I have never..." he shook his head again.

"But ... but he was in pain," Buffy held Angel's hand still in hers, stroking the palm with her thumb. "Maybe Spike did something to him ..."

"Buffy."

Five heads snapped around.

"Buffy," Angel repeated and tried to open his eyes. His lids were as if made of lead, but after a moment he managed to blink.

"Angel," she whispered, leaning over him and stroking his face. "What happened?"

"Are you alright?" he asked urgently, ignoring her question.

"I'm fine," she assured him.

"Spike," he whispered, his tongue barely working. He felt so tired, so beat.

"What about Spike?" Buffy wanted to know.

"He ... he said he," he swallowed, suddenly realising that they weren't alone in the room. "Did he do anything?"

"You mean anything besides talking nonsense?" she asked drily. "No."

"Thank God, he lied," he closed his eyes for a moment, squeezing her hand.

"Can you tell us what happened to you? We already noticed you're breathing, and Buffy says you've got a heartbeat," Giles kneeled down beside Willow and his slayer.

Angel licked his dry lips and forced his tongue to move, "Whistler," he whispered hoarsly, "he ... he came and said ...," he felt dizzy and tired and had to gather all his strength to continue. "Siobhan...,"

"The sorceress?" Willow's eyes widened. "I thought she was only a legend."

"She's real," Angel assured her. "She did something and with the ... sunlight made me ... human," his voice was fading. God, he wanted to sleep for days. "My reward ...", then he suddenly remembered something, "Willow ... chains magically," he told her, "you need ... beet-root and ... rat-eye ... to free...," with his last reserves he looked at his girlfriend. "Buffy ... love you." And then his head fell back.

"Angel!," she shouted in panic.

"He's alright," Giles's comforting hand squeezed the slayer's shoulder.

"But ..."

"I assume, it took a lot of his strength to undergo such a ... process. Look, he's breathing steadily. We can only guess, but I would say he's just asleep. Completely exhausted," the watcher reached out and checked the ex-vampire's pulse. "Steady and strong. No need to worry. We should get the ingredients to open his bonds and then get him into a bed," he looked at Willow.

"Oz," she turned to her boyfriend. "Could you drive me to the magic shop." She smiled reassuringly at the slayer. "We'll be back soon and then we'll get him into his bed."

Chapter 24

The first thing Angel saw when he opened his eyes again was Buffy sitting on a chair at his bed, her head at her chest she was asleep. A smile crept over his face in seeing her like this. He tried to move his head and groaned from the pain this little movement caused. He had hated to be a vampire, but honestly, there had been some advantages to it ...

"Angel, you're awake," Buffy's relieved voice interrupted his thoughts. She leaned forward and stroked his cheek, "how do you feel?"

"As if run over by a truck," he admitted with a loopsided smile. "God, I hurt allover."

"I'm sorry," she kissed him softly. "Yesterday I thought I'd lost you," she told him with a trembling in her voice. "When Spike told me..."

"Spike," Angel hissed, hatred entering his eyes. "Buffy, I didn't want to ask you ..." suddenly it hit him. "What do you mean yesterday?"

She smiled gently when she replied, "Yes, yesterday. You've slept almost 36 hours," she informed him.

"36 hours," he stared at her disbelievingly, then remembered what he'd started to say, "about Spike, he told me ...," he had to swallow before being able to continue speaking, "he said, he ... raped you," he choked on the last words.

"NO," came her quick and shocked reply. "He didn't do anything like that. Oh, Angel, he said it to torture you."

"I know, I know now," he replied, squeezing her hand, "but before, yesterday, I didn't. I didn't want to believe him, but ...," his voice broke and he had to clear his throat. "To think he had his hands on you ... it made me sick."

"I'm fine. He just chained me to a wall and left me in the basement of the old factory. It's you we were concerned about," she ran a hand through his hair, "I still can't believe this. You could only tell fragments yesterday. What happened?"

"It's so unreal," he said after a moment. "Just before I expected to burst into flames Whistler appeared and explained I was going to become human. It was my reward for preventing Acathla to swallow mankind into the demon's dimension."

"So this is real?" she asked, anxiously waiting for his answer.

