This is An AU Buffy.
Feedback: Send it to my email, and God will love you forever. It’’s true, it’’s true.
Summary: This is a challenge sent to me by Kerrie. Angel was killed in a to the death fight with another vampire years ago. Darla has a sorcerer bring him back. Darla dies, Buffy finds Angel...and you know how it turns out.
Distribution: To all the websites who’s mailing list I am on. Take it! Anybody else...ask and you shall receive.
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Alternate Reality=No spoilers.
Author’’s Notes: Thanks to Kerrie for giving me this challenge, and singling me out of the crowd, or something of the sort. Jenn for always telling me that I write well, and emailing me funny notes, and stuff. Heidi, your stories are awesome, I wanna know what happens next. To Leigh...please write more! NicksLuckyStar, for liking my stories enough to take host them. To anyone else who gives me feedback, you know who you are, and you are much appreciated. OH, the people in italica are Oracles. Just to help you out.
Disclaimer: Like I would say yes. No...blah, blah, blah...don’’t own anything...blah, blah, blah!

Prologue

Their swords clashed in angry fury. Angel groaned as the other vampire punched him harshly in the face. He fell to his butt. He was so weak. So very weak. Why was everything moving so fast? He couldn’t stop the moving. Angel dizzily stood to his feet. His head was spinning. He stumbled to his fallen sword. The vampire smirked wickedly at Angel. He thrust his sword into Angel’s stomach. It went in with buttery ease. He loudly moaned. Angel doubled over in pain. Blood dripped from his mouth and slowly down his quivering chin. The vampire cocked his head to the side, and lightly chuckled. He raised his sword high into the air and brought it down with malicious anger, it hummed with fierce speed. The sword connected with Angel’s delicate flesh, and his head toppled off, then combusted into a pile of ash. Angel’s body followed suit, and collapsed into ash. The vampire walked away with a satisfied swagger. Darla watched from the sidelines. Her blonde hair billowing in the wind. She gulped. Her most beautiful creation had just been discarded like meaningless rags. She bawled her fists angrily. She would have her lover back. She would do anything to have him back.

Years Later She had traveled the world in search of a way. A way to get him back. Now things were finally working in her favor. She had found a powerful sorcerer willing to bring back her beautiful Angelus. Darla gleefully smiled, and her lips stretched thinly across her pasty face. The sorcerer gave her a semi-disgusted look. She was skinny, and her eyes had dark circles underneath them. He wondered when she had last eaten. "This spell will make him very weak. It will take weeks for him to get back to any kind of normal life, and he will still have his soul. Darla nodded slowly. As long as she had him back, she didn’t care if he saved little babies. She just needed to have him with her.

"Do it!" She said in a discombobulated voice. The sorcerer nodded. "You can’t be in the room when I do it. It is too risky. I cannot be disturbed." Darla waved her hand at him.

"Do it all ready. The longer time you take the more angry I get." The sorcerer glared at Darla. "If I was you I would be more patient, or someone’s boyfriend wont be coming back from a world beyond." Darla looked to the ground. She was silent now.

"I am sorry. Please. Help him." The sorcerer walked into the dark room where the ritual was going to take place. He shut the door in her face. Darla stood faithfully outside of the door. She would wait, and wait steadily. She put her ear up to the door, and she heard a faint whispering. Banging noises, and yelling. Darla squinted her eyes. What was he doing? Her palms rested on the door. She heard a loud crash followed by a groan. Scraping noises. The door opened and Darla stumbled forward. The sorcerer moved out of the way, and Darla saw a quivering naked Angel on the floor. "He’s back." She whispered. The sorcerer touched her shoulder and she looked up at him.

"Be gentle. He is very fragile right now. He won’t be the same Angel you remember. He will be different." Darla walked slowly forward. The sorcerer’s eyes darkened.

"He’s back."

Part 1

Angel fell to the bed harshly and his skin was on fire. "Where am I?" He groaned. He could only see blackness. He couldn’t remember the last time that he saw the light. "So much pain." He whispered. Sweat dripped down his brow. He began to quiver. Darla frowned. It shouldn’t be like this. She was no nurse maid. Already she was getting sick of his moaning, and crying. Dammit. Darla touched his cheek.

