Punch ‘em, stake, ‘em, move on.  Punch ‘em, stake, ‘em, move on.  Thursday night patrol was the same as usual so far for Buffy Summers.  After dusting the last new vampire, she sat down on the ledge.  She held her forehead in her hands.  All the Slayer could think about was Angel and how much she loved and missed him and how this was all her fault.  As well as Jenny Calendars death.  If only she had staked Angelus when she had the chance.  A solitary tear ran down her cheek.  She looked up and wiped it away.

“Can't the pain just go away ?” She whimpered to herself

Her gaze focused on the demon before her.  It was about 7 foot tall with crevices all over his body and face.  He was a dark brown colour and his small mouth snarled at the Slayer.

“This isn't a good time right now,” she said to the demon.  Suddenly jumping up and catching it's jaw with her right fist.  Buffy continued to pummel the demon.  All her rage and emotion came out in each of the forceful blows she was giving to the demon.  The demon retaliated by taking out a sword.  He aimed for Buffy’s head but she dodged the blow and instead it slashed Buffy’s right hand.

“Close enough,” it grunted and cut his own right hand.

She glanced at her cut.  Strange, glistening blood poured out of the deep cut.  She took out a stake with her left hand and stabbed it into his chest.  Nothing happened.  She drew the piece of carved wood out and the wound closed with a sucking sound.

“You’re in pain.  You want it to go.  I can help with that,” It said in small, sharp grunts accompanied by longer ones like Morse code.  The demon and Buffy stood only feet apart ready to engage in combat again, but they didn’t.

“What ?” Buffy said confused.  She held her cut hand down to let the blood drip onto the grass.

“I can sense great pain.  Loss of a lover.  I can help.  If you want the pain to go away,” he grunted.

“What ?” She repeated.  “I don’t understand.  Why would you want to help me ?” She dropped her gaze to the floor.

“I have my reasons.  Do you want me to help you be with your vampire again ?”

Her head shot up.  “How did you know he was a vam.....”

“I know.”

“I want, I want you to help me.”  With that, the demons held his hand up in the air at shoulder height.  Purplish coloured blood oozed out of the self inflicted wound.  Buffy felt compelled to do the same and held up her hand.  The demon thrust his hand forward and grabbed Buffy’s hand.  With his other hand, he clasped them together.  Buffy immediately threw back her head and let out a bloodcurdling scream.  Her eyes glowed a gold/yellow colour.  The pain was immense, like a stormy sea washing over the shore and drowning all under it until it’s watery blanket was pulled back.

The demon released her and Buffy fell to her knees, gasping for breath.  The heavens opened and drenched Buffy in a matter of seconds.  The firm, cemetery soil quickly filled with water and turned to a sludgy mud.  Buffy’s knees sank a little, like quicksand.  Buffy collapsed in a pool of surface water.

The thunder rumbled and cracked in the sky above her.  The lightening flashed and lit up her lifeless face that had sank partially into the mud.  Forked lightening struck a nearby tree and it fell with a great noise over the main road that runs beside the graveyard.  Still Buffy remained motionless.

After what seemed like eternity but in reality was only minutes, Buffy stirred.  It was still raining heavily.  She pushed her hands against the soft, soaked soil.  They sank into it.  She drew her hands out and sat on her knees looking at them.  As the rain washed the mud away, she studied her right palm.  The wound that had been there moments before, had all but completely healed leaving only a scar.  Buffy rolled back onto her feet and stood up.  The rain had washed all the dirt and mud out of her hair and she smoothed it back.

Buffy felt different.  She knew she wasn’t a vampire because she could hear her own heart beating furiously within her own rib cage.

She no longer felt she had to carry the burden of saving the world from vampires on her shoulders.

She felt no guilt for sleeping with Angel and robbing him of his soul.

She felt no sorrow for Ms Calendars death.

The thoughts of torture, death and pain brought a smile to her lips.

She was different.

And she was the Slayer.

At the mansion, Drusilla moaned in pain.  Then she began laughing.

“What is it pet ?” Spike said rolling over to the table where she lay.

“Sides are switching.  Inside to out.  White to black.  Pure to wicked.  Good to evil,” she said laughing again wickedly.

“What else do you see ?” Angel asked.

“The switch of balance, it’s in our favour.  We’re all in for a treat.  Sshh.”

“Talking of all thing good and white and pure, Angelus, will you go and kill that damned Slayer already !  You’ve had you fun, now it’s time to wrap it up.  I’d do it myself if I wasn’t in this bloody wheelchair !” Spike roared.  He was having a rough night so far.  He so badly wanted to sweep Drusilla up in his arms and take her away from Sunnyhell, the Slayer and Angelus.  Also, earlier on, one of the lackey vampires were making eyes at Dru then discreetly mocking Spike for being crippled.  Spike had lunged forward to kill him but ended up on the floor.

“Spike love, Angel’s not finished with her yet.  He......” Drusilla said soothingly.

“No, no, no Dru,” Angel interrupted.  “Spike’s right - Huh, there’s a novelty.  This Buffy thing has come to the end.  It’s time for... action.”

“Action.  Sounds fun.  Can I join in ?  I really wanna play.  Please !” A strange but at the same time familiar female voice said.  The Slayer stepped out from behind the crates and posed seductively against them.

“How the Hell did you get in ?” Spike said in disgust.

“Hell.  That sounds like fun too,” Buffy said innocently then she laughed.  “How did I get in ?  Some of your guards met a, shall we say, pointy end.  No pun intended of course.  Don’t look so shocked.  I’m a vampire Slayer.  Hence the slayage of, you, vampires.  The picture is, you, evil, and me, good.  So stake through heart and I win.  Yay.”  She laughed again at the expression on their faces.  “OK, I didn’t really wanna stake ‘em but did you see their ensemble ?  They had to die.  For their own good.”  She walked slowly forward trailing her finger along a ledge.  Drusilla sat up and Angel stood by her.   Spike was at her other side.  No one was sure how to react.  The Chosen One walks in unheralded without all her Slayer gang.  “You all, however, I don’t intend to kill.  Doesn’t stop me from falling... and accidentally staking you.”

“What are you playing at Slayer ?” Spike growled.

“I’m not sure,” she mused.  “It’s all very new.  Anyway, this great master plan.  Involves you, Spike, and you, Dru, and you,” Buffy said coming close to Angel running her finger down his chest.  He didn’t push her away or say anything.  He was extremely attracted to her.  He was about to respond to her sexual innuendoes when he remembered who she was and that she stood for everything he tried to destroy, including herself.

“What is this ?” Angel said, growling low.

“Can’t you tell ?” She said throwing her hands up in the air in exasperation.  “Je-sus !  Do you need your Judge-o-meter to show you the way ?”

“She’s changed sides.  She’s evil,” Drusilla grinned mischievously.

“What ?” Spike said.  He heard what Dru had said fine, but he was still grasping to understand the concept.  "That’s impossible, that’s against all laws of nature, it’s sick, it’s ...”

“Perfect,” Angel finished grinning.  Buffy’s finger ran further down.  She lifted to her mouth and licked the tip.  She grinned as well.

“You know, Angelus, I’m all wet.  Can you feel me ?  Have you ever tried making love in the rain ?  You get all.... wet,” Buffy said in a low sexy voice.  She was cheek to cheek with Angel.
The rain on her face dripping onto him.  She drew back a bit to look at him, still foolishly grinning.  She went closer to him again ready to kiss him.  Buffy softly grabbed his chin and part of his cheeks, pressing his flawless skin.  She smiled and moved so close to him he could feel her warm breath on his face.  Angel moved slowly towards Buffy......

“Now hold on !” Spike interrupted, protesting.  “We can’t just jump in both feet at the possibility of having a Slayer on our team.  She’s got to be tested.”

“Fine,” Buffy said, not caring.  “Get me to kill someone, whatever.  Then we can have some fun......”

“No, it’s gotta be something more reliable than that,” Spike said.  “Dru, honey, go and fetch the blood of Nicolite.”  She disappeared into another room.

“What’s this blood of Nicolite all about ?“ Buffy said shrugging.

“During some war somewhere that I don't care about, two groups of people hated each other with such passion that they no longer cared they were what they fighting for.  They just wanted to end the day with the blood of the other sides men on their hands.  A warrior and a powerful sorcerer, Nicolite, came to town and offered to test the loyalty of the men fighting, to God and for the country.  Any that failed the test simply because they hated the other side, would be killed.  There was bunch on each side and they were hacked up, blood drained and forever immortalised together.  Pure hate in a glass.  Dru killed one of Nicolite's descendants a while back and stole this and used it on minions.  The drink that tests your soul.  If you have one, that is,” Angel said grinning again.  “Separates pure souls from evil.  If you have a shred of good intent in your soul, the blood will taste disgusting and you will spend the next few days over a sink, being sick.  If you only have evil intent in you soul then it will taste better then anything you have ever experienced before.  Better than normal blood, better than making love.....” He added.  “Almost.”

Drusilla handed Buffy the silver goble filed with the glistening liquid.  She semi-raised it to the vampires.

“Cheers,” she said and tilted her head back.  Buffy greedily gulped it down in one go.  “Yum.  Got any more ?  So, am I in the club or not ?”

Back at the library, Giles and Willow were researching.  Giles glanced up at the clock.

“It’s getting late Willow.  Why don’t you go home and sleep,” he offered.

“Sounds good..... but no.  Big danger with this new demon in town.  Must research,” Willow said not looking up from her book.  She then looked up at Giles. “Where’s Buffy?  She should have came back from patrol by now.”

“I’m not sure,” Giles said checking his watch in correspondence with the wall clock.  “I’m getting worried.  But you go home and get some rest.”

Willow yawned.  “You don’t need to tell me twice.”

“I did actually,” he said.

