Buffy opened her eyes and looked around.  "Did it work?"

"I think it did," Willow said gazing around the untidy room.  "Unless we just made a really big mess."  Something was under the rustling papers on the couch.

Cordelia stepped out the circle and pulled a moving newspaper off to reveal a very worn, drunk Giles.  Giles woke up and fell off onto the floor.

"Woah, deja vu," Cordy said.  "Cept I wasn't drunk."

"It's Giles - not our Giles but a Giles - with a Scotch bottle !" Xander pointed out.  Giles stood up.

"Ms Summers--"

"--Least he knows me," Buffy whispered.

"I thought you would be at the graveyard."

"Patrolling?" Buffy asked.

"It is Monday isn't it?" He asked.  "You've spent every Monday at the graveyard for the past seven weeks.  Since.. since.."  He went to sit down but fell off his chair.  Buffy
rushed over.

"Since what?  What happened?  Giles!" She tried in vain but her had passed out.

Buffy and Angel walked the road to the cemetery that they had walked together so many times.

"Sure you want to know why?" Angel asked.

"Angel it's important.  I need to know.  This world doesn't seem any different.  No martyrs anywhere.  No heads on pikes.  Nothing really weird."

"You might be surprised."

Once they were at the graveyeard, they scanned it for Buffy - the other Buffy, this worlds Buffy.  Then they saw a hooded girl standing at a gravestone.  They crept behind a nearby tree and listened.

"--And I'm doing better now.  My schoolwork's good.  Will and Xander are fine.  Xander got back from his charity thing in South America.  He got accepted to Harvard so he's leaving this fall," the other Buffy said.

"Nothing weird?" Angel said.

"I stand corrected," Buffy behind the tree said.

"--Still miss you," Buffy's double said.  "I'm sorry Mom.  Sorry I couldn't protect you."

Buffy with Angel felt her knees go weak and thought se would collapse.  Angel anticipated and caught her.

"She said Mom," Buffy breathed.  "My mother is dead."

"No, she's not.  She's not Buffy," Angel told her.  "Look at me.  Buffy look at me.  You're mom is back home.  This place doesn't exist OK?  That's not you over there and your mom is not dead.  OK?"  She nodded.

"I have to speak to her," Buffy said.

"You can't.  You'll freak her.  I will," he said.

"What if you're dead too ?" Buffy said.  "What if I've destroyed everyone around me?"

"You haven't."  He sat her on a nearby bench and walked over to the doppelganger.

"Excuse me?" He said, unsure what to call her.

Buffy spun round with a raised stake.  "Who are you?" She demanded.  Angel lost all control.  "I said who are you?"
  He was numb and couldn't speak.  "S-sorry.  Wrong person," he said and walked away.

Angel helped his Buffy to Sunnydale High and the Angel doppelganger was in L.A.  When he met Whistler, he went to L.A., never saw the Slayer and decided to stay there and do good.  Eventually, he was found by a half demon called Doyle who muttered that he was 'years too early'.  Doyle drank and had visions while Angel fought evil.

A few hours before the Scoobies arrived in the alternate universe, Angel was called.
"Good news boyo," Doyle said walking into Angel's apartment.  "Big Jack, the mob boss with a likin' for torturing honest hard workin' gangsters and cops wit' demon types, has been arrested."  Doyle sat on the chair and spread out the paper on the kitchen table. " 'Detective Kate Lockley says : "We've been tailing Mr Grave for a while.  Help arrived from an unknown source and we managed to finally capture the man responsible for the brutal mutalations of many people - including police.  We would like to thank the stranger who arrived and helped the way he did.'  Looks like we might have a fan club."

Angel strode into the kitchen and took a mug of blood from the fridge.

"Cute i'nt she ?" Doyle said offering the picture.

"I'm not big on blondes," Angel said downing the mug.

"Well you don't...... AARRGGHH!" He said slamming his head against the table.

"What do you see Doyle?" Angel said trying to control him.  When the agony stopped, Doyle looked at Angel.

"Never gonna believe this bud.  Saw a beautiful girl.  Blonde, petite, Slayer by trade," he said pointedly.  "Buffy Summers.  Sunnydale High School.  You gotta go now man.  This is the Slayer you're years late for."

"Now?"

"Now."

"You'll be OK?"

"Fine, fine.  You got a Slayer in distress. Go."

Angel grabbed his keys and jacket and left.  Doyle held his head and looked upwards.

"Took ya long enough!" He scoffed.  "I mean you're the Powers That Be.  You should be able to do a little matchmaking between two people.  I wasn't supposed to be here 3 years ago.  Coulda saved me alot of pain but no.  Powers know best."  He unscrewed a bottle of gin.  "Shoulda done it meself."

Buffy's double looked as the darkman helped up a small blonde that looked a little like her.

"Curiousity killed the cat," she said following them.  "Then, I'm not a cat."  She followed them out the cemetery and to her school.  "What they doing here?  It's hardly first on the list at the Tourism office."

