Rating: R
Summery: Cole has just moved to Sunnydale and he's seeing a young girl....a young, blonde girl.
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me. Everything belongs to their respective owners.
Distribution: Ask first.
Feedback: Please! I crave it!
Notes: It's been two years since Angel left Buffy. Buffy mysteriously disappeared 6 months after and no one's seen her since.

Part 1

Cole felt like screaming. He so did not like this town. This town had to have a million dead guys in it. He sighed and looked around his new room. It was nice, he didn't complain allowed. This town just didn't feel right. It felt...it felt evil. Cole looked up at a slight noise near his window, and froze.

A tall, blonde haired girl stood before him. He knew at once she was a ghost, but she didn't seen evil. In fact, the look in her eyes looked...haunted, not vengeful, or evil, just...sad. She motioned to him, as if wanting him to follow her. He stood and walked toward, stopping a few feet away.

The girl seemed to be trying to reach out to him. "Angel, tell Angel." she said, her voice almost a whisper. Cole was confused. "Angel?" She nodded. "Tell him...what?" She didn't answer but turned around so her back faced Cole. A long handled dagger protruded from just below her shoulder blades. "Tell him..." she whispered and then vanished.

Cole was left standing in the middle of his room, very confused. Who was this Angel? Better yet, who was this girl? What did she want him to tell this guy? He turned to the brand new computer sitting in the corner. "When in doubt, turn to the Internet." he muttered and sat down. He'd help this girl no matter what.

Part 2

Cole was not surprised when the young girl, who he had identified as Buffy Summers, reappeared in his room a few days later. She looked exactly the same, but seemed a bit more sure that he'd help her. "I know who you are." Cole told her. She nodded. "You figured that much out." she said. "Who's Angel?" Cole asked. She shrugged and said, "You'll figure that one out too." and disappeared.

Cole sighed. He absolutely hated cryptic messages. This town was really freaky. His hands played over the computer keys, drumming up a bit more info on Buffy.

Apparently, she had disappeared 6 months after beginning college. Her close friends had not seen her since, but said they'd seen her last with her boyfriend of the time, Riley Finn. Riley had been brought in for questioning, but claimed to know nothing. Cole had a feeling that maybe the guy had known more than he let on. He scanned the names of her close friends and their addresses.

One of them, Willow Rosenberg, still attended the college. Maybe he could find her. Surely she'd know something about this Angel person. He planned on getting to the college somehow and he guessed the only way to do that was to tell his mom.

His mom had become a bit accustomed to Cole's abilities. He wondered how she'd take this little fiasco. He guessed he'd find out. With a sigh, Cole stood and walked into the kitchen, he had some explaining to do.

***

Willow was sitting in her dorm room studying. She had moved from the old room that she and Buffy had shared into a single bed dorm. She stared blankly at her history book, but didn't see a thing. She was lost in her own thoughts of the past. Until a knock came at the door.

Willow stood and walked to the door opening it. A small kid, perhaps 12, stood there. "Willow Rosenberg?" he asked, looking very nervous. "Yes?" she said. "I need to talk to you about your friend, Buffy."

Willow felt as if she had been slapped in the face. "Excuse me?" Cole sighed. "Can I come in, please?" Willow nodded and stood back. Cole sat down on her bed and began the story.

Part 3

Willow sat back, hardly believing her ears. Then again, she'd heard stranger. It was horrible to think that Buffy might be....dead, but some how, it comforted her to know what had happened. At least, some of what had happened.

Cole watched the girl's reaction. "She asked for Angel." Willow stated. "Yes." "Cole, Angel is a 246 year old vampire." Some how, Cole wasn't surprised. "Why doesn't that surprise me?." Cole muttered turning to stare out the window, and staring directly at Buffy's face. "Cole?" Willow asked. "She's here." Cole whispered. "I don't see her." Willow said wistfully. "Think about her, open your heart to her, then you will." Cole said.

Willow thought over all their good and bad times together and suddenly there she was. "Hi, Wills." Buffy said. "Buffy." Willow whispered, the burning in the back of her throat signaling tears to come. Buffy gently reached out and Willow felt the air stir next to her cheek as Buffy tried to stroke her cheek. Though she could not in reality, Willow still felt her friend's hand. "Shhh, don't cry for me. This will all be worked out soon. I promise." Buffy said. Then looked at Cole.