"Yeah," he replied with a smile. "It is. I'm human," he shook his head and a laugh escaped his throat, "Just think about it, Buffy. I'm human, uuuuh," he winced at the pain in his body. "And it hurts like hell," he added with a lopsided grin. "But Whistler already told me that much."

"So you're just human now, like ... Xander?"

"No," Angel emphatically shook his head, "not like Xander. Never ... like Xander."

She had to laugh at that. "Okay, so ... like ... Giles?"

He grinned, "Not entirely. I'm more like ... you."

"Me?" she looked at him with wide eyes. "But ... I'm the slayer, I have super-powers and stuff and ..."

His warm hand on hers stopped her rambling, "Yes, I know. And I have them too. I was made human, but kept my strength and my advanced healing abilities. What did Siobhan say, I'm going to be the first male slayer or something like that. She said we were destined to be together and I wouldn't be of any help if I was just plain human."

"Wow," she breathed, then giggled. "Now I begin to sound like Willow," she explained seeing the question in his eyes. "Destined to be together," she smiled, "sounds good to me. I was scared Angel," she admitted suddenly. "I think I was never so scared before in my life. The way from the factory to the old house ...," her voice faltered.

Angel gritted his teeth against the pain and sat up, "But I'm here," he told her gently and pulled her over on the bed and in his arms. "And I'm with you. We're together."

"You feel strange," she said a after a while, her head leaning against his bare shoulder, "so warm."

"Hmmm," he replied, "it feels pretty amazing."

"It will change many things, won't it?" she asked after another silence.

"I suppose," he sighed and pulled her closer. "I can go into the sunlight now," he began, "I can eat food," he laughed, "real food. I can even enjoy a real dinner with your mother. And we need to go to a drugstore," he added with a grin.

"Drugstore?" she frowned and looked up.

"Hmmm," he gave her a pointed look and after a moment she understood.

"Oh ... yeah," she smiled sheepishly. "*So* not wanting to become a teenage-mother," she said. "I could use the pill though," she added.

"We'll see. It's not dangerous at the moment," he admitted. "I still hurt too much to do anything, but lay here and hold you."

"Good," she sighed.

"Good?" he asked incredulously and raised a brow.

"Well good for now," she amended, "you know, with me not being on the pill ... yet and no ... uhm ... condoms ... around."

He chuckled, "Yeah, I guess."

"Giles wants to talk to you of course," she told him after a moment. "He's dying to know what happened to you. To say it in his words, 'Buffy that's unprecedented'." They both laughed at that. "He said to call him as soon as you wake up," she cuddled closer. "But," she sighed, "I intend to let him wait some more. What about you?"

He faked a yawn, "I feel suddenly tired."

"Me too," she grinned. "Giles will have to wait until tomorrow."

"Yeah," he replied and caught her lips with his.

Chapter 25

The telephone woke them up in the morning. Angel chuckled seeing Buffy pulling a pillow over hear head and reached over her body at the receiver. "Yes?"

"Angel. It's Giles," the watcher said at the other end of the line. "How are you?"

"Fine," the ex-vampire replied. "It seems I just needed sleep."

"That's good to hear. I suppose Buffy is still with you?" Giles asked.

"Yeah, still asleep. She isn't really a morning sort of slayer," he grinned when she punched him playfully in his thigh. "Anyway. How can I help you?"

"Could you both come to the library in about an hour. I think we all need to talk. Something occured last night ... regarding Spike."

"I see," the ex-vampire was instantly serious. "We'll be there. See you then." With this he hung up.

Buffy finally managed to open one eye, "Giles?"

"Uh-huh," he nodded and grinning ruffled her hair.

"Hey," she protested and slowly sat up in bed, "and how am I going to look presentable?" she asked looking around, "still no mirrors."

"You look beautiful," he assured her and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

"To you maybe," she sighed, "you're hardly the person to trust in these matters. Anyway. What did he want?"

"To see us at the library," Angel sobered instantly, "Something occured tonight concerning Spike."

"Spike?" she asked in sudden alarm. "Is he going to go after you again?"

He shrugged, rolling from the bed, "Don't know, but he'll certainly tell us. Buffy," he added in seeing her concerned gaze, "it's daylight at the moment. Besides I still have my strength and this time we will be on guard. No way he will get to us like that again."