Angel helped Buffy into the library were they had to meet the rest of the gang. When Xander saw that Buffy was pale and ill looking, he ran to her.

"What happened?"

"We went to the graveyard and.. in this reality... Joyce passed away," Angel said.  Willow slowly stood up.  "But it's OK because it isn't Buffy's Joyce.  Right?"

"Yeah, I mean yes.  Good point," Willow said trying to be supportive.

"Listen to the man," Xander said.  "He knows his dimensions."

"Totally," Cordelia chipped in.  Xander looked at her for a second, then smiled.

"Let's get out of here," offered Willow.  Willow told them to do exactly what they had done before but add "To Italia" at the end.  "Ready?"

"No," Angel interrupted.  "Buffy hasn't got her crystal."

"I dropped it when I heard about..." Buffy said refering to hearing that this dimensions Joyce was dead.  "I guess I forgot about it."

"It's OK, I'll get it," Angel said.  "Back in ten."

As he walked through the swing doors, the other Buffy hid and watched.

Angel ran as fast as he could to the cemetery.  He ran onto the road without looking and a car came crashing into him.  The black open top car hit Angel and he went flying over it.  The driver stopped the car and got out.  Angel held the back of his head and stood up.

"You all right ?" A familar voice said.  Angel turned round.

The double Angel drove fast to get to Sunnydale High School.  He marked it on the map but wasn't sure if he was any closer.  He looked at his map lying on the passenger seat with is flashlight.  Then he looked back up and at that instant, he hit someone ad they went over his head and landing on the ground behind his car.  Angel leapt over the door of his car and over to the person.  The man was already standing up.

"You all right ?" He asked.  The man turned around.

"... What..." The doppelganger said.

"Yeah, my thinkin' too.  Look, I'm sure we've got loads of dimension twin gossip to catch up on but I really have to go.  Saving the world and all," Angel explained.  He walked past his 'twin'.  "Good to see you.. me.. us.. whatever."

The doppelganger stared as his double walked past.

"No, wait," the Angel double said.  "What's goin' on?  Dimensions?"

Still walking, Angel answered his twin.

"I'm you from another dimension."

"Don't think so.  You dress.. weird."

Angel stopped and looked at the doppelganger.  "Do you know or have you ever heard of Buffy Summers?"

"The Slayer?  Yeah.  My friend Doyle got a vision and I gotta go save her.  Not actually seen her up front."

"Doyle.."  Angel pulled the photo from his inside pocket.  "This is my Buffy.  We're meant to be together.  And I think you guys are too.  So you got to find her.  But be careful.  You can hurt her more than anyone ever could."  The double stared at the picture.

"This is incredible.  She's so beautiful," he said in quiet awe.

"I know," Angel said taking the picture back.  "Hey I gotta go to this cemetery first then you can drive me to Sunnydale High."

"Done."

Angel burst throught the library doors holding Buffy's clear crystal.

"Got it!"

"Where have you been -- Woah!" Xander said as Angel's double came through the door after him.  Buffy sat up.

"What?" Angel asked.  "Oh him.  Un-evil twin."

"Is this Buffy?" The doppelganger asked and went to walk forward.

"No.  That's my Buffy.  You can't have her.  Your's is around," the first Angel said.

"Wait a minute," Xander said.  "How do we know which ones which ?"

"Man's got a point," one of them said.

"I could be me, or you could be me," the other said.

"Now I'm confused," Xander said.

"I know," Buffy smiled.  She went over to the second Angel and kissed him softly. While kissing him she put her hand in his inside pocket and pulled out the photo.  "I knew you would try to play with my head," she smiled.  "So you came in behind.  I'm so onto you."

"So where's the Buffy Summers in the vision?" The first Angel said handing Buffy her necklace.

"Someone mention me?" A voice said behind them.  They all spun round to see the other Buffy holding a crossbow at the doors.

Buffy came throught the two Angel's.  "Wow, my puns and quips are really sliding in this dimension."

"Who are you ?" The Buffy double asked.

"You.  From elsewhere," Buffy replied.

"And those two ?"

The doppelganger Angel stepped forward.

"I'm Angel."

"No, wait, wait," the Angel said stepping between them.  "You got it all wrong.  You were supposed to be all shadowy and cryptic for a while - then she knows your name.  You show up at the Bronze--"

"The Bronze?  Nobody cool goes there!  Angel?  What kind of a name is that?" The other Buffy said.

"No, no, no.  You're saying it wrong.  I never said that.  I said--" Buffy started.

"Can we do this?" The doppelganger Slayer asked.

"And can we get to Italy?" Cordelia complained.

"Yeah we need to go now," Willow said.

"Willow.. and Xander?  Xander you're at Havard for a tour?" The other Buffy said.

"Where for a what ?" Xander asked open eyed.

"Havard.  In this world you got into Havard," the real Buffy told him.

"Geez.  I rule."

"We need to go now," Tara reminded them.

