Wish Upon A Star

by jlhtbs

Alternate Universe from Season 3. Buffy's dream has turned into a nightmare. Can Angel save her? B/A

1. Default Chapter

                Buffy felt safe in his arms and secure, like nothing could ever hurt her.  Angel's arms felt warm, even though Buffy knew there was no warmth in them.  Sitting there on her couch, she could almost forget that she was the slayer and that he was a vampire.  Although they were supposed to be dire enemies, there was no one she loved more in the world than Angel, with the exception of her mother, maybe.  Tonight with her mother out of town and sitting next to Angel, she felt like a normal teenager on a date with her boyfriend.  Finally no one was trying to destroy the world or reeking havoc in Sunnydale.  Buffy was actually getting a vacation from slaying and with school out for the week and her mother gone, she could not think of a better time for the vacation. 

                The peace and quiet was unheard of in Sunnydale.  Buffy knew when to take advantage of it every time a moment appeared.  She had managed to convince Giles to give her the night off and declined an evening with friends at the Bronze.  Needing serious quality time with Angel was all that matter to her now.

She curled up on the couch closer to Angel as the romantic comedy on the television came to a climax.  Everything was perfect.  Angel could sense how relaxed Buffy was.  So far, it had been a perfect night, and it was only just beginning.  He moved closer to Buffy, bringing his face to hers, gently kissing her.  Soon, the movie had been forgotten, as Buffy and Angel became enthralled in each other and being alone together. 

                They knew their involvement was wrong and extremely unnatural.  Even after Angel reeked havoc on Sunnydale and her friends, a part of her still loved him.  His appearance from the depths of hell confused her even more.  They both knew their relationship could never go any further then their actions on the couch.  Neither could risk Angel loosing his soul again.  They had learned to come to terms with it.  As much as they tried, they could not stay a part though.  Eventually, they stopped trying to stay apart and began to feel their love again, within limits.

                A sudden noise startled Buffy and caused her to break away from Angel's grasp.  It took her a second to realize that someone was knocking at the door.  "Hold on a second," Buffy stood up to answer the door. Willow knew she was spending time with Angel tonight.  Besides which, everyone was having fun at the Bronze.  She couldn't imagine who it could be.  Carefully, she checked to see who was outside before opening it.  She found Giles standing on her porch.  "Giles, what are you doing here?"

                Giles walked in, unaware of Angel's presence.  He was preoccupied by something else.  "I have to talk to you.  It's a matter of great urgency.  It couldn't wait until tomorrow morning.  Besides with your mother away, I knew we could speak freely."  Walking passed Buffy and into the living room, he finally noticed Angel sitting on the couch.  The television was on, but Giles immediately guess that he had not interrupted the movie, but something else.  "Oh, am I interrupting?  I'm sorry, but this is extremely urgent."

                Buffy closed the door and walked back into the living room.  "Giles, what's got you so wigged?  No one's trying to take over the world or open a door to hell, or any other bad type things.  Take a hint and a vacation. "

                "That's what has me so worried.  The lack of activity in the last few days would lead to the speculation that something great is about to rise up and I don't know what it is."  Giles looked genuinely sincere and concerned.  He was positive that something was about to erupt in Sunnydale, he just did not know what it was or who was involved.  Still the sudden silence seemed unusual and unnerving.  "I don't like it one bit."

                Buffy stared in disbelief.  "Giles, take a chill pill and relax.  Nothing terrible is on the verge of happening.  I am the slayer right?  I usually can sense these things and right now all I can sense is that it has been too long since you've had some serious qt time and you don't know what to do with it.  Can I suggest relaxing, going out, maybe getting a life and letting me have one too."  It was harsh, but Buffy was not going to go looking for trouble on her vacation, especially on perfect nights like this one.   She meant to enjoy Angel's presence and her mom's absence.

                Giles looked at her in disbelief and then with compassion.  He understood the kind of life she had to lead because she was the chosen one.  The things she had to give up and do without, were lists that grew longer each day.  He did not want to ruin what little time she did have where she could lead a semi-normal life, but something had been nagging him for the last few days.  Tonight the feeling had grown stronger than ever.  As he stood in the library going over the collection of watcher journals, waves of dread and desperation flooded his mind.  He could not explain it, but something horrible was coming and he wanted Buffy to be prepared.  After one more look into her pleading eyes, he reconsidered.  "I suppose you're right.  There isn't any evidence to indicate otherwise.  I guess we can wait until tomorrow.  I'll continue my research tonight and tomorrow we will start sharpening your skills."  Without knowing what was going to happen, there was nothing he could do tonight, except do more research.  Maybe he could try to figure out what was bothering him.

                Angel knew Giles was backing down for Buffy's sake.  "What do you think is going to happen?"  He sat on the couch, curious and concerned about Giles' fear.

                "I really can't say.  It's just a feeling, a horrible feeling.  Like I said, I have no proof that something is going to happen.  However, we need to be prepared if we're going to succeed."  Although complying with Buffy's request, the anxiety continued to build.  What ever was going to happen would challenge them all to the fullest extent.  He could only hope that they were prepared and would survive.

                Angel walked over and stood next to Buffy.  "It's still early.  You know, we could go check things out around town and finish the movie when we get back.  It shouldn't take too long."  Buffy looked at him shocked by his willingness to leave what she thought was a perfect time together to go looking for trouble.

                "Hey, don't I get a say in this.  No slaying tonight.  I'm on vacation, remember."  She sent a meaningful look toward Angel.  Giles just stood there and waited for the situation to resolve between them. 

                "We'll take a nice moonlight walk around town and check things out.  Then we can have the rest of the night to ourselves."  Talking moonlight walks through the cemetery would be anything but romantic for any typical teenager.  For Buffy, it was a reasonable compromise.  She would still be with Angel, and Giles would have piece of mind.

                "Alright, just to prove that nothing is going on and no one is taking over the world tonight, I'll go.  But then, the rest of the night is mine.  Capieshe!  The vampires can wait one night while I have a day off."

                Giles felt relieved while driving home in his old, beat up car, but still something plagued him.  Something horrible was coming to Sunnydale and he was not sure if Buffy could fight it.  He could only hope he learned what it was soon enough to prepare her.

                The cemetery was quite.  Buffy thought too quite, but shook the feeling off.  "I can't believe Giles has me so jumpy over nothing.  I mean there is no one around.  Let's get out of here and back to the movie."  Normally hunting did not bother her, actually she enjoyed it most of the time.  Tonight though, she rather had been lounging around the house with Angel instead.  She looked around non-chalantly stake in one hand and Angel holding her other.    He made no movement to leave and almost appeared to have missed her suggestion.  "You really know how to romance a girl."

