Summary and Spoilers: Everything up to Season 5 of Buffy and Season 2 of Angel, set after the stories "Sick of It", "Making it Right", "Forgiveness", and "Open Wounds". Buffy, tired of pretending, has told her friends exactly what she thinks about their running her life and went to LA to rectify all the mistakes she made, hoping she doesn't come three years too late. She convinces Angel that they belong together. Faith is released from prison and Buffy wants to make up with her as well. Three months later a chance meeting between Buffy and Willow almost leads to blows and Buffy realizes that she is not over being betrayed by her friends.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Not mine, they belong to Joss, though he is doing bad things with them.
Note: Unlike the first four parts this one is written in Angel's POV

She is lying curled up beside me, her head resting on my chest, and I am the happiest man alive. Or not alive, but being with her has shown me that isn't as important as I always thought it was. One day I will be human, if I survive, but until then having her is all the humanity I need.

Her golden hair has spilled out across my flesh and my fingers play with the strands, relishing in the feel of her. Two years ago I broke up with her and it was the biggest mistake I ever made. I know Buffy still blames her friends and mother for that and they certainly played a part in it, but it was my mistake.

Thank the Powers that she has more brains than I do.

I remember that day we shared, the one where I was human. I told her about it a week after we got back together. She had spilled out her heart to me and I could no longer keep this from her. At first she was furious and I understand that. Too many people, especially myself, have been making choices that should have been hers to make or at least partake in. She has forgiven me, though, and now I believe that nothing can ever tear us apart again.

There is still that lingering voice inside my head. The one that tells me that I don't deserve her, that I should send her away towards a better life. Once I listened to this voice, but no more. Looking down at her face as she sleeps I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is what she wants. This is what makes her happy. Her happiness is all I ever wanted.

Something is bothering her, though. When she came home today I knew that she had been crying. She didn't want to talk about it and I didn't want to force her. She just cuddled into me and I could feel the tension leak away from her.

We just got into bed. Not for sex (this time) but just to be with each other. I know that something must have happened, something that has made her this upset and in need of comfort. I know how much her friends' betrayal has hurt her. It's like an open wound inside of her and what little scar tissue has formed over it has been ripped away again.

I don't want to wake her, so I gently move her head away from my chest and get out of bed. There is a small moan of protest from her, but she continues sleeping. Throwing on some clothes I leave our rooms (I like the sound of that, our rooms) and take the steps toward the third floor.

Faith is sitting in front of her computer, studying. She is going to evening school, thanks to a little friendly pressure from Buffy and Cordy, and working hard to finish her interrupted High School diploma. I am sure she can do it. No matter what she herself might believe, Faith is a pretty smart girl.

I knock on the door to make my presence known. Faith is approaching her studies with the same single-minded determination she brings to Slaying and when she immerses herself into it it's hard to get her attention.

"Angel, come in!" She swivels in her chair to look at me. I can still see shadows of guilt in her eyes, but it is amazing how much she has changed from the person she was before her time in prison. She is lighter, much more open.

"I don't want to interrupt your school work."

"No prob, a break is welcome and appreciated. What's up?"

I sit down on her bed, folding my hands.

"Faith, did something happen today when you and Buffy were out? She seems pretty distraught and doesn't want to talk about it."

Faith looks to the floor, fidgeting in her seat.

"I don't know, Angel. If she doesn't want to talk about it ..."

"I want to help her, Faith."

After a moment she nods.

"We were shopping when ... Willow walked into the shop."

I close my eyes, understanding. Buffy and me had some long talks about the things her former friends have done and I know how angry and bitter she still is. Seeing Willow again ...

"I understand. Thanks, Faith!" I rise to leave.

"She struck her down, Angel." Faith says when I'm almost out the door. "She struck her down and I had to hold her back. I don't know what she would have done otherwise."