"OK," Buffy said.  She turned round and hesitantly offered her hand to her twin.  They shook and then Buffy hugged the double.  "You'll never know what will happen between you two," she whispered into that dimensions Slayers' ear.

"Treat her right," Angel told his double.  He took Buffy's hand and pulled her towards the circle.

"Oh and never have sex.  Trust me on that," Buffy warned.

"Well that ship has sailed," the other Buffy groaned.  Buffy's eyes widened.

"What?  Who else but Angel?"

"Xander."

The real Angel let out a low growl, Xander went 'Whoo hoo' almost jokingly, Willow did a double take, Oz took it in his stride.

"Xander?" Buffy and Willow said together.

"I'm a man in demand," he grinned.

They all joined together and chanted.

The other Buffy and Angel had to shield their eyes from the light and when they opened them, the strangers had disapeared.

"Viva la Italy," Cordelia said as she opened her eyes and looked around.  "Viva la where?  Willow, you took a wrong turning somewhere cuz we are in the middle of nowhere."

"That's the idea," Willow said.  "This place doesn't even exist on a map.  It's somewhere near Salerno.  We should be near."

"Like how near?" Cordelia asked.  "Is Salerno anywhere near Milan?"

"No," Willow said looking around at the desolate landscape.  Lush green grass for miles but no sign of life or a volcano.  It was hard to see in the dark.  Then Tara whispered into her ear.

"Is anyone else feeling lost?" Xander asked.  "Oz, were you here on your travels at all?  Oz," he said again.  "Oz.  Oz."  Oz was more interested in what that Tara girl was whispering to his Willow.

"Sorry man.  No, don't think I was here," Oz said still distracted.

Angel stood and looked around for a minute.

"Angel what is it?"

"Dawn."

"What?"

"Dawns coming.  I can smell it.  The time difference here."

Buffy felt all her blood drain away.  She looked at the first signs of light through thw faraway trees.

"Daylight?  We need to.."

"There's no shelter Buffy," Angel said quietly.  "Miles around and no place to shelter."

"How long?"

"A few minutes."

Buffy turned from her conversation with Angel.

"Willow we need to go now.  The sun is coming," Buffy told her.

"We can't go from this spot, it's been scorched," Willow said.

"Huh?" Xander said.

"We can't transport from the same spot.  But this should have been the volcano site," Willow said worridly.  Angel was staring out at the horizon.

"We could bury him," Xander said.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Y'know six feet under scenario.  Come get him when the sun goes away."

"We can't bury him!" Buffy said shocked at her friends contribution.  She glanced at Tara who was saying something quickly over and over again.  A blue glowing light surrounded her.  Then it vanished.

"You can be granted humanity for 24 hours," she said.

Angel turned round quickly.  "What?"

"The Powers On High, head of the Powers That Be, granted my grandmother a wish years ago for a service she did them.  She was pretty powerful.  So when she died, she left it with me telling me that a friend seeking redemption would be in need and I was to only use it under these circumstances," Tara said shyly.

"You would do this for me?" Angel asked

"Yes," she said looking down.  "We need to start now.  Willow have you got any salt?"

Willow raked throught her bag and found her emergency shaker.  She drew circle around Angel with the salt.  Tara stood in front and closed her eyes.  She held out her hands for Angel to take.  He glaced over his shoulder at the coming dawn and then took them.  When he did he felt a surge of energy that brought him to his knees.

"Angel!" Buffy shouted.  Xander tried to hold her back from breaking the circle.

"It's OK Buff," Xander said.

Angel could feel life flowing through Taras fingertips and into his veins.  Finally she let go and he collapsed.  Tara opened her eyes and smiled slightly.  Then she fainted.  Xander managed to catch Tara because he was standing near behind her.

"Tara!" Willow called and ran to her side.  "Tara, Tara.  Be OK, be all right."

She stroked her face and whispered in her ear begging her to be ok.  Tara opened her eyes slowly.

"Wow," she said sitting up.  "The magick, it's powerful."  To Buffy who was waiting cautiously on the edge of the circle she said, "Wait for him to come out."

The sun peered over the edge of the land and slowly dragged itself up over the horizon.  Angel pushed himself up and the stood in the circle.

Buffy could almost see the light spill across the grass until it was nearly at Angel.  He stood up unsure and waited.  The suns rays worked it's way over to him and over his body.  Angel shielded his eyes and then drew his hand back.

Buffy nearly exploded in joy.  They all watched Angel and the skies with their backs to the shimmering volcano behind them.  The light travelled over the mountain and unmasked it.

Angel turned round to Buffy and smiled.  He stepped out the circle and ran the short distance to her and held her in his arms.  She kissed him and he returned it in plentiful amounts.  She felt his chest and could feel the warmth that radiated through it.

"You're alive," she whispered with a tear running down her face.  He kissed her nose and walked over to Tara and offered her a hand up.

"Thank you," he said.

"It was destiny," she replied.

