Title: You Always Hurt The One You Love
Author: Crazy_Girl_Mary
Email: crazy_girl_mary@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: They’re all Joss’ and probably some other people but hey I’m a rebel so I play if I want damn it!
Summary: Angel dies, but Buffy isn’t ready to lose him yet. There’s only one way to stop his death, to go back in the past and kill his murderer, but that also means encountering her worst enemy, the devil who wears her lover’s face and his three companions Darla, Spike, and Drusilla at the height of their madness.
Pairings: No real pairings in this one, just friendships, but you could call it a B/A aftermath or a B/Aus infatuation.
Spoilers: Buffy has come back from heaven, and Angel has Conner, but he’s not grown up yet.
Rating: NC-17 (Just to be safe) there are a few strong sexual exchanges as in banter
Author’s Comments: I finally have a website! Isn’t that exciting! I know I’m excited and I’ll be even more excited if you email me with your challenges and reviews.

She ran towards the noise of the horse with horrible thoughts running though her mind. She reached the edge of the trees and welcomed the openness of the cemetery again. She saw a few yards away a large man on a horse. Three others were behind him and he was getting off of the animal. He was addressing a man curled on the ground but she couldn’t clearly hear what he was saying. She knew he was Holtz and could mostly guarantee that the man on the ground was Angelus. So much for strong, she thought as she searched the earth for a weapon. She couldn’t kill Holtz with Angelus right there to witness and remember the whole thing, no telling what problems that would cause for the future she knew. She picked up a large rock and looked back to Holtz. He was kicking Angelus heavily and she could hear his moans from where she stood. “Come on Holtz, you can’t do any better then that?” he taunted. Holtz angrily kicked Angelus full force in the face and she imagined she could see the blood spurting from his head. She aimed quickly and threw the rock as hard as she could it skimmed past Holtz’s head as he moved and nailed his horse in the side. The spooked horse took off quickly for the woods leaving Holtz to fend for himself. He yelled for one man to go fetch his horse and Buffy was thankful that she had one less human to fight and possibly kill.

She quickly picked up another rock and hit her target squarely this time. A man riding towards her flew backwards off his horse and the horse ran in the other direction. She looked quickly for another rock and not seeing one she ran the few feet back towards the tree line. She jumped up and grabbed a dead tree branch and let her full weight force the branch to snap. Then she rolled onto her back and slammed the large branch at the last horse just before it ran her over. The horse jumped back and the man fell to the hard ground slightly shaken. She jumped up and punched him hard in the face knocking him out.

Then she looked back to where Angelus was. She ran towards him, hearing the returning horse hoofs in the trees. She grabbed him and yanked him off of the ground and was slightly satisfied to hear him moan in pain. She quickly threw his arm over her shoulder and ran towards the mausoleum they had been in. She opened the heavy marble door and threw him into the darkness. Looking out she just caught the glimpse of the two horses and Holtz emerging from the trees. She closed the heavy door and slid down the thick wooden plank that locked it then turned back to Angelus. Despite his wound he saw her concerned expression and began to laugh.

“What’s the matter darling? You look as though you cared if I die?” She frowned in reply and stepped towards him. She saw a large jagged tree limb was protruding just under his heart and peeking out of his back. She grabbed the edge of the bough and saw his eyes flicker in pain as she began to slowly pull it painfully from his chest.

“Whatever happened to a quick one?” he asked amusing only himself, then let out a small involuntary scream as she pulled the last of the branch from his body. He rolled onto his back and cupped his wound. “Don’t worry love, I won’t die.” “No kidding?” she said, “I might be able to help you with that.”

“You don’t have the courage.”

“Don’t tempt me,” she spat knowing she would never even consider killing him, but that didn’t mean he had to know. Buffy turned towards the door hearing the men pounding outside. She looked around frantically for an escape. There was no other way out.

“They can’t get in here,” Angelus answered as he suddenly jumped to his feet. “And you can’t get out.”

“One day you’ll come up with much better comebacks, but for now I’ll have to deal with mediocrity.”

