Summary- AU, 4 years in a coma, Buffy wakes up.
Rating- R-ish
Feedback- Is wanted.

Dedication- To all who sent me feedback, this is for you!
AN- This is completely and totally AU. Buffy and crew are 17 and Angel is 18. Everyone has known each other since they were kids. Something happened to Buffy when she was 13. Now, 4 years later, she wakes up.
AN2-//...// is supposed to be thoughts/ flashbacks.

Prologue-

August 21st, 1997

Sunnydale Post

'A terrible tragedy happened yesterday in the quiet streets of our town. Around 1pm yesterday afternoon, an alleged burglar broke into the home of Joyce and Hank Summers. Their eldest daughter, Elizabeth (Buffy), was on the porch behind the home when the incident happened, while Mrs. Summers was inside the home. Neighbors say that gunshots were heard and Police reports say that Buffy ran into the home and came face to face with the burglar. Joyce Summers was shot twice and killed by the second shot that hit her chest. Buffy was hit in the stomach and rushed to Sunnydale General, where she lies in critical condition. The young man who found the two was Liam O'Connell, a friend of Buffy's.

"I ran into the house and found Buffy and her mom laying there, very close to each other. The killer wasn't in the house when I got there."

Is the only comment that young Liam would give us. Tire tracks were found in front of the house but no one had seen the killer.

There will be a memorial held for Joyce Summers at Restfield Cemetery Hall and a wake held after at 2pm Tuesday, August 24th.'

-Insert from Sunnydale Post.

Part One-

//There was a hazy yellow color on everything. A black figure stood in front of her. She could see nothing about him except for his large shadow. Sounds echoed loudly in her ears. A loud boom echoed in her ears. She flew off her feet and landed onto the floor.

"Mommy!"

She cried as stinging pain pulsed through her. There were loud footsteps that seemed to get softer. Terrifying blackness settled in her hazy vision.

"Mom! Mommy?"

Her cry seemed to echo through her ears. So loud, that she woke up.//

"Wha-?" Buffy moaned as she sat up, her chest heaving.

She was in a plain white room. The sterile smell told her she was in a hospital.

//I hate hospitals.//

A small pain shot through her side as she lay back down. Buffy's fingers traveled and found gauze taped to her right side, just below her ribs.

Her whole body felt different. Her feet reached then end of the bed.

//I must be in a kiddy bed…//

Buffy thought fuzzily. She rested her hand on her chest to settle her breathing. Her heart shot as she felt her chest wasn't flat.

//What the-??//

She had breasts. Full and round, not flat like she remembered. She brushed her hair out of her face and noticed her hair was long, very long.

//What?//

This wasn't her body. What was going on? Why was she in the hospital and why was her body not her own?

//This has to be a dream//

She pinched herself and winced.

A short, red headed nurse walked in, and didn't even glance at her. She just checked the files on the wall.

"Hey." Buffy whispered, but the nurse didn't hear her.

"Hey!" Buffy yelled, her voice hoarse.

The nurse turned slowly and looked at her with wide eyes.

"Oh my God…" She whispered slowly.

"What's going on?" Buffy asked.

"Oh my… You're awake!" The nurse cried hurrying to her.

"Lay back down, dear." She said as she checked everything, her heartbeat, her blood pressure, and her breathing.

"Ok, sit tight, I'll get a doctor." The nurse said, leaving Buffy alone.

Tears blurred Buffy's vision. She tried not to cry, but everything was so confusing.

A doctor hurried in, followed by the nurse.

"Miss. Summers." He said with a smile as he rechecked everything the nurse had done.

"Welcome back to the conscious." The nurse smiled.

"Where's my mom?" Buffy asked.

The Doctor looked pained, but didn't say anything.

"Buffy, we're going to ask you a few questions. Alright?" He asked.

"Shoot." Buffy said, looking at the doorway, as if to see her mother appear.

"Ok, what is you full name?" He asked.

"Elizabeth Anne Summers."

"Date of birth?" He asked another.

"January 19th, 1984."

"Any family?" The Doctor asked.

"Mom, Joyce Anne Summers. Dad, Hank David Summers, Sister, Dawn Anne Summers." Buffy answered, impatiently.

"Date?" The Doctor asked his final question, giving her his full attention.

"August 21st, '97." Buffy answered.

The two looked at each other, then to her.

"Buffy, its September 26th, 2001. You've been in a coma for 4 years." He said carefully.

"What?!" Buffy yelled, sitting up.

Too fast because a shot of pain overtook her.

"Careful, careful, don't want to pull those stitches." The nurse advised.

"What do you mean 'in a coma'? This is a bad dream! Where's my Mom? Where's my Dad?" Buffy asked, crying now.

"Shh, shh." The doctor said, injecting a syringe into her arm.

"Sleep, your family will be here when you wake up." The doctor said.

"No, Can't sleep…" Buffy mumbled as she surrendered into the folds of sleep.

Part Two

Semi-familiar voices woke Buffy, but she did not open her eyes.

"What are we supposed to say to her?"

"Shh!"

"She might hear!"

"I hope she's ok…"

"Did anyone call Angel?"

Buffy groaned and turned over., causing everyone to quiet down.

"Buffy? Are you awake?" Someone asked.

Buffy opened her eyes and rubbed them, sitting up slowly.

"Oh God…"

"What's going on?" Buffy mumbled.

She looked around and saw the room full of people. Her Dad was the only one who she instantly recognized,

"Daddy." She said.

He came up to her and hugged her.

