Dedication: This is dedicated to my friend Kyle, he'll be gone two years in June and I still miss him. He's looking down and smiling as I write this, saying "she's kind of cute, but none too smart!" I miss you, Kyle!
Disclaimer: I don't own them, Joss Whedon and Co. do.
The phone rang, once, twice, three times, Buffy reached over her husbands sleeping form to answer it. "Hello" she answered sleepily into the reciever.
"Buffy, so sorry to wake you." A familiar voice came over the line, sitting up in the bed, she asked "Giles?"
"Umm, yes, it's me. I, um, we, the council needs your help." He told her nervously.
"What's wrong? The new slayer, she's not..." She asked wide awake now.
"Goodness, no, Kayla is fine. We are having your normal hellmouth problems times three and we need some extra slayer power." He explained, then hesitantly he added "You will help? Kayla is much too inexperienced to tackle this alone." He hated to guilt Buffy, but he desperately needed her help.
"Of course, I'll help. Thank goodness it's summer time, so I don't have to worry about my job, great thing about teaching, summers off. I'll talk to Kyle and see if he can come too."
"Wonderful, I'll talk to you tomorrow." Giles frowned slightly as he hung up the phone.
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Giles turned to the dark man sitting on his couch. "She's coming." He said with a sigh.
"I knew she would." Angel said with a pained smile.
"You should have let me tell her the whole story. I hate keeping things from her. Even if she's not the active slayer anymore, I love her like a daughter." Giles said tersely as he went to heat the kettle. It was going to be a long night.
Angel entered the kitchen sighing heavily. "Giles, Buffy is a happily married woman now, she's not the Slayer, she has a life now, a good one, and as much as I hate to admit it, I like Kyle, he's perfect for her, well balanced, grounded guy. So, telling her that her ex vampire lover is dying is not going to bode well. I have to help Kayla with this vampire explosion, because we both know I won't be around forever...now, thanks to a dose of poison in my bagged blood. Having 250 years worth of enemies can be a real bitch. I...we need Buffy's help, and she needs to concentrate on helping Kayla, not worrying about me." Angel finished and sat down at the dining table, taking the cup that Giles offered him.
"Angel, I can't tell you how sorry I am about this situation." Giles told him as he patted his shoulder and sat down across from him. Looking over the steam rising from his cup he spoke "Let's plan our strategy."
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Buffy finished dressing as she heard Kyle getting out of the shower. He toweled his hair dry and met her for a kiss. "Good morning" She whispered between kisses.
"Kyle, I need to talk to you. I've got to go to home, to Sunnydale, Giles and Kayla need me. Do you think you can go with me?" She asked biting her bottom lip, hoping this wasn't going to upset his too badly.
He looked at her worriedly. Kyle knew a portion of her Slayer history and it made him uncomfortable, he loved her far too much to think about the dangerous life she had led before him. At 28 years old, Kyle knew what he wanted in life, to be with one Buffy Anne Summers Weldon as long as possible, and her old life resurging scared him. He thought for a moment then swallowed his fear, "Sure, I'll come with you. I'm not teaching summer classes this year, so we have all kinds of time. How dangerous is this going to be?"
"Giles says hellmouth activity has tripled, I guess he, Angel and Kayla need some help." She answered him lightly.
"So how dangerous is this?" he repeated the question.
"I'm sure it will be under control in no time." She smiled and patted his shoulder, then went to get the suitcases from the closet. < I hope it will be anyway >
Kyle made the call and went to help Buffy pack. They had not been to Sunnydale since they had been married, although Buffy still had close ties there. Her mother had moved back to LA after Buffy was retired as the slayer. The council had retired her four years ago at 23, she had served for many more years then any other slayer - seven years. Of course there was a stipulation, they could ask for her help if ever needed. She had agreed, moved to LA, where she found a teaching job, she had met Kyle soon there after. After much persuasion and help from Keats and Byron, the literature teacher had persuaded her to go out. He could tell she had been hurt in the past, but felt she was worth the effort, he knew he had made the right call now as he watched her packing. Three years of marriage and he still felt like a newleywed.