"When will this stop?  What time?"

"I'm still on US time," said Xander. "So I make it about 11pm tommorrow in the Hellmouth."

"Guys look," Oz said pointing to the volcano that they now stood at the foot of.

"Woah," Xander said.  "It went all 'Mummy' on us.  The movie I mean."

"Think so," Willow said in awe.  "Let's go."

"Wait," Angel said taking Buffys hand down low.  "I'm no use to you like this.  Mortal.  The last - the other time I nearly got us both killed."

"This time we're all here to get us all killed," Xander said.

"Speak for yourself," Cordelia scoffed.  "I'm gonna die in a bed surrounded with grand children.  They may not be mine but they'll be there.  I'll rent some.  I betcha in LA you can rent grand children.  It's sooo much better than Sunnyhell.  Well that goes without saying."

"Let's go," Xander says pulling an axe out of the backpack he was carrying.

They all go ahead leaving Buffy and Angel behind.

"This bites," she growls.  "The day you become human and I have to work.  They don't have any matresses round here."

"Matress?  What for?" Angel says innocently.

"Don't you tease me.  Angel this is.. this is so what I wanted and I can't have it."

"I know," he says and kisses her head.  "It seemed so easy.  The quicker you slay this vamp, the quicker we get back to Sunnydale."

"OK," she said her eyes shining.  "But I'm writing an angry letter."

"Are we nearly there?" Cordelia moaned as they all felt their way through the darkness of the tunnel.

"How should I know?" Buffy snapped.

"You're slay gal and--"

"--Cor," Angel whispered.

"All right.  But an hour in here and no vampires.  Someone took a wrong turning."

"Shut up!" Buffy hissed.  She saw light up ahead as she led the group.  Angel was keeping tail at the end.  It's hell him being that far away, she thought

"There's definitely an strong mystical energy here," Willow whispered.  "Otherwise, Tara and I could give us a little light."

"Or a lot.  With that spell you did earlier in the week," Tara said quietly.

"It was pretty awesome wasn't it?" Willow grinned.

"So do you guys hang a lot?" Oz said behind Tara.

"Yeah," Willow replied.

"I can feel something," Tara said.  "We're close."

Without warning the whole tunnel illuminated.

"Wow.  When you light it up Willow, you light it up," Cordelia whistled in admiration.  They couldn't see where the light was eminating from and the only way to go was forward.

"I didn't," Willow said.

"Neither did I," admitted Tara.  There was a brighter light ahead, like it led to a room.

"Someones expecting us," Angel said in a low voice.

Thank God I heard his voice just there or I would go crazy, Buffy thought silently.

"I would say so," she said to everyone but more specifically her lover.  "Anyone else feeling hotter?"

"Yeah," Angel smiled.  "It's good to feel that."

God Angel you don't know how hot I feel now, Buffy groaned inside.

"Not good to feel naseauted," Cordelia warned.

After another 5 minutes of walking they saw the openeing.  Buffy went through it first.

"Can you say woah?" Buffy whispered.

"Bet Keanu can," Xander said before coming through.  Then he was confronted with the sight.  "Woah."

"Ditto that," Oz said.  Man of many words.

It was a huge hollow in the mountain that went up about a mile high.  The sun was obscured from the crater so perfect vamp nest.  Gold decroated the stone walls.  In the middle of the floor was a boiling splurting magma pool.  In the middle of the pool there was an island on which there was a golden chair.

She sat on the chair undisturbed, un nerved by the Scoobies presence.  Her dark, dark brown hair fell in loose curls around her pale shoulders.  She wore a black halter top and leather pants and her face was in human form.

"Angelus..." She grinned finally speaking.

"What ?" He says stepping forward.  Buffy caught hold of his hand.

"Angel.." she hissed.

"That what you call yourself?  How.. charming.  Remember me Angelus?" The vampire stand gazing at him.

"Can't be.  She.. you.. wasn't... how?"

Remana, the vampire queen, patron of bloodlust stepped onto the walkway between her chair and the ground on which the Scoobies stood.

"Aah.  It is," she said advancing.  He couldn't move.  Then she stopped.  "You were so vicious Angelus.  You craved it, you needed it.  The blood, the life.  Then you killed for sport.  For fun.  It was fun wasn't it Angelus?"

"Angel how do you know this chick?" Cordelia asked shattering the ice cold fear tension in the group.

"Angel?" Buffy asked holding tighter.  Angel looked down and took a breath.
 

"Ah what a shame for the lad," Angelus said standing over the stable boys body next to his sire Darla.

"But he was a tasty treat," Drusilla said licking her fingers grinning devilishly.  "So smooth."

"Where is William?" Darla asked looking around.

"How de ye look for him when Angelus is right here?" Angelus said grabbing her round the waist.

"I simply meant that he needs to be in before sunrise."

"William'll find his own way home," Angelus said leading the way.  "We have room for one more kill."

"I need to find William," Drusilla said her voice wavering insane sounding.  "Sun in an hour."