                Still there was no answer.  She watched his face.  His jaw was taunt and tight, his teeth clenched together.  His dark, black eyes stared out into what Buffy thought was oblivion.  "Earth to Angel."  His gaze grew stronger and his body stiffened.  He stood ready to attack or be attacked.  "Angel, what is it?"  She moved her hand up to his jaw and slowly turned his face toward hers.  The face she knew and loved was not there.  Instead it morphed into the blood-craving vampire that scared Buffy and served as a constant reminder that they would never be happy.  She was taken back by his change.  "What is it?  Is someone here?"  She stepped back and away from him, dropping his hand only to find it tightly wrapped around her wrist.  As she tried to pull away, he came closer.  Something wasn't right.  Angel would never hurt her, right?  She asked herself, hoping she knew the answer.  Her life depended on it.  Still he came closer yet to her.  She tried to struggle and break free to no prevail.  His grip was too strong and she was too unprepared.  It seemed the more she fought, the tighter his grip became.  As he moved closer, she tried to step back again, but she felt the bark of a tree behind her.  His breath fell on her face and there was no life in his eyes.  Only hate and thirst remained.  In one swift move, he moved her head to the side and began to drink her life away.

                She tried to scream, to yell, but her voice was gone.  Her body began to go limp and she made one last attempt for her life.  She opened her eyes again.  His face was in front of hers.  In one last desperate attempt, she pushed him away with every ounce of her being and stumbled.  The ground felt soft under her hands.  She couldn't see very well; everything was so dark.  Filled with disorientation, she felt his hand on her arm.  She knew it was over.  The love of her life would take her life.  Ironic.

                "Buffy, what's wrong?"  He watched as Buffy recoiled with fear and tried to run from him.  Getting up to fast, she tripped over the table and landed on the carpet.  "Hey, what is it?"  Seeing the fear in her eyes, he backed away slightly uncertain of what to do.  "It was just a nightmare, calm down."

                Buffy's sight started to come back.  She realized she was laying on the floor in her living room.  Angel stood over her, his face filled with concern and bewilderment.    She shook her head and tried to understand what had happened.   Her hands instinctively went to her neck.  First she check for marks, then for a pulse.  Finding the second and not the first, she calmed down a little.  Still she hesitated to take Angel's hand and sit next to him on the couch. 

                It had all been a nightmare, a horrible nightmare.  Her mind began to clear.  She realized she must have fallen asleep while watching a movie with Angel.  It was just a nightmare and one she would not soon forget.  She sat back and tried to relax, pulling her knees to her chest to feel secure.

                Angel watched her as she recoiled at his touch.  His pale face and black eyes gazed at her, wondering what went on in her head.  Sometimes he could understand.  Others, he barely knew her.  "Are you okay?"

                "Yeah, I'm fine."  Her voice was still shaky and she tried to conceal it.  She pretended to yawn and lift her hands over her head to stretch.  She glanced at the clock and prayed silently to herself.  "It's getting kind of late and I'm really tired.  I think we better call it a night."  She stood up and went to the front door to let Angel out.

                Angel hesitated slightly.  He wanted to say something.  He wanted to calm her fears.  To reassure her that he wouldn't let anything happen to her.  But he knew it wasn't true.  She was the slayer, and he was a vampire.  He couldn't always be there and the evil would always find Buffy.  No matter what, the evil found her.  He followed her to the door and leaned in to kiss her good-bye.  She recoiled again, hiding behind the door.  "I'll see you tomorrow night?  I love you."  He walked out the door, looking back to catch a glimpse of her before the door was locked, keeping him out and her inside.  Silently he wished there weren't so many doors in the world.

                He watched from the edge of the lawn.  Finding her window, he stayed there until the lights finally went out.  He didn't know if there was a god, but if there was, he only hoped that god would look after her.  Especially if he couldn't do it himself.  It was a long walk back to his place that night.  Long and quiet, too quiet.

                The sun shone brightly through the window as Buffy rolled over and turned off her alarm.  Another fine day of school, she just couldn't wait.  She rolled over and hid under the covers, hoping the world would go away, just for one day.  It wasn't much.  All she wanted was one day, one day to be normal and have a normal life and do normal teenage girl things.  She rolled over again and laid on her back, staring at the white ceiling.  Even her dreams were filled with monsters and demons.  She picked up her teddy bear and smoothed over the rough and missing patches of fur.  It was one constant in her life.  "This is sad, very sad."  She put Mr. Bear back and threw the covers off.  "Alright Buffy, enough moping.  Time to get ready for school."  The thought was not the best incentive to get out of bed.  The picture on her nightstand gave her one.  Willow and Xander were sitting with her.  It was taken last summer after she came back from L.A.  She had needed a vacation after killing the Master.  "I could use another one," she thought to herself.   Her friends were a constant source of strength and good times.  It was one of the only reasons she had managed to survive being the slayer. "Hey, another happy thought.  Soon you'll be flying."  Walking around the room, she looked in her mirror.  "You have to stop talking to yourself, Summers.  It's a bad habit."

                She looked back at the picture though.  They all looked so carefree and normal.  No one would ever suspect they spent their time killing vampires and chasing demons with stakes.  Softly she whispered, "I wish it could be like that."  She took one look at the clock and realized she better get moving if she was going to make it to class on time.

                The bell had rung five minutes ago, Buffy thought as she walked in the door.  Late again.  She scanned the halls quickly for the principal, not wanting to deal with his remarks so early in the day.  Figuring she was already late, she thought she might go straight to the library and see Giles.  He would give her a pass to class.

                The library was quiet, as always.  Dust collected on most of the books.  Rarely did anyone come in to do research.  The only books that were even opened were usually Buffy's favorite subjects, demons and vampires.  What pleasant thoughts first thing in the morning!  "Giles," Buffy called out for her watcher.  "Anyone here?" 

                "Yes, I'm here.  What can I do for you Buffy?"  Giles appeared out of his office.  As usual, his clothes were as outdated as his car.  He was one of Buffy's best allies.  She knew she could count on him for everything.  After all, they had been through so much together.  Buffy had grown comfortable with Giles.  He was one constant in her world.  He would always be pushing to her do better, defending her back, and criticizing her behavior.  She couldn't imagine life without him.

                "Really Giles, why so formal?"  Before he had a chance to answer she jumped in again.  "I wanted to see what's up.  Have you seen Willow this morning?"  She dropped her books on the counter and stared back at him.

                "I imagine she's in class.  Where you should be I may add.  As for what is occurring, I'm doing some research.  If there is nothing else I can do for you, than you better be on your way."  Giles pushed his glasses back onto his face and returned to his office.  Stacks of books held his attention.

                "Wow.  Does someone need coffee!"  Buffy shrugged off Giles rude and unusual behavior.  Grabbing her books, she decided she better give class a try after all.  With her mom away, she needed to be on her best behavior.  That meant no notes from teachers or phone calls when she got home.  Class might be nice for a change.  She quickly shuddered at the thought.  "I must be coming down with something. Huh.  Class fun, what a novelty."

                "Okay class, I have your tests back from Friday.  You all did fairly well, most of you at least."  Buffy froze in the doorway as she heard the word test.  She sat down and waited at her desk for the infamous F to appear.  Well, she could hope for a D, but she knew better.  Instead of studying, she had been out patrolling and she meant to come home early, but she met up with Angel.  She remembered the feels of his hands on her body.  She shuddered as her nightmare came into her thoughts.  Mrs. Waters stood in front of her, holding a test paper.

                "Great job, as always Buffy."  Then she turned and walked away. 

