"Sunnydale. Home sweet home," Angelus grinned looking around him.

They were in the Mansion on Crawford Street.

Buffy looked around the mansion, feeling a bit more oriented. Her life and memories started to flow back into her mind. With the memories, returned the horror. Angel- Angel was gone. His soul was lost... did he find someone who made him happy? Or was he successfully robbed of his soul by magic? Not again... she couldn't face Angelus again. She looked at the boy at the vampire's side. There was something about him... something familiar. She couldn't put her mind on the exact thing it was, but she knew there was something. Angelus turned to her. "You thought you outsmarted me, huh? Remember this place?" He shoved her in front of the fireplace. "This is where I drained your blood... The fight... You pissed me off, lover. Breaking Acathla with a sledgehammer... but I had you... I fed off you..." Angelus' fingers caressed Buffy's scar and she backed away. "And then when I was about to turn you, you killed yourself. The victory was nearly mine." He snarled at her.

She looked at him, confused. "Excuse me? You've got delusions of grandeur? That's not how it happened."

Angelus looked at her so sharply she could feel pain. "I mean..." She hesitated. "It was a long time ago, but I remember it differently... maybe I'm still disoriented..."

Angelus looked at Michael. "What is it?"

Michael looked at Buffy. "She is fighting with you... there's a sword stuck in a demon's stone chest. You pulled the sword and you fight with her... You got her cornered... She escapes... you fight again with the swords..." Michael looked away from Buffy. "It's a painful memory... she tries not to think about it..."

"About what? That's not how it happened!" Angelus roared, vamping out.

Buffy swallowed, looking at the boy who could read- or see- what she was thinking about.

"I don't understand it... she's saying something about your soul... she remembers Angel is back, you know what she's talking about?"

"The soul..." Angelus sneered. "Is long gone."

Buffy made a step back.

"Now she thinks of running away!" Michael called, and Buffy tried to make a run for it, but was stopped by an invisible force.

Angelus reverted back to his human face. "Can you tell how she died?"

"She's not thinking about her dea- wait, she does now. She... she jumped. It was some kind of mystical portal. She saved her sister from a hellgod named Glory."

"Glorificus? Can't be..." Angelus pondered the pieces of information he received. He looked at Buffy. The girl cringed inside her invisible cell, crouching down in fear.

"You've got me the wrong girl!" Angelus turned to face Michael. The boy lowered his eyes.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." The boy apologized.

"I bet you even took us to the wrong dimension..." Angelus said sternly.

"I took us to her dimension..." Michael whispered. "I'm sorry..."

"Ah Well, she's still good ol' Buff. It's quite all right son. She will do just fine..." Angelus looked at Buffy and smiled evilly. "And if what she says is true, then the soul... that pathetic soul is around..." Angelus moved over to touch Buffy's face, but she was behind the invisible field. "Release her, midget." He growled.

Michael nodded and Buffy fell back on her behind. Angelus grabbed her arms, bringing her close to his face. "What would make soulboy more angry than watching you suffer..." He laughed. Buffy let out a frustrated groan when Angelus ran his long fingers over her features.

"Are we going to the Bronze tonight?" Xander asked Willow and Tara.

They were all helping Giles pack. The ex-watcher decided to return to his homeland of England. There was little they could say or do to argue his decision. Without a Slayer, there was no need for him to be there anymore, and he seemed anxious to leave. The girls looked at Xander surprised, then turned to look at Giles. He took off his glasses.

"You can go," He nodded.

"But what about-" Willow looked over at Tara, hoping for sympathy.

Xander didn't take his eyes off Willow. "We haven't gone to the Bronze since-"

"What about Dawn?" Willow cut him out, she didn't like to talk about *that* event, which happened a few months before.

"I'll call Anya and tell her to bring her over," Xander walked towards the phone.

"Who's performing at the Bronze?" Willow wondered out loud.

"Some new chick... country music... Lindsey something..." Xander replied as he picked up the phone.

"Giles! Giles!" Dawn and Anya burst in to the room. Xander dropped the phone, looking at them.

"What's going on?"

"Buffy's disappeared!" Anya shouted.

"What?"

"Buffy disappeared from her grave?" Xander tried to understand.

"Her grave..." Dawn uttered, "Her grave disappeared!"

"What do you mean her grave disappeared?" Xander looked at his girlfriend for explanations.

"It's not there anymore," The ex-demon said.

"And how can that be?"

"You think someone..." Willow looked at Xander with big puppy eyes. "Dug up Buffy's co- ...her?" Willow could hardly form the words in her mouth.

"Maybe someone is raising an army of zombies..." Anya offered and was rewarded with stern gazes from Giles, Xander and Willow.

"Like that never happened before..." Dawn huffed. "We gotta find whoever did it and make them pay!"

Giles fixed back his glasses on his nose. "Are there any signs of digging? Is the grave open?"

Dawn and Anya exchanged looks. "It just wasn't there." Anya said.

"Why did you go to the graveyard anyway?" Xander asked. "It's not a safe place at this hour."

"I asked her... I wanted to go there," Dawn admitted. "But there weren't any vampires."

"No, it was as if they all had something to do elsewhere... maybe a ritual or something," Anya said. Ever since Buffy died the vampires number in the streets of Sunnydale increased gradually but persistently. The scoobs tried their best to continue Buffy's fight, with the help of Spike they've chased away demons and staked newly risen vampires, but they could only replace Buffy's job for that much.

The gang found themselves again at the graveyard. Near Joyce Summer's grave, the place where Buffy's granitic headstone used to be, there was nothing but green undisturbed grass, the way it has been before the entrails of the ground were dug up to bury the Slayer inside.

"No signs of digging..." Xander was touching the ground with his bare hands looking for any clues. "The grass is not new or flattened... this is totally wiggy." He got up from ground.

"Someone stole the headstone. It cost us a lot of money!" Anya pouted, folding her hands.

"No, it's like it never existed..." Tara pondered. Xander looked down at the ground for a moment. "Giles, the grass wasn't planted here... it grew here..."

"Maybe we got the wrong place..." Willow said. "I... I can't imagining someone wanting to violate..." Her voice trailed off as she tried to find an escape from the awful thought.

"We should dig and see if the body-" Xander silenced before he could finish. Everyone was staring at him. They have never talked about Buffy like she was dead before.

"We should do that..." Giles husky voice was the first heard after several moments.

"You're not gonna dig up my sister!!" Dawn burst in shock. "You can't! I won't allow it!"

"Dawn, I don't think she's there..." Xander said quietly.

"But what if she's still there? What if they only took away the tombstone? It was a pretty stone! Maybe someone wanted to have it..." Dawn started crying.