"Hey sweetie, long time no see." He murmured as he pulled back.

"Buffy?" Someone asked.

Buffy looked up and say a redhead. Her hair was cut short, but Buffy recognized her.

"Willow?" Buffy asked.

She nodded and her eyes filled with tears as she hugged the blond.

Buffy saw how she looked older than the 13 year old she remembered her to be.

"Buffster." A boy said, coming foreword.

"Xander." Buffy sighed, noting his baggy bright colored shirts. Still the same.

They hugged and everything.

"Its about time you woke up." A tactless voice said.

Buffy knew it was Cordelia.

"Hi Cord."

A tall girl with light brown hair stepped up and Buffy bit her lip. "Dawnie."

Her sister was so grown up, not the girl who had loved her Barbie's more than life itself.

After a few awkward moments of silence, the Doctor came in and her friends left, leaving only herself, Dawn, Dad, and the doctor.

"Well, good to see you up." He said.

Buffy nodded, still confused with everything.

"What's going on? Where's Mom?" Buffy asked.

Her father looked pained and Dawn had tears in her eyes.

"Buffy…" Dawn whispered.

"Where is she? What's going on?" Buffy asked, getting mad again.

No one was telling her anything.

"Calm down, Miss Summers. I'll tell you what you need to know. 4 years ago you were brought into the hospital with a bullet wound to you stomach. We treated you and you were fine. You healed and everything seemed to be alright. But you didn't wake up. You haven't woken up since you were brought here. Nothing was wrong with you to keep you asleep. Nothing. It was some thing in your mind that kept you asleep." He said.

Buffy thought a moment.

"Nothing was wrong with me, at all?" She asked finally.

"Nothing at all. You were responsive to everything we gave you. You could eat by yourself, you could breathe on your own. You didn't need machine or feeding tubes." The doctor explained.

"Oh. Why am I hurt right here?" Buffy asked, touching the gauze covering her wound.

"Oh, you slipped and fell a week ago when one of the nurses took you to the bathroom. We think it was the shock of the wound and the medicine we gave you that broke the coma." The doctor said.

Buffy nodded blankly. She looked at her body again. She couldn't get over that she was not 13 anymore. She was 17, had breasts, her friends all grown up… God.

The doctor left and she was alone with Dawn and her Dad.

"How do you feel sweetie?" Her Dad asked.

"I don't know. Where's Mom?" Buffy asked.

Dawn turned away.

"Daddy?"

"Fine." He sighed, "You were shot. 4 years ago. You and Joyce were alone in the house. I had gone to work and Dawn was a Nana's. The police said you had been on the deck and Mom was in the kitchen. There was a burglar and Joyce had come face to face with him. He shot her and she died. You heard and ran into the room and he shot you, took some money out of your Mom's purse and left." Hank explained shakily.

Dawn was crying softly.

"Mom's dead? No…" Buffy whispered.

"She is." Hank said hugging his daughter.

Buffy pushed him away.

"No! This is a dream. I'm not 17, it hasn't been 4 years, AND MOM ISN'T DEAD!" Buffy screamed.

She hit her Dad's chest and cried openly.

A nurse rushed in and once again injected her with a sedative.

And once again, she surrendered to the darkness that pulled at her.

Part Three

Buffy opened her eyes to find the room empty. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She got up and went to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and didn't recognize the girl staring back at her. But… maybe she did. The eyes were the same. The same emerald green eyes that she had seen in the mirror all her life. Her hair was long and blond, if a little stringy looking. Buffy cringed and went into the shower in here. She washed her hair and conditioned. She stepped out and saw a fresh pair of cloths. Buffy shrugged and put them on. They were low rise jeans, that were a little too big and a green ¾ length shirt. Buffy finger combed her hair an d watched as it curled. Buffy walked out and saw her sister sitting on the bed.

"Hey." She said.

"Hey back." Buffy said.

"The Doctor told Dad you can come home after he signs some papers." Dawn said.

"Great." Buffy murmured.

"Are you ok?" Dawn asked, touching her shoulder.

"No." Buffy answered.

"Why?" Dawn asked.

"Because everything is so different." Buffy answered.

"Its ok, its really not that bad." Dawn said.

"I know, but my friends…" Buffy murmured.

"They came and visited you almost every Sunday." Dawn replied.

"Really?" Buffy asked, looking at her.

"Yup. All of them. Even Cordelia." Dawn said.

"Wow." Buffy whispered.

"Yeah, they were all so sad when you didn't wake up. We all were." Dawn said, leaning her head on Buffy's shoulder.

Buffy said nothing, just let the comfortable silence unravel.

Their Dad soon came in and said she could go home.

They arrived there and Dawn led Buffy to her room. It looked the same.

Buffy laughed shortly.

"I'm 17 in a 13 years olds room." Buffy murmured.

Dawn laughed.

"Dad wanted to clean everything and put it in the attic." Dawn said, "But I didn't let him."

"He wanted to put my things away?" Buffy asked, semi-shocked.

"Buffy, we were told you might never wake up." Dawn whispered.

"Alright, I see your point." Buffy gave in a gazed at everything.

"Uh, I don't think these clothes are going to fit." Buffy said, looking at the clothes on the bed.

"Yeah, well, you can borrow mine, but only until we go shopping." Dawn said, smiling.

"Cool, but not today, I'm beat." Buffy said, going downstairs and flopping on the couch.

Dawn did the same and they spent the day talking and Dawn catching her up w ith everything. Their Dad took a night off and cooked them a huge dinner.

