"Buffy! Buffy! Wait up for me!" Riley called as he spotted the petite Slayer who was walking on the other side of the campus.

*Oh God, he saw me. Shit! Okay, pretend like I don't see him and run!* Buffy thought as she quickened her step.

Riley broke into a run after her. "Whoa! I finally caught up to you!" He said, grinning like an idiot.

"You sure did," Buffy agreed, plastering a phony smile on her face to keep herself from showing how ill he was making her feel. *God, did his Mom sleep with an ape or something? And that hair.ew!*

So where you headed?" He asked. "Could I, uh, walk you there? I mean, you said you'd teach me stuff, remember?" He added with a wink, trying to look cool.

"I did?" Buffy asked, confused. Then she remembered. *See, Buffy. That's what happens when you're nice and pity people like Riley. You ought to know better by now!* She chided herself.

"Yeah, or you know, I could, well, take you for a drive."

*No!!!* Her mind screamed. *Get out now!* She quickly agreed. "You know what, Fish, um, Riley? I don't have time. I have to hurry or else I'll be late for, uh, class. Bye!" She quickly ran off, ducking behind a building. "Thank God," she murmured. "Will he just leave me alone already?"

*****

"Angel," Kate said, her voice sickeningly syrupy as she hung off of his arm. "How some you don't come by the station so much anymore?"

*This is why,* he thought as he fought back the instinct telling him to just snap the damn annoying bitch's neck. "Um.case, big case. Been busy," he answered.

"I could've helped," she whined. "You should have asked me to help."

"Sorry.I didn't think of that," he muttered, trying to spare her feelings. *Stake me now.please!*

"Angel?" Cordelia's voice cut off Kate's next whine.

Angel shot Cordelia a grateful glance and, prying Kate loose from his arm, responded "Yeah?"

"Phone, it's Giles," she told him with a jerk of her thumb in the phone's direction.

He practically ran for the phone. "Hello?" He answered when he got there, then listened intently to the other side.

Meanwhile Cordelia was now stuck with Ms. Cling.

"Isn't Angel such a nice guy?" Kate gushed in a high-pitched, overly sweet voice. "And he's so, well, you know what I mean," she added, wiggling her eyebrows.

Cordelia groaned. *What the Hell is her problem? Why can't she just leave us alone?*

"So I was thinking of getting Angel to take me out to dinner," Kate continued, her shrill voice breaking into Cordelia's thoughts.

Cordelia couldn't hold back the laugh. "You're joking, right?"

Kate looked offended. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that you've got no chance!" Cordelia exclaimed. "And would it kill you to wear the slightest bit of foundation? You're skin tone is horrible! .And when was the last time you washed you hair?"

Kate's lower lip trembled. *Oh God, please don't let her cry!* Cordy prayed. No luck.

"You're mean!" Kate sobbed as she broke into tears.

"So I've been told," she muttered. *What's taking Angel so long?* She wondered. "I'll be right back," she told Kate as she slipped out.

Angel was nowhere to be seen. A yellow post-it stuck to the phone caught her eye. *Shit!* She though as she read it. "He's going to Sunnydale? Stupid demons. Who does he think he is? Sticking me with Kate?! Don't tell her? Like I would! I'll just get her to leave." Cordelia complained.

"Cordelia?" Kate's voice stopped her.

"What?!" She exploded, whirling to face her.

"Where's Sunnydale? 'Cause you know, I've got this gun."

Cordelia weakly told her how to get there.

*****

Angel reached Sunnydale with an hour to go before dawn. Soon he reached Giles' house, for the second time in two weeks. He got out and knocked on the door. A weary looking Giles answered it.

"Angel, please come in," he said, opening the door.

"Thanks," he answered, stepping in.

"What's he doing here?" Asked Spike from his place tied to the chair.

"What's Spike doing tied to a chair?" Angel wondered out loud.

"There's a demon in town who Buffy will need help dealing with," Giles informed Spike. "And he has to be kept from escaping."

"Okay." They both answered.

Spike let out a short laugh. "Poor Buffy-whipped Angelus comes a' running every time she breaks a nail," he taunted.

"You were quite 'Buffy-whipped' yourself, not two days ago," Giles interrupted dryly.

"What?" Angel growled.

Spike growled too. "It was the damn spell!"

Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, then put them back on. "You can stay here, Angel. Then you and Buffy can look for this demon tomorrow night, all right?"

Angel nodded, sitting down on the couch.

*****

Buffy quickly jumped up at the bell and blended into the crowd leaving her Psyche Class so that Riley wouldn't see her.

"Hey," Willow said, walking beside her. "Where are you in such a hurry to?"

"Just trying to keep Riley from seeing me," she admitted.

"Oh, he has been getting really annoying, hasn't he?"

"Yes!" Buffy agreed. "I'm going to go to Giles' now. He told me that I should stop by some time today. Do you want to come?"

