Memories

by Stacie

Feed Back: Of course!
Summary: 5 yrs after "The Body" and "Reprise". Buffy is married but something isn't right.
Rating: If you can watch the show you can read this. But there is some swearing.
Disclaimer: If I owned them Angel would've killed Riley by now.

2006 Buffy's Home.

Buffy walked out to the mailbox. The light ocean breeze made her long golden hair dace behind her. The was a pink envelope that caught her eye. It was addressed to Miss. Buffy Summers. No one used her maiden name anymore. She took the letter inside. She tore it open. Instantly she knew the handwriting. It was from Angel. Buffy's heart skipped a few beats. But she felt guilty. She was married now. She shouldn't be having feeling's for other men. Especially Angel. "Bull crap. You love Angel more than you'll ever love Frank.", a little voice in her head sneered. She tried to ignore the voice and started to read.

Dear Buffy,
I know it's been a long time. Maybe too long. You've probably moved on with your life. 'You have no idea..', Buffy thought. And I know we haven't really kept in touch. But I need to tell you something very important. I miss you. More than anything. And I love you. But the thing I need to tell you is I am human. Buffy stopped breathing. I am not expecting you to drop everything and rush to me, but I felt like I should tell you. I thought you deserve to know. I'd like to see you again. Soon hopefully. If you'd like to, give me a call or something.
Love,
Angel

Buffy reread the letter. "Oh god...... Angel' s human.....", Buffy whispered. Her head snapped up as she heard some banging around in the kitchen.

"Hon, can you come in here for a sec?", Frank's voice called.

Buffy put the letter down and walked to the kitchen. When looked up at her husband, she froze. Frank had gun pointed at her. "What the hell are you doing?!", Buffy yelled.

"I' m going to kill you.", he answered coldly.

Buffy rushed to him to try and get the gun from him. It was too late. He shot at her. Buffy felt the fiery pain of the bullet lodging itself in her stomach. She swept her legs under him and he fell. Hard. Before he fell he managed to shot once more and that one shot into her arm. Buffy looked at her husband. He was out. She looked down at her stomach. There was blood, but it wasn't that deep. She took her dark leather coat to hide it. Then she bent down painfully and checked Frank's pulse. There wasn't one. "Oh god...", Buffy whispered from the pain and revulsion. She took her keys and went to her car. The she took off, to LA.

2004-Angel's House

Angel was standing out on his balcony. There was a small breeze that was blowing. There was a chill to it. Angel shivered a bit. Now that he was human, there were certain things to get used to. The sun was starting to set. He couldn't help but to think about Buffy. Now that he was human, he could truly be with her. That is, if she was willing to start over again. Now the wind was stronger and colder. He headed inside. He was about to go to his office when he heard some loud banging at his door. He took a stake and creeped to the door. He put his hand on the door and pulled it open while he raised the stake. Then he saw something that made his heart skip a few beats. "Buffy?", he whispered.

"Hey! I come in peace.", Buffy said holding her hands up a little.

Angel put the stake down and motioned her to come in and sit down. She walked in and crossed her hands across her stomach.

"Don't think I'm not glad to see you, but what are you doing here?", Angel asked.

"I.......I sorta..... I kinda killed my husband.....", she stammered.

"What?", Angel asked.

"He shot at me and I tripped him and he hit the floor.....", Buffy said in a rush.

"Wait. He shot at you? Did he hit you?", Angel asked.

"Yeah, but I'm fine.", Buffy said.

"Not if shot you! Let me see.", Angel said.

"I'm fine.", Buffy said.

"Buffy. Let me see it.", she looked at him. Maybe it was the tone of his voice. But she obeyed. She unzipped her coat, and took it off. The white t-shirt she was wearing was now red.

"Oh god, Buffy.....", Angel murmured, "You should've went to the hospital....."

"No! I couldn't. They would've caught me.", Buffy exclaimed

"Who?", Angel asked, getting a rag.

"Frank's agency.", Buffy said.

"Buffy, you have to go to the hospital. The bullet's still in there.", Angel muttered.

"I'll live. And I got shot in the arm.", Buffy said. She started to pace.

"I'll drive you.", Angel offered.

"Will you stay there with me?", Buffy asked.

"Of course.", Angel answered. As he watched Buffy walk out he noticed who thin she was. Too thin, Angel decided.

