Disclaimer: I personally own nothing related to the concept or creation of any of the characters of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," neither "Angel" nor any of their storylines or plots. I'm doing this for fun, not for profit.
Synopsis: Buffy's brought back from the dead...but to where?
Rating: Probably PG13. Maybe R for violence. If you watch the shows, you can read.
Distribution: Fanfiction.net, Land of Denial. If you're really interested, I think we can work out something.
Dedication: For the gang at The Cauldron. You know who you are.

"How is she?"

Willow dropped her eyes to her hands then brought them back up. "B-better? It's kinda hard to tell, Giles. She's...I mean, it's like she's going through the motions. She went out last night on patrol and Spike followed her, I don't think she even knew he was there. But he said she went past the mansion on Crawford Street again."

Giles' brow furrowed as he removed his glasses, swinging them by the earpiece as he glanced at the staircase. "It is a rather traumatic experience," he said.

"I know, insert standard lecture here," Willow said apologetically, "and that's really flip but Giles, we needed her. There wasn't a new Slayer called and, hello, Hellmouth? You said so yourself that Faith was the one." She waved her hands around, mentioning that name.

"Yes, yes, I'm aware, Willow. It's just that the magicks you used could have had negative consequences." Giles started polishing his glasses with a handkerchief pulled from his pocket as Willow fidgeted. "I know you think I'm scolding you unnecessarily but you used magicks with complete disregard of what might have happened."

"I didn't," Willow said, rising on the balls of her feet to make her point, then dropping back down. "I just, well, did what I thought was best." She turned her attention to the stairway, with its dark railing, trying to imagine what was going on up there. She reached over, touching Giles' forearm. "She's gonna be all right isn't she, Giles?"

"I certainly hope so. P-perhaps when Riley returns."

Willow nodded sadly. "Maybe."

Giles turned his attention back to her. "Has Buffy...said anything more about," his voice trailed off. "You know."

"Angel?" Willow shrugged self-consciously. "Not since she talked to Cordelia."

"Yes, that was about the time that Buffy, em, well," Giles said, sliding his glasses back on.

"Lost heart?"

"Exactly."

* * *

Buffy paced around the room, her arms folded. She stopped in front of the mirror, staring at herself. Two eyes. Check. Nose. Check. Hair. Check. All her fingers, all her toes, check. She scraped her hair off her face, leaning into the mirror until her forehead touched the glass. So close, her vision blurred the reflection. Everything looked the same but everything was wrong.

A knock sounded at the door but she didn't bother turning around. "Come in." It didn't matter; whoever it was would stand outside the door and knock until she told them to come inside. They were worried about her, all of them, since she returned from the dead. Funny, they weren't the only ones.

"Buffy?"

She flicked her gaze to the mirror, staring behind her. "What do you want, Dawn?"

Dawn shoved her hands into the pockets of her lavender jeans and shrugged. "Just checking in on you. It's my turn," she said confidingly. She dropped onto the bed and bounced, picking up the stuffed cow there and hugging it to her stomach. "Whatcha doing?" she asked, then sighed and rolled her eyes. "I know, I know. Nothing. Same as yesterday and the day before. And the day before that, too." Dawn leaned forward, looking at her in the mirror.

Buffy stared into the reflection of her sister's troubled eyes. "I don't belong here, Dawn," she said softly.

"That's silly. Where else should you be?" Dawn got to her feet and leaned her chin on Buffy's shoulder. She stroked Buffy's hair gently. "You've just had a hard time and those...dreams of yours, they're not helping matters. When Riley gets back, you'll see."

Buffy pulled away from her sister, leaning her back against the wall and folding her arms again, providing a barricade. "When Riley gets back?" she asked, surprised.

"Yeah. Didn't Willow tell you? Xander called him. He's getting leave to come home." She hugged herself, grinning. "I promise not to say anything if he sleeps in your room." Dawn suddenly made a face. "Well, if you're quiet. I don't want to hear you boinking all night long. That'd be gross."

"Dawn," Buffy asked wonderingly, "why would I, uh, let Riley in my room?"

"Silly," Dawn said, rolling her eyes in teenage exasperation, "I mean, he is your fiancé."

"My what?" Buffy remembered to shut her mouth after a few seconds, though her head was starting to hurt.

"Well, up until you died, that is. You were supposed to be married last June, remember? But he got called away, some top secret military mission, then you, well," she lifted a shoulder, "you know. But now you're back." She tilted closer to Buffy, as if she was imparting a special secret. "He cried a lot at your funeral."

"My fiancé?" Buffy asked, stricken. "Riley?"

"Yeah. He proposed the day after Mom," Dawn made a face. "You know. It was the only good news...and I tried to raise her from the dead." Her mouth pulled down even farther. "It worked for you, though. You don't think we should try to bring Mom back, too?"

"No. No, Dawn, that's a really, really bad idea," Buffy said, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Don't even think it."

"I know, but sometimes I miss her so much." Dawn ducked her head. "I can't tell you what it's like, having you back," she said.

They stood together quietly for a little longer then Dawn moved towards the door. "I have to go get the table set for dinner," she said. "Everyone's coming." She grinned. "Even Spike."

Buffy leaned her elbows on her knees. "Spike," she said, her voice low.

"Yeah. Willow thought we ought to invite Wesley, you know, but none of us were sure about that. Do you want him? I mean, there's still enough time."

"Wesley." She sifted that name through her memory. It stuck along with Spike's, along with Cordy's, to an important name. The name that no one seemed to know but her.

The name of her first love, her only true love.

Angel.

* * *

"It's so weird," Cordelia was saying, as she walked with Xander up the sidewalk to the Summers' house. "I mean, Buffy, back from the dead. I can't believe Willow pulled it off."

"Well, she did, Cordy," Xander said, knocking on the door and opening it. "Hey-ho! Xan-the-man and faithful sidekick, here!"

Dawn appeared from the dining room like a jack-in-the-box. "Xander! Cordy!" She beamed. "Come in!"

"Are we the first ones here?" Cordelia asked.

"Yeah," Dawn said, nodding.

Cordelia smacked Xander's arm. "See? I told you we'd have time."

"Time for what?" Dawn asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Ah," Xander smiled broadly, "grown-up type stuff. Chips?" He handed a plastic grocery bag to Dawn.

"Oh. Boinking," Dawn said, flouncing off in the direction of the kitchen.

"Sex? Did we say sex? No. No sex was mentioned at all," Xander called after Dawn.

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Now she's gonna think we were doing it," she muttered.

"Well it isn't like we haven't before," Xander said, rounding on her.

"Yeah, well, Dawn doesn't need to know about it." Cordelia huffed and followed Dawn into the kitchen, where Willow was checking a chicken in the oven. "Hey, Willow."

"Hey, Cordy," Willow said, grinning. "Bird's about done."

"It smells delicious," Cordelia said.

"Thanks. Dawny helped." Willow closed the oven door and straightened.

"I chose the spices," Dawn said, opening the bag of chips and pouring them into a bowl.

"And tossed the salad," Willow said.

Dawn stuck a chip in the dip to stir it up, and then popped the chip into her mouth, crunching. "Mm. Cordelia, you find the best dips."

Xander entered the room. "Was that a comment about me?"

"Maybe," Dawn said, smiling at him.

"I don't know if I'd call you the best," Cordelia said.

"That's not what you said earlier," Xander reminded her.

"No, no, not in front of Dawn!" Willow clapped her hands over the girl's ears. "Shush, you two!"

"It's his fault," Cordelia said, waving a hand at her boyfriend. She wrinkled her nose at him.

"Mine? The Dawnmeister started it. I just took it to its natural conclusion."

Dawn giggled, tugging Willow's hands from her ears. Her smile brightened. "Buffy!"

The others turned, watching as she came into the room. "Hey, Buff," Xander said.

She gave him a hesitant grin. "Hi, Xand. Hi, Cordy. You look...nice."

"Thanks," Cordelia said, a huge smile plastered on her face. "You look good. Better. Better than before."

Buffy shrugged. "I clean up good," she said, without her usual bantering tone. "Oh, chips."

"Want some?" Dawn passed her the bowl and held out the dip container.

She took a chip and loaded some dip onto it, putting it into her mouth. The others watched as she chewed and swallowed. "Starting to feel like a circus freak here, guys," she said, glancing around at them.

"Sorry, Buff," Xander said, looking away. "It's just, weird, you know? Not in a bad way," he hurried to say.

