"That's all you've got? My grandmother moves faster than that!"

"Prepare to die, slayer!" the vampire hissed back.

"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, you guys always say that but it never happens!" Buffy slammed the stake into the vampire's heart. "So what did ya think?"

"Very creative distraction, never saw it coming." Riley said with a smile while walking over to his girlfriend. "Come on I'll walk you home.

As they turn to leave Buffy let out a quick yelp, "Oh…ouch! Pain…really bad pain! *Help!* Uh?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think so…"

"Are you sure?"

Buffy looked up at Riley with a shrug, "Yeah, let's go."

"So besides your pain how was your day?"

"Oh you know the usual. You?"

"Fun, I just love grading freshman paper."

Buffy stopped dead in her tracks, "Papers? We…we had papers?"

Riley smiled, "Yeah, you know the ones on how to psyche your girlfriend out?"

Buffy reached over and slapped Riley on the arm, "Don't do that!"

"I'm sorry, but it's so fun to see the look on your face." Riley turned to face Buffy, "Well, your home."

"Yeah," Riley leaned down to give her a goodnight kiss, "Mmm do you wan…" Buffy grabbed her head in pain, "Oh, ow! Ow! Pain!"

"Buffy!" Before Buffy could answer though she fainted into Riley's arms.

*He needs you… "help"*

Buffy made a sudden movement then fluttered her eyes open.

"Buffy are you okay?"

"Willow?"

"Yeah, Riley brought you in."

"Where's…"

"Shhh, I'm right here." Riley moved closer to his girlfriend

"Ohh, my head…"Buffy started to sit up, but before she could a splitting pain went through her, and this time it became more clear, "Angel."

"What?" Riley looked at her with question.

"Umm… I need to go to LA"

"Buffy what are you talking about?"

"I don't know but I need to go."

"Buffy why do you…oh." Willow stopped before she said anything else, she remembered what was in LA

"What?" Riley looked between the two best friends, "What's in LA?"

Willow didn't know what to say, she looked over at her best friend, who had a pleaded look, *I need to come up with…I've got it!* "Her father, Buffy! You've got to hurry you'll miss your flight!"

"Right, gotta go!"

"Wait a sec," Riley said, "How come you didn't tell me before?"

"It must of slipped my mind." Buffy said quickly

"Well I don't like the idea of you alone in…"

"Riley, stop. I'm the…"

"Slayer or no slayer, you're not going alone. Plus, this will be a good time to meet your father." Before Buffy could respond Riley walked out the door.

Buffy turned to Willow, "Now what?"

"Well, first tell me what's going on."

"I don't know? I think the pains are his. I saw him."

"Oh well, okay, um…so what are you going to tell Riley about Angel?"

"I don't know, but when it does I'll need all the praying in the…"

"Ready?" Riley was at the door with his bag packed.

"Okay." Buffy and Riley started to walk out the door, "Hold on a sec," Buffy ran back into the room, "Will, make me a quick flight."

"Already done." Willow smiled.

"Thanks you're the greatest!" Buffy leaned over to give her a hug.

"I know."

"What was that all about?" Riley asked as they got into the car.

"Nothing just girl talk." Buffy said with a smile.

On the way to LA Buffy and Riley said little to each other. When they pulled up to Angel's building in a cab Buffy didn't say anything.

"You're dad lives in an office?"

*Might as well tell him* "Riley, we're not at my father's"

"Then where are we?"

Buffy paused not quite ready to tell him the truth, "A friend's" and that's all she said as she walked into the office.

"Just a minute!" A voice rang out from another room. A minute later a young girl came from the office "So how can we…Buffy!"

"Hey, Cordelia, how's it going?"

"Oh, you mean from your last wake? You know the usual, brooding and moping. But business is great."

"You've been here before? When?" Riley looked down with suspicion.

"Who's this?" Cordelia asked in a sultry voice.

"Cordelia this is Riley."

"Why hello…"

"Hi." "So Cordelia, have you seen…?"

"Angel? No, not since last night. Wesley and I are trying to track him down."

"Wesley?"

"Did some one call my name?" Wesley said as he looked through the mail. Stopping he looked up, "Buffy."

"Long time Wesley."

"Yes, long. What brings you here?" "I'm trying to find Angel." Riley gave a little grunt in his throat, " And this is Riley."

"How do you do. I'm Buffy's old watcher.

"Watcher? I thought Giles was your…"

Buffy stopped him before he could go any farther, " It's a long story." She smiled and turned back to Wesley, " So where do you think he his?"

"That's our problem," Wesley stopped to push up his glasses, "We're not sure."

"Well, if he's in danger we need to find him fast the sun is almost high noon."

