DISCLAIMER: These Characters are not mine; with the exception of Jessica. I am not Joss Whedon. I live in the middle of nowhere not on the sunny west coast.

SPOILERS: Up to Becoming Pt 2

SUMMARY: This fic is based on a challenge posted on a site. The basic gist of the challenge is that after 'Becoming Pt 2', Buffy left Sunnydale. She never came back. Angel came back from hell a few months later with a permanent soul. He made friends with the Scooby gang again and everyone's trying to find Buffy to no avail. They continue looking for her for two years during which time Faith comes to town and helps to stop the Ascension. She doesn't go all evil. After two years, Angel hears about a psych center inmate who seems to believe that she's a vampire slayer. Of course, it's our favorite petite blonde. Angel runs to LA with the intent of breaking her out but she's really confused. By this time, the doctors have nearly convinced her that vampires are not real and that there is no such thing as a Slayer. Angel and the gang have to protect Buffy while convincing her that she really is the Slayer.

For those that know the show, I have taken certain liberties with the timeline. This fic picks up at the end of 'Anne". That episode happened as is right up to the end. The episode 'Dead Man's Party' never happened; couldn't have if Buffy never came back. I've also placed Doyle in Sunnydale. It's my opinion that the PTB (even though they interfere way more than they should) would at least send him to help out since they're down two Champions and it is the Hellmouth. You'll probably figure out a few more liberties as I go through the story.

A/N: I don't know how long this story is going to be but in accordance with the wishes of the person that posted the challenge, I will try to make it a long story.

Hank Summers was just sitting down to his dinner when a knock sounded at his door. Standing up, he went to answer the door, wondering who would be at his door at this time of night.

Opening the door, his daughter's petite frame greeted him. "Buffy? What are you doing here?" He was worried; his daughter was supposed to be safe and sound in Sunnydale, not running around LA at night alone.

When Buffy looked up at him with tears filling eyes that were much too old for her seventeen year old face, he felt as if a knife had been driven deep into his heart. "Daddy, can I stay here for a while?"

"Why? Buffy, what happened? Where's your mother?" Hank was getting scared; had something happened to Joyce?

"Please, Daddy. Can I just stay here for a while?" The tears started falling and Hank felt his heart melt. He never could tell Buffy no when she started crying.

"Of course, baby. Come on in." He stepped back from the door. "Are you hungry? I was just about to eat. I can fix you something."

"Not really. I'm just tired. Would it be okay if I just went to sleep?" The hopeful note in his daughter's voice warmed Hank a little.

"Sure, baby. Do you want me to call your mom and let her know where you are?"

Buffy stopped in the middle of the hallway she had been following her father down, staring at him in horror. "No! Daddy, you so can't call her. Please."

"Buffy, what happened? Why don't you want me to call your mother?"

Buffy hung her head, tears flowing freely from her eyes. "She – she threw me out. Told me not to come back. It's a long story and I'm really tired. Can we talk about it later?"

Hank pulled his sobbing daughter into his arms. "Sure, sweetheart. We'll talk later. But you have to tell me everything. Because eventually I have to call her. But we'll figure out what to do about all this together. I promise."

"Okay, Daddy." Breaking from his embrace, Buffy walked into the bedroom and closed the door. She didn't even pull back the covers before flinging herself onto the bed and burying her face in the pillow.

Buffy's admission that her mother had thrown her out had shaken Hank to the core. What could have possibly happened to make Joyce do that?

He vowed that he would find out but that would have to wait until Buffy calmed down and told him everything.

As Hank turned to walk away, he heard Buffy say something that made him freeze in his tracks.

"Angel, I'm sorry. I didn't want to kill you like that."