Angelus looked slightly puzzled as he stepped towards her. The pounding was still continuing outside the heavy door. Buffy imagined the wood snapping in her minds eye. She was afraid to turn her back on Angelus to prepare for the fight she feared was about to arise. He smiled, “You look like a caged bird, pure, beautiful, helpless. You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

“Weren’t you dying a few seconds ago, can you go back to that please?”

“You obviously don’t want that, you saved my life. Why?” he questioned.

“I’m having some serious second thoughts about that, but since its too late and I… we are about to be attacked we might as well work together. I did not come here to kill you. I came here to kill Holtz.”

Angelus wiped his brow sarcastically, “Gosh, You really had me frightened, love. Thank goodness you cleared things up.”

Buffy heard the pounding lessen. She wondered if they planned to stay out there all night. She pulled a cross from her pocket and held it out at arms length. Angelus hissed at the surprise and took a few steps back suddenly, laughing. She stepped back so she could keep her eyes on the door and her eminent danger. He suddenly looked bored again and took a seat on a stone coffin. His long dark hair made him look even more evil then his future form. Buffy shuddered at the thought of how he had tortured her in the future. Was it worth saving him if there was a chance that could happen again? She knew that it was worth everything in the world to be in the same room, the same bed as him for only a moment. She would suffer it all over again just to be with him.

Angelus was staring at her confused. The pounding on the door had stopped. Angelus stood and walked towards the door. “Holtz?” he called. There was no answer, “Don’t play games with me man, I can smell your fear.” There was still no answer, “I can stay in here forever you know, you’ll have to eat. I have plenty of food in here.” He glared happily at Buffy who suddenly felt the tables turn for his behalf. Had she just given her life to him? He was stronger then she had remembered and maybe even stronger then her. She knew from the Watchers Diaries that he was extremely clever as well. He had tortured innocent woman for weeks, stalking them, cutting them apart piece by piece. Every atrocity known to man or demon he had committed and she loved him.

Buffy wondered if it were light out yet. She didn’t think that much time had gone by. She looked hesitantly towards Angelus. He nodded slightly, and stretched out a welcoming hand. She longed to go to him and seek deep comfort in him, knowing she could not. She took a few cold hard steps in the opposite direction but when she looked up from her feet a second later he was inches away from her. She shuddered involuntarily as his left hand swept her golden hair from her right shoulder. She forced herself to pull even further away from him and the cross in her hand hung limply as if her body was physically unable to raise it to him. He suddenly turned back to the door and listened intently. “They’re leaving.”

“Are you sure?” Buffy asked wondering if he could feel her breath, her words on the skin of his neck. She looked to the door but knew she wouldn’t hear the things outside that he would. He answered, “Positive, but perhaps we had better wait until I’m more then positive they are gone.” She noticed his longing look searching her tight clothes. Her heart was telling her to nod her head vigorously and jump into his arms but her brain was telling her to shake her head and run out the door and away from him as fast as she could. She had already made far too much contact with him as it was and she could be rewriting the future as they spoke but she knew that couldn’t be helped. “Where did you obtain such wonderful apparel?” he asked smiling.

“The mall,” she snapped and side glanced to the door. There was about two feet between her and him and about fifteen feet from him to the door.

“What’s your name love?” Angelus asked.

Buffy didn’t know what to say. “Summer,” she finally managed to stammer.

“Summer, I like that,” he smiled, “very innocent, no doubting you work for the good guys.” He took a menacing step toward her, “Do you feel trapped in here Summer?” he asked. “Are you beginning to doubt your judgment?” Another step closer, “Are you wondering what you were thinking saving my life?” He was so close to her now she didn’t think there was a part of her body that wasn’t touching his.

“No.” Buffy answered, stepping back twice to keep the distance between them, but she knew the space would eventually run out.

“You were thinking you love me,” he took a step closer, “you were thinking you need me,” another step, his features suddenly soft, “you were thinking you couldn’t let me die. That you would die without me. That you could make me change, make me love you.”

Buffy frowned, for a second she thought maybe he could read her thoughts. “I’m thinking you need an ego check buddy,” she didn’t want to chance a fight with him. She slowly sidestepped around him to the door, holding the cross at arms length. She used her hand behind her back to ease the heavy wooden plank from its cradle. She lost her awkward hold on it and it began to fall to the ground, slamming into her calves on its descend. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the obnoxiously loud crash she expected but it never came.