"Um Buffy, Can I talk to you a second?" Riley tugged on her shirt.

"Sure."

"Who's Angel? What's so special about the sun?"

Cordelia stepped back, "You mean…oh man. Well, Wesley and I will be down stairs," she turned to leave pulling Wesley along, "Come down when the fire as settled."

After they were gone Riley turned to Buffy, "What's going on?"

Buffy took a deep breath, "First, you know I love you."

"Yeah."

"Well, Angel was my older boyfriend, you know the one I told you about."

"Wait a second how old?"

"Oh well,…243, but he's…" Buffy smiled but it was too late.

"You mean he was a… you dated one!"

"He's different he has a soul and I know it's hard to understand, but I'll explain later, it's a long story."

"Yeah, well a lot of things have been like that lately. So why exactly are you here?"

"It's the pains I've been having," she paused before hitting him with the blow, "I think they're his.

"What!"

"When Angel and I were together we had a strong connection, but never anything like this, and I need to know what's going on." Without any more said Buffy turned and went down stairs while Riley stood there to comprehend what just happened.

By the time Riley made it down Buffy had told the other two what was going on.

"So now what? I mean I need to find him, he pays my check."

Ignoring that last part Buffy went on, "I think I know where he's at."

"Well, then what are we waiting for let's go."

Cordelia was the first out the door followed by Buffy and Wesley, then Riley *Oh great!*

"So do you have any idea where you're going?" Buffy asked Cordelia from the back seat.

"For the hundredth time, Yes! The place you described is where a lot of demons hangout."

"Wow, you really know your stuff."

Cordelia looked back at Buffy, "I should since I work for one."

Buffy looked over at Riley. She didn't know what to think. Since she told him about Angel he hadn't said a word, "Are you okay?"

"I'm starting to think I should have stayed home."

"Riley, I'm sorry. I should have told you before but I didn't know how. You don't have to worry about anything, Angel was in the past you're in the now." She leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Thanks." He said with a smile.

Cordelia rolled her eyes at the sight of them *who does she think she is* "We're here."

"Alright, I think all of you know the drill, I'll do the damage, you guys find Angel. Riley you're with me."

"Okay." The others said in unison.

Upon entering the warehouse all was quite, "Okay, split." Buffy whispered and the pairs went their separate ways.

"Man I can't believe she brought her boyfriend. That sure will be a welcoming gift to Angel."

"Cordelia, I don't think this is the time to discuss…" Wesley stopped and stared at the thing hanging from a rope.

"I think this is the prefe…Oh my god Angel!" Cordelia ran over to Angel, "What happened?"

"Cordelia? How did you…" Angel stopped to wince at the pain of his stomach. "Don't ask. It's a long story with a person you like. Wesley help me." The two slowly lowered their friend to the ground.

Buffy walked into a big room, "Nothing again. Something's not… God that hurt!" Buffy grabbed her sided. From over in a corner she heard a rustle, "Riley." Grabbing two stakes out of her pocket she threw on over to Riley, "Okay, come out now or later, we're still going to have to deal."

Three vampires emerged from the corner, "You shouldn't have come here." One hissed.

"What can I say I don't follow orders well. So which one of you is going to tell me what's going on?"

"Time to die!" all three vampires came rushing at them, but they were no match for Buffy and Riley.

"That was weird. Way to easy. Oh well, let's find the others." The two left the room not noticing the one vampire left standing in a corner with a smile

"Cordelia, Wesley!" Buffy yelled at them. The two turned around with a beaten Angel, "Angel!" Buffy ran over to him while Riley held back. Only being there for a minute he could see their connection, and feeling a quick pain in his heart.

"Buffy?" Angel wasn't sure what he was seeing, *was it really Buffy?*

"Shhh, it's okay." Buffy took hold of one arm.

"Buffy, I think we need to go," Riley cautioned, "the terrain isn't secure."

"The terrain? What are you? Some commando guy?" Cordelia looked up at Riley.

Riley just looked down and smiled, *Who is this girl*

Together Buffy and Riley carried Angel towards the door, "Well , well look what we got here luv. They're trying to take my toy." Buffy looked up,

"Great, I don't have time for this Drusilla."

"But I think you do. You see I called you here?" Buffy looked at her with a confused look, "Yes, slayer, that's right. Your pains not just a coincidence, they were his too." Druscilla gave her a sweet smile.

"Tell me something I don't know."

"How about the part where you die? Boys." Vampires cornered the group.

"Now what?" Cordelia whined.

"Okay Angel, I need to sit you down." Buffy and Riley laid him in the corner.

"Who is she?"