"He hates you for sending Drusilla to hell," she reminded him and wanted to kick herself the very same second. The flash of pain in his eyes was so deep, so strong, it was clenching her heart. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, "I..."

He held up a hand, "It's okay."

"No," she protested. "It's not. On her knees she closed the gab between them and took his hands. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it. You really don't need me to add anything to you feeling guilty." She planted a kiss on both hands and then deeply looked into his eyes. "I freaked for a moment. I'm afraid," she admitted a little bit embarrassed, "Spike almost succeeded in killing you."

"But I'm still here," he replied sequeezing her hands, "Spike won't win. We won't let him. And now," he looked down at himself, "I really need to have a bath and some new clothes, as do you for that matter," he added with a pointed nod.

"Are you suggesting I smell?" she raised an eyebrow at him.

"No," he replied quickly, "but I'm not sure if you want to face Xander in rumpled clothes and let him suggest about what we were doing."

"Oh," she said, her eyes becoming wide with understanding, "OH! Shower is good. Very good." She let go of his hands and jumped from the bed.

"We could do it together," he proposed.

"Together?" she grinned, "Well ... still no condomes around."

His answering grin was definitely devlish, "There are lots of things you can do without it - especially in a shower."

"Oh?" she raised another brow, her eyes shining with anticipation."Just wait and see," he said and began to unbutton his shirt.

****

They were late for their appointment with Giles at the library and somehow their "I'm sorry" didn't sound very honest. The English watcher just raised a brow and sighed silently. "Good to see you at last," he replied and motioned them to sit down. "I didn't call the others so far as I wanted to talk to you in private."

"That bad?" Buffy grimaced and took Angel's hand.

"No ... well, yes," Giles closed the book he was reading in and took off his glasses to clean them with his white handkerchief. "By the way, I went to see you mother, Buffy."

"Oh God," the slayer paled, "I totally forgot about her."

"I know," the watcher gave her a warm smile. "There were other things on your mind," he quickly glanced at Angel and inwardly kicked himself not to stare at him as he was sitting in bright sunlight. He was incredibly pale and if it hadn't been for his powerful movements when he and Buffy had stepped into the library, one would think he was ill.

"What did you tell her?"

"With her knowing about vampires and all it wasn't really difficult. I told her about Angel turning human and she," he had to clear his throat and blushed slightly, "she ... er ... wanted me to remind you that ... well," he looked at them pointedly.

"We will," the ex-vampire bit his cheek to suppress a grin, but Buffy giggled softly beside him.

"Well. Yes.," Giles put his glasses back on, "I didn't tell her about the part where you were chained up in the factory. She also wants you to call her as soon as possible. Anyway. Coming back to the reason I summoned you. Last night a techno party at an old warehouse found a sudden ending when a bunch of vampires began to suck the guests dry."

"Oh my God," the slayer said and exchanged a glance with her boyfriend.

"There's no proof it were Spike's minions, none of the surviving guests told something about a peroxide blond man and Spike isn't one to be overlooked," the watcher continued his story. "But somehow I have the feeling he's behind this, I suppose he thinks with Angel dead he has to show who's the real leader in Sunnydale now."

Chapter 26

Unexpectedly the next weeks in Sunnydale after the vampire attack at the party were quiet and uneventful. Buffy and Angel patroled each night, slayed one or two vamps, but they were mostly fledgings and none of them had any news about Spike or his whereabouts.

Gradually everyone relaxed. Although they knew that Spike would probably come back, the more weeks went by the more the blonde vampire seemed like a far away threat, nothing worse than the other things slayer and ex-vampire had to deal with on a regular basis.

Angel's and Buffy's relationship developed into something more comfortable. With him not being a vampire anymore, they were together a lot. He was a constant guest in the house at Revello Drive and Mrs. Summers grew quite fond of him. Buffy couldn't say what made her mother like him so much, the way his 18th century manners always shone through, the amount of knowledge he had about art or the way he seemed to sense whenever his help was needed.

