This is a repeat of what was in the series. I am just trying to set the stage for where we are in the story since it's been years since some people have seen the series (and for others it's just yesterday!) Don't worry after this point forward while some facts still exist, the storyline goes off in an entirely different direction.


Prologue: Angel or Angelus?


Spike rolled his wheelchair next to the table that Drusilla was laying upon looking up at the ceiling with her hand near her face. Her expression was one of bliss as Spike spoke up, "Are we feeling better then?"

A smile graced his lips as he braced his arms on the table peering down at Drusilla glad to see a smile dancing across her face. She sighed happily, "I'm naming all the stars."

Spike looked a bit amused as rested his chin on his thumb brushing it softly. He was thankful that at least that small part of his face was no longer marred with scars. He was direct while talking to her hoping that his matter of a fact tone would snap her back into reality, "You can't see the stars, luv. That's the ceiling. Also, it's day."

She lifted her hand up above her body as Spike smirked hearing her say, "I can see them. But I've named them all the same name." She tilted her head towards Spike looking into his eyes, "And there's terrible confusion." She rolled completely over onto her side resting her one hand on the below of the other arm that was resting beside her head.

Spike looked into her eyes, "Did you see any further? Do you know what happens to Angel?"

Spike turned his head as he heard Angel's voice, "Well…" then heard him clear his voice for the effect. Spike's attention was easily drawn there as was Dru as he continued, "He moves to New York and tries to fulfill that Broadway dream. It's tough sledding, but one day he's working in the chorus when the big star twists her ankle."

Spike glared at him stating, "You don't give up do you?"

Angel looked unimpressed as he slowly come forward towards a now sitting up Dru and Spike, "As long as there's injustice in the world, as long as scum like you is walking…"

He paused as he noticed Spike's wheelchair and then chuckled correcting himself with a smirk, "Well rolling the streets…I'll be around." He stopped when he was only a few feet away, "Look over your shoulder…I'll be there."

Spike looked undisturbed by his speech, "Uh yeah. Angel, um…look over your shoulder."

Angelus turned around as the Judge put his hand on his chest. Spike looked amused as he asked, "Hurts doesn't it?"

Angelus glanced back at Spike, "Well, you know, it kinda itches."

Spike blinked angrily as he demanded towards the Judge, "Don't just stand there. Burn him!"

Angelus looked very amused as he exclaimed, "Gee. Maybe he's broken."

Spike glanced over his shoulder towards Drusilla demanding loudly, "What the hell is going on?"

Drusilla's mouth drops open as the idea hits her and Spike hears the Judge state, "This one…cannot be burnt. He's clean."

The Judge removed his hand from Angelus's chest. Spike looked at the Judge in disbelief, "Clean you mean, he's…"

Judge replied, "There's no humanity in him."

The Judge turned to disappear from sight. Angelus turned to face Spike, "I couldn't have said it better myself."

Spike heard Drusilla exclaim in her admiring voice, "Angel."

Angelus got that glint in his eye when he was planning something big and a slight smirk, "Yeah baby, I'm back."

Spike rolled back a slight bit as his expression was still one of disbelief, "Is it really true?"

Angelus smirked, "It's really true." He laughed as he walked around the table and Spike watched as Drusilla got up on her knees following his every move with her gaze, "You've come home."

Spike still was curious as he followed him around on his wheelchair, "No more of this 'I've got a soul' crap?"

Angelus gave no expression on his face as he struck a match on the table, "What can I say, hmm? I was going through a phase." He lit a cigarette in his mouth as Spike started to feel excitement flowing through his body, "This is great! This is so great!"

Drusilla started walking on the table with her arms out at each side of her as though she were balancing on an invisible line, "Everything in my head is singing!"

Spike heard Angelus laugh as Dru continued, "We're family again."

Spike frowned at little as some memories flash through his head as Drusilla offered Angel her hand and Angelus accepted it helping her down off the table. The way Angelus looked at her as though he's ready to devour her gave Spike a little uneasy feeling but he shook it off thinking it's just because to the lack of having Angelus around for decades. Drusilla continued rubbing her body slightly against Angel, "We'll feed. Grr."

She turned to Spike taking a few steps towards him as she leaned her face to be level with his with a slight moan, "And we'll play."

This made Spike feel better as he stated loudly keeping his eyes on Dru's, "I've got to tell you, it made me sick to my stomach seeing you being the Slayer's lap dog."

Angelus's growl was heard as he grabbed Spike by the collar lifting him slightly off the wheelchair. For a split second Spike thought it would end badly before Angelus kissed him on the forehead and stepped back. Spike laughed out loud in relief feeling even better as both Drusilla and Angelus join in.

Drusilla asked softly, "How did this happen?"