"No, not in a bad way. I mean, it's good you came back, isn't it? Really, really good. Those demons were going to take over Sunnydale." Cordelia's eyes were wide in remembrance.

"And Faith, you know, gone and all," Willow swung a hand out in a directionless manner.

"Where is Faith?" Buffy asked.

"The Watchers took her back to England, remember?" Xander asked gently. "Because she killed that guy? She turned herself in after you chased her to L.A." He tilted his head, frowning at her expression. "Do you remember any of that?"

"W-was Faith in a coma? Did I put her in a coma?" Buffy grabbed the countertop behind her, using it to steady herself.

"Oh, yeah. She tried to poison Oz," Willow said, bouncing in place. "Remember? You, me, Oz and Scott went out on a double date and she attacked us?"

Buffy looked from one of them to the other. "Faith tried to poison Oz?" She shook her head, some of her hair coming loose from its barrette. "That isn't right," she murmured.

"This isn't about that Angel guy again, is it?" Cordelia asked.

Her eyes jerked to Cordelia. "Something's wrong here," Buffy said.

"Hey." A familiar voice broke in and Willow beamed at the newcomer.

"Hey, Oz," she said. She pointed at her boyfriend. "Look, Buffy, Oz. Whom Faith tried to poison outside the Sun Theater."

"Okay," Oz said. "Getting the gist that things are not right in the city of Sunnydale."

"I-what other surprises do you have for me?" Buffy looked ready to run or to fight, Xander wasn't sure which.

"What surprises, Buffy?" Willow asked gently.

"Oz-Oz left Sunnydale, during our freshman year at college." Buffy looked at him, her expression guarded.

"Yeah. To get control of my wolf. But I came back."

"But-but you left again. And Willow," Buffy gestured to the redhead, "Willow and Tara?"

Willow exchanged confused glances with Oz. "I do know a Tara, Buffy. She's in my Wiccan group. She's helped us with some spells and stuff before. Oh, and-and she helped me get the things to bring you back."

"But you're not dating Tara?"

"Dating?" Willow shook her head, her hair swinging. "No, no, no. Not dating a girl." She took Oz's hand and held it up for Buffy to see. "See?"

"Maybe we should talk to Giles, too," Oz said, his usual laconic expression dissolving into a somewhat uneasy one.

"Yeah, G-man might have some ideas." Xander nodded. He wasn't liking how Buffy's face was squinching up, how she kept tugging at her hands. She was making him nervous. "Where is he, anyways?"

"Out in the yard," Dawn said, pulling open the back door. "Giles? We need you." Only the slight tremor in her voice showed her concern for her sister. "Buffy, it'll be okay."

"No." Buffy shook her head abruptly. "There's something wrong." Her hands grasped at the air. "Something majorly wrong."

Giles appeared in the doorway, frowning slightly. "Y-yes?" he asked.

"Buffy's all," Dawn threw a hand at her sister, "weird." She bit her lip.

"B-Buffy?" He peered at his agitated Slayer.

"Giles," she began then stopped, staring at the woman who appeared in the doorway behind him.

"Buffy," Jenny said, "it's so good you're back."

The blood drained from Buffy's face and she wavered. "Catch her!" Xander shouted, leaping for his friend as she slumped towards the floor.

* *

Part 2

Voices.

She could hear voices. They didn't sound quite right, sort of like a radio, before the station was tuned in. And they weren't making sense.

"...hospital?"

"No, I believe she'll be all right. She is under severe stress, but I doubt a doctor could help her. Perhaps a medicine man."

"Was that a joke?" Xander's voice. "Ha, ha."

"Seriously, Rupert. She's, well, from what you and the kids have been telling me, she's been acting strange since she returned." Jenny.

Jenny? Jenny was dead. Should be dead. Buried in the ground, with flowers on her grave that Giles brought every few weeks. Angelus killed her.

"What do you suggest we say to a doctor? Hello, this is a vampire Slayer, brought back from the dead by magic?"

"No need to get snippy, Rupert."

"I wasn't snippy-all right, I was. I'm sorry." She could almost picture Giles pulling his glasses off and toying with them. "But it is a matter of concern to me, as well."

"She didn't remember Oz and me being together, well, not right now. And she didn't remember Faith trying to poison Oz," Willow said.

"She does remember all of us, though and that's gotta be good, right?" Xander asked. "Right?"

"Yes, she does. But it seems her memories are-are different from the actual facts." Giles again.

Buffy opened her eyes. She didn't like lying there, listening to her friends talk about her like that. "That's because they are."

"Buffy. You're awake." Giles sat down on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?"

She tilted her head to look past him, at Jenny Calendar. The dark-haired woman smiled reassuringly. Buffy couldn't return it. She turned her attention back to Giles. "I feel fine," she said softly. "But I'm not. There's something wrong."

"Yes, I am aware of that, Buffy," Giles said, taking her hand in his. "I-I can only guess at the strain you must feel right now."

"No, you can't." Buffy tugged her hand free, pushing herself up on the bed. She glanced at them all, piling in at the door to stare at her. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked at the window, the window Angel used to climb into.

"Then perhaps you can tell us," Giles said gently.

She stared at the panes of glass, sighing heavily. How could she explain how wrong things were? "When did I come to Sunnydale?"

"W-when?" Giles asked.

Buffy nodded as Willow piped up, "Our sophomore year. You came in halfway into the year. After the holiday break."

"Did I fight the Master?"

"Yeah. You nearly died. He tried to drown you but I brought you back, with CPR," Xander said, sounding proud of himself.

Buffy fixed him with her gaze. "Who-who brought you to me? How did you find me?"

"I followed Jesse. I didn't know he was a vamp then. When all of them left, I found you."

"That's not how it happened," Buffy said, frowning.

"Hey, I was there," Xander said.

"Shut up, Xander," Cordelia said, elbowing him.

"Ow!"

"Did the party move up here, then?"

"Spike?" Buffy stared as the bleached-blond vampire eeled his way into the room.

"Slayer," he said, rocking back on his heels. "Feeling a little down at the mouth, are we?"

She lunged out of the bed, grabbing Spike by the front of his shirt. "Spike!"

"Hold on, pet. No rough stuff in front of the audience," he said, grinning.

She shoved him back into the wall, cracking his skull against it. "Tell me." Her voice sounded thick and strange to her own ears.

"Bloody hell, Slayer." He rubbed his head. "That hurt!"

"Tell me, Spike, or I swear I'll stake you." Buffy grabbed a stake from her dresser, putting it to his chest.

"Buffy!" Dawn said, starting to move towards her. Xander caught her arms, holding her in place. She struggled but Xander didn't let her go. "What are you doing? Spike's a good guy!"

"Chip and all?" Buffy asked.

He curled his lip at her. "You could ask your nancy boy soldier, when he gets here. He knows all about the chip. So do they." He gestured at the others in the room. "But there ain't no call to be treatin' me this way. I'm on your side, remember?"

"You're on the side where the most money is, Spike," Buffy said tightly. "I know it, you know it."

"Hey, he helped you stop Darla and Drusilla from opening that portal to hell," Xander said.

"Darla?" she asked, trying to place the name.

"Darla. You know, that crazy bint? The Master's right hand? Your dread enemy and all?" Spike asked.

"Spike, I'll ask this once." Buffy pushed the stake into his shirt.

"Careful there, pet," Spike said, swallowing.

"Just once. Darla, Drusilla and you. There was another one. A man. Angelus." At his blank look, she twisted the stake.

Spike winced. "Bloody hell, Slayer-"

"Think, Spike. Angelus. The Scourge of Europe. He sired Drusilla, Drusilla sired you."

He made a show of thinking, his head cocked back, eyes tilted up and rolling back and forth. Finally, he dropped his gaze back to hers. "Sorry. No Angelus. Name doesn't ring any bells. Now do you mind getting that stake out of my chest before you actually hurt me?"

Buffy stepped back jerkily, whirling on Ms. Calendar. "You know," she said.

"Know what, Buffy?" Jenny glanced at Giles for support. He shrugged, as confused as anyone else in the room.

"It was your tribe's curse. He-fed-on one of the girls of your tribe, didn't he? And they cursed him with a soul."

"Spike?" Jenny asked dubiously.

"No, Angel! Angelus!"

"Buffy, I'm sorry," Jenny said, "really I am. But I don't know who you're talking about."

"A vampire. A vampire cursed with a soul. The only one in the world. Angel."

"Vampire with a soul?" Spike laughed out loud. "That's rich, Slayer, that is."