                First she thought it was a sarcastic remark and she failed miserably, like usual.  It was possible that Mrs. Waters finally found a sense of humor.  With a sigh, turned the paper over and looked for the big, red F.  There was none.  Her eyes opened wide in shock.  She looked trying to read the letter.  An A, that was impossible.  She checked the name on the paper to make sure it was hers.  Buffy Summers, it read.  It was her paper, but how did she get an A.  Every answer was right.  It was in her handwriting.  She remembered taking the test.  No matter how bad she thought she might do, she never cheated.  The slayer sat in her seat in utter disbelief.  The rest of the class went by as Buffy stared at her first A test.

                The bell rang ending the class.  Slowly she got up to leave, still in shock, when she ran into Willow in the hallway.  "Hey Buffy, so how did you do?  I couldn't wait to see if all our studying paid off for you."  Willow stood there, a smile on her face, hoping her friend did well.  All those hours of studying had to pay off.  They spent hours after school and all night Thursday studying and preparing for the test.  Willow knew Buffy was ready for it.  Buffy just stood there, shocked.  Willow couldn't wait any longer; she grabbed the paper out of Buffy's hands.

                "An A, that great.  I don't know what you were so worried about.  I told you that you would ace this test with all the studying we did Thursday.  You'll be helping me with my homework soon if all these A's keep on coming."  Willow was so proud of how Buffy was able to turn her grades around that year.  "This deserves a celebration.  I mean ten straight A's deserves double mocha fudge chocolate ice cream.  Right?"   Willow was all set for a girls' night out.  As she watched Buffy's face, she figured it would have to be another time.  "Oh, I guess you and Scott have plans.  Well, tomorrow than definitely." 

                "What are you talking about?  I went out with Angel Thursday night.  What straight A's and who is Scott?"  Buffy was more puzzled than ever. 

                "Whose Angel?"  Willow had never heard the name and didn't know whom Buffy was talking about. 

                "What do you mean," before she had a chance to finish, Buffy felt someone's arms around her shoulders.  She turned to see who it was.

                Scott reached around and kissed Buffy.  It felt like ages since he had been with her.  Actually it was last night, but who wanted details.  "Hey beautiful."  He glanced down at the paper she held in her hands.  "Wow, another A.  You are on a role.  At least I won't be lying now when I tell my parents that you're tutoring me. With grades like this, I could use you."

                Buffy shook her head slightly and tried to remember ever seeing the guy who had kissed her before.  Cute, very cute. She stood motionless, not knowing how to react for once.  She didn't know him.  Yet, he seemed to know her fairly well.  Willow seemed to know him too.  In fact, Willow didn't find it strange that he was kissing her at all.  Buffy knew she wasn't a genius, but this didn't add up.  According to these tests, she was pretty smart though.  "Who," she didn't get a chance to finish again.

                "Listen I've go to run.  If I'm not at practice early, the coach is going to kill me.  A dead boyfriend wouldn't be much fun, so I better get going.  I see you after school."  With one last passionate kiss, the whirlwind that called himself her boyfriend was gone.  He disappeared down the hallway and became enveloped by the racing packs of students scurrying to class.

                Buffy didn't have time to think before Xander showed up.  "Hey, my two favorite girls.  Make any killings lately Buffy?"

                Finally, she thought, someone was making sense. 

                "Yeah she did, check it out another A.  Oh, I'm sorry Buffy.  Did you want to tell him?  I'm just so happy for you."  Willow showed Xander the paper, but winced in embarrassment, having talked before Buffy had a turn.

                Xander handed her back the paper as something else caught his eye.  "Well, if it isn't the ice queen herself.  Come down to say hello to your humble servants, Queen Cordy."  He lowered in a half bow.

                The style was unmistakable and so was the company.  Cordelia walked down the hall, dressed in the latest fashion off the runway and surrounded by whom she deemed was popular.  Her hair and make-up were given attention until perfection, and it showed.  "That's about the only thing you could be.  As if!"  She turned back to her friends and walked away.  Leaving Xander speechless and amazed.  One of these days, he was going to think of a remark that Cordelia could not have a comeback for.  One of these days.  Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked away, hardly missing a beat in the conversation with this week's friends.

                "You should ignore her.  Too many boys, too little time.  I wish I knew what that felt like."  Willow tried to comfort her friend and hint at her own feelings, but as usual, it fell on deaf ears.

                "Don't worry Xander, you and Cordy were made for each other.  I just don't understand why she treats you like that in public.  You think she would have gotten over it by now."  Buffy knew Cordelia had a hard time admitting her feelings for Xander.  But that had been long over with. 

                "Ice queen and me?  What alternate universe are you coming from Buffy?"  With that, Xander walked away and headed to his next class.

                "What gave you that idea?  Besides, I thought you were going to try to get Xander and me together.  Why are you rooting for Cordelia?  She's never even been nice to you."  Willow looked at Buffy with hurt eyes filled with confusion.

                "What did I just miss here?"  Buffy walked to her locker and opened it.  At first she thought she had opened someone else's locker.  She double-checked the number.  It was hers.  The jacket hanging inside was hers too.  But, something was wrong.  Instead of a bag of stakes and crosses, there were books inside.  There was even a picture of her with the guy who claimed to be her boyfriend.  "All right, this is really weirding me out?" She grabbed Willow and looked her straight in the eyes.  "Now tell me the truth, what's going on here?  Who was that guy?  When did we study together?  Why don't you know Angel?  Since when are Cordy and Xander no longer seeing each other?"

                Now Willow was concerned.  Buffy was talking gibberish.  Cordy and Xander.  Not studying.  This was getting to weird.  "Are you feeling okay?  Did you hit your head or something?"

                "Yeah, I'm fine.  I think.  I just don't understand what's going on.  When did I become an A student?"  Confusion race through her mind.  Something was wrong, very wrong.  "Giles, we have to go see Giles.  He'll know what's going on."

                Willow grabbed Buffy's arm and objected.  "You know Mr. Giles doesn't want us disturbing him during school hours.  Especially when he's working.  He'll be really mad. Besides, what makes you think he'll know what's going on?  And exactly what are you talking about?"

                "Did you just say Mr. Giles?"  She saw Willow's head nod in response.  Now she knew something was really wrong.  They never called Giles that.  "I'll explain later.  We better find Xander too.  Something big must be going on."  Buffy pulled a confused Willow along as they went to hunt down Xander and Giles.

                "Giles," she called as she burst through the library doors with Willow and Xander in tow.  The conservative librarian stepped out from his office, a book still in his hand.  "Something really weird is going on.  Tell him."  She looked to Willow, waiting for her to explain.  Willow said nothing.

                "I don't know what she's talking about Mr. Giles."

                "Willow, stop calling him that.  This is Giles, my watcher, and our friend.  Okay amigo is not the right word, but come on mister."  She turned back to Giles, knowing he would have the answer to her confusion.  "You see, so what demon monster slash magician is causing all this confusion?"  Buffy stood next to the counter, waiting for her answer.

                Giles' eyes widened.  Buffy was right; there was something wrong.  Granted he had not spent much time with Buffy lately, but she did not sound coherent.  "Really Buffy, are you feeling all right?"