"Shh, lover. I am going to get you something to eat. It will make you feel stronger." Angel curled into fetal position. He swatted the air. He waved her face away. He could feel her cold breath on his skin and it was beginning to make him ache.

"Make the pain go away!" He screamed. He was burning. Everything was burning. Darla sucked the night air into her dead lungs. The night always made her feel better. Stronger. She walked down the alley way. A young girl stood recklessly underneath the alleys darkness. Darla smirked. Stupid humans. They never wanted to believe that things really did go bump in the night. The girl looked kindly at her. Darla hid her true face beneath the dark night’s blanket.

"Hello." She whispered. The girl politely nodded. "I am just going out for a stroll. I was a little hungry." The girl lowered her eyes. Darla walked closer to the girl. The girl moved quickly toward Darla, and shoved a stake into her heart.

"Well, now you are not anything." She said as she looked down into the pile of ash that used to be a vampire. Buffy smiled. She loved that satisfaction that slaying gave her. She head a noise, and alertly looked up. A man stumbled out into the alley. He had no shirt on and was only clad in black pants. He fell to the ground. Buffy ran to his fallen form. She rolled him onto his back.

"Uhhh!" He groaned. Buffy touched his cold sweaty face. He was beautiful. "Help me." He whispered. Buffy helped him stand to his feet. She put his arm around her shoulder and helped him walk. He slowly lifted his head. "Pretty girl." He whispered, before painfully closing his eyes. Buffy sighed, and continued walking. She wondered how she was going to explain him to her friends.

Buffy opened the door to her house, and Angel stumbled in. She helped him to the couch, and he laid down. "So hot. I burn." He moaned. Buffy winced. He looked like he was suffering a great deal.

"I know. Shh. I am going to help you. My name is Buffy. Everything will be better in the morning." She ran to the fridge and grabbed some ice packs. She gently placed them on this chest, neck, and legs." He closed his eyes. "Better?" He nodded. "Good. Sleep now." His body relaxed, and she touched his cheek. I wonder who you are she thought.

Part 2

Sunlight filled the room. Angel’s skin began to smoke. It began to make the entire house smell. Buffy ran down stairs, and saw Angel being roasted. She pulled him off the couch, and she shut the blinds. Angel eyes flickered open. "What happened. Where am I?" Buffy groaned. He was a vampire. She would have to kill him. She, the slayer of all people was attracted to a vampire. Ugggh!

"You’re a vampire, aren’t you?" Angel nodded. "I can’t keep you here. You’re evil." Angel groaned, and started to shiver.

"Soul. I have a soul." Buffy knitted her eyebrows in confusion.

"A vampire? With a soul?" Buffy almost laughed aloud.

"It’s true. I will explain later." Angel coughed loudly.

"Why should I let you explain later?" Angel leaned against her for support.

"I wont hurt you. I am weak. Please. Just trust me." Sweat dripped off of his brow. Buffy touched his face. His features softened.

"I believe you. I don’t know why, but I do." Angel weakly smiled, he closed his eyes. Buffy dragged him up the stairs, and rested his limp body on her bed. He crawled under her covers and a pleasant smile crept across his face.

"You are kind. Even though you are the slayer, right?" Buffy nodded.

"Me, vampires, slay. It is the job." Angel shivered, and Buffy wrapped the blanket tighter around his body. He dug his head into the pillow. Buffy walked to her bedroom curtains and shut them tighter. Angel coughed again. Buffy knelt beside his bed and touched his forehead.

"You’re freezing." Angel moaned.

"I am a vampire. It comes with the being dead and all." Buffy laughed.

"Are you sure you should be talking to me still? Don’t you need rest, or something of the sort." Angel touched his face.

"I would be lying if I said I was fine, but I can deal. I wont die." He chuckled. "Infact, I’ll live forever." His lips tightened. "Forever." Buffy stood to her feet.

"Anger issues? We’ll talk about that later. But for now, I wanna know if you are hungry? I better get you something to eat before the scoobies come over." Angel looked at her strangely.

"You have blood? At the house? Who are the scoobies?" Buffy laughed.

"No. I go to the butchers. I show them the green, they give me the blood. It all works out. And the scoobies are my best buddies." Angel nodded.