She threw a furious glance at him over her shoulder and turned to Giles. "Don't you have books? Watcher books? Can't we find out? Darla sired Angelus. Angelus sired Drusilla."

"Hold on there, pet," Spike said. "Are you saying I don't know where my ex-sweetie came from?"

"Drusilla sired Spike." She whirled to point at Spike. "You told me that once, yourself. When that vampire stabbed me with a stake."

"Why don't I remember that?" Xander asked, concerned.

"Buffy did tell us about it," Willow reminded him.

"Oh. So, is everyone clear on this Angel guy? Because I don't remember him at all," Xander said.

"You're not the only one," Cordelia said. "Buffy, stop being crazy. Unless, of course, you are, then we need to find you professional help." She sidled towards Giles, her whisper loud enough to be heard by all. "Do the Watchers pay for that sort of thing?"

"Cordy, you work with Angel, in L.A. You left Sunnydale to become an actress or something. You and Wesley and someone named Doyle."

"Wesley returned to Sunnydale, after taking Faith to the Watchers," Giles said. "He didn't remain here; he did go to Los Angeles."

"But I think I'd remember leaving Sunnydale," Cordelia said, though not unpleasantly. "Buffy, maybe this is one of those dream-thingies. Can you dream while you're dead?"

"Yes, that could be it," Giles said, frowning slightly. "A prophetic dream."

"No," Buffy said, feeling lost. "It all happened, I swear, Giles, it did! Angel and Xander found me in the Master's lair. Angel and I started seeing each other. We...he turned evil." She had to swallow at that memory. "He...threatened Willow. He murdered...friends of mine. And with Drusilla and Spike's help, he wanted to bring Hell to Earth."

"Acathla?" Giles asked.

Not trusting her voice, Buffy nodded.

"That was Darla's idea all the way, pet. You sent her to Hell." Spike lounged against her dresser.

"Did-did she come back?" Buffy asked.

"Come back? Come back how?" Spike scoffed. "Maybe as dust, the way you stabbed that sword in her." He mimed a deep thrust. "Scared Dru, it did. She ran and hasn't been back to Sunnydale."

"But you...stuck around?" Buffy asked. "Didn't I tell you to leave?"

"Well, yeah, but I did come back, just in time for Captain Cardboard to put a chip in my head." He tapped his temple.

"You came back, wanting Willow to do a spell to bring Drusilla back to you, didn't you?"

"Yeah, and scared your bloody boyfriend half to death," Spike said, showing all his teeth.

"Angel?" Buffy looked from Spike to the others hopefully.

"Don't know. Some scrawny thing."

"Scott, Buffy. You were dating Scott," Willow said gently.

"Scott?" She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. "His friend, didn't he murder someone? Debbie? Was that her name?"

"Yeah," Oz said. "Pete was doing a Jekyll-Hyde thing and it took over. You fought him."

"B-but, Angel was there. He came back from Hell. He's the one who killed Scott's friend."

"Buffy, perhaps you should rest," Giles said, laying a hand on her shoulder.

She startled, staring down at it. "B-but...it's all wrong, Giles. Even if we're not together, he should be here." She pressed a hand to her forehead again.

"Do lie down, Buffy. Rest a little longer." Giles steered her to the bed, urging her to get into it. "We'll talk more, later." He shooed the others out of the room and closed the door behind him.

Buffy's face puckered. She didn't know what was going on. Jenny, alive. Oz and Willow still together. Cordy and Xander still together. "I dated Scott?" she whispered to herself. "I'm engaged to Riley?" She huddled on the bed, clasping her pillow tightly. None of this made any sense.

* * *

"None of this is making any sense," Xander said, pacing around the living room.

"Sit down, you're making me dizzy," Cordelia said, irritated. Xander dropped onto the sofa next to her.

"What if it isn't a dream, Giles?" Willow asked.

"What if, what if Buffy's, you know, not right?" She cast a worried glance at Dawn.

"She seems okay to me," Dawn said, "except for this Angel thing."

"Yes, but it does seem a terrible distraction to her," Giles said. "She seems genuinely frightened by the fact that we do not know him."

"She was more than a little surprised to see me," Jenny said.

"I-I thought she was overwhelmed by the circumstances," Giles said, touching her hand. "However, there might be another reason."

"What reason?" Xander asked. "She's gone nuts?"

Giles ignored that statement beyond a glare at the young man. "Buffy said some of her friends died at the hands of this vampire. I believe she didn't expect to see you alive, Jenny. Th-that's why she fainted."

Jenny nodded, absorbing that thought. "It makes sense. This Angel, Angelus; she thinks he killed me."

"So. We're back to hitting the books?" Xander clapped his hands together. "'Cause, you know, it's been summer and all and I'm raring to get back to demon slaying." At the sound of Spike clearing his throat, he added, "Present company excluded, of course."

"I could go check around town, see if anyone knows anything about this Angel," Spike said, propelling himself towards the door.

"Th-that would be most helpful, er, Spike," Giles said. "Perhaps Jenny and I should run to the Magic Box and review some of the older texts. There may be something in them. The Watcher's diaries."

"Dinner will get cold," Willow said, pouting only a little. "But this is more important."

"Oh, what about Wesley? Maybe he's heard something in L.A.?" Dawn asked. "I mean, Buffy said that Angel and Wesley worked together."

"Good idea, Dawn," Giles said and she beamed. "I-I shall call him from the Magic Box."

"Need any help, Giles?" Oz asked.

"Yes, that would be good. Cordelia? Xander?"

"We're on it, G-man," Xander said, fetching their jackets from the closet. He helped Cordelia on with hers and slung his over his shoulder. "Sorry, Will," he said, pausing before opening the door.

"No, no, this is more important. Should we come by, later? If we can get Buffy calmed down?" Willow directed her question at Giles.

"That might be for the best. If we could show her that this vampire doesn't exist, it might be good for her." Giles sighed, removing his glasses to rub his eyes gently. "I only hope it doesn't put her in a more precarious position."

"I'm going," Spike said, walking out the door. Xander and Cordelia followed him into the night.

"Willow, you will call us if anything changes," Giles said.

"I have my cell," Jenny said, holding up the portable telephone.

"Yeah. Don't worry, we'll be okay." Willow put on a false smile and waved them out the door.

Oz paused to give her a kiss. "It'll work out," he said.

"Promise?"

"Sure."

"You'd better go. We'll bring by food, later." She squeezed his hand as he left, earning a smile for her effort. Dawn closed the door behind them all, leaning back against it and staring up the stairs.

"What do you think's going on, Willow?" she asked.

Willow followed her gaze. "I don't know, Dawny." She reached out, looping an arm around the girl's shoulder. "Come on, let's get the food packed up so we can take it to the store." She guided Dawn from the room, wishing she knew what she could do for her friend. Maybe she should call Tara. The other witch might have an idea.

Part 3

Riley swung off the plane, his green duffle slung over his shoulder. Even at night, heat still rose off the tarmac and he was glad of his thick-soled shoes as he walked across it to the building. He picked up his rental car and started the drive to Sunnydale. A part of him couldn't believe he was returning. When he'd gotten the word that Buffy had died saving Dawn, it had nearly destroyed him. Going back for the funeral, he thought he was in a nightmare. He kept thinking that Buffy couldn't be dead, that it was all a joke, that she was going to get out of the casket and say, "Surprise! Fooled you!" But it didn't happen. Now, three months later, as he was trying to rebuild his life, throwing himself into his work so he didn't have to think, he'd gotten a call from Xander, telling him Buffy was alive, he was needed back in Sunnydale.

Riley replayed the conversation in his mind. "Alive? Man, cut it out." He realized suddenly. "You don't mean, she's risen?"

"No, no," Xander had said impatiently. "She's alive, breathing, heartbeat, pulse, alive." His tone changed drastically. "Look, Riley, she needs you. She needs to see you and talk to you. She was in a bad place and she's, well, more than a little disoriented."

"I'll see if I can get leave and I'll call back." Riley remembered breaking the connection and staring blankly at the wall in front of him. Outside, the South American rainforest was alive with sounds, birdcalls, monkey shrieks, and the systematic electrical hum of tasers, being used on H.S.T.'s. It had been a little overwhelming.