                She stared back in shock.  "Why is everyone asking me that?  I'm fine.  So what monster is causing this.  I mean look.  I got an A on a test, Giles.  Isn't that proof enough!"  Buffy didn't understand why no one else found today strange.

                "It's not the first time you've gotten an A.  I heard from your teachers that you have been applying yourself.  Actually, you're the pride of many.  You are the wonderful source of encouragement to many teachers here.  You are allowing them to teach and make a difference in your life.  But I don't understand why you are so concerned over receiving this A?"  Giles curiosity and concern began to heighten. 

                "Buffy, you better sit down.  You must have a fever or something."  Xander was coddling her now.  "Do you feel warm?"  He reached to put his hand against her head.

                Buffy took a step back, confused and bewildered.  "What is going on here?  I'm the slayer, not a good student.  And Giles, you've never been so rude to me as this morning.  You're my watcher, and you acted like you didn't know me this morning. Willow, I don't know why you think that I spent Thursday with you, when I was with Angel patrolling for vamps.  And Xander, why aren't you and Cordy all lovey-dovey, like usual?" 

                Giles took a step closer.  "Buffy, I think Xander's right.  You should sit down. I think we should discuss this."  He guided her over to the table.  His eyes were full of concern and his mind haunted by memories.  "I don't know why you would think such things, Buffy."

                "Me and Cordy, I don't think so!"

                "Whose Angel?"  Willow was still confused.

                "Hold up a minute."  Giles tried to calm the wave of confusion that was quickly engulfing the room.  "Buffy, let's go over this step by step.  Now, you're right, I was your watcher, but."

                "What do you mean was?  You are my watcher and I'm the slayer!  That's the way it works."

                "Buffy, you haven't been slaying since you defeated the Master.  There has been no reason for me to be your watcher." 

                Buffy shook her head in disbelief.  "What do you mean?  I just killed two vamps the other night.  Remember, you were with me."

                "Buffy, I have no idea what you are talking about.  We have not spent time with each other since you were able to defeat the master.  You wanted your space.  I respected that and I've valued the opportunity to enhance my research.  There has been no slaying in the last five months."

                "Buffy, what's this?"  Xander reached over and gently placed his hand on Buffy's head.

                "Ow, that hurts.  What are you doing?"

                Giles came over and took a look.  "That's a nasty bruise on your head.  Did you fall?"

                "I, uh, I don't remember.  I don't know where I got it from."

                Willow's eyes widened.  "That's is.  That's why you're so confused.  You must have hit your head.  She has amnesia, right Giles?" 

                Giles thought for a moment.  "Actually, a strong blow to the head is often accompanied by memory loss or other traumas."  He repeated his comments after seeing Buffy's eyes.  "It's quite possible that when you hit your head, certain parts of your memory became blocked.  That would explain why you believe that vampires are still in Sunnydale."

                Buffy shook her head in disbelief.  This was ludicrous.  "What are you trying to tell me?  That Sunnydale isn't built over the hell mouth, that vampires no longer exist, and that there is no need for me to be a slayer anymore?"

                "Actually, that is a very precise summary."  Giles would not have phrased it that way, but that essentially the point.

                Buffy backed away from her only friends.  Something wasn't right.  Deep within her soul, every inch of her being told her that this wasn't real.  "You're all wrong and I'm going to prove it."  She turned on her heel and headed out the door, knowing there was only one person she could count on now. 

                The walk to Angel's was long and lonely.  Giles' words rang repeatedly in her head.  "No longer the slayer."  She had always imagined having a normal life.  A life like she used to before she became the chosen one.  She reached the door to his room and pounded hard realizing she was waking him up from his sleep.  After a few seconds, she pounded on the door again.  Finally, she placed her hand on the door and forced it open slowly.  She stepped in slowly and looked around for Angel.  Unable to find him, she walked in and closed the door behind her.  Quietly she crept over to the bed.  She could see him lying quietly asleep.  His bare back turned against her revealing his strong shoulders.  She hesitated in waking him, but she needed his help.  What ever was going on in Sunnydale, she did not want to face it alone with no watcher and friends to watch her back.                 

                "Giles, what do you think is wrong with Buffy?  Why does she think that there is still all this evil in Sunnydale?"  Willow was concerned over her friend's sudden change in behavior.  "I mean we're all happy about the fact that there isn't a hell mouth anymore.  And she was fine yesterday."  Buffy had the life she and Willow used to talk about.  Why would she go looking for trouble all of the sudden.

                "I really don't know.  Personally, I haven't talked to her much lately.  I guess I should have.  In theory I am still her watcher."  Giles stood in thought for a moment.  His close relationship with the slayer had dissolved after her fight with the Master.  At first, Buffy pulled away from him.  Finally, he let her go and never questioned it.  "If she did hit her head, it's quite possible that she may have a concussion.  Along with memory loss, she may truly believe that there is still a need for her to be the slayer."  Giles picked up a book that lay next to him.  "Have you noticed any changes in her behavior lately?"

                "I think today would count as a change."  Xander piped in with this sarcastic remark. 

                "I mean besides today.  Willow, has she mentioned feeling left out or not having a purpose lately?"  The wheels in the watcher's head began to turn.

                "No, I don't understand."

                "Well, maybe in her subconscious she has been feeling that her life lacks meaning."

                "Giles, in English for some of us please."

                "Xander, in other words, she feels like she no longer has a purpose or a meaning for her life.  There had been no need for her to be slayer here.  After the traumatic experiences she has had, a part of her may be missing the excitement and purpose it gave to her life."  Giles thought it might be possible.  However unlikely, anything was possible with Buffy.  Then again, he wasn't in the position to say anymore.  He vowed that after this was cleared up, he would resume his role as her watcher and mentor.

                "So Buffy is bored and inventing demons to kill.  That sounds good.  Now who is this Angel guy?"  Xander understood what Giles was saying, even if he couldn't imagine it.  Who would go looking for demons and trouble?  Then again, this was Buffy they were talking about.   Silence fell over the group momentarily.  "Did she ever mention an Angel before?  Is she seeing things too?  I mean are we talking angel as in trumpet and heaven?"

                "I don't think so.  She seems to be talking about a real person.  Someone she thinks she knows really well.  Why else would she think she spent Thursday night with him.  Giles, I never remember her mentioning him ever.  Not even while the master was alive.  It is possible that there is some kind of demon or monster in Sunnydale.  Could Angel be it?"  Willow was concerned.  What if something was in Sunnydale and after Buffy?  Either way, she knew they had to do something about it. 

                "It is possible.  With the master's death, the hell mouth itself did not disappear.  It merely became inactive.  It is plausible that there is some force at work here.  Although, I believe it to be more likely that Buffy took a small blow to the head.  She may have been feeling inadequate.  This whole notion of still slayer may all be a figure of her imagination."  Giles was trying to rationalize her behavior.  A small part of him would love for Buffy to be right.  He would love to experience the thrill and rush of fighting evil, researching and discovering ways to conquer the evil that exists in the world.  The violence, the worrying, these were not things he missed.  He had learned to grow accustomed to the everyday life of a true librarian. 