Everyone was quiet again.

"If someone took Buffy..." Giles was the first to talk again, "We need to stop him and bring her back to her final rest."

"Zombie Buffy must be hard to fight," Anya wondered.

"She's not gonna be a zombie!" Willow was horrified. "We're gonna bring her back."

Xander got off the grass, brushing his pants. "We have to check if she's inside the grave first... Maybe we're-"

"She's not there." They all swung around abruptly, hearing the voice behind them.

"Spike!" Dawn smiled, wiping her tears.

"How do you know she's not there?" Xander asked the bleached vampire.

"There's no one at the bloody ground, I can smell that." Spike stepped forward.

"But it's more than that... It smells like she was never in there..."

"How can that be?" Willow's voice trembled.

"Well that's the million dollar question, isn't it?" Spike huffed.

"You know what big plans I had for you?" Angelus pressed his thumb on

Buffy's cheeks, running it down to her clenched lips.

He could feel her tension and smelled her fear. Her breath was quick and she tried to avoid looking into his lustful eyes. The eyes that looked nothing like the eyes of her Angel. They might have shared the body, but both entities made it look so different as if it were two different bodies.

"Did you really think death was your last resort?" Angelus continued with his husky, deep voice. He sounded aroused. "You can never... escape me..."

Buffy unwillingly let out a groan as his thumb drew blood from her cheek.

She tried to get away as he licked the thin trail of blood off her face. His strong arms grabbed her, bringing her closer as she watched his human face changing into his demonic game face.

Buffy could feel his fangs grazing her neck, the raised skin on her jugular.

"Did I do that, in this world?" He asked, his yellow eyes flickering at her as he caressed her scar.

"You wish..." Buffy hissed. "In this world, I did this!" She raised her leg with all the power she could forge, and kicked him midsection, right in the groin.

As Angelus grabbed his aching loins, moaning. Buffy collected her strength and got up on her feet, she managed to make only a few steps before the invisible chains forced her backwards.

"Fool... this boy has powers you can't even begin to understand..." Angelus hissed as he got up.

His face was human again, but the look in his eyes, together with the sinister smirk that was spread on his face, twisting them, made his face look somewhat more inhuman than his vampire face.

Buffy swallowed as he moved towards her.

Michael sat indian style on the floor near the fireplace. He could hear the girl's scream. He his hands flew to cover his ears. "Shut up bitch!" He cried out and jumped to his feet. He glanced up at the stairs, then headed out of the mansion.

"Look, we're obviously not going to find anything... I suggest we just go to the Bronze." Xander slammed the book shut.

Willow, Tara and Anya raised their heads to look at him.

"Buffy disappeared and you want to see some country chick in the Bronze?" Willow glared at him.

"Buffy would have wanted us to go on with our lives, It's been 8 months, Will. She's not coming back, she's gone, dead, passed away, kicked the bucket-"

"Don't talk about her like that!"

"Like what? Like she's dead? Will, we gotta move on *sometime*. You wanna know what I think?" Xander eyed her.

"Oh, all mighty Xander, enlighten me with your wisdom." Willow rolled her eyes.

"I think," Xander ignored her mockery, "That it's a Slayer thing. Like Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda disappeared into thin air after they died? So maybe it takes some time with Slayers. And maybe it was a sign."

"A sign? That you watched Star Wars too many times?" Willow sniffled.

"Yeah, I'm with Willow on it. It's either a grave robbery or black magic," Anya said.

Her words only caused Willow to sniffle some more, and Tara pulled her into her arms, for a warm hug.

"Look, all we've been doing since she died was acting like she was still alive, visiting her grave every day, and not doing what she wanted us to do- live. So now her grave is gone like it never existed... maybe she's trying to tell us to move on."

"Thank God Dawn's not here to listen to this!" Willow frowned.

Xander sighed, "Look, Will, I loved Buffy just like you, and she means a lot to me. I will never forget her, but life gotta move on. We should cherish the time we had with her while she was alive, not get sucked into a sad, pathetic life surrounding her grave. It's just a headstone. It doesn't mean anything."

"It means we spent $1200 on nothing," Anya remarked and Xander gave her a look.

"Her real memorial is in our hearts." Xander finished.

"He has a good point," Tara whispered.

Willow straightened up. "All right, we'll go to the Bronze. But only for an hour, and then we'll join Giles, Dawn and Spike in the searches."

Buffy felt her arm burning and throbbing with pain. Angelus took pleasure in slow torture, enjoying her face twisting in agony. At a snail's pace, he rolled a burning cigarette butt over the length of her arm. As he reached her wrist, he lifted the stub to his mouth and took a drag. Buffy was shaking uncontrollably, her body covered with sweat. Angelus threw the stub to the floor, stomping it.

"Do you remember our first time, lover?" Angelus picked up her shaking slender body, cradling her into his lap. Buffy tried to escape his touch.

"I will never..." She hissed.

He laughed. His laughter was harsh to her ears.

"Buff, you really gotta lose the tension. Let me show you some relaxing techniques... did Soulboy ever made you... excited?" A malicious spark twinkled in his dark eyes.

He laughed. "The one time you got to show your pathetic performance was the last time he got to see the world... you were *that* good..." He smirked as he watched the girl trying to swallow her pain and shame, avoiding to look at him. "At least in my world, don't know how the story goes around here, but by the look on your face I can see you were a pro in this dimension as well." He laughed again. Buffy managed to free herself from his hold and moved quickly backwards until her back was pressed against the wall and she couldn't escape.

"You keep me here with magic... in the real world..." She gasped, looking at him with hatred. "In the real world I would have kicked your ass all the way to hell."

He laughed. "Nice try, funny I remember how you got that scar over there," He got up on his feet and stood above her, casting his shadow on her body.

"We were fighting to death, and I bit you... You were wriggling underneath me... and I bit you... your blood... it was pure orgasm, lover. Better than sex."

He crouched, keeping his face close to hers. She dropped her head and he forced her to look at him, putting his hand under her chin.

"I was about to let you drink my blood, make you eternally mine," He removed his hand from her face and Buffy started to pant as he caressed the long bleeding burn on her arm. "But you managed to take your own life." He grabbed her wounded arm, making her unleash a yelp as he dug his fingernails into her open wound. "You seem to follow this pattern in every dimension. You like teasing your big bad until the end, eh?"

He released his grip on her sore arm and she collapsed against the wall.

"Let's renew your mark..." He whispered, vamping and moving towards her.

Not taking her eyes off him, her hand flew to the scar on her neck.

"I'm sorry, but this mark is courtesy of *soulboy*... He got his soul back about 6 months after he lost it. Your reign in this world was a short one." Buffy tried to keep her voice as firm as possible.

