A/N: To everyone who reads my fiction and is a loyal fan and follower, I am SO SORRY, really and truly sorry for disappearing for so long. Some of you may know from previous stories and author's notes that I work at a camp during the summer and this summer was absolutely crazy, and since being back home I've started my first year of law school, which is also totally crazy and the hardest thing I've ever done.

BUT, I'm back, and I'm cooking on this story. I've got 5 chapters written as of right now, and I don't see why I shouldn't be able to keep up with it (assuming you guys like it), plus I'm really, really enjoying writing this story in haven't enjoyed anything since writing "Forever Yours." So I'll be posting one chapter a week and hopefully I won't be skipping any weeks. If I do, I'll post two the next week.

Thanks to all who read and review my stories. It's really amazing to know there are people out there who actually read your work. So keep it up!

Ksue

PS- Thank you to my wonderful, ever patient and helpful beta Roxy.

Chapter 1

Buffy looked at the clock, eager for class to end. Faith had to be to work in half an hour, and it took at least twenty minutes to get home, which meant if class lasted much longer, Iona would be home alone. Iona hated being home alone, and Buffy hated leaving her.

"I swear to God this class is on an endless loop. This must be what Hell is like," whispered the guy next to her. She choked on her laugh, trying to be as quiet as possible.

"I think this is actually worse than Hell," she replied, sneaking a glance at him. He was gorgeous, and she had to admit that she'd noticed him their very first class together; Criminal Law. His dark hair and eyes gave him a dangerous and mysterious presence, something Buffy couldn't afford to fall for again. He was smart too, every time he answered a question in class it was flawless and unlike most students, who trembled with fear when a professor even thought about looking their way, he seemed to welcome it, thrive under the pressure.

He graced her with a smile and Buffy had to bite her lip to keep from smiling back. He couldn't be good news, nobody that good looking was good news, and Buffy had Iona to think about. Gone were the days of reckless love, lust rather, and being with a guy for nothing more than a good time. Iona had to come first.

Finally the professor wrapped up his three hour lecture on outlining and Buffy scrambled to get her things in her bag. She had just enough time to make it home before Faith had to leave.

"I'm Angel, by the way," the guy said, reaching out to shake her hand. Buffy sent a panicked look at the clock, but shook his hand anyway.

"Buffy. This is going to seem rude, but I really have to get going or I am going to be so late. It was really nice to meet you. See you tomorrow." Buffy ducked around him and ran up the stairs to the exit, leaving a perplexed Angel behind.

Buffy made it in the door of her tiny two bedroom apartment with about thirty seconds to spare. Faith was gathering her purse and jacket, ready to leave and Buffy could hear Iona playing in her bedroom.

"Cuttin' it close girlfriend," Faith said, glancing at the clock on the stove.

"I know, Faith, I'm so sorry. Are you going to be late?" Buffy asked, slumping down onto the couch. Faith shrugged, a devilish smile on her face.

"Probably. I guess it's a good thing I'm sleeping with the boss."

"Faith!" Buffy gasped. Then she laughed, not at all surprised that Faith was mixing business with pleasure. With her killer body and sex pot hair, plus those smoldering eyes and bright red lips there wasn't a man in town who didn't want to sleep with Faith. And there was hardly a man in town who hadn't.

"What? I'll be here around eight thirty tomorrow morning. That give you enough time?" Buffy nodded, thankful, as usual, that her big sis was there to bail her out of a tight spot.

"Yeah, thanks. Have fun at work."

"You know I will." With a wink, Faith was out the door. Buffy sat for a moment, just breathing. In and out, in and out. Sometimes, she didn't realize how tense she was until she forced herself to take a minute, just one, and let go. The tension in her shoulders from hunching over books and computers all day drained little by little, and Buffy felt her eyes start to droop.

"Mommy!" Buffy's eyes snapped open at Iona's high pitched, little girl voice. Standing and stretching, Buffy made her way to Iona's bedroom, kicking off her shoes as she went.

"Yeah baby?"

Iona sat in the middle of her small bedroom, playing with Barbies. Doll clothing was spread out in front of her, ranging from brightly colored workout clothes to poufy ball gowns, and Buffy watched as Iona reached for one article, held it up to her Barbie, and then tossed it away.

"I have no clothes!" Iona cried, throwing down the Barbie and pouting. Buffy tried not to smile.

"You have no clothes or your Barbie has no clothes?"

"Well, Barbie. But I need to go shopping for her, she has a big date with Ken tonight!" Buffy sighed, trying to keep the frown off her face. She tried to give her daughter everything she could ever want, but they just didn't have the money to go buy a bunch of Barbie clothes. Buffy could barely pay the bills as it was.

"Sweetie, your Barbie has lots of clothes that would be wonderful for her date tonight. How about I help you pick something out?"

"I guess," Iona sighed. Buffy reached out and smoothed her hand over Iona's blonde hair. They only had to scrape through three more years, and then Buffy would be a lawyer. She'd be able to make good money and give Iona whatever she wanted, regardless of how much it cost. She hoped.

"Morning Buffy," Angel said, sitting down next to Buffy in their Criminal Law classroom. He gave her a smile that made her skin tingle and then started unpacking his laptop and textbook. Buffy smiled back.

"Hey Angel."