"To celebrate Buffy coming home."

He had said. It was delicious. After, Buffy had gone to sit outside. A car pulled up and Willow came out, with Cordelia in tow.

"Hi." Buffy said.

"Hey." They said in unison.

"What's the what? Why are you here?" Buffy asked.

"We wanted to give you these." Willow said.

It was a bag full of makeup, hair ties, cute shirts, the works.

"Uh…thanks?" Buffy said, baffled.

"You don't like?" Willow asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I do…I just don't know how to put it on." Buffy admitted.

"Oh, that's easy." Cordelia said and got into a full blown discussion about how to put on each and every piece of makeup.

"So, when are you coming back to school?" Willow asked.

"I'm a junior, right?" Buffy asked,

They nodded.

"Oh, God, I don't know. I mean, I only have up to and 8th grade education. I'd need a tutor." Buffy said.

"Oh! Me! I can tutor." Willow volunteered.

"Willow's a bookworm now." Cordelia said.

"Hey! A cool bookworm. Nerds are in." Willow argued.

"At least you're popular too, compliments of yours truly." Cordelia said, smiling.

"Great. So, is everyone the same?" Buffy asked.

"More or less. It really hasn't been as long as it seems. We just look different." Willow said.

A sudden thought came to Buffy.

"What about Angel? Is he still here? Or did he graduate?" Buffy asked.

Cordelia and Willow looked at each other.

"He's ok. He's on a trip with his family, he should be back tomorrow." Willow said.

"Does he know?" Buffy asked, thinking about her childhood friend and teen crush.

"Yeah, we called him and he wanted to come home now, but his parents wouldn't let him." Cordelia said.

"Oh." Buffy said, wondering what he was like now.

"He was the one who found you." Willow suddenly said.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"That day, he was the one who found you and your Mom. He was a mess. He cal led the paramedics. At the hospital, when you were in critical, he was a total mess. Your blood all over his shirt, and he was crying." Willow said in a far away voice. She was remembering.

"Yeah, I've never seen him cry except that one time. It was hard for all of us. But, more so for him. He blamed himself." Cordelia chimed in.

"Why?" Buffy asked.

"He was supposed to come over, but he was late. He always thought if he had been there, you wouldn't have been hurt and your Mom wouldn't have died." Willow said quietly, watching Buffy's reaction.

"I think he was a little glad that you didn't wake up. He told me once he was so scared that you would blame him." Cordelia whispered.

Willow nodded.

Buffy tried to smile, "So you guys talked about me often?"

"Not so much as talked about, but little remarks. Like 'Oh, Buffy would've loved his'. Or 'Buffy should've been here'. We tried not to, because it just hurt too much." Willow explained.

"Yeah, I see. It'll be weird with me there, won't it?" Buffy asked.

"At school? No, well yea, for a little while, but you'll get used to it. And so will everyone else. But watch out for some of the kids. The ones who think they're so cool, they'll probably throw remarks at you or something. Just ignore them." Willow advised.

Buffy nodded. Willow's watch beeped and that signaled that they had to go home.

"Bye." Buffy said waving.

She watched them leave and thought to herself. She was wondering how she was going to get through this unfamiliar life.

Part Four

//The yellow haze colored her vision as she an into the house. There were screams and shots echoing through the air.

"Mommy?!"

Buffy saw her mother and ran, but she could never reach her. A coating of red splashed her vision and Buffy screamed.//

"Mom!" Buffy screamed as she woke up. Her own scream seemed to echo in the room. Buffy wiped her face and noted that it was wet with tears. She got up and shaky legs and padded to the bathroom. She pulled her long hair back into a ponytail and washed her face and brushed her teeth. The house was quiet and Buffy blankly realized that Dad was work and Dawn was at school. She walked downstairs and half expected her mother to greet her with eggs.

She didn't. The house was silent and Buffy felt a chill go through her. There were three messages on the machine and Buffy pressed the button. The first was from her Dad.

"Hey Buffy. Sweetheart, I called the school and they are going to give you tests and some classes to get you caught up. You start tomorrow. Call Cordy and Willow to go shopping. My credit card is n the table. I might be a little late, catching up on work. Bye."

Buffy shook her head, her father, once a workaholic, always a workaholic.

The second message clicked on. It was unfamiliar at first.

"Hi, uh Buffy? Its, uh, Angel. Willow and Xander called me a few days ago and told me were awake. Is it true? I mean, this better not be a joke or I s wear… How are you? Are you alright? Your Dad told you everything, right? I'm sorry about you're Mom. God… It's so strange. We were all told that you weren't going to wake up. Call me. If you get this after 10, which you probably will because I remember how much you loved to sleep in. I have a break around 11. Free period. Call me and…we'll talk. I gotta go. But…I'm really glad you're awake. I missed you."

The message clicked off and Buffy smiled. He missed her. Buffy was going to call him after she made herself breakfast. The next message clicked on.

"I know you're awake and you *better* keep your mouth shut or I'll finish what I started."

The voice was gruff and muffled. It left Buffy with a chill and she made sure her locks were locked. Buffy calmed herself down and made herself a sandwich. Her side started to hurt so she took some pain medicine the hospital gave her. It took five minutes of staring at the phone until she finally picked it up and dialed the number that Angel gave her. It rang and rang and his voice mail picked up.

"Hey, its Angel. I'm not here so leave a message or whatever and maybe I'll get back to you."

Buffy waited for it to end and she spoke into the phone.