"Please, I would like if you would get me some blood." Buffy turned to walk out of the room. "My name’s Angel." He called out. Buffy looked back at him.

"It suits you." She smiled and shut the door. Angel grinned and then coughed.

Part 3

"He’s a what?" Buffy winced. She knew this would be coming.

"A vampire." Buffy looked into the mirror, and pulled a lock of unruly hair behind her ear.

"Why would you let him stay at you house? Aren’t vampires all ‘Grr, Arrg?’" Buffy looked at her friend.

"He has a soul. Or so he tells me."

"Aren’t vampires sorta known for not being trust worthy?"

"Willow, I believe him. For some weird unknown reason I believe him." Willow glanced at her best friend. She had stars in her eyes.

"Oh! Oh! You like him don’t you?" Buffy averted her eyes.

"No! No! Why would I do a thing like that?" Buffy played with her rings.

"Buffy?" Willow questioned.

"Alright! Alright! Enough with the third degree already! I like him. Man, you sure do know how to make a guilty conscience give in." Willow smiled.

"Buffy likes a vampire!" Willow teased. Buffy gave her the evil eye.

"Buffy likes a vamp-" Xander walked into the room, and Willow nearly choked on the rest of her sentence. Buffy gave her a look that said say anything and die a horrible fiery death.

"Buffy likes a vamp what?" Xander said, confused.

"Buffy likes an umpire. An umpire." Willow sheepishly said. Xander laughed.

"Get ready for a life of peanuts, and bad little league baseball, Buffy." Buffy glared at Willow with daggers in her eyes.

"I gotta go you guys. I have some errands to run, and best friends to kill." Willow looked to her feet, and Xander gave Buffy a strange look. Buffy quickly gathered her stuff, and walked out of the room. Xander looked back to Willow.

"Did I miss something?"

Part 4

Buffy brought the blood home in a double bag. She had to admit, that pigs blood was way gross. She opened her front door, to see Angel trying to walk down stairs with unstable legs. "Angel do you need any help." He shook his head no, and gave her a happy grin.

"You bought thicker curtains." Buffy glanced at her curtains.

"No, mom had some extra ones in the closet." She lied. She had just bought them.

"Is your mother here." Buffy hesitated to answer.

"My mom is not among the living." Angel studdered on his words.

"Sorry. I....I didn’t mean-"

"It’s alright. I brought home some blood." She raised her bag and showed it to him.

"Thanks." He huskily whispered as he struggled to come down stairs.

"Really, do you need some help?" Angel was silent for a couple of seconds. He nodded. Buffy put down her bag, and hopped up the stairs. She reached his step and put her arm around his back. She felt her skin tingle. Angel looked into her eyes. Their face were so close. "Just take it one step at a time." Angel nodded. He place his feet unsurely on each step until they reached the bottom.

"Thanks, Buffy." Buffy smiled and picked her bag up again.

"You sit on the couch and I’ll heat some blood up for you." Angel stumbled toward the couch and sat down. Buffy went into the kitchen, and put the blood in the microwave. "Angel! It’s finished!" She called as she left the kitchen. When she came into the living room he was sleeping peacefully. She smiled, and set the mug of blood next to him on the coffee table.

Part 5

Buffy wearily crawled into bed. The taking care of Angel, slaying, keeping her friends semi- in the loop, and occasionally showing up to class was making her exhausted. She stripped off her sweater and changed into a tank top. Why did she have to be so attracted to Angel? It was wrong, wrong, ww...right. She was losing her ability to gave a damn.

Angel had been innocently passing by her room. Or had he? He had seen her take off her shirt, had seen her put a tank top on and crawl into bed. Why did he feel something for her? He felt good around her, in a way that he never had with Darla. He felt...human. He heard her turn in her bed. He hid behind her door. She sat up and stared into the darkness.

"Angel!" She called out. He sucked in un-needed air. "Come in here. You don’t need to hide in the dark." Angel felt embarassment like he couldn’t remember. He slowly walked across the door way to her room. She sat up.

"Umm...I wanted to tell you about my...soul." Buffy smiled. She patted the bed next to her, and he sat down. She nodded. "I was the most viscous vampire when I was evil. I didn’t kill people just to feed...I killed for pleasure. Then I killed a gypsy girl. She was dumb, but beautiful. And it turns out that she was the clan favorite. They figured that giving my soul would be the best way to punish me." Buffy touched his fingers.