"What?" Her words left the demon confused for a moment. "He would never have bitten you."

"I forced him." She looked straight into his feline eyes. "Good things come to those who wait."

"You lie." Angelus got up, clasping his fists. Buffy smiled at her small victory over him.

"You lying bitch... your boy won't know what hit him... you know the kid? He's your son from the future, and he will destroy you both."

Buffy's smile disappeared. "I see insanity runs in your family... and you're not just insane, you're delusional too."

Angelus just smirked and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Xander joined the girls at the table, putting down the tray with the drinks.

"Your country chick is pretty hot," Willow smirked at him, as she reached for her drink.

Xander glanced up at the stage. A young man with a cowboy hat was on stage singing and playing the guitar.

"What kind of a girly name is Lindsey?" He huffed.

"You think he's hot?" Tara asked Willow. The redhead looked at her girlfriend, her amused expression changing. "Oh, no, no. He's not hot at all."

"I think he's hot." Anya said, staring dreamily at the singer on the stage. "Look at his hands, I wonder what he can do in bed-"

"Ahem, do I have do remind you you're engaged to be married, young lady?"

Xander interrupted her line of thought.

The singer finished his song and they all clapped their hands. He got off the stage, heading for the bar.

"Hey cowboy, great show," Anya said as he walked pass them.

"Thanks," He smiled.

"Yeah, that was a great performance. You uh, perform quite well," Xander jittered.

The singer looked at him, still smiling. "Thanks man."

"I mean, you were *really* awesome up there. I'm a big fan of yours," Xander got up from the chair, approaching Lindsey. "Well, it's the first time I heard you, but I just know you're gonna make it big time."

"Xander, back off." Anya pulled her fiancé. She smiled at Lindsey. "He's starstruck."

Lindsey smiled and continued walking over to the bar. Surprised, he saw two men in tailored suits, sitting at the bar. The chair between them was empty.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as sat in the chair between them. "Beer, please." He asked the barman.

"An enthralling performance, Mr. McDonald, I must say." The man on the right said.

"Thanks, so why are you here?" Lindsey sipped on his beer mug. The man on his left took out a sealed envelope from his inner pocket. He handed to Lindsey. The ex-lawyer took one glance at the printed letters of his name and handed it back to the man. "No."

"I think you would want to read that letter, Mr. McDonald." The man replied. He put the envelope on the bar and got up. The second man got up as well, fixed his suit and headed out of the bar. Lindsey watched them leave, drinking his beer. He took the letter back to his hands.

The swing swayed back and forth slowly. Dawn sighed, feeling the tears choking her, forming a lump in her throat. The playground was deserted. It wasn't late at night yet, but no one was walking the streets freely after dark. The only lively place at the early hours of the night was the Bronze. Dawn lifted her head, surprised, when she heard someone walking by. A young street boy looked at her.

"It's dangerous outside at this hour." Dawn stifled her tears.

"So why are you here?" The boy asked.

Dawn rubbed her eyes. "I'm looking for my sister."

"So why are you here?" He repeated his question.

Dawn shrugged. "I don't know... I don't know where to look..."

The boy looked at her. "I'm sure you'll find her."

Dawn shook her head. "She's dead."

The boy was quiet for a moment. He stepped closer to Dawn. Now she could see his face in the dim moonlight.

"You're not." The boy started saying.

"I'm not? Huh?" Dawn asked, confused. "You're not from around, are you? Who are you?"

The boy looked away and then back at her strangely. "I'm sorry I gotta go.... He'll be angry..." He turned to leave.

"Wait-" Dawn started saying, but the boy already ran away from there.

"What's your name..." She whispered, getting up from the swing.

"Dawn, there you are!" She saw Giles heading her way. "Let's go back and see if the others found anything. There's nothing out of the ordinary in the streets," He said.

"Except there are no vampires. Willy's pretty much out of business tonight." Spike muttered behind him.

Giles turned to him, fixing his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "Yes, yes, quite unusual, really."

"A lot of weird things happening." Dawn agreed.

"Come on, it's getting late, let's go back." Willow got up from her chair.

"Already?" They heard a familiar voice behind them. "It's only the encore," Angel smirked at them, moving by the pool table.

"Angel!" Willow stepped towards him but Tara pulled her back.

"You're evil again!" Xander called angrily.

"And you're- hmm, you're not smart. Wise? No, not that either." Angelus rubbed his chin, pondering. "You're just going to die, then." He smirked. "How's that?"

"You better watch it dead boy. You're gonna get it." Xander hissed.

"Xander," Anya tugged on his shirt. "I don't think it's wise to anger him... he's all big and muscular."

"Thank you!" Angelus flicked a pool ball, as he scanned the room, looking for something, or someone. "I don't have time for you, anyway." He huffed, and walked out of the nightclub.

"That was morbid." Willow said, looking at Xander.

"Where have you been?" Giles inquired as the group burst into his apartment. "I thought you were researching."

"We were," Willow eyed Xander angrily. "Until someone had better ideas."

"Screw that, we have bigger prob-" Xander stopped when he spotted Angel walking into the room, followed by Dawn.

"Dawn, look out!" Xander yelped.

He grabbed a stake from his waistband and ran towards Angel. The vampire looked at him surprised, but before Xander could stake him, Angel grabbed the stake, and smashed Xander's back against the wall.

"Xander, are you out of your mind?" Cordelia reached them. Xander looked at her confused, then at Angel. Cordelia looked angry.

"Cordy? What are you doing here?" He was stunned.

"What are *you* doing, trying to stake Angel?" She folded her arms. "Once a loser always a loser. And hi, by the way!"

"You're not-" Xander looked at Angel. "I thought you were-" He was lost for words and looked over at Willow for help.

"Aren't you suppose to be evil? Or is it on and off, like a switch?" The help came from Anya.

"Huh?" Angel looked at the young woman.

"Angel's not evil," Cordelia dismissed the accusations. "He hasn't been evil since he got groiny with- Oh wait, there was that one time the actress drugged him. And last year when he got all insane, killed a bunch of lawyers, fired us and gave away my-" Cordy noticed Angel did not like her sharing and was gazing at her. She flashed him a smile. "But he's all good carebear now, complete with the fangs."

"Gave away your what?" Xander looked at her, as Angel released his hold. "Is it kinky?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "My clothes! Geez! Are you stuck at 17?"

Wesley stepped over to Anya and Willow. "You saw him-" He turned to point at Angel, "Evil?"

"Yes, he was. Right, Tara?" Willow turned to her girlfriend.

"Yes. His aura was all evil," The blonde witch agreed.