“Oh ha ha,” she droned.  “See you -and hopefully Buffy- in the morning.”

Willow closed her book and took her jacket off the back of her chair and walked out the school library.  Giles stared after her and then again at the clock.

Angel sat on the sofa and Buffy on his lap with her arm around his neck.  She was playfully biting his earlobe and they were kissing in between.

“Bad Buff, I like it.  I can feel it.  The evil about you.  I can smell it,” he said inhaling her scent from her neck. “How did this happen ?” Angel asked.  Buffy slowly undid all of his shirt buttons.

“I dunno.  I remember fighting, then rain, then waking up feeling all better,” she said sexily.  She kissed his belly button and then started to work upwards to Angelus chest.   She kissed him passionately.  “It’s weird isn’t it ?”

“What ?” Angel replied.

“Goody two shoes Buffy Summers ‘Super Slayer’TM, was in love, with all guilty, soul having, extremely dull Angel,” Buffy said tip toeing her finger tips down Angelus chest.  Shortly later he let out a moan of pleasure.  “While the evil, real, me is more attracted to the new improved, teacher killin’, blood suckin’, torture specialist bad ass vampire soul free.  That would be you.”

“Flattery will get you, uuuuhhh,” he moaned in arousal again.  “Everywhere.”  He smiled.  “And don’t I dress better than ‘Angel’ ?” He mocked his alter ego’s name.  He kissed her hard and she ran the tip of her tongue along his top lip.  She kissed him again.

“Will those two would stop slobbering all over each other,” Spike complained to Drusilla.  “It’s almost as bad when he had his soul and she was, well, whatever the Slayer was before.  I seen her drink the cup of Lethe.  We have proof she’s turned yet, I don’t know how to explain it.”

They could hear giggling and more kissing in the next room.  “Will they give it a rest !” Spike roared.  Dru rubbed his shoulders to calm him down.

“Well it means you have me all to yourself,” Dru said.  "And the birds whisper to the deer that she wouldn't like it."

“That, I do pet,” Spike said kissing her.

“So,” Angelus said breaking between kissing her.  “What’s.. this.... master... plan of yours ?”  Buffy sat back.

“If you knew,” she started innocently.  “It wouldn't be a surprise.”  A smile spread over her face.

“Lover..” He said looking at her saying ‘Tell me.’

“I can tell you that it involves my little scooby friends and an arrangement of some very sharp torturing tools.....”

“You know, all this talk of torture is making me... so.. horny,” Angelus grinned.

Buffy unfolded her legs and got up from his lap.  She grabbed the open sides of his shirt and pulled him up.  Buffy walked backwards pulling him.

“Ready Lover?” She asked seductively, flicking her hair away from her face and neck.

“For what Slayer?” Angelus asked playing dumb.  Buffy jumped up on him, wrapped her legs round his hips and he held her.  She kissed him.

“Like you don’t know,” she said as he carried her to the bedroom.

Willow bounded into the library and the look of Giles and Xander deep in conversation told her that Buffy hadn't checked in since last night.  She slowed down.

“Buffy...?” She asked, her voice dying in her throat.

“She never went home last night.  Her mom phoned me this morning.  She’s worried sick,” Xander said to Willow.

“Did you...?” Willow tried to say again to Giles.

“I phoned the hospitals and the police.  There’s no sign of her,” Giles said softly.

“..And the morgues ?” Willow said, her voice breaking up.

“Will..” Xander said putting a hand on her arm.

“It’s just.. This is not her.  Something's wrong,” Willow said.  “I can feel it.”

Silence.

“She'll turn up.  We have a big chem test today,” Xander said, trying to convince himself as well as everyone else.

"Mr Giles?  I know you and Buffy are quite close and since you work at the school.. Have you seen her at all?" Joyce asked twirling the cable round her finger.

What was Giles supposed to tell Joyce?  Tell her that "Oh Buffy's cutting school.  And Buffy's vampire boyfriend has lost his soul and turned in to a homicidal psychopath who is trying to kill us all and he may have murdered your daughter?"

“No, Mrs Summers, I haven't seen or spoke Buffy.”

“Oh.  Well if you do....”

“I’ll give you a call.”

“Thank you.  You know, I’ve being going out my mind with worry.  She said she was going to study at Xander's and he hasn’t seen her since.”

“Yes, she mentioned she was doing that last night,” Giles lied.  Buffy had told her mom that so she could patrol.  “Buffy’s a sensible girl.  She’ll be all right, I imagine.”

“Oh, you should have seen it!” Buffy said stepping up quickly onto the coffee table.  “They’re all going completely crazy over me being gone!  Joyce, Giles, Willow, Xander, Oz, Cordelia..  You should have seen it!  Willow, although, has given up on me already.  She wanted Jeeves to call the morgues,” Buffy breathed out the last part.  Angel put his hands on her hips and slid round to her butt.  She stepped slowly down from the table and kissed him fiercely.  "You woulda loved it."

“We gotta talk about something,” Angel said.

“Oh, are you the ‘Don’t dance on the table’ type of vampires?” Buffy asked.

“No, I was thinkin’ today, when you were gone out in the sunlight, playing with your other friends,” Angel said looking into her eyes.  “I was thinkin’ that you could become a vampire.  Who knows when your bad streak will end, y’know ?”

“You think this is some little act me and my scooby club made up to dust you ?” Buffy said infuriated and offended.  She pushed Angel back onto the sofa.  She stood over him.

“Hey Buff, I just meant that..” Angel explained.

“That you wanna be together forever?” She said sweetly, sliding onto his knee.  Buffy put her hands around Angels neck.  She kissed him and the drew back.  “Do you?”

“Maybe,” he shrugged.  He kissed her so passionately than bloodlust beset him and his face changed, just as it had when the good Buffy and the souled Angel kissed for the first time.

“Uht, uht,” Buffy said putting a finger to his lips.  “Not yet.  For my plan to work, I need to be human.  It’s not cause I need to see the sunlight so much but it’s cause it will hurt them more if it’s me doing it rather than a demon. Ya see?”

“Yeah,” Angel said swivelling his head and reverting back to his human appearance.

“What’d you do that for?  You’re way more handsome that way.  Anyway, afterwards, you can change me.  Who here would pass up an opportunity for immortality?”

“Not me!” Shouted Spike from the back.

“Now, do you wanna go get someone for you to eat?” She said sweetly.

“There !” Buffy whispered, looking through the bushes with Angel at a young woman walking past.

“OK, she looks good.  Go do your bit,” Angel said.  Buffy stood up and walked onto the path.  She stopped the young woman.

“Harmony!  Good to see ya!” Buffy said cheerily acting like one of the Stepfords.

“Buffy,” she spat out in disgust.  Why was this super-freak even talking to her?  “What do you want?” She said in a bored tone.

Buffy ignored her question.  “Have you met my new boyfriend?  Well not really new, just changed.  His name’s Angelus.”

“Figures.  Freak gets a boyfriend with a freaks name,” Harmony said trying to push past Buffy.  Buffy stood firm.

“Hi,” Angel said over Harmonys shoulder.

“What the...!”  She exclaimed.  She calmed down.  “You scared me.  I never heard you.  Mmm.”  She turned to Buffy.  “How did you get a man like that?”

“Oh, he's not a man,” Buffy smiled coyly.

“What are you talking about?  He’s man enough for...” Harmony said as she turned round.  She screamed at sight of the grotesque, twisted, vampire face that Buffy’s new boyfriend wore.  Harmony felt a hand clamp around her mouth.

“Buffy what are you doing?” Harmony’s muffled voice said under the hand.

“Baby, do you want her screaming?” Buffy asked Angel innocently.

“Let her go Buff, we can chase her.  It’s not like I need to work up an appetite, it’s just... fun,” Angel said in a low voice grinning from ear to ear.  Harmonys eyes went wide as Buffy kissed the monster over her head.  Buffy let go of her mouth and pushed her down.

“On you go,” Buffy said shooing her away.  “We’ll catch up.”

Angel growled and made a biting action towards her.  Harmony shrieked and ran as the vampire was laughing like a hyena.  Harmony pushed her way through the bushes, afraid to look back but she heard voices behind her.  She looked back and saw no-one.  Harmony stopped running and looked around.  She turned back around to run again and saw Angel standing in front of her.

“Alone at last,” Angel said.  He pulled down her shirt to reveal a bare neck.  He liked to look at the vein for a moment, teasing himself.  Then Angel sank his fangs into her soft flesh and began to drink.

“Angel, Angel!” Buffy whispered at his side.  He lifted his head.  “I seen Willow, Xander and Oz in the cemetery. When they come by, don’t say that you know where I am OK?  It’s part of the plan.”

“All right.  May I continue feeding?”

“You go right ahead, lover.”

Angel had almost drank Harmony dry when a wandering flashlight shone in his yellow, feral eyes.

“Xander, Willow, Oz.  Bit late for you to be out,” Angel snarled with his fangs dripping with warm, fresh blood.

Willow saw the blond haired girl and froze.

“B..b..b...” She strangled out.

Angel dropped the girl and Oz shone his flashlight on her face.

“Harmony,” Xander said in a voice of sorrow.

“So where’s your pure, innocent little Slayer tonight then girls and boys?” Angel said turning from his vampire visage to his human.

“You mean you don’t know where she is?” Xander asked.  Good news finally, he thought.

“She’s missing?” Angel said laughing.  “Well, wonder what skank she’s ran off with to forget about her loser friends and her bigger loser of a throughly dead boyfriend.  You better hope you find her before I do.”

“You stay away from her,” Xander warned.

“Oooh! I’m gettin’ threatened by the scary Xander Harris, super stud,” Angel mocked.  In a low voice he added, ”Ooh, I’m really scared now.  I’ll find Buffy before dawn and make her watch me kill you all before I kill her.”

