A/N: This story was conceived a while ago (early 2001?) and was written then. Although I watched the first episode of Buffy when it first aired, I didn't get a change to keep up with the series because of work. It wasn't until the middle of Season 5 and Season 2 for Buffy and Angel respectively that I got into the full swing of things. Then as soon as I heard about fan-fiction, I was in! But I had gotten a video tape (pre-DVD releases) that had the episodes where Angel became Angelus and I was transfixed. Something said then seemed to correspond very well with something I had just seen in Buffy's fifth season.and this story was born.

It's called The Death of a Slayer, and there are fourteen parts to it. It's got elements of a Buffy/Spike romance, written before there was a real romance between the two of them. As far as spoilers, this was started after BtVS S5: "Into the Woods" and AtS S2: "Reunion". And since it's been such a long time since those aired, you might want to read a recap or review of those episodes to be in the frame of mind I was in when I started.although it isn't necessary. Most you Buffy fans out there can name the show and number and season of any line of dialogue I could quote you.lol.

The rating for this part is PG-13 and of course these characters and this world does not belong to me but rather to Joss Whedon, Fox, and all those other great peeps that gave us a good show.

If you are interested in putting this story on your website, email me and let me know! I never say no, but I like to know who is supporting my work. Thanks!

*Gotta dedicate this one to my husband, William, who hates to sit and listen to me drone on and on about Buffy and Angel, but does anyway.

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*~*FIRED*~*

Angelus watched the three go. He knew he should just kill them now, before they got too far, but he just let them go. No sense in spoiling their misery and confusion now. He'd wait until the others got there.

Angelus walked to a chair and sat. To look at him, one would think he was brooding, but the slight grin, evil and nasty, on his face told the truth of his plotting.

There had to be four. A certain four. He was tired of mediocrity. It was time to kill the slayer.

*~*BEMUSED, BEWILDERED, AND ROUNDED UP*~*

Darla paced around the small warehouse she had found for herself. Her eyes were narrowed in thought as she paced, relentlessly. Why would Angel let them kill those lawyers? He practically gift wrapped them and hand delivered them. He wasn't Angelus, or at least she didn't think he was. Not fully. So why? She didn't understand it. Unless of course he knew of all the destruction those particular lawyers did. Maybe he justified it to himself. Wrapped it up in pretty paper and told himself it was his gift to humanity. She didn't really care what he did to justify it to himself. She just wondered if he had to justify it to himself. Angelus would never bother. Angel would take decades to do it. She wondered which would happen.

Drusilla was watching her, but after a while Dru grew bored and dozed off on a pile of gunny sacks. But a pair of eyes still watched her.

Lindsey watched Darla pace back and forth, his eyes adjusting to the constant darkness that surrounded them. He smiled, and looked down at his new pale skin. Just like Darla's. Lindsey watched her pace more as he thought of the night before.

He was as surprised as any of them to see Angel in Holland's home. He wondered what kind of move Angel would make against the dangerous beauties that waved death in front of them. He glanced at Drusilla who had stopped taunting Lilah long enough to bark at Angel and move around like sex personified. Then he watched Angel leave them all to die, and was almost glad. Watching Darla drain the life out of Holland brought him no happiness, no sadness, but knowing his turn was coming brought him peace.

She had waited to take him last, protecting him from Drusilla so that she could drain him herself, and then, she took his life. He wasn't sure what compelled her to give him another, but he was glad she had. He knew as long as he was with his love, his sire, things would be ok.

A new scent filled the nostrils of all three vampires at the same time as Angelus dropped down from the rafters above and landed on his feet in front of Lindsey and Darla, waking and startling Drusilla in the process. Lindsey vamped and charged at Angelus, his only thought was to keep him away from his sire. Angelus quickly knocked him to the ground, his movements so fast, it was barely seen by the trained eye of the older vampires.

"Down boy. That's no way to treat a guest." Angelus looks at Darla. "You should teach your pet better manners."

There was no mistaking that smile; that haughty grin. Angelus. Finally, he'd come home.

"Angelus." It wasn't a question. There just was no question anymore.

"The Angel-beast has gone away. Butterflies of all colors have picked him up and fluttered away black as the night." Drusilla swayed slightly as she watched the butterflies that only she could see fly away with the 'Angel- beast'. Darla shook her head at Dru and looked at Angelus again.

"My darling boy. You've come back to me." She walked purposefully up to him as he watched, quiet, dangerous.

*~*BOYFRIEND HAS FLOWN THE COOP*~*

Buffy slammed her fist into the dummy 'attacker' a split second before going into a dive, rolling to her feet and taking its head off with her roundhouse kick. She stared at the dummy, tears coming to her eyes. She sucked them back in. What the hell was she doing anyway? She didn't need Riley. She didn't need these tears. She didn't need this rejection.

"What's wrong with me?" she whispered aloud to herself. Well, whatever it was, it didn't matter anymore. She was through with men. She wasn't stupid. It didn't take writing it out in blood for her. What did Riley ever do anyway? Make her life more complicated, that's what.

She turned to the punching bag and started her kickboxing routine on it.

Punch. Kick. Kick. Punch. Duck. Kick. Punch.

"Still dropping that shoulder."

Buffy straightened up. She turned to Giles.

"Augh. Please don't you start on me now. I so don't need lessons right now."

He looked contrite.

"I'm sorry Buffy. Honestly, that was not my intention." He took his glasses off and started to clean them. Buffy went back to the punching bag.

"So what was your intention?" Punch. Kick.

Giles watched her work out. This was pure frustration she was exhibiting. He supposed he should be glad she was getting it out here in the mini gym he helped make for her, rather than out there with the vampires, demons, and worse.

Giles walked over to the other side of the punching bag and steadied it for her while she continued to punch and kick at it.

"I thought you could use a friend."

"No. What I could use is good nest right now." She stared pointedly at a spot on the bag while she attacked it.

Giles sighed.

"Buffy, I am worried about you. In this state of mind you could very well make a silly mistake that could cost you more than you ever bargained for. I just want you to be careful. You should channel your feelings into your fighting without actually making it personal. See."

"Giles. Spare me for now, ok?" She stopped her routine and went to grab her water and her towel. She took a quick gulp of water and wiped the sweat off of her face.

"I'll tell you what I need. I need to remember who I am. No more playing around at this "I'm just a girl" routine. I'm done with that. I'm the slayer. I need to remember that. Anyone who is going to want to surround themselves with me is going to have to accept that I am the slayer. Slaying is what I was bred to do. Its what I was meant for. I have nothing else and its high time I come to that realization instead of fighting it all the time. You know, Faith had some of it right. The life of a slayer is different. Once you slay you can't go back to normal. I've learned that. No more encores needed." She headed for the door.

"Buffy."

She turned.

"You're just hurt. It will get better."

"No. It won't get better. This is the best there is for a slayer. It can only get worse."

*~*~*~*~*~*

Continued.