"Hey, Angel? It's Buffy. You, uh, you told me to call. I guess I just missed you. And, to answer your question, yea, I'm fine. I'll probably be home most of the day, but tonight Dad said that I can go shopping with Willow and Cordelia. If I don't see you today, I'll see you tomorrow. At school… God… I can't believe I'm a Junior. It feels like just yesterday I was in jr. high. Ok, I'm going to have a panic attack… Anyways, I'm babbling and so I'll just say goodbye and hang up now. Bye Angel."

Buffy hung up and cursed herself for babbling like a fool. She tried to calm down and found she had to get out of this house. She didn't like being here alone. Buffy grabbed her Dad's credit card and headed out.

Everyone stared at her while she walked around town. Sympathy and pity cove red their faces. Many came up to her and told her about how sorry they were about her Mom. Her face hurt from smiling at them.

//All I wanted was a nice day out. To be a normal 17 year old and forget about my screwed up mind, my dead Mom, and the fact that I have been in a com a for 4 years. But, can I have that nice day? Nooooo…//

"Buffy? Buffy! Oh my goodness! Its you!" A voice called from across the street.

It was Mrs. Finn. Riley Finn's mother. He had been her ex-boyfriend before 'the accident'. She had been convinced that her son and Buffy were meant for each other. Riley was too. He had even asked Buffy to marry him and move back to Iowa with him. Angel had never liked him. He said something was just…wrong with him.

"Uh, hello Mrs. Finn." Buffy said, trying to be polite.

"My goodness, no one told me that you had woken! Riley will be so pleased. He's missed you. He even visited you a lot, but that dreadful Angel person would let him in alone. Always looking over his shoulder. You aren't still friends with him, are you? He's not a good person to be around these days, but my Riley, never getting in trouble. A true Angel at that. Oh1 I know! Tonight you and Riley should have dinner! Won't that be just terrific?" She talked a mile a minute and smiled sickingly bright.

"Um, not tonight, Mrs. Finn. I'm going shopping and then catching up with some friends." Buffy said, cringing inside.

No offense, but Buffy didn't want to see Riley. Buffy had never told anyone this not even Willow, but he had a bad temper and more than once he let it fly and she was the one to get hurt.

"Oh, yes, yes. Friends. Maybe sometime soon dear. I'll tell Riley you say hello." She said, walking away.

Buffy shook her head and walked on. She walked past shops and saw the cutest jean skirt. It was washed out and had the slightest beige color to it. Buffy went in and couldn't help but buy it. Then she saw a ruffled, beige, peasant shirt and decided that would go great with the skirt. The she saw a pair of beige 4 inch high boots and bought them too. She saw a pair of sun glasses and bought those. She was walking out and she crashed into someone. Her bags dropped on the ground.

"Oofph!" Buffy said when she collided.

"Oh, I'm sorry." The man said.

Buffy looked up and saw that he looked very familiar. His hair was blond and kind of long, over his eyes. His eyes were blue. She gathered her bags and pulled her sunglasses on top of her head.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm a klutz. I wasn't watching." Buffy said, rolling her eyes and laughing at herself. She noticed that he was staring at her.

"Is there something on my face?" Buffy asked, reaching up nervously.

He caught her hand and his eyes widened.

"Buffy?" He asked.

"Yeah? I'm sorry, and you are?" Buffy asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Riley. Don't you remember me?" He asked.

Buffy inwardly groaned. Damn Mrs. Finn…

"Yeah, hi." Buffy said, straining her cheeks to smile.

He hugged her.

Buffy tensed at the contact. Riley noticed this and pulled away.

"What? Aren't you happy to see me?" He asked, his eyes darkening.

"I… I…" Buffy stammered to answer.

"I missed you. For so long. Don't you know that?!" Riley asked, his grip on her tightening.

Buffy opened her mouth in silent pain and pushed him away.

"Who do you think you are?" Buffy cried.

He looked at her in anger.

Buffy's eyes widened and she grabbed her bags and walked away.

//Oh God, Oh God, Oh God…//

Buffy thought as she walked away. She hope to God that he wasn't following her…

Part Five

Buffy walked up to her house and saw a police car in her driveway. She walked up to the house and a policemen stepped out of the car.

"Miss. Elizabeth Summers?"

Buffy looked at him a moment before nodding.

"Yeah."

"Do you mind if we ask you some questions?" He asked her as his partner came out.

"No, come in." Buffy said as she led the way into the house and to the living room.

"Would you like anything? Water? Coffee? Soda?" Buffy asked, looking at the kitchen.

"No, no we're fine. But we need to ask you some questions about your Mother." The policemen said.

"M-my Mom?" Buffy echoed, her voice shaking.

"Yes, I'm sorry, with you having just woken up and all. But, we were supposed to ask when it happened…" He said lamely.

Buffy just nodded, "Ask away."

"Do you remember who was in the house?"

"Yeah, just me and my Mom. I was on the patio and she went into the kitchen to get some more iced tea for us." Buffy remembered.

"What about the other? Your sister? Your Father?"

"Daddy was at work and Dawnie was at our Nana Julie's." Buffy answered.

"Alright, tell me what you remember after your Mom went into the kitchen." He instructed.

Buffy took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Ok, Mom had gone inside and I thought I heard the font door open, I didn't think anything of it because I had invited Angel over." She started.

"Angel?" One interrupted.

"Yeah, oh, Liam." Buffy corrected.

"Liam O'Connell? Yeah, he was the kid who found you and your Ma that day." The 2nd officer said.