"Ye go then!" Angel growled turning into his vampire face.  She made an upset sound and started flapping her arms.  "Oh my Drusilla," Angelus said softly pulling her flailing body to his undead chest.  He leaned her head on his chest and sshhed her.  "Dru, Dru, Dru..."

"She would be fine now," Darla said impatiently.

Angelus pulled Dru gently back and wiped away a tear.  She moved her features to feral.  He grabbed her and kissed her violently.  Drusilla returned it with equal passion biting her sires lip and letting the blood trickle down her throat.

"Better now?" Angelus grinned.  She nodded licking her lips.  She was still relatively young and so much to learn.

"I would hope so," Darla said jealously.

"Oh my beautiful Sire ye wouldn't be jealous would ye?" Angelus said holding her from behind.  Still she faced away from him.  "What can I do to make it better?"

He pulled back her blond curls hanging down and then stroked her neck.  He sank his teeth into her neck and drank her immortal blood.  Darla moaned in pleasure.  Angelus took his fangs out and she turned round.  She ripped his collar and bit into his own neck.  Angelus resumed sucking his Sire's blood as she did his.  They moved closer and closer together feeling the power flow through them.  They both pulled back syncronysed and then kissed each other fevoursly.  Angelus pushed her up against a wall and she wrapped her legs and skirt with it around his strong waist.  She let him kiss and suckle her neck.  She rolled her head round and couldn't see Drusilla.

"Angelus..."

"Mmmhhmm?"  He asked working his fingers up her skirt and underskirt.  She pushed his hands down and slid out between Angelus and the wall.  "What?  What's wrong ?" He demanded to know.

"Drusilla's missing.  William - now Dru."

"They're not our children Dar.  Oh well they're our childes but they're big and immortal and enough to take care of themselves."

"Something's wrong Angelus.  Dru never strays far from you."

"Now you're complainin'?  That's why William's here.  To give her a playmate when we're busy."

"I sense something.  We have to go back to the layer."

"No.  While the sun is absent, the world is my playground.  I will not go in earlier because you sense something!"

"Angelus please.  A Slayer may have killed Drusilla and William.  I do not intend to be next.  Slayers bore me and I do not wish to fight tonight."

"Well I'm staying."

She kissed his cheek, scratching his cheek with her fang.  She licked the blood.  "Bring me in something."  She turned and walked out the alley and round the corner.

"A Slayer," a womans voice hissed behind Angelus.  he spun around but no one was there.  Angelus looked back to where Darla had been and in her place stood a dark woman, a vampire.  Her brown hair, the same shade as his own, curled elegantly round her shoulders.  She was a noble woman dressed in an ivory and black dress.

"Angelus correct?" She said in an Italian accent.

"Correct.  Who might ye be?"

"Chase."

"Chase.  Chase.  Well aren't ye beautiful ?  Think I've seen an angel."

"I'm not here to be charmed Angelus--"

"--Can't blame me."

"I wish to hunt."

"Hunt?"

"With you.  An hour before sunrise.  We're the only vampires out Angelus," she said circling him slipping her arms under his.  From the back she whispered in his ear and slid her hands down to his abdomin.  "The only one's that smell the sunrise yet not run in fear.  the ones who chase the last shadow inside to save immolation."

"I would agree with that my lady," he said.

"You are the most feared vampire in this world and the next.  The darkness screams your name in glory."

"I would also agree with that my lady," he said smirking as she slid further down.

"And I need you to be mine."  Angelus turned to face her.  She took his face in her hand and studied the fresh cut Darla had given him.  She ran her finger along the edge saving a droplet of blood.  She put it to her lips and sighed almost contendly.  She grabbed the side of his head and pulled it closer to her and sucked the wound.  She threw Angelus back and moaned again.  "Your blood.  It tastes darker than any other.  So much sweeter.  So, so much sweeter."

Angelus stared at her and swallowed.  This woman.. so much power.

"You want me?"  He nodded.  "Then we shall find something to eat and head back to my lair.  Where I will show you your real darkness.  Your destiny as a vampire.  With me."

Angelus loved hunting.  It was the purpose of his being.  The anticipation, the chase, the blood.  The satisfaction of knowing and tasting and feeling.  Hunting with Chase had been... exhalirating.  Exhausting and mind blowing.  Like nothing he had ever experienced with Darla or any other vampire.  Chase oozed sex.  Running, drinking, fighting.  All the time.  Every moment Angelus was tempted to seduce her.  To dominate her and taste her.  Why he hadn't he didn't know.

Chase led Angelus back to her place.  Angelus felt the sun in the pit of his stomach.  He turned and saw the light travel quickly past the buildings and was soon to flood the alley with it's rays.  Angelus darted in Chase's front door, his long coat barely escaped the sun.  He slammed the steel door and turned to the female vampire.  She pushed him against the door and scraped her nails softly down his jawline.