She slowly opened her eyes and felt his hand between her legs. She looked down and saw he had crouched and caught the plank. She stepped her foot from between his arms and smiling sexily turned and opened the door. She took no precautions as she walked out into the clearing. And didn’t hear a stir from the surrounding woods or the mausoleum as she continued through the graveyard to the street. She stopped once at the street and looked back to see the mausoleum door properly closed and no one around. She frowned and nervously headed back to the inn. She took her time getting there and climbed the rose climb back into the building then slowly crept to her room.

She was opening the door when a voice behind startled her, “Getting in a little late aren’t we?”

She slowly turned and confronted Spike. “I had a few problems to deal with.”

“So I heard,” he answered. “Midnight margaritas in a few minutes. I hope you’ll join us.”

“I think I’ll just go to bed, a little tired.” She frowned as she entered the room.

“We’ll just have to have all the fun without you.” Buffy sensed his menacing tone under the friendly invitation and figured she had better make an appearance incase the hosts decided to get personal with the guests. She closed the door and looked around the room. Satisfied that no one had been inside she began to get dressed to make her appearance.

Buffy looked once more at her figure in the light green dress before deciding that it was fit to wear. She would have rather gone down in her fighting clothes unless things got ugly but she knew she couldn’t do that. She then proceeded down the quiet hallway, then the stairs. Once at the bottom of the stairs she could hear noises coming from the kitchen. She slowly made her way into the dining room and saw candle light flickering from the doorway. She frowned and braced herself for entry. She walked to the doorway and looked inside.

Darla was seated at the table with the man from dinner, James, limp in her lap. His head was hanging at an odd angle and blood poured down his neck inside his torn shirtfront. His young wife Seveen was curled up and sobbing in a corner. Spike was dropping the body of the plump red haired woman to the floor. On the other side of the table the body of a young maid lay ravaged and bloody. She presumed that Angelus had probably claimed that life, and was thinking he was probably behind her as he quickly grabbed her arms behind her back.

She immediately cursed herself for having come, and having worn such a binding dress in the first place. Angelus looked over her shoulder and down the tight bodice of the light green gown, “My, don’t you look amazing.” Spike and Darla in full game face, covered with blood looked up smiling evilly at the new captive. “Nice of you to join us Slayer.” Darla purred standing from her seat and approaching the pair. Buffy tried desperately to free herself from his grip, not caring if she showed Angelus her full strength. As Darla neared her striking range Buffy used Angelus’s strong grip to fling her legs in the air and catch Darla in the jaw. She stepped back stunned and Angelus grinned, so close to Buffy’s neck she could feel his features change. “She’s so fiery, I like her much better then the last Slayer.”

“Who says she’s a Slayer?” Spike asked, “Why would the Slayer want to kill Holtz? Better yet why would the Slayer want to save you?”

Buffy couldn’t think straight, she had no idea what she was going to do, or what she had gotten herself into. She wanted to cry as Angelus pushed his strong body even closer to hers. “Isn’t it obvious? She’s in love with me,” Angelus replied happily, “William, you worry far too much for a man of your age, it doesn’t suit.”

Darla gripped her jaw, “I think she’s much more pathetic then the last Slayer myself.” She turned and walked quickly toward Seveen, “Let’s just give her a test hmm?”

Buffy felt Angelus’s body stir with excitement pressed against her. “I was planning on testing her in my own way,” he said pressing a hasty kiss in the hollow of her neck, “But have it your way for now Darla.” Darla caught hold of the blind woman by her soft pretty hair and pulled her over to the table. The woman struggled desperately to get away from her captor. The tears on her face glistened in the candlelight and Buffy knew she could never forgive herself for allowing them to do this.

“What’s the matter doll?” Darla asked, “You can’t see. How can you be scared?” Seveen sobbed loudly, “You killed my James, you’re an animal, why shouldn’t I be scared?”