Cole looked back, feeling so sorry for this girl. "Do you know about me?" she asked. He nodded. "Willow told me about Angel, and that you were a Slayer." Buffy nodded, satisfied. "Contact Angel, he'll know what to do." And then she was gone.

***

The phone rang loudly at Angel Investigations. Angel was nearest so he answered. "Is this Angel?" a familiar voice asked. "Willow?" he asked, stunned. He hadn't hold from her since Buffy's disappearance. "We need to talk, Angel."

He listened in awe as she explained the story to him over the phone. Buffy was dead? It killed him to think that, it hurt, and yet, some how, he felt that she couldn't be. As close as they had been, surely he would have felt her die. He would have lost his other half. "Can you come to Sunnydale?" Willow's voice asked. "I'm on my way." Angel said.

***

Buffy looked down at her still body in the Initiatives walk in freezer. The dagger still remained in her back, keeping her down. She didn't know why Riley had done it, and now, she didn't care. All she wanted was her body back.

Yes, she was in a sense, dead. The dagger was charmed some how, with a spell that kept her in a state of death. No heart beat, no pulse, no breath, nothing. They were keeping her body for studies. She had watched many times as blood had been removed from her frozen veins Who knew why? But she would get her body back god damnit. Cole was the key. Cole, and Angel. They would help her reclaim her life.

She watched as Riley Finn stepped into the large freezer, a hypodermic needle held in his hand. "So, you're back for more of my blood, huh commando boy." she whispered, knowing he couldn't hear her. Professor Walsh followed a few minutes later. "How much longer will she have to stay like this?" Riley asked. "As long as we need to understand what she is, what makes her the Slayer." "That could take years." "Finn, here, we do not care, we do not feel, we don't give a damn, got it?" He nodded. "She won't age anyway, she's safe."

Buffy felt her lips curl in a smile. They wouldn't keep her for much longer. No, she'd be free soon and she would kick some commando ass when she came back. Starting with Riley Finn.

Part 4

Willow and Cole were still in her dorm when Angel showed up. He looked around the small, barren room and grimaced. "Hey Willow, and...this must be Cole." "That's me. I see dead people." he laughed. "But not in the vamp form." Angel muttered.

Cole shrugged. "No, I usually see the more apparition like people." "Like Buffy." Cole nodded, seeing the pain in the vampire's eyes. "Is she here?" Angel asked, looking around as if he'd see her. Cole was about to shake his head when she appeared.

Buffy stood behind Angel smiling at Cole and nodding. "She's behind you." Angel turned and stared. "Buffy." he whispered. "Angel." she smiled. "So then it's true, you are dead." Buffy shook her head. "You'll understand soon beloved." she said. Angel looked confused. "And you said I'm the cryptic one." "I'm not allowed to tell you more than that. The PTB won't let me."

Angel growled softly. "The Powers That Be are involved in this?" Buffy nodded. "How?" "That's for me to know, and you to find out." she laughed at his look of frustration and reached out a hand to stroke his cheek.

Her fingers didn't actually touch him, but still he felt her. He smiled, and she answered with one of her own. "I have to go now." she said. "Why?" "Because." and she disappeared.

Willow had watched with something like awe all this time and now said, "I think we should tell the gang."

***

"Why can't I tell him, damnit!" Buffy's voice rang through the whole place, echoing. "Do not be insolent, child." the male Oracle warned. "Oh you want insolence? I can be a hell of alot more bitchy than this. I just don't see why I'm the one who's in a dead state right now, thanks to my ass hole boyfriend at the time, who just happened to be a commando. And now, I'm being used for some kind of testing to do who knows what. What's the point of all this?" "The point, warrior, is to test your bond with the vampire." "Like we haven't been tested enough? For god sakes, I can't even tell him that I remember the forgotten day! It's just not right!"

