Part 16 "So you just woke up?" Dawn asked her sister the same question for what had to be the twentieth time. "Like, say, 'hey, I'm back?'"

"It was more like 'Don't mess with my boyfriend' and then she sent Fish boy there flying through the room," Spike supplied from where he was standing, one of his shoulders leaning against the wall beside the door, his eyes never leaving the two commandos who were near the opposite wall. Graham's face still wore a confused expression, while Riley - to Spike's great amusement - was fuming inside.

"How did you manage to summon such strength?" Giles wanted to know. "You've been in a coma for eight months. Your body should be weak."

"Does the word slayer ring a bell?" Xander muttered under his breath and grinned when the watcher sent a glare in his direction.

"Uh..." Buffy exchanged a short glance with Angel who was sitting at the other side of her bed, holding her hand. He felt much better after some blood, which Wesley had brought with him. The vampire couldn't stop touching her, he needed the physical contact to assure himself that she was really awake and that this wasn't some weird dream again.

"Yes?" Giles slightly tilted his head, indicating that he was waiting for an answer.

"He knows about the dreams," Angel said softly.

"Oh," the slayer's face instantly lit up. "Well then... We were talking, Angel and I were..."

"Stop right there," Xander held up a hand and was glad to see the confusion in his eyes mirrored in those of Dawn, Spike and the two commandos. Well, actually, he preferred to ignore those two, but still... "What do you mean you were talking to him?" he nodded pointedly at Angel.

"We were communicating," the vampire explained. "In some sort of dreamscape."

"Anyways," Buffy impatiently cut off further discussion, eager to tell her story after so many months sleeping. "We were talking and then suddenly Angel lost the connection. I had no idea what was going on, so I tried to reach him. And when I did, all I could feel was his weakness and his pain and then I heard Riley's voice," she quickly glared at the commando who was averting his eyes. "So I realized he needed me."

"Fascinating," Wesley said in utter amazement.

"Yes, I agree," Giles nodded, while Buffy rolled her eyes at their slipping into full watcher-mode.

"Nothing has changed," she sighed, then her eyes fell on Angel, "but then," she smiled at him and her heart was beating faster when she saw the smile returned, "everything has."

"Oh God," Spike groaned again.

Dawn smacked his head, "Behave yourself. I think it's sweet. I mean of course in a disgusting sort of way, but still sweet."

Spike wanted to growl in response but couldn't help a grin forming on his face.

"My sister is definitely spending too much time with you," Buffy directed her accusing gaze toward the blond vampire, who just shrugged. "By the way, why are you here?" she asked. She looked at the clock. "It's not the usual time for visits at the hospital."

"Spike called us," Wesley explained. "He saw Riley and his friend in the hallway and thought we should know."

"Why, Spike," Angel raised and eyebrow and grinned, "You called them? You? You actually did something to help the slayer?"

His grand-childe shifted uncomfortably, "Yeah, I did," he answered finally. "Get over it Peaches. It's not going to happen every day," he grumbled. "And you don't need to drag this story around," he added after moment. If this would reach the vampire community in Sunnydale his image was ruined forever. He sighed inwardly, but then, it wasn't as if it wasn't ruined already.

"It's our little secret," Buffy promised with a twinkle in her eyes.

Dawn patted his shoulder, "Spike is my friend. He's just too shy too admit what a good guy he is," she said grinning as well.

"Uh-huh," her sister laughed out loud. The sound was music to Angel's soul. He still had difficulties to believe she was awake now. So he let the subject about Spike drop for the moment, but made a mental note to have a heart-to-heart with Dawn one of these days to explain that her so called 'friend' wasn't what she believed him to be, just acted because a chip forced him to. To be with the slayer and her friends was a convenience to him, but if he'd ever get rid of the chip... That would be a completely different story.

"What I still want to know is," Wesley interrupted his thoughts and Angel saw that his friend was looking at Riley, "what you are doing here? In the middle of the night of all times and against the explicit wish of Mr. Giles. He told you to call him first, as I recall."

The blond commando shuffled his feet and cast his eyes down for a moment, then straightened and looked the former watcher straight in the eye, "I think what I did or intended to do is none of your business. But you of all people," he gazed first at Wesley and then at Giles, "should know about vampires. He," he nodded at Angel, "may have a soul and he might be different, but that doesn't excuse the fact that you left the slayer helpless with him."

For the first time Buffy's eyes met those of her former boyfriend. Her voice was soft and pleading for understanding when she finally said, "Angel would never hurt me, Riley."

"Oh really," he raised a brow. "Then I was right and the fact he bit you was a real turn on, wasn't it?" He laughed unhappily, "And yet you dare to accuse me doing the same."

A warning growl erupted from Angel's throat and everyone in the room was involuntarily looking at him. The vampire's eyes gleamed yellow for a moment, before Buffy put her hand on his arm to calm him. "I think you can hardly compare Angel drinking from me with what you did," she said calmly. She had been wondering what she would feel when Riley would ever enter her life again and was glad now to realize that the emotions were gone - at least on her side. There wasn't even guilt anymore. It was a good feeling.

"Uh..." Xander cleared his throat, "not that I long to take Riley's side in this, but..." he quickly glanced at Angel and for the first time saw the expression of deep shame in the vampire's eyes. "Well, he bit you," he said with a sheepish smile.

"He did," the slayer agreed. "But only after I almost beat him unconscious and then forced his mouth to my neck. He fought with all that was left in him. I had to fight really hard to bring the demon out in the end."

