Disclaimer: I don't own the characters found in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and never will.

Buffy stood rooted to the spot as Angel continued to shout at her. The last thing she had expected this evening, on return from patrol in Scotland was for him to turn up, barge into the house and start roaring. He had been steadily roaring for five minutes now. She could see the anger and the hurt radiating off of him and she could feel the tears running freely down her face.

"And don't you EVER think that if you ever need a helping hand, that you can contemplate getting in contact. I hope your hands feel as dirty and full of blood as mine have for all this time," he said darkly, turning on his heel and disappearing out into the night.

Buffy stood rooted to the spot, still in disbelief at what had happened. She felt like this was a dream, that she would waken up any minute and everything would seem surreal.

"Slayer?" Spike's voice broke her spell.

"Huh?" she looked up, face still of tears.

"I said I'd stay for a while," he shrugged gently, "I'll find them after."

Buffy nodded her head, still in a gaze. "I didn't know," she whispered, her face full of pain.

"What?" Spike asked shocked.

"I didn't know….what Angel was shouting about…I didn't know…I would have come," she said quietly.

"What do you mean, you didn't know?" he asked heatedly.

"I mean, I didn't know!" Buffy said forcefully. "I didn't know he supposedly phoned for help."

Spike looked at her sceptically," I don't mean to sound arsy here pet, but I stood next to him when he phoned Giles. I heard the conversation. Angelus did everything in his power to keep those two alive. So did Wesley; now sports a lovely permanent slash mark across his cheek for his efforts along with others."

"He spoke to Giles?" Buffy asked quietly.

Spike nodded, watching the slayer from a distance. He thought he knew her, but sometimes things weren't all they seemed.

"Who were they?" she asked quietly.

"Gunn and Fred. His family."

Buffy nodded a little, still in a daze.

"They were really decent people. Big hearts on them. The boy was a street rat who fought Angel; tried to kill him the first few times they met. His family all died by vampires and he was the only one left. Then he joined Peaches and ended up volunteering to get his brain fried with legal jargon to allow him to be a lawyer for the evil ones.

The girl, she had a huge heart. Quantum physics was her thing. They saved her from a demon dimension…the last time you died…that's where he was."

"I remember him saying," Buffy said, wiping tears and walking over to her sofa to sit down. "How long ago?"

"Three weeks. They only had a memorial service for them a week ago because of Wesley's injuries. Peaches dropped him in Ireland on the way. He wanted to see you…been pacing like an animal for the last week."

"He hasn't…." Buffy gulped trying to get her emotions under wrap, "He hasn't done anything stupid has he…Angelus…"

Spike chuckled with an amused smile, "No."

Buffy nodded with a little relief. She had never seen her ex boyfriend like that before. He was so hurt. So angry and livid. And with her.

"I've got to go and speak to Giles. I need to know what happened."

"You didn't get that from the shouting and balling for five minutes?" Spike asked sarcastically.

"I need to know what happened at this end," she said determined. Putting her resolve on, she stood up, grabbing a stake on the way out of the door, not surprised when Spike followed diligently.

/

"How are you doing?" Wesley asked softly, sitting down next to Angel. He watched as the ex vampire looked up at the Irish night sky, sighing heavily.

"I've been better. I thought I'd feel better. I don't."

"Well…at least you've said your piece," Wesley tried softly.

"It won't bring them back. Years and years I've gone through and I've managed to see people come and go. I thought Cordelia was hard to lose, but this?" he shook his head, tears in his eyes, before looking his last friend, "I'd give my humanity back ten times over to get them back Wesley," he cracked.

Wesley looked at his broken friend, reaching out and rubbing his shoulder as tears fell down his face. As Angel buried his head in his hands, Wesley looked up at the sky, watching the stars twinkle shine down upon them.

"I'm sure they know that," Wesley tried to comfort him, tears in his own eyes. "Wherever they are, whatever they are doing, I think they are aware that you tried your best, and that you always will."

It was like this that Buffy and Dawn saw them for the first time. Dawn had managed to persuade Spike to tell her where to find their bought cottage in Ireland and after a full day driving in Scotland and a full day in Ireland, with a ferry in between, both of the Californian blondes were exhausted. Turning the corner, they both stalled as they saw the men sitting on the edge of the decking at the back door, Wesley staring at the stars and rubbing Angel's back as he sat with his head in his hands, looking like he was wiping away tears. It took longer than usual for him to hear the girl's footsteps and when he turned to see them, he felt anger flow through his veins again as he stood up straight.

Buffy's face fell, her confidence drained as the anger and hurt showed, with his tears glistening in the moonlight.

"Why are you here?" he growled.

"She didn't know Angel!" Dawn shouted.

Her strong voice pierced the air, bringing silence to the rural garden.