The male Oracle glared at her. "You have a chance to help him, and you are doing nothing but complain." "She does have the right, brother." the female said. She turned to Buffy. "Do not worry, I assure you, all this is worth it. You shall see." Buffy sighed resignedly. "I hope you're right, I'm tired of being dead. Once I'm back, Riley is gonna get my foot up his, never mind." Buffy stopped, blushing.

The female Oracle tried to hide her smile. "Remember warrior, if you resort to tactics of revenge, then you are no different than your sister." Buffy looked confused. "Sister?" Then she got it. "Oh, you mean Faith. Yeah, you have a point. But I'd never kill anyone." "Revenge can twist a pure heart into something impure." the male said. "Um..okay." Buffy said, still a bit confused. "I'm gonna go wander around, maybe visit Faith, until they need me again." The Oracles nodded. "Take care, young Slayer." Buffy smiled and muttered. "May the force be with you." and vanished.

The two Oracles looked at each other. "What do you suppose she meant?" the female asked curiously. "I haven't the inkling of an idea." her fellow Oracle replied.

**

Faith stood across from Buffy as they both looked down at her body laying on the bed. "They've kept me alive so long. Why?" Faith asked, looking at her sister Slayer. "Because I had it arranged before all of this happened, right after I went into college." Faith nodded. "Thanks." "It was the least I could do, after," "It's the past. I've moved on." Faith answered with a wry smile. "So, do the PTB think I'm allowed another chance?" Faith asked. "Yeah, I'm here to give it to you. Just, don't try and take my spot while I'm out the game, okay?" Faith grinned. "I'm over that too."

Buffy laughed. "Nice to know, Faith." She extended a hand to touch the form laying on the bed. A second later the girl's eyes flickered open. "Take care of them, Faith, until I can again." she said and faded away.

Part 5

The group was gathered at Giles's apartment, discussing the recent events. "You say you see her as an apparition?" Giles asked Cole. He nodded. "I must say, you do have some astounding abilities. I wonder if I might," "Giles, Buffy." Angel cut in. "Oh yes, quite." Giles, though he understood the vampire's distress, was still amazed by the young boy's siting of the Slayer that was practically his daughter.

Giles turned as Angel said, "She's being just as cryptic as I am, and it's rather unnerving." Xander snorted. "I don't think anyone can be as cryptic as you, Dead Boy." Angel mentally groaned. Out loud he said, "Xander, shut up, and try and help here." Xander nodded apologetically. "Sorry." he muttered.

***

Two hours later, their research was interrupted by the arrival of Faith. "Faith." Angel growled. Buffy at once appeared next to him, pressing a phantom finger to his lips. "She won't hurt you, she's here to help." Angel nodded, reassured. The others were soon aware of Buffy's presents as she greeted each of them in turn. Xander looked seriously freaked out by the whole thing. Angel couldn't blame him.

Faith sat down in a chair, Buffy positioning herself next to her. "Hey, long time no see, guys." she began. "I wonder why?" Willow said sarcastically. "Will, please," Buffy pleaded. Willow subsided. "Sorry, I'm bad. I should forgive and uh...well forgive." Faith smiled. "I know it won't be easy for you guys, I did do alot of bad junk." Xander raised an eyebrow. "What happened to her while she was in la la land? A visit with her inner goodness or something?" Buffy grinned. "You could say that."

Then she became serious. "Look, I'm not allowed to tell anyone anything directly, but I can give you guys clues as to what's going down." "Like charades?" Anya, who had been silent (L.D for once!) for a while said. "No, word clues like riddles. Fun huh?" Angel groaned out loud this time. "The PTB just wanna punish me." he muttered. Buffy looked unhappily at him. "Punishments can bring rewards my love." she said. "Riddle number one." Xander said. "And here's riddle number two." Buffy said. "I knew him as a friend and a boy, you knew him as a guy in army gear, and he's definitely a corn child." Buffy grinned, "have fun."

***

Riley Finn looked down at the Slayer laying in the walk in freezer of the Initiative. "I'm sorry, Buffy, I had to do it." Buffy, who was watching after leaving the gang with her cryptic, okay not so cryptic as totally strange, words, snorted. "My mommie wanted me to do it." she said, imitating Riley's voice. "Professor Walsh wanted us to do it." "Two points for me, while farm boy has yet to score!" She did kinda enjoy her games with Riley.