The redheaded witch shook her head. "I've got another class now, sorry."

Buffy shrugged. "It's okay. See you later."

"Bye!"

*****

Buffy walked though Giles' door, which tended to be unlocked in the afternoon.

"Hey Giles!" She called. "What's the - Angel, what are you doing here?"

Giles stepped out from the kitchen. "Uh, hello, Buffy. I didn't expect you back so soon."

"Okay, explain. Now."

"There's a demon in town, Buffy," Giles explained. "Though I have no doubt that you're stronger than he is, he's quite difficult to kill, especially alone. I asked Angel to come help you."

Buffy nodded. She knew she should be mad that no one had said anything earlier, but she couldn't be. She was just grateful to have an excuse to be with Angel. "So then you're coming with me on patrol tonight?" She asked, looking at Angel.

"Oh God, there you two go with the googly eyes again," Spike groaned.

"Shut up!" They both exclaimed at once.

*****

Buffy and Angel were outside on patrol. They had just begun to talk when a shrill voice broke through the calm atmosphere.

"Angel! Angel, I've found you!" Kate crowed, running towards them.

Buffy and Angel both winced. "Who's that?" Buffy whispered in a voice that was melodious after Kate's screeching.

"Kate, ignore her and maybe she'll go away," Angel answered.

Buffy laughed until she realized that he hadn't been joking.

Kate stopped in front of them, putting her hands on her hips. "Who are you?" She asked pointedly, gesturing towards Angel. "You'd better not be putting the moves on my Angel."

"Your Angel?" Buffy echoed, unbelieving. She looked at Angel, eyebrows raised.

Before Angel could deny it, Kate broke in. "Yes, myAngel. You think you can take me, girly?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, you blond floozy! Try to take my man, why don't you?" Kate exploded in a whiny voice as she pushed Buffy backwards.

Or at least attempted to. The blonde slayer didn't move an inch.

"First of all," she said, whipping her hands up and sending Kate flying. "I'm not a floozy, but you are a freaking slutty-faced whore! And I'm not trying to steal Angel, but you can bet that if I was you wouldn't be able to stop me!"

Kate tried to stand up, upset. "How can you say that?" She whined. "Angel, tell her she's wrong! "Angel?"

She looked up to see Angel, his arms wrapped Buffy, hands resting on her stomach, nuzzling her neck. Buffy was leaning back into him, her arms coming up to wrap around his neck.

"Angel!" Kate cried at the top of her lungs.

Buffy glared at her. "What is your problem?! Can't you see that we're busy?!"

Kate sniffled. "Get away from him! He's mine!"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Right. And I'm in love with Riley."

Kate looked confused for a minute before she go it. "Hey!" She ran at them angrily, crashing into Buffy and Angel.

Buffy dusted herself off. "Okay, now I'm mad. Can you not see that we were in the middle of a touching reunion?" She marched towards Kate purposefully.

"I'm not scared of you!" Kate declared.

Buffy took a mock step forward quickly and Kate jumped back with a shriek. Buffy laughed.

"Don't hurt me," Kate begged, whimpering and straining their ears.

Buffy looked back at Angel. "Angel?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"Would you be upset if." She trailed off, he knew exactly what she meant and there was no reason to continue.

"Of course not!" He exclaimed. "Please do. Me and Cordelia would be forever grateful." He smiled. "But I'd show it best."

Buffy smiled. "Thank you," she chimed. She turned back to Kate. "You heard the man."

Kate began stepping backwards nervously then tripped over a stick in the grass. She fell flat on her butt and began to cry.

"Oh, don't cry, Kate," Buffy said.

Kate looked up at her teary-eyed. "Really?" She asked, high-pitched and hopeful. "You care?"

"Of course not!" Buffy snapped. "But if you start crying now how will I know which tears I've caused?" Buffy asked with a smirk as she slid into a roundhouse kick, hitting Kate across the cheek and knocking her down.

Kate cried out as she hit the ground. "Ow! Okay, I-" she had been about to give up when the voices in her head spoke to her.

::Don't give up, Queen Kate! You are one with the daisy tree! Remember the words of the wise Barbie doll. Fight in Barney's name!::

Kate forced herself to her feet. "In Barney's name," she echoed, lifting her head high.

"Okay," Buffy said, regarding the ugly girl oddly before sending a rain of rapid fire punches at her, She hit her in the head, the chest, her limbs, every where she could hit! Kate dropped like a sack of potatoes. She held her arms over her head, her newfound resolve gone and whimpered. "Don't do that now, I just started!"

Angel watched in admiration and love of his beautiful blond slayer. She really had his heart!

Buffy grabbed Kate by the hair and yanked her to her feet. Again, the voices in Kate's head spoke to her.