Wesley looked between the two girls slowly, before looking back at Angel.

"She didn't know. Either did I. You asked Giles, but he never passed the message on," she said softer. "The first we knew was when you turned up going crazy at Buffy, which by the way, was out of line," she said folding her arms.

"What was out of line was two of my closest friends in over two hundred years dying because those whose duty it is to protect the world decided not to bother!" Angel shouted.

Wesley studied Dawn's response as she moved from one foot to the other nervously, more than likely never having seen Angel remotely as angry as he was now.

"Angel, I'm sorry. We didn't know," Buffy said softly, making eye contact. "I would have come. What happened wasn't fair."

"Damn right it wasn't," Angel snapped.

"Angel," Wesley said softly, "Why don't we go inside and speak this through civilised and see if we can calm down a little."

Angel glared at his friend, trying to take his words on board.

Wesley simply stared at him before directing the girls into the small cottage. Following them in he filled the kettle with water and switched it on as the girls nervously walked through to the lounge, where the coal fire roared and cast shadows around the room. They were glad as Wesley flicked on the main light, confused when Angel didn't follow.

"Angel will be in a minute, he's just got to compose himself."

"It seems a nice house," Dawn said politely, relieved when Wesley smiled.

"It's growing on us. I think it portrays where we are at the moment, it's slowly getting decorated with things we're picking up. We didn't have many belongings left." They turned as Angel walked in, sitting down on the spare single sofa. "We were just commenting on the décor," Wesley smiled, relieved to get a grin off of Angel.

"Share?" Buffy tried, smiling a little.

"Wes hates the dark red on the walls, I think we should keep it," he admitted.

"I think now you have your humanity we should try and lighten the environment a little," Wesley laughed, stilling as a heavy silence appeared. Looking up he met Angel's eyes confused, seeing embarrassment and anger before looking at Buffy and Dawn who looked shocked.

"Humanity?" Buffy asked wide eyed. "I knew Spike had….why didn't you say anything?" she asked annoyed.

"You need me to answer that?" He asked heatedly, standing up.

"Angel, please. Sit down and let's start from the beginning. There's no point hurting everyone by bringing up strong words," Wesley lectured.

Angel sat down sighing, not unlike a petulant school child, making Dawn and Wesley hide a smile while Buffy sat patiently.

"So," Wesley tried sitting down, "You didn't know about the battle?" he looked at the girls.

"No. Giles never told us."

"Okay," Wesley nodded, looking at Angel. "Well, I believe Angel expressed our feelings quite strongly when he visited Scotland?"

"That's one way of putting it," Buffy muttered.

"Well, in his defence, his words were expressed for myself as well as Angel. We both lost family in that battle and I don't think we'll ever really get over it or forget the experience."

"We're sorry," Dawn said honestly, seeing the hurt in both of their eyes.

"I think I'll get some tea or coffee," Wesley noted, heading through to the kitchen.

"I'll help," Dawn offered, following him. She glanced over her shoulder, watching Buffy and Angel eye one another up from across the room.

"I'm so sorry Angel," Buffy said passionately. "I would have come."

"You know I wouldn't have asked unless I had to…unless it might have really made a difference."

"Hey," she tried to smile, "I've been dead twice, a third wouldn't have hurt."

"Buffy," he begged instantly, "There's nothing else I'd want less than that, you know that. But Gunn and Fred….Fred….she wasn't a fighter….she was an intellectual quantum physicist who tried her hardest at everything. You could have taken out fifty times the demons she could have, never mind your potentials."

Both warriors looked at one another steadily, before they moved to one another in slow motion, hugging gently.

"You still have to tell me about your humanity," she mumbled against his chest.

"I have it," he shrugged, "It doesn't mean as much as I hoped it would."

Wesley looked up at Dawn expectantly.

"They're hugging, give Buffy tea with milk, she won't complain in someone else's house," she smiled, making her way to the fridge and pulling out the milk.

Wesley smiled at her, monitoring the girl who seemed at ease in the kitchen.

"On your head be it." He sighed after a moment, "I hope they work everything out."

"They will," Dawn shrugged. "Within half an hour of wishing one another dead they're hugging. Give them a few months and there'll be children and love and laughter and Angel will have a tan…"

Dawn smiled as Wesley chuckled, a grin appearing on his face. "I hope you're right. I think it'll take something pretty special to get Angel out of his darkness."

"Well, Buffy needs some light, so let's hope they don't pull one another down huh?"

Wesley smiled at the younger girl, feeling lighter for the conversation.

"Hey, how are the drinks?" Angel asked walking through, Buffy on his heels.

"Fine. Buffy, here's your tea," Dawn smiled, aware of Wesley's smirk behind her sister.