Whatever it was, she decided she wouldn't look a gift horse into its mouth. Why asking questions when her mother and her boyfriend got along just fine. After she had assured her mother that they would be careful about contraception Joyce never said one word about her daughter spending nights at the ex-vampire's apartment and Buffy wasn't about to question that either.

She knew that "the talk" Giles had given Mrs. Summers was a part of her acceptance of Angel in her daughter's life. The watcher had just made it clear that the ex-vampire was the main reason Buffy was still alive and kicking. Even in the literal sense.

*

It was three months after the vampire attack when the group sat at a table in the Bronze. A slow song came on and Buffy stood and pulled Angel with her onto the dance floor.

His gaze following the couple, Xander wrapped an arm around Cordy's shoulder and looked at Willow, "I can't believe this. Those lovebirds, their PDAs are almost sickening, but I have to admit that the fact the Angel is human now makes me feel a whole lot better. No more prolonged canines." He suddenly frowned, "I always wondered how it migh feel to kiss ...," he trailed off when he saw his girlfriend looking at him oddly.

"You are a pervert," she shook her head and removed his hand from her shoulder.

"Hey, I just thought aloud," he protested, sounding hurt.

"Yeah, but still you're a pervert. Who would like to kiss ... ewwww," she shuddered disgustedly.

"Actually," Willow piped, smiling at Oz, then looking back at the two who in her eyes were an odd couple, "Buffy told me that she once kissed Angel when he had his ... uh ... game face on ... deliberately."

"That is *so* gross," Cordelia took a sip from her coke. She didn't even want to think about such things. It was weird enough that she was hanging out with those losers. And all this for some closet-kissage with Xander and of course some friends. Really good friends actually. Friends who didn't just talk to her because her clothes were after the latest fashion or her car was so cool. In fact for these friends these things were not important at all.

"I think it's kind of sweet," the red-head replied. "She just showed him she accepted him, all of him."

"Anyway. Without the fangs the guy is almost okay," Xander grinned and looked back to the dance floor, where ex-vampire and slayer had wrapped their arms around each other and were swaying to the music, whispering into each others ears and kissing from time to time.

"I really wonder when he's going to propose," Willow suddenly said out of the blue.

"What?" Xander's head snapped around and he stared at his childhood friend, "What *are* you talking about? Who's going to propose?"

"I ... uh ... was just thinking aloud. Oooops," she blushed and busied herself with the straw in her coke, but couldn't stop grinning.

"No, no," Xander wasn't about to let it go so easily. "I need to know what you're thinking about."

"Just guessing," she said, trying to sound casual. God, she really should learn to keep her mouth shut. "Really, Xander, there is nothing to this." She sighed when he finally turned back and began to talk to Cordelia. Her gaze wandered back to the couple on the dance floor and in seeing them she silently tried to decide which colour she should wear as a bridesmaid.

Chapter 27

The night was warm and peaceful. Buffy and Angel were on their way to his apartment after their visit to the Bronze and were holding hands.

"I like this," she suddenly sighed, breaking the silence.

"What?" he asked, but didn't look at her, continued walking.

"Being with you like this. Just strolling hand in hand, just like boyfriend and girlfriend. No vampires and ..." At the same minute a vampire jumped from the bushes and she sighed loudly, but quickly produced a stake and dusted it. Frowning she shook her head and took her boyfriend's hand again, "Wishful thinking I suppose." When she heard him chuckle she grinned. "Yeah I know. We'll never be the normal couple. Anyway. I still like being with you. I think I'll never get tired of it."

He didn't reply to this, just pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it, then stopped abruptly. "Are you sure about what you just said?" he asked.

Buffy looked at him and sensed a certain nervousness she hadn't seen in him like ... ever. "Yes," she replied hesitantly, watching him closely. "Yes, I did. Why?"

"Because," he squeezed her hand, took a deep breath, then looked at a bench nearby. "Why don't we sit down for a moment," he suggested. Frowning the slayer followed him, feeling completely lost.

"I'm sitting," she said after a moment. "Will you now tell me what all this is about?"

"I ... uh ...," he cleared his throat, "God," running a hand through his hair he laughed nervously, "I've probably tried this a hundred times, but it's completely different sitting in front of you now."

"Angel," she said impatiently. "What is the matter? You're scaring me!"

