Part Two

Buffy was trying to ignore the silence between Angel and her on the way home to the Bronze. She finally couldn't take it and turned to him.

"Angel if you're still worried about those rose...."

Angel glanced at her. "No, it's not that, I've been meaning to tell you something and I haven't..."

Buffy swallowed nervously. "Okay, I'm listening, what is it?

"I have to go away for a little while. It's not that I want to but I have to go visit, my, my Uncle back east."

Buffy stared at him for a few moments of silence. "You have an Uncle? That's alive?"

"It's a long story."

"I've got time."

Angel gave an irritated sigh. "You aren't going to give up on this are you?"

"Nope."

"All right, but let's wait until we get to my apartment."

They continued the rest of the way to his apartment in silence. The stars throbbed, and the moon shown, a white beacon against the black velvet silk of the sky. When they arrived, Buffy shivered in the fall air, hurrying through Angel's open doorway.

Then she turned to him with a look of expectation. "Well?"

He hesitated only for a moment. "When I was young I had an uncle that I always looked up to. He had a lot of money and social status. I always thought he was perfect until I realized just how greedy and corrupt he is. With all that money he wouldn't give a dime to my father. My father barely had enough money to feed us. And my rich uncle wouldn't give us any money. I hated him for that. But when I turned into a vampire, I liked the idea of my rich, greedy uncle being like me. The perfect vampire. And he was, while I was evil. We lost touch for a while until I found out around 1920 that he was working for the government-"

"Wait a minute! You're telling me that the government knows about vampires?" Buffy interrupted.

"Well, yes. They know about a lot of things. He does good work for them. Knows a lot of things about the past, he can only die a couple of ways. He's been used as a spy during the cold war..."

Buffy began to whistle the theme of The X-Files.

Angel glanced at her in surprise for a moment, and then grinned in spite of himself. "I guess it does sound kind of conspiracy like."

"Just don't tell me he investigated UFO's and I'll still be able to hold my present partiatism."

"He works for the CIA actually. Not that it's much better. Anyway, my uncle can give me identification, passports, credit card and bank accounts. He can change my name and give me a new identity when needs may be. And he also, he gives me money." His voice was gruff. It was obvious Angel hated his uncle giving him the money he needed to survive.

"Oh."

"It's not like I don't deserve it. He owes me and my family, he owes me things he never gave me."

"Hey, Angel, you don't need to explain anything to me. It doesn't bother me alright? I love you, for you, not where you get your money, or how much. If you hate your uncle so much why are you going to see him now?"

"I need money again." There was a hint of shame in his voice as he explained. "The last time I saw him was, before-, before the gypsy camp. I invested my money in the bank and didn't touch it for a long time, but then I had to start over and the expenses were a little higher then I thought. I'm almost out again. He gives me the money I need whenever I visit. I've kept in contact with him off and on for a while now, and now I have to go see him. He doesn't make it easy Buffy. I have to stay with him till the end of the week. And I'm going to have to be Angelus. For a week."

Buffy looked at him. "I'm sorry. I know it will be hard for you. But there's really nothing you can do. Promise you'll call me?"

"Of course, but Buffy, aren't you... What I mean is..."

"I'm not ashamed of you Angel, I never have been and I never will. I love you for you, remember that."

Angel didn't reply.

"When do you leave?"

Angel glanced at the clock on his wall. "My flight leaves at 10:00. My uncle arranged a private plane, guaranteed darkness until we land."

"That gives you three hours until you have to leave. I'll help you pack and then take you to the airport."

"Buffy, you don't have to--it will be dangerous for you to take me there. The pilot and air flight attendants are people he hired-"

"He won't see me, Angel, not if we park far enough away. And I won't get out of the car. I promise."

"I don't know, Buffy. I've seen the way you drive..." He gave a hint of a smile.

"Thanks a lot. Don't worry," Buffy placed a hand over her heart, "I solemnly swear to get you there in one piece okay?"

He gave a full smile. "All right."

"Great, now let's get packing."

The drive towards the airport was a silent one. It wasn't until they parked a little bit away from the private plane Angel had to take, that she spoke.

"Will you call me when you get there?"

"Of course. It's only a week you know."

Buffy managed a small smile. "I know. Hey, don't let your uncle get to you to much okay? If he does just let me know and I'll go and kick some sense into him. Maybe stake him."

Angel laughed. "That's okay, I think the government might get suspicious."

Buffy grew serious. "Angel, I hope you don't feel ashamed for making your uncle a vampire. You didn't do it you know."

In that instant Angel's face became a mask. "I don't want to talk about this."

Buffy grabbed his arm. "Angel no, no. In the last two months you've really changed. You've finally started to stop brooding so much. To stop blaming yourself all the time. Don't go back to that now."

Angel was silent for a while, then he finally spoke. "It's hard Buffy, but I'm trying."

"That's enough."

Angel nodded. "It's time for me to go."

Buffy looked out at the dark night, sighing a little. "All right, I guess this is it then. Bye, Angel."

"Don't worry I'll call you tomorrow night at six, your time."

They both leaned in together and kissed. For Buffy the moment ended all to soon, and then Angel was walking out towards the plane. He glanced back one more time and waved a little. Then he was gone disappearing into the oppressive darkness.

'I'm going to miss him so much.' Buffy thought to herself. And then felt angry. 'This will be good for me. I've become far too dependent on him. I need a week to my friends and myself.' Not feeling any better after her pep talk with herself, Buffy drove back towards Sunnydale.

As soon as Buffy arrived at home she called Willow.

"Hello?"

"Willow, hi, I was wondering if you wanted to spend a couple nights at my house. My mom is out of town."

"I'd love to Buffy, but my mom won't let me stay at anyone's house with out 'adult' supervision. Sorry."

"It's okay, normally I'd stay at Angel's, but he's out of town for the week."

"Angel out of town?"

"Ya, he's visiting his uncle."

"Angel has an Uncle? That's alive?" Willow's voice mirrored Buffy's own surprise, earlier.

"I know I said the same thing, it's a *long* story. The uncle is a vamp, that's the gist of it."

"Okay, I don't think I really want to know. You can stay over here if you want Buffy."

"No, that's okay, I'll be fine, see you at school tomorrow."

"Okay, bye."

Buffy set the phone back down in its cradle, and glanced at the clock. 9:30 glowed brightly in the darkened contrast of the room. She got up from her bed and began to get ready for patrol with Giles. It was going to be a long night.

More Forthcoming.

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