                "Is it safe for her to be walking about town thinking there are demons after her?  I know she can take care of herself, but what about everyone else in town?"  Xander had a good point for once.

                Giles thought for a moment and stared at the door that Buffy just walked out of.  "That is true.  If she is suffering from a head trauma, she should seek medical assistance.  She should not be walking the streets in her condition.  She has too great of a head start.  We won't be able to follow her.  Do you know where she might go?"  Buffy was extremely skilled in the martial arts.  She could seriously hurt or injury someone without realizing her power.  Walking around town alone, under duress was not an intelligent situation or a safe one.

                "Scott's at practice, besides she didn't even seem to know him.  I don't think she would go home."

                "Well, anyone else still curious to the identity of Angel?"

                "Hum, that may be a good place to start.  Good thinking Xander.  Just in case, why don't you call her house in about 10 minutes to check.  Willow, I need you help to find something in one of my books."  Giles walked over to one of the old, dusty stacks in the back of the library.  All of his private collection was kept back there now. 

                "This is almost like old times.  Buffy fighting evil and us looking through books for solutions.  What are we looking for anyway?"  Willow smiled slightly to cover the concern on her face.

                Giles was already lost in thought.  "I'm not sure.  I'll know when we find it.  Look for anything about or related to Angels."  Giles started scanning through titles and pages, hoping to quickly find the answer to their mystery.

                Buffy watched him for a minute.  He looked so peaceful, almost dead.  Then Buffy remembered that he was dead.  There was no time to wait for him to awake with the sunset.  She needed to talk to him now.  Slowly she walked closer to the bed.  Tentatively, she held out her hand and reached to touch his shoulder.   He moved for a second and Buffy jerked back her hand suddenly.  "This is Angel.  I have nothing to worry about."  Again, she placed her hand out to awake him.

                She stepped back suddenly this time as fangs appeared from the face that was so peaceful a second ago.  Fear ran though Buffy.  What is Angel didn't know her?  What if she was wrong and they weren't in love?  Even worse, if he attacked, was she prepared to fight back for her life?  As she stood there prepared for anything, the seconds slowly passed by to reveal her answer.

                Something startled Angel out of his sleep.  His body told him it was early, too early for him to be up.  Yet, he could feel the presence of someone in his home.  He could smell the fresh, young blood of someone nearby.  Pure animal instinct flowed from him and his deep hunger revealed his fangs.  Quickly he turned around to see his next meal.  He flew out of the bed and grabbed his surprised victim in his arms.  He saw the fear in her eyes.  He moved his teeth closer to her delicate neck.  Suddenly he stopped.  Those eyes, there was something familiar with her eyes.  The expression behind them, he knew it from somewhere.  Suddenly his face softened and his mind filled with a cloud of confusion.  His face was cringed as if he was feeling pain.  "Buffy?"

                Her body relaxed and her heart tried to stop pounding so hard.  For a moment, she almost thought that Angel would bite her.  There was no recognition in his eyes at first, but now something was there.  "Angel, you know me?"  Tentatively, she took a step away from him and attempted to free herself from his arms.

                He quickly released her and sat back down on the bed.  Holding his head in his hands, he tried to shake the fog away from his memory.  Everything was a blur.  Nothing was making sense.  Slowly he stood up and looked into her eyes.  He knew that face, soft hair, firm, but gentle touch.  He knew her and knew she meant a lot to him.  For a minute, he couldn't understand why.  As is the floodgate had been opened suddenly, all of his memory came back to him.  The fog that surrounded his memory had been lifted and everything made sense again.  Buffy stood in front of him looking frightened and concerned.

                "Oh my god."  Angel realized that he almost took her life.  He could not believe he did it.  "Are you okay?" 

She nodded her head yes.  She tried to act confident, but she was shaken up and frightened.  Her heart still raced.  She could almost feel his teeth on her bare neck.  "I'm fine."  The fear in her eyes told him that she wasn't.

"I don't know what just happened.  I can't believe I did that."  He moved closer to her, slowly at first.   He watched her eyes for alarm or more fear.  When he saw that she was beginning to calm down he took her in his arms and held her.

                She was the slayer; she could handle anything.  But sometimes it felt nice to lean on someone else.  Buffy had to be independent and in control.  In Angel's arms, she could let go.  Her problems melted away and nothing seemed to matter.  "You're not the only one acting strange.  The latest news flash is that I'm not the slayer anymore."  Her own voice sounded strange as she heard the words.  No longer the slayer.  She would wish for it sometimes, seeing it as a pain and complication.  Now hearing it from others, she wasn't sure how to feel.

                Now it was Angel's turn to look shocked and surprised.  "What do you mean you're not the slayer anymore?  Is there another slayer in town?"  Angel hadn't heard about any such thing on the street lately, but he had been kind of distracted with Buffy lately.

                "Before we go into that, just answer one question for me.   What do you do last night?"  She waited expectantly.  Her entire sanity hinged on his answer.  Was she loosing her mind?  Did she hit her head?  But Angel knew her; she had to be right. 

                "What do you mean?"  Angel had no idea what Buffy was trying to find out.  "After I left your house, I walked around town a bit, just to check on things.  Then I came back here around dawn and went to sleep.  That is until you woke me up."  Something was wrong.  Buffy was acting strange.  He knew her too well, and although she had calmed down from his initial reaction to her appearance, he could still see fear in her eyes.

                She breathed a small sigh of relief.  "What about Thursday?  Were we together Thursday night?"

                "Yeah, I went out with you on patrol.  It was really quiet in the cemetery.  Don't you remember?  What has you so spooked?"  Angel was beginning to grow aggravated.  Nothing was making any sense.  "Tell me what's going on."

                "Well, you're never going to believe this one."  Buffy sat down in a chair in the room while Angel went to get her a drink of water.  "I went to school this morning and I got back my test from Friday.  I got an A on it."

                Angel tried to hide his smile and amusement.  "I can see why you're so upset."

                "Very funny.  That's not the whole.  After class, Willow said we'd studied Thursday night for the test together.  Supposedly, I've been some kind of A student lately.  Giles is acting really strange.  Some weird guy came up and kissed me.  I have books in my locker, and Cordelia and Xander aren't going out."  As she talked, her words became more rapid.  She was unable to hold back the fear she felt inside.  Every inch of her being cried out that this was wrong. 

                "Who kissed you?" 

                "That's not important.  Everything has changed overnight.  We have to find out what's going on?"  She rose up from the chair and started to walk about the room to expel her nervous energy. 

                "How can that not be important?"  Angel didn't mean to dwell on the issue, but it was important to him.  A part of him knew he and Buffy would never have a future together, but he still felt jealous and protective of her.

                "There are worse problems than that okay.  Did you know that the hell mouth no longer exists under Sunnydale?  And if it does, it been inactive since the Master was destroyed."  She stopped for a moment and looked down at the floor.  "Giles acted like he didn't even know me, or care about my life."  She turned around.  The hurt showed through her eyes and could be heard in her voice.  "He was so cold.  I've never seen him like that before.  He said he hasn't had to act as my watcher since the Master.  They haven't been any vampires left in Sunnydale and there hasn't been any slaying."