"What did I tell you?  We're the same.  We jump from the shadows together and we shall live forever together," she purred.  Angelus moved his face really close to hers and then moved to her ear and nibbled gently on it.

"Women always promise forever before I make love to them.  I never stick around long enough," Angelus half warned in a slow sexy tone.

"You are going to make love to me," she told him in his ear.  "And then we're going to have the world together.  And it is going to be forever," she purred again.

"Why am I drawn to you ?"

"Because it is your destiny," she said gripping his jacket.  He kissed her hard and pushed her back.  She lay on the floor and he stood over her in full feral face.

"I make my own destiny.  I can take the world on my own."

"But you want me," she reminded him.

"Did I say I didn't?"  Chase stood up and took off her long coat and hung it over a chair.  She stood by her four poster bed.

Angelus dropped off his duster there and stalked over to her.  Without warning he pushed her against the bedpost and held her head as her kissed her fiercely.  Then he loosened his collar.  She undid her corset-type dress and it slid off, her neck always exposed.

Angelus took a strong hold of her shoulders and moved forward to bite her.

"One, forever," she hissed in her vampire face.  He bit her.  And... Oh My God.  The blood was nothing like he had ever tasted before.  So bittersweet.  So thick and full of need and want.  Chase then returned the favour sinking her teeth into his flesh and letting his blood run through her.  She moaned organsmically.  This was all she had been looking for her entire existence and to find it now... the thought and feeling was phenomal.

Angelus ripped his teeth from her soft neck and gazed at her with his blood on her lips.  He kissed her and sucked his own lifes blood.  In one swoop she ripped off his shirt.  Then he pushed her on the bed.

"One, forever."

Hours later, Angelus woke up and stared at the ceiling.  He knew that he wouldn't stay with Chase forever.  Or even until next decade.  Hell, next week.  Something inside him told him that this amazing connection would be severed and every promise they made last night would be forgotton.  Angelus wanted to stay.  He desired it so much.  He didn't wish to go back into Darla's arms.  Things would never be the same.  Darla didn't compare to this power.  Chase was real darkness.  The darkness he wanted to cover him.  Still he turned over and slept until night fell.

Angelus woke up as the sun was going down.  He could sense it.  He slid out of bed and pulled on his clothes.

"Angelus, where are you going?"

"Back to Darla," he said pulling on his boots.  He laced them up and stared at the floor.

"Darla?  To Darla?  Angelus we are One!" She said in a rage.

"So are Darla and I."

"Not like you and I.  WE are connected by destiny as well as blood.  Our darkness is matched only by each others.  Our drive to kill and bloodlust is not equalled by anything else in the world!  Yet you leave!!"

"It's not that last night wasn't great.  It was incredible," Angelus said strolling over topless to pick up the remains of his shirt.  He threw it back down.  His jacket would have to do.  He pulled it on one arm.  "It's just, I don't feel forever."

"So you go to the safety of Darla, Drusilla and William!  Yes I know their names Angelus.  I've watched you for weeks.  Desired the time when I would drink you and you would drink me and we would be bound by unlife.  Soon you will be just like them!  Leaving the night an hour early rather than being chased indoors in the dying seconds of the night.  You'll become weak and lose all that makes you the beast you were last night.  Never in the rest of your unlife will you experience what you did last night."

Angelus fixed his duster as it showed his bare chest underneath.

"I never will.  But y'know what ?  I hate to break it to you Chase," he said leaning over onto the bed to come face to face with her.  "You'll never be dark as I want you to be."

He kissed her hard and then strode over to the door.

"You don't know who you are calling undark Angelus.  You don't know who I am!  One, forever Angelus !" Her voice called out.  He froze as he reached for the doorknob.  "Can't escape it and can't sever it.  No promise forgotton.  We'll meet again I promise you my Angelus.  I promise that and forever," her haunting voice warned.  Angelus opened the door and walked out into the night.

"Remember now?"  Remana asked Angel.  Angel could feel Buffy's hand sliding out his.  "I knew you were going to gain a soul back then.  Reunions are fun."

Buffy stumbled back and Angel stayed motionless staring at Remana.

"Chase," he said finally.

"Yes Angel?" She said ever the seductress.

"I'm going to kill you."

"I'd like to see you try."

Angel thrust out a hand but something blocked it.  He tried his other fist but it hit against something.

"Magic.  Magic barrier Angel," Remana laughed.  "So is this the latest one?  The Slayer?  Angel's Slayer?  That's how they refer to you in the demon dimensions you know," Remana told Buffy.  "Not as the best Slayer that ever lived because I will humbly admit you are - but as the Vampire with a Souls' Slayer.  How does that feel?"

"I really want to kill you.  But you're too chicken to face me so maybe I should leave?" Buffy suggested.

"You know you wouldn't."  Remana thrust out a hand through the barrier and grabbed Angel's throat.  He choked and tried to pull her away but she pulled him into her side.  She threw him down on the floor.  "I wouldn't try to get through the barrier," she warned him.  Angel rubbed his throat.  Remana stood and then something hit her.  She grabbed a fistful of Angel's dark hair and dragged him up.  She felt his neck.  A human pulse.