Buffy smiled as Kyle packed beside her, his longish brown hair formed soft ringlets at the nape of his neck. Bright blue eyes smiled back at her. She smiled to herself, wondering how she had gotten so lucky. She remembered all too well, a time when luck was not with her on the romantic front. She pushed away memories of Angel, knowing she would be seeing him soon, he had made it his goal in life to help the Slayer, whoever she may be. This must be bigger then what Giles was telling, if he and Angel couldn't handle it. She could wait just a little bit long to confirm her secret and give Kyle the news. She was nervous and excited, she was going home, or the place she always thought of as home.
"All ready to go?" He asked interrupting her thoughts.
"Um, yeah, but I've got to call Giles."
"I'll put the bags in the car, you call."
Giles answered the phone on the first ring. "Buffy, so glad to hear from you. You'll be here in a few hours, good, we'll meet at my place. Thank you, Buffy."
He hung up the phone and picked it up to dial Angels number, then Willow's.
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Willow Rosenberg sat down by Oz on the couch, their children played in the livingroom floor. She had kept her maiden name, and was now Dr. Rosenberg, she and Oz had married while still in college, they had two children, Kelsey age four and Ian age two. "Who was on the phone?" He asked her smiling at the children playing with the brightly colored waffle blocks that were all over the floor.
"Giles, Buffy and Kyle are coming in just a few hours. We're meeting over at his place at Sunset. Can you keep the kids?"
"Of course, are you going to tell Buffy about the poison, about Angel?"
"I swore to Angel that I wouldn't. I'm still hoping to find an antidote, but I realize time is running out. He gets weaker every day, but I must abide by his wishes. Patient confidentiality."
"Willow, I try not interfere with your decisions, but sometimes don't you think that confidentiality should be forgotten, this is your best friend."
"Oz, Angel is my friend too." She said sadly as she moved closer to him, he put a gentle arm around her and kissed her hair.
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Buffy and Kyle got settled into a hotel quickly, Giles had offered them a place to stay, but she felt Kyle would be more comfortable at a hotel. He knew and liked her friends but had not really spent a lot of time with them. They had all been at the wedding of course, and they had spent weekends in LA over the last couple of years. He thought Willow and Oz were wonderful, Xander and his wife Megan were very nice, but they wouldn't be here, he had been transferred to Texas. Cordelia was in LA with them, they saw her irregularly, she was always busy. Giles was a great guy, more like Buffy's father then her actual father. And Angel was...he was a source of apprehension, Kyle knew that he had been involved with Buffy and there had been a bad breakup, but he got the feeling that Angel still loved wife. The way he looked at her during the wedding. Although he was never anything less then a gentleman when they were together, Kyle was weary of him, but he admitted he did admire him for helping Giles and Kayla. And he was probably in his debt for protecting Buffy during her slayer days.
"Let's go, it's almost sunset." Buffy told Kyle as she pulled on a light sweater and went to the door. "Willow wants us to come for dinner after we meet. Okay? I talked to her earlier. She's got rounds in the morning at the hospital, but then she's off for a couple of days."
"Sure, I like Willow. It will be nice to see her and Oz, too." He agreed happily. They locked the motel room and drove to Giles, they of course had to drive by the house on Revello Drive. It held so many memories, good and bad for her. Buffy looked up at the window of what had been her room, she smiled at some forgotten memory, Angel on her bed holding Mr. Gordo, she, Willow and Xander watching the indian channel on cable. She looked at the wonderful man next to her, she loved him, it was funny she thought she would never love again after Angel, and along comes this funny, sensitive, poetry spouting man who had more patience then she deserved. And he loved her, she knew it, she could sense it in his every look and caress. She sighed happily and leaned up against him as they pulled up to Giles apartment, he looked down at her and smiled as he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. He opened the car door for her and they made their way to the door.
Giles was waiting eagerly. He shook Kyle's hand and gave Buffy a huge hug. She smiled as she saw Willow sitting on the couch next to Angel and Kayla. Willow was up in a second, she hugged Buffy tightly, smiling she pulled Kyle into the embrace. They said their hello's and then it was Angel's turn he stood up slowly. Buffy could have sworn he looked tired, worn. < I guess it's all the extra work lately > She smiled up at him and leaned into his hug, he held her briefly then let go. "Hello, Kyle." he said warmly and extended his hand.