Just then, Walsh walked in. "We've got what we need Agent Finn." she said.

"Dispose of her." "But I thought," "Agent Finn, here you are not to think, you are to do." Riley nodded. Buffy screamed silently. Shit! She'd have to get her ass moving if she wanted to save her real life one! She made tracks to where Angel was staying. She had cryptic riddles to deal out, and fast.

Part 6

Angel looked up quickly as her presents entered the room. "Buffy." he said. "It's me. Did you guys get my earlier riddle?" "Willow figured it out. She said it was some guy you used to date named Riley Finn." "That's him, and for the record, I'm not going to do anything except kick his ass, if I get my body back."

Angel was quickly alert. "What?" "That's right. He's going to do something with my body. I'm not sure what though." "Where, exactly, is your body at?" Buffy groaned. "Sorry, lover, but I've gotta give you another riddle." Angel raised an eyebrow at her reference to Angelus's pet name for her.

Buffy sighed and said, "It's hidden some where close to the campus. It's job is like mine, but has a darker purpose. Riley is one of it's agents, and they have a very strong * initiative *." She stressed the last word meaningfully. "I'm really disliking these riddles." Angel sighed. "Sorry, baby, I can't help it, and I know it's annoying, but hey, my buds will help you out." she said, grinning and disappeared. "I hate it when she does that." he muttered and picked up the phone to call Giles and the gang.

***

Faith was sitting on her hotel room bed when Buffy suddenly appeared in front of her. "Hey, B." she said, grinning. "Hey Faith, how's it going?"

"Good, I'm learning to be...the new me." Buffy reached out a hand and pantomimed touching her face. "Good. Keep it up, we're going to need you soon." Faith's grin disappeared. "Something's up, what?" "Riley's going to dispose of my body, Walsh told him too. You can't tell the others though, only hint." Faith nodded. "I got it. I know, they don't, and it stays that way." "Right."

Buffy pulled back from Faith and said, "I'd better go make some havoc in the Initiative." "Have fun, B." Buffy grinned. "Oh, I will."

Part 7

"It's the Initiative!" Willow yelled as she slammed her fist down on the table. "The Initiative?" Angel asked. "I thought that was just a myth." "Like hell it is, those bastards are big bad asses screwing with things they don't understand." Spike put in. "Spike, shut up." Buffy said, appearing. "Why? Because he's wrong?" Angel asked. "No, because I don't like him." Buffy answered. "Speaking of people I don't like, Angel where are your buddies, Cordelia and Wesley?" Buffy asked.

Angel looked surprised. "How'd you know about them?" "I've been around." she said, grinning. Angel just shrugged, he had given up understanding her for now. "I left them in LA to watch things."

Buffy got serious again. "The Initiative is correct, and your prize is: me." "Huh?" Xander said, speaking for them all. "They've got my body in the cold freezer, or at least, they do for now. We need to get it out, before they dispose of my ass." Angel growled. "This Riley guy is so going to get my fangs in his throat." "Take it easy." Buffy shushed him. "We'll all get our turn, I hope."

Cole finally spoke up at this time. "What's the Initiative want with your body?" "They were trying to figure out how my Slayerness worked or something, and now the problem is they know something, or they wouldn't be getting rid of me." Angel thought of something. "How can we save you, if you're frozen, and from what you say, legally dead?" "Riddle time." Buffy answered.

Everyone groaned and Buffy began. "It's a dagger that doesn't kill. It was created by a Greek god, to help another god, named Ares with a warrior who would not stop destroying his armies. It's purpose was to keep the warrior in a state of death until the dagger was removed." "Ares was the god of war." Angel said.

Everyone looked at him. "The only god I've ever heard of who had to do with sleep was Morphious." Buffy grinned happily. "One point for Angel, none for the Scooby Gang." she said. "So, the dagger of Mourphious is what they used on you?" Angel asked. "Yeah." she answered. "Now, the hard part is, getting into the Initiative to get your body back." Willow put in. Angel smiled and stood. "It might not be so hard as you think, but we will need some extra back up."