"Anyways, I didn't think anything of it…the door opening. B-but, then I heard a-a- gunshot and a scream… I-I think I ran into the living room…" Buffy trailed off, her breathing was shallow and quick. She was having a hard time keeping the tears down.

"And-?" The 1st officer asked, pressing her on.

"I-I can't… I don't remember…" Buffy whispered, wrapping her arms a round herself to ward of the chill that had settled in her body.

The officers nodded and looked at each other. The said that that was all or right now and they left. Buffy wandered into the kitchen and stared out into the yard. All the kiddie play-places had been taken down and the tree house was broken. Buffy's throat felt dry and scratchy so she poured herself a cup of Diet Coke. She passed the phone and saw the message machine was blinking. Sighing, she pressed the button.

"Buffy, its Cordy. Meet us at mall at 5 alright? In the food court. Everyone will be there. Me, Wills, Oz, Faith, Xander, Spike, and Angel. We're not taking no for an answer. So, if you're not there by a quarter after, I'll send Xander and Angel to drag your skinny ass down here. Ok? Later."

Buffy felt her face blush at the word 'ass'. She hated that her mind still worked like a 13 years olds. God… Buffy looked at the clock and saw it was 4:30. She was pressing for time here. She ran up stairs and into Dawn's room. Dawn had said she could use her clothes as long as she didn't stain them. Buffy shook her head and pulled out a light blue tank top. She hanged into it and took out a gray sweater duster and put it on over the semi-revealing top. She looked at her outfit and decided it was fine. She ran downstairs and grabbed the credit card and scribbled a note for Dawn. She looked at the clock and it was a quarter too. Buffy ran out the door and hoped she'd get there in time.

"Is she comin' or what?" Faith complained as they waited for Buffy.

"Her Dad called and told us to take her shopping for. She used to *love* to shop." Cordelia said, emphasizing each word.

"Key word, ducks, used to." Spike mumbled.

"She'll be here." Willow assured everyone.

Angel didn't say a word, just gazed at the double doors to look for her.

"No offense, but isn't she s'posed to be a vegetable." Faith asked.

Angel looked at her sharply.

Cordelia ad Willow glared. Faith held her hands up, "I said 'no offense'!"

"Pet, I think now would be the time to shut your bloody mouth." Spike mumbled, lighting up cigarette.

Willow plucked it from him and threw it in the trash.

He glared at her.

"You're underage and it causes cancer." She shrugged.

Cordelia shook her head and inspected her nails.

Willow suddenly stood up and let out a little squeal. She and Cordy ran over to the door and there she was.

Buffy.

Awake.

Finally.

Buffy walked into the food court connecting to the mal and pulled her sunglasses. She gazed around the crowded area and sought out her friends. She spotted them in the middle and noticed different people with them. Who were they? Buffy suddenly felt nervous. What if they didn't like her? Willow saw her and she and Cordelia rushed over and started o fuss over her.

"Oh, that outfit is SO cute!"

"It brings out your eyes!"

"Your color is good."

The both of them were talking so fast Buffy just blinked a few times and said "Thanks" in a dazed voice.

They grabbed her hands and led her over to the group. They all looked her over and Buffy felt uncomfortable.

There was a brunette girl, a purplish/red-headed boy, and a tall peroxide blond.

"Hey, I'm Faith." The brunette said, looking her over and smiling.

"Oz." Was what the purple/red head said.

"Hello Cutie." The bleach blond smirked.

"Hi, and who are you? A Billy Idol groupie?" Buffy asked, flashing an innocent smile.

Faith laughed and shook her head.

"I like you B. You're not like I thought." Faith said between laughs.

"Like you thought?" Buffy questioned.

"Well, you're blond." Faith said bluntly.

"I should take offense to that…" Buffy said, shrugging.

She felt a pair of eyes on her and turned around. It was Angel. His gaze was unreasonable.

"Hi." Buffy said quietly.

He nodded slightly, "Hey."

Buffy smelt food and looked around.

"Do you mind if I grab a bite before we hit the stores? I didn't get to eat when I got home." Buffy asked, walking foreword with Willow and Cordelia .

Spike followed, to try and get a rise out of the blond. Oz, being Oz, followed Willow. Everyone ordered something and sat at one of the big booths.

"So, are you going to school Buffy?" Xander asked.

"Yeah, Dad called and they're making take a whole bunch of tests." Buffy answered.

"You live at the yellow house of Revello Drive, right Pet?" Spike asked.

"Yea, why?" Buffy asked eyeing him.

He had blue eyes….

//A black figure stood in front of her. She could see nothing about him except cold, blue eyes.//

Buffy sucked in a breath and shook her head.

"Are you ok?" Angel asked, hurriedly, seeing the look of panic and fear cross her face.

Buffy looked at him as if coming out of a daze, and slowly nodded.

"Sorry, pain medication." Buffy lied, not wanting to seem crazy, then looked back at the Billy Idol wannabe, "What did you say?"

"I said I saw the cops there earlier. You just woke up, right? What're you in trouble for now so early, Pet?"

"Nothing." Buffy answered truthfully, "They came to talk to me about…the accident." Buffy finished, looking anywhere but into the eyes of her friends.

"Hey B., I feel your pain. I lost my Mom too. She died three years ago, car accident." Faith offered, giving Buffy an out.

Buffy smiled, "I'm sorry."

Faith just nodded.

They talked about school and movies while they had finished eating and walked around when Xander bluntly asked, "What's the last thing you remember?"

Buffy snapped her head his way and stared at him, her mind flashing what little she remembered. Her eyes filled with tears and she turned away walking to some random store.