"Why a soul?" Angel half smiled. She was so naive.

"Because now I have to live for eternity knowing the pain I caused. Feeling the pain I caused. It is the worst kind of torture." A tear dropped from his eye. Buffy’s hand wandered and touched his cheek. She leaned forward and softly kissed his lips.

*******

"Should we send the test now sister?" She touched his shoulder.

"No. They are not ready. Their love is new. So fragile. Wait until it is stronger. Wait until they are ready." The brother growled. His features melding together.

"Why do we mess with these mortals pitiful lives?" He waved his hand into the air. She smiled.

"We have nothing better to do." He laughed.

***********

Part 6

"What if they don’t approve?" Buffy smiled in confusion.

"Of what?" He sighed.

"Us." She squeezed his hand.

"Look at me." He looked at her. " The only thing that matters to me is you. I love you."

"Really?" He half smiled.

"Of course." He bent down and softly kissed her pink lips.

"I love you too. I’ve only loved you." She let a happy tear run down her cheek.

"Angel! You’re going to make me have racoon eyes." He laughed.

"Sorry." The doorbell rang and Angel jumped. Buffy opened the door.

"I brought munchies!" Xander called as he walked into the room. Willow held Oz’s hand as they entered. He lifted up some board games.

"I brought the games." Buffy nodded. Cordelia adjusted her stiletto heels as she strutted into the room. Angel’s eyes widened. They were all so different.

"Guys, this is Angel. Angel this is Willow, the best friend." The petite red head stepped forward.

"Hi." She looked at Buffy as if to say tell me more later.

"This is Xander, the other best friend." Xander eyeballed Angel curiously.

"Howdy." Angel nodded and looked to Oz, who was casually standing before him.

"This is Willow’s boyfriend, Oz." Oz reached out to shake Angel’s hand.

"Oooh, cold hands." Angel nervously smiled.

"This is Cordelia...Xander’s girlfriend." Buffy said, her voice dripping with disdain. Cordelia gave Buffy a hateful look before giving Angel a flirtatious smile.

"Hey Angel."

"Hi." He answered. Buffy moved and held his hand.

"Guys, I wanted you to meet my boyfriend." Willow grinned.

"I knew it. You were trying to do the hiding thing, but I knew." Buffy laughed. Xander rolled his eyes.

"Why would she hide Angel from you?" Buffy looked nervously at Angel. He held her hand tighter.

"We should tell them." Angel whispered.

"Tell us what?" Cordelia loudly said. Buffy glared.

"Angel’s...a vampire." Xander’s jaw dropped, and Cordelia backed toward the door.

"She’s lost her damn mind!" Xander yelled. Buffy winced, and Angel shifted uncomfortably.

"I have to admit, it is weird that you are dating a vampire, and you do the thing they hate." Oz looked around at everyone’s confused faces. "Slaying." Willow slapped his arm.

"Buffy tell them about the other thing. You know, the soul thing." Buffy sighed.

"Angel has a soul. He isn’t evil." Cordelia raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"So, he isn’t down with the grrr arrgghyness? If we flash a little neck, he wont get all ancy?" Angel looked at Buffy with desperate eyes.

"No, he wont. But if you keep on talkin’ I may have to kill you." Willow held back a chuckle.

"How old are you?" Oz sheepishly asked.

"250 years old." Angel said, finally speaking up.

"Can I just say EWWW! That is like sleeping with your ancestors." Xander disgustedly said.

"Yeah, a really hot, sexy ancestor." Cordelia whispered aloud. Xander glared at her. "Did I just say that out loud?"

"Yeah!" Buffy sarcastically growled.

"I’ll just be over here." Cordelia said in a small voice as she pointed to a corner away from the group.

"That’s it! I’m outta here." Xander walked towards the door, and walked out of the house. Cordelia stumbled after him. Willow looked uncomfortably around.

"I should probably go after him. You know, make him understand. Nice to meet you Angel." Willow smiled. "Bye." She walked towards the door.

"As Willow goes, so goes my nation." Oz timidly said. The door shut as he left. Buffy looked up to Angel.