"You're alive!  You're human!" She growled.  "I should have smelled it as soon as you came in her.  It's disgusting.  Of course I can always rectify it.  I could turn you."

Angel used all his mortal strength to push back and he stumbled and fell on the ground.

"Angel!" Buffy yelled.  He pushed against the force and she placed a hand on his against the invisible glass.  "Don't die."

"Trying not to Buffy," he choked.  She pulled his duster up andbrought him close to her.  She inhaled Angel's scent.

"It's a spell," she laughed.  "Mortality is only an illusion.  It's always an illusion.  Everyone lives forever.  Your soul... it's an illusion."  She ran her fine, soft hands down his arms to his hands and held them firmly.  Still whispering in his ear, she pulled his arms behind him.  With her free hand she pulled his head to the side.

"But this is destiny." Her fangs pierced his mortal skin and into his vein.  She moaned and tasted a little.  "It's still the same blood Angelus.  It tastes as sweet. You're still the same demon you were then and have always been."  She drew more blood and enjoyed licking it off his shoulder.  "So very sweet Angelus."

Angel felt himself slipping away.  He had only been bit once as a mortal and everything felt more real now--

"--You're real?" He heard Doyles voice echo.  He felt the blood slowly being drawn from his heart to her lips.

"Angel!" Buffy screamed in desparation.  Remana drew her fangs out and Angel's head lolled round.  "Oh God Angel..."

Remana cut her wrist and was about to offer it to the temporary human.

"Hey Italian chick!" Cordelia yelled.

"Yeah you!" Xander yelled backing her up.

"This your wall display?"  Cordelia pulled a gold gilted sword of the wall.  Then she tossed it into one of the tiny magma pools also dotted over the place.  It fizzled and melted instantly.  Xander kicked a golden sheild into one of the pools perfectly.

"Missed my football player calling huh?" He grinned.

"Stop!" Remana  roared.  She dropped Angel onto the ground with a thud.

"Make me Versace chick!" Cordelia cried defiantly as she tore away more gold.  "Holy crap, I can't believe I'm melting gold," she said under her breath.

"Me neither," Xander hissed.  "And I can't believe Angel screwed one of this holy trio deal."

Remana waved her hand and the barrier disapeared.  She strode through to Xander and Cordelia.  Oz went to help Buffy who cradled Angels head in her lap.  She checked his breathing.

"Buffy..."

"Don't dare talk."

Willow and Tara joined hands and closed their eyes.  They started whispering then chanting louder and louder.  Remana reached for Xanders throat with her self inflicted cut hand.

"I pray to thee.  Do not deny me!  Bind!  Bind!  Bind!"  Willow and Tara opened their eyes and the iris was blue.  Remana dropped to the ground.

"Whadyou do Will with the whammy?" Xander asked jumping away from the still figure of Remana.

"Bound her.  But she's pretty powerful so we got about 5 minutes to get outta here," Willow explained going to help Angel.

Buffy ripped her customised T-Shirt and made a rag to press on Angels wound.  She hooked his right arm round and pulled Angel up.  Xander took the left and they dragged him across the floor.

"Willow can you get us outta here?  Please?" Buffy wailed pulling Angel through the semi-doorway with Xander taking rear.

"Get to a spot in the tunnels and I can get us out of here," Willow said.

"We've got an hour of tunneling to go," Xander reminded them.

"Here?" Tara suggested.

"Looks good."

Cordelia came running up from behind behind everyone else.

"Sorry to worry you--"

"--You didn't," Willow assures her.  "Forgot.  About you.  Sorry."

"I brought light," she said waving the fire torch around.  "And Italian chick was stirring."

They heard a rumble erupting from the center and then an earthquake like movement.

"Hey guys," Oz said.  "This is a volcano.  And the chippie's kinda powerful.  She's going blow us to pieces."

"Good point," Xander nods.  Then it hits him.  "Oh God BAD point.  WE need out of here."

They all formed the familar circle.  Buffy propped Angel up against the wall in his position.

"Angel, please Angel.  I need you to do the ritual.  To get out of here.  OK?"

He nodded and gripped his crystal.  Willow started the spell.

"Anyone else getting hotter?" Xander asked.  He leaned back and caught a glimpse of the molten rock and lava flowing gradually down the tunnel.  "Willow GO!"

Willow lifted her rock and the electricity charged together in a thunder bolt.

Then they were gone.

"Another dimension?" Cordelia asked not opening her eyes.

"Remember we need to stop off here.  That Italy was in the real world, our world.  We're back in the land of the doubles," Willow strugged.

"In Shadyhill Cemetery," Buffy said looking around.  Angel just collapsed on the cold ground, his neck still wounded.

"This is too surreal," Angel breathed as Buffy came to help him up again.  She lifted him over to a bench.  Angel kept his arm around Buffy's neck.  "You know I love you so much, don't you?"