It still was. He'd had to leave behind his infiltration of a nest of hostiles, vampires working with other demons. After his time with Buffy, he sometimes thought of them by their other names. It didn't matter; they all could die as far as he was concerned. Buffy lost her life battling something bigger than she was, he was trying to do the same as she had, protect the innocent. It didn't matter that she'd sent him away; that they'd reconciled, that she died and now was back from the dead. He knew he wanted to live his life with her. It was why he'd returned to Sunnydale, finding out about her mother's death. It was why he was returning now, to see this miracle.

Riley shook his head, wondering if it was a miracle. He'd have to find out from the source himself. With his thoughts to accompany him, Riley drove down the highway to Sunnydale and his fiancé.

* * *

The rainforest was soggy and dripping, not at all to his standards. He hated this place and had no idea why he'd let Dru talk him into coming here. Perpetual night under the canopy not withstanding, it simply wasn't the place he'd have chosen. Sure, prey was easy; the indigenous peoples had few vampire legends to warn them but there was no thrill to the hunt. And some of the other, localized predators were just as dangerous, if not more so than they were. He'd watched a panther take down one of Dru's minions just a few nights ago. It hadn't been a pretty sight. Entertaining, enlightening, but not something he would want to subject himself to.

Then there were the soldiers. He wasn't sure how a cadre of soldiers had found their hideout here in the rainforest, yet here they were, sneaking around, taking out the pack a little at a time. It wasn't good. For every one of the soldiers they'd managed to pull down, it seemed they lost two of their own ranks. It wasn't a pleasant thought; that mere humans might be sneakier than his pack, but then again, Dru didn't exactly go for brains when she turned humans. He tried to think of it as the soldiers weeding out the weak, infirm and stupid but when he needed muscle, scratch that, cannon fodder was the more appropriate word, he wanted as many vampires around as possible.

"What are you doing, my dark star?" Dru's voice caressed him, almost like her hand on his shoulder as she joined him under a large banana leaf.

"Watching the soldiers, love," he said, sparing her a quick glance. "Something's happening."

"Really?" She smiled, fixing her mad blue eyes on the outpost halfway in the valley below. "Do you know what?"

"No, just that your favorite doesn't seem to be around any more."

Drusilla pouted. She was taken with a tall, sandy-haired soldier. He personally didn't see anything distinctive about the young man, just another green-clad possible threat to his way of life. Now that was funny, 'way of life.' He pushed his amusement aside to turn his attention back to the outpost.

The mortals scurried like ants, as if their speed helped them accomplish anything. Often, he'd realized, human speed led to careless mistakes. Still, this group seemed efficient which is why he still watched from his place overlooking their camp. He wanted to find a good way to attack them, one last hurrah before they left this soggy place. A little lesson for them to learn, that he and his pack were something to be reckoned with.

Water dripped off the leaf and down his neck. He growled under his breath. It wouldn't surprise him if mold had started growing on his body. This feeling of always being wet was starting to get on his nerves.

He longed for a long hot bath, a roaring fire and dry, clean clothing. Once they'd overrun the outpost, he and Dru were leaving. He'd made up his mind on that some time ago. Dru would follow his lead, the rest of the pack, well, if they survived the attack, they could find their own way out of the jungle. He was ready to find a new place to rule. A new fight, something more straightforward than this guerilla warfare.

He wanted a challenge.

The soldiers below were packing it in, readying themselves for their sleep period. Daytime, like that made any difference under the canopy, where sunlight was a rare commodity. Still, he had to give them points for effort. "When they settle down, we'll strike," he said to Dru.

"Oo," she said, clasping her hands together. "It will be such fun."

He looped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. "You bet, sweetie," he said to her hair. She grinned up at him and he smiled back, brushing a strand of her damp hair off her face, just in time for condensation from the trees overhead to rain down on them both. Drusilla laughed, tilting her head up to catch the rain on her face. He scowled, hunkering under his banana leaf.

He hated this jungle.

* * *

Giles leaned back in his chair, closing his book with a thump. He removed his glasses and stuck the earpiece in his mouth as he rubbed his eyes.

"Nothing?" Jenny asked him.

"Worse than nothing." He glanced towards the closed door of the practice room. Buffy'd disappeared there after finishing picking at the meal Willow and Dawn had packed to bring to everyone. Even Xander's offer of a jelly doughnut only brought out a weak smile and a shake of her head. She hadn't reappeared in three hours. Or longer.

"I haven't found anything here, either," Jenny said, gesturing at her laptop.

"Me neither," Cordelia said, closing her book and laying her head on the table. "I've got such a headache. Was I even reading English?"

Xander picked up her book and glanced at it. "Yup. Weird, strange English, but English." He set the tome down and plucked his book off his lap, waggling at the others. "Me, on the other hand, I'm finding out way too much about Darla, Drusilla and Spike. Makes me a little uncomfortable. I just hope that chip holds out."

"Drusilla has no reason to return to Sunnydale," Giles said, removing his glasses from his mouth.

"So you say," Xander said, pointing at Giles. "Who knows what really goes on in her wacky mind? She may want another showdown."

"Why should she?" Willow asked as the door to the Magic Box swung open and someone strode through it. "Buffy won last time. Why would Drusilla think that anything different might happen?"

"Drusilla?" the newcomer asked.

"Riley!" Xander jumped to his feet. "Good to see you, man."

"Hey, Xander, everybody." Riley glanced around the room. "I tried the house, no one was there. Figures you'd all be here. What's your big bad this time?"

"Er, none, at this point, Riley," Giles said, getting to his feet. "Please, come here. We need to discuss something."

"About Buffy? Where is she?"

"She's in her workout room," Giles said, nodding towards the closed door.

"Hey, Riley," Dawn said, getting up to give him a hug.

He returned it. "Hey, kiddo. How are you?"

She shrugged, giving him a lopsided smile. "Okay."

"Don't worry, Dawn. We'll take care of this thing," Riley said, squeezing her shoulder.

Her smile broadened just a bit and she detached herself, moving back to the chair she'd vacated.

"So. Giles. Wanna give me a debriefing on what I should expect? I mean, you all look like things are not going the way you expected."

"Well, they are," Willow started to protest, then deflated back into the seat she shared with Oz. "And they aren't. Buffy's...different."

"She came back from the dead," Riley said gently. "Isn't that enough? I mean, I think that'd have an effect on me, too."

"She, she's remembering things differently, Riley," Giles said, shooting him a worried glance. "She has memories of a vampire, Angel, Angelus; she's used both names, who seemed to have a relationship of sorts with her. With all of us." He gestured at the others around the room and they nodded or made other indications of their agreement with his explanation. "She inferred that he was highly dangerous but that he also had a soul."

Riley scoffed. "A soul? No vampire has a soul."

"Yes, well, that is what she claims. She also says he was part of Spike's cadre, that this Angelus ran with Spike, Darla and Drusilla, before. Spike has no recollection of this vampire either."

"Or he wasn't telling us," Xander said. When the other two men turned towards him, he shrugged. "Hey, I don't exactly trust Spike to give the whole truth."

"Neither do I," Riley said. He turned his attention back to Giles. "Other than that, how is she?"

"Well, she seems fine. Distracted, but functioning."

"She's depressed," Dawn piped up.

"Yes, that too," Giles said tiredly. "But she has been through a rather unprecedented experience."

"We're glad you could come back, Riley," Willow said. "I think she needs you."

"Thanks, Willow," he said. "Maybe I should see her now." He glanced at Giles, as if for permission. The older man waved him on and Riley walked towards the doorway that lead to Buffy's workout room. He paused before opening the door, giving them all a positive grin before he opened it and went inside.

"Well," Cordelia said, "I hope he can get through to her."

"As do I, Cordelia," Giles said, watching as the door closed.

Part 4

Buffy pounded the punching bag, her eyes focused tightly on her target. If she wore herself out, maybe, just maybe she'd be able to sleep tonight. If there was a tonight. She wasn't sure how long she'd been awake at this point, only that sometime, she would need to sleep. It was the laying down part that bothered her. She didn't like being prone. Too many bad memories. She didn't even like blankets on top of her. Even the lightest fabric felt as if it could smother her.

There was a faint creak behind her, the sound of the door opening and closing from the shop area. Giles, she thought, come to check on her. She punched the bag harder, spinning away from it to throw a kick up high, over her head. The bag swung and she leaped back, avoiding its trajectory.

"Wow."

Not Giles. Her eyes widened as she caught the bag in her hands, trying to think of what to say. What to do. In this room, she was cornered. Nowhere to go.