"*You* made him drink you?" Riley gasped incredulously. He ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes for a moment. "God, this is even sicker than I thought. You are the slayer, Buffy, do you have no self-respect?"

"That had nothing to do with self-respect," she replied, "but anything to do with love. I loved him, Riley and he was dying. I would've done anything to save him. Can't you of all people understand this?" She frowned for a moment, and then added with a hint of resignation in her voice, "On a second thought, you probably can't. Angel and I would die for each other," her eyes found the ones of her boyfriend, "in fact, he already gave his life for me and I have no idea how I'm ever going to thank him for it."

"You never have to," Angel replied, pulling her hand to his mouth and kissing it. "Seeing you alive is all the thanks I need."

Again a groan came from Spike, "Does anyone need me here? Because if not, I think I'll be off from this disgusting display."

Buffy and Angel chuckled and the slayer said, "No, you can go. And Spike, thanks."

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered when the door closed behind him.

"You are really feeling well?" Giles asked and looked at his slayer.

"Yes, dad," she joked. "You heard the doctor before. Everything's peachy." She glanced at the clock, and then sternly looked at her sister. "And you should be in bed, not running around in Sunnydale."

"Hey, it was an emergency," Dawn shot back. "We came to Angel's rescue."

Xander suddenly chuckled, "Spike got us to rescue Angel," now he even laughed. "God, our poor de-fanged blondie is never going to live that down."

The slayer shook her head in disbelief at his reaction but couldn't help to smile as well. "What I wanted to say is why don't we continue our conversations tomorrow? Or," glancing at the clock again, she amended, "today. Anyway," she yawned. "I'm tired. And I'd like to have some alone time with Angel." "Of course," Giles and Wesley rose, and Giles bent down and kissed her forehead. "Welcome back," he whispered with a relieved smile and a restrained tear.

"I love you too," she whispered back, and squeezed his arm for a moment.

Clearing his throat Giles straightened, stepped back and turned towards the door with Wesley following him. Xander kissed the slayer as well and was about to turn as well when Giles suddenly stopped and his gaze fell on the two commandos who were still in the room. "I think you should now leave as well. And we," his stern expression was directed at Riley, "will have a talk soon, young man. What you did tonight was incredibly foolish. You have no idea what you could've done." When he saw Riley opening his mouth, he held up a hand, "It all ended well, but we could never have been sure of that."

Giles held the door open and Graham slipped silently from the room, giving Buffy something like an apologizing glance on the way, while Riley hesitated. With a wave Dawn followed the others. Although she wanted to stay with Buffy she could see that her sister was looking exhausted.

"Giles," came Buffy's voice from the bed. "I'd like to talk to Riley for a moment." Seeing the watchers frown, she sighed, "I know, this could wait, but I'd rather get over with it now."

"Alright," her watcher nodded after a moment. "See you tomorrow or rather today. It's so good to have you back." With a last smile he was gone and when the door closed slayer, vampire and commando were the only ones remaining in the room.

"Angel," Buffy turned her gaze at the vampire, "Would you wait outside for a minute."

"But..." he tried to protest, not liking the idea of her and the ex together on their own.

"Please," she gently put a hand on his arm.

"I don't like this," he replied growling deep in his throat.

"I know," she said smiling. "But I need to do this on my own."

"Are you sure? Are you feeling well enough?" he asked worriedly.

"I do. I'm the slayer, remember," she tried to joke, feeling his hesitation to leave her with Riley. She knew he just wanted to protect her, but he also had to learn that she didn't need protection, although it was nice to have a shoulder to lean on from time to time. After a moment he nodded slowly and stood. "Alright. But I'll be right outside." He directed his last words towards Riley. With a last warning glare at the commando he was gone.

An awkward silence settled over the room when the door closed behind the vampire. When Buffy was getting annoyed with the situation she sighed loudly and pushed herself into a sitting position. She groaned slightly, her sore muscles protesting against each movement after such a long time. The foot with that she'd kicked Riley hurt like hell. "Now, tell me," she began, "what was this all about?"

"Huh?" he stared at her for a moment. "Buffy, we might not be together anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't still care for you."

"Care for me?" she echoed. "Well, let me make this clear. I'm the slayer, I don't need you to take care of me and I certainly don't need this kind of protection. Who do you think you are coming in this room, attacking an innocent..."

"Innocent?" he echoed shocked.

"Yes, innocent," she insisted. "Okay, so this might not be the best expression to describe Angel, but he didn't do anything. You had absolutely no right to come here and hit him. You haven't been in my life for months. You didn't even know what was going on. So why? Was this some kind of payback?" she asked.

"Payback?"

"Well, he kicked your ass before, didn't he?" she raised a brow and looked at him expectantly.

"He is a vampire for God's sake," Riley almost shouted. "Which means he is strong, drugs or not, no human stands a chance against a hostile."

"So you thought, why the heck, he's weak and now I can have my revenge?" Buffy's voice raising as well.

"Look, I went to see you at your house," the commando tried to explain. "Giles all but kicked me out and ordered I had to call him before I went to see you. Then he let drop the fact that Angel was with you - full time. You have no idea how I felt."

"I really don't care," she shot back. "Not anymore. It's your problem.  They're *your* feelings, aren't they? It's always about you. *You* wanted to be loved, you wanted me to love you the way you wanted me to. My way wasn't enough. Your feelings. Your hurt. You. You. You."