"They saw Angelus." Angel exchanged stares with Wesley.

Xander released himself from Angel's grip. "Would you mind telling us what's going on, or you like us going on a blind date with your demon?"

"Where have you been?" Angelus looked sternly at the young boy.

"I. I went out. for a walk." The kid gulped, lowering his head. "I- I saw a girl. It was wei-"

"We gotta move on before sunrise. They will be here soon. They'll come looking for her." Angelus looked at the boy again. "I gotta prepare. You get ready, we're going to be on the move soon."

"You're not angry?" Michael looked hopeful.

"Why would I be angry? You're still here," Angelus snorted and patted the boy's shoulder. "Now let's move."

Lindsey stared blankly at the letter. Damn Wolfram & Hart and their stupid tricks and mind games. He read the letter over and over as he went back to his crummy room at the Sunnydale Hotel.

He unlocked the door and walked in, crumpling the letter into a small ball.

Walking over to the mini-bar, he took out a can of beer, popping it open. Taking a few sips, he suddenly spotted a small video camera on the antediluvian TV. Suddenly his palms started sweating. He reached for the television, clicked it open.

"As you can see," Nathan Reed's voice was heard as the picture focused on a window. The camera panned around to see a big dining table. Nathan sat at the head of the table. Lindsey hissed and gritted his teeth as the camera zoomed out to reveal two women, one aging southern looking grayed hair woman and in front of her a young woman, in her late teens or early 20s. Both women looked down, ashamed to look at the camera.

Lindsey looked aghast at the screen. The color ran out of his face and he brushed a hand through his hair in despair.

"We care about the benefit and welfare of our employees' families," Nathan put his hand on the older woman's palm and she pulled her hand away.

"You dirty ol' bastard..." Lindsey snarled.

Nathan laughed. "I hope you enjoyed your long vacation, Lindsey. Now we have a special mission for you in Sunnydale. We'll be waiting for your call." The camera panned again across the women at the table before the screen blacked out.

"Dammit!" Lindsey slammed the TV before turning it off. He paced around the room, nervously, clasping his fists. He picked up the phone by his bedside and dialed.

"Hello, Lindsey." He heard Nathan's voice on the other side of the line. "How's your evil hand doing?"

"Dammit Nathan, if you hurt them-"

"No one is going to hurt them if you cooperate with us," Nathan cut him out. "Threats won't do any good."

"Let me talk to them." Lindsey demanded.

"Hold on," Nathan surprisingly agreed.

"Lindsey?" A woman with thick southern accent took the phone.

"Mom..." Lindsey let out a sigh. "Are you okay? They didn't hurt you, did they?" Lindsey's fingers tightened around the earpiece.

"No, but they kidnapped us... they said something bad will happen to you if we didn't come... what's going on Lindsey?"

"Listen mom, I can't explain, but you've gotta trust me. Don't tell them anything if they talk to you, keep silent. I'll get you back home soon, I promise."

"He wants to talk to you," His mother replied.

"Okay, give him to me. Tell Katherine I love her, and don't talk to them."

"Why your mother and sister are delicate ladies," Nathan was on the line again.

"You don't need them, let them go." Lindsey demanded.

"Are you back working with us?" Nathan asked.

"For you, you mean."

"Yes."

"What do you want me to do?"

"On the table, there's a package," Nathan instructed him.

"The mansion looks normal." Xander said, following Angel and Wesley closely. "In a creepy, ghostly sort of way."

"It smells..." Angel stopped to consider as they reached the front door.

As soon as they walked into the mansion, a dark cloud landed on Angel. His temperature remained steady, always keeping the room's temperature, but he could swear he felt cold. It was chilling. The living room was silent and eerie, but most of all, Angel was overwhelmed by the smell that surrounded his nostrils. The mansion soaked in the smells he already forgot. It smelled of chaos, death, lust, fear, anger, betrayal, evil, good, love, Buffy...

Are you still my girl? Always

Drink, drink me.

It is never over. I won't let you die!

Angel closed his eyes, letting her scent wash through him. Then he opened his eyes in terror. He could smell her fear, her scorched and bleeding skin, her confusion.

"She's here," Angel said quietly, turning to face Xander and Wesley. "Or was here very recently."

"How do you know?" Xander asked.

"I smell her." Angel withheld the details. The boy shouldn't know about the horrifying images his vampiric brain translated from the sensations.

"O-kay... I'm not saying anything," Xander looked away.

"I suggest we search the rooms," Wesley said, but Angel started walking as if he were hypnotized.

Xander and Wesley exchanged stares and rushed to join him. He walked quickly up the stairs, and reached a closed oak door. He pressed on the heavy knob and the wooden door creaked when he opened it.

"Dear God..." Wesley covered his mouth.

"What the..." Xander stared at it.

Angel walked slowly into the center of the room. In front of him, a large thick dark red cross was sketched on the wall. Above it one word was smeared in blood, just like the cross; MARTYR.

"Is that..." Xander asked and stopped, feeling suddenly sick to the stomach.

Angel walked to the wall, touching the dried blood. "Less than an hour ago." He whispered. "They shouldn't be far."

"Doesn't the cross burn you?" Wesley approached Angel.

"It's not holy, it's impure." Angel kept touching it. "He."

"Dammit, it's always you!" Xander snapped, moving to stand next to them. "It's always your fault, even in other worlds!"

Angel didn't respond, just bit his lips, taking in the blame.

"Angel is not to blame for this!" Wesley defended his boss.

"Sure he is," Xander sneered. "He's always the one. The damn demon intertwined in Buffy's life so profoundly... she can't escape him even if it's in another dimension, if he's miles away or if she's DEAD. You never give her any peace! DAMN YOU!" Xander shouted. Angel and Wesley didn't say a word, letting the angered boy cool his outburst. "Okay, I'm not feeling any better now." He said. "Let's go, we're wasting time."

They all turned to leave. Angel stopped midway and looked back sharply. His face scanning the room. He walked inside again, and crouched to pick up something from the floor. He looked around strangely before walking out and joining the two others.

"That was close..." Michael gasped, as he became visible again.

Angelus laughed evilly, glancing down at Buffy, she was sleeping, her sleep was not peaceful, but he enjoyed watching her nonetheless.

"He could feel us..." Michael said, looking over at the sleeping girl. "Or her... I can't read his mind."

"Oh I know what he's thinking..." Angelus smirked, turning his head to the blood-painted cross.

Buffy moaned in her sleep and the boy looked at her.

