I gasped as the flash of light blinded us. The power of the spell knocked us all back. I sat up and blinked my eyes a few times and tried to get my vision back. < Please let this have worked, > I thought.

Angelus and Spike had gone to the house the four of them shared and found the book Willow had performed the spell out of. They brought it back to Giles' and we decided now was as good of a time as any to get them back. Angelus and Spike were getting kind of antsy without them being there. Giles got all the ingredients and Jenny changed a few words, and then we did the spell.

I opened my eyes and grinned. Willow and Xander were sitting there, holding each other, and looking shell-shocked. "GUYS!" I squealed. I jumped up and ran to them, hugging them both tightly.

"Buffy!" they both exclaimed, hugging me back.

Willow glanced around, as if she were looking for someone. Her face fell when she didn't see what she was looking for. I turned my head, looking at everyone in confusion. Who was she looking for? Then I realized Angelus wasn't in visible sight. She must have thought. . .what did she think? "Wills? What past do you remember?"

Willow opened her mouth to answer, then shut it with a frown. "That's odd," she said quietly.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Spike had walked to Xander and hauled him up by his collar. "S. . .Spike?" Xander said, trembling in fear.

"I should kill you," Spike hissed.

"What? Why?" Xander asked. I could almost hear my best friend's heart breaking. It was as if they both remembered the past *I* remembered! As if Xander were hoping that this Spike was the one that loved him, not the one that we all knew and hated.

"Because you went and did a fool thing like cast a bloody spell that could have taken you away from me!" Spike exploded.

"What?" Xander asked, confused.

"Always let Jenny, Giles, or Angelus be there if you want to go cast a spell. You are lucky that I was so head over heels about you back then and didn't just eat you." Spike pulled a confused Xander against him and kissed him roughly.

I blinked. "Wow. That's. . ." I cleared my throat. "Some kind of fireworks they have going there. I never would have imagined. . ." I sighed, turning back to Willow. "Willow, what past do you remember?"

"Both of them," she said softly. "I remember the dark broody cryptic vampire you fell in love with, and I remember the deliciously evil vampires that came the summer before you started school with us and seduced me and Xander."

Tears filled my eyes. "I don't even remember that timeline, just the dark broody cryptic vampire one."

"Oh, goddess," Willow whispered, hugging me.

Willow was always a true friend. She was more concerned with me than she was with the fact that she still hadn't seen Angelus. I could tell that she was aching for him. I pulled away, sniffing. "Angelus," I said loudly. "I have a redhead here that needs you."

I giggled when I saw yellow eyes peak out from behind the couch. "Damn, that blast was brutal," he hissed, standing up.

Willow's eyes traveled up his leather-clad body with a smile. "A. . .Angelus?"

The vampire grinned at her. "I'm certainly not a wussy vampire with a soul, babe."

My heart hurt. He never had the soul. He never loved me. Even though I had moved on, there was still a part of my heart that belonged to Angel, and always would. I sighed dejectedly.

Willow jumped up and ran to her lover's arms. Yet again, more fireworks. I tilted my head, watching them. Angel and I had fireworks, I have to admit, but Angelus and Willow. . .they set the room on fire. I glanced back at Xander and Spike. Xander had his forehead against Spike's and was breathing hard. "Wait, wait," Xander was saying, "need to take a couple of breaths, then more kiss. . ." Spike cut him off, kissing him with reckless abandon. Damn, Blondie had it bad.

"Buffy," Jenny said gently, placing her arm on mine.

I looked up at her, tears in my eyes. "Yea?"

"I think we figured it out, and we can fix it."

That got my attention. "Really?"

"Er. . ." Giles started. "For some reason, you being the Slayer has caused your memories of the other past to remain. But Jenny has a spell that can fix that. . ."

"I think." She looked at me. "Would you rather remember Angel, or never know he existed?"

I turned back, looking at Willow and Angelus. He was running his fingertips on her face, looking happier than I'd ever seen him. I looked down, then up at Jenny. "As much as it hurts to think that I have to give him up completely, I. . .I would rather know that Angel never existed."