::Be strong, like the mulberry bush! Everything must burn like the Charmander's tail! Do not be afraid, use the people blaster!::

Kate pulled out her gun as she was thrown to the ground. She pointed it at Buffy. "Die!" She screamed. She pulled the trigger. Nothing. She did it again. Still nothing. Screaming like a banshee, she knelt and flung it at Buffy like a Japanese star. "Hoi!" She yelled.

Buffy caught it easily. "Should take the safety off next time," she advised with a smirk. She tossed the gun to Angel, who pocketed it.

"Now, Kate," she said, her voice like ice. "You will stop with the crazy antics, won't you?"

Kate whimpered, jumped to her feet and ran. Buffy caught her in no time. She backhanded her and she flew right into the tree. Kate was out like a light.

"That was over fast." Buffy pouted.

"That's just 'cause you're so good," Angel assured her.

"Really?"

Angel nodded. He glanced over at Kate. "What do you want to do with her?"

Buffy shrugged. "Let's just leave her. We'll worry about it.well, never."

Angel took her hand in his and they walked away together.

*****

They were still out patrolling together when, for the second time that night, an annoying voice interrupted them.

"Buffy!" Riley yelled, catching up to them. "There's my girl!"

*I'm not a dog!* Buffy wanted to yell.

Angel raised his eyebrows. "Your girl?"

"Yes, my girl," Riley stated, sounding so sure of himself that Buffy couldn't help rolling her eyes.

Angel laughed. *The audacity of it! This-this, I don't why but the word "fish boy" springs to mind, is claiming Buffy? It's laughable!* Impulsively, Angel grabbed Buffy around the waist, drew her to him, and kissed her passionately.

"Hey!" Riley yelled.

Angel, without lifting his lips from Buffy's, shot out his fist, back fisting Riley away. Riley tumbled back.

After a few minutes that felt like mere seconds, Buffy and Angel released each other. They shared a secret smile.

Angel turned and glared at Riley. "Get lost before I get angry," he told him coldly.

"Not without Buffy," Riley responded stubbornly.

"You think-" Buffy started but Angel cut her off.

"You think you can have her?" He hissed.

Riley nodded. "I know I can!" He exclaimed confidently. "I can have any girl I want! My mommy told me so. She said, 'Riley, can you name a single girl who'd turn you down?' And of course I couldn't because there aren't any."

Buffy smirked. "Buffy Summers," she laughed. "And your mommy?"

"But you're my girl!" Riley protested, before falling to the ground as Angel's strong fist slammed into his jaw.

"Wrong!" Angel exclaimed.

Riley stood up, rubbing his jaw. "You try that again and you'll have to face The Initiative!"

"The Initiative," Angel echoed in a mocking voice.

"You laugh now, but when we contain you you'll be sorry!" Riley threatened.

"Initiative? As in I'm-a-GI Joe-wannabe people?" Buffy exclaimed in disbelief.

"You've seen us before?" Riley asked weakly.

"You're losers! And how dare you threaten to contain my friends?"

"He threatened your friends?" Angel asked, getting angrier and angrier by the second. He wasn't usually so violent, but this was Buffy! And the guy was more pathetic than anything he'd ever seen before!

Buffy nodded. "He and his friends wanted to catch Willow 'cause she saw Spike and now you!"

"Spike? You mean Hostile 17?" Riley piped in, managing to put two and two together. They both glared at him. "Wait.you wanted to marry Hostile 17?" He asked in the only case of semi-intelligence he'd ever experienced or ever would.

"Don't ask," Buffy told Angel before he could. "Just hurt him.please?" She looked at him with pleading eyes and Angel couldn't resist. Besides which, the kid was driving him crazy too!

Angel vamped out and, grabbing Riley around the throat, lifted him up.

"You're a vampire!"

"Really? Hadn't noticed that." Angel commented dryly.

When he realized that Angel's grip was tightening, he began to cry like the momma's boy he was. "Please, I'm too beautiful to die!" He cried.

"Oh God, is he vain or what!" Buffy exclaimed with disgust.

Angel yanked Riley downwards at the same time as he brought his knee up, slamming it into Riley's crotch. Riley only winced slightly.

"Damn! I forgot! It won't work!" Angel cursed.

"Why not?" Buffy asked confusedly.

"Well, for it to hurt properly, there's got to be a certain size of."

"Ohh," Buffy said, suddenly understanding. "So that's why it hurt you so much that time I got you after killing the Judge!"

Angel just smiled, then began hitting Riley's head forcefully against a nearby tree.

"Angel, don't," Buffy said.

"Don't worry, Buffy. He's got a hard head - full of rocks - it'll take more than a tree to knock him out."

"I know, but the poor tree."

"Oh," Angel said as he stopped smacking Riley to look at the tree. "Look what you did!" He chided, punching Riley with his free hand. "Guess, we'll have to find another way, Buffy..not that I've ever had trouble with that," he added with a smirk.