"I'm sorry," he laughed again, and again it sounded more then just nervous. "Well, I'll better get over with ... it's ... uh ... you know I love you. In fact I love you very much. I lived a long time, Buffy and I'm sure ... that is ... that I love you. Very sure."

She was getting more confused by the minute, "That's very nice to hear," she replied, "but does this all have a ... let's say ... purpose?"

"As I said," he continued, ignoring her words, "I know I love you and I ... but you are not even 18 years old and ... see, when I was young, women got married when they were even younger than you. Most of them already had children at your age and so maybe that's the reason it's not awkward for me, but ..."

"Angel," she looked at him in sudden awe, "do you try to propose to me?"

He let out a harsh breath and chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, even blushing slightly, "Yeah, I suppose that's what I ... failed miserable in trying."

"Angel," she whispered his name, her eyes filling with tears. "Angel," she repeated.

Confused by the wetness in her eyes, he took both her hands, "I don't want to make you uncomfortable about it, but I just had to ask. I ... I even asked your mother and she said it was okay. I could do it, if we ... well if we will wait with the wedding for a while."

"You asked my mother?" she looked at him incredulously.

"Yeah," he frowned. "I'm sorry if you don't approve, but when I was raised it was the way to do it. Asking the parents first."

"That is so sweet," she smiled at him, "and I would be honoured to accept your proposal," she added locking eyes with him.

"Buffy," now it was his turn to whisper, overcome with emotions. Then he remembered something and trembling fingers reached into his pocket, producing a small box. "Then you might accept this too," he smiled now as well and opened the box.

The slayer gasped seeing a golden band with a diamond and small rubies sourrounding it. "It's beautiful," she breathed in awe, wiping away a tear while he put the ring on her other hand and then kissed it. "I love you."

"I love you too," he replied. "So very, very much."

"God," she laughed out loud. "I want to shout it. This is the best thing that ever happened to me. Look at me, I'm wearing your engagement ring. I'm going to marry you, Angel. Isn't that wonderful."

"Yes, wonderful," he agreed looking at the woman he loved.

"I'd say we surprise mom, but the way you've been going about it, it won't be a surprise at all, I suppose. But Willow and the others ... they will flip!"

"You can tell them as soon as you want. But first," he pulled her to him. "Kiss me, my fiancée," he whispered and caught her mouth with his.

Chapter 28

"You know," Buffy murmured when she and Angel were lying entwined in the bed in his new apartment. He had bought it some weeks after becoming human. Now that he could enjoy the sun he didn't want to shut it out again.

"What?" he asked, his fingers drawing patterns on her bare back.

"It's good the school is over," she snuggled closer. "There is nothing mom can say about me staying here overnight. I mean, not that she does. Say anything, I mean. Actually she's really cool and all although she knows what we're doing here." She blushed slightly at her last words and burried her head in his chest.

"She is a wonderful mother," he replied, tightening his arms around her and holding her close. "Not many parents would understand the fact that you're havingan almost 250 year old boyfriend."

"Fiancée," she reminded him smiling, "but then, I'm not the most usual girlfriend either," she sighed.

"No, you're certainly *not* usual. You are the most beautiful girl I've ever set eyes on. You're caring and loving and ...,"

"Stop," she laughed and planted a kiss on the corner of his mouth. "You're talking about me as if I'm a saint. But I'm not. Just look at the way we're lying here. There's nothing not earthly in that."

"True," he grinned. "But saints don't need to live like ones as far as the sexual part is concerned. There's more than one in the middle ages who wasn't exactly abstinent."

"Well," she kissed him again. "You should know. You probably met one or two in your time."

He laughed, "I really don't want to disappoint you but I'm not that old. The middle ages ended somewhere around the time when America was discovered. I wasn't even planned then."

"I wouldn't say that, somehow I can't get over the idea that there is someone up there," she looked at the ceiling, "who knows exactly what's going on and who likes to play with our lives. Just think about Whistler and his babbling about the PTB. He didn't really elaborate the subject but who are they? What are they? And what exactly do they do?"

"I suppose we will never know exactly," Angel suddenly grinned, "Anyway. PTB or not, how about some more earthly pleasures right now. All this talking about higher powers ...," with this he leaned over and talking wasn't high on the agenda for a while.