"We have biscuits right?" Angel asked enthusiastically, looking into a cupboard.

"We have, and I'm not telling you where. Go and take a seat with our guests and I'll take some through."

"You hide the biscuits?" Buffy smirked, feeling a smile spread across her face.

"Angel has a human sweet tooth," Wesley joked. "He eats them so fast I have to hide them to ensure I get one."

The girls looked at Angel, who blushed under their gaze.

"Better watch you don't get a tummy Angel," Dawn teased.

"Actually, it's rather fascinating but his muscle definition has increased with his humanity."

"Wes…you do realise you're making us sound homosexual?" Angel said very pointedly, "Which we're not!" he added, looking at Buffy.

"Good, because the hot ones are usually gay," Dawn teased, "Come on, I'm hungry and Wesley needs to find the biscuits."

"Have you eaten?" Wesley asked concerned.

"Nope, Buffy was on a mission," Dawn chastised.

"Well, why don't we sit down at the table and I'll put in a pizza?" Wesley offered.

"I think Buffy's cold, we can sit through the lounge," Angel offered.

"Why don't you sit through and Angel can get your bags from your car?" Wesley asked the girls.

The two girls looked at one another taken aback.

"Uh, we hadn't discussed where we were staying, we thought there may be a bed and breakfast nearby?"

"You'll stay here," Angel shrugged easily, making it clear it wasn't up for discussion.

"You have three rooms?"

"No, two, but Angel doesn't sleep anyway…presuming your both don't mind sharing?" Wesley asked the sisters.

"Angel?" Buffy breathed out in a question.

"It's fine, he's right, I don't sleep," he shrugged, walking out of the room.

Buffy looked at Wesley for a moment, questioning him.

"Are you surprised?" he asked quietly.

Buffy looked hurt for a moment, before turning and heading into the fire.

"What did he mean?" Dawn asked sitting down next to her.

"He means I should know Angel better than that and I shouldn't have been surprised that he's not sleeping. Angel has a conscious and now he has humanity at the expense of his two best friends and Wesley's face. The cut on Wesley's face is a constant reminder, never mind what's in his head."

Dawn nodded, taking the information in. "Are you okay staying?"

"Yeah," Buffy nodded in a daze.

/

Wesley walked into the lounge quietly, very surprised to find Angel sleeping. Turning around he started to tip toe out.

"It's okay Wes, I'm awake."

"Oh," he said, a little disappointed with his stealth and that Angel had not been sleeping. "Sorry."

"It's okay. I got a couple of hours I think."

"Well, that's an improvement," Wesley said pleased.

"Yeah," he nodded, standing up from the sofa and stretching before following Wesley through to the kitchen.

"I presume the girls aren't up?"

"No," Angel smirked, "I think they're asleep."

"Have you plans for the day?"

Angel frowned and took out four cups to fill, "I thought I might try and go for a walk? With Buffy."

"I think that sound like a good idea," Wesley nodded supportively. "I can do the grocery shopping while you're busy. Anything in particular you want for dinner?"

"I thought we could maybe try somewhere in town? Take the girls out?"

Angel missed the beaming smile that appeared across Wesley's face. He had been trying to get his friend to get out a little more for the last week and this was the first time he had shown any interest in doing so.

/

"Thanks," Dawn yawned, accepting the egg on toast from Wesley.

"Are you not eating?" Buffy asked the men surprised.

"We had earlier on. Angel was hungry."

"Is that a surprise?" Buffy asked cautiously.

"A little. He slept for a few hours yesterday though which might help explain it a little," Wesley mused.

"I'm here," Angel muttered annoyed.

"Yes, you are," Wesley acknowledged. "Dawn, I was wondering if you could help me with the groceries after breakfast?" he asked spritely, glancing quickly at Buffy and Angel.

"Um, sure. Yeah. I can do that," she nodded.

Angel looked sideways at Buffy's sceptical face, "I thought we could maybe go for a walk and speak some things through?"

"Okay," she nodded slowly.

"Angel, you'll have to remember,"

"I Know!" Angel said strongly staring at Wesley.

"Oookkaaaay," Dawn said, "What was that about?"

"Sun tan lotion," Wesley sighed, glowering back at Angel. "It appears Angel is embarrassed that his skin can't take vast amounts of dull sunlight yet."

"Why thanks Wes," Angel sighed sarcastically.

"I'll make sure he puts some on," Buffy tried to pacify.

"What, you my mom now to Wesley's dad?" he grumbled.

"You know, you've become a whiner with your humanity," Dawn noted easily, getting a smile from her sister and Wesley. Angel frowned, looking down at his plate.

"I'm sure adjusting to humanity after two hundred years is a little strange," Wesley noted, still smiling at Dawn.