"I know," she nodded.  "Hey, this sounds like dying talk.  Stop it OK?"

"No dying talk.  Just what I should of told you years ago.  I loved when i first saw you being called.  I loved you more as I watched you slay your first vampire," he smiled.  Buffy held his neck, applying pressure but she felt his warm blood come seeping through. Angel leaned forward and put their foreheads together.  He chuckled softly.  "You missed the heart.  You staked his stomach instead of his heart.  Then I watched you go home.  Watched you cry as your mom and dad argued.  I saw your heart breaking and mine broke with it.  I'm sorry.  i shouldn't have watched you like that.  God buffy I'm so sorry.."

"Ssshh.  It's OK."

"You made me wanna be someone.  Made me wanna help you, help people.  You made me love you.  I had no choice.  One look at you and I knew I would never be the same again.  And I love you so much Buffy, God I swear I do.."

"I believe you."

"I know you do.  I never meant to hurt you.  But I bugged you right?  First time you saw me, I bugged you."

"You did," she admits.  "But I thought you were so hot.  And i dreamt about you.  At night after you gave me the cross."

"It was too crazy.  All I could think of when i was near you was.. kissing you," he shakes his head.

"Kiss me."

Angel leaned further forward and lightly touched his lips with hers.  He held her face in one of his hands, coming forward to kiss her deeper.

"We need to go.  Sooner we get home..." Buffy grinned.  "We can get that bite seen to."

"We suck!" Xander exclaimed and everyone turned and looked at him.  "We're screwed!  The Master's in Sunnydale, so's that dorky Mortus guy.  Now that Italian chick is gonna go there - end of the crappy world!"

"Calm down," Willow soothed.

"How the Hell can I calm down?" Xander yelled.  When he seen Willows face, he softened.

Cordelia put a hand on his arm.  "You can take deep breaths and think clearly.  You're scaring people Xander.  You're scaring me."

"Sorry.  Phew. Sorry.  Ok so where now?"

"We could go to--" Willow starts.  Oz glances down and doesn't hear the rest of what she says.  She notices that Willow has gradually slipped her hand in Tara's.  "Is that OK?"

"Sorry, what?" Oz says.

"Angels old mansion on Crawford Street.  We could draw enough energy there," Willow says looking at Oz funny.  "You OK Oz?"

"Me?  Fine, fine.  Just not a good traveller," he nods.  They all head off to go to the Crawford Street mansion, Buffy holding Angel up at the front.

"Wow, this place is a wreck," Xander commented as they entered the mansion.

"It's rent control.  In a big way," Cordelia suggested thinking back to her own experiences of house hunting.

"No it's not.  It was like this when i first moved in," Angel said as Buffy lent him on the stone bench in the garden.  "I kinda miss this place."

"Out of a job," Cordelia muttered.

"OK ready people?"

"Y'know all this dimension hoppin' is making me sea sick," Cordelia complained as she opened her eyes in Sunnydale again in her world.  "Good to be home.  I need a long shower.  Anyone coming to Giles's?"

"Could you guys check in for us?" Buffy pleaded.

"Pfft.  Lustbunnies," Cordelia shrugged.

//  "Check out the lustbunnies," Faith smirked interrupting their kiss  //

Buffy shuddered.

"You OK?" Angel asked softly.

"Faith.. said that," Buffy murmured.  She slowly sat down beside him.  Angel put his arms around her and placed a lasting kiss on her forehead.

"Bye Buffy Angel," Willow said as the others left them.

"Bye."

And they were alone.

"The bleedings stopped," Angel said softly.

"What?"

"My neck."

"Oh," Buffy smiled in relief.  She gently touched it.  "We got his'n'her scars.  that's so romantic."

Angel laughed.  "You know I'm not a vampire right now."

"I was wondering when you'd bring that up."  She leant over to his ear.  "I'm gonna go crazy if you don't touch me soon."

Angel grinned.  "Me too."

"Make love to me.  Here Angel.  In the mansion."

"You sure?"  Buffy stood up and held out her hand.  Angel took it and instantly, their lips collided sweetly and Buffy jumped up on Angel wrapping her legs around him.

"The bed Angel, the bed," she said through kisses trying to direct him.  She ran her fingers furiously through his hair and kissed her earlobes.  Angel worked out taking Buffy's top off and threw it across the room.  When they finally reach his bed, Angel slowly laid her down on it.

"I love you," he told her.  She reached up and pulled apart his shirt.  She laughed and kissed him.

"I love you."

**END OF CHAPTER SEVEN**
 
 

"I learned that all men are evil.  Oh wait i knew that.  i learned that LA is full of self serving phoneys.  Nope had that one down too.  Sex is bad?"

"We all knew that."

"I learned that I FEEDBACK is the best thing ever and there should be a rule saying "Thou Shalt Feedback.  And that part's new.  No wait, I always knew that."
 
 
 

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