"That went well. Don’t cha think?"

Part 7

Buffy ran towards the growling vampire. The night surrounding them. She kicked him squarely in the jaw. He flew to the ground. "Stake! Throw me a stake!" Angel tossed a stake to her. She stabbed the vampire in his heart, and he exploded into grey ash.

Angel groaned and Buffy looked dup. Four vampires, were trading off on kicking his ass. He doubled over. Buffy ran towards the groups, and killed two vampires with quick ease. She jabbed a vampire in the stomach, and then shoved a stake into his chest. The last vampire knocked Buffy to the grass. Angel fell to his knees in pain. They had hurt him badly. The vampire, stake in hand, hovered over Buffy. He attempted to shove into her chest, but she caught his hand and struggled violently with him. Her slayer strength enabled her to turn the stake around and stab him in the heart. His body crumbled into ash. Buffy coughed.

"Angel! She ran over to his fallen form. "Are you okay?" He nodded her face full of panic. "Are you sure?" He touched her cheek.

"I’m good Buffy. Just a little beat up."

"You scared me. I don’t know what I’d do without you." He slightly smiled.

"I’m not going anywhere."

"We can’t ever know for sure. You could’ve died tonight, and I would’ve died with you." A tear rolled down her p ink cheek.

"Shh. I love you." She smiled.

"I love you too." He pulled her down to him, and hugged her tightly. The smell of her hair, pleasantly filled his nostrils.

*******

"It is time." He whispered. She nodded.

"I agree brother. We shall test how deep they love. Send the test."

"I’m betting she’ll give up." The sister let a hand wander to her chest.

"I’m betting she’ll love him."

*******

Spike laid Drusilla on the bed. She groaned in pain. "Just a little while longer love." She smiled.

"That is what the stars told me." He smiled. Her madness was beautiful.

"Angel’s blood will make you all better." She touched her neck.

"My stomach is all rumbly." He laughed.

"Hungry love?" She nodded. "Would you fancy something to eat?" She nodded again. "I will bring you the finest blood you have ever tasted. Your sire’s blood. Do you remember what it tasted like." She swayed her head.

"I can still taste it inside. It tasted like candy. Can I have some candy?" Spike touched her cheek.

"Yes love. After we kill Angel. You need his blood to make you better." She smiled.

"I forgot." He kissed her.

"I’ll take care of you baby. I’ll take care of you."

Part 8

Angel let the night air run across his fingers. He smiled. He had never felt so good. Buffy had told him that there was an abandoned mansion in Sunnydale, and he had decided to move in. It was big, dark, and cold. All the things that made a place feel like home. He stepped into the mansion and sat down on the one and only chair he owned. He was exhausted, already weak from the fight that he and Buffy had gotten into with the four vampires. He closed his eyes. The sounds of the fire cooling his tired eyelids. He fell asleep.

Spike tip toed into the mansion. His intent clear only to him. Angel turned in the arm chair. Spike raised the bat high above his head, and Angel’s eyes quickly opened. He jumped out of his seat, and Spike swung the bat. Angel dodged it, and stumbled backwards, knocking over a statue. Spike smirked. Angel looked up, his eyes watering. He shakily attempted to fall back to his feet, but he fell over again, knocking a stack of poems onto the marble floor.

Spike laughed. "Look at the poor souled one. He looks so helpless, but do I care? Not really. You are going to make Dru better. You are going to die for her. Do you remember the time she died for you? The time she died to fill your sick pleasures. I wish you were Angelus again. You were much more fun." Angel closed his eyes, and Spike hit him with the bat. Blood dripped down his lips, and his shoulders slumped.

Buffy smiled as she walked towards the mansion. She loved the way Angel made her feel. The way he made her feel special. She walked up the steps and opened the front door. "Angel!" She called. He didn’t answer. The place was big, and ominous and it loomed over her. She looked up at the high ceiling, and smiled. "Angel!" She called as she walked into to his make shift living room. Papers, crumbled statues, and blood spattered the floor. Buffy stopped in her tracks. All the happiness she had formerly been feeling slipped out of her face and body in fell swoop. No, this couldn’t be happening. "Angel," She called as she ran up the stairs. Her voice reverberated off of the walls. She was scared out of her mind.