“Maybe I will spare you…” Darla said slowly. She began stripping the woman down before all the prying hungry eyes in the room. “Maybe I just want to play with you,” Darla cooed licking the girl’s face and running a few fingers between her legs. The blind girl shivered and shook with fear and unwanted pleasure from the demon’s movements. Buffy tried again to pull herself from Angelus’s grip. She kicked her feet but he only enjoyed it more. She heard the seams around her arms rip as she pulled frantically.

It wasn’t long before Darla had the girl in the grips of an intense and devastating orgasm and when she pulled her fingers out she scratched open the girls insides and her hand was covered with blood. She licked her fingers clean. “Then again,” Darla said nearing her preys neck, “Maybe I won’t.” She sunk her teeth quickly into the woman’s fair neckline, and in a few painful minutes she was gone. Darla let her naked abused body sink to the floor, “I do believe she had an evil taste in her, it appears I’ve done the world a favor. Pity.”

Angelus frowned as Buffy went limp in his arms, “It appears my girl isn’t as tough as she appeared.”

“I could have told you so,” Darla said. “William comes home saying he’s encountered the Slayer and everyone wants to believe. How could a new Slayer have been called to the same place? And only months after we killed a Slayer here? Impossible! Besides we had heard those rumors about China.”

Spike interrupted her tirade, “Well we’ll just have to wait until she wakes and find out the truth, but the way she fights, she has to be a Slayer.”

“Either way,” Angelus said, laying her body on the table, “She’s rather intriguing.” He ignored William’s contradictions for the moment.

“I think she’s weak,” Darla said. Angelus turned to Darla and began to uselessly reprimand her. Darla frowned and put her hands on her hips disapproving of her childes attitude. Suddenly the girl leapt up on the table and just missing the high ceiling she jumped over both Angelus and Darla and ran out of the kitchen, through the dining room throwing chairs in her path, and into the lobby. She pounded into the door, hearing the three vampires not far behind her. She slammed the door open and ran as fast as she could, not knowing where she was going or where they were. She didn’t stop or slow for nearly twenty minutes. Then she suddenly stopped full force and spun quickly around. There was no one there. She looked frantically on all sides of her, knowing they were out there somewhere lurking in the shadows, waiting for her.

She wanted so desperately to cry in his arms. She felt so foolish. She had been foolish to come back here, foolish to try and change the facts. But if her friends could bring her back to life because they needed her, then why couldn’t she bring back the one she needed? She looked down at her tattered dress. The long skirt was ripped halfway up, and the straps had broken and only the tightness of the fabric against her chest kept her covered. She was in the middle of the road. What road, she didn’t know or care. She just wanted to be as far away from her doom, her greatest mistake, as she could be.

She looked around and saw the cemetery as her only sanctuary. She had seen Holtz there earlier and maybe she could kill him and get out of that place as soon as possible. She listened intently for the sound of horses as she wondered through the rows of nameless stones. She had blood down her front and had no idea when she had got it or who’s it was. Her dress was shredded in various places and she knew she probably looked like hell, like she was beaten in more ways then one. She felt as bad as she looked. Just then she heard the light sound of a twig breaking behind her. She twisted around fearfully.

“It’s about time,” Darla laughed, “I’ve been following you for miles now love. Just think. I had to step on a twig to get your full attention.” Buffy frowned at her foe. Darla looked like a complete maniac, dried blood clung to the pale skin of her neck and chest and the front of her white lace dress was tainted with blood.

“What do you want? Did you come here to kill off the competition? Scared your boy toy wants me instead?” Buffy taunted.

“I wouldn’t quite say that,” Darla said, “Actually, I came to get him a present.”

“That’s not necessary love, I can get it myself.” Angelus stepped out from the trees. Buffy didn’t have to turn to know he was a few feet behind her. She felt the air stir as he ran towards her, going for her arms again, but she wouldn’t make the same stupid mistake more then twice. She ducked from his grasp and wrapped her hand around a stick that was lying at her feet. Then she ran as quickly as she could away from the pair of evil vampires. She was too encompassed by fear to turn around, but wasn’t at all surprised to feel strong arms wrap around her shoulders and pull her to the ground in a rough tackle. She struggled to turn around under the heavy body, and came face to evil face with Darla.