                He walked closer to her and took her hand.  "Hey, we both know that's not true.  We were just out the other night.  What did we get two?  Besides, I'm a vampire and I'm in Sunnydale.  Giles is wrong."  He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes.  "Why don't you stay here until the sun sets.  After that, we'll go find out what's going on.  We'll get to the bottom of this.  I promise."

                "You know something.  When I told Willow I was with you on Thursday, she didn't even know who you were.  Neither did Giles or Xander."  She paused for a moment again, finding the courage to let her fears go.  "For a second when I came in here and you looked like you were, well, you know.  I thought you didn't know me either.  For a minute, I thought I had lost it completely." 

                "Hey, everything's going to be okay.  We'll find out what's going on.  I promise I'll be there for you."

                It seemed like forever until the sunset, allowing Buffy and Angel to go out and find the source of confusing overturning Sunnydale.

                "Giles, is this anything?  It's a vampire named Angelus.  It says here that he was sometimes called Angel for short. Could this be whom Buffy was talking about?  Could there be a vampire back in Sunnydale?"  Willow hoped with all her heart that she was wrong.  The vampires had caused enough problems.  After they had left, life appeared to be normal in Sunnydale.  Well, as normal as it could be.

                "Angelus, the vampire, I hope not.  If I remember correctly, he was one of the most vicious killers in all of Europe.  He would torture his victims before finally killing them.  The watcher's journals even say that he caused some vampires to be become insane when created."  Giles walked over and looked at the book that Willow had been reading from.  "I don't remember ever hearing about his being in America, let alone in Sunnydale.  Come to think of it, I don't remember his name ever being mentioned within the last couple of centuries.  It was as if he mysteriously disappeared.  According to this book, the watcher's society assumed that he had been killed some how."  Giles held his glasses from him mouth for a moment, deep in thought.  This vampire was destroyed, he was sure of it.  "Keep looking, I don't think this has any relevance to Buffy's Angel.  Xander, have you found anything?"

                "Besides a bunch of old dusty books, No.  How do we know if we found something when we don't even know what we're looking for?  We've been searching through these books all day.  If I don't take a break, I'm going to go blind."  Xander stood up and stretched out his long, lean arms.  He didn't do this much reading for his classes.  He couldn't believe he was doing all this reading and researching for a non-school related activity.  "What do you say Will, cola or orange?"  Xander started to walk out the door when someone walked in.  It was Buffy with a tall older guy next to her.

                "Hey Buffy, where ya been?  And who's the pale guy?"  Xander was never one for small talk.  Direct and to the point was the best way to go. 

                "Hey Xander.  I guess that's better than undead boy." 

                "Undead boy?" 

                "Yeah, undead boy.  Like as in vampire.  Don't you remember that you're always calling me that, not that I like it."  Angel was starting to understand what Buffy meant.

                "Angel, as in Angelus the vampire.  Buffy get away from him."  Giles ran into to his office and brought a cross back out.  Holding the cross out in front of him, he went over and grabbed Buffy by the arm. 

                Buffy shrugged him off.  Knowing the discomfort the cross would cause Angel, she put it down on the counter.  "Relax Giles, he's a good vampire.  He's on our side."

                "Buffy, I don't think you understand.  Do you know what kind of death and damage he caused years ago in Europe?  The amount of pain and suffering was imaginable.  How can he be on our side?"  Giles was reluctant to relax his guard.  From his experience and reading, vampires were not a friend of the family.  At least a family that lived long.  His belief in Buffy was the only thing stopping him from taking out the holy water and a stake.

                "I think we need to all sit down and talk about this."  Buffy sat around the table with her closest friends.  Yet, she realized that her friends didn't know her as well as she thought.  "Something is very wrong here."

                "Besides the fact that we're sitting in the same room with a vampire having a nice cozy chat?  What could be wrong?"  Xander tried to keep quiet.  With a sharp look from Giles and Buffy, he realized his comments were unwelcomed.

                "I'm serious.  Everything is wrong here.  You said there is no need for a slayer anymore, but I know I went out hunting the other night.  Angel was with me.  And Willow, we didn't study for that test together.  I was out slaying that night with Angel.  I mean me studying and getting A's.  Doesn't that sound weird?"  Not that she didn't want to do well in school, but there was always a vampire or demon inhibiting her from devoting time to studying.

                "And you believe the same thing Angelus, yes?"  Giles was extremely uncomfortable with his presence, but tried to suppress his feelings.  If Buffy was right, something serious was going on.  If she wasn't, he had to find a way to help her understand reality.  At least reality as he saw it.

                "Angel, yeah. 

                "Well, this does cause an interesting situation. I hope you understand though.  Although Buffy may trust you, I do not.  I have no proof that you are telling the truth."

                "Giles!"  Buffy stared at him in disbelief.  She didn't understand how he could be so rude.

                "I'm sorry Buffy, but how do we know that maybe Angel has led you to believe that you are still needed as the slayer.  How do we know this isn't his doing?"  Giles was extremely adamant about his distrust of Angel.  He was too uncertain about the circumstances around him.  Everything he was ever taught, everything he ever learned told him having a conversation with a "friendly" vampire was impossible.

                "Giles, just trust me on this one.  I know something is wrong.  Can't you feel it?"  Buffy thought for a moment, trying to figure out how to convince Giles that she was right.  "Hey Will, were is Oz?"

                "At the end of the yellow-brick road?"

                "Very funny, I'm serious.  Where is he?"

                Willow was still bewildered.  "Who is Oz?"

                Angel decided to give it a try now.  "Oz, small guy, the love of your life.  He plays is a band, turns into a werewolf during the full moons."

                "Me, dating a werewolf!  Who told you such a thing?  Buffy, you know who I like.  As far as we both know, he doesn't turn into a werewolf and howl at the moon."  Willow never knew Xander to turn into a werewolf.  Howl at the moon, maybe, but not because he was a wolf.

                "That's enough. This is not getting us anywhere."  Giles stood up and walked around the table trying to collect his thoughts.  "All right.  Now Buffy, when did this all start?  When did you first notice that something was different than you believe it should be?"

                "This morning.  I guess if I had to pinpoint the moment of weirdness, I'd say when I walked in here and talked to you this morning."  Buffy didn't know where Giles was going with his question, but she tried to follow.

                "Very good.  Now, starting with, uh, let's say, last night.  Tell us everything that happened to you between then and now."  Giles knew there had to be an answer for all this confusion, whether it be supernatural or logical.  Either way, they had to resolve the situation.

                "Okay, last night Angel was over.  We watched a movie.  He went home.  I went to bed.  I got up this morning.  Showered, changed, and came to school.  Then you come in."  Buffy started to become impatient.  The problem was not with her, but with everyone else. 

                Giles stood and stared at her.  He held the glasses by his mouth.  "Is it possible that you're leaving out details?  For instance, where did you obtain that bruise on your forehead?"

                "I don't know."