"That's not fair," he defended himself. "And you know it. The vampires," he hesitated for a moment," the female vampires..."

"The blood-sucking whores," Buffy supplied with a smirk.

"Whatever you want to call them," Riley made an angry gesture with his hand. "I just wanted to understand what you felt. Why Angel was still there. He was always there, even when we..." he shook his head and let out a hissing breath, "Sometimes," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper now, "when we were... together... I thought... even then ... you thought about him."

"Oh God, Riley," Buffy groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Are you listening to yourself? I was with you because I wanted to," she said looking at him. "You were nice. Normal. Well, at least more than my lat boyfriend. And the... well, we weren't bad together," she said avoiding the s-word. Riley was part of her past, and she didn't want waste time dwelling on it. There was a certain vampire standing outside and he was her future. She had no idea how they'd manage all the problems, but she was sure they'd find a way. She'd seen it in his eyes. Finally he had accepted his, their, fate and wasn't going to run anymore.

"We never had a chance," Riley accused after a moment.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I know that Angel was still there, somewhere. Riley, he's been important to me. He still is. He completes me, but I had finally accepted the fact that we couldn't be together. There was the curse and he's really stubborn," she suddenly grinned, "although not as stubborn as I am. Anyway. You came to see me - at my house. What for?"

"I wanted to see you. I thought maybe... well..." he gave her a pointed look and blushed slightly.

For a moment he was the boy - young man – again, that she'd met at college and thought that he could be her chance for something normal, her chance to forget Angel. But the feeling was gone in a flash. "No," she shook her head. "I'm sorry Riley, but no. I love Angel. And you were right I never really loved you. Not the way you wanted me, anyway." She saw him flinch at her confession, but she couldn't go back, nor did she want to. He had to know what was fact. Maybe then he'd be able to move on and live a happy life - somewhere.

"So..." he said after a while, "you and Angel again."

"Yeah," she replied with a smile.

"What about his curse?"

"It's still there," she said. "But we will find a way to live with it or around it or... whatever. We did it before. We can do it again."

"You think?" he tilted his head, "You are a passionate young woman and-"

"Stop it," she demanded. "That's low and you know it. I love him, Riley. Love. It's something that can overcome the greatest problems. And anyway, it's nothing that concerns you anymore. So why don't we shake hands and part as friends? Maybe someday you can even accept that Angel is not your average vampire."

He had to chuckle. He hadn't meant to, but he couldn't help it and walked over to the bed. "I doubt it," he admitted. "I'm sorry we didn't make it," he said after a moment and held out his hand.

Buffy knew he wanted her to say the same, but she couldn't. There was no way. She couldn't be sorry, it hadn't worked between them, because if they were still together there would be no Angel. No, she sighed inwardly even if she tried she couldn't feel sorry. "Be happy, Riley," she said simply and saw the disappointment in his eyes, but after a moment he nodded and the disappointment was replaced by understanding.

"You too," he replied. "I hope you don't have to pay for your choices."

The slayer knew he was referring to Angel's curse and her first reaction was to shout at him again, but then she swallowed the words and let it drop. Why should she bother to change his mind? He wasn't worth it anymore. "We always have to pay for everything," she said instead. "But I love him. It's as simple as that. And I intend to keep him this time."

They shook hands and then Riley turned towards the door. Without looking back he left the room.

 Part 17

Riley closed the door and was relieved that Angel wasn't standing right in front of it. The vampire was the last person he wanted to see now. No, not a person, he corrected himself - God, what was wrong with him?

For a moment he closed his eyes and leaned back against the door. He had lost her for good this time. This time he hadn't been the one to walk away. This time she'd dismissed him politely, friendly, but coolly. God, she'd been so cool. How had she managed to stay so cool when his heart had been pounding inside his chest, the blood racing through his veins?

There was only one explanation possible. She was through with him. He meant nothing to her anymore. And with his recent behavior he had lost any possibility to stay her friend. Well, maybe this was for the best, he thought. It wouldn't really help him to hang around her and watch her with... With that thing. For a short moment a red haze of anger entered his vision. Buffy might be through with him, but he still couldn't get a hold on the violent jealousy he feeling towards her.

"Feeling a bit weak?"

With a groan Riley opened his eyes again, "Angel," he said, annoyance clearly audible in his voice. This was clearly not his day.

The vampire smirked at him. He had drowned two extra quarts of blood five minutes ago and felt completely recovered. "Did she send you away?" he asked with a certain look in his eyes, raising a brow.

"We parted as friends, although that's none of your business," Riley shot back, feeling for the gun hidden under his shirt.

"I wouldn't even think about it," Angel warned with a low growl. "Anyways," he smiled again. This guy was able to change his expressions like used towels, the commando thought feeling more than slightly uncomfortable. Not missing any of the different emotions clearly visible on Riley's face, Angel continued with a smile on his lips. "Of course this is my business. *I* am her boyfriend and everything that concerns her, concerns me."

He crossed his arms in front of his chest and eyed the blond with faked interest, "How does it feel to get dismissed for a change? After leaving her when she needed you most."

"Shut up," Riley hissed, straightening to his full height so that he was able to look slightly down. Still, he realized it didn't change the fact that Angel looked far more dangerous than he.

"Why? Don't like what you hear, *boy*?" The smile never wavered on Angel's lips but his eyes were cold, so cold that the human shivered involuntarily. "Don't like to hear about your perverted sexual wishes from other people's mouths? Too bad, because you have to live with it."

"You're not people," Riley threw into his face.

