Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Buffy. Buffy and Co. belong to Joss Whedon, the WB network, and Mutant Enemy.
She was just beginning to nod off when she heard the soft tap against her window. Almost immediately her survival instincts kicked in and she was on her feet with a stake in her hand. Half of her mind was buzzing while the other half was begging to return to bed. It'd been a terribly long day and all she really wanted to do was sleep. After all, it wasn't every day that you died and were brought back to life.
On her way to flick on her light she glanced tiredly at the new digital alarm clock that her mother had bought her. Mom..oh God...did she have any idea how very close she'd acutually come that night to losing her daughter? Probably best that she never knew. Buffy sighed. It was well after four in the morning and she really didn't feel like dealing with anything or anyone.
Buffy Summers stepped over to the window, "Alright, show yourself." Her voice was tense and laced with exhaustion. "Hey, easy there, it's just me." Angel said, appearing on the roof under her window. She blinked. That he could simply hop onto her roof was something she was still getting used to.
She quickly shoved the window open and reached out to grab his arm but in her sleep deprived enthusiam somehow managed to miss him and almost fall out the window. Chuckling he caught her. "Come in," she murmured, blushing.
Still practically carrying her, he stepped through the window and placed her the bed. He kissed her lightly on the mouth and then helped her into the sitting position. "Wow, I haven't seen you this exhausted since that night I spent in here watching you sleep."
She hit him lightly on the arm,"Sorry..next time you come over I'll be sure to take my No-Doz."
He laughed. "You're to much." Then his facial features tightened and his eyes sombered, "Seriously, how are you doing? You went through a lot today."
"Ya think?" She looked up at his face and saw the worry and concern in his eyes. "I'm okay..really. Just tired. The rush is over..thank God."
"Huh? I thought you liked the rush..you looked so confident and so much like a.."
"Like a what?" She squeeked.
"Like a bad-ass." He said with a shrug. I mean here we are..Xander and me..."
"I wanted to ask you about that...what happened?"
"Xander tracked me down. We found you," He lifted her hand and kissed it. "I thought you were dead...I don't think I've ever felt pain like that before..so don't you ever die on me again."
She laughed dryly, "I'll do my best. Believe me, it's not something I enjoyed. Just like the rush..it felt so awesome..so cool but I also felt so...I don't know..out of it..like it wasn't me. Like I was doing what I had to do but in the meanwhile, part of me had been shut off so that I could be a..bad-ass."
"But you are okay now..right?"
"We saved the world."
"And learned how to side-step a question. All in one day...you're talented." Angel said softly.
Buffy favored him with a dirty look and then sighed. "Well that wasn't very nice. Flag on the play."
He leaned over and whispered into her ear, "Evasion."
She reached up and traced her slightly trembling fingers across his jaw-line. Pulling him down to her, she gave him a fierce kiss on the mouth, almost as if she was frightened. He hated seeing her like this. The coolness was gone..replaced by more than vunerability..also fear.
"He's gone, Buffy. The Master is gone. You won," Angel told her, breaking away from the kiss and bringing the shaking Slayer to his chest. He gently pressed his lips to her hair and pulled her under his chin.
"Did we? Is it over? Will it ever be over? And what about all those kids that died...and all those kids that have died. Do you know what I saw when I was dead?" Tears spilled easily down her cheeks and try as he might he couldn't stop them from flowing down onto her white tank-top.
"Talk to me..that's why I'm here."
Buffy looked up at him, her eyes reddish and puffy. "I saw my life flashing before me only it was everything I didn't know. Like Xander..I hurt him...I hurt him...he hates me."
Angel placed his thumb under her chin and lifted her face so that their eyes locked. "Buffy, listen to me..listen carefully..that boy could never hate you. Ever..no one could. You're a beautiful, intelligent, loyal, caring person. You bring light into my life and theirs."
"I've brought death into their lives," Buffy sobbed. "How many times have I almost gotten them killed just because they were my friends. I keep trying to tell them.."
"That this is your fight and that they needn't get involved? Buffy..they wouldn't listen anyways. They care about you as much as you care about them. They refuse to let you stand alone. We all do. Although Giles may give you a few more feet of distance after tonight."
"What?"
"You did give him something of nasty bruise on the jaw," Angel said with a small smile.
Buffy sniffled and couldn't help but crack a smile. Giles hadn't said anything..even when she had danced once with him at the Bronze but she had a good feeling that he was going to put her through a vicious work-out come Monday.
"I'm sorry about leaving so suddenly from the Spring Fling," Buffy said apologetically.
"I think we all understood but next time it wouldn't hurt to tell someone that you're leavig. You had everyone freaked out until Willow finally talked to your mom."
"I was taking a bath," Buffy said with a slight blush. Angel chuckled.
"Good enough. Just the same. I didn't get the last dance."
"What? Are you mental? It's four in the morning." Buffy said.
"Good girl..I can hear your sarcasm returning," Angel retorted. Then he held out his hand. With his other hand he turned the radio on and put it at a very low volume setting. "Please?"
She gave him his hand and he swept the young girl into his arms. She wrapped herself around him and closed her eyes. She just wanted to forget. Forget everything but the dancing.
"Buffy!"
She turned quickly, her breath catching in her throat. Once she saw who had called her name, she visibly relaxed. "Xander."
He came up to her quickly and touched her arm, "I've been worried sick about you all weekend. Are you okay?"
She nodded slowly, "I'm fine. I just slept a lot this weekend. I really needed to just think. About everything..you know..about you guys..about you..Xander..you're.."
"A good friend. Buffy, I won't lie..I like you a lot but I respect you more and I value your friendship far too much to ever risk it. Please tell me I didn't."
"Never. I was thinking about that too."
"Well good but you know, sometimes thinking is over-rated."
In spite of herself, the Slayer laughed loudly. "Xander, if you ever change..I'll kill you." And with that she leaned up and kissed the astonished boy on the cheek. "Where's Will?"
"With Giles who..uh..you might want to avoid."
"Why?" Buffy asked suspiciously.
"He was muttering something about work-out of a life-time."
"Avoid. I like that word. Great idea..I suddenly got an urge to go hang out in the computer lab."
"Bad idea."
"Why?" This time it was dread.
"Ms. Calendar is helping Giles."
Buffy's shoulders felt, "That sucks. Alright..where to?"
"How about you, um, join us,Buffy?" An accented voice from above them said smugly.
They both turned and saw Giles and Willow standing on the stairs next to them. Buffy and Xander exchanged half-amused, half-horrified looks and then Buffy shouted, "To class." And with that the two of them took off.
Willow made a motion to follow but Giles held her arm , "Where are you going? This is your, um, uh..free I believe is what you call it."
"It'a thing that I've got to do..that's calling me..this thing." She shrugged, "It's a teenage thing." She ran to join her comrades.
Giles sighed. Life on the Hellmouth was sure interesting.