Title: Always

Rating: PG-13 (as of now)

Summary: Season 3 angel/ Season 6 Buffy. AU. After Buffy's "death" and "rebirth" angel get's hit by a poision arrow and what will he do once he finds out that he's dying and Buffy's alive?

Distribution: To my first reviewers on my first *posted* fanfic. (I have written others I just haven't posted them all) Especially KellyAnne and Miss "L". You guys keep me inspired.

Disclaimer: Do you really want a stuffed toy, blanket, and some phsycopathic alter ego's? Go ahead, sue me. (But seriously don't.)

AN: Yea, I do realize this story is crappy but it's the second one I wrote..ever. My first one I still haven't finished. It's in a journal rite now.



Always Chapter 1: The Yearbook

Angel came in from patrolling and looked around. Gunn was talking to Wesley about various demons, Fred was reading a book that was one of Cordelia's, and Cordelia was on the phone chatting with one of her friends. Lor`n was working at his bar and he had said he would be there for a week. As soon as Angel dropped his bag Cordelia said goodbye to her friend and hung up.

"So, anything new while you were patrolling?"

Wesley and Gunn stopped to listen in interest. The last few weeks had been slow and they were itching for something to do. The demons had seemed to just pick up and move. It was strange even for them. Angel shook his head and Wesley, Gunn, and Cordelia's expressions fell. They were really getting bored. Fred laughed suddenly and when she noticed their expressions of question she said,

"Cordelia's in this book and she's v.very dirty."

Cordelia face was crunched up in confusion and a little hurt. She went over to see what she was talking about and laughed.

"Don't worry, it's just my yearbook with the awful picture of me at the prom."

Gunn spoke up confused, "Why were you dirty?"

Cordelia chuckled again. "It was after slayer fest 99' and this evil vamp named Mr. Trick tried to murder the slayers with all these demons and he thought I was one."

Gunn smiled at the thought of Cordelia and how she must have looked and then turned his smile to a smirk. He knew how Cordelia prided of her hygiene and how it must have killed her walking into a public place with her hair and make-up messed up. Wesley hid a smile and Fred mumbled something about the different degrees of dirt. Cordelia looked at Angel and instantly regretted the words she had said. Angel looked like he was ready to fall apart with the great weight on his shoulders. He murmured that he was going to go look for more vampires and practically ran out the door. They all stared at his retreating back and Fred asked,

"What was that about?"

Cordelia was about to answer but then got choked up. Wesley looking grave told her that Buffy was at the Slayer Fest. Fred nodded quietly and added a silent,

"Oh."

She had recently been filled in on most of Angel's past and found out about his and Buffy's relationship. It had only been a few weeks since Buffy's demise and Angel was killing himself in guilt over her death saying that he should have been there even though it wasn't his fault that he couldn't have saved her. Cordelia would have said something else about her yearbook when Angel came crashing back in through the doors. Gunn and Wesley got to him first and observed the situation while helping Angel to the couch. Angel had a crossbow bolt through his left shoulder.

"It was a vampire attack. They just gave me this then left."

He panted heavily and Wesley said that it would have to be removed.

"I can help," Fred said. They all looked at her disbelieving but she only took defense. "I learned how to break arrows after my master in the other world shot the animals with the crossbow."

Angel nodded and Fred broke out the arrow and Angel winced.

"Thanks Fred."

She nodded and went back to biting her nails. Wesley, Gunn, and Cordelia started badgering with questions but he suddenly felt very light headed and blacked out.