The smile on Angel's lips grew even wider, but his eyes were like ice. He uncrossed his arms, reached out and almost tenderly brushed his palms over the front of the commando's leather jacket. "Yeah," he whispered, his face close to the other man's, "and you better never forget about it. Because if you ever hurt her again, if you do even so much as violate the air she breathes, I'm going to make you pay. Am I making myself clear?"

Riley swallowed audibly, but then narrowed his eyes and hissed, "You better back off, *hostile* or you learn very quickly not to cross path with the Initiative." He cast a long look at Angel, smirked and turned to go, when a thought suddenly entered his mind. "Oh, by the way, I'd really like to be a fly on the wall during the next years. Watching you and her trying to avoid personal contact, always fearing to break your curse. Poor little vampy," he said in mocked pity, "it must drive you mad to think I had her again and again while you," he chuckled, "well... we all know you can't even dare to touch her. I'll give you a hint," now he was leaning close, his voice dropping to a whisper, "you can try it with your tongue. She really loves-"

Before Riley could finish the sentence the vampire had grabbed his jacked and was slipping into his game face, the human found himself confronted with shining yellow eyes and bright white prolonged canines. "You're scum, Riley," Angel growled, "and for Buffy's sake I will warn you for one last time. Don't ever talk about her like that. But tonight," he shrugged slightly, "I'm really glad you gave me a reason."

Riley didn't even time to think what the vampire meant when Angel's fist connected with his jaw and for the third time this night Riley became very close friends with the wall. Angel wiped his hands on his trousers, "I hope now, you understand," were his last words before he slipped into the slayer's room.

****

When Xander entered his apartment half an hour later he found his girlfriend and two witches there, all of them wearing identical annoyed expressions.

"Where have you been?" Anya demanded as soon as her boyfriend stepped over the threshold.

"Yeah, where have you been?" Willow asked as well. "Really Xander, I thought you were interested in this as well."

"Huh?" he stared at them. "I was out, okay?" he defended himself.

"No, it's not okay," the redhead stood and placed her hands at her hips. "You said you would be waiting for us. So Anya didn't have a key. We had to wake your landlady to open the door for us."

"Sorry," Xander replied, "but we had a little emergency, okay?"

"Emergency?" Willow raised her brow. "Why? What happened?"

"Oh nothing," he said with a shrug, "just one jealous commando ex-boyfriend who stormed into the slayers bedroom and was about to beat up one exhausted vampire."

"WHAT?" the witch shouted exchanging a look with her lover. Tara stood beside her, a shocked expression on her face, but hadn't said a word so far.

"Uh-huh," Xander nodded, "So you see, we had to go to the rescue. Fortunately we were in time. Although," suddenly a grin spread across his face, "we weren't really needed. Because feeling the love of her life in danger our Buffster decided it was time to come back and started with kicking Captain Cornbread across the room."

"Buffy?" Anya asked.

"What do you mean she is up?" Willow demanded.

"Y-you m-mean a-awake?" Tara gasped.

"Yeah. Awake and as I said, kicking. Man, she really hit him hard. I wish I could've been there, but unfortunately we arrived seconds too late."

"Oh," instantly tears welled up in the redhead's eyes. "She's awake. She's really awake. Angel did it! I knew it. I knew he could do it. Giles was right all the time. Oh, Xander," she cried and flung her arms around her childhood friend's neck.

"She tends to get emotional sometimes," he tried to joke, but felt his own eyes tear as well. "She's really something our Buffy."

"Yes," Willow sniffed and pulled back, slightly embarrassed. "She is. Oh, I wish I'd been there. And Angel?" she asked after a second. "Is he okay?"

"Yeah," Xander replied. "Riley was about to fire his gun at him, but Buffy's foot was faster. So besides a bruise that's probably faded by now he's fine. And he couldn't get his hands off her. Which brings me back to the matter at hand. Because I'm SO not looking forward being horribly killed by his evil self. Did you succeed? How was the meeting?"

"Uh..." the redhead cleared her throat. "Interesting." She had no intention right now to elaborate all the things that had happened that night, so she just said, "But to answer your question. Yes, Carla translated and altered the curse for us. And now that Buffy's awake," she beamed, "that's the best welcome back present for them. Don't you think?"

*****

Only the light at the bed was still on when Angel entered Buffy's room again. He smiled when he saw her looking at him through already sleepy eyes. "Hi," he whispered and came to sit beside her bed.

"Hi," she replied and took his hand.

"Are you alright?" he asked, pulling her hand to his mouth and kissing the back.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Did you see Riley outside?" she wanted to know.

"I... uh," he absentmindedly rubbed the back of his hand at his chin, "we just passed in the hallway," he said evadingly. No need to tell her what had happened. That had been private, something between Riley and him. For Angel the chapter was closed now.

"Good," she yawned. "I was afraid you'd get on each others throats again."

"No," he said with a smile - and an inward chuckle. "He didn't touch me." **Well, he didn't, did he? And as long as she doesn't ask if I touched him...**

"I'm glad you're staying," she smiled and reached out, one hand touching his cheek where the bruise from Riley and Graham's fists had been. "I don't want to be alone right now."

"I wouldn't leave, not even if you'd send me away," he replied tenderly and covered her hand with his. "I love you, Buffy. And I understand a lot more now. I have no idea how we're going to do this, with you being in Sunnydale, me living in L.A., the curse, but I'm willing to try. If that's what you want."