Willow gripped Oz's hand for support.  He squeezed back.

“Oh yeah, this is gonna be fun!” Angel shouted to the night as he walked away from the three and into the bushes where Buffy was waiting.  She kissed him as they watched Xander bend down to check Harmonys pulse.  He nodded to them to say ‘she’s dead’ and they walked away quickly to call the police.

Buffy and Angelus burst into fits of laughter.

“Hey you’ve had your fun,” Buffy said.  “Now I want mine.”

“What you thinkin’?”

“I was gonna get in a little homicide before sun breaks.  Want to watch?”

“Miss your first human kill?   Wouldn’t miss it.”

“And then he said he was gonna find Buffy,” Willow said to Giles.  Giles took off his glasses and ruffled his hair.

“Well we need to step up our search for her, to keep her safe from Angel at any rate,” Giles said.  “But it’s 1 am.  There’s nothing much more we can do tonight.  I suggest you all go home.”

“OK.  See ya tomorrow Giles,” Xander said.  Cordelia, who had been researching, was going to give him a run.

“Anyone else want a ride?” Cordy offered.

“No it’s OK,” Oz declined. “I’ll take Will home in my van.  Bye Giles.”

“Bye Giles,” Willow said last to walk out the library.

“Willow,” he called after her.  She stopped and turned round.

“We’ll find her, before Angel,” he promised.  She smiled sadly and walked out the library.

Buffy and Angel stalked, looking for the perfect victim.

“We have a winner,” Buffy said gesturing to the man walking his dog through the park.  The dog came up to the bush where they hid.  Angel knocked it out cold.

“Present for Spikey boy,” he explained.  Buffy strode out the bushes.

“Hi, I’m lost.  Can you help me?” Buffy asked.

“Sure, I can help you.  What do you need to find ?” The man said in a pleasant voice.

“My sanity.  Have you seen it lying around any where?” Buffy said.

“What?” The man said thinking he had misheard.

Buffy swung her right fist and the guy went crashing into the tree.  She grabbed his jacket and turned him round.  Buffy punched him repeatedly and kicked his chest.  The man collapsed to the ground.

“I can’t find it anywhere.  I was sure I had it yesterday,” Buffy said marching over to the guy and throwing by the collar to Angels feet.  She ran over and pulled his arm backwards, trying to break it.

“AAAHHHH,” the man screamed.  Buffy reached inside his jacket and pulled out a wallet.  "Take it!  Take it!  It’s yours,” screamed the man, begging for mercy.

“I don’t wanna rob you.  If I did, you’d be dead already,” Buffy informed him.  She flipped it open and looked for ID.  “Steve Jackson, 29 years old, contact next of kin Margaret Jackson, wife.  Librarian at UC Sunnydale,” Buffy read from a card.  “What’s this?” She asked pulling out photos of two little blond girls playing mini golf with their mother.  “These your daughters Steve?  Very cute.”

“Don’t touch them, do whatever you want to me but leave them alone.”

“Steve,” Buffy said softly into his ear.  “Do you really think you’re in a position to tell me what to do?”  Buffy twisted his arm more.  “Do you?  And if you do, do you really think I’m gonna listen?”

Buffy released him and he groaned in pain on the floor for a moment.  Buffy flashed Angel a brilliant smile.  She then picked him up and held him up by the shoulders.

“Now, I’m thinkin’ of startin’ a little collection, so I’m gonna keep these pictures and ID to, y’know, boast to all my friends how many people I’ve killed.  It’s a psycho killer kinda thing,” Buffy explained as she slipped the wallet into her pocket.  “Now I’m gonna be nice and give you a choice.  One, you can die and two, you can die.  Not much of a choice is it? How to do it..” Buffy pondered.  She placed a hand on each side of his head.  “I think I might...” she said as she twisted Steve’s head round to the right until she heard the bones snapping like dry twigs.  “..break your neck.”  He fell to the floor, lifeless.  Buffy broke into hysterical giggles as she walked over to Angel.  When she calmed down they stepped over Steve Jackson’s body together.  With Buffy saying..

“That was fun...”

“This is the third day since anyones spoke to or seen Buffy,” said Giles to Willow, Xander, Oz and Cordelia in the library in the morning before homeroom.  “We step up our search for her.  Willow and Oz, I would like you to go the burned down factory,” Giles said.

“A la Giles,” Xander broke in.  Giles gave him a look and he held up his hands to say ‘sorry’.

“As I was saying, Willow, Oz I would like you to check the factory and Angels old apartment.  Be very careful.  Come equipped with stakes, holy water, crosses and what not.  Cordelia and Xander, would you check the bus and train depots, the graveyards, Willies place and any other places that she may, eh, ‘hang out’.  I’ll be here in case she returns and I’ll also pay a visit to Mrs Summers.  She how she’s doing.  OK?”

The phone rang and Giles ran to pick it up in case it was news on Buffy.

“Hello, Sunnydale High Library.  Rupert Giles speaking,” he said.

Everyone came closer to try and hear what the conversation was about.

“Hello Mr Giles.  Sunnydale police officer Brown here.  I’ve been asked by Mrs Jackson to inform you that a friend of yours, Mr Steve Jackson, was,” Brown paused and rubbed his forehead.  He hated giving bad news. “He was murdered last night.  I’m sorry.  I understand you were a friend of the family because of your library connections.”

Giles stood in shock.  “How did it happen?”

“I’m sorry?”

“How was he killed?”

“Mr Jackson was out walking his dog when someone attacked him, took identification out of his wallet and pictures, and then broke his neck.  We have no idea why someone would do this.  That's why we contacted you at the wishes of the family.”

“Steve had no enemies that I know of.  He was a good man,” Giles added quietly.

“That’s how I understand it Mr Giles.  We think it happened around midnight.  Maybe before, maybe after.  Forensics have still to come back.”

Giles paused a moment.  “Were there any... marks?”

“Marks?”

“Such as cuts, wounds, bite marks located on his neck?” Giles asked edgily.

“Mr Jackson had sustained a rather brutal beating.  He was literally covered in blood.  Wounds and blood all over his body.  We couldn't tell any specific location of bleeding.  Whatever man did this, he seemed to be doing it for the hell of it.  He really let him have it.  I’m sorry, I shouldn't be discussing this with you.  Sorry sir, but my mouth has a tendency to run away with me.”

“That’s quite all right officer.  I just needed to know.”

“Should a situation arise where we need your help further, I’ll be in touch.  Thank you Mr Giles.”

“Thank you Officer,” Giles said as he replaced the phone on the holder.  He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes and tried to clear his head.  He put them on and looked up at patient faces.

“It’s not about Buffy,” Giles told them.  His voice breaking slightly.  He went over to his chair, sat down and held his head in his hands.

“Giles, what is it?” A concerned Willow said.

“A friend, a friend of mine was killed last night.  Steve Jackson.  We knew each other through library contacts and became good friends.  Oh God, his family,” Giles said swallowing the lump in his throat the size of a boulder.  “Steve was out about midnight walking Harry, his dog, when someone killed him.  Although they beat him to a bloody pulp beforehand,” he said bitterly.

“Wait,” Xander said.  “Was it vampire?  Cause we saw Angel about that area and he was jonesing for a crush, kill, destroy.”

Cordelia dug her elbow in his ribs.  “Way to go tact guy.”

He shot her a surprised look.  “Coming from you, Queen of subtly?”

“They don’t know if there was any bite marks.  Sounds like the work of Angelus though.”

“This is getting bad.  It’s worse than bad, it’s.. really bad !” Willow said worriedly.  “No Slayer and Angel’s gone into homicidal overdrive.”

“Willow's right.  Even though we're trying to find a best friend, we need to find a Slayer,” Oz said.

“Don’t we have a back up or something?” Cordelia asked.

“Dammit.  Cor, didn’t you tell me to pick one up at the seven eleven?  Case you forgot, Slayers don’t grow on trees.  They don’t grow at all. They’re called.  Until Buff kicks it, we don’t have one,” Xander reminded them.

“Kendra,” Willow said.  “We could get Kendra here.  I mean how much supernatural activity is there in Jamaica?  Do they even have a Hellmouth?  Cuz we do!  Hello?”

“Yeah cause we do!  Sunnydale #1!” Xander said in fake enthusiasm.

“Good idea Willow.  I’ll call Mr Zebuto as soon as you leave for classes.”

“Is that a hint to go away?” Cordelia asked Xander.

“Wow, nothing gets by you does it?” Xander replied.

“So latest news from the Slayerettes camp is that Giles is all upset about Stevie boy - it's so cool they know each other, for me anyway - and they think it’s your style,” Buffy said sauntering in the mansion like she owned it and into her and Angels bedroom.  Angel had just woke up was sitting up in bed.  He put on the ornamental lamp on the table beside him because his drapes were so thick that he couldn’t see anything.

“It pretty much is my style.  Pain, death then taking a little momento.  Sounds like it,” he grinned proudly.

“I had to leave the library after they accused you of my little escapade last night.  Hope they didn’t discuss anything important.  Cause I’d feel left out.   Did Spike enjoy his present?” Buffy asked.

“He wouldn’t eat it.  He thought I was putting him down by bringing him food, so Dru’s got a new pet.  She ate Sunshine.”

“Did you not think that I might want a little puppy?” Buffy said acting hurt.

“You have me to play with.”

“And your way more fun.  You bend ways and do stuff that even Ken dolls can’t.”

“So anyway, Dru’s phoned a witch-vampire in from New York to see if she can cure Spikes legs.  She’ll be here at dusk.”

“I’m surprised that they didn’t just ask me to donate some blood for the ‘Spike in Need’ cause.  Being the Slayer and all, I could probably cure him.”

“Would you do that?”