Everything was in slow motion as she felt Darla’s teeth quickly and skillfully sink into her soft neck. Her lips pulsated as they pumped her blood from the dual wounds into her mouth. Buffy immediately felt light headed and nauseous. She closed her eyes and slammed the stick into Darla’s back. She opened her eyes to see her enemy pull her bloody face from her neck and look in confusion before she was obliterated into gray dust. Buffy looked up to see Angelus standing over her, his face filled with anger and surprise.

Buffy jumped quickly to her feet, trying to take advantage of his shock. But she wasn’t fast enough and he quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. He ripped the stick roughly from her hand and threw it to the ground. Then he turned her violently. “You will pay for that!” he screamed angrily. “You will lose everyone close to you then I’ll make you take her place!” Buffy shuddered and began to cry. Hearing the rage and hatred in the voice of the man she loved was too much for her to stomach. “That’s right,” he went on menacingly, “You will take her place in our bed, on your knees before me.”

“Never,” Buffy stammered and managed to pull away from his grasp. She ran into the mausoleum she had shared with him only hours before. She had just managed to close the door when his powerful body collided with it. He pushed it halfway open and she braced herself, with full drive and stamina and managed to push it closed again. Suddenly he wasn’t pushing anymore. She searched the stone floor for the wood that had locked it before. She noticed it was lying against the opposite wall.

“Think you can get over there and get that wood before I get in?” he asked lightly from the other side. “I wouldn’t make a wager on that, but I hear from Spike you’re quite the gambler.”

Buffy looked down at the bodice of her dress. She held the door closed with one shoulder and pulled a piece of paper from the inside of her dress with the opposite hand. She glanced at the beautiful blue diamond decorating her neck, the blood that ran down from her wound to her neck. She knew she had to get away from him. She had to get home where she was safe, much safer then here at least. She knew if he got in there she would never be able to escape him. She was thinking deeply, she had failed to kill Holtz but she had killed Darla and that would alter the future.

If Darla died Angel would never be able to have Conner. Buffy’s body chilled at the thought, she was angry at herself for thinking that it was a good thing that Angel wouldn’t have a son with Darla. Then she thought even further about what had happened the night Angel had died. Holtz had kidnapped Conner and that had thrown Angel off his game. If Conner were never born, Angel would not have been distracted and would have killed Holtz easily. She knew it was a long shot but she had to try. She couldn’t stay here anymore.

She concentrated on the time period she knew and loved and began to read the words from the spell. Angelus hearing she was doing something began to force the door open again bellowing all the gruesome defiling things he had planned for her at the top of his menacing voice.

Willow had claimed that you didn’t have to know what the Latin meant to read the spell but Buffy was feeling quite different. She leaned all her strength and body weight into keeping the door closed as Angelus tried to force his way in. “What’s that, a spell? I know Latin doll,” Angelus said, “And you’re saying it all wrong.”

Buffy wouldn’t let herself be swayed. She continued stumbling through the page as quickly as she could while barely keeping him out. After the first stanza the blue whirlwind she had seen when she had come to the past was beginning to form a few feet away from her. At one point she thought he was unquestionably going to make his way in, but she managed to stomp his foot out of the crack in the door and push it closed all the way. She continued to say the spell until she was done. She looked up at the whirlwind and watched as it neared her, then begin to circle around her. She was the center point of the swirling colorful tornado. She was reluctant to close her eyes should the spell falter and her enemy come in ready to fight. She continued to watch the swirling light until her eyes could no longer take the brilliance. She blinked a few times and when she opened her eyes completely she was back in her kitchen.

Angelus felt the weight holding the door closed disappear a second before he flew into the dark mausoleum and landed face first on the cold floor. He stood there for a minute looking around angrily. This girl was going to pay for that! She was going to die slower then he had ever made anyone die. He looked around for her angrily. “Witch!” he screamed. “Where are you little witch?” Had the spell worked? Had she disappeared? But even so, he doubted her scent would vanish completely like it had. It was almost as if she had never existed, which he knew was not true. He thoroughly looked over the empty tomb and combed the graveyard then angrily went back to the hotel, barely avoiding the sunlight that was quickly coming.

“William!” he screamed up the stairwell. The young vampire appeared quickly at the top of the steps, wearing only pants, his hair tousled. “I see Dru has returned,” Angelus answered jealously taking in Spike’s appearance.