"It is," she said firmly, blinking tears away. "I always wanted you. You just were too stubborn and wrapped up in your guilt to see it. I never wanted you to leave."

"I know. But maybe," he paused for a moment. "Don't get me wrong. If I could I'd tear that guy who used you and Riley into pieces. I'm so damned angry and jealous that it's a miracle the demon inside of me is still under control, even if barely. But maybe it was good. Maybe we both needed time, and you," he took a deep breath, knowing the following words were some of the hardest he'd ever said, "Maybe you needed those two experiences. The first guy and Riley."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I know you dated some high school guys before me, but I also know it was never anything serious," he pulled her hand from his cheek, turned it and kissed its palm. "But after... the two others... I don't know if I'm expressing myself well, but choosing me after... you're doing it with open eyes now. You had a chance to experience and to decide. Do you understand?"

She slowly nodded, "I love you," she whispered. "So, so much. I don't know if you're right. But I really don't care. You're back here, with me. And we will work it out. Everything. Just don't get all noble again and do something for my own good - or I might be forced to hurt you," she grinned, "badly."

"Deal," he replied with the same grin. "You should sleep now. You must be tired."

"You stay. Promise?"

"I will," he kissed her gently on the forehead while her eyes were already closing.

"Why don't you lay down beside me?" she asked, her tongue heavy with sleep, "You must be tired too." A lazy smile played around her lips. "I even promise to keep my hands off you."

He laughed. And realized that he hadn't laughed like that for a long time. "I love you, Buffy Summers."

"Love you too."

With a sigh Angel laid down beside her and only seconds later they were both fast asleep.

 Part 18

"Is that what we think it is?" Buffy asked staring at her redheaded friend.

"Yes, it is," she affirmed with an excited nod of her head. She exchanged a glance with her lover who was beaming as well. Anya and Xander stood a bit away from the bed, the former demon's face wearing a smug expression.

Angel, who had read the text at first swallowed hard and then swiftly turned towards the heavily draped windows to get a hold on his emotions.

Sending a worried glance at his back, Buffy turned towards her best friend, "But... But how?"

"Oh well," the witch made a dismissive gesture. "It wasn't that difficult. Just a spell and," she looked at Anya, "the right connections." She smiled at the slayer who was still disbelievingly staring at the piece of paper in her hand. They'd arrived at the hospital only ten minutes ago and after some tears and hugging,Willow had handed them the paper with a huge beam on her face.

"Actually," the redhead said after a moment. "Thinking about it now I'm only sorry we didn't think about something like that before. I ashamed to say that I'd never even thought about it. You know, that the curse could be altered."

"And you can just do it?"

"Yes," it was Tara who answered. "We c-could even d-do it right here. N-now."

"It's that easy?" Buffy still couldn't believe this was true. She was still expecting something to happen and she would wake up alone and miserable.

Finally Angel turned back to the people in the room, his eyes on the slayer, his words were directed towards the witches. "Thank you," he whispered and cleared his throat when the emotions threatened to choke him. "I can never thank you enough. Willow and Tara, if you should ever need anything..."

"Hey, what about me? " Anya protested. "After all it was me who had the connection with Carla."

The vampire looked up and smiled at her. "Thank you as well," he said and the former demon narrowed her eyes for a moment. Yes, he was a vampire. But hell, he was damned attractive. Then she thought about Xander and more importantly about the looks passing between Angel and the slayer and instantly dismissed the thought. Then another thing entered her mind, "Hey, you've been around for a while, right? Are you rich?"

When she saw the two witches glaring at her, she simply shrugged, "What? It's just a question. Jeez, I didn't ask him to give all the money to me. But Xander and I are going to get married soon and he still hasn't earned a fortune."

Rolling their eyes the three other young women in the room grinned at each other while Xander was staring at his shoes, wishing he was somewhere else. Angel on the other hand chuckled slightly. Anya was a strange girl. He had already realized that over the past months but she'd been important to find the new version of the curse and for that he'd gladly overlook some of her faults.

"So, should we cast the new curse now?" Willow asked still excited.

"You can just cast it over the other one?" Angel wanted to know.

"Yes," she nodded emphatically. "We checked and re-checked it, discussed it with Carla and it's almost ridiculously simple." She held up a plastic bag she'd been carrying around. "The herbs are in here and the words are on the paper. All in all it should be only one or two minutes."

"Then do it," Buffy replied spontaneously, but then her eyes met those of her boyfriend and she smiled sheepishly at him, "That is, if you want it. After all it's you who are most affected by it."

His responding smile was loving and warm, "It think it affects us both," then her turned and looked at the two witches. "So if you can do it... Do it!"

"Alright," Willow nodded, and then suddenly remembered that they were still in the hospital. "Uh..." she looked at Xander. "Maybe you could make sure nobody disturbs us for five minutes."

"Gladly," he grinned. "I might not hate Dead Boy anymore, but I don't need to see this."

"Me neither," his girlfriend said wrinkling her nose. "All those stinky herbs. So do it, but without us."

As soon as the door had closed behind them Tara and Willow started to unpack the herbs and the blond witch lit a red scented candle, then handing it to Buffy. "Y-you have to h-hold this. The m-moment it extinguishes the a-alteration is made. S-so we will have a proof."

The slayer nodded, then reached out and took Angel's hand. Squeezing it she smiled at him, "I feel as if I'm going to wake up any second now. This is like a dream."

"It is, but it's reality," he assured her, then leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. "I love you," he whispered, so that only she could hear it.