"That was impressive." Riley moved closer, she could hear his footsteps over the mats on the floor. He paused and then continued on his way. "I mean, I've seen you do some pretty impressive things before but it's been a while." He was right behind her. She fought to keep her hands on the bag as he dropped a towel around her shoulders, laying his hands on top of it. "I-I didn't expect to see you again."

"Yeah, well, I didn't really expect to be here," Buffy said, leaning her forehead into the bag. The cool leather felt good on her sweaty skin. She almost wanted to twitch away from his hands but they held her in place.

"Guess not," Riley said, his voice wistful. "I guess it's all a little strange, to you."

"A little," she said. My fiancé, Riley. Mom would've been proud, so proud. A normal guy, not some creature of the night, cradle-robbing boyfriend. Buffy shivered.

"Hey," Riley said, "don't I even get a hug hello?" His voice was only a little joking, covering something up.

Buffy let go of the bag and turned around to look at him. His hair was shorter than she remembered and his scent was a little different, more musky. He still smiled the same though, with those dimples. And his blue eyes were warm and loving. Buffy wondered suddenly, wildly, who'd sat with her the night of her mother's funeral. She remembered Angel's hand, pressed into hers, leaning against him, talking the night through. His cool mouth still branded hers. But Dawn had said Riley proposed to her the day after the funeral. The day after Dawn tried to raise their mother from the dead. Had it been Riley with her at the cemetery?

"Buffy?" Riley asked tentatively. His hands rested on her shoulders again, big, warm hands. "You in there?"

She blinked a few times and let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. "Yeah," she said. This man who betrayed her, who could've gotten himself killed by letting vampires suck on him and paying him, this was her fiancé? What had she been thinking? Or maybe it didn't happen that way here. She forced a smile up at him, wondering how she could ask. Dare she ask?

"Just checking." Riley leaned in and kissed her.

Buffy broke the contact, stepping back and pushing at him at the same time. The punching bag hit her in the back, stopping her before she could move any farther. Riley stared at her, his expression somewhere between concerned and hurt. She had to look away from him, at anything, the wall, the floor.

"Buffy?" When he reached out to her she held up her hand, withdrawing again. "What's wrong?"

"I...Riley, I don't know."

"I came as soon as I could," he said. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you came back but I'm here now."

"For as long as I need you?" Her eyes widened as she realized whose words she echoed.

"Yeah," Riley said. "I can get a hardship leave, if I have to. You're what's important to me, Buffy. I told you that before. I'll tell you that again, as often as you need to hear it. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it for you."

He looked lost, even more than she felt. But his face was so expressive, not like-no, don't compare them! Buffy pressed a hand to her mouth, trying to will away tears. Could it be a vision? Was her mind messed up, from returning from the dead? Maybe this was the way it was supposed to feel, that she would have different memories than everyone else, as a way to compensate for leaving heaven. But why would they be so different? "I-I just need some time, Riley," she whispered, shooting a glance up at him.

He looked crestfallen, his shoulders slumping. "Okay, Buffy," he said, dredging up a smile for her. "It's okay. I can wait. Do you want me to stay here, or?"

"Why don't you go out with the others," she said, forcing up her own grin, though it faded almost before she had it in place. "I'll be out soon."

"Sure. I'll tell them." Riley walked backwards, trying to keep eye contact with her but she broke it to stare at the floor. She heard the door open and close and covered her face with her hands. Maybe she was going crazy. Maybe that was it.

But the memories seemed so real.

* * *

He led the attack into the outpost, a controlled rush of vampires into the campsite. They didn't expect it, much to his glee, the soldier boys not guessing that perhaps they'd been under as much surveillance as the vampires. He'd known the best time to charge in and the blows sent the mortals reeling. He heard them trying to shout for help, to try to warn others but it made no difference. The vampires rioted, the smell of blood rising high into the canopy, the damp turf beneath their feet puddling red. Shrieks of men silenced the birds for once. He roared his glee as he tore out the throat of one man, the blood fountaining into his mouth. Dru had her teeth latched into another then dropped him to move on, nearly floating to her next chosen prey.

It was glorious, this little war. He faced three men with rifles, bayonets of wood pointed at his chest and slaughtered them. He danced upon their bodies afterwards, his shoes painted with blood. Dru's minions rolled over the soldiers as if they were ants. Dru's mad laugh rang through the jungle and he saw her, swaying like a cobra, stealing the soldiers' minds before she stole their lives. The rampage was over almost too soon and he sucked the blood from one of his hands, looking around for more to kill.

The minions feasted, glutting themselves on the blood of the fallen. He ignored them. He'd be away from their single-mindedness as soon as he caught up to Drusilla. The outpost wasn't that large but it took a little time to find her, standing in one of the barracks, studying something in her hands.

"What did you find, Dru?" he asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. She surged in his hands, the blood smell ripe on her, the scent of her heat rising in his nostrils. She liked the chaos. She got off on it. If they had time, he knew she'd convince him to rut with her in this room, where men lay dead.

"A lovely, lovely thing," she said, turning her head so she could nip at his throat.

He took it from her, the small, framed photo, only slightly stained with gore. It was of Dru's favorite soldier, holding a tiny, golden girl close. Drusilla tapped the glass with a fingernail as she undulated against his chest. "Who is it, love?" he asked. There was something about the girl, about her beaming face that burned into him like sunshine.

"The Slayer, my dark star," Drusilla purred, "the soldier knows the Slayer."

"Are you sure, baby?"

She nodded, tracing his collarbone with the tip of her tongue. "Spike has been keeping an eye on her for me. My dear boy, he'll be so disappointed the soldier returns." Her smile wicked, her pale eyes flashed like blue fire.

"You think he'll go back there?" he asked, studying the photo.

"Oh, yes. The Slayer died and came back. My Spike was so disappointed when she died." She drooped in his arms, a wilting flower then snapped upright again. "So happy when she returned. He wants her, he does. Wants her blood in his throat. Wants her to run with him. With us." She rolled her head back on his chest. "If he can have the Slayer, I want the soldier."

He broke the frame, taking the photo out and stuffing it into a pocket. "Sounds good to me, love."

"Really?"

"Sure. But only if he gets to her before I do." He swept Drusilla off her feet, her arms wrapping around his neck and carried her out of the carnage and to the awaiting vehicle. He ignored the shouts of her minions as he drove off into the jungle. "Where are we going anyway, Dru?"

"To Hell," she giggled, her fingers dancing in front of her face. "I see it, my star, all of it. The Slayer waits for you."

"She does?" Now that was a surprise. He tried to stay out of the way of the Slayers and their Watchers with their long noses, poking in a man's business. Not that he was a man anymore, but still.

Dru rolled across the seat and nearly into his lap, pressing her face into his neck. "She thinks she's in love with an angel."

A slow smile quirked the corners of his mouth. "Does she." He looked down at Drusilla, her mad blue eyes sparkling up at him. "Then Spike has his work cut out for him, doesn't he?" Drusilla laughed in delight, snuggling in close for the drive. He thought about it as he guided the vehicle through the jungle track.

The Slayer, in love with a vampire. How poetic.

* * *

Part 5

Spike kicked over a garbage can in his fury. How much bloody worse was it going to get? He stuffed a cigarette into his mouth and lit it with shaking hands. If Dru were to find out...bloody hell, when Samael found out, Spike knew his unlife would be worth less than a pile of dust.

Manipulative prick. Liked the shadows. Liked the background. Hell, Spike would pay money himself to put Samael's name in a Watchers' diary. But that bastard was too sneaky; didn't let any word of who he was pass the lips of anyone who could carry it elsewhere, like back to the bloody Council of Watchers. Darla'd been his favorite; stolen away from the Master. Spike still had no idea how Samael had done it but that had earned him part of his reputation. But Darla did like a pretty face and Samael had that all over the Master. Hell, anyone had that all over the Master but Samael also had style. That definitely clinched matters in Darla's mind. Then Dru, sweet, mad Dru, came under his spell. Samael wouldn't stop at turning a girl with Second Sight but first he had to make her crazier than a bleeding bed bug. He tied Dru to his side by blood and pain and she lapped it up like a kitten. Darla hadn't liked being second to Dru though; so Samael had suggested Dru make herself a playmate. That's where he came in.

Somehow, the Watchers had that info. Well, about the three of them, Darla, Dru and himself. He knew Rupert and the Scoobies wouldn't find out anything because Samael took it upon himself to destroy any human who found out his name. And so many vamps were afraid to even talk about the prick. He could be lord of a whole continent if he wanted, but he'd rather do what he did best, blow in, cause trouble, blame it on some innocent vamp, blow out. Hell, the whole Dracula legend? Samael. Spike had witnessed a meeting between the Dark Count and the Dark Star once. Never saw such a blowhard reduced to shambles as Drac before Samael.