“What wouldn’t I do for friends?  Although the more fun alternative would be to fly to Jamaica, get Kendra, drag her back here by her dread locked pony tail and feed her to him.”  Buffy ran her finger along the fireplace and blew the dust off.

“Come to bed,” Angel called.  She spun round.

“It’s daylight.  I’m not sleepy,” she stood at the foot of the bed.

“I didn’t say anything about sleeping,” he grinned.

“Oh.  Well what did you have in mind?”  Buffy asked crawling up on top of the sheets over Angel and lay there.  She ran her hands through his hair.  She kissed him passionately and he rolled her over so he was on top and the sheets were tangled.  They stopped and giggled as he threw them off.  He touched her face and kissed her again.  She teased him with her tongue and he became more impatient.  He went to kiss her again but she used her index finger to separate their lips.

“Wait,” she ordered as she rolled over him to his side to turn off the light.

“Buffy, where are you?  Ohhhh.  You’re there.”

Buffy lay beside Angel watching him sleep, without his chest rising and falling.  She slid out of the sheets and went over to the window guarded by thick drapes.  She opened them a little and she could see the sun was almost setting.  Buffy left the bedroom and looked at the clock.  4.30 pm !  She had slept (and other stuff-three times !) through most of the light hours.  Is this what life as a vampire would be like?

“Buffy,” Drusilla said behind her.

“Hey Dru,” she replied turning round.

“The sun is almost setting.  Then the witch will come to cure Spike and make him walk again.  And the daisies say he'll be flying before dawn.”

“Yeah, about that.  How would you like Spike to walk now?”

“Whatever do you mean?” She enquired.

“I was thinkin’ I might let Spike chew on my neck a little.  Just to get his strength back.”

“What a good idea,” Dru rejoiced, clapping her hands.  She growled at no-one in particular.  “I never liked that witch.  She made my head spin.”

“Mine too,” Buffy agreed.  “Is Spike awake?  We could do it now.”

“He’s up.  Maybe you should go and offer.  He’ll the pixies and the stars made you do it.”

“Hey Buff, you sure?  Spike’s a little, well lets say you don’t need to go encouraging him,” Angelus said leaning against them door frame.  “ And you know how much he would love to kill you.”

“She’s sure,” said Spike wheeling through.  “Let’s get this show on the road.  We can’t torture your little Slayer pals and perform your plan if you’re unconscious half way into the night.  Well we can, but it wouldn’t be as much fun if they see you’re in on it.”

Buffy walked up to Angelus and tugged on the sides of his velvet robe and kissed him.  “I’ll be fine,” she insisted.  “And if he takes too much,” she turned to Spike.  “He’s gonna know about it,” she threatened in a hard tone with narrowing eyes to the blonde vampire.  Buffy then turned back round and kissed Angelus again deeply.

“I’ll be watching,” he promised.

Buffy tied her hair in a bobble as she walked over to Spike and kneeled down.  She undid the first buttons of Angels shirt that she was wearing and slid it off her shoulder.

“Come on them roller boy, lets feel what a cripple's bite is like,” Buffy said bored, offering him her bare neck.  The pair were facing north and south while Angel was east so he could see everything perfectly.

“Oh, I’ll show you baby,” Spike growled as he changed to his game face.  He sank his fangs into the Slayers flesh and began to drink.  Angel was getting impatient and didn’t take any pleasure from the sight of Spike drinking Buffy, which was unusual.  Blood spilled from Spikes lips and ran down Buffy’s bare back.

“OK, Spike, that’s enough,” Angel said in a controlled, commanding voice.  When Spike ignored him, he got anxious and angry - not a good combination.

“I said, that’s enough!” Angel roared, stalking forward to grab Spike shoulders and pull him and the wheel chair back.  Buffy, still conscious, was draped over Spikes lap.  Angel ran round to her and held her.

“God, I am so gonna beat the crap outta him!” She said as she fainted in his arms.  Angel lay her down on the couch and went over to Spike who was attempting to get out of his wheel chair.  Before he tried to stand up, Angelus threw a punch with all his immortal strength and power behind it.  It threw Spike and the wheel chair across the room and they collided into the wall.  The wheel chair was entangled on top of Spike.  Furiously he kicked it away with his right foot.  Spike stood up proudly, grinning.

“Good as bloody new!” He announced.  “Tell the Buff when she wakes up thanks,” he said, strolling out into the garden.

“Spike,” Dru called.  “The sun’s still......”  Before she could finish, Spike had ran in with his head on fire.

“Put it out!  Put it out!” Spike yelled.  He grabbed a bottle of whiskey off the coffee table and poured half of it on his head.  The flames sizzled and extinguished.  He gulped down some more to help the pain.  “Bloody hell!”

“That’s why you should look before leap,” Angelus growled pressing a towel to Buffy’s neck.  “Otherwise, you might end up with bad sunburn.”

“Very witty Angel mate,” Spike said sarcastically.  “Now I’m going to find some weapons to celebrate my re-found mobility.  Want to come Dru?”

“Re-found?  Celebrate?  You been doing a little reading of the old dictionary while you were in that chair of yours?” Angel asked as Drusilla made her way to the weapons room.

“Well see, now I’m out my chair,” Spike said stepping forward to where Angel kneeled beside Buffy.  “The big bad is back.  So you better watch your mouth.”

Angel stood up with a faked uninterested look on his face which he usually makes before he mocks somebody.

“Big bad?  Please.  You’re just some blond in a bottle has been demon who’s lost his game and who’d be a pathetic shell of a loser if Dru dumped ya.  Bet even Xander Harris could kick your ass.  The day of William the Bloody has gone,” Angelus announced to the empty mansion.  “You’ll find it sometime in the year 1890.”

“Your sure of that?” Spike challenged.  “Well, me and you ought to have it out sometime.  Face to face.  And I’m a natural blond, thank you very bloody much.”

“Natural.  You are forgetting I made you William," Angelus growled.  "And the fight?  Sure.  Always ready to cut he teeth of the weaker ones.  Hey, if ya bribe me, I might stop and let you throw a punch,” Angel taunted.  He turned round and attended to the Slayer.

“Yeah, well I’m not the weak one,” Spike retaliated.

Angel faced him.  “What did you say?”

“I’m not the one in love with the Slayer.  With soul or without.  Whatever way, it makes me sick.  Am I the only one having a problem with you two boning each other day and night?  She’s a vampire Slayer!  Born to slay us, vampires!” Spike exclaimed.

“Yeah, well, I quit,” Buffy said standing up.  She pushed past Angel and roundhouse kicked Spike.  He fell to the floor.  She stood over him still holding her neck.  “Got a problem with that?”

Spike held the back of his head and sat up.  “No. No problem with that.”

“It would be good for you to remember I’ve kicked your ass every time we’ve got into a fight.  And I could do again.  With an audience.”

Spike nodded and stood up.  “One day Slayer,” he promised.

“Oh definitely,” she confirmed.

Drusilla walked in with an assortion of weapons and threw them on the floor.

“First come, first served.  Now, Buffy, why don’t you tell us all about your plan,” Dru said.

“I shouldn’t be here,” Cordelia complained to Xander hugging her chest for warmth.  “I should be at home watching Chicago Hope rather than out here in a graveyard, with no Slayer and waiting to run into the path of her ex boyfriend who suddenly got a taste for future prom Queen.”

“We need to find Buffy and we got graveyards,” Xander offered a feeble explanation.  He shone his flashlight around the bushes and behind the gravestones.

“Yeah.  I mean, why did we get graveyards?  Willow can do some protection thingy and Oz has the, grrr, secret werewolf strength.  Why don’t they have the danger zones?  What do we have?  Apart from cuteness and amazing dress sense, well one of us anyway,” Cordy said and Xander shot her a look.  “But those don’t help when we go fist to fist.  Not that I intend to.  Even for Buffy.  Do you know how much this manicure cost?”

“There ya go.  You can daze the vamps with your choice of nail varnish.”

“I just saw little Xander and Cordelia up ahead,” Spike whispered.  “Will we go to plan Buff?”

“Yep,” Buffy said kissing Angelus.  “I’ll try not to laugh too hard.”

The three vampires emerged out of the bushes into the path of Xander and Cordelia.  They froze and Cordelia tightened her grip on Xander's arm.

“Xander.  Long time, no see.  Well since last night during dinner anyway,” Angel said in a low voice.

“Yeah, we thought we might bump into you two lovebirds out here.  Graveyards are so romantic aren't they?” Spike asked.

“Yeah whatever bleach blond.  Your roots are showing,” Cordelia said covering one of her speciality areas of insults - beauty and fashion.

“How many bloody times?  I’m a natural!” He yelled.

“Calm down pet,” Dru said soothingly placing a hand on his shoulder.  “We’re not here to eat.”

“Well that’s good cuz..” started Xander.

“Yet,” Dru finished.

“Yeah, we um, got a message for you.  Well, it’s more of a proposition really,” Angel said.

Proposition.  What’s he talking about ? Thought Buffy behind the bushes.

“We got Buffy..” Angel said.  Xander's heart raced.  He thought the next line out of Angels mouth would be ‘And she’s dead.’

“She’s someplace safe.  Alive, of course.  We wanna do a trade,” Angel said.

Huh?  Buffy thought.

“We’ll give you the Slayer back, untouched,” Spike said.

“If one of you take her place,” Angel finished for him.

Hey now I like this plan a whole lot more! Buffy thought.

“What?” Xander asked.

“If one of your gang give up your life for Buffy’s, we’ll let her go..” Angel explained.

“And drink you instead,” Drusilla grinned devishly.

“We’ll make the switch tomorrow at,” Angel thought for a moment.  “The mansion on Crawford Street.  It’s abandoned.  All five of you come at 10pm.  There we’ll trade a life for a life.”