"I love you too," she replied, released his hand and concentrated on the candle in hers. The vampire straightened and when he saw Willow smiling at him he walked over to where she had placed a chair.

"Sit down," she ordered gently. "And close your eyes."

**Not really liking this**, he thought for a moment remembering another moment when he'd closed his eyes willingly and found himself in hell only seconds after that. **Really not the time to think about it.** He slightly shook his head and focused on Willow's voice.

"I'm going to start now," she told him and he could hear her unfolding the piece of paper. The smell of burning herbs reached his nose while the redhead started to chant. He had seen Willow from time to time during the last months but there hadn't been any opportunity to really talk to her and just now he felt the power humming around her, heard the mesmerizing sound of her voice and realized what a powerful witch she had become.

The same power radiated from Tara who was standing only some feet away and was burning herbs in a certain order. For a moment he had to think about Cordelia and her complaining about the stinking herbs. He had to chuckle inwardly. There was Willow, altering his curse, offering him possibilities he'd never dared to dream of and he was thinking about Cordelia. **Talk about weird.**

He suddenly realized that there was absolute silence in the room and he slowly opened his eyes. Willow and Tara were smiling down at him and when he turned his gaze fell on Buffy's radiant face. She was still holding the candle but the flame had gone out.

"It worked," she announced happily. "It worked perfectly."

That moment the door opened and Xander's head peeped inside. "Are you done? Because there's some... uh... Cordelia!" came his shout and then the former cheerleader stormed into the room.

"What is going on here... Ewwww... What have you been doing?" she wrinkled her nose in disgust, "it smells as if hell came to earth."

"We cast a little spell," Willow informed her.

"A spell?" Cordelia shook her head. "What spell?"

"Oh, nothing big," the redhead replied with a chuckle.

The ex-May queen looked at her for a moment, then shrugged and turned towards Angel who was sitting at the slayer's side again. "Buffy," she smiled and walked to the bed. "Wesley called me this morning very early, if I may say so myself. But I forgave him," suddenly she beamed, "It's wonderful news. I'm so glad, Buffy." Then her eyes fell on the vampire, "And then Wes told me that Riley and a friend were here last night. You okay?"

Angel gave her a smile, "I am." Exchanging a very private glance with Buffy, he added, "Really, really okay."

"That's good. And now, tell me. What was that spell about?" she asked while pulling another chair towards the bed, completely ignoring all the other people in the room.

"Willow altered Angel's curse," Buffy said almost conversationally.

"I see, and-" Cordelia almost choked on the last word and her eyes widened in shock. "SHE DID WHAT?" she shouted, then clamped a hand over her mouth, "She altered your curse? And then you say it's nothing big," her accusing gaze wandered to the redhead, who simply shrugged and grinned.

"You altered his curse," Cordelia asked again, still not able to digest the news. "How? Just like that?" she snipped her fingers.

"Yeah," Xander, who had come into the room following his ex-girlfriend crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked inquiringly at Willow. "I was asking myself that. You, Tara and Anya have been awfully mysterious about the whole thing. I still can't believe you just met that other vengeance demon and she just helped out of the goodness of her own heart."

"Uh... well," Willow blushed slightly and cast a glance at her lover whose face had gone pink as well.

"Just a second," Angel, whose face had worn a thoughtful expression, narrowed his eyes, "This Carla," he looked at Anya. "Could that be Acarlata?"

"Yes," the girl's face lit up. "You know her?"

"I do. Or rather I don't," he amended. "But I heard about her. She's ... well, let's just say I wouldn't like to cross her. Anyways. I'm going with Xander in this, what did you have to do that she helped you?"

Willow exhaled an exaggerated breath and rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright. I'm telling you. We wanted to tell you anyway. But we thought maybe a little later. So this demon, this Carla. She had a necklace that had been stolen from her some years ago. By an evil witch."

"Necklace? What kind of necklace? Is it the sort of necklace you lost?" Xander asked his girlfriend who ignored him.

"I'm going to explain that in a minute," the redhead said and shot him a look. "Where was I, oh yeah, the necklace. The thing belonged to her natural mother. And it's able to sense emotions. It's actually made of rubies but it changes color when there's evil around. It even radiates evil then. But it had no hidden powers or anything. So you can sleep safely, Xand. Anya's going to stay," she told her friend with a grin. "Carla already located it, but it was locked away in a safe. That was really guarded. So she needed a spell to make herself invisible." She suddenly beamed, "And did I ever tell you that Tara is the most incredible witch?"

The blond blushed furiously, and shifted uncomfortable on her feet. "I-it was n-nothing."

"Nothing?" Willow shook her head, "It was so awesome. She cast a spell and Carla was gone. Well not gone-gone, but invisible. And so we went to L.A. and Tara made us all invisible and then we entered the building, crossed all the safeguards, all the barriers, and went right into this office. Then I cast a spell to open the safe. We took the necklace and out we were. It was so cool," she ended with a final sigh. Then suddenly something hit her, "And you don't even have to start to shout because the firm we entered... Carla assured us it was some evil law firm and you know what, I couldn't believe it. The new Initiative headquarters are right beside it."

For a moment nobody said a word, before Cordelia asked, "The firm you are talking about. It's not Wolfram & Hart, is it?"

"Yeah, that's the name," Anya said already bored. Everything was said, and they'd cast the spell. Now it was time to go home.

"You broke into Wolfram & Hart?" Angel asked incredulously. "Just like that."