“She has,” Spike, answered, “Where is your girl at? Summer?”

“She’s vanished!” Angelus rasped, passing Spike on his way to her room. “She was saying a spell, then the next thing I know she’s completely gone.” He pulled a ring of master keys from his pocket and found the one to her room. When he opened the door he found she had not been back there. Spike followed him back into the room.

“That is very interesting attire,” Spike stated glancing at the black leather clothes Angelus was holding up. Angelus frowned and threw the clothes back on the chair they were on. Then he went over to her unmade bed and lightly rubbed the sheets she had been sleeping on hours ago. Then he lifted the pillow to smell her and smiled at what he found underneath.

“Willow! Dawn!” Buffy jumped from the table and began to scream the names of those dearest to her. She looked out the window and saw it was the middle of the night, about the same time as it had been before she left. Dawn would be in bed. On her way up the stairs she saw a lot was different about the house. It lacked many sentimental adornments that it had held previously. No family photos on the walls. No decorative carpets or mirrors. There wasn’t even a television in the living room, only a couch, a loveseat, a chair and a coffee table, all of which seemed more worn. The windows were covered with black blinds and then thick black curtains, which did not allow any light, moon or sun to enter. Maybe Angel lived with her, she thought with a fluttering heart.

She went to the first bedroom, which was Dawn’s and slowly opened the door. The room was dark and she didn’t want to turn the light on and risk waking her sleeping sister. She slowly, carefully crept over to the bed. She could easily make out the shadows in the room but all the furniture was different. There was a simple small bed with a person occupying it, an end table, and a bureau and closet. The walls were not adorned with posters like Dawn’s room had been. She went over to the bed anyway and gently pulled down the cover to see Spike lying in the bed. “Spike!” she complained before she could stop herself.

“Buffy?” he asked questioningly.

“Where’s Dawn?”

His face turned serious, “Go back to bed Buffy, you’re dreaming again.”

Fear stuck Buffy in her heart, “Where is she Spike!”

“Buffy Dawn is gone, she’s been gone for a longtime, you know that.” He sighed and turned back over in bed pulling the cover back up to his shoulder, “Go back to bed.”

Buffy couldn’t believe it. Dawn was dead? She didn’t know what to do. She had to go back. It hadn’t worked out right. “When did she die?” Buffy asked.

“What?” Spike said, “She’s not dead.” He sat up, a worried expression on his face, “She went to live with her father remember. Are you feeling okay?” Buffy felt her heart relax, if Dawn was only with their father she could easily get her back. Why were things so plain? She didn’t understand. Why was Spike living with them? Did he have the chip? She didn’t want to ask him anything else, keep his alarm to a minimum. He looked at her Victorian dress and asked her about it, but she quickly excused it as a costume party where suspected vamps were crashing. He didn’t look like he believed her but she didn’t think he looked like he knew what the dress was really all about either. She said she was sorry for disturbing him and left the room.

Then she went to the next room which had been her mother’s, and then Willow’s. Was her mother alive? She didn’t let her hope form because she knew whether or not Angel was alive would not change her mother’s disease. She opened the door and found that this room had a few adornments unlike the rest of the house. A few familiar posters hung on the walls and witchcraft paraphernalia covered the surfaces of the end table and bureau. She found Willow and Tara sleeping soundly and comforted at the sight quickly left the room. At least they were together in this future.

When Buffy went to the next room she found it was still hers. It lacked the personal touches it had had in the past but it was still set up the same. She went to her closet to change her clothes and found that most of the clothing it contained were as plain as the rest of the house. Tight fitting black shirts, lose comfortable pants, no skirts, and no dresses. She sighed and put on a pair of comfortable khaki cargo pants, a loose short-sleeved black V-neck shirt and black boots. She threw the dress in the bottom of the closet and put on a pair of running sneakers. She went over to look in the mirror and almost screamed out loud at the sight of herself. She had black tips in her long blonde hair, which was now wrapped in loose little dreadlocks, and a long scar running from the bottom of her right eye to the bottom of her right cheek. The blue stone that took her to the past and this future still clung low on her neck. She put her hair in a ponytail and went downstairs.