"You should catch some sleep, boy. It's getting late. I'm going out for dinner." Angelus walked out of the room. Michael looked at Buffy again. She was shaking. He crawled over to her and watched her for a moment. Hesitantly, he put his hand on her forehead. She stopped shaking and seemed to calm down. "Angel..." She whispered and Michael cringed and moved away from her.

He huddled in the corner and tried to go to sleep himself. There was only one bed in the mansion and of course Angelus used it, while the boy took the hard and cool floor. But it was better than the slimy pit he was sleeping in, before Angelus killed the demons that held him since he could remember. The demons could control and negate his building powers with some device they had put around his neck. He was nothing but a tool and a slave until Angelus took him under his wings like he was his own son. Michael seldom wondered, as he watched the demons whoring, feasting and torturing humans, what his own parents looked like. Sometimes when he had good dreams he could see some blurry vision of his mother. White and pure, but it faded quickly as he woke up in the dirt.

Both Michael and Buffy slipped into dreamland. The cool air of the night didn't have any effect on him, as he walked down the street. The college was just a wall away from the cemetery. Angelus smirked glancing at the girl beside him. He'd already fed on two girls just outside the Bronze, but he was still hungry. He knew the reason. No blood was as satisfying as the Slayer's. Buff's in particular. He was never obsessed with the other Slayers as he was with her. They were enemies, hunters, the rule with them was kill or be killed. But with her it was different. It probably had something to with the curse. Destroy the things the soul cared most about. And Buff made him feel human. And much more... He wanted to drink her. he remembered clearly her blood floating on his lips... filling him with energy and he was about to make her his own. Angelus touched his lips absently. He was hungry for her, but it was not the time to take her yet. He could wait. And the boy will keep her warm for him, until it's time. The boy will help him open the gates to hell, bring chaos and agony to the world. He will rule it, and the Slayer will be at his right hand. He faced the girl at his side, ready to claim her life to temporarily satisfy the hunger, when he heard someone stepping behind him. And he knew who it was. "Well, well." Darla smirked approaching the two. "Look who came to Sunnydale. Are you following me?"

Angelus looked at her strangely. She moved pass him, glaring at the girl.

"Saving souls still? It's nice how you fill your cheerleader's duty. Your heart still stinks of her, months after she's gone. Disgusting."

"My, you've got an extraordinary sense of smell," Angelus said dryly. "But I don't remember you being so boring".

Darla gazed at him angrily, clenching her jaw.

"Guess perspectives change over the centuries." He laughed. "I thought you died." He mentioned and grabbed the girl next to him.

"Angel, what's-" The girl started asking but Angelus vamped out.

His feline eyes twinkled evilly as he looked at Darla. "You know, I didn't even miss you."

Darla's face twisted in fury. The girl's breath was faster and heavier, but she was too shocked to make a sound. To Darla's astonished eyes, Angelus sank his fangs in the girl's throat. His sire looked as the girl's limp body fell to the ground, next to Angelus' feet. She raised her head to meet his eyes.

"My boy... you're back..."

Angel clasped the small piece of material. Everyone went to sleep, deciding it will be easier to locate the vampire when his space and ability to move is limited. Angel couldn't even close his eyes.

Buffy is alive. Buffy is nearby. He clutched the cloth, a small piece of Buffy's clothing, tight in his fist. If only it were different circumstances. Not like this. The first person she saw on returning to life was the evil psychopath that runs loose in a familiar body

The first feelings she got to feel again were those of fear and pain... and hatred. And what about the boy? If Whistler was telling the truth, Buffy was in the presence of a child that could be considered as her son. Their son. And he was evil. Their love spawned evil, but also good, there was another child.

"I can amend this," Michael faced Whistler, putting his white toga over his bandaged body.

At 18, Michael was standing 6 feet tall, his body started to shape from a young lad to a man. And he was possessing powers no other human could even conceive. Whistler shook his head in disapproval and turned to the beautiful girl that was present in the room.

"You tell him, Akmav. I think he was sleeping in my class."

Michael and Akmav exchanged looks. She stepped forward and took his hands in hers.

"Michael, no." She said quietly, teary eyed.

He sighed. "Okay," He looked at Whistler. "I won't interfere for now. Let's see how it's evolves."

Darla circled around Angelus, not taking her eyes from his.

"How can it be?"

He grinned. "Do you want to know?" He grabbed her shoulders, bringing his face closer to her. "Didn't I stake you in this dimension?"

"Don't you remember, lover?" Darla placed her fingers on his face. "The soul?"

"I remember," Angelus said nonchalantly and pushed her away from him. "Now, if you don't mind, I've got better things to do than chit chat."

His disinterest left Darla surprised and mostly unpleased.

"That's it?" She walked after him. "That's all you've got to say?"

Angelus turned around, smirking down at her. "Not really, I've got a lot of things to say, but not to you. You're just-" He scanned her and shrugged. "Boring."

"Boring?" Darla's eyes flared up. "We've spent 150 years together! We shared-"

"Geez, stuck in the past, much? It's over, Darla. Move on. We had a good time, but I've found my perfect happiness. I'll see you around."

Darla huffed, running after him when he walked away. She grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to look back at her. "I have tried *so* hard to bring you back and save you from that sickly soul, and this is the thanks I get?" She hissed.

"You know, for a pro, you've really got a lot to learn. Maybe you should take lessons from Buffy." Angelus scoffed.

"Buffy?" Darla released her hold. "She's dead."

Angelus smirked in satisfaction. "Not anymore. She brought me back and I returned the favor. Now if you'll excuse me... I've got some mouths to feed. I'm a family man now," Angelus chortled.

He walked away, leaving stunned Darla behind. This time she didn't follow him.

"No...no..." Michael groaned in his sleep. "No!" He screamed.

"Shhh... it's okay..." Buffy knelt next to him and stroked his hair.

He woke at once and moved away from her. "Don't touch me!" He gritted his teeth.

"Sorry..." She apologized. "You looked troubled... I was wo-"

He sneered. "Don't pretend you care about me. I won't release you from the chains."

"Why are you doing this?" Buffy asked, feeling the invisible chains tightening around her limbs to a point of pain.

"I will not help you escape." The boy rubbed his eyes.

"Okay, can you please tell me your name, then?" Buffy said sweetly, ignoring the pain caused by the tight chains.

"Don't you remember? When you were in the gardens?"

"Gardens?" Buffy looked at him. "I remember waking up from a good sleep to this nightmare." Tears floated in her eyes. "Can you just-"

She felt the chains loosen up, but not gone. She rubbed her wrist. "Thank you."

"Michael..." The boy said. "That's my name."

Buffy smiled at him. "That's a pretty name, I like it. Like the angel...." Her voice trailed off.

"You miss him that much?"