Kyle accepted the handshake and spoke just as warmly "Nice to see you, Angel" < That went smoothly >
The new Slayer was Kayla, a charming red head of 17, she was just as fiery as Buffy had been. She had been the slayer for a year. She had been the second Slayer called since Buffy's retirement. She stood up and Buffy gave her a hug, "How's the slaying?" She asked in a teasing voice. Giles had brought Kayla to LA for a visit and some advice from Buffy.
"It's been tedious lately. All work and no play" she sighed and Giles rolled his eyes heavenward. Angel let out a small chuckle as he ran a hand over the slayers head. Buffy could tell he cared for, not like he had cared for Buffy, but in a brotherly fashion.
"Well, hopefully I can help." Buffy said cheerfully as she sat next to Kyle. She put her hand over his and clasped it tightly. Angel noticed the small intimacy and winced inside. < Kyle's a good guy, Buffy's happy that's what counts. He can give everything I couldn't >
Giles brought in tea for everyone,except Kayla. We should probably start patroling tomorrow night. The activity has greatly increased, and there are several fledgings being made, as if they were trying to gather in numbers for some reason. If we can get these extras under control then maybe you can get back to LA, Buffy.
"Why don't we start tonight? Why put it off?" She asked curiously.
"Oh, I assumed you would be too tired tonight. But if you want to start right away it would be wonderful. Willow is of course doing research and Kayla and I will hit one side of town, if you and Angel can do the other side."
Kyle looked around uncomfortably, he wasn't sure where he fit in here. Willow smiled at him, "You can research with me, Kyle, I need the extra eyes, since Oz is with the kids." Buffy smiled a thankful smile at her friend. Willow nodded back.
Kyle looked down at Buffy. "Is that what you want me to do? Help Willow?" He asked her softly.
"I think it would be best, maybe tomorrow night I can show you the joys of slaying up close and personal" She winked at him as he grasped her hand more tightly, whispering "Be careful"
Giles brought out a bag of supplies for Buffy. She and Angel decided to go by the High School and take that side of town. Willow gathered up her paperwork and got the key to the library, "Come on, Kyle. We'll go as far as the high school with Buffy and Angel."
Kyle looked a little unsure. Buffy just smiled at him reassuringly and took his hand. "We'll drive to the high school and then Angel and I will walk from there."
Willow looked at Angel "Come on, Angel. You can ride with me." He followed her to her car. Buffy waved her thanks at Willow once again, thankful for her insightful friend.
Buffy and Kyle got into the car. He was quiet as he started the engine. Buffy picked up quickly on his insecurity. "Kyle, are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's just that you take to this patrolling as if it's completely natural. Until I met you, Buffy, I didn't think that all of those things that go bump in the night actually existed. It will just take me a little while to adjust, and you going off with Angel isn't exactly my favorite scenario!" He tried to joke, but she could see that he was serious.
"I'm going to patrol with Angel, walk around, stake vampires, probably visit the sewers. I'm going back to the hotel room with *you*, I'm going to shower and crawl into bed with *you.*" She stated matter of factly, then her soft lips found his, trying to reassure him that it was him that she loved. He held her close for a moment.
"Okay, but you do promise you'll shower after being in the sewers, right?"
She punched him lightly on the arm. "Okay, former Slayer of Vampires, which way to the school?"
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"I don't think he likes me much" Angel told Willow on the drive over.
"I don't think he knows you, Angel. And anyway, he has reason to be leery of you, your his wifes first love. Kyle's a good guy. I think you know that." Willow said with a smile. Then on a serious note she asked "How are you feeling?"
"I'm dying, Dr. Rosenberg, your diagnosis. How should I feel?" He told her his voice barely containing his bitterness.
"Angel, I...I wish it could be different." Willow said softly near tears for her friend. "I think you should tell Buffy."
"NO! I mean it Willow, you tell her and I will run so far away, no one will ever find me, I'll just be a pile of dust somewhere when the time comes."
"Okay, okay, calm down." Willow said as she pulled into the schools parking lot.
"I'm sorry, Willow. It's just that I don't want to worry Buffy."
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Buffy and Kyle pulled into the school parking lot moments after Willow and Angel arrived. After giving Buffy a hug and wishing her luck, Kyle somewhat reluctantly followed Willow into the library. Angel and Buffy started out on patrol. "Restfield Cemetary first?" Buffy asked as they headed down the street.