****

"Look at them," Cordelia grabbed her boyfriend's arm when they entered the Bronze the same evening. "They're over each other again." She pointed at the slayer and ex-vampire who were locked at their lips.

"Disgusting, you're right," he groaned and shook his head. "Hey!," he exclaimed when someone bumped right into them. Turning his eyes fell on Willow and Oz who had just arrived. "Don't you ever look where you're going?" he asked annoyed, rubbing his back where it had connected with the werewolf's ellbow.

"It depends," Oz replied cooly, "if there's something worth looking at." He smirked at his girlfriend who giggled in response.

"Hey. Don't insult my boyfriend. He might be a jerk, but I'm the only one who is allowed to say so." Cordelia glared at the other couple.

Xander rolled his eyes, "And just for the record. We stopped because we were almost blinded by the PDAs over there."

Willow followed his eyes and a smile spread across her face. "Aren't they sweet," she sighed happily. "Hey Buffy, Angel," she waved at them and then pulled her boyfriend with her to join them at their table. Xander and Cordelia exchanged a look, rolled their eyes but followed anyway.

"Hi Willow," the slayer beamed at the red-head. "So good to see you."

Xander eyed her suspiciously, "Is there something wrong? You look like a thousand watt light."

"Uh-huh," Buffy replied grinning to herself and winking at Angel.

"What is the matter?" Willow asked curiously. "Something important? Some new demon? A dangerous vampire? Do you need me to do a spell or something?"

"You need a life," Xander shook his head, "and look at her, does she strike you as the concerned slayer. For me she is more some happy-bunny-thing."

"Hey, I resent that," the blonde said in mocked annyoance. "But noooo, it's *not* some great danger waiting for me."

"Us," Angel corrected her instantly.

She smiled at him, "Us.", reaching out with her left hand to cup her fiancée's cheek.

"Oh my God," Codelia's eyes suddenly widened and she all but stared at the extended hand of the slayer. "Is that what it looks like?"

"What?" Willow's head snapped around and follwing the cheerleader's stare her eyes widened as well. "Omigod," she exclaimed.

While Oz watched everything with his usual impassionate coolness, Xander's eyes darted wildly between the witch and his girlfriend. "What?" he finally shouted.

"Buffy wears a diamond engagement ring," she enlightened him. "And what a ring. That must have cost almost a fortune. I suppose it's something made especially, am I right?" she looked at the ex-vampire.

"Right," he nodded.

"Angel?" Buffy asked. She hadn't even spent a thought at the expensive ring she was wearing. Wrapped in her new found happiness she now felt bad. She had no idea if Angel even could afford something so expensive. "You shouldn't have ..."

He stopped her by putting a finger on her lips, "No worries love. I can afford it."

She sighed in relief, "Good. Now I feel better."

"Congratulations Buffy," Willow exclaimed and hugged her friend, then after a short hesitation hugged the fiancée as well. "I'm so happy for you."

"Congrats," Oz said and his lips twitched in something that looked like a smile.

"I'm happy for you," Cordelia smiled as well. "But I demand to be bridesmaid."

"Woah," Angel held up his hands, "Not so fast. We just go engaged. We don't intend to marry so soon. After all Buffy is not even 18. It might have been normal when I was born but today people wait a bit longer. We won't probably get married before she finished college."

"Hear, hear," Xander looked at the happy couple. "Well at least one educated decision. Doesn't it anyone of you strike it as weird that a teenager is engaged to a 250 year old man, not to say that said man is an ex-vampire who has probably killed ...," he shut up when he saw anyone glare at him. "What? I'm just pointing out the facts."

"This is a happy occasion here, Xand. I don't want to hear any of this tonight, understood," Willow showed her resolve face and brought her chin up. "Either you behave or you go."

"Alright, alright," Xander raised his hands in defense. "God, don't kill me."

Angel shook his head and as a slow song came up he pulled his girlfriend onto the dance-floor. But then he stopped again, smirking at Xander over his shoulder, "Be glad I'm no vampire anymore. Or I might be severly tempted."

Xander narrowed his eyes at him while Cordelia and Willow began to laugh.

Go to Part 29