"Uh-huh," Willow affirmed with a grin. "Well, invisible of curse or better, undetectable."

Cordelia and the vampire exchanged a glance, and Buffy felt left out. "Could anyone please tell me what's so important about some evil lawyers? I mean they're evil. Lawyers, I mean. Everyone knows that."

"They're... uh... special," Angel began to explain, not quite sure what to tell her when all her friends were present.

"They're more than evil," Cordelia came to his rescue, "They are evil-evil, Buffy. Really, really evil," she emphasized her point. "And they defend vampires and demons... but only the bad, evil kind. And who do you think is a constant pain in their ass? Of course some soul-saving, soul-having vampire. So in a nutshell they don't like Angel, in fact they'd like him gone, because he's disturbed their plans more than once."

"So the disguising spell might be helpful?" Willow asked hopefully.

"Yeah," the vampire replied with a nod. "It could be incredibly helpful. There are a lot of things in their safe I'd like to see. It would give them pain for quite some time," he had to smile at the picture of Lindsay fuming and not understanding what was going on. **Yeah, it would be definitely worth it.**

"Like, say, some back-up discs?" the redhead said, her face a picture of complete innocence. But there was a mischievous glimpse in her eyes.

"You stole the discs?" Cordelia raised a brow. "Willow!"

The witch shrugged, and then grinned. "We took what looked important. I had no idea you had anything to do with them. But I thought... Just in case." She turned to look at Angel. "Everything is at Buffy's house. I left all the stuff with Giles and was planning to go through it later. I suppose I have to decode the files first."

"You already did it before," the former may queen told her. "Remember when I phoned you and needed your help with some decoding. It was the first time we got a hold of their information." "Alright then, we'll go through all of it tonight," Willow smiled at Buffy and Angel. "And now... I think it's time to leave." She looked at Tara who was already leaving the room.

Cordelia gave Buffy a warm smile then leaned over the bed and kissed Angel on the forehead. "Congratulations you two. See you later," she whispered and turned towards the door.

Xander held the door open for her and Anya, and then grinned at slayer and vampire. "Be good kids. I know the curse is safe now and all, but this is still a hospital..." He rushed out of the room and the cushion that Buffy had thrown into his direction just met the closed door

 Epilogue

AN: I know that the jugular vein in the neck isn't really pulsing! It's the carotis underneath, but it sounds so much nicer, so I used that term!

Six months later.

The air was hot, full of sexual tension, the music drumming in the ears of the men and women swaying on the dance floor. There was a smell of sweat mixed with female perfume or the aftershave of their partners reaching the sensitive noses of the vampires.

They'd been watching their women the whole evening. They'd held them in their arms. It had been intoxicating. Feeling their hearts beat, the rhythm matching the music, hearing and smelling the blood running through their veins. It was a feeling unlike others.

And the women knew it. The vampires were watching them. They moved their bodies to the music, waved their hips and finally smiled to each other in the deep knowledge of their female attraction for their mates.

*

"I still can't believe you're having sex with Spike," Buffy said with a shake of head when she'd finally managed to get her coke from the bar. She was staying in L.A. for the weekend and besides the fact that a certain bleach blond vampire had been annoying her the whole way into town, she felt great. Weekends with her love were always to look forward to.

Faith was beside her, swirling the ice in her Campari Orange, burst out laughing. "Because he's a vampire?" she asked. "Honey. I really hate to state the obvious, but your boyfriend's a vampire too." The brunette slayer felt good as well. Her mate was in town and she and Buffy were slowly working towards something like a friendship. Sometimes Faith couldn't believe this was really her life she was living now.

"Uh-huh," the blonde slayer took a large gulp of her cool drink and exhaled a long breath. "God, it's hot in here." She looked over where Angel was sitting and she had to smile at his attempt to tune out Spike who was sitting beside him and no doubt telling something to make her mate's blood boil.

She pushed herself of off the bar to join him or better, to save him from his annoying grand-childe. "Hate to state the obvious too," she said over her shoulder, "but *my* boyfriend's got a soul."

She smiled when she finally reached her destination, a person of an incredibly hot, attractive, dark-haired vampire and sighed at the feeling of his arms slipping around her waist. "There are certain advantages to a cool boyfriend," she whispered in his ear.

"You mean because your blood is boiling inside you," he returned with a dangerous glimpse in his eyes. "But what if I don't want you to cool down."

"Then," she smiled up to him, "you have to keep the blood boiling somehow."

"Can't you keep your hands off of each other for five minutes?" Spike groaned beside them.

"Shut up," Angel growled, but didn't take his arms from his girlfriend's waist, or his eyes off her face.

"Yeah, shut up," she repeated his words and then slightly turned her head towards the blond vampire, "By the way. Your girl is waiting for you over there. If I were you I'd keep an eye on her. She's the type every boy wants to hit on."

With an expression that was close to something like panic Spike's head snapped around and at the sight of Faith obviously enjoying a conversation with an attractive man, his eyes gleamed yellow for a second. Then they narrowed and without a word he left the table.

Buffy had to giggle at his obvious jealousy, but soon a moan escaped her throat, when Angel's tongue found a certain sensitive spot behind her right ear. "You think so?" he whispered, while his mouth traveled a path down her neck.

"Huh?" she asked confused, her mind already spinning from his arousing administrations.

"That Faith is the sort boys like to hit on?" he chuckled when he felt her knees go weak and tightened his hold on her. "I'd rather hit on you."