Angelus looked back at the duo slightly amused as he exclaimed, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Spike laughed not really wanting to hear the story as he stated, "Oh, who cares? What matters is that now he's back! Now it's four against one, which are the kinds of odds I like to play."

Drusilla leaned towards Angelus to get his attention, "Psst. We're going to destroy the world. Want to come?"

Spike rested his hand on Dru's stomach eager to feel her close as Angelus toyed with his cigarette, "Yeah. Destroying the world. Great. I'm really more interested in the Slayer."

Spike tilted his head towards the side not removing his hand from Drusilla, "Well she's in the world so that should work out."

Angelus glanced down studying the cigarette, "Give me tonight."

Spike replied surprised but determined, "What do you mean?"

Angelus getting tired of his cigarette flicked it aside and stepped closer to Spike and Drusilla as he explained, "Lay low for a night. I guarantee you by the time you go public she won't be anything resembling a threat."

Spike was amused as he stated, "You really got a yen to hurt this girl, haven't you?"

Angelus looked towards the wall as he took a deep breath before looking back at Spike as his tone turned anger, "She made me feel like a human being. That's not the kind of thing you just forgive." With stating that, Spike watched as Angelus turned around stepping back towards the sewers to return back to his apartment.


Buffy wandered into Angel's apartment looking around to see what was wrong. Thoughts were running through her head including those telling her she should have stayed longer in case he had gone out to stake Spike and Drusilla for her. She glanced at the bed noticing it was neatly made and clothes were laid out on top of it. She crossed the room and used her fingers to toy with his clothes trying to decide what to do next. She was so enthralled she almost missed the sound of Angel behind her putting on his necklace as her mouth dropped open in surprise. He was back!

She barely managed to yell out, "Angel!" before she crossed the room. He managed to say, "Hey…hey!" before she threw her arms around him giving him a kiss and a big hug. She whispered in his ear as tears filled her eyes of worry, "Oh, my God! I was so worried!"

Angel seemed apologetic as he exclaimed, "I didn't mean to frighten you."

She was curious about if he went to kill Drusilla and Spike for her as she asked quietly, "Where did you go?"

Angel looked around as he replied kind of coldly, "Been around."

Buffy sighed in relief as she still felt the tears burning her eyes as she leaned her forehead against his, "Oooh. Oh, my God!"

Buffy couldn't stop herself from hugging him tightly again in relief, "I was freaking out! You just disappeared."

Angel stepped away from her as he stated, "What? I took off."

She stared at the wall for a second letting his words sink in before turning around sensing something was off, "But you didn't say anything. You just left."

She watched as Angel put on his shirt as he smirked looking into her eyes, "Yeah. Like I really wanted to stick around after that."

Buffy was shocked and she felt her heart break as she questioned, "What?"

Angelus didn't seem phased by the tears that filled her eyes as he continued his speech, "You got a lot to learn about men, kiddo. Although I guess you proved that last night."

Buffy felt more tears threatened to fall but she refused them asking instead, "What are you saying?"

Angel moved past her as he stated as though dismissing her, "Let's not make an issue out of it, okay? In fact, let's not talk about it at all. It happened."

Buffy watched in confusion and shock as he put on his coat before whispering, "I don't understand…was it me?" She heard the sound of her voice breaking along with her heart, "Was it me?"

She heard herself stutter but focused on Angel's next words to her, "You were great. Really. I thought you were a pro." He was laughing at her shaking his head as though it didn't matter. Buffy was horrified wishing he would just take her in his arms and make it all better. He always made everything all better.

She heard herself whisper, "How can you say this to me?"

Angel blew her off almost rolling his eyes at her as he stated, "Lighten up. It was a good time. It doesn't mean like we have to make a big deal."

Buffy was amazed as she bounced on her heels shouted, "It is a big deal!"

Angelus scoffed in reply, "It's what? Bells ringing, fireworks, a dulcet choir of pretty little birdies?" His laugher was so cruel she found herself shaking her head as tears fell to her cheeks as though hoping to shake his evil words away, "Come on Buffy. It's not like I haven't been there before."

He reached towards her face as though wiping away her tears and as much as she longed for him to do that she took a step back in horror stating, "Don't touch me."

Angelus shook his finger at her, "I should have known you wouldn't be able to handle it."

He turned away from her as though to go and she shouted out his name wanting all this to stop, "Angel!" He turned around and her voice softened to a near whisper, "I love you."

Angel pointed towards her coolly, "Love you too." He turned away leaving her behind as he shouted, "I'll call you."

Buffy watched as he opened the door and closed it heading outside as she stood there in shock and horror. The memories from the perfect night flowed through her head reminding her of her gentle loving Angel who was now a cruel bastard. He seemed so different, so heartless. Her heart was breaking as she stood watching the door for a while before she finally giving in to go to the library in hopes to find out what had made him react the way he had. Perhaps there was something he knew that wasn't telling her so he was keeping his distance from her.