"You can read people's mind. Must be a pain."

"It's not what you're thinking. I can control it. Shut it off, or channel it. It took me some time to learn how, but it's easy."

"Don't you think it's invading people's privacy when you do that?"

Michael lowered his head. "I don't get to meet a lot of people. My dad usually eats them."

"He's not your father, why do you let him-"

"He IS my father! he treats me better than anyone else ever have!" Michael got angry and stood up. "I won't help you kill him! Never!"

"He is evil! He's using you!" Buffy got up as well. She felt the chains tightening again.

"No!" Michael rushed to the door, opening it and bumped into someone.

The child looked up to see Lindsey. Before he could react, Lindsey put something around his neck. The boy fell down, grabbing his head.

"What did you do to him? He's in pain..." Buffy was finally free of her chains.

"I'm just taking precautions, the pain will stop soon". Lindsey looked at the kid, who was squirming on the floor. He crouched and picked up the child in his arms, tossing him over his shoulder.

"Where are you taking him?" Buffy asked.

"No where. You're free to leave, ma'am. I don't need you."

"You know I'm not gonna let you take him." Buffy said. "Not until you tell me what you're doing with him."

"Sorry ma'am. I'm afraid I can't do that." Lindsey turned to leave, shifting the child to a better position on his shoulder and the child's shoe fell off.

Buffy saw the silver cross necklace falling from the shoe and picked it up, staring at it in amazement.

"Take me with you." She demanded, clasping the necklace close to her heart.

"Hey midget, I got you some food," Angelus hummed, walking into the mansion. "The baker was very generous... and delicious too." The vampire carried the paper bag upstairs.

He opened the door, expecting to see Buffy and Michael sleeping, but the room was empty.

"Midget?" Angelus turned back to the hall. He sniffed the air and took one step towards the stairs.

"Dammit!" He threw the paper bag on the ground and stomped it, proceeding to kick it all the way down the stair. "Damn you kid. I give up the fun life to take care of you and you run away..." Angelus snarled, stepping downstairs. "You think someone will ever treat you better, you little sponger." He muttered.

"Are you hungry?" Lindsey asked Buffy once they were in his hotel room.

Buffy could suddenly hear her stomach growl. "I haven't eaten since I-" She looked at Lindsey, "Yes please..." She wrapped her arms around herself.

"I don't have much... some bread and peanut butter will do?"

Buffy nodded eagerly, walking after him to the table. Lindsey watched as Buffy devoured the sandwich. His stare wandered to her torn shirt and the healing long wound on her arm. Buffy finished eating and got up, looking at the boy who was cuddling on the bed. Sporadic shivering crossed his body.

"It would stop soon." Lindsey stood next to her. "Here," He handed her one of his shirt.

She looked shyly at the shirt and back at the boy. "It won't kill him?"

"No, but without it, he will kill us."

"He's just a boy and he was in bad company," Buffy protested.

"You're too kind, he would have killed you without thinking too much. I've received his profile." Lindsey took a sip from the bottle he was holding. "The kid's dangerous."

"Where did he come from? Who is he?"

"Are you pumping me for information?" Lindsey grinned, walking away. "It's classified information."

"You know, I've been dead for a while, and I'm not sure how my combat skills are, but I don't mind testing them on you."

He laughed. "Seriously ma'am. I don't know everything. They don't tell me everything anymore." He smirked. "They don't trust me."

"The law firm you mentioned?"

"Yeah. Wolfram and Hart. Lawyers from hell."

"So why are you working for them? You don't look like a bad guy for me."

"They hold my family hostage, okay? If I don't give them the boy, an accident will happen. I've seen them do it before with others."

"Okay, here's a thought. If the device they gave you can control the kid's powers, why don't you use it against them."

"Because they're-" Lindsey stopped mid-sentence, digesting the idea.

There were only a couple of hours left before sunrise, but Angel didn't care. He needed to go out, he couldn't stay put, doing nothing but torturing himself with thoughts. He got up from the couch, trying to make a stealthy exit. He stumbled over one of Giles' packed boxes. "Where are you going?" Wesley got up in haste. "So much for stealthy exit..." Angel muttered, and got up. "Too scared to compete me in a dart game? That's understandable." Wesley continued and Angel sighed, realizing Wesley was talking in his sleep.

He waited for the ex-watcher to lie back, before finding his way out of the boxes maze. "I think I'll be heading to sleep now... If the boy wakes up, don't hesitate on waking me." Lindsey said. Buffy looked at the boy, and back at Lindsey. "Sure." "You still haven't told me your name," Lindsey reminded her, before heading to the couch. "Bu- Linda." Buffy decided he was still not trustworthy. "My name's Belinda." Lindsey smiled. "Well, that's a nice name." Angel ran all the way to the graveyard. Time was too precious, two hours to sunrise were hardly enough if he didn't know where to begin. But his mind and senses were filled with her. After 8 months, he suddenly felt alive. If that were shanshu, he wouldn't mind staying like that forever. If he could see she's there. Alive and well. Even just a glimpse will last him for a lifetime.

Angel's pace slowed as philosophical muses started to gush in his head. Is Buffy alive now? Flesh and blood? Is she the same Buffy he knew? His senses screamed yes. Her dried blood on the wall told him everything. But is she gonna disappear again once he stops this child? He wasn't sure he could go on if she wasn't there. He didn't know how he survived so far. Everything in the past 8 months since she died faded into oblivion. He could remember explicitly every single day since 1753. Little bits of memories since maybe 1731, and yet his mind couldn't bring up anything that happened since he watched Buffy's casket embraced by the ground, watching from the shadow like the creature of the night that didn't belong there. "Bloody hell, poof! Watch where you're going!" He bumped into Spike.

"What are you doing here?" The thoughts cleared up.

Angel eyed the bleached vampire, feeling the anger rising up and boil in his blood.

"Just cut the crap already Spike! It's been long enough!" Angel burst out on his grand-childe. "You may have fooled those kids, but you don't fool me."

"Right, you're wise, Mr. I can't make her happy without losing my soul I better dump her and hurt her feelings maybe she'll find a nice cardboard hunk who turns out to be a walking vampire buffet wanker while I cry in self pity for all my sins. Yah! I forgot that!" Spike scoffed.

Angel sneered. "You're pathetic. She would've never loved you as a man."

"Yeah, mate. Well at least I was at her side when she died."