"I was hoping you'd say that," Jenny said softly. She looked at the couples. "Willow, Xander? What do you two remember? About the past four years, I mean?"

Willow and Xander pulled away from their vampire lovers and looked at each other, then us. "Both timelines," Willow said.

"Yea, I remember dating Cordy and Anya, and I also remember being with Spike for four years," Xander replied.

"Do you want to forget about the other timeline?" Jenny asked. "We have to restore Buffy's memories, and we can erase yours, if you want. . ."

They looked at each other with a smile. "No," Willow answered her. "It makes it kind of special, that Xander and I shared something no one else knows. Besides, a lot of important stuff happened to us in that line that didn't happen here, and it might help us in the future."

"Ok," Jenny said. "Come on, Buffy."

*~*~*~*

I had the strangest dream during the spell. Jenny was there, and she was telling me I needed to decide. "Between what and what?" I asked her.

She turned, and I saw Angel and Angelus. "I have to choose between them? How can I? You know I'm going to choose Angel. He was the love of my life." I looked to Jenny for help. She shook her head no, saying she couldn't help. I turned back to the men. "How can I choose?"

"Choose me," Angelus said. "I'm there anyway, and if you don't, then you won't know. . .really know true happiness. Ever."

"He's right," Angel said softly. "You will always be miserable that in your heart, I was there, but in reality, I wasn't. I will always haunt you."

"And I'm not leaving Willow," Angelus continued. "That will kill you a little each time you see me take her in my arms."

I sighed. "Fine. Angelus. I choose Angelus."

*~*~*~*

I opened my eyes and blinked a few times. "Riley," I whispered, reaching out for him.

"I'm here, baby," he said, taking my hand. "How do you feel?"

I sat up. "My head hurts." I chuckled. "I feel fine other than that. Did Willow and Xander make it back ok?"

"Yea," Riley said carefully. "So, do you remember. . .Angel?"

"Who?" I asked, looking at him with a frown. "Who the hell is Angel?" I narrowed my eyes. "You aren't seeing some chick behind my back, are you? Do I have to hurt you? I can, you know. I'm the Slayer."

Riley smiled. "I love you, Buffy." He hugged me.

I hugged him back, then pushed away. "Wait, wait, who's Angel?"

Willow stepped forward and kneeled in front of me. "Angel's Angelus, with a soul."

I frowned deeper, if that were possible. "But Wills. Vamps don't have souls. You know that, and I know that. Are you crazy? Did your trip back in time damage you?" I started looking on her head for any bruises, bumps or cuts.

She took my hand away from her head and pulled me up. I shook my head and glanced over at Angelus. I hissed playfully. He grinned. "So, Slayer, up for sparring later?"

I chuckled. "Only if you tell that childe of yours that he has to play too." Angelus and Spike were the best people to spar with. They helped me learn how to fight. I could beat up on them and they wouldn't get hurt from it. I turned back to Willow. "Now what is this you are babbling about Angelus with a so. . ." I frowned, as the memories from the last few minutes came rushing back. I was so upset because. . .I was in love with Angel, who was Angelus with a soul? "Oh my god!" I shuddered.

"What?" Willow asked alarmed.

"I was in love with a vampire in the other timeline? Oh, god! How stupid is *that*? I'm a Slayer, for Christ's Sake! I'm supposed to be killing them, not *sleeping* with them." I shuddered at the thought. "No offence, Angelus, really, but you are *so* not my type. You know, fangs, evil tendencies, that kinda turns me off." I shuddered again and wrapped my arms around Riley. "Now this is a man to love. Nice normal can-be-seen-in-the-sun farm boy."

Riley kissed the top of my head. "I'm glad you are back to normal, Buff."

"Me too," I said. I smiled, looking over my group of friends. Giles had his arm around Jenny's shoulders, Angelus was raining small kisses all over Willow's face, and Spike and Xander. . .well, I saw Xander disappear as his impatient lover drug him into the bathroom. I swear, those two. . .I would find them together in the oddest places.

We were happy. Life was good. We were together, and all of us were where we belonged.

END. :)

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