“We’re not picky,” Spike said.  “We’ll take watcher, witch, werewolf, winter ball queen or wuss.”

“Which one am I?” Xander said thinking the names over for a moment.  “Hey!”

“Can you remember that all?” Angel asked.  Don’t need a pen or paper do ya?”

“We’ll remember it fine,” Cordelia said half defiantly.

“Well good. That’s really all for now.  See you tomorrow,” Spike said.

They all stood staring at each other.

“Don’t you have a elsewhere to be ?” Asked Cordelia.

“We’re not turning our backs on three vampires.  We’re not leaving here till you do,” Xander told them.

“Brave little boy,” Dru said dreamily walking up to Xander.  She traced the outline of his jaw with her fingernail and ran the back of her hand down his face.

Spike who was becoming increasingly jealous, said, “C’mon Dru.  We’re leaving.”

“What a shame.” Into Xander's ear she whispered, ”The party’s just getting started.”  Xander swallowed as she left with Angel and Spike.  He felt Cordelia, who was also jealous, grab his hand and pull him in the opposite direction.

“Let’s go Xander.”  With that they ran to Cordelia's car and drove to the library at high speed.

Behind the bush, Buffy let out a stifled giggle and stood up.

“That was great!” She exclaimed.  “That was better than great.  It was.. perfect.  Now I’m gonna go see who's gonna walk into the Valley Of The Shadow Of Death for me!  Can I borrow your car Spike?  After all I did let you suck half my blood and all.”  Spike tossed her the keys.

“You scratch it, me and you go one on one,” he said lighting a cigarette.  Then he added, “With you blindfold.”

“And then we ran like hell,” Xander said to Giles, Willow and Oz.  Silence reigned in the library as they all thought of the choice that faced them.

Willow shattered the silence.

“I’ll be the guy.  Y’know, traded guy.  For Buffy,” Willow said looking around the group.  “She’s my best friend.  And I can do this.”

“No,” Oz said in a shaky voice.  “Don’t do that.  Don’t, don’t even say that.  It’ll be me.  I’ll do it.  At the very least to stop you from doing it.”  The thought of Willow dying was making Oz sick to the stomach.  He felt he might throw up.  Die and then some.

“Oz,” Willow said biting her lip with a tear welling up in her eye.

Xander looked at both of them  He knew Will was gonna jump in and throw herself to the lions so Oz wouldn’t be killed.  And he couldn’t let her do that.  Willow was his best friend.  Other than Buffy.

“Hey, I’ll do it,” he said and everyone looked at him.  “That screw up Xander Harris has ever done anything right.  Well here’s my chance.  Save the world by freeing the Slayer.  My claim to fame, huh?”  He stuffed his hands in his pockets and shrugged.  He tried to smile a sad smile.  “I mean you’ve all got a great future ahead of you.  What do I have to look forward to?  Sleeping in my parents basement and working at the Taco Hut for eight bucks an hour?”

“No Xander, you’re wrong.  You all have a future ahead of you.  Except me,” Giles said.  “Well I’m closer to fifty than you all are to fifteen.  With Jenny gone...  And I’m Buffy’s watcher.  If anyone should sacrifice their life, it should be me,” he said firmly.

“Giles.. no..” Willow managed to choke out.

“I’ve made my mind up Willow.  Let’s not discuss it any further.”

Xander was becoming desperate.  “What if we went in all guns blazing, got Buffy and no trade?”

“No.  We risk even more casualties and deaths than we do with the present scenario.  Buffy may be killed.  Them and their henchman could easily outnumber us and it requires two or even three of us to stake one vampire.  No. Tomorrow night at 10 o clock, I will offer myself for the trade.”

Everyone knew they couldn’t persuade him.  Any efforts would be a waste of breath and he would reject them.  Willow put a hand on his arm.  Giles looked down and put his own over it.  Suddenly, Willow hugged Giles.  Although taken aback at first, he hugged her back.  Then Xander joined in.  Then Oz.  Then Cordelia lastly.

“How very touching,” Buffy whispered to herself in the stacks and crept out.

“Lover,” Buffy called as she ran into the house.  “Oh Lover?”

“Right here Buff,” Angel called from the bedroom.  Buffy walked in and Angel was looking at some weapons.  He put them down on the bed.  “So, how'd it go?”

“They all practically fought over to be the one to die for me.  Finally they decided Giles,” she closed the door behind her and slipped of her coat.  Buffy dropped it the floor and was met by Angel in the middle of the room.  They kissed passionately. “So, we are go for tomorrow night.  You bring the Slayerettes and I’ll bring the punch.”

It was two hours before the trade and Giles stared at himself in his mirror.  He fixed his top button and smoothed out the ruffles.  Giles went upstairs to his bedroom.  He picked up a framed picture of Jenny that was beside his bed.  He stared at it and then touched his face.  Giles lay down on his bed.   He hadn't sleep in his bed since Jenny was killed.  Giles pulled the blanket over his head.  He lay there in the darkness, thinking.  Then someone drew back the blanket.  Giles looked up.

“Hi Rupert,” she said softly.

“J..J..Jenny,” Giles said amazed.  “I thought you were..”

“Dead ?  I am Rupert.  I’m here because you need me.”  Giles sat up and looked at her.  Jenny Calendar sat on the side of his bed and held his hand.  She wore a long white robe and had a crown of daisies in her hair.  She looked beautiful, almost glowing.  “Pretty cliché huh?” She asked him.

“What?”

“I can read your thoughts Rupert.  The flower crown, the white light, the appearance.  You have to admit, it is all a bit tired.”

“It can’t really be you..”

“You believe in vampires and monsters but not me?”

“I’ve seen vampires to believe in them.”

“And now you’ve seen me.  Rupert, I don’t have a lot of time.  I’m here for a reason,” she said reaching out and touching his hair.  “It’s Angelus and Buffy.”

“Don’t you mean Angel and Buffy ?”

“Something changed Rupert.  Fate’s intervened.  Buffy’s not Buffy.  The demon Kelnoir has a lot to do with that.  You can’t go tonight until you know.”

“Know what ?”

“The change.  I have to go now Rupert,” she said running her hand down his face.  She kissed her two fingers and placed it on his lips.

“I love you....” Giles said.

“I love you.  Close your eyes.” Giles obeyed.  A few minutes later, he woke up.  Giles bolted upright.

“Jenny ?” He asked.  Giles looked at his watch.  Either it had stopped or no time had passed.  He checked his alarm clock and it read the same time.  “Kelnoir, Kelnoir,” Giles said and rushed downstairs to find books.  He picked up ‘Lords of the Dark Ages’ and flicked through to the index.  He found Kelnoir, went to the page and read aloud.

“ ’The demon Kelnoir appears in many guises both human and demon.  Has the ability to take and restore souls.  He gives victims their most wanted desire and then leads them down the path of darkness.’  Take and restore souls?  That may mean Angels has and his returned to him and Buffy is perfectly safe.  The trap could be to kill Spike and Drusilla!” Giles said in excitement.  He picked up the phone and dialled Willow’s number.

“So Buffy could be OK?” Willow asked.  Cordelia, Xander and Oz looked on eagerly.  “So what do we do now?”

“We continue as planned.  I suspect Buffy and Angel will update us in due course ”

“We go to the factory?  Isn’t that kinda risky Giles.  How do we know this is reliable stuff?”

“I know Willow.  I just know.”

“How do you know?  If we’re wrong this could cost us Buffy’s life and maybe others.”

“I.. I saw Jenny,” Giles said with difficulty.

“Giles..” Willow started.

“No Willow, I know it was her.  She gave us the name.  She talked of a change.  This is it Willow, the change.  It all fits.”

“Giles...  How do you know it was her and it wasn’t your imagination.”

“Because she was more beautiful than I could ever have imagined.  And I could tell.  She was there.  Willow, please believe this.”

“What else did she say?” Willow said twisting the cable round her finger.

“She said, that if I believed in monsters and vampires, then I had to believe in her.  She said Buffy’s not Buffy.  Something about Angelus and Buffy and then about Kelnoir.  Then, she was gone.”

“OK.  We’ll go as planned.  See you in a few minutes.  Bye,” Willow said and put down the phone.  She explained everything to the guys.

Giles replaced the receiver.  He took his jacket of the hanger and put a stake and a cross in the pocket, for precautions.  He went out the front door and locked it.

Jenny Calendar descended down the stairs and looked at the door were Giles had been.

“Wrong change Rupert,” she said sadly.

“Giles just pulled up in that banger of a car.  They’re here,” Buffy said looking out the window.  “Ready for action Lover?” The Slayer asked  Angelus.  She picked up a silver dagger and placed her finger on the tip.  She then rested the dagger on his throat.  Angelus took it from her and kissed her deeply.

“Ready.”  He and Buffy went through to the living room and Buffy sat on the sofa.  Angel stood in covering her but facing the entrance.  He studied the blade.

“Angel,” Giles said walking into the hall.  Angel looked up and saw that the whole gang were forming behind the Watcher.

“Hey Rupert buddy.  Worried ya weren’t gonna make it for a while there.  Dru’s just put the tea on.  Ya want some?”

“This is your home?” Giles asked, aware they had been fooled into their layer.  Don’t panic, he told himself.  Angel is with us now.  It’s just a charade

“Where’s Buffy?” Xander demanded.

“Hmm, Buffy” Angel said putting a finger to his lips, pretending to think.  “Where could she be?”  He turned round and pulled Buffy up.  He held her hostage with the knife to her throat.  Buffy whimpered.

“Buffy!” Willow shouted trying to restrain herself.  Willow noticed what Buffy was wearing.  It was a black leather top with flared cuffs and dark ivory lacing at the chest showing her cleverage and tight black leather pants.  Buffy also wore a long black fitted coat over it  She look as if she’d fell into an sexy but insane vampires closet.