                "It happened last night."  All eyes focused on Angel.  Some were suspicious, others merely curious.  "Last night, while we were watching the movie.  You fell asleep.  You had a nightmare or something.  When I tried to wake you, you fell on the floor.  Not before you hit your head on the coffee table though." 

                "Buffy, do you remember this nightmare?"  Giles was slightly suspicious of the vampire sitting across the table from him.  "Do you remember what happened?"

                "Whatever it was, it had you pretty shaken up.  You practically threw me out the door."

                Xander couldn't keep his mouth closed any longer.  "That seems to be the only sensible thing we've heard so far.  She obviously didn't throw you out hard enough."

                Buffy snapped out of her momentary trance.  She couldn't help but remember the horrible nightmare she had the night before and how it almost came true.  "Xander, lay off.  You don't even know him anymore."  She turned her attention back to Giles.  "I remember the dream Giles.   It really freaked me out.  I was really startled when Angel woke me.  I pulled away instinctively and fell on the floor.  It took me a few minutes to realize that it was all a dream."

                Giles had not spent much time with Buffy, but he could still sense when she was avoiding a direct question.  "Buffy, the dream.  What happened?"

                "Well, I don't remember everything."  She watched as Giles stood there, trying to prod her on.  "Angel and I were watching this movie and you knocked on the door.  You said you had this horrible feeling that something was about to happen."

                "Did I give you any reason?"

                "No, you said it was just a feeling.  That it had been too quiet lately.  I told you to learn to take a vacation.  Finally, you decided we would talk about it in the morning and you wanted to start doing some serious training again.  Before you left, Angel suggested that we go take a quick look around to make sure everything was all right.  You seemed happy with that and you left." 

                "Was that the end?"

                "No."  Hesitantly, she continued explaining her dream.  "Angel and I went out.  We were in the cemetery.  We had been out for over an hour.  I wanted to go home.  When I asked him if he wanted to leave, he didn't answer me.  I grabbed his arm."  Buffy found it hard to say.  Angel sat now at her side trying to find the same answers as she was. 

                Giles didn't like the hesitation he was seeing.  "Go on.  What happened?"

                Buffy started to squirm and twist in her seat.  She suddenly felt very uncomfortable in a room with people who all seemed to be strangers.  "Well," she turned to Angel.  "When you turned around, you were in full vamp mode.  It was like you didn't know me anymore.   You grabbed me and pushed me against a tree.  You started to bite my neck.   That's when you woke me up."  Buffy startled momentarily as Angel jumped up from his seat. 

                Angel had never felt so sick in his life.  Quickly he stood up and ran into Giles' office, pulling the garbage pail out from under the desk in just enough time.

                "Okay, does anyone else find this weird?  We have a vampire puking into a garbage pail?"  Xander couldn't help but sit in the chair utterly confused.

                "Do vampires get sick?" Willow chimed in.

                "Very interesting question.  This one does."  Giles watched as Buffy went into his office to check on Angel.  He followed her, still looking for answers to only more questions.

                "Angel?"  Buffy walked up slowly next to him.  He stood next to Giles' desk and the pail was placed on top.  He head hung low and his arms rested on the sides of the pail. Slowly he lifted his head.  "Here, sit down for a minute."  She pulled out Giles' chair for him.  "Are you okay?"

                Her face was filled with such concern for him.  Yet, her dreams about him were nightmares.  "Buffy," he didn't know what to say to complete the sentence.  "I haven't been sick since I became a vampire.  I forgot what it felt like."  His stomach turned.  Even the thought of feeding brought back waves of nausea.

                Giles took a small bottle out of his desk and emptied its contents into a cup.  "Here you go.  Why don't you rise you mouth out with this?"  He watched in amazement as Angel did as he was told.  "Angel, why don't you come out here and try to sit down for a moment."  As they left his office, he grabbed a book from his shelf.  When they were back sitting around the table, Giles started to try and put the pieces back together.  "You say you're a vampire.  Yet, by everything we have ever known about vampire tells us that they don't get sick.  Who are you?"

                "Giles, something is going on here.  Angel is definitely a vampire.  Trust me on this one."

                Giles cut Buffy off before she finished.  "That glass I gave you, it was full of holy water."

                "Giles, how could you?"

                "Wait, Buffy."  He placed a hand on her shoulder as she stood up to start yelling at Giles.  "That's not possible.  If that was holy water."

                "Your mouth should be bursting with flames.  Simple solution.  You're not a vampire.  Vampires do not get sick and do not react kindly to holy water. My guess is, the pale face and nausea are your common flu symptoms.  So, that leaves just one question, who are you?"

                "That's not possible.  I went to bed this morning as a vampire.  These things don't change while you sleep.  I've been a vampire for over two hundred years.  I've seen more rulers, slayers, and people come and go, then I care to admit.  Some of them at my own hand."  Angel didn't understand.  He began to doubt everything.  He tried to reason out what was happening.  Both he and Buffy knew things were different.  Yet, Giles and the others had no idea.  He started to think that maybe something didn't happened to he and Buffy.  Maybe something happened to everyone else.

                Giles took out the watcher's journal on Angelus.  He randomly started asking Angel different questions.  To his surprise, Angel answered everyone right and even told Giles about a few mistakes that were made in the book.  Finally, Giles had enough.  "There is one way to settle this.  Angelus had a very distinct tattoo on his back."  Before he could finish.  Angel stood up in front of him and took his shirt off.  There across his back was the very same tattoo that Angelus had.  "Well, it's very nice that you've studied up on history and events.   How do I know you didn't just steal the journal from my office?  You could have had any number of people duplicate the tattoo in the book."

                Angel could no longer take the frustration any longer.  He stood up from his chair, throwing it against the wall.  It smashed into small pieces.  He turned around to face Giles.  "What can I give you for proof?"

                "That'll do it."

                "What?"  Angel stood still, unable to realize why everyone was staring at him.  Xander and Willow began to slide their chairs slightly further away.  He looked at Buffy.  She motioned slightly at her face.  Finally he realized the anger had caused his face to morph.  He stood before them with his fangs displayed unmistakably.   He had never been so relieved to feel the fangs that replaced his teeth.  Quickly he tried to relax his face and allow his face to morph back.  After a few seconds, Angel once again stood in front of them.

                "Well, we have an interesting situation here.  A vampire that is no longer affected by holy water."  Giles walked across the room and picked up the cross.  "May I."  He approached Angel with the cross in his hand, and watched, as Angel didn't even so much as flinch.  He pressed the cross into the vampire's hand.  Yet, nothing happened.  "Buffy, do you have a mirror in your purse?"  Quickly Buffy pulled out the compact and handed it to Giles.  He handed it to Angel.

                Angel hesitated as he opened the compact.  It had been a couple of centuries since he was able to see his reflection in the mirror.  He looked into the mirror and stayed frozen for a minute. 

                Buffy was too curious to wait for his response.  She walked around behind him and looked into the mirror.  A gorgeous image looked back out of the mirror.  It was not hers, it was Angel's.  "Okay, he has a reflection.  Giles, you have a completely reasonable explanation for this, right?"