The doctor' s had wanted Buffy to over night. She'd told them no. But they'd pushed and said it was for Buffy' s own good. That's what pushed her over the edge. "I'm so sick and tired of people doing what'-s best for me!", She screamed. They backed off and told her she was free to go. Buffy stormed out to the car and waited for Angel. Angel took his time getting to the car. He knew that when Buffy was mad, you'd just better stay out of her way. When he got there, she was staring out the window mindlessly. He got in and started it. Her gaze didn't waver.

"Are you ok?", Angel asked her.

Buffy nodded, "I'm ok." Angel pulled the car out into the road.

"Do you want to get something to eat?", Angel asked her.

"Not out to eat. They'll think I' m a serial killer or something.", she said indicating her blood soaked shirt.

"I got your letter.", Buffy said. Angel looked at her. "I' m glad it worked out. Now you can do the things you've wanted to do. Like walk in the sun, wear a cross, stuff like that.", Buffy said, not looking at him.

"Yeah, stuff like that.", Angel said.

When they got to Angel's, they were both quiet as they walked in. Buffy looked around.

"Nice decorations.", she said as she walked over to the weapons on the wall. Angel chuckled to himself. Same old Buffy. She walked around the whole room, admiering the swords and axes.

"Are you hungry now?", Angel asked.

She shook her head, "No. Not now."

"When was the last time you ate?", Angel asked

Buffy shrugged, "Lunch. Yesterday."

"Buffy, you have to eat. You'll get sick.", Angel said.

Buffy sighed. Suddenly she looked very worn and exhausted. "Ok. I'll eat something. I'm a little hungry anyway." Angel gave her a look. "Ok, Ok very hungry.", She said as she rolled her eyes.

Angel smiled. "What do you want?", He asked.

"Apple?", Buffy asked.

"Bigger.", Angel said.

"Salad.", Buffy said.

"Ok.", Angel said as he went to the kitchen to make it.

All of a sudden Buffy cell phone let out a shrill ring. "What?", Buffy answered it.

"Hello Lover.", a gruff voice said.

"Who is this?", Buffy asked.

"Your loving husband.", he answered.

"Frank...... Oh god.... You're dead. You're dead!", Buffy said, panic raising inside her.

"Calm down, love. If you don't we'll kill the man in the kitchen.", Frank threatened.

"Oh god, you can see me?", Buffy asked, her voice shaking.

"Oh, yes. We can see you. The whole apartment, actually. And we have the whole home bugged and camera' s everywhere. So, if you try to leave we'll kill you.", Frank threatened once more.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Angel come back.

"Bye now.", she said quickly as she hung up. "Angel, do you still have some super strength or something now that you're human?", Buffy asked in a hushed voice.

"Yeah. Just the strength.", Angel said.

Buffy smiled shyly. Angel's heart skipped a few beats. "When did the change happen? You know? When did you become human?", Buffy asked, looking at the floor.

"About three weeks ago. I killed this Kazak demon.", Angel explained.

"Why did you really send me the letter?", Buffy asked.

Angel closed his eyes, "I didn't know if you were with someone, and I lo-I miss you.", Angel said.

"I miss you too. But that's not what you were going to say.", Buffy observed.

"How do you know?", Angel asked suspiciously.

"I just do. I know more than you think.", Buffy said. smiling at him.

"Oh really.....", Angel smirked.

"Yep. I'm not the ditzy blond you left behind.", Buffy said, raising her eyebrows.

"Oh, if you know so much, then what was I going to say?", Angel asked, smirking once again.

Buffy turned dead serious and looked him straight in the eyes. "You were going to say that you love me. And don't try to deny it, cause I know its true. Because I love you too.", Buffy said evenly. Angel nodded. "Told you. There's more to me then meets the eye.", Buffy said. Then she went to the table and ate her salad.

2:30am~LA

Buffy awoke in a cold sweat. She sat up panting. At first she didn't know where she was. 'Angel' s bed.' , she remembered. Angel was asleep on the couch. Buffy got up a little too fast.

"Oww.....", She moaned. Even though her gunshot wounds were healing, they still hurt like hell. She padded to the kitchen. She wasn't aware of Angel, awake and watching her every move.

"Oh god......", She whispered. She looked out the window, into the building across from this one. She could see men in suits walking around busily.

"No, no....... Oh god, no.....", She whispered.

"Buffy.", She heard a voice call from the darkness. She whirled around quickly. Too fast. She felt her stitches pull.

"Oww....", She moaned again holding her stomach. She looked into the darkness. She saw Angel approaching her.

