This story was written after the first season finale. It was my version of what happened the week after the prom. At the time of writing, I don't think we had heard Joyce's first name, and there may be a few other quirks from that time that appear here. Buffy's dreams are a little more important to this story than to the show, but we wouldn't want to stay too close to canon, would we?

It was originally posted on Anya's archive, but when that went down, I could only find it in corrupted form - some parts missing. Still, I wanted to put it back up, even if I had to rewrite a bit...

Her Duty

Sunday night after the prom, Buffy was walking at night through a moonlit grassy area. She was about 10 or 15 feet from a grove of trees, which she was walking towards.

"Angel...Angel. I was told you'd meet me here."

Angel came out of the grove.

"Angel," Buffy whispered to herself, starting to run toward him. He held out his hand to stop her when she came within four or five feet.

"Please Buffy, no closer."

"I...I thought you wanted to talk," she protested.

"Buffy, we can't see each other any more."

"We've been seeing each other?" she asked, genuinely surprised.

"I just can't bear to be near you, knowing I can't have it all with you."

"Angel, we've had this talk before. I know we decided our relationship could never be anything, but I can't stand it. I've got to have something with you-anything."

"We just can't."

"Angel, I love you. You know that, don't you?"

His reply was instant. "I know."

"And you love me, don't you?," she asked hopefully.

"I think you know the answer to that."

"It doesn't make sense for us not to see each other."

"I can't bear even to be this close to you." he said with a pained look. "I'd better go."

Buffy was nearly crying now. "Angel, please..." She started to follow him. He turned back and looked at her sternly.

"Don't follow me!"

She stopped. Then he softened "Buffy, not now. We'll talk soon." He went back into the grove.

Buffy watched him leave, tears beginning to form in her eyes. She almost didn't hear the noises of the fight beyond the trees. Then she clearly heard his cry for help and ran into the grove. When she saw him, a woman had just pushed a stake into his heart. She ran to grab the stake, but arrived just as he turned to dust.

"What have you done?" she angrily shouted at the woman.

"I'm the Slayer, he was a vampire. I did my duty," was the reply.

"He never did anything to you."

"I did my duty," she said, walking away.

Buffy briefly watched her as she left, wondering what she meant about being the Slayer. Then she turned back to where Angel had been. She fell to the ground, softly crying, saying "Angel, Angel".

She awoke from her nightmare, her pillow moistened by the tears.

What She Missed

On Monday morning after the prom, Buffy found the library doors locked, with a sign saying it was closed for repairs. "Oh great" she thought to herself. She really wanted to talk to Giles about her dream of the night before. Standing with her back to the door, she noticed Willow and ran to catch her.

"Willow, do you know where Giles is?"

"He took the day off since the library won't open until tomorrow," Willow replied. "I think he wanted a rest from prom night as well."

"We all do, but I need to talk to him."

"You can call him at home-he's in the book," Willow suggested.

"Have you seen Xander?" Buffy asked after a brief hesitation.

"I haven't seen him today. I talked to him yesterday. He seems OK, but I think he's a little upset still about when you turned him down for the prom."

"You know about that?"

"Yeah," Willow replied. "He even practiced on me before he asked you."

"Willow, I know you have feelings for him..."

"And you can't see why..." Willow interrupted. "Uh...not that I want you to."

"I can see why. I don't know how or why he was there that night, but when I needed him most, he, and Angel, were there."

"When we found out about the prophecy that you would die, and where you were going, all he could think about was how to help you. He went for Angel."

"He's like that." Buffy commented. "I feel like such a heel. All he's ever done is try to help me. And he never abandons you, no matter what the situation is. It was the same with Jesse, he risked a lot to try to save him. How could I have known him for so long, and missed that part of him?"

"I didn't miss it. I've always known that about him."

The Call

Buffy had just put a quarter into a pay phone. She dialed Giles' number.

"You have reached the home of Rupert Giles. Please leave a message at the tone."

"I hope you get this soon," she thought.

"Giles, I need to talk to you," she said after the beep. "I've had a dream ... about a Slayer. I know you're not in the library today, but can you please come by my house after school sometime. I really need to talk to you."

The Envy

Angel opened his door, surprised to see that it was Xander who was knocking.

Angel greeted him with a "Back so soon?"

Xander took only a couple of steps into his home. "I just wanted to thank you for helping me find Buffy the other night."

"I did it for her, not you."