“So Giles.  I hear from a birdy you got a visit from the ghost of lovers past,” Angel said cruelly.

“Jenny?” Giles said doubting whether he was right or not.

“The fair Ms Calendar herself.  You see, us demons know when spirits are in town.  Oh and I’m not soul boy again.  That’s too much to hope for,” Angel sighed.

“The change...” Giles spluttered.

“Was something a whole lot better,” Buffy smiled an evil smile.  Angel dropped his hands to his side and turned Buffy round the waist.  He kissed her passionately.

The scooby gang stared in horror.

“Buffy..” Willow said.  Angelus and Buffy stopped kissing and Buffy turned round in Angelus’s arms.

“Hey Will.  The bad Buff is in town and she likes fun,” Buffy said gesturing to the vampire guards coming up behind.  They grabbed Giles, Willow, Xander, Oz, Cordy and tied them to the five chairs set out.

“We couldn’t decide which one to have so we’re taking you all,” Drusilla said appearing from the wings with Spike.  Buffy took a sharp instrument from Angel's collection and went up to the first chair - Cordelia.

“I remember you and me in this position some time ago,” Buffy said to Cordelia referring to Marcie Ross.  “Look at you.  Helpless....” she said tracing Cordelia’s features with the surgical knife.

“Hey !  Leave her alone !” Xander yelled.  Buffy walked over to him.

“Playing the virtuous knight are we Xand?” She leant over him so he could feel her breath on his cheek.  “Tell me Xander.  Are you attracted to me?  Are you still in love with me?  If I was to kiss you now, what would you do?”

Buffy placed her lips on his and started to kiss him tenderly.  She stopped and pulled back a little.  Then Xander strained slightly forward to kiss her again and they became submerged in a passionate kiss.

“Xander!” Cordelia said in shock.  Xander snapped out of the illusion and turned away.  Angel, who was jealous as hell even though it was an act, stepped in for his part.

“Oh c’mon Xander.  Be a man.  Can’t you handle me ?” Buffy asked sweetly.  Angel put his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.

“Get off her !” Xander shouted.  “I’ll kill you before you touch her !”

“Xander, I’ve already touched her.  Several times in fact,” Angel growled in a low voice.

Buffy kissed Xander again and again he pushed her away.

“You’re not Buffy,” Xander said.  “I don’t know what happened but I know Buffy.  You’re not her.”

“You’re not getting it Xander,” Buffy sighed.  “I am Buffy.  Just, improved.”

She grabbed his cheeks and her fingernails dug into his skin.

“Buffy,” Willow whimpered.  “It can’t be you.  It can’t be.”

“Oh poor, sweet, naive, little Willow,” Buffy said throwing Xander's head back and moving along one chair.  “You just don’t get it.  Y’know Cor had it right.  The first time I seen you, she called you a loser.  Softer side of Sears right Cor?" Buffy smirked at the cheerleader.

"That’s all you’ve ever been.  A nerd, a geek, a loser.  You were never my friend.  Truth is, the other Buffy couldn’t stand you.  You were so much duller and more boring than her LA friends.”  Willow swallowed as Buffy came close to her.  “But don’t worry.  That Buffy’s gone now.  And I’m here.  And I can tell we’re gonna be great friends.”

“Buffy.  This isn’t you.  Something happened to you,” Giles said to himself as much as to everyone else.  “You would never do this.”

“Wouldn’t I?” Buffy asked.  “How would you know what I’m like, huh Giles?  You send me out night after night to die!  You and your council.  You don’t give a damn about the lives lost in the crossfire!  Even though I’m not dead yet, you still took my life!  You took my life!  Sixteen years old and I’m told that cause of some fate thing I’ve got to give my life to fighting vampires and I won’t live past 22!  Do you and your council think that’s a easy or fair thing to do?  Huh?  Answer me!” She screamed at her watcher.  “Is it?  Is it fair?”

“No,” Giles said quietly.  “It’s not fair.”

“I was planning on growing up, having a job, having a life and you took that away!  So I stuck with it.  Being the good little slay Buffy.  Then I woke up.  Look at Angel.  242 years old.  He’s evil.  Look at Spike.  ‘Bout 120 years old.  He’s evil.  Look at Dru.  She’s about 138 years old.  She’s evil. Ya noticing a pattern here?  If I’m supposed to be the good guy, how come I’ll die in a few years time yet they’re a shoo in for the next century?”

“If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” Xander mumbled.

“Right!  I’m glad for whatever your demon boy did to me cause it set me free.  I’m foot loose and soul free.  I get to have who and what I want,” Buffy told him.

“Which is?” Giles asked.

“Immortality.”

“Your a va...” Xander started.

“Not yet.  First, I wanted to be demon free to torture you guys,” Buffy said.  “Oz,” she said moving to his chair next to Willow.  “You aren’t saying much.  As usual.  Got anything to add?  Oh and by the by, the program of torture is Willow, you, Cordy, Xander then G-Man.”

“I’ll kill you before you touch Willow,” Oz said in a low voice.

“Really?” Buffy asked.  “Isn’t that sweet?  Hang onto this one Will.  When a guy threatens to kill someone for you like my Angel does for me, don’t let them slip away for the, ooh, next couple of hours.”

“What you gonna do now Buff?” Angel asked.

“Torture one separately and let you guys play with others.  In an hour, we’ll take a break for us,” Buffy told him coyly.

“An hour?” Angel complained.

“Hello?” Kendra looked around the library for Buffy, Giles and the rest of the guys.  “Mr Giles?  Dis anyone here?”  She looked into Giles office and there was a beautiful, brown haired woman standing there.  She turned round as Kendra placed her bag at the door.  “Excuse me, I am looking for the librarian Mr Giles.  Do you know where I might find him?”

“Kendra,” she addressed.

“How do you know my name?” Kendra asked.

“Rupert told me about you.  You need to hurry Kendra.  They’re in danger.  Do you know where the mansion on Crawford street is?”

“Yes.  Buffy and I patrolled round dere once.  What’s wrong?”

“Angelus has risen again.  You have to help them.”

“I will,” Kendra said turning round.  She stopped.  “Who are you?”

“A friend of Rupert’s, Jenny Calendar.  You have to go now,” Jenny told her.  Kendra obeyed and ran out of the library.

Two vampires threw Xander Harris on Buffy and Angels bed.  Buffy thanked them and shut the double doored entrance.  She stood in front of him as he sat up on the bed.

“What do you think I’m gonna do now?” Buffy asked Xander.  She dropped off her long coat to the floor.

“Your gonna say that your kidding on about his whole bad girl thing, dust Angel and we’ll get out of here,” Xander suggested.  He edged back on the king sized bed.

“Maybe later,” Buffy said crawling onto the bed and over Xander.  She lay on top of him and kissed him.  Xander couldn’t think logically and saw that it was Buffy's face which told him that this was what he had wanted for so long.  He kissed her back and Buffy ran her hands through his short hair.  Buffy stopped kissing him and smiled.  She sat up and pulled him up close to her.  She unzipped his pants.   Xander gazed at her with his mouth open.

“Who am I Xander?” She asked.  Buffy licked the tip of his tongue with hers.

“You're, you're... you're not Buffy.  Your not,” Xander stuttered.

“Sorry, that was a wrong answer,” she said and grabbed his shirt.  Buffy threw Xander across the bed onto the floor.  Buffy jumped of the bed and hauled him up.  Buffy ruffled Xander's hair, kissed his viciously and threw him into the wall.  Xander fell back and held the gash on his head.  He crawled to his knees and Buffy stood over him.

“Buffy,” he said in pain.  “Don’t you remember me?  Xander -friend Xander.”

“What are we testing for amnesia or something?  I lost my soul and conscience, I didn’t lose my memory,” she taunted.

“Your soul,” Xander echoed.  His thoughts and Buffy’s plans for actions were interrupted by a scream from Willow.

“Aw, no fair.  I wanted to break her in.” Buffy complained.

“Buffy, you can’t let them do this to Willow.  You can’t have changed overnight.  Your Buffy, my hero.  And some part of you knows this,” Xander said keeping his distance and struggling to his feet.

“It didn’t happen overnight Xand.  If you must know, I met this demon and he mixed his blood with mine and granted my desire.  Or should I say the other weak Buffy’s wish.”

“Which was to be a evil super bitch who thinks the Hellmouth's her town?” Xander challenged.  He still couldn’t believe that the person in front of him wasn’t Buffy.  Despite the fact that she had flipped him onto the floor and helped him run into the wall.

“It was to be with Angel.  ‘Cept it backfired on her and I’m here, with Angelus.”

“You’re talking like you’re two different people.”

“We are.”

“No you’re not.  You both look the same, you both have Slayer powers, you both have the same body and you both are in love with the undead guy out there know as Angel.  Only Buffy’s got a good heart.  That’s what makes you different”

“What?  Xander, you believe that and are sooo quick to accept that but with a souled Angel you persecuted him, screwed him over and did everything you could to destroy us!  And that Buffy...  She doesn’t exist!  Hear me Xander!  Your Buffy is no more!  She’s dead and I killed her.”

Xander exploded with rage and rushed towards the petite blonde.  Buffy, who was anticipating this, flipped him over her back.  Xander landed on his back on the hard floor.  He could hardly move.

"I was wrong," he admitted.  "You really are evil.  You're not Buff.  And you know what?  This isn't your town.  Once you've killed us, Angel will kill you.  He doesn't need you Buffy to run this town.  He'll want it all for himself."

Buffy kicked his jaw viciously.  "You lie!  Angelus loves me!  We're gonna rule the town together!  Once you're in a permanent state of shutting up, of course.  Hey, we might give you wings, oops, I mean fangs.  You'd make a pretty mean vamp.  Once you loose that self righteous little angelic boy act."