Buffy watched as Angel removed a piece of paper from his pocket and reached for the phone. He began to dial and then waited a few seconds. "Hello? Is this Piper Halliwell?"

Part 8

The Oracles watched from afar as the Slayer and her friends prepared to rescue her true body from the Initiative's headquarters. "Do you think they'll do it?" the male asked his companion. "I believe they will, the vampire still has feelings for, as I suspected, and plainly, she still loves him." "But, will they be able to finish the Initiative?" "Together, they can do more than we even can imagine." She said. The mail nodded and turned back to watch the battle to follow.

***

Buffy watched as Willow shot question after question to the three sisters. She had learned about them earlier in her disembodied state. They were another of the PTB's warriors, the Charmed Ones. There was Phoebe, with the power to see the future, Piper, with the power to freeze things, and Prue, with the power to move things. They would be useful in the coming battle. Cole had returned to his home, with many thanks from her friends and herself.

Angel came over to her and looked at her. "Do you think this will all work?" she asked, feigning to not know that it would. "I'm pretty sure it will. They said they'd help, they did owe me after all, and they'll be very helpful." "What about the rest of the gang?" Buffy asked. "Willow and Faith will stay with Prue, Piper, and Phoebe and cause some trouble to distract the agents, while Xander, Spike, Giles and I go and find your body." "And me?" "You're coming too." Angel said, grinning.

Buffy positioned herself next to Angel and the other three men and watched as the five girls began to climb down the air shaft into the Initiative. They followed soon after and landed in a room very near the freezer her body was in. Luckily, Riley had not been able to perform his task yet.

As Piper, Prue, and the other's dropped to the floor Forest entered the room. The charmed ones, Willow, and Faith took off. "Wait, you don't have clearance to be in here!" he called after them. "To bad, big boy, we're in!" Faith yelled back. Forest ran after them, managing to grab Willow.

Piper turned to see Forest holding Willow in front of him. "Piper, freeze him, damnit!" Prue yelled. "I can't, I might freeze her too!" "Oh well hell!" Prue exclaimed and quickly shoved Forest away from Willow with her power. "Now!" Forest was soon frozen where he stood. "Let's go!" Phoebe yelled and all five women took off.

***

Else where in the Initiative, Xander, Giles, Angel, and Buffy were finding their way to the freezer her body was in. Angel stared at the keypad that would unlock it. "What do we do now?" Xander asked. "I know the code." Buffy said. "How?" Giles asked. "I'll explain it later." She said and then turned to Angel. "The code is 18, 9, 12, 5, 25, 6, 9, 13." she told him. Angel reached out his hands, readying himself to punch in the code. "What the hell?"

The four people turned to see Riley Finn standing with a phaser in his hands. "Bastard!" Angel snarled, nearly losing control right then and there. "Angel," Buffy warned. "Who the hell are you people, and what do you want here?" "We want Buffy's body, you back stabbing ass hole!" Xander put in.

Riley was so shocked that he dropped his phaser. Angel took the chance to charge him and slam his head into the wall, knocking him unconscious. "Yes!" Spike yelled, happily. "For once, I agree with him." Buffy said, grinning. "He deserved it." both Giles and Xander asserted.

Angel quickly punched in the access code to the freezer and opened it. Her body lay there, code as stone. "How do we undue this?" Xander asked. "You must remove the dagger." Giles said. Angel reached down and gently removed the dagger from Buffy's back. Because of it's mystic powers, no blood poured fourth.

All four men watched as the image off Buffy seemed to meld into her body. As they continued watching, her eyes opened and she smiled. "Guys, the Slayer is back." she said.

Part 9

Buffy stood shakily. Her limbs felt numb, and she could barely move. Angel quickly remedied her problem by lifting her in his arms. "Thanks, two years of being in a freezer doesn't do much for a person's muscles." she said. "Welcome." Angel answered. "What do we do now?" Xander asked. "Hall ass." Buffy replied and they began moving back to where the air vents were.