"Yeah, but we did well. We saved her. She would not be alive if it wasn't for us... For me."

"And your whole race would be dead if it wasn't for her." Angel retorted.

"Don't you get it?" Xander shot back. "You're there for her all the time. She's told of how you've saved her life, been there to help her. Where I always wanted to be. This time it was me. Me. I saved her, and she wouldn't even go to the dance with me."

Xander turned to leave, having upset himself..

Just after he turned, Angel spoke, softer this time. "Do you know how much I envy you? You see her every day, you're with her, you talk to her and she to you. I would give anything to be able to do that.."

Xander turned around. "It's easy for you to envy me, she likes you...She loves you."

He left. Angel walked around the apartment briefly, upset, finally collapsing on the couch.

"She loves me," he whispered to himself. "I've got to see her-when it gets dark."

Different

Late Monday evening, Giles knocked at Buffy's door. Her mother opened it.

"Mr. Giles," she said genuinely pleased to see him. "Buffy told me you might come by."

"How is she?" he asked.

"Something seems to have upset her on prom night. She hasn't been the same since. She went to school, and seemed OK , but since then she just lies in her room and mopes. It was the same all day yesterday. Do you know what could be wrong?"

"May I see her?" he asked, skirting the question. She led him upstairs. He was glad she did not pursue the matter further.

She opened the door, finding a very upset Buffy lying on her bed.

"Buffy," Giles said. Buffy looked, but did not speak.

"May I speak to her privately?" He got a strange look, but her mother nodded and left.

"Buffy, What's wrong?"

"Giles, something changed when I fought the Master," Buffy began. "I drowned. Then Xander and...and Angel brought me back. I feel different, but I don't know why or how? And I can't even find Xander or Angel to talk to...not that I'd know what to say. What could have happened to me?"

"I don't know. You said something about a dream?"

Buffy stared at him for a moment annoyed, that he did not answer her first question.

"Yes," she finally said, "about a Slayer."

"It is not uncommon for a Slayer to dream about her predecessors."

"I know that," she said, still annoyed. " I've had those dreams before. But this was different. In my other dreams, the Slayer was always on her last hunt, the one where the vampire killed her. And the slayer was always me. It was someone else's body, but it was always me inside. In this dream, it wasn't the last hunt, at least I don't think it was. And the Slayer was someone else."

"Someone else?" Giles was surprised.

"Yes. Not me. " She was coming close to crying again. "And she killed Angel"

"Angel?"

"Yes. Is he OK? I need to see him. I want to see him. But I have no idea where he lives or how to reach him. Can you somehow tell him?" She was pleading.

"Buffy, I will try to get word to him, but I don't know what he will do."

"Giles, What does this dream mean?" she asked, satisfied that he would try. "Is she the one, the one who replaces me? Does she take over for me now? Am I retired? Or am I going to die...again? What does it mean? And why do I feel so different?"

"I don't know. Perhaps I'd better go consult my volumes" He turned to leave.

"Giles don't leave, please. I have no one to talk to, and I need to talk just now. Please stay and talk, just for a few minutes. Something's different It's as if the Master kept my life together, and now that he's dead its all falling apart. Giles, I need to talk. Please stay."

Giles paused, then turned back to her.

The Helpers

Buffy's mother greeted Giles as he came down the stairs.

"How is she?" she asked.

"Sleeping," he said as he put his coat on.

"What can I do for her?" she asked, walking with him towards the door. "I thought she was fitting in well here. Then this, whatever it is, happens. How can I help her?"

"I wish I knew."

"Well, thanks for coming," she said as she opened the door.

When they opened the door, they saw Angel standing there, about to knock.

"You," was all Giles could muster, surprised.

"I remember you." she said. "You're a friend of Buffy's. Angel, isn't it?"

"Yes," Angel replied, looking first at Giles, them at Buffy's mother. " May I see her?"

"She's sleeping," Giles said. "But I didn't think you would want ..." He did not finish.

"After seeing her Saturday, I just have to," Angel replied. "I have to talk to her."

Her mom was surprised. "You saw her on prom night?"

"Y..Yes" Angel said, not sure what was going on.

"What happened?" she asked. "She seems so different now?"

"She is different. And so am I."

"Mr. Giles," she began, hoping to get to the bottom of it all, "can you and Angel stay and talk for a minute? I know you're her favorite teacher and," she looked at Angel "I know how she feels about you. We might come up with a way to help her."