"I see," she had problems to keep her voice steady. "Uh... Angel," she moaned again. "This is a public place."

"But it's dark," he shot back and she could feel him smile against her throat where he was just kissing the spot over her pulsing jugular.

"You're not a boy," she said after a moment.Now it was his turn to be confused. He raised his head and looked down in her passion glazed eyes and smiled when a little whimper of loss of contact came from her lips. "Can you explain?"

"I said boys like to hit on Faith. You're definitely not a boy," she said and a sexy smile tugged on her lips, "You're definitely a man."

A smile of pure male satisfaction lit up his features when he replied, "I truly hope so."

"Do you think," she slightly tilted her head, "that Spike and Faith would mind us leaving early?"

He gazed at her for about two seconds, then straightened and took her hand firmly in his, pulling her to the exit, "Even if they do," he said. "I don't care."

*

Faith saw the two lovers leaving and smiled into Spike's neck. She liked seeing them together and it was hard to remember that she'd once been incredibly jealous. It seemed like another life. She felt the arms around her waist tighten and sighed, thinking about the pleasure she'd have later in one of the many bedrooms of the Hyperion hotel.

One thing she had to admit. There were certain advantages to a vampire boyfriend, even if she wasn't quite sure if Spike *was* her boyfriend. They had great sex, granted, and they laughed a lot together, but she kept remembering herself that he was still a vampire and that only the chip in his head prevented him from killing humans. Well, she shrugged inwardly, she had just to wait and see.

She started slightly when she felt her lover tense in her arms and tilted her head to look up at him. Seeing his eyes change into a yellowy color, she asked alarmed. "What is it?"

He took a deep unnecessary breath, "Nothing pet." But suddenly, unexpectedly a smile crept across his features and a wicked gleam entered his eyes. "On a second thought, maybe we should go and meet and old *friend*," he said, emphasizing the word 'friend' with a pointed nod of his head.

Faith turned in his arms and a gasp escaped her mouth when she followed his line of view. Before she could do or say anything he was already pulling her towards a table where she saw at least two familiar figures sitting and more or less staring into their drinks.

"Riley!" Spike's face was all pleasure when he and his girlfriend approached the table and he licked his lips. He hadn't come for a kill, not literally, thanks to Captain Cornbread and his friends, but that didn't mean he couldn't still torture them. And all this thanks to his grand-sire - who would 've thought that he'd ever, be grateful to Angel.

The commando's head snapped up at hearing his name and his eyes widened when he saw Spike and Faith coming towards him. "S-Spike," he greeted the vampire almost breathlessly, "and Faith," he added faintly.

Graham, who'd been talking to one of his colleagues, turned his head at the mention of the two names. For a moment he thought his heart would stop, but he calmed himself with the knowledge that they were eight members of the Initiative and they never left the headquarters without their guns, not even if they went out privately and certainly not at night.

"Hi Riley," Faith acknowledged his presence and cast a questioning glance at her lover. What was going on in his head?

"Just wanted to say hi," Spike smiled down at the sitting commando. "You know with us being old buddies in combat. Almost like old friends."

"We were never anything," Riley hissed at him. "So get the hell away from us or I might consider taking you with us. You remember the doctors, don't you, Spike? " he grinned. "And their needles?"

An involuntary shiver ran down the vampire's spine thinking back at his time in the laboratory and he unconsciously touched the spot on his head where the chip had been implanted. "Yeah, I remember them," he muttered under his breath. Then the smile was back on his lips. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk," he made. "So unfriendly. Well, can't have everybody loving me," he joked and put a casual arm around Faith's shoulder.

"Go away," Riley said again.

"Yeah, yeah," Spike replied, then took another unnecessary breath before aiming for his final blow. "Did you see Peaches and the little blond slayer by the way? They're quite a pair, don't you think. To bad they just left the club. I'm sure they've liked to say hello as well. But then," he shrugged, "they hardly have eyes for anyone but each other these days."

The commando's head almost audibly snapped up. He'd already been turned away, but now his whole attention was back on the vampire. "I warned you Spike," he hissed between clenched teeth and slowly stood, his imposing size towering over the blond vampire.

"Ri," Graham stood as well and put a comforting hand on his friend's arm. "Don't let him get to you."

Riley forced his body to relax. Graham was right. This was just an evil vampire. No need to get angry about it. He knew that Spike was trying to pay him back that way and besides... His lips curved into a smile, "Well, I already knew about Angel and Buffy," he said, then added in mocked regret, "Too bad for them about his curse. It must be a real challenge."

A very, very slow smile crept across Spike's face. God, this was good, this was so good. How many nights and days had he dreamt about killing the commandos, and especially Riley for shagging the slayer and now he would finally get his chance. This was so much better than anything he dreamt of.

Tightening his arm around Faith's shoulder, he slowly raised his eyebrows. "Oh," his smile widened into a grin. "So you don't know." Already turning away, he looked over his shoulder. "Angel's soul is his for good. The two witches were playing with magic. Just a little bit and now..." he stopped and faced the commando again. "You have no idea what we've have to endure since. There's barely a moment when he hasn't got his hands on her. Making up for lost time you know."

Taking a last deep breath he turned away. He heard Faith giggle beside him and finally laughter bubbled deep in his throat and when they left the club and the cool air of the night was surrounding them, both slayer and vampire were laughing wholeheartedly.

Spike threw his head back and looked at the moon, then he gazed down at the girl in his arm. Chip or not, life certainly could be worse.

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