I shake my head. I would like to say I don't believe this, but I do. It takes a lot to get Buffy really angry, but once that happens her rage is an awesome and terrible thing. I remember it firsthand, though it was the demon that controlled my body at that time.

"I will talk to her about it." I assure Faith.

"Do that. I don't want her to ..." Her voice trails off, but I know what she wants to say. She doesn't want Buffy to make the mistakes she made. I walk over and squeeze her shoulder, no need for words. She puts her hand on mine and nods.

I walk back into our rooms and return to bed. The moment I lie down Buffy snuggles into me, arms snaking around my body. I stroke her face softly. God, how much I love her. I have to do something to help her.

Tomorrow.

#

"Want to tell me what's wrong?" I ask her across the kitchen table.

She looks up, looking a lot more relaxed than yesterday, but it's only on the surface. I can feel the anger and hurt simmer beneath her skin. I have known for the last three months that she needed to deal with her feelings of betrayal, but I thought that it would only need time to heal. Now I'm not so sure anymore.

She sighs and puts down her toast.

"I met Willow yesterday. She ... she walked into the shop where Cordy, Faith, and I were shopping. I don't know whether it was coincidence or her seeking me out."

"What happened?" I ask. I already know what happened in that shop, but not what happened inside her.

"Seeing her ... I wanted to put my life in Sunnydale behind me, Angel. I never wanted to see her again and suddenly there she was, butting her way into my life again. I wanted to ignore her, but it didn't work. She ... she saw Faith and questioned me about her. Can you believe that? Turns up after I told her to stay the hell away from me and the first thing she does is to question me about Faith, as if she were still running my life or something."

I can see her working herself up into a frenzy and quickly walk around the table to put my arms around her. I settle her into my lap and she rests her face on my chest, growing calmer again.

"She didn't say it in so many words, but I could hear her, Angel. 'How can you hang around with that murderous bitch? Isn't it bad enough your fucking your undead boyfriend again instead of nice, normal Riley?' I ... I wanted to hurt her, Angel. I punched her in the face and ... if Faith hadn't held me back ... I don't know. I just don't know."

She is shivering in my arms, afraid of herself, afraid of that anger inside of her. I hold her close, whispering soothing words into her ears. She has done so much to help me with my guilt and pain, I want to do the same for her.

"Maybe you should meet them." I say after a while.

"What?" She yells, jumping off from my lap. "How can you say that? I don't want anything to do with them anymore. I don't want to know them. If I never see them again it will be too soon."

I shake my head. "That's not the answer, Buffy, and you know that. You can stay away from them, but not from your own feelings. You are still so angry with them and that will not just go away."

"But ..."

"You are the psychology student, Buffy. The patient has severe resentment issues with people from her past. Recommended therapy?"

She lowers her gaze and I hate doing this to her. It needs to be done, though, or she will never find peace.

"The patient needs to talk about her issues." She mumbles.

"With whom?"

"With the people she has issues about."

I stand and put my hands on her shoulders, making her lean against me.

"They can't pull us apart anymore, Buffy. I will never allow anyone or anything to pull us apart again. But you need closure and for that you have to meet them."

"Only if you're with me." She says softly.

I am sure that is the smartest idea. I am not exactly in a position to throw stones, but knowing what Xander and Willow did, both to her and to me, doesn't exactly make me feel all kind-hearted toward them. And since I am pretty much the issue they have with Buffy my presence might just be disastrous.

I will not force her to face this alone, though.

"Okay, if that's the way you want it. Do you want to meet them here or ..."

"No, not here. Anywhere but here. This is our home, Angel. Everything they tried to prevent us from having. I don't want them to taint our home."

I wrap my arms around her. "Whatever you want, beloved. We could go to Sunnydale and meet with them there. Or a meeting somewhere here in LA, if Willow is already here."

Buffy finally agrees and I will have Cordelia make the necessary calls. I know this will probably not be pleasant, but it needs doing.

Willow and Xander better not do anything to hurt her further.

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