"Ohhh, look… shoes…" She whispered, loud enough for all of them to hear .

"Xander!" Willow hissed

Cordelia smacked his head, "You jerk!"

"Dammit Xander!" Angel sneered at him as he went to catch up with Buffy.

"He's whipped." Spike mumbled.

Buffy was absently looking at boots. Her eyes were bright with barely concealed tears.

"Are you ok?" Angel asked, hesitantly putting his hand on her shoulder.

"I feel stupid." Buffy mumbled, fingering a pair of leather boots.

"You're not stupid, He had no right no ask you that." Angel said to her.

"Yes he did. There's still something called 'freedom of speech'." Buffy mumbled under her breath.

"Still, he shouldn't ask that." Angel said.

"I should get used to it. This is still a small town. People love to talk. People by the dozens are going to ask me questions about…this. You and I know it." Buffy said, looking up at him.

"They shouldn't… Its none of their business." Angel muttered.

"Not going to stop them. This is like the biggest story ever. I can see this week's headlines. 'Girl in 4 year coma, wakes up. Lets treat her like an invalid and pry into her so-called life'." Buffy sneered.

"Don't let them get to you." Angel advised.

Buffy nodded absently, not wanting to talk about this anymore and found the leather boots in her size and pulled out the box.

"Hey, don't do this. Don't pull away. I want to help." Angel said softly.

"There's nothing you can do to help." Buffy said over her shoulder as she walked to the counted.

Angel sighed. She was still the same. She didn't want help with her feelings. She thought feelings were a weakness to anyone who could see them. She had been this way even as a child, but she used to open up to him.

//Used to, key word there.//

Part Six

Buffy paid for the shoes and walked on to a different store. Angel and the rest of them followed her. The tension was thick. The girls went to find clothes while the guys sat and waited for them.

"Hey man, I'm sorry I said that." Xander said to Angel.

"You know we aren't s'posed to talk 'bout that with 'er, you bloody bloke." Spike mumbled his way.

Angel didn't answer for he was too far into his thoughts. He was remembering that day…

//Angel pulled up to the Summers house on his bike. He was late to meet Buffy. He had been stopped by his Father who had wanted to 'talk' about his frequent meeting with Buffy. Angel walked into the house, like he had don e so many times in the past. It was eerily silent. No happy laughs or any of Buffy's music drifting from someplace. Angel walked farther into the silent house and the sigh before him made him freeze in terror. Mrs. Summers was laying on the white carpet, only, where she was laying wasn't white. It was dark crimson with the thick pooling of her blood. Her eyes were closed her chest unmoving.

"Oh God…"

Angel had whispered as he kneeled down beside her and pressed shaky hands to her neck. She was dead. Angel stood up fast and started to panic. Then a sudden thought came to him.

Buffy.

Oh God, where was she? Angel didn't even have to half a dozen steps into the house when he saw he. Buffy was laying on the kitchen, just mere feet a way from her mother. In all his 14 years, Angel had never felt this strong of fear pounding into his heart. She wore nothing except her bathing suit and Angel could clearly see a raw gaping hole in her belly. Dark blood pooled out and Angel rushed to put his hand over her wound. His hand was instantly covered in her warm blood. Her eyes were half open, but hazy.

"Buffy?"

Angel asked frantically, knowing she was alive only by the shallow breaths she took. Her hand twitched slightly and her eyes cleared slightly.

"A… Angel?" She whispered.

"Oh God… Buffy, what happened?" Angel asked, as he grabbed a nearby comforter and put it over her stomach.

"I don't… You're late." Buffy mumbled, her words slurring.

Guilt panged his heart.

"Buffy… Buffy!" Angel cried when her eyes began to close, "I need to get the phone, keep your hands over the blanket, ok?"

Angel asked with a slight tremor in his voice. Her brought her hands to her stomach and made sure they stayed while he raced around the house trying t o find the cordless. When he got back to her, her face was bone white and her eyes were staring blankly at the ceiling. Angel pounded in 911 and waited for them to pick up.

"911, what is your emergence?" A blank voice asked.

"My friend, she's been shot."

"Where has she been shot?"

"In her belly." Angel answered, pressing down on the wound.

"Alright, you need to press down on the wound and stop the bleeding. What is your address?"

"1630 Revello Drive, and her Mother was shot twice, but she's not breathing."

"Alright, someone is on the way."

Angel clicked off the phone and looked at Buffy.

"Buffy, you're going to be alright. I promise you." Angel vowed.

"Trusted…over." She murmured, then her hand trailed to his cheek and wiped away hot tears, "Don't cry."

"Buffy… You're gonna be alright, you're gonna be alright…" Angel ch anted.

"Love…you…" Buffy whispered as she coughed and a tiny trail of blood bubbled at the corner of her mouth.

Angel watched in horror as her eyes closed.

He called her name, but she didn't not stir again. The paramedics came and Angel was forced away from her. He watched as they shocked her. Watched as she started to breathe again. Watched as she didn't open her eyes again…//

Angel shook his head at the sudden chatter.

"Holy shit…" Spike muttered.

"Wow." Xander whispered.

"Huh." Was all Oz said.

Angel looked up and saw the girls walking out of the store. Apparently, there was a salon in there to because all the girls had gotten their hair done .

Cordy had got hers curled, Willow's was cut a little and styled, Faith had hers dyed darker. Angel looked but he didn't see Buffy.

"Where's Buffy?" Angel asked Willow.