                "Buffy, I've never heard of anything that could give a vampire human qualities again.  I don't think the subject has ever been considered.  Once you're a vampire, you stay a vampire.  Until you're killed that is."  Giles was baffled by the present situation.  He had never read anything remotely similar to what he was experiencing.

                "Ow!" 

                They all turned around to see Angel standing at the counter.  A knife lay next to him.  He tried to hold his hand closed, but the blood continued to drip out.  "Angel, what are you doing?"  Buffy walked over and looked at his hand.  There was a fairly nice size gash that was bleeding profusely. 

                Angel ignored her nursing and waited.  As time passed by, his hand didn't heal.  "This should have healed by now.  It was only a shallow wound."  As he stared at his hand, not only did it not heal, it had yet to stop bleeding.  He clasped his hand down harder on the wound, hoping to finally stop the bleeding.  "Okay, it's not the smartest thing I've done, but not the dumbest.  I think its safe to say that the immortal quality is gone."  Allowing Buffy to wrap the wound, he stood speechless.  "I have a reflection.  Holy water or a cross does not affect me, and I no longer heal.  There has to be something about this in one of your books."

                "Yet you have the face of a vampire and not the disposition.  The fact that you have a soul is amazing enough.  Exactly how did this come about?"

                "Giles, can we focus here?  That isn't the problem.  You should have known how Angel got his soul back.  Willow, I wasn't at your house studying.  And I am not an A student."  She tried to calm down, but the facts did not make sense.  "How come we're the only ones who remember what is right?"  She looked up at Angel's face, only to see it as confused as her own. 

                  "Hey Buffy, I hate to do this, but can this discussion continue without me.  I think I'm going to be sick again."

                Buffy raised her hand to his cheek in sympathy.  She felt warmth beneath her hand.  "Angel, you're really warm."  Quickly, she felt his forehead.  "You're really warm.  I think you have a fever.  That's impossible."

                "Giles was right about something.  He probably does have the flu.  Everyone else does.  Why not the town vampire?"  Xander felt it was time to state the obvious again.

                 Suddenly, as if on cue, Angel began coughing violently.  He tried to stop, but it was as if he lost control over his own body.  Finding himself gasping for air and unable to breath, he began to feel dizzy.  "Buffy, I don't know what's going on, but I might need to lay down for a while," he told her in between coughs. 

                Giles found himself very confused and uncertain about all he was hearing.  "I think the first thing we need to do is get you home.  There may be some clue as to your identity and the truth as you see it at your home.  Assuming you live in Sunnydale and telling the truth." 

                "Giles, you have to help him.  You have to figure out what's going on."  Buffy knew she was beginning to sound like a pleading child, but right now, Angel was sick.  Nothing else mattered.  "Come on, Giles is right about one thing, we need to get you in bed."

                Buffy helped Angel walk out to Giles' car.  He became weaker with each passing moment.  Hardly able to walk, he allowed Buffy to head him out.  For the first time in two centuries, he felt his chest tighten and restrict his breathing as he coughed constantly.  But, he was a vampire.  Vampires weren't supposed to have to breathe.  Sitting in the back of Giles' run down car with Buffy on one side and Xander on the other, he tried to understand what was happening.  Yet, he found himself quickly falling asleep, too exhausted to fight the on coming darkness.

                Giles glanced into the rear view mirror.  The man who claimed to be a vampire was now asleep and extremely ill.  He could not fathom how any demon, especially a vampire, could appear so mortal as to not be affected by holy water and a cross, and yet, still bare fangs.  He glanced at Willow, who sat in front with him.  The girl was tense and nervous.  She was concerned about Buffy's behavior, like all of them.  Could something be wrong and only Buffy and Angel are aware of the changes?  As he followed Buffy's directions to Angel's place, he only hoped that answers and not further danger awaited them there.

                The drive seemed to take forever and was lengthened by the lack of conversation.  Except for Buffy's occasional 'make a right', no one spoke a word.  Yet, looks were being exchanged.  Each wondered what kind of trouble lay ahead.  Willow sighed quietly.  Buffy was her best friend, but Buffy almost sounded insane the way she spoke.  Willow dismissed the thought and quickly chided herself for not trusting her friend.

                "Angel," Buffy shook him softly to wake him.  As he opened his eyes, she could see how groggy and disorientated he was.  Carefully, she helped him out of the car and into the apartment.  Everything appeared to be the same as when they had left earlier that evening.  Buffy was quietly relieved that at least one thing remained the same.  After helping him to bed and covering him with an old, brown blanket he kept at the foot of the bed, she walked out into the living room to speak to Giles.

                After entering the apartment, no one dare follow Buffy into the bedroom.  Giles curiously, yet cautiously, looked around.  The room was mostly empty, except for a few chairs.  Very little furniture or trinkets adorned any of the rooms.  What was there, appeared to be very old.  One thing Giles did notice was the abundance of books.  It was hard to miss them laying everywhere, especially when the empty rooms only increased the appearance of the number of books.  Looking at a few titles, he found them to be classics.  A few were written in other languages, like French and Italian from the looks.

                "Giles, I don't understand.  How is all of this happening?"

                "Buffy, I'm not certain I know what is going on right now, let alone what you say should be happening.  What I'd like to know is who that is laying in the bed.  How can he possibly be a vampire and immune to a cross and holy water?  We won't even bring up the fact that no one has seen Angelus for the past hundred years or so and suddenly he's in Sunnydale sick with the flu."  Giles took off his glasses and attempted to clean them.  "How do expect us to believe any of this?"  He could see how flustered and angry she was becoming.  "Now wait, I'm not saying that your crazy."

                "No, but you don't believe me?"

                "Buffy, I believe that you believe something is wrong.  However, you must understand, if he is indeed Angelus, this could all be part of a master plan of his.  Buffy, he specialized in driving his prey mad.  What is the possibility that he put these notions in your head."  Giles had to wonder if it was some sort of trick.  Angelus could have come to town looking for the slayer.  He could have used some type of spell on Buffy, as well as himself to make him immune and almost mortal.  "He may not be sick at all.  You need to calm down and think this clearly though."

                She could not believe what she was hearing.  "Giles, I know this sounds crazy, but he didn't put these ideas into my mind.  I came looking for him.  I knew there was something wrong before seeing him.  Besides he's not like that anymore.  He's a good vampire.  He has his soul back.  He would never do anything to hurt me."

                "Is that why you dreamt he took your life?"                Before she could answer and try to make him understand, a scream can from the bedroom.

                "Buffy!  Buffy!" 

                "Angel," she ran into the bedroom and froze in her tracks.  She was unable to move.  Her mouth hung open and her heart stopped for a moment.

                Angel looked over at Buffy and her reaction.  "Then I'm not hallucinating.  She's there."

He began shaking his head.  "No, no.  I killed you.  You're dead.  How can this be?"

                By now Giles and the others had entered the room behind Buffy to witness an extremely distraught Angel backing away from an unfamiliar woman.  "Who has he killed?  Buffy, what is going on here?"  Giles caught a glimpse of Buffy's face and realized it was as ashen as Angel's.  Determined to find answers, he turned to the unknown woman.  "I'm sorry to be so blunt, but who are you and why are you here?"