"What's wrong?', he whispered. Buffy knew that she had to tell him.

"Remember yesterday, when my cell phone went off?", she asked. Angel nodded. "Well, that was Frank. Apparently he's not dead. And he's stalking me. And he threatened to kill you.", Buffy explained. "And I can't go back to Sunnydale, because I have a feeling everyone thinks I'm dead.", she said. "I have a feeling I will be dead soon too.", Buffy said, sighing.

"Buffy, don't say that. I won't let anything happen to you.", Angel said, as he fought the urge to pull her into his arms and never let her go.

Buffy walked into his arms and rested her head on his chest. "I shouldn't have come. Now your life is in danger too. If anything happened to you cause't of me, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.", Buffy whispered.

"Buffy, nothing's going to happen. I promise.", he said, kissing the top of her head. As he held Buffy in his arm, memories came flooding back to him.

"Ok, who are you?", a young Buffy asked.
"Let's just say I'm a friend.", Angel said.
"What if I don't want a friend?", the young Buffy challenged.
"Now, I didn't say I was your friend.", Angel smirked.

"I love you.", Buffy whispered.
"I love you.", Angel said, hope raising in him.
"Close your eyes....", Buffy said quietly.
Angel obeyed, happy to see Buffy again.
He felt Buffy kiss him softly.
Then she thrust the sword into his stomach.
Angel's eyes shot open.
"Buffy......", Angel chocked out, stretching his shaking hand to hers.
Tears ran down Buffy's face.
Then he vanished into the depth' s of hell.

Angel watched Buffy sleep.
Her eyes fluttered open.
"What? Do I have bed hair or something?", She asked
"Or something.", Angel said, smiling.
She reached up and felt her hair.
"Oh no.......", she moaned, starting to get up.
"Where are you going?", he asked.
"To go kill the cat on my head.", she answered.
"No mirrors.", he reminded her, pulling her back to him.
"This place is NOT girl-friendly. We should get some mirrors and drawers for some of my stuff. Cuz'r that's what couple' s do. They have drawer's and stuff.", Buffy said as she lay in Angel's arms.
Angel smiled gently.
Buffy got up and went to the window. "It can' t be that early.", she said as she opened the curtains.
A stream of sun-light came through and right onto Angel.
He jumped up and rushed to the corner.
Buffy's eyes widened. "Oops. I guess our post-patrolling nap got carried away..."

Angel's eyes opened. He smiled at the memories. He noticed Buffy fast asleep, resting her head on his shoulder. He shifted over a bit, so he could see he face. She had changed a bit. Her hair was longer, a more golden color. Her lips were fuller. She was tanner nicely. He sighed quietly. He had only dreamed of this. Laying here, with her in his arms. He loved her so much. Now that he was human he could be with her. And she wanted to be with him too. She loved him. He could see it every time he looked in her eyes. Buffy stirred a bit. Her eyes fluttered open.

"Hey....", She sighed.

"Hey yourself..", Angel smiled.

"What? Is my hair bad?", Buffy asked.

Angel stroked her hair, "No you look perfect."

"No, I don- Ok. Whatever you say.", She said. All of a sudden Buffy's cell rung. Buffy reached over to get it. Before she answered it, she cast Angel a worried look.

He hugged her close. "I'm here for you.", he whispered.

"H-Hello?", she asked.

"Hey love.", Frank's voice said.

"Leave me alone.", Buffy said.

"I can't do that.", He said.

"Then I'll have to kill you. Again.", Buffy shot back.

"Is that a threat, my dear?", Frank asked, his voice mocking.

"Pretty much.", Buffy said.

"I'm afraid you' re not in the position to threaten.", Frank said snidely.

"And I'm afraid you' re not in the position to tell me what to do!", Buffy exclaimed.

"I am going to kill you.", Frank threatened.

"You tried to kill me last time! You failed! If anyone' s going to die, its going to be you!, Buffy yelled into her phone, "You're to much of a coward to get your skinny little ass over here take me on! You know I could kill you with the simple touch of my hand, you know it! But no! You need all of your little black suit men to fight all your fights! So c'mon over here with your little men, c'mon and take me on! I'll kick all of your ass's if I have to!", Buffy screamed and hung up hung up her phone with raw fury.

Angel strode of to her and embraced her. She was shaking with anger. "It'll all be ok soon.", he soothed as he stroked her hair. Buffy rested her head on his chest and listened to the sound of his heart beat

END.