"She'll be right out. Hers is taking a little longer." Willow answered.

They were all complimenting the girls when Angel saw her through the crowd. Buffy had gotten her hair cut to the shoulder and it was layered. She kept touching the ends self-consciously.

"Wow! You look so cute!" Willow exclaimed.

Cordelia merely nodded.

Spike whistled, "Well, cutie. Looks good."

They all shopped, well the girls did, for a few more hours until 9. The girls had so many bags that the guys had to help them. Cordelia went home with Xander, Willow with Oz, and Faith with Spike.

"You have a ride?" Angel asked as he helped carry Buffy's bags.

"No, I walked here." Buffy said.

"I'll drive you." Angel said, putting her things in the back.

"You don't have t-ok." Buffy shrugged and got inside.

Angel chuckled and started the car.

"How are you?" Angel asked.

"Good, considering everything." Buffy answered, looking at him, then she said, "Will said you were the one who found me…us."

Angel looked at her before he answered.

"Yeah, I did."

"I have to ask you something, and I start to cry, just ignore me because I've been wondering and its been bugging me-" Buffy rambled before Angel put his free hand over Buffy's mouth.

He smiled his half smile, "You're babbling."

"Yeah, I do that… Um, well, was my Mom awake when you got there?" She asked, gazing up at him slowly.

Angel stopped the car in front of her house and looked at her. He took her hand.

"No, she wasn't. When I got there, she was already…gone. But…you were sort of awake." Angel said.

Her eyes were brimming with tears as she looked at him with curiosity, "I w as?"

"Yeah, barely. That's the last time I ever saw you awake until now." Angel said looking pained at the memories.

"I'm sorry." Buffy whispered.

Angel said nothing. The images of her bloody and almost dead had haunted him in his dreams everyday since the accident. Buffy silently got out of the car and started to collect her bags. Angel helped her and when they entered the house, it was silent. Buffy pressed the answering machine button and listened.

"Dawnie and…Buffy, I'm going to have to stay overnight at the office. Call for takeout or something. Call you later."

That was from her Dad.

"He still works too much." Buffy sighed as she and Angel walked upstairs. She put her bags on her bed and started to put them away.

"Your room is still that same." Angel said softly.

"You haven't been up here since then, have you?" Buffy asked, cocking her head a bit.

"No, it was…too hard." Angel said, then he gazed at her, "I still can't believe you're awake."

"Here I am." Buffy said holding out her hands.

"I see." Angel said and sat next to her on the bed.

"It feels like a dream." Angel murmured.

"Why?" Buffy said, leaning on the headboard. Angel did the same as they had done when they were children.

"Because, we were all told that there was little chance of you waking up. And you did." Angel explained.

Buffy nodded.

"I saw Riley today." Buffy said randomly.

Angel scowled, "What'd he want?"

"His mother told him I was in the town and he was all, 'aren't you glad to see me?'" Buffy mimicked, but she didn't tell Angel of him grabbing her. He would be so mad at that, his grip had even bruised her. Buffy unconsciously rubbed her arm and Angel noticed. He took her arm and pushed the sweater off to see. His eyes darkened in anger as he saw five finger sized bruises on her tender arm.

"Son of a bitch…" Angel hissed.

"Angel, don't." Buffy pleaded, knowing he was going to start something.

"Don't what? That bastard isn't going to hurt you again." Angel said, h is auburn eyes burning with anger.

"He didn't. It's nothing, just don't. I don't want a big deal made out of this." Buffy pleaded.

"A big deal, this is a big deal! Buffy, I know what he did the last time you were together." Angel accused.

Buffy's mind flashed back.

//Riley stalked around her.

"Why are you always hanging with Liam?" He asked.

"Angel? He's my best friend." Buffy said looking at him.

"He seems more than a friend to me." Riley accused.

"I don't care what you think. We're friends." Buffy said rolling her eyes.

"You're hiding something, aren't you bitch?!" Riley yelled, lifting her painfully by her arm.

"Let me go!" Buffy yelled.

"You ARE hiding something!" Riley yelled, his blue eyes cold with jealous rage.

"Maybe I am! What is it to you? You don't own me!" Buffy yelled back and wriggled out of his grip.

"I knew it!" Riley hissed coming towards her, his hand raised.

"You touch me and I will scream bloody murder." Buffy whispered in a deadly calm voice.

Riley stopped and glared at her.

"We are over."//

"How?" Buffy asked, coming out of her trance.

"He came to me and told me to stay away from you if I knew what was best." Angel explained.

"Lets go downstairs." Buffy said, jumping off the bed and leaving heavily tension filled room.

Angel sighed and followed her. She was in the living room and he was about to go to her when someone knocked on the door.

"Who would it be at this hour?" Buffy asked, reluctantly getting up, but Angel beat her to the door.

"Riley."

Part Seven

Riley's all-American-school-boy smile evaporated when Angel answered the door. Angel scowled at the blond boy.

"What are you doing here?" Angel asked in a low, dangerous voice.

"What am *I* doing here? What are *you* doing here?!" Riley asked back, glancing at Buffy.

"Riley… What are you doing here?" Buffy sighed, leaning against the wall, while Angel blocked the doorway to keep the blond boy from entering.

"I wanted to come and see you. How you are doing." Riley said, putting on an innocent face, but his eyes gleamed with anger at Angel.

"I'm fine, but it's late." Buffy sighed again.

"Well, he's here." Riley protested.

"Because we're talking." Buffy said.

"She doesn't have to explain herself to you. I think you should leave." Angel said softly.