"So, you ran out on me yesterday. Is it my breath?" Buffy's eyes went wide until she realized he was joking. The twinkle in his eyes gave him away.

"Oh, no. Sorry, I just had to get home. That Monday night class is pretty tight for me."

"How come? Work?"

"Uh, no I don't work during the week. I've got family obligations on Monday nights." Buffy didn't miss the way his eyes ticked to her left ring finger. She wondered if her ring tan line had faded yet.

"Gotcha. Well, if you ever need to slip out early, I'll cover for you," Angel offered.

"Thanks," Buffy said, smiling.

The professor began his lecture, calling on several students to recite cases. At one point, Buffy and Angel were exchanging whispers when the professor called on Angel. Without missing a beat he straightened and spoke in a loud, clear voice.

"In Coker v. Georgia, Coker, who was an escaped convict, entered the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carver. He tied up Mr. Carver, threatened him with a knife, and then raped and kidnapped Mrs. Carver. The Court sentenced him to death and he appealed citing Cruel and Unusual Punishment," Angel said.

"And what did the Supreme Court rule?"

"That the death penalty in this instance was indeed cruel and unusual punishment."

"And do you agree or disagree?"

"Agree. The count against Coker was rape, not murder. When the court said that although rape was a very serious and heinous crime, it did not involve loss of life and therefore did not justify the death penalty I think they were spot on," Angel said with an unapologetic shrug. Buffy couldn't help herself, she snorted. Loudly.

The professor looked at her with an arched eyebrow.

"Do you disagree?" He asked, smirking.

"Yes I do. Coker was already in jail for several different crimes, one of which was murder. He's clearly a violent individual who's already escaped prison once. What happens if he escapes again, or he gets paroled? What's it going to take?" Buffy asked. She could see Angel shaking his head next to her, and he didn't wait for the professor to ask for his response.

"Yes, he was in jail for those things, but he'd already been tried and convicted of those crimes. This trial, this particular one, was exclusively for the rape count, not all his previous crimes. In fact, previous crimes can't even be entered into evidence," Angel pointed out.

"I know that," Buffy said, verging on snapping. "But they can't be entered into evidence to prove guilt. They can be taken into consideration by the judges when deciding punishment. And with someone like Coker, they probably should be."

"But he'd already been punished for those crimes," Angel said. Buffy realized that he was enjoying the argument with her and the way he eyed her sent thrills down her spine. He really was distractingly handsome.

"Obviously not severely enough!"

"Okay, let's hear from someone else," the professor broke in. Buffy and Angel fell silent but didn't acknowledge the professor otherwise. Instead they stared at each other. Hunger bloomed in Angel's eyes and Buffy was sure that if they were in a bar instead of a classroom, he would try to kiss her.

For the rest of class, Buffy and Angel continued to sneak glances at each other. This time when class was over, Buffy didn't have to rush anywhere. Iona was at school and would be until 3. She took her time packing her thinks while Angel spoke quickly with a few other students. Mr. Popularity, it seemed. When he was done, he stood still for a moment and Buffy could feel him watching her. As she bent over to pick her bag up off the ground, she definitely felt his eyes on her ass.

"So Buffy, how would you feel about grabbing some coffee?" Buffy felt herself blush at the husky tone of Angel's words. No doubt he was the kind of guy that was just looking for a quick fuck, and Buffy knew she would have to tread carefully.

"Sure," she said slowly. "I know just the place."

Buffy led Angel just a few blocks over from the school, to the coffee shop owned by Willow Rosenberg, her best friend in the world. Willow's husband Oz was manning the counter and looked up as the chime above the door rang.

"Hey Buffy," he said with a nod. His hair was dark brown on that particular day, a change from the blonde it had been when she'd seen him that weekend.

"Hey Oz."

"Coffee?"

"The usual, please. Angel?"

"I'll just take a large, black coffee. And it's on me." Buffy looked back at Angel and smiled.

"Thank you, Angel."

Oz quickly made their coffee, concentrating on each step instead of making small talk. Angel noticed and leaned down to whisper in Buffy's ear.

"Not much of a talker, is he?" Angel's warm breath tickled her ear and Buffy's breath hitched. Damn it, Buffy, slow down.

"Not at all. His wife more than makes up for it though," Buffy said fondly. Oz placed their coffees on the counter and took Angel's money, nodding his gratitude when Angel insisted he keep the almost three dollars worth of change. Buffy sighed. Only someone who had never worried about money would do that.

"So, you used to be married?" Angel asked as they sat down at a high top table. Buffy gasped and almost dropped her Chai Latte. Had she mentioned that?

"I'm sorry?" She sputtered. Angel nodded towards her finger.

"There's still a little bit of a tan line." Buffy glanced down at her ring finger. The tan line was there, but she didn't think anyone would be able to see it with just a passing glance. Either his eye sight was eagle sharp, or he'd spent some time studying her finger.

"Um, yes, I was married. We've been divorced about six months." Buffy did not want to talk about Riley with Angel, she wanted to forget about Riley as quickly as possible, although it probably wouldn't happen. He would be in her life forever, because of Iona.

"Wow. What happened, if you don't mind my asking?" Angel leaned forward slightly.

"We never should have gotten married in the first place, we were young and stupid. But the last straw was him sleeping with an ex-friend. In my bed." Images of Riley and Darla in bed, naked, fucking like animals rose unbidden in Buffy's mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block them