Darla was still shocked and angered by Angelus' insurrection. It was upsetting enough to have his ensouled body running around, having her killed for the Slayer, it was even more upsetting to hear Angel disregard their time together, her inefficiency to bring back her boy, after learning the key to breaking the curse. But Angelus staked her heart without using an actual stake. Even when he was obsessed with Drusilla he still had time for her. He *always* found time for her. She looked up at the brightening skies, sensing the forthcoming dawn. As she decided to leave and find a safe place for the day, she spotted Angel and Spike. She became giddy, her boy has returned for her. Both vampires stopped talking- or arguing. When the vampiress approached them.

"You came back," Darla said sweetly, looking at Angel.

"What are you doing here?" Angel's stern face greeted her with hostility. She looked into his eyes and could not mistake the soul reflecting at her.

She took a step back. "What is this? Some kind of a practical joke?"

Angel stepped forward. "I told you if I saw you again-"

"Lighten up, mate." Spike pushed him aside. "You've seen his Mr. Hyde? Walking about with the leather and being all I'm going to destroy the world hype?"

Darla rolled her eyes. "More like Buffy hype." She huffed. Looking back at Angel, she grinned. "Seems like the cheerleader is up and working again... in good hands."

"Bloody hell!" Spike stamped his feet in anger. Darla raised her eyebrow at his reaction. He spat, "He better not touch a hair on her head, or-"

"Oh, stake me!" Darla grabbed her temples. "Don't tell me you fell in love with the Slayer too!"

Angel huffed in displeasure when Spike uttered, "Head over heels".

Darla then unexpectedly started laughing, her laughter became bitter and forced. "What is this joke?" She called in disbelief. "Everybody loves Buffy?"

Angel and Spike remained silent.

Darla snorted. "Someone should create a documentary TV show for her! Maybe give it some nifty title like- Buffy, The Vampire Slayer! That would be fitting." She glared at both Spike and Angel. "Or maybe, when you think about it- Buffy, the vampire layer."

"Oh shut your gob bitch!" Spike protested. "She never gave in to me, give her that."

Angel clenched his jaw, trying to cool down his anger. The short time he had left until the sun came out was too precious to waste on fighting with Darla and Spike. They will have to look for a place to hide from the deadly rays as well. He had to find Buffy. Without saying a word, he left them both standing there.

"Maybe you should write her a poem, since you're so good at that," Darla kept spitting venom. "Stand outside her window screeching your throat out with serenades." She laughed.

"Jealous are you? Because your boy- Angelus had more fun out with the ladies back in the days... can't blame him, old and grouchy just not a man's desire to come home to."

He smirked as he saw Darla's expression turning dangerously angry. He'd sure stepped on a sore spot.

"And maybe I should just take you out of your misery!" Darla snarled and drew out a stake, stabbing Spike's right in the heart. He looked at her shocked for a moment and exploded to dust. She threw the stake on the earth and puffed the dust from her hands.

"You better be worth all this humiliation, Lindsey." She muttered before walking away.

"Where did Angel go?" She wondered suddenly, looking back at where Spike's ashes now blew away with the morning breeze.

Buffy looked over at Lindsey. He seemed to be deeply asleep. She walked away silently to the bed the boy was thrown on. He was lying on the bed, looking paralyzed. His eyes were opened and he breathed slowly. When Buffy reached him, his eyes widened in sheer horror and he flinched when she touched him.

"Are you in pain?" Buffy was surprised at his reaction. His breath became fast and strenuous.

She sat on the edge of the bed, putting her hand on his shoulder. "I'm not gonna hurt you," She whispered. "I'm going to help you."

The boy's breath got steadier as his silent panic calmed.

"But first I need to know how you got this," She opened her palm revealing the silver cross.

The boy tried to grab it from her hand but Buffy's instincts were faster and she took her hand away.

"So you can move," She pondered, looking over again at Lindsey.

"It's mine... give it back..." The boy whispered.

"It's not yours, it's mine. I want to know where you got it... did you see my sister?" Buffy asked quietly but sternly.

"I didn't steal it... it's mine..." The boy cowered, covering his hands with his hands.

"Come on..." Buffy whispered and grabbed the boy. She managed to leave the room unnoticed. When they reached the street, the horizon was already lighted by the first rays of the coming dawn. Buffy knew her strength was back, she was carrying the 12 years old boy in her arms all the way down the street.

"I can walk..." He finally said after a while. She helped him on his feet.

"So, this thing really makes you powerless?" Buffy asked looking at the strange device locked around the kid's neck, like a fancy high tech bracelet.

"Just contained," Michael looked at her. "Eventually I'll find a way around it."

"Well, I'll take it off if you promise not to kill me," Buffy played with the cross between her fingers. "Or chain me and hand me to my enemies."

The boy's eyes were fixated on the cross. "Please... it's mine."

"Why did you keep it in your shoe?"

"I live with a vampire, what do you think?" The boy sneered.

"Just tell me-"

"It's the only thing I have from my mother..." Michael interrupted her. Buffy looked at him, stunned. She looked again at the silver cross. 'He's your son from the future...' She heard Angelus' voice again. "Hmm... this may sound strange, but are you from the future?"

"Yeah... I've stolen access to the time passages..."

"Oh God..." Buffy stared at boy in shock. "How can it be..."

"It's real easy, I just-"

"Who... do you know who your parents are?"

The boy's face darkened and he looked away. "They died when I was a baby."

"No..." Buffy gasped.

They were both silent for a moment, mourning.

Buffy dared look at him, not sure of what to say or do next.

"This..." She finally talked, showing him the cross again. "This belongs to me... I'm your mother... somehow..." Tears already streamed down her cheek.

If in the future she had a child and she gave him this very necklace... maybe it meant that Angel-

"Liar!" The boy snatched the cross from her hand and started running away from there.

"Michael!" Buffy called after him.

A pickup truck stopped right in front of him, the headlights blinded both of them. Lindsey got out of the truck.

"Where do you think you're going?" Lindsey grabbed the boy, putting him inside the van.

"Wait!" Buffy ran after him.

"You think I'll let you in again?" Lindsey said, closing the door on the kid. "I tracked him easily with the device... it beeps once it's 200 feet away from the controller."

Without wasting any more time he pulled to reverse and drove out of there, leaving Buffy in the street. She spotted the silver cross necklace on the asphalt and picked it up. Clasping the cross in her fingers, she looked around her as the darkness slowly slipped away.

"Buffy?" Buffy jumped away when she heard the familiar voice calling her name.

She saw Angel coming towards her.

Buffy positioned herself in a fighting stance, clasping her hands into fists, threatening to bring the approaching vampire to the harsh light of day.

He didn't show any fear. "Buffy..."

She looked at him suspiciously, unsure. "Angel?"

"Buffy, stay away from him!" Buffy looked to see another Angel approaching her.

Confused, Buffy looked at the two of them.

"Keep away! Both of you!" She gritted her teeth.