"Angelus doesn't know how to love.  And neither do you," he said spitting out blood.

Buffy took a dagger down from the wall and then sat on Xander's stomach.  She ripped open his shirt to reveal his flawless, bare, slightly muscular chest.  She lightly trailed the knife down his chest.  Xander's heart rate sped up incredibly.

“Just tell me when it hurts,” Buffy told him playfully.

Buffy looked up sharply as Angel burst through the doors.

“Angel baby, wanna play?”

“No time Buff.  Someone arrived without an invitation.  Your Jamaican Slayer friend Kendra,” Angel said.  “Dru and I were out for a bite to eat when she came in.  Ex roller boy's co-ordinations haven’t come back yet and he’s kinda badly wounded.  Kendra freed them when Spike and I came back.  She’s looking for you two,” Angel told her.

“Uh!” Buffy said throwing her hands up into the air.  “Gate crasher.  Take care of Xander will ya?” She asked picking Xander up and throwing him over to the bed.

“My pleasure,” Angel grinned.

“Kendra!” Buffy shouted down the hall.  “That’s the dungeon.  If your looking for the kitchen it’s down and to your left.”

“’Twas you I was looking for Buffy,” Kendra said walking down the hall to face her.

“Really?  What, no hug?”

“Mr Giles told me ‘bout you.  We can help you Buffy.  Find out what happened.”

“You serious Kendra?  I’m totally done with the good little girl act.  I’d really prefer to fight,” Buffy said before catching Kendra off guard by roundhouse kicking her.  Kendra recovered to duck her next blow.  Kendra got off a few good puches until Buffy, sharper than ever before, caught Kendra's leg before it connected with Buffy's head.  Buffy twisted it round a la Matrix style.  Kendra's strong bone snapped and she fell to the floor in agony.  Kendra gritted her teeth, refusing to scream in pain.  Buffy stood over her.  Angel came up behind her.

"Buff.. Can I have her?  Plleeaassee," he begged.  "It is Slayer blood and all.  I know you'd love to bag a Slayer - and you have.  Just let me drain her of her life blood?"  Angel looked at her with evil-puppy dog eyes.

"All right," Buffy said kissing her.  "Cause it's you.  Though next Slayer, I get to have her."

"Deal," Angel agreed and changed to his game face.  He dragged Kendra up who tried to resist her oncoming death.  Angel sank his fangs into her soft flesh.  He drank hungrily.

"Hey Angel.  Were's Xander?" Buffy asked.  Angel reluctantly pulled back.

"Bedroom with Spike."

Buffy ran through and found Spike on the floor.  He sat up slowly and held his head.

"Where are they?" Buffy demanded.

"The other lot came in and took Xander before I could have a taste.  They hit me on the head."

"It's apprantly not your first time,"  Buffy cut off annoyed.

"...and took off."

"THEY ESCAPED!" Buffy roared.

"A little bit," the blonde vampire admitted.

"YOU STUPID BLEACH BLONDE MAN BITCH !" Buffy screamed.

"Sorry?" He offered.  Buffy pulled him up by his red shirt.

"Oh, you will be!"  Buffy hooked him several times and then round housed him.  Spike, dazed, tried to pull himself up via the bed.  He collapsed and Buffy went to get him up.

"Leave him Buffy," Drusilla said entering.

"Hey!  Don't get me pissed off!" She warned.

"We can get your friends again."

"Yes, but I wanted them now!"

"All things that are, With more spirit chased than enjoyed," Drusilla quoted.

"Was that Shakespeare?  This is deeply disturbing," Buffy said.

"Makes sense.  Buff," Angelus said entering.  "You know the fun is in the hunt and killing.  This is what I've done for 150 years and nothing feels better than seeing your weeks work and torment lyign lifelss at your feet.  The expectation, the rush.  This would make it over too soon.  Once it's done, you can't change it.  Make it more painfully or fun for you, y'know?"

"Since you put it that way," Buffy said smiling.  She jumped up and wrapped her legs around the vampires hips.  She kissed him deeply.  Dru dragged Spike out of the room and left them to it.

It had been three hours since they had escaped from the mansion and the scooby gang, minus their Slayer sat around thinking, tending to wounds.

"We need to tell Buffy's mom," Xander finally said.  "She has the right to know what's going on with her daughter Giles, and you know it.  Whatever rule you're breaking."

"I know," Giles said rubbing his eyes.

"She was so evil and empty.  I can't believe Buffy would.." Willow started.

"No.  Now you listen to me, Willow. That was not our Buffy.  She said it herself, she doesn't have a soul," Giles said cleaning is glasses.

"OOH!  OOH!  Major clicking goin' on up here!" Xander exclaimed excitedly.  "Earlier, Buf.. that Buffy said it started with a wish to be with Angel.  It went wrong and the demon thought Angelus.  If we could give Angel back his soul, we could bring back Buffy!"

"That's brilliant Xander!" Giles said standing up in awe of this extraordinary lifeline presented by this ordinary school boy.  "Willow and Oz, look through the old gypsy and romanian chronicles that are just in today.  Xander and Cordelia, the watchers diaries.  And I'll research Kelnoir."  Giles went off in search of hope.

Somewhile later, Giles flicked through the pages of the 'Demonais Cretusous.'  A very old book written in a language that only a few could understand.  Luckily, Giles had it transcribed into Latin.

"Here!" He shouted.  "It may be something....."

"Be something..... be something...." Xander willed.

"It mentions Kelnoir and curses that can be reversed.  It will still be unsure to work though.  Angel is probably the only vampire to have a soul," Giles said.  Willow looked over his shoulder.

"I can get this stuff from the magic shop," she said grabbing her back pack.  Oz followed her.

"God, I hope this works," Xander breathed.

Hours later, they were set up and ready to go.  They were calling Kelnoir forth.  After chanting, your basic pouring of herbs and liquids, a flash of light blinded them and the demon stood before them.  He wore a long robe.

"You have called me.  What do you desire," he grunted.

Giles uncovered his eyes.  "We beseech thee with the hope that you can give Angelus his soul back."

"Denied!" The demon said and walked back into the vortex.

"Hey wait buddy!" Xadner called.  The demon turned round and walked up to Xander.

"Would you lowly mortal be addressing the great Kelnoir?"

"Yeah I would.  Look, I know you're jonesing for a little chaos and all but you've had your fun.  We need Buffy back.  To do that we need Angels soul.  Give it to us," Xander demanded.  "Hand it over."

"You amuse me boy so I am to do as you request.  I will use your life force to host the soul.  You will transform into Angel.  You will then stab Angelus with this knife and the soul will go into his body permantly.  You will be restored, with no memory.  You agree to part take?"

"Um, yeah.  Yeah OK."

"You will last only 24 hours so time is of the essence.  Here the blade.  Stab it through your hand and the soul shall be transformed.  Good millia to you all," he said and disapeared into the swirling vortex which blinded them.

"OK guys," Xander said.  He shut his eyes and stabbed the knife through his hand.  He roared in pain and then fell to the ground.  Willow cautious walked overto him.  The body turned over.

"Angel?" Willow asked.  The resemblence was uncanny.  It was Angel.

"Where am I?" Angel asked.

"Library," Giles said.  "Now listen to me Angel.  Buffy is in great danger.  You can help her.  Just take the knife and stab it through Angelus's hand."

"Angelus is with Buffy?" Angel asked confused.  "I'm Angelus?"

"You guys have been separated.  A spell seprated your Soul and your body," Willow said trying to leave out the Buffy-Is-Evil parts.

"Angelus has Buffy?" He said getting louder.

"Yes."  Angel sprung up.  "Be careful !" Giles shouted after him as he ran out the doors.

"We can only wait now," Willow said.

"Uh, uh, Angel..... oh there!  Uh, enh," Buffy moaned loudly as Angelus's hands wandered all over her.  The cool sheets rubbed gently against her back.  She kissed her lovers nipples and teased them in her mouth.  "Angel, there!  There - oh yeah Angel."
 

"God, they're at it again!" Spike yelled.  He smashed up some vases in a rage.
 

Afterwards Angelus relaxed and Buffy lay on his chest.  He ran his fingers through her hair.

"You OK?  We were a little more furious this time," he asked.

"Good," she said kissing him.  The door opened.

"Christs sake Spike, fucking knock!" Angelus roared.  The looked up and saw Angel standing.

"Buffy?" Angel asked in hurt.

"Angelus," Angel said.

"Soul boy," Angelus growled.

"Hole in one," Angel said.

Angelus kissed Buffys head.  "Couldn't have described it better myself," he grinned.  "Wanna have a little sparing match goin' on Angel?"

"What's happened ?" Buffy asked.

"Oh you'll see," Angelus promised and pulled on jeans.  "C'mon soul boy.  Time to rumble."

Angel paced round in circles as did Angelus.  "Buffy and I have been having a great time in your absence.  No curse to hold us down.  But we had chains."

Angel boiled over and punched Angelus.  "Good shot," Angelus remarked.  "Did I mention you are a very handsome man?"

Angel snarled.  They fought kicking, kneeing, bringing the elbow down on the back.  The backed off again - both bleeding heavily.

Angel pulled out the knife from his jeans, unsure of what it would do if he used it.

"Ooh !" Angelus said.  "What you waiting for?"  Angel froze.  "You know I've fucked Buffy six ways from Sunday, Soul.  Better than you ever could."

Angel rushed forward and unexpected to Angelus, stabbed his hand.  Angelus fell to his knees and roared in pain.  Angel did the same and touched Angelus's heart.  Angels eyes flashed gold and he dropped to the floor.  He was Xander again.  Angelus's eyes flashed gold and he lowered his head.

"Angelus?" Buffy asked for her evil lover.  Her expression soft and concerned.

"Buffy," the souled vampire said gently.  He wiped tears from his eyes.