"I'd like that very much," Giles replied. He wanted to help her as much as anyone.

"I guess so..." said Angel, still not sure what was happening.

Rupert

Buffy was walking in the same area as in her first dream. "Angel, are you here? Angel, Angel"

A voice came from behind her. "Who is Angel?"

Buffy looked to see the woman from her previous dream.

"Uh, it's not important."

The woman smirked at her. "You better be careful here. Vampires!"

"What did you mean when you said you were the Slayer?" Buffy asked, reminded now of her first encounter, and a little upset that someone was moving in on her territory.

"I am the Slayer," said the woman. "I am the Chosen One."

"How can you be the Slayer. I'm the Slayer." Buffy was getting defensive.

The woman, larger and more muscular than Buffy, looked at her carefully. The smirk remained.

"I don't think so," the woman said. "I'm the Chosen One. You're so tiny. One punch and you'd be out. I'm the Slayer." She paused briefly. "I feel one." She turned and ran leaving Buffy behind her yelling.

"You can't be the Slayer. I'm the Slayer. I'm the Slayer. I'm the Slayer"

Her mother was shaking her at this point, saying "Buffy, Buffy" in between Buffy's "I'm the Slayer" calls. Buffy finally woke up. She stared at mom for a few seconds, then she remembered that Giles had been there when she fell asleep.

"Mom?" Mom just stared

"Where's Giles?" Buffy asked.

"He went home. Last night. We did have a good talk though. Angel was here too."

Buffy sat up. "Angel was here?"

"Yes. But it's time for you to get ready for school"

"What could you three have to talk about except...me. Mom, I really don't want to go to school today."

She winced. "Buffy please don't do this. You know you have to. I'm sure whatever your problem is, you and Rupert can work it out."

"Rupert?"

"Come on, get ready."

In the Stacks

Xander was in the library, almost in the stacks, talking to Giles who was standing near him.

"I think she wants to talk to you," Giles said.

"I'm not sure I'm ready," Xander said.

"You can't keep just not going to class."

They heard Buffy speak, as she opened the library door.

"Giles"

Xander, hearing Buffy hid in the stacks, whispering something to himself about it both starting and ending in the stacks.

"Giles, are you here?" Buffy asked, not seeing him immediately.

He started downstairs. "Um, yes"

"Have you seen Willow or Xander?"

"No, not today. Willow did call me yesterday, actually."

"What did she say?" Buffy asked.

"She was concerned about Xander. Something about you turning down his invitation to the prom. It apparently hurt him very much."

"I know," she said thoughtfully. "What have I done? Giles, I don't know what to do. I need to talk to Xander, but I don't know what to say."

"Tell him how you feel," came the suggestion.

"I did that before, and it did not work out well. Really, I'm not sure that I feel the same anymore."

"Not sure?"

Then she remembered Angel. "Mom said Angel was at my house last night with you."

"Yes."

"I wish you had woken me up."

"You needed your sleep," Giles replied.

"Did you ask if I could meet him?"

Giles glanced at the stacks and lowered his voice. "Yes. Come by after school and I'll give you the details."

Buffy nodded and then remembered something else. "I dreamt about the Slayer again."

Giles was intrigued. "Two dreams. It almost is assured of having some significance."

"Did you find anything in your books?"

"I haven't really had time to research it ..."

"I understand," Buffy said, with an impish grin. "Checking out my Mom."

"Checking out?"

"Oh don't worry-I think it's cute... Rupert." Her grin got bigger.

Giles was not amused. "Shouldn't you be in class?" he sternly asked.

Buffy started to leave. "Yeah, Yeah, I'm going. And thus begins another glorious day of my new life.."

The Ego

Buffy returned to the library finding Giles there.

"What's the sitch on Angel?"

"Buffy, Angel wants to meet you tonight."

"Did he give you his address?"

"He doesn't want to meet there," Giles replied. "Actually he wants to meet at the park near the post office."

"I don't think I've ever been there. "

"It's about a block south of the post office. You can't miss it."

"What time."

"Thirty minutes after sundown."

"Giles," Buffy began, "what were you three talking about last night? It had to be me."

"That's rather egotistical of you. There are so many things to talk about besides you."

Buffy was caught off guard, and really had Angel on her mind more than the other events.

"I know," she lamely replied. "Sorry." She left.