"I don't care what *you* want. Buffy, I need to talk toy you." Riley protested again.

Buffy rolled her eyes, "No, its late. I'm getting a headache, goodbye Riley."

"You heard what she said." Angel said, closing and locking the door on his face.

Angel walked into the living room with a smirk on his face. Buffy was on the couch, sprawled out. She just had to smile at the look on Angel's face. He flopped down next to her, and her smile grew.

"What?" He asked, looking at her.

"You just *loved* doing that, didn't you?" Buffy asked.

A look of amusement crossed his face, followed by pure innocence, "Whatever do you mean?"

Buffy laughed and smacked his shoulder, "You know very well, Liam Angelus O'Connell." Buffy smirked, using his full name.

Angel winced, "Ouch, and I was hoping you'd forget that."

"What? Your full name? Never, its so much fun to tease you about." Buffy laughed and moved so her feet were on Angel's lap.

"You're one to talk, Elizabeth Anne Summers." Angel shot at her.

"There's nothing unusual about my name, Liam." Buffy said, sticking out her tongue.

"Buffy." Angel said with a raised eyebrow.

"So? I have a strange nickname, sue me."

They were flirting, playfully. But neither cared, just enjoying each others presence. After awhile, Buffy had flicked on the TV and they were watching some sitcoms. Angel noticed it was well past 11 and Buffy was half awake.

"Buffy?" Angel whispered, nudging her leg.

"Huh?" Buffy mumbled, looking up at him.

"I gotta leave now." Angel whispered.

Buffy sat up and looked at the clock, "Wow." She said, rubbing her eyes, slightly smearing her makeup.

Angel thought she looked adorable and he smiled inwardly.

"Do you have a ride to school tomorrow?" Angel asked, standing up.

"School… Ugh." She moaned.

Angel chuckled, "I take that as a no. I'll pick you up at 7?" Angel asked .

"Yeah…7…" Buffy murmured, staggering toward him.

She walked him to the door and he turned and kissed her on the cheek, "I am really glad you're awake, I missed you."

Buffy smiled and waved from the door.

"'Night Angel."

"Night Buffy."

*

//Screams and gunshots echoed in the murky yellow haze. Buffy stumbled wildly, her vision clouded by yellow blindness. Something red and sticky pooled on the ground around her feet. A loud boomed made her go deaf for a few long seconds. Pain stung her abdomen with white hot fury. Buffy's breath caught as her vision turned dark with only cold blue eyes visible.

"Stay asleep this time!"//

Buffy bolted upright with a dying scream on her lips. Her heart was hammering wildly in her chest. Buffy saw that she only had a half hour before Angel got here. She got out of bed and went into the shower. Dawn pounded on the door.

"Buffy!"

"King of busy at the moment!" Buffy yelled back.

"Angel's here!" Dawn yelled back.

"Hold on!" Buffy yelled, quickly turning off the water and wrapping a towel around her. She went into her room and quickly changed into the skirt, peasant shirt, and boots she bought yesterday. She applied her makeup with almost no mistake and let her hair dry on its own, giving it a slight curl. Buffy grabbed her sunglasses and pounded down the stairs and into the kitchen. Dawn and Angel were talking while Buffy toasted two raspberry pop-tarts. She took a sip of Dawn's orange juice. The phone rang and Buffy answered it,

"Hello? Hey Cordy." Buffy then rolled her eyes, "No. I'm dropping out and me and Angel are driving to Vegas and eloping." Dawn chocked on her orange juice, laughing and Angel just looked amused, "No, I'm serious. Fine, go ahead and talk to Angel."

Buffy said smiling as she handed the phone to Angel, who shook his head.

"Fine, spoilsport, Ruin my fun." Buffy stuck her tongue out, then returned back to her conversation, "Yes, I'll be there. Alright, Cordy bye."

Buffy hung up and smiled at Angel.

"Time to go." He said.

Her smile vanished, turning into nervous panic, "I changed my mind. I don't want to go."

Angel took her arm and guided her out the door

"God, everything will talk about me. They'll whisper and ask questions and won't leave me alone." Buffy rambled on.

"And, oh! What about lunch?" Buffy asked.

"What about lunch?" Angel asked her.

"The issue of who to sit with." Buffy clarified.

"Easy, sit with Spike, Faith, Willow, Cordy, Ox, Xander, and Me." Angel said.

"Spike… The Billy Idol wannabe?" Buffy asked.

Angel laughed, "Yeah."

"He's weird, he was hitting on me at the mall." Buffy said, wrinkling her nose.

"He hits on anything in a skirt." Angel said shaking his head.

The rest of the ride was in silence. Angel parked the car and Buffy looked at the swarm of students.

Angel got out and opened her door and took her arm.

"Uhhhhhhh!" Buffy moaned, already seeing them pay attention to her. Most stopped where they were and stared.

"Don't pay attention to them." Angel said as Buffy linked her arm with his, her eyes wide.

She noticed one blond in particular glare murderously at her. Her blue eyes were cold as stone, but she didn't approach.

//Ice blue eyes glared dangerously at her through the black ski mask.//

Buffy shivered at the memory. Angel mistook it for nervousness and whispered,

"Don't worry."

The others came into view and waved as they saw Buffy and Angel. They talked and chatted until the warning bell rang and Angel walked Buffy to the office.

"Test time, yay." Buffy mumbled.

"Don't worry, you'll do fine." Angel said and smiled.

Buffy gave a small smile and waved as she went into the office and prepared to be evaluated.

Go to Part 8