"Get out!  Get out!  You're not Angel, get out!" Buffy screamed she slid into Angelus's silk shirt effortlessly and stood up.  She grabed the bed post and broke it to make a stake.

Angel was about to go forward to comfort her when he felt a hand on his shoulder.  He turned round and it was Xander.

"Deadboy, they didn't tell you - me, I mean you, did they?  Buffy's not Buffy.  After you lost your soul, Buffy changed.  She lost her soul Angel.  We thought bringing you back would save her.  We can't do that if she stakes you.  Let's go."

Angel was reluctant to leave her.

"Angel, we don't go we'll never get Buffy back."  Angel backed off and walked out of the mansion with Xander.

When they were gone Buffy went into a rage, throwing over the bed and scattering everything everywhere.  Then she decided on a plan of action.

Angel sat in the library's stacks facing the window. with his head in his hands.  He stared out at the night and the rain pouring from the sky.  There was hours until the sun rose.

"So what's the next move?" Xander asked Giles.

"It really is all up to Angel now.  Somehow, he knows how to bring Buffy back.  Until he discovers what that is, all we can do now is wait."

Angel stood up and walked down the steps.

"I need to go out," he told them.  "I just need to get out of here."

"Keep safe Angel.  You know the danger," Giles said.

Angel walked along the parks path and stared at the ground.  He was gettig soaked but didn't care.  Then an idea shot into his head.  How to save Buffy.  He was sure it would work.  He turned round to head for the mansion but instead felt a foot collide with his face.  He stumbled back and looked at his attacker.

The evil Slayer grinned at him.  "Angel."

"Buffy.  I was just.." then Angel stopped when he knew who he was talking to.  Was this what it had been like for his Buffy when he lost his soul?  He returned the favour by hitting Buffy across the mouth.  She spun round and hook-punched his head.  Buffy continued to pummel Angel until he ducked out of her way and brought his fist down on her back.  She collapsed and then rolled across the ground to get up to her fighting position.  Angel blocked Buffys roundhouse kick and held her round her neck with his arm, bringing her to her knees.  With his free hand he twisted twisted her arm.  When Buffy yelped Angel let go immediately.

"God, Buffy.." he started before she rolled backwards and wrapped her ankles around his neck and pulled him over onto the ground.  She whaled on his chest until Angel caught her flaling arms and held them tight.

"I hate you.. I hate you..." she sobbed softly.

"I don't hate you," Angel told her.  She stopped sobbing.  "I love you Buffy."

"Don't play games with me Angel.  You're not Angelus.  Remember, I'm bad Buffy.  The evil one.  You love the goody two shoes little teen Slayer."

"No, I love you."

"I don't have a soul. I'm not Buffy," she said getting up off him.  He pushed himself off the ground.

"I don't care Buffy.  Soul or not, I love you."

"I killed a man!  I killed one of Giles's friends!  You couldn't love me now.  Godammit don't play games!"

"I still love you Buffy.  You can never stop me loving you.  Even if you kill me Buffy.  I'll always love you.  Always.  Some part of you knows that."

"Shut up!" She demanded.

"I know you love me too Buffy.  I know you do.  Buffy, look at me."

"No!"

"Buffy.  I love you and I know you still love me," he said walking forward and holding her elbows.  She looked up at him.

"I'm evil!" She protested.

"Say you love me," Angel said.

"No... no.. I don't.."

Angel cupped her chin and kissed her softly.  It went deeper and more passionate than any kiss they had shared.  Angel drew back and Buffy was crying.  He kissed away a tear.

"Say it Buffy."

"I love you, Angel," Buffy said softly.  Then her eyes glowed gold and she cried out in pain.  Angel caught her before she fell.

"Buffy, Buffy," Angel said hoping to get some respose from her.  She looked up at him slowly and smiled.

"I love you Angel," she repeated and kissed him again.  As the souled lovers kissed for the first time since her seventeenth birthday, a white light surrounded them.  It whistled in their ears and the didin't notice as they were taken from earth and sucked into a vortex.

When they finally drew back from their kiss, they looked around.

"Angel where are we?" Buffy said quietly.

"Ssshhh," he calmed.

The demon Kelnoir stepped out of the light.

"You," Buffy growled.

"Yes," it grunted.  Then it started to peal off it's skin.

"Euggh," Buffy breathed.  She held onto Angel tighter.

When it was finished, a gold painted man with decorations of blue leaves on him was left.

"Are you.." Buffy started.

"Human?  No.  I am the male Oracle.  My sister should be along shortly."  Then a female version of the male Oracle appeared out of the whiteness.

"Is this the Slayer and her vampire?" She asked.

"I do believe it is."

"Who are you?" Buffy demanded breaking away from Angel.

"The Slayer is young and impetulant," the Male Oracle said.

"Did you forget impatient?" Buffy asked.  "What are we doing here?"

"You are here because you passed a test."

"What test?" Buffy said.  "This was all some stupid test?!  You played us because you had a Sunday afternoon free and you were bored?!  We nearly lost each other to be sock puppets in your little melodrama.  What test?"

"The test of love," the Male Oracle said.  "We had to test if you were truly worthy of the gift."

"What gift?" Angel asked.

"The gift of life," the female Oracle said.  "And to erase the sins you have both commited."

"Life?  You mean you will....." Buffy started.

"Make youir vampire human.  Yes, we will.  Or rather the Powers That Be will.  There is however another trial," the female Oracle said.

"What trial?" Angel said.

"You must prove how much you trust each other.  Vampire, you will have to drink the Slayer."

"No... No.  No," Angel said walking back and away from them.

"Do not bother to run away.  There is infinite nothingness before you."

He turned round.  "We refuse.  I'm not going to.. kill B..Buffy."

"Hey, we don't refuse," Buffy argued.  "Angel you could take some.  They said drink the Slayer, not kill her.  It's about trust.  Whether I trust you enough to stop.  Whether I trust you with my life."  The Oracles had disapeared and they were in a narrow alley at night.

"Buffy I can't.  I couldn't...  I won't hurt you."

"But think of when you turn human.  There would be nothing to stop us Angel.  We could become a daytime couple, we could go on picnics.  We could grow old together.  We could get married... and children.  We could.. if we wanted to.  And I want to take the chance Angel."

"Buffy don't make me," he pleaded.

"Don't make you what?  Have everything you want?  Make you happy?  Angel, if you don't do it, I'll force it down your throat.  I want you human.  Please Angel.  I'm giving you my second most treasured gift."

"What?"

"My life - in your hands."

"What's the first?"

"Your life.  Drink."  Angel turned to his vampire face.  Buffy bared her neck.  He hesistated.  "Drink."  Angel lowered his mouth to Buffy's beautiful neck.  "Angel, I trust you."

Angel bit into her vein.  Buffy winced but gasped, "Drink."  Angel hungrily drank her blood.  Buffy swallowed hard.  She made a small noise.  Angel pushed her back against a wall as he sucked greedily.  Buffy gripped against the bricks best she could.  Angel's raging hunger stopped and he drew his lips of her immediately.  Buffy stood barely conscious with her own blood spilling over her flesh.  She rolled her head.

"Is it over?" She asked.

"Yeah..." Angel said softly.  "God, Buffy I'm so sorry.."

"Don't be," Buffy said putting a hand to his lips.  "Don't be."  She fell into his arms.

They looked around and they were standing in front of the Oracles again.  Buffy held her neck but felt no blood.  The pain had stopped.  Angel hadn't even bitten her.

"What the hell?"

"We repaired it.  Now Slayer.  It is clear you trust the warrior but does he you?"

"Of course I do," Angel said.

"Yes well, Slayer take this silver cross and press it against his chest."

"That's sadistic.  No," Buffy said disgusted.

"Buffy it's OK.  I've had worse.  Do it, quickly."    Buffy slowly took the cross and Angel lifted up his shirt.  "It's OK."  Buffy turned her head and pressed the cross onto his chest - against his heart.  Angel whimpered in pain.  Buffy turned round and saw his face crupled up in pain.  Without thinking, she kissed him.  Holding his head with her free hand, she deepened the kiss to distract him from the pain.  Angel kissed her back eagarly and almost forgot about the cross.  Buffy took the cross off his stomach and pulled away from Angel.

She tossed it on the ground.  "There."

Angel looked down and there wasn't a mark on him.

"No more tests?" Buffy asked the Oracles.

"You have succeeded.  Now to give a human life, warrior you will live and die as human.  Your sins are forgotton, you shall no longer be cursed or tortured.  Touch this crystal ball and you shall be human and back in Sunnydale in time for the sunrise.  Understood?"

"Yes."  Angel kissed Buffy and then wiped away her tear of happiness.

"I love you Angel," she told him.

"I love you."  Angel walked over to the Female Oracle who was holding his humanity.  He closed his eyes and touched it.

He saw flashes of gold and then blacked out.

Angel woke up on Sunnydale's beach and looked around.  He saw Buffy lying beside him.

"Wake up Buffy," he said gently blowing her hair.  Buffy's eyes snapped open.

"Did that just happen?" She asked looking up at her love.  He took her petite hand and placed it on his heart.  It was beating.  "It's beating Angel!  It's beating," she said excitedly.

Angel kissed her for the first time as human.  Buffy drew back.  The saw the sun crack over the horizon.

"Know how up there you were descibing all the things we could do as a human couple?" Angel asked staring at the sun rising slowly.  "Well I want to start with the marriage one.  Buffy Anne Summers.  I have loved only you in my whole exisitence and I will continue to do so for as long as I remain on this earth.  Will you do the honour of being my wife?"

"Angel," Buffy said happily.  "You know the answer.  For the record -  Yes," she said and kissed him.  They both looked up at the rising sun that was starting the first day of the rest of their lives together.
 
 

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