Part 10

 "Who are you people?" Joey asked, surprised and shocked at what she had
just seen.  She had watched in stunned silence as the vampires, because
there was no doubt in her mind that was what they were, had attacked the
student body but had been defeated by Pacey and his friends.  "Where those
things really vampires?"  Pacey looked at his old friends and nodded his
head.
 "Yeah, they were really vampires."  Pacey looked around, glad to see that
all of his friends were okay, although some looked better than he was sure
they felt, especially Xander, who was busy leaning on Faith for support,
still not quite there after being hit.  "Why don't we go somewhere else to
talk.  I'm sure we would all be much more comfortable."
 Dawson wrapped his arm around Buffy's waist, only to have her walk away
from him and towards Angel.  She took the vampire's hand in her own,
reveling in the feeling of cool flesh against her warmth, happy that her
love was alive.  "Anne?"  Dawson called.
 "Her name's not Anne, or haven't you got that yet?" Faith said
sarcastically, fuming at the possessiveness the blonde seemed to have
towards Angel.  She saw the hurt look in Willow's eyes when she had been
accused of purposely trying to steal Angel and Faith didn't like it when one
of her friend's were hurt.  "Her name's Buffy and the guy she refuses to let
go of is Angel, her ex."
 "Look, let's get out of here," Pacey again stated, this time taking
Cordelia's hand and walking towards the exit.  "We'll answer your questions
after we get some food into our systems.  A good fight always makes me
hungry."
 "Please, you get hungry during a research party and an exam and dancing at
the Bronze," Xander groaned as he and Faith started after the couple.
 "Just like you, you idiot," Cordelia pointed out.
 "Ahh yes, and the night is now complete as the Bickersons go off into the
sunset," Willow teased, watching the two couples as they left being followed
by most of Pacey's friends.  Only Dawson, Buffy, Willow and Angel were left
in the gym.  The red head then turned, her gaze fallen on the spot where
Buffy was holding Angel.  "Ummm, Buffy, can you please let go of my
boyfriend's hand."
 "Your boyfriend?"  Buffy retorted.  "Since when have you and Angel been a
couple? What happened to Oz?  And how did Angel get out of hell?"  Willow
and Angel groaned together at the onslaught of questions being fired at them
by the angry Slayer.
 "Willow and I have been together for a few months now, since just after I
returned from hell," Angel supplied.  Dawson looked at the man in front of
him.
 "Hell?"
 "Long story," Angel replied, not wanting to get into that part of his life
right now with a complete stranger.  "Anyway, we aren't sure how I got back
and to tell you the truth, we've stopped looking.  I'm just grateful that
I'm back."
 "And as for Oz, he left Sunnydale right after you did," Willow finished.
"Decided to go on tour with the band.  I haven't seen or spoken to him
since."
 "So you moved on to my boyfriend?"  Willow bristled at the tone in Buffy's
voice, inching away from the angry blonde.
 "It wasn't something that we planned," Angel informed Buffy as he pried
himself loose from her and went over to stand by Willow, wrapping his arms
around her and letting her know that she was the one that he was in love
with just by his presence.  "She helped me get past what had happened to me.
  She offered her friendship and acceptance when I returned.  She saw past
what I was but still accepted it as part of me.  She didn't try and pretend
that I was something other than who I am."
 "So you're saying that I did?"  Angel shook his head.
 "I didn't say anything like that," he reiterated.  "Although, you have to
admit that there were quite a number of times when you just acted like we
were a normal couple.  How many times did you unthinkingly open a curtain or
hug me with your cross around your neck?"  Buffy looked away as she realized
just exactly what Angel was talking about.
 "So because of that, you and Willow are together?"  She whispered.  "But
you love me."
 "I do love you, Buffy," she brightened at his words, but her heart sank as
she realized that he wasn't finished.  "But it's not like it was before.  I
had a chance to think, a lot, when I was in hell.  What you and I had
together wasn't any good, for either of us.  If we had stayed together, one
or both of us would have wound up dead."
 "So you're settling for Willow, because you're afraid we won't work out?"
Angel again shook his head, trying to make Buffy understand what he was
saying.
 "I'm not settling for anything, Buffy," he stated, firmly and leaving no
doubt as to what he was saying.  "I love Willow.  She's everything to me.
She gives me something that I didn't even know I truly craved.  Acceptance
and love for who I am.  I'm sorry if that hurts you or if you are unable to
accept that, but it's the truth.  Willow and I are together because we love
each other."
 Tears began to streak down Buffy's face as she saw the tenderness between
the hacker and the souled vampire.  The love between them was palpable, even
to her.  She hated the fact that the two of them had found each other,
especially because she was convinced that she and Angel belonged together.
She knew it in the bottom of her heart.  Angel should be with her, not
Willow.
 "I need to get out of here," she said, to no one in particular as she
headed towards the exit where the others had gone.  "How long are you going
to be in town?"
 "We're here through the holidays," Willow answered, hoping that her friend
would be able to accept Willow's role in the vampire's life.  "Pacey wanted
to spend time with his friends and Giles said that he didn't need us and to
enjoy ourselves."
 "How is Giles?"
 "He's good.  He and your mom have started dating," Willow informed the
surprised blonde.
 "Well, things certainly have changed since I've been gone," Buffy muttered.
  "Looks like I haven't even been missed."  Willow heard the defeated tone
in Buffy's voice and went over to hug her.
 "Of course you've been missed," she assured Buffy.  "You have no idea how
much.  I mean, do you even want to know how much money Giles spent on
chasing down leads as to where you might have been?  We've all been so
worried about you.  I can't wait to tell Giles and your mom that you're
okay."
 "Don't," Buffy requested.  "At least, not yet.  Not until I think about
what's happened."  Willow nodded her head and released Buffy.  "I'll….I'll
talk to you later."  With that, Willow watched sadly as Buffy left the
gymnasium.  She felt Angel wrap his arms around her waist and she fell back
into his chest.
 "Not exactly what we had planned, was it?" She questioned, not really
expecting an answer.
 "When does anything ever go the way we planned it?"
 "True."
 "Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?" Dawson
screamed, angry at having been completely ignored.  Willow sighed as she
turned to him.
 "Come on.  Let's go catch up with the other and we'll explain things to
you."
 

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