She grabbed the battered old phone from the wall and dialed Giles phone number but there was no answer so she decided to go to his house and find out everything she needed to know. She found her weapons chest in the closet under the stairs. There were many other weapons there too. She grabbed two stakes and some holy water that she put in her pockets. She found a wallet on her end table. It was black leather with a long silver chain. Inside was a twenty-dollar bill, some change, a MAC card that she hadn’t had in the past life, so that was a plus. Also a few ID’s with her picture, none of which stated she was Buffy Summers. One called her Buffy Elizabeth, another Buffy Anne, the other one Summer Richards. She looked at the MAC card and saw it didn’t say Buffy Summers either but Buffy Anne.

She would figure out what that was all about later. She hooked the wallet to her pants, put it in her pocket and ran down the stairs to go to Giles’ house, hoping that he still lived where she had known him too, and that he hadn’t gone to England like in her future. She smiled when she found a set of keys on the table before the door. She thought maybe she would like this life even better then her past one. She fumbled with the many locks on the door. Then she locked the door back behind her and slowly turned to see a sparkling black Jetta in the driveway. The windows were heavily tinted and there were no license plates. What was she some kind of criminal? No tags, fake names, tinted windows. She decided against driving the obviously illegal car and began to walk in the direction of Giles’ place.

She noticed with fear that many of the houses in her neighborhood were rundown, destroyed, or home to squatters. Her own home she saw was in desperate need of repair, the porch was rotting, the railings had fallen off and just lay in the front yard almost covered by overgrown grass and weeds, and the paint was peeling everywhere. She saw that many of the upstairs windows were boarded up. She had to figure out what was going on. She had to talk to Giles.

She walked down the streets as quickly as possible, often fearing that she was being followed. She would quickly turn around and find that no one was there. When she reached the cemetery she knew she was being followed. But she couldn’t see anyone. “Who’s there?” she called out angrily. “I really don’t have time for this!” She waited for a moment but there was no answer so she quickly continued. She saw that the gravestones that she had memorized in all her years of patrolling had increased considerably in size. There were much more and they seemed to be smaller and plainer and squeezed together. Many of the death dates were within the last four years. She wondered if there had been some sort of natural disaster or dark thing that had caused all the deaths. She was halfway through the cemetery when she heard the footsteps right behind her. She turned quickly and saw that he was standing right behind her.

“Angel?” she asked slowly. He looked the same and he wasn’t wearing leather pants. So, so far so good.

“Buffy,” he said slowly, “Where are you going?” he asked. He put both hands on her shoulders gently. She took a step back, “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, “Where’s your car?”

“I um,” Buffy frowned, “I was just heading over to talk to Giles.”

“Giles?” he asked. She wanted to hug him so hard, she knew he had to be good. She had to contain her joy. She didn’t want to scare him she just wanted to straighten things out.

“Giles,” she said, “You never met him?” she asked.

“Buffy, Giles went back to England a month ago. A counsel thing,” Angel touched her shoulder again, “Are you feeling okay?” he asked.

Buffy shook her head, “No, no I’m not. I have no idea what’s going on, everything’s different and confusing. Dawn is in L.A., Spike’s in my house, Willow and Tara are back together, and the house is so different, the neighborhood…” she gestured with her arms, “look around, it’s rundown and horrible. Can’t I protect this place anymore?”

Angel wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, “It’ll be okay, and we’ll deal with it, right now we need to get you home.” Angel took her arm and began to lead her out of the graveyard. When they reached the broken gate a group of vamps were waiting. Buffy quickly grabbed the stakes from her pocket and throwing one to Angel she began to dust the vamps with her familiar speed and skill.

Angel knew with surety that it was the same Buffy, the same Slayer. He didn’t help her kill the vampires and when she finished she looked at him questioningly. “What’s wrong? I could’ve used your help.”

Angel smiled, “I’m sorry, I just love to watch you, you know that, and it looked to me like you were getting along just fine.”

Buffy smiled, she was so glad he was alive. “Where are we going?” Buffy asked when he began to lead her away again.

“Home,” Angel said simply and began to lead her to the Bronze, where he had an underground apartment.




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