She ran through the hallway opening doors to rooms she knew he never went into. She stopped when she reached his room. His covers carelessly rumpled. Tears were streaming down her face. "ANGEL!" She shouted, as she feel to her knees.

Spike dragged Angel to his crypt. When he brought him inside Drusilla squealed happily."Daddy’s home Spike. He’s been a bad daddy." Spike touched a lock of her dark hair.

"We’ll take care of that love." She touched Angel’s face, and he slightly roused.

"He’ll be out for awhile pet." She frowned.

"I wanted to play a few games with the doggy." She whispered. Spike put a hand on her arm.

"We have to get started, we pissed off his little slayer, and she’s out for blood. Or in our case, ashes." Angel moaned and Spike kicked him. They traveled down stairs, where a vampire with glasses held a book with yellowed pages. He pushed his glasses up and Spike dragged in Angel.

"Help me tie him to Drusilla." Spike yelled. The vampire scurried over, and stood Angel up, while Spike tied Drusilla to him. Angel limply laid against Drusilla’s body. She smiled. She would be strong again, and then she would punish daddy for leaving her. Spike grabbed Angel’s wrist, and sliced the buttery soft flesh. Droplets of red blood dripped down his pale skin. Drusilla giggled.

Buffy opened the door to her house. Willow, Oz, Xander, and Cordelia all looked up at the same time. Buffy’s hair was mussed and she was out of breath. "Angel’s gone!" She said in a panicked voice. Willow ran and helped her sit down.

"What happened." Willow whispered as she brushed some of Buffy’s hair out of her face.

"I went to the mansion, and the place was torn up. I saw...blood on the floor. He wasn’t anywhere. It looked like a struggle! Something’s happened to him!" Willow looked to Xander. His eyes were worried.

Drusilla put Angel’s wrist to her mouth and began to suck his blood. The vampire in glasses began to read text written in Latin. A glow of light appeared behind Angel and Drusilla. Spike grinned. It was working. "Keep readin. It’s working." The glasses vamp nodded, and continued to read.

**********************

"Go to her sister. Tell her of the sacrifice." The brother whispered. The sister turned her head.

"I thought you were betting against her." The brother looked away.

"She loves him. Tell her of the sacrifice." She smiled, and touched his shoulder.

"I told you she would love him." The brother closed his eyes.

"Just go." Her body faded and she disappeared into another world.

**********************

Buffy sat on the couch. Tears continued to stream down her cheeks. "I don’t even know where to begin to look." Willow touched her shoulder.

"You’ll get him back. It has to happen. This world can’t be that screwed up." Buffy looked at Willow with watery eyes.

"Can’t it?" Willow closed her eyes. A blue aura of light filled the room. Buffy covered her face with her hand. A woman levitated in mid air. She had a blue-green face, and her body was clad in a pink toga.

"Buffy." Her voice echoed. Buffy held Willow’s hand tightly.

"Who are you?" Buffy whispered. The woman laughed.

"Mortals and your questions. I am an Oracle. Sent by the Powers That Be." Buffy looked at Willow with shocked eyes. "I have come to tell you about your sacrifice."

"Sacrifice?" Buffy said, confused.

"Do you not love the souled one?" Buffy nodded. The woman smiled.

"You will have to make a sacrifice of love to get him back." Buffy looked at Willow with a mixture of fear and happiness.

"What do I have to sacrifice?" The woman’s smile deepened.

"You’re humanity." Buffy began to cry.

Part 9

"My...humanity? I..I-" Xander stood to his feet.

"Don’t do it Buff. It isn’t worth it." The Oracle whipped her head around and stared at him.

"Silence. She must make the decision herself. Do you love him enough to make that sacrifice?" Willow looked Buffy in the eyes.

"You know what you have to do." She whispered. Buffy looked at the Oracle.

"What about being the slayer?" The Oracle had no expression on her face.

"Slayers come and go. You will give up your duties as a slayer, and another one shall be called. It is how the circle goes." Buffy touched her own cheek.

"Will I die?" The Oracle shook her head.

"In a sense. Yes. You shall become a souled one like your lover." Buffy looked to her feet.

"I will do it. I have to. Take it all away. Just bring Angel back." The Oracle waved her hand.

"It is done." Buffy shrugged her shoulders.