"Buffy, he's evil, you know he is..." The other Angel said calmly.

"Buffy, don't listen to him... it's me."

"Stop it..." Buffy grasped her head. "Stop playing with my mind!"

"Buffy-" one of them made a step towards her and she jumped back to defense mode.

"Don't trust him, Buffy."

"Why are you doing this to me?" Buffy felt the tears stinging her eyes again.

At that moment one of the Angels jumped on the other throwing him to the floor.

Buffy watched as the twin vampires slammed each other furiously over and over. At first, they seemed to be matched in strength. Each slam was rewarded with a powerful fist. Every kick was blocked just the same. As she looked at the massive hand to hand combat, she wondered if one of them will win at all, and how long will it take them. Just as the thought crossed her mind, one of them seemed to be getting the upper hand. One of the Angels collapsed to the floor, grabbing the other one with him.

"Get me a stake!" The vampire who kept the other one plastered to the ground, barely managed to called out to Buffy.

The girl looked back at him, and then at the semi-conscious vampire he was holding. She walked over to him. "Get this," She kicked him in the face as hard as she could. The vampire dropped to the floor next to the other one. For a few more minutes, the two identical twin vampires were lying exhausted on the ground. Buffy looked at them, hesitantly as they started to come back to their senses. The sky was almost totally light now, soon the deadly rays would reach the vampires and set them both on fire. The two vampires seemed to notice as well, they got up, looking at each other somewhat diplomatically and nodded, as if agreeing to renew their duel on another night.

Angelus growled and grabbed Angel's lapels. "It's not over yet..." He hissed and slammed his fist into Angel's face, dazing the ensouled vampire.

Buffy quickly positioned herself in a threatening pose. He grinned at her. "And don't you know it, lover." He sprinted away from there.

"Angel..." Buffy finally allowed herself to show vulnerability and reached for Angel who sat up.

He lowered his hand from his head when she jumped on him, kneeling down and placing her arms around his neck.

"Buffy..." He whispered in disbelief.

She was so real. Her touch, her body pressed against his, her scent... "It really is you..." Angel covered his face in her hair, breathing in her scent, air he did need for survival. He felt the tears in his eyes. Alive, he was alive again. If this was shanshu.

"Buffy..." He said again and cupped her face, locking his eyes with hers. His thumb caressed the trail of her tear softly.

"It's me..." Her voice betrayed her and she could hardly speak.

"Are you okay? He didn't..." Angel's hand moved to caress her cheek softly.

"Just a little... Angel, there's..." Buffy started saying, but her eyes wandered up to the bright light.

"Angel, the sun... you have to hide!"

He looked up and somewhere inside the demon screeched for him to hide from the approaching deadly rays. But he didn't mind dying when looking at her in the sunlight. The memory was so strong in his head. He wanted to see again the green-blue of her eyes in the full bright sunshine.

"Let's go..." He nodded, helping her up on her feet as he rose.

He spotted a manhole in the road and opened it. "Come on..."

"Oh sewers... I missed running into one of those..." Buffy whispered as she followed him.

"How did you know it was me?" Angel asked when they started walking in the sewers, their feet paddling at the shallow waters.

"Because he was kicking your ass..." Buffy giggled.

Angel smiled at the sound of her voice. "Thanks."

She stopped walking and looked at him. "I could feel you, Angel. I just looked and knew who was who..." She smiled softly at him. "Does it make any sense?"

He smiled back at her. "It does... Because I can feel you too."

She made a move towards him.

"Hopefully I don't need to try and identify you out of two Buffys." He still smiled at her. "Nope. I think the Buffybot is a total loss... also, the operating system is not big on func-"

"Buffybot?" Angel interrupted her, a confused expression on his face.

"Oh, hmm, uh, never mind!" Buffy flashed a smile and made another step towards him. "Just one Buffy here- uno Buffo!"

Angel let out a laugh. "Do you know what's a buffo?"

Buffy raised her eyebrow and smiled sheepishly. "Do I wanna know?"

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He could feel her body relaxing in his arms as she responded to his kiss hungrily. He stopped after only a few seconds. "I'm sorry...." He whispered.

"Angel, please... just kiss me," Buffy pleaded.

"I can't, Buffy." Angel's voice was hoarse. "I don't want to kiss you..."

She looked down but he lifted her chin with his thumb, forcing her to look at his eyes.

"I want more than that..." He admitted, feeling ashamed.

"Suddenly, so happy to be alive..." Buffy muttered.

"Yeah..." Angel suddenly seemed very distant.

"Angel?"

"I'm sorry... there's... there's something I gotta tell you, but perhaps here is not the place."

"Why not?" Buffy shrugged. "Sewers seemed perfect for you to break my heart before."

"Buffy..."

"No. Whatever you have to say just say it." She demanded.

"You..." Angel hesitated, licking his lips. "You died..." He cringed.

"Are you okay?" Buffy reached for his bruised face, but he flinched.

"You were brought back to life out of whim... but it wasn't..." Angel couldn't look at her and locked his stare on the ground. "You weren't supposed to come back..." He whispered huskily.

"But it's okay, I'm here now," Buffy paced toward him, but halted when he raised his head and she could see his red, teary eyes.

"If you don't go back. the entire universe will be destroyed..."

"What are you saying? That I have to go back? To die again?"

He just swallowed, and looked at her. A single tear ran down his cheek.

"Maybe there could be a way around it..." His voice trembled slightly. "Maybe I could make a trade."

"A trade? You mean, you'll offer your life for mine." Buffy stated.

"It's not the first t-" Angel bit his tongue before he spoke any further. "It's the only way I can think of, I won't be able to survive without you again. I don't know how I have so far."

"Angel, no. There must be some way..." Buffy opened her palm, revealing the silver cross to the pained vampire. "The child who brought me back..."

"I know. He's ours. But he's evil."

"He's not ev- How... how do you know he's... you mean, you..." Buffy's voice trailed off as she tried to search for the answer in Angel's anguished face.

"We should get out of here..." Angel changed the subject, looking around.

"Vampires are roaming these tunnels during the day."

"We can't go out into the daylight... unless you want to become a human torch and I will not allow it."

Angel let a wry smile on his lips. "Not like I haven't done it before."

"You will have to tell me about your life in L.A some time, Angel." Buffy said seriously. "I never asked you how you were when you-"

"You had better things to worry about than me." Angel reached out for her and touched her cheek. She was so warm, how he missed the feeling of her warmth flushing through his body, banishing away the cold.

"Still, I want you to tell me... I want to know everything."

"Everything?" Angel smiled softly.

"Well, you can skip the parts with the chicks..."

On to next part