Buffy smiled. This was going to be good.

*****

Giles and Willow were reading from a book on the demon that they'd sent Buffy and Angel after.

"Giles, look!" Willow said, pointing.

"A spell," he murmured.

"It'll reveal the demon!" She added. "By making him glow florescent? That's so neat! Oh, and it makes his powers ineffective too!"

"We should cast this, Willow," Giles decided. "I'm sure Buffy and Angel would find it quite helpful."

Willow nodded. "Okay," she agreed. "I've got the sage."

*****

Lucy shrieked, realizing what was going on. "God, Parker, you're fucking glowing!" She yelled.

Parker swore. "What'd you do to me, bitch?"

"Me?" She pushed him off of her. "What am I doing her anyway? Did you drug me?! God, you fucking bastard. You know I'd never sleep with an ugly-assed loser like yourself without being influenced! What's going o-"

She didn't finish her rant, for suddenly Parker's face shifted into that of a demon and he snapped Lucy's neck.

"Too bad you had to figure it out," he muttered as he got dressed. Who had done this to him? He was going to find them and they were going to pay!

*****

Riley looked up at Angel, shaking. His face was covered in blood, he didn't think he had a single rib that hadn't been cracked, his elbow jutted at a weird angle, his fingers had all been snapped backwards, his right eye was swollen shut, and he was missing quite a few teeth from the hours of torture.

"See, Riley," Angel said. "It didn't have to be this way. Why couldn't you just leave Buffy alone?"

Riley murmured something that neither Angel or Buffy could catch. "What was that?"

"I said that your girlfriend's a fucking slutty whore!" He snapped.

*CRACK!*

Before anyone could react Angel's anger exploded and he snapped the little twerp's neck.

"God, I feel better now," he said as he calmly wiped his hands on a piece of cloth. There wasn't a drop of blood on him thankfully.

Buffy smiled. "Let's patrol for real."

*****

::You have failed. You know what must now happen! You must end it! You have disappointed us, we had such faith in you!::

Kate nodded, obeying the voices for the final time. She had just come to and she had to do it as soon as possible.

*The fastest way would be to hang myself,* she decided. *But what can I hang myself with?* Then she came to a wonderful solution: underwear.

******

Parker ran through the park screaming. Who had cast the spell? Who had rendered him powerless? He tripped over a branch and tumbled forward. He looked away from the ground and found himself face-to-face with two pairs of shoes. Suddenly the smaller pair's right foot shot out, kicking him in the face, sending him flying backwards.

He groaned and stood up. "Buffy," he said. Then he smirked. "Look, I know you're pissed off about things, but you don't have to get violent."

"Things? What's he talking about?" Angel asked.

"Shut up, Parker," Buffy said coolly. "So you're the demon? I've got to say that this is one slaying I won't mind!"

"What are you talking about?" Parker asked, feigning innocence as he stood up. "Come on, just because I didn't want to stick around after we had sex that doesn't make me a demon!"

Angel growled low in his throat. He knew she'd slept with someone else and he'd accepted that. But this was the guy? It was too much!

Parker turned and looked Angel over. He laughed. "So you're her new boy toy?"

Angel glared at him.

"Shut up, Parker. You're a demon, I kill you, let's not mess that up," Buffy snapped, pulling out an ax.

Parker laughed. "You're a girl. That's not gonna do you any good!"

"Slayer," Buffy corrected, swinging the ax around a few times with expert skill and perfect speed to demonstrate just how capable she was.

"Wait, you're that slayer? You cast the spell, didn't you? Take away my powers? I'll kill you!"

Buffy swung the ax, slicing off Parker's left arm in one fluid motion.

Parker screamed. "Bitch," he hissed, slipping into his demonic visage (which was an improvement, by the way.) Suddenly his other arm was gone. He turned to see Angel holding a second ax with a bloody blade.

Angel and Buffy shared a look, then attacked Parker simultaneously, hacking away. Parker never stood a chance. Soon he was on the ground, but a pile of little bloody pieces.

"Bye, Parker," Buffy called over her shoulder as she walked away with Angel. Their feet carried them to the mansion.

*****

Buffy woke up in Angel's arms, naked. He was still asleep. She cuddled closer to him, then placed a light kiss on his neck. She continued to feather kisses down his chest.

"Hmm," Angel said, waking up.

She looked up at him. "Good morning," she whispered, before continuing her very important task of kissing every inch of his chest.

"Good morning," he echoed.

He tightened his grip on her then pulled her up so that her head was level with his. He kissed her gently and Buffy moaned against his mouth, parting his lips and giving him her tongue. They spent many, many hours like that, tongues dueling, bodies melding until the following evening, when Angel would move back to Sunnydale permanently and they'd get their own place.

Send feedback to Samantha Melissa Gold

Back to the Fanfiction Archive