"I don’t feel any different." Willow’s eyes widened.

"Go look in the mirror Buffy." Buffy stood in front of the mirror.

"Where’s my reflection? Oh God." She whispered. The Oracle hoovered over to her.

"You have to go. Angel is in the old warehouse. Spike made it his crypt." Buffy looked up at her.

"Spike?" The Oracle became frustrated.

"There is no time to explain. Angel is very weak, and Spike and Drusilla have him. You must go." Buffy ran out the front door. Her legs pumping as she ran. She had to get to him. Buffy burst into the warehouse. Spike grinned. Angel was groaning loudly. Blood ran down his wrists, and bruises spotted his pale face. Buffy angrily look at Spike.

"Slayer!" He called. Buffy ran towards him, and his eyes bulged as her face vamped out. "You’re a vamp...vampire." He studdered. She touched her face.

"Ya know what the worst part is? I am a vampire with slayer strength added to the equation. You just hurt my boyfriend. Be afraid, be very afraid." Spike gulped. Buffy spin kicked him in his jaw, and he stumbled backwards. He looked up at her with watery eyes.

"That hurt." He angrily spat. Buffy shrugged.

"Welcome to the pain house. I’ll be your tour guide." Spike ran towards her, and hit her with angry fury. She smiled. Energy ran through her veins like a powerful elixir. She punched him with powerful force in the stomach, he coughed and blood ran down his lip. He looked into her eyes. They were glowing amber yellow like his own.

"I hate you." Buffy pulled a stake from her pocket.

"The feeling is mutual." She raised it, and a shrill yell sounded from behind her. Drusilla untied her ropes, and ran to Spike.

"If we go away from here, will you let us live?" Buffy looked towards Angel. His eyes were closed and he was quivering. She looked back to Drusilla who was kissing Spike’s ears. Buffy nodded, and Drusilla carried Spike out of the warehouse.

Buffy ran to Angel. He moaned, and opened his eyes. "Buffy, your...face." She touched her face gently and felt the vampiric ridges running over her brow. "You’re a vampire." He let a tear run down his cheek. "Evil." She kissed his cheeks.

"No. I have a soul. Like you." He let his confusion appear evident.

"How?" Buffy ran a hand through his hair. He slightly smiled at her.

"The Oracle changed me. She said that to save you I had to sacrifice my humanity." Angel’s eyes widened.

"Oh no. You shouldn’t have done it. You didn’t have to. You were never meant to be a demon. I’m so sorry." Buffy smiled.

"Shh. It’s okay. I’m okay. If being with you forever meant giving up my humanity, I did it. I willingly did it. Now, we an be together. Truly together forever." Angel touched her face. The ribs touching his skin.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I know. Let’s get you home."

Part 10

********

"I told you she would love him." The brother glared at her.

"I don’t know how you always predict this stuff." She smiled.

"It was obvious. Hand it over!" He looked at her with angry eyes.

"No." She laughed.

"You’re a sore loser. We bet on this. You owe me the, The Night Watch by Rembrandt that I love." He glowered at her.

"Fine. Here it is." The painting appeared in front of them.

"Thank you. I’ll be taking this to my house." He turned and stubbornly walked away.

**************

"So it’s forever." Willow smiled at Buffy. Buffy nodded.

"Yep. I’ll be living that long. So yeah, it’s forever." Willow looked away for a quick second.

"I am going to miss seeing you." Willow whispered.

"What are you talking about? I see you everyday." Willow fiddled with her fingers.

"Yeah, but that’s only at night. And then sometimes, it is not the same, because you are all vampy. We can’t hang out like used to." Buffy hugged Willow.

"I love you so much Will. You will always be my best friend. No matter how long I live." Willow laughed.

"So how does Angel feel about you giving up your humanity for him?" Buffy bit her lip.

"At first, he was all weirded out and upset. Then he was calm, and now he is as happy as a horseshoe or something of the sort. He’s happy that we’re forever." Willow pulled back a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Wow. Forever. You guys are really in for the long haul." Buffy smiled.

"Forever. What does that really mean?" Willow touched Buffy’s hand.

"I think it means eternity and a day. And it has something to do with living happily ever after or something like that." Buffy nodded.

"I could do worse."

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