"Yeah, it's the closest. Hope Willow and Kyle can find some clue for all this extra activity." He answered. He glanced sideways at her, smiling at her natural grace and beauty, she was still beautiful.
They had not been in the cemetary for very long when they heard a clatter inside the mausoleum. Angel motioned for Buffy to follow him in, they burst in on three vamps, trying to break into a casket. Angel took the largest and Buffy easily went into action, quickly disposing of the other two, she looked around to find Angel sitting down on the floor. "Are you okay, Angel? You look wiped out." She asked as she helped him up, her voice full of compassion.
"I'm fine, just tired, been patrolling hard now, for a couple of weeks." He explained briskly.
"You should have called me earlier."
"I...we didn't want to bother you."
"It's not a bother if you need me."
"Well, face it, Buffy. You have a life off the hellmouth now. I hate dragging you back here into it. I don't think your husband likes it either. And I don't blame him, I wouldn't want my wife off slaying demons either."
"Kyle understands. He knows I have to do this."
"He is a good guy, Buffy. I don't know him well, but I can tell." Angel said hoarsely. "Lets look in this casket , they obviously were interested in it's contents."
Buffy helped him push the heavy lid open. "Ah, theres a book in here." Buffy removed the dust covered book, smiling at Angel. "Maybe, Giles will know what this is."
They took one more look around the crypt then headed back to the library with the book.
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Kyle looked at the large stack of books that Willow had placed on the table. It was kind of overwhelming. He reached for a book and started looking through it, not sure what he was looking for. He looked around the library,< so this is where Buffy spent so much time > "Willow, what was it like then? When Buffy was the slayer?"
"It was scary, and exciting and sad and wonderful all at the same time. We were the slayerettes to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. At first, it was just Xander and me, and of course back then Angel just came and gave a cryptic remark or too and left. Then Cordelia joined the group and Angel became more active after Buffy killed the Master. He and Buffy were more open about..." Willow's voice trailed, she didn't know how much Kyle knew about Buffy and Angel.
"More open about their relationship?" Kyle offered.
"Uh huh."
"Willow, I know they were in love and that it ended badly."
"That, it did" Willow agreed with a nod.
"Willow, I also know that she loves me,now. I may feel some anxiety over Angel, but I know that Buffy loves me. I am secure in that" He told her reassuringly. "Now what am I looking for in these books, this one seems to be about beets."
"I've read that one, several times." Willow laughed softly. "You are so right, Kyle. Buffy does love you. And I for one am glad she found someone who cares so much for her."
"It's an easy job." He said softly as she returned to the book.
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Buffy and Angel got back to the library with no problems. Buffy smiled when she saw Kyle. Angel noticed that her face lit up when she looked at her husband, for some reason that made him happy.
"Learning anything?" Buffy asked as she gave Kyle a soft kiss on the cheek.
"Lots about beets."
"Oh, we've read that one." Angel and Buffy said together and laughed.
"Did you find anything?" Willow asked from the stacks.
"A book, maybe you can figure it out." Angel told her as she appeared at the table. He handed her the dusty book.
"I'll take it home, I've got to get to the hospital early tomorrow. Do you want a ride home, Angel?" She was worried about him.
"Sure, I guess we'll see you tomorrow night?" He asked Buffy and Kyle as he followed Willow to the door.
"Yeah, we'll be here. Willow, I may come see you in action at the hospital tomorrow,ok?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, that would be nice. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Buffy and Kyle said in unison.
"Let's get something quick to eat and get to the hotel." Buffy told Kyle as he got up from the table.
Kyle got them both burgers and fries and they drove back to their room. As he unlocked the door he noticed how tired she looked. "Are you okay?" He asked concern in his voice.
"Yes, I'm fine, I just haven't done this for awhile. It's almost as exhausting as trying to teach 15 year olds to appreciate art." She joked.
Once in the room, Kyle went to the bathroom and started a hot bath for her. Adding plenty of bubbles, he called her in. "Come get in before the water gets cold."
Buffy undressed and slid into the relaxing water. "You're too good too me" She said as she closed her eyes and leaned back.
After a nice soak in the tub, he handed her a towel and her robe. He went to turn the bed down and waited for her. She crawled in next to him and curled up close. His arm went around her and she was soon peacefully sleeping.