The three Haliwell sisters, Willow, and Faith soon caught up. "B, you're okay!" Faith yelled. To everyone's surprise, she through herself at Angel and hugged Buffy tightly. "Faith, air." Buffy gasped. "Sorry." she apologized. "So this is the Slayer in the flesh?" Piper said. "That's me. Thanks for your help." "Oh we were glad to help." Phoebe gushed. Prue just smiled. "Yeah, helping the innocent is our job, just usually, our white lighter's following us around helping us as well."

Leo appeared next to Piper. "You didn't look like you needed it, really." he said, grinning. "We're used to you being there though." Phoebe explained. "Why are you here, now, anyway?" Prue asked. "I got a message from the Powers That Be, the Oracles want to see Angel and Buffy." "When?" Buffy asked, still trying to move with no success. "Now. "What about the Initiative?" Angel asked. "We can't just let it remain here." Leo nodded. "We'll take care of it, don't worry." Then he disappeared with couple and a few seconds later reappeared.

Willow raised her hand tentatively. "What are we going to do about this place?" she asked. "Destroy it." Leo answered. "And how, may I ask, strange person, how will we do that?" Spike asked. "There's a room full of explosives in the lower level of this building. Piper, Prue, and the rest of you accept for Spike go and get everyone out." They nodded and Spike stepped forward as his friends scattered. "Follow me." Leo said.

***

The couple stood before the male and female Oracles expectantly. Buffy hoped that they would do what they had told her they would. "You have done well, warriors." the male announced. "And for this, you and your loved one shall be rewarded." the female added. Angel looked surprised, but Buffy smiled. "So we passed the test then?" "Yes, all your trials have been met with suitable outcomes, and even through them all, your love still stood strong." "Trials?" Angel asked. "They've been testing us ever since we met, Angel." Buffy explained. "Yes, all that occurred was meant to be. The loss of your soul, your leaving Buffy, and then this incident with the Initiative." "Now, that you have come through everything, still as close as before, we plan to give you your well deserved reward."

Angel took it all in and said, "What?" The Oracles both smiled. "Your soul shall be permanent. We are not ready to lose one of our warriors, for you two will play a much larger part soon in the battle to come but now, you may be together, and not worry." Angel looked first at the Oracles and then at Buffy and then he smiled. "Thank you." he whispered. "You are welcome warriors. Now go, and be happy together."

The female and her companion watched as the couple disappeared from site. "Do you think they know what's to come?" the male asked. "Only she knows, ut not much. All she knows is of her growing child. Not of what it's purpose is." "Soon." her male counterpart said. "Yes, soon."

***

Buffy and Angel found themselves outside the smoldering structure of the Initiative. Riley Finn suddenly appeared at her side. "Buffy, oh god, I'm so sorry, can you," He didn't finish as Buffy's fist made solid contact with his face. "Go girl!" Faith and Willow cheered from the sidelines.

There was talking, laughing, and crying all around, and continued deep into the night. Stories were told and friendships were rebuilt. Even Xander was happy that Buffy and Angel could be together again. He had decided to leave Cordelia and Wesley in charge of the LA offices for a while until they could think of some way to arrange things between them.

At one point in the night Buffy stood and clapped her hands, calling for silence. "I have to tell everyone something. I was going to tell you two years ago, but I was detained." A nervous laugh escaped them all. "This applies especially to Angel. Just before the Initiative pulled this on me, I found out that I was three months pregnant. I never told you Angel, but I know about that day, and that's how the baby is yours."

Everyone was shocked. "You're sure the baby is alright?" Giles finally asked. "I've been in a state of death for the past two years, in a freezer, I should hope it is." she said, laying a hand over the barely noticeable bulge of her stomach. Angel knelt beside her and placed his ear against where her hand lay. "A heart beat." he whispered. Buffy smiled. "I told you they were alright." she told him. "They?" Xander asked. She shushed him and told Angel, "Listen."

Angel strained his ears to listen and he heard the three heart beats faintly. "There's three." he said in awe. "Yeah, there are." she said happily and then pulled Angel to his feet. "Kiss me." she said. Angel gladly obliged, kissing her passionately. And as they pulled apart Buffy smiled. "Everything will be okay now." she said. "Yes, it will." Angel agreed.

Had you fooled didn't I? And yes, there will be a sequel, if wanted!

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