"Remember Spike? Well, meet his insane half." All four gathered back to back in preparation to fight, "What ever you do, do not look in her eyes."

The fighting began and the group scattered, surprising Buffy how well each of them could hold their own.

Buffy looked for Drusilla, but couldn't find her, nor could she find Riley. Giving a quick glance at the other two, she left the room and went to find Riley. "Riley?"

A weak voice from down the hall called out, "Buffy?"

"Riley!" Buffy frantically searched the rooms until she came to the last door, but by the time she got there it was too late, "Riley."

"Shhh, you ruin my plan." Drusilla giggled.

"Riley!" She started to run towards him.

Drusilla pulled him to where she was behind him, "No, no, no slayer. Not another move or he's gone."

Looking into the vampire's face Buffy new it was too late, so with all her might she ran towards her.

In an instant Drusilla bit into Riley as he gave out a yell of pain. Buffy stopped dead in her tracks.

Looking up Drusilla smiled, "You take my toy, I take yours." She dropped Riley to the floor.

"BITCH!" Buffy yelled running towards the vampire and knocking her on her feet.

"Come on Buffy don't you want to share?" Buffy hit her in the face.

"Okay, then you'll just have to die like your boyfriend. Or should I say "friends."

With all the force she had Buffy attacked Drusilla, and Drusilla came back with equal force.

Buffy was having enough, "All right time to go." She said breathlessly and with one last scream, attacked and plunged the stake into Drusilla's heart. The vampire gave out a scream and burst into dust.

Buffy wasted no time rushing to Riley, "Riley! Hold on Please!" Tears came to her eyes, "Riley … I'm so sorry." Buffy laid down in the dust placing her head on Riley's chest and cried.

"Wesley, where's Buffy?"

"I don't know, but we need to find them?"

By then the vampires were either dust or gone. Cordelia walked over to an unconscious Angel, " come on Wes, help me pick him up." Together they picked him up and left the room.

Walking down the hall all Angel knew was he was in pain, but couldn't remember where he was. All of a sudden a sharp pain went through him and he stopped. Turning his head he looked into a room, "Buffy?"

"Angel are you… Buffy!" Before she reached her Cordelia stopped, "Oh god!"

Buffy looked up with a stained tear face, with out thinking Cordelia bent down, "Come on," she whispered, "Let's go." Painfully Buffy pulled herself away from Riley's lifeless body.

When they got back to Angel's apartment they laid him down in the bed while Buffy took a chair in the corner.

"Buffy are you going to be all right for a minute?" Cordelia looked over at Buffy, not sure if she was going to make it.

"Yeah, go ahead, I need sometime alone."

"Okay, well if you need anything I'll be upstairs."

When Cordelia left Buffy broke down and cried. *How can all this be happening to me? My life was supposed to be normal by now*

In the next room Angel began to stir. "Mmm…"Angel heard a familiar cry *Buffy? Of course not, she's in Sunnydale, maybe it's Cordelia.* Painfully he got out of bed and walked out into the living area. When he looked up he couldn't move. She really was there. "Buffy?"

Buffy looked up, "Hey," she said softly trying to wipe the tears away from her face, "What are you doing up?"

"What's wrong?" He asked moving closer.

At the feel of his touch she shrugged away, "Nothing."

"Buffy, Please…" Angel moved closer.

"Angel, don't!" Angel stopped, "Don't, I have to leave."

"Buffy I think you owe me an explanation of why you're here."

"Explanation? I don't owe you a thing, because of you…"Buffy stopped, but it was to late.

"Buffy what are you talking about? What happened?"

"When Drusilla captured you she made your pains , my pains, so I came to get you."

"How did you know?"

"I had visions of where you were. The difficult part was," she stopped before going on, knowing how the following was going to hurt them both, " The difficult part was I was her with…with my…my boyfriend, Riley."

As soon as she said his name she looked up at Angel and her heart broke. His face was like ice and a feeling of guilt came over her, but she went on. "When we were about to leave Dru's men surrounded us. We al split up, and I guess…I guess Riley went after Dru." She stopped as tears formed in her eyes.

"Angel he didn't know her strength, he wasn't prepared." She buried her face.

Angel didn't know what to say. His true love had came to save him but with some else in mind.

He started to turn to leave, thinking in was the best to do, but fighting all his strength not to take her in his arms.

"Angel!" Buffy cried out, "Don't leave." Angel's strength was lost in that single moment and rushed to embrace her. Buffy did say anything but just let him holder her as she cried, not knowing the future.

As she stood there and cried in his arms, Angel rested his chin on her head, "I love you, Buffy Summers.

The End.

See I told you I disliked Riley.

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