He needed to contact Dru, let her know what happened with the Slayer. Spike shuddered as if a chill wind caught him. He wasn't looking forward to this at all.

* * *

Riley stared at his fiancé, standing outside in the front yard, her arms folded around herself. She stared at the huge tree, just off the porch. Slowly, she walked up to it, rubbing a hand across its bark. Tilting her head, she followed its length, up over the porch, over the top of the house. Her shoulders slumped and he sighed inwardly. She was lost in some memory that she said she had, something that never existed. He'd learned the hard way. They all had. Though search after search turned up no information on any vampire known as 'Angel' or 'Angelus,' Buffy swore he existed, that they weren't looking in the right place. Giles had even called the Council of Watchers in England, in hopes that their more extensive libraries would turn something up.

So far, to quote Xander, there had been no joy in the search. Spike hadn't come across anything, though Riley wasn't sure he trusted the neutered vampire to tell the truth. He wondered if he should just offer Spike money, to see if that greased the wheels any. For all they knew, the vampire was hiding something, something that could hand them the key to this little mystery.

Except it wasn't that little when it concerned Buffy. Riley thought that being brought back to life would be the scariest thing that might ever happen to her but it seemed these secondary memories of hers were making her crazy. He wished there really was an Angel. Buffy could stake him or whatever, get it out of her system.

"Hey," he said, stepping off the porch.

Buffy whirled defensively; relaxing only somewhat when she realized it was him. Riley hid the pain that caused. What wrong memory did she have of him that made her so jumpy? He'd been back three days and she still was as wary around him as she was around Spike. No, less wary around Spike and he was a vampire. "Oh. Hey," she said.

"Ready to go?" He held up a stake.

"Sure." She took the stake from him, sliding it into the pocket of her jacket.

"Where do you want to go tonight?" Riley asked as they walked out of the yard.

Buffy toyed with the ring on her finger, the engagement ring he'd given her. He was happy she still wore it, though she didn't seem to notice it most of the time. "Just your basic patrol," she said, shrugging. "It's been quiet since..." her voice trailed off.

"Since you chased the demons out of town," Riley finished for her. He'd heard the story, of a demon biker gang finding out about the Buffy-bot and coming to Sunnydale to wreak havoc. The night they came was the night Willow managed to bring Buffy back. He wished again he'd been there, preferably with a small battalion to protect the gang in their mission but he hadn't and there was no use apologizing for it now.

"Yeah," Buffy said quietly. She looked so fragile, Riley thought, in her long knitted coat, her hair pulled into a tight bun at the back of her neck. Her eyes seemed tired, more tired than he ever remembered them being before. Even when Glory was after Dawn, Buffy still had confidence. Riley thought she was almost a ghost of her former self.

"So, Xander told me you went out drinking with Spike," Riley said as they walked.

Buffy gave him a long look then turned her attention to the sidewalk in front of her. "Yeah. He asked."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I...it seemed like a good idea at the time." Buffy shrugged. "It didn't mean anything. I mean, it's Spike."

Riley wanted to question her more but wasn't sure how. He could almost feel her defenses falling into place and that wall that they'd built between themselves earlier this year coming back up. "If you want to go out, you should ask Willow. Or Xander," he said gently.

"I thought, maybe if I got Spike to trust me more," Buffy said. She hunched her shoulders, as if expecting a scolding. "Maybe he'd tell me about Angel."

Riley took her upper arms and turned her to face him. "Buffy, there is no Angel. No Angelus. There's no such thing as a vampire with a soul."

She tucked her head down into her chest. "I remember him, Riley," she said and suddenly broke free, taking a step away. Her eyes flashed suddenly, reminding him of the Buffy he loved, not this pale replica. "I remember everything about him. God, I remember the first time we met. I remember how jealous Xander was of him and how jealous you were of him." She touched her neck, as if she searched for something there and jerked her fingers away. "You don't understand, Riley. He was in my life for three years. He was my life for three years. He was everything to me." She bit her lip, trying to hold back tears. "You and he fought. He came back to Sunnydale after he broke up with me and you and I were dating. He attacked some of your commando buddies to reach me. And you were so afraid I'd choose him over you, you nearly got into a fight with him in my dorm room."

"It didn't happen, Buffy," Riley said, reaching out to her again.

She knocked his hands away. "It did. It did! The last time I saw him was the night of my mom's funeral." She turned away, dashing the tears from her eyes. She seemed to see something, see that false memory. "He came to me. He came just as the sun went down and sat with me the whole night. And he said he'd stay with me for as long as I wanted, if I needed him." Buffy's voice broke. "I wanted him to stay, Riley. So much." She turned around abruptly. "What happened the night of the funeral? Was it you with me?"

"I...I found you with Spike. You were talking," he said, swallowing past the lump in his throat. "Spike said he was watching out for you and he walked away. And you and I sat beneath a tree and you cried."

"And the next day, you proposed to me." Buffy lifted her hand to stare at the ring on her finger.

"Yeah."

"And I said 'yes'."

"You said 'yes'." He wanted to take her in his arms but she looked like she might run if he moved any closer. Riley ached for her. He needed to talk to Giles, to talk to any of them and try to work this out. The false memories were hurting Buffy, more than she deserved. They had to do something about them before they took over her life.

"I said 'yes'," Buffy said, a faint smile twisting her mouth. There was no joy in her expression, just a terrible, terrible sorrow.

* * *

Part 6

Xander hung up the telephone receiver. "That was Riley," he said, returning to where Jenny, Willow and Dawn were clustered around the table, musty books in their laps and scattered in front of and around them. "He was checking in. He and Buff got three vamps this evening." He gestured with his head at Willow behind Dawn's back.

"Well that's really good, isn't it?" she asked, glancing at Jenny, who lifted her eyebrows at Dawn.

"Yeah. He thought Giles might want to know." Xander beckoned at Willow. She nodded at Dawn.

"Giles!" Dawn shouted, not lifting her eyes from her book. "Xander wants to tell you something and doesn't want me to know!"

"How does she do that?" Xander asked, staring down at her.

Dawn smiled broadly, lifting her head back to look up at him. "My sister's the Slayer. I learned to pick up on things."

"What is it?" Giles asked, appearing from the office, his glasses dangling from his mouth.

"That was Riley on the phone," Xander said. He shot a glare at Dawn, who kept turned the page of her book.

"I'll pretend to not listen," she said, "is that good enough?"

"I-is it important?" Giles asked nervously, setting another stack of books on the counter.

Xander thought about the question and nodded. "Could be. See, Riley has this theory about Buffy. And it's kinda scary but it would make a hell of a lot more sense than her going crazy."

"Oo, I like that," Willow said, getting to her feet and joining the men. "What is it?"

"Yes, Xander, please tell us," Giles said.

Xander backed up, pointing both his forefingers at them. "Well, Buff has all these memories of things that never happen. Riley's thinking that maybe they didn't happen to us but they did happen to her."

Jenny rose and joined them, looping an arm through Giles'. "I don't understand," she said, frowning.

"Oh, I do," Willow said, bouncing. "He's saying maybe we got the wrong Buffy." She froze, her eyes widening in horror. "Maybe we got the wrong Buffy."

Giles slowly removed his glasses from his mouth and replaced them on his nose. "It w-would make the most sense," he said softly. "If-if the wrong soul was returned, from another possible dimension, a dimension where there was a vampire with a soul, it would explain quite a lot." He leaned heavily against the counter. "That would mean..."

"That our Buffy is really gone," Xander said, his expressive face falling.

"But she isn't, really," Dawn said, suddenly next to Giles, grabbing his arm and squeezing it. "I mean, she's Buffy. She's my sister. She's the same person. I'd know. We'd all know." She gestured at them each.

Giles covered her hand with his gently. "I'm sorry, Dawn, you probably shouldn't have heard this."

"No, no, I'd want to know. I mean, it's the best explanation," Dawn said, slumping next to him.

"Wow," Willow said softly. "It's like, you know, when vampire me showed up. Only worse. There probably isn't a way to trade them, is there?"

"N-no," Giles said. He removed his glasses again to rub the bridge of his nose. "Our Buffy c-could be in another dimension or-or gone beyond any attempts to call her back. We will simply have to attempt to make this Buffy as welcome as we would our own." He sighed.

"Should we keep looking for Angel?" Dawn asked hesitantly.

Giles blinked, looking at the other adults. "I suppose it couldn't hurt," he said. "Though perhaps we should talk to Buffy and see if she wants to continue the search." He reached a decision. "We should call everyone together for a meeting."

"Spike too?" Dawn asked.

"No, we will fill him in later," Giles said. "For now, just us humans." He patted Dawn's shoulder. "Willow, if you could make the calls?"

"Sure." She started for the telephone.

"I'll go get Cordy. And we'll need doughnuts," Xander said, heading for the door. He snapped his fingers, turning around. "Giles, what about Wesley? Remember, Buffy said Wesley worked with Angel, too."

"True." Giles glanced towards the doorway. "It's rather too late to expect him to come down here on such short notice. I will contact him later."

"Right." Xander did an about-face and continued out the door.

"I'll just get back to my reading," Dawn said, picking her way back to her chair.

Jenny looked to the girl and back at Giles. "Are we sure this is a good idea, Rupert?" she asked her husband quietly. "If Riley's theory is true, is it better to let Buffy know?"

"Would you prefer she thinks of herself as crazy?" He sighed. "I'm sorry, Jenny. I didn't mean to snap. But at this point, I think it would provide her some comfort and the rest of us, too. If we can sort out what the differences are, beyond what little Buffy has told us, it might be helpful." He took her elbow and led her a little away from the center of the store. "What if Buffy is correct, that there is a vampire as dangerous as she said, one who might be seeking her out? Wouldn't it be best to know as much as information as she can provide, to keep him at bay?"

Jenny nodded slowly. "I have some contacts," she said, "through the techno-pagans. I'll see if they have any information on this having happened before." She laid a hand on his chest. "Rupert, there is another thing. What if there's a reason this Buffy was brought here, to us?"

His lips thinned. "I wondered that, myself." He patted her shoulder, much the same way he had Dawn. "Please, see what you can find out. I shall contact Wyndham-Price on the office telephone, to find out if he has any contacts of his own who might be able to help us." He dropped a kiss on her forehead and walked into the office area of the store. He had to use a book to find the correct telephone number but dialed it quickly. It rang two times and the connection was made.

"Wyndham-Price Investigations. How may we help you?"

"Wyndham-Price, Rupert Giles here." He paused, taking a breath. "I need your assistance."

* * *

The room was dank and dreary, though a fireplace with a roaring fire and candles strewn everywhere did provide lighting. A mounted deer's head glared balefully from above the mantelpiece and heavy wooden and leather furniture completed the scheme. He ushered the beautiful girl into the room, prowling behind her as she spun around, her fear transmitting itself like a fine perfume. The corners of his mouth tilted up. "You do not like my home, my fair Sheila?" he asked.

"No, it's nice, uh, if you go for that Goth thing," she said. She looked around the room but kept glancing over her shoulders at him as well. He liked that.

"Do I make you nervous?" he asked, placing the tips of his fingers together.

"Well," she said, eyeing him. "No?"

"My dear Sheila, you have nothing to fear here."

"Especially from a cheesy line like that. My god, what kind of set up is this? Do you think you're still in the eighteen hundreds?"

Dracula froze. That voice.

"You really need to get over yourself, Drac."

He turned slowly, seeing the pair standing in the doorway. He walked in and she trailed behind, grinning like the mad child she was. "Samael," Dracula said coldly.

"Drac." He sauntered closer, cocking his head from one side to the other. "Tsk, tsk. Come on, buddy. You're still even dressing the part. Doesn't it get old?"

"Who are these people, Mr. Tepes?"

"Mr. Tepes," Samael mocked cheerfully. "I like that." He prowled up to the girl, eyeing her up as if she was his own tender morsel. "Didn't he tell you, honey? He's the man." Samael made an extravagant sweep of his hands. "Dracula." He turned back to Dracula. "Did you bring enough for the rest of the class?"

Drusilla crawled onto the long table, rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling. "I like it here, my dark star," she said. "It's all broody and moody." She turned onto her stomach and pulled herself along the surface. "And dark and lovely. Like you."

"Thanks, sweetie." Samael smiled. He picked up a strand of Sheila's hair and rubbed it between his fingers. "What about you? What do you think of this parlor, little fly?"

"Fly?" She backed away from Samael, looking from one vampire to the other. "What's going on?"

"You just don't get it," Samael said. "He brought you here to wine you, dine on you and then turn you to his evil ways." His face changed suddenly, the demon coming to the fore. "Me, I'm just gonna suck you dry." He grabbed Sheila's arm, pulling her against his chest. Despite her struggles, he tilted her head to the side, burying his fangs into her jugular. Dracula could hear her rapidly beating heart stilling as Samael drank and finally, he dropped the girl from his arms.

Stepping back, Samael cleaned his teeth with his tongue. "Mm. Fresh meat. Well, blood anyway. You sure know how to show your guests a good time, Drac."

"You are not my guest," Dracula said. "I did not invite you here, Samael. What is it that you want?"

Samael pulled out a chair and dropped into it, kicking his feet up on the arm of the chair next to him. He reached out to Drusilla, pulling her along the table so she was in front of him. He rested his cheek against her breast. Drusilla combed his hair with her fingers, smiling lazily at Dracula. He couldn't quite meet her blue eyes. "Well, now, that's an interesting question, Drac old boy. You see, Dru and I just came from down south. The jungle, in fact. It was really wet there and we thought we ought to go somewhere where we could dry out. We were thinking...California."

"California? Why ever would you want to go there?" Dracula asked, leaning his hands on the table, watching the pair settled halfway down it.

"Hellmouth. Slayer." Samael shrugged eloquently. "Thought it'd be a kick." He lifted his head. "I hear you had a run in with her. What can you tell me?"

"Why would I want to tell you anything," Dracula said, "Sam?"

"You see, that's what I like about you. No, wait, I think I hate that about you. Anyway, Dru's little boy toy is up there now, infiltrating the Slayer's world. I'd still like to get your take on her."

"She's insufferable," Dracula said. "She and her little band of friends-"

"Band of friends." Samael nodded. "That's good. A Slayer with back-up."

"They have taken on a great many vampires and destroyed them. She vanquished the Master and I'm sure you know what happened to your dear, lovely Darla at her hands. If not, I'm sure Drusilla will tell you."

Drusilla pouted, making a sound something like a wounded puppy. Samael stroked her hair soothingly. "It's all right, sweetie," he said. "I've already heard Dru's version of the Slayer. Soon, I'll get to hear Spike's little tales. Right now, I'd like to hear yours."

"Oh, all right," Dracula said, rolling his eyes. "I'll tell you. But you owe me one."

"Sure," Samael said expansively, leaning back in his chair again. "So. Spill."

* * *

Part 7

They gathered together at the Magic Box, the old familiar group. Giles and Jenny, Willow and Oz, Cordy and Xander (with doughnuts), Riley and Buffy. Dawn floated between the cash register and the table, a doughnut in one hand.

"I hope this is important," Cordelia said, flipping her hair back off her shoulders.

"I believe it is," Riley said. "Buffy and I were talking while we were out on patrol and I think I realized something. It could explain all the weirdness that's been going on since she got back."

"That'd be good," Buffy said tiredly.

"Well, I don't know about good, Buffy," Riley said, giving her an apologetic smile. "But it is a possible explanation. And we can work on it from there." He stood up, walking around the table, gathering their attention. "As we know, Buffy has a lot of memories that none of us share. But she has memories that we do share, but not necessarily in the same way."

"Yeah?" Buffy frowned slightly.

"You keep bringing up the idea of a vampire with a soul," Riley said, facing her directly. "None of us have heard of such a thing. Yet he seems to have been important in your life previously." He said it without flinching. It was hard, but he did it.

"He was," Buffy said.

Riley hated the expression on her face when she said that. The tone of her voice cut right through him. She wasn't supposed to feel that way about anyone besides him, much less a vampire. Still. Buffy needed his help and his support and he was here to give it to her, if she'd just accept it. "So. Since, none of us remember this Angel or Angelus but he's very much a part of your memories, I thought that maybe...maybe Willow brought back the wrong person."

"What?" Buffy asked.

"It-it makes sense, Buffy. I mean, I brought you back but I didn't bring back the right you, you know?" Willow's hands twined in her lap. Oz put his arm around her shoulders.

"The wrong me?" Buffy shook her head. "So you're saying there's another me somewhere? That I'm not supposed to be here?"

"Well, that's kind of the hard way to say it, but...maybe you are supposed to be here." Willow shrugged, flicking her bangs out of her eyes nervously. "I mean, I don't think that Osirus, god of the underworld, would've made a mistake." She turned wide eyes to Giles. "Would he?"

"Buffy, what matters is that you're here," Giles said. "You are you, regardless of the memories you have."

"But...if this isn't my world, 'cause that's what you're saying, right? That maybe I'm in the wrong world? What's going on in my world? Is your Buffy there? C-can we be switched back?" Buffy looked from one face to another, her face paling, her hands gripping the arms of her chair so tight her knuckles whitened.

"I-I'm not sure if we can, Buffy," Giles said gently. "The magicks used to bring you back were not to be undertaken lightly. The fact that you are here at all is something that we must rejoice in and I'm afraid," he reached out, covering one of her hands with his own, "you must accept it as well. I don't believe we can return you to your proper world."

"So, I'm stuck here?" She shrank back into her chair.

"Hey, don't think of it as stuck, Buff," Xander protested. "We're still us and we still love you."

"Just because there's one vampire out of hundreds who doesn't seem to be here, that really doesn't matter, does it?" Cordelia asked. "I mean, what difference does one vampire make?"

Buffy bolted from her seat. "You don't understand," she said, standing at the edge of their circle, just out of reach. "Angel and I...he was important. He cared for all of us." She hesitated when she glanced at Riley and shivered. "There isn't any way I can go back?" she asked weakly.

"I-I'm afraid not, no," Giles said, removing his glasses and looking at his hands. "We will assist you in any way possible, Buffy. Do not think we won't. We are your friends and, well, your family since your mother died."

"And we need you." Dawn went to Buffy and wrapped her arms around Buffy's waist, leaning her head on Buffy's shoulder. "You're still my sister. It doesn't matter what happened in the past, you're you. You'll always be you. I mean, we share blood, right?"

Buffy cautiously slid an arm around Dawn's waist, biting her lower lip. "Yeah, we've got Summers' blood," she said, pressing her cheek on Dawn's glossy hair. "We're strong." Her eyes met Riley's and he smiled reassuringly. Buffy didn't return the grin, her expression guarded and worried.

"There is another possibility, Buffy," Giles said.

She and Dawn turned to him. "What is it?" Buffy asked.

"I-I spoke with Wesley earlier today, to ask if he'd heard of a vampire named Angel. He had not but I explained Riley's theory to him. He said that he might be able to help you."

"Wesley?" Cordelia scoffed. "How in the world would that dweeb be able to help?"

"And you used to have such a crush on him," Xander needled.

"Oh, shut up." She smacked his chest lightly. "Giles?"

"It seems," Giles said, cleaning his glasses, "that Wesley knows of a demon karaoke bar. The host, whom he knows rather well and trusts," he pointed one of the earpieces at Buffy and Dawn, "is a psychic. He thought that maybe you would want to speak with the host, Buffy."

"Psychic?" Buffy asked, sounding dazed. "A psychic demon? Wesley's working with demons now?"

"Yes. Again, he does trust this demon. He said he's been in the demon's home dimension and returned safely. He'd be willing to introduce you if you're at all interested."

"Buffy?" Riley asked, when she didn't speak up after a few minutes.

Her head lifted, her eyes clear. "Yeah. Tell Wesley I'm coming to L.A., Giles."

"I shall call him tomorrow," Giles said. "In the meantime, I would suggest we all return to our respective homes and try to rest." He got to his feet, assisting Jenny. "Buffy, I shall call you tomorrow with Wesley's answer."

She nodded. "Good. Thanks, Giles."

"Of course, Buffy." He smiled at her reassuringly. "Now go home, get some rest."

She and Dawn started for the door, Buffy disengaging herself from Dawn and looking back at her friends. "I-I don't really know what to say," she murmured. "I mean...you don't think I'm crazy?"

"No," Xander said, standing up and going to Buffy, giving her a hug. "Just a little mixed up. Who wouldn't be, if what Riley says is true? It doesn't matter though." Xander let her go but kept his hands on her shoulders. "Dawn's right. You're you, no matter what."

"Thanks, Xander." Buffy hugged him then, so strongly he yelped.

"Ribs. Need those to live."

"Oops. Sorry." Buffy let him go sheepishly and patted his chest in apology.

"S'okay. I'm sure I'll be able to breathe deeply again in a few days."

"Ignore him, Buffy," Cordelia said. "Things will work out." She reached out and tucked a strand of loose hair behind Buffy's ear. "It'll be okay."

Buffy stared at Cordelia as if in complete shock as the brunette walked past her, Xander in her wake. Willow and Oz stood as well. "Let's get you ladies home," Oz said. "And Buffy? You're still ubercool."

"Thanks, Oz." She glanced at Riley, who nodded, following the others out the door. Giles and Jenny came last, locking up the store. "You'll call tomorrow?" she asked Giles again.

"As soon as I hear from Wesley," Giles promised.

"Thanks." Buffy climbed into Oz's van and Riley piled in after her, sliding the door closed. Dawn sat behind Oz though she smiled at Buffy and took one of her hands. Buffy squeezed her sister's hand in return.

"It'll be okay, Buffy. I promise," Dawn said.

Riley just hoped the girl was right.

* * *

The Bronze was jumping, almost literally, Dingoes Ate My Baby playing on stage and dancers hopping around as if they were on pogo sticks. Buffy bounced off one, then another, before she made her way to the table with her friends. Willow waggled her fingers excitedly from her seat next to Xander, with Cordy on his other side. "Hey, Buffy!" Willow said excitedly. "Saved you a seat." She gestured expansively towards a huge throne made of bones, with skulls as the armrests.

"Uh, that's not really mine, is it?" Buffy asked, eyeing it cautiously.

"Oh, come on, Buff. Sometimes a chair is just a chair," Xander said. He offered her a hand to lead her up to the throne.

"But not that kind of chair," Buffy said, pulling back.

"Come on, Buff. You know you want to."

That voice. Buffy jerked her head up, noticing a second throne next to the first. A familiar figure dropped both feet onto the floor and leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. A smile quirked up the corner of his mouth and his eyes, the only thing that seemed at all alive in him, sparkled darkly. "A-angel?"

He considered this question. "Wrong."

"Angelus."

"Still wrong."

Buffy stared at him, feeling Xander tugging at her, trying to pull her onto the dais with him. Drusilla prowled around from the back of the throne, sucking blood off her fingers. Spike appeared on the other side; an unholy trinity she recognized all too well. "Not again," she said softly.

Angelus leaped off his throne, a predator attacking his prey, bowling Xander over to get to her. She could see the Willow and Cordelia, picking Xander up, brushing him off then Angelus blotted out her sight of everything else. He took her shoulders in his hands, leaning in close. "Everything happens for a reason, Buff," he said, his palms sliding up to cup her face.

Buffy woke with a cry, staring around the room in horror. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, an after-effect of the nightmare. Rolling from her bed, she turned on the light, wrapping her arms around herself. Nothing wrong in the room, nothing but she had to get out of it. Fumbling with the knob, she manage to open the door and pinballed off the walls as she made her way down the stairs. Not quite thinking, she opened the front door, stumbling out into the night.

Cool air hit her face and she sucked at it like it was water, goose pimples popping up on her arms. Somewhere, in the distance, a dog barked and she could hear the faint sounds of traffic on one of the busier streets. She pattered down the porch, rumpling her hair with her hands.

"Buffy?"

She whirled, hands falling automatically into a defensive position. "R-riley?"

"It's me," he said. He started to reach for her and hesitated. "Are you okay?"

Riley. Riley'd been sleeping on the couch. Right. She knew that. "I had a dream," Buffy said, relaxing her stance. She looked around, her eyes lighting on the tree again. Her face crumpled and she sniffed, hard.

"Buffy, come on. It's chilly out here." Riley offered her his hand. "Come on inside, I'll make you some hot chocolate."

She heaved a sigh, shuffling to him. Riley didn't quite touch her as he shepherded her back up the porch and into the house, closing the door behind them.

Spike watched the interchange from his spot in the bushes. The Slayer was all messed up. She'd be easy prey. Didn't trust her G.I. Joe anymore, wasn't sure about her friends. That just left him. And he thought she might be ripe for the picking.

Smiling wryly, Spike turned on his heel and walked off into the night.

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