"Egotistical," Giles thought, "but accurate."

The Vampires and the Humans

Buffy arrived at the park at the appointed time. She was horrified to find herself in the same area as in her dreams.

"Oh no!" she whispered to herself.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and whirled around, startled, not knowing what to expect..

"Xander" she said, annoyed at his appearance. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard you wanted to talk to me, and I want to talk to you."

"Now is not a good time."

"Why not?" he asked. "You're not here to meet him, are you?"

Buffy tried to bluff him. "Xander, you should leave. I'm hunting..."

"No you're not. Where's your stakes, and other stuff?"

"Xander!" She was frustrated. She wanted to talk to him, but not here, not now.

Angel came out of the grove of trees and approached Buffy.

"Buffy. I thought you'd come alone."

She glared at Xander. "I thought I did."

Angel turned to leave. "Maybe we'd better do this another time."

Buffy started to follow him. "Angel, please don't go."

He did not turn back. "Don't follow."

Xander grabbed Buffy's arm to pull her back, saying "He doesn't want to be followed."

"Let me go..." Buffy demanded.

Suddenly the woman from Buffy's dreams jumped out of one of the trees landing between Buffy and Angel.

"Hello, Vampire!," the woman said to Angel.

Buffy turned towards the voice and recognized her.

"Xander, let me go, I think she's going to kill him."

"No," the boy replied. "I think they know each other."

Buffy turned around to look at them again.

"What are you doing here?" Angel asked the woman.

"I heard there's a Slayer here," came the reply. "I came to take care of it."

"You shouldn't be here."`

"And I've heard of you, and what you're doing to us. Maybe I'll take care of that as well."

She turned and looked at Buffy and Xander. Her face turned into a vampire. "Perhaps I'll eat first!"

Angel reacted immediately, grabbing her. "Leave them alone!"

"Why, are they yours?" The woman was surprised.

"They are. Don't go near them."

The woman looked at him for a moment, her face returning to normal. "So you still have your pets. Perhaps all I've heard about you is not true. Time will tell." She ran into the trees.

"Angel, who is that?" Buffy asked as he watched her.

Angel's response was short. He left following the woman. "We'll have this talk another time."

Buffy was upset, and briefly considered following, but only watched him leave.

After a moment, Xander softly spoke. "Buffy, we can have our talk now, while I walk you home-if you're willing."

"OK, but I'm not sure I'm in the best mood for it."

She calmed down as they began walking.

"Xander, I did want to thank you for what you did on prom night."

"No big deal" he said. Still not comfortable being with her. "Anyone would have done the same."

"No one else did. And it was a big deal. You saved my life. You always try to help me. I always knew that, but am just now realizing it."

"When you need help, I can think of nothing else."

"What happened?" she asked. "How did you come to be there?"

"Willow was worried about you. She came to my house and we went to the library. Giles told us about the prophecy and that you had gone anyway. I couldn't just sit around. I had to do something. So I went to Angel, and persuaded him to take me to where the Master was."

"You know where Angel lives?" Buffy asked.

"Yes. I was there last night."

"Everyone sees Angel but me."

Xander was annoyed that Angel had come up again. "Buffy, you know what I want from you. It hasn't changed."

"I know."

"What do you want from me? I know you were looking for me."

"I wanted to thank you, and I want time. I want things to be the same between us while I sort out what's happening."

"Things can't be the same." Xander protested. "I'm not the same now, and neither are you."

"True, but can't we still be friends until I've resolved things with...uh...well"

"With him." Xander said, starting to get upset. "You still have feelings for him? I thought you said you've changed."

"I didn't say that my feelings for him have changed."

"What then. Your feelings for me?"

Buffy just looked at him. Finally she closed her eyes and slightly nodded.

"He said he envied me," Xander said, calming down.

"He said that?"

"Yes. Because I talk to you, and you talk to me every day. He said he envies that."

"What did you say?"

" I said it was easy for him to envy me because you love him."

"You told him that?" Buffy said, almost sounding sad.

"Yes," Xander replied. "Now I know how he feels. He's always saying that he can't bear to be near you. Its harder for me to be near you now."

"Xander, I just asked for some time."

Xander didn't respond, but started walking faster.

"Will you take me to his place?" Buffy asked, knowing it was a risky request.

Xander turned briefly, obviously hurt. "You really know how to twist the stake after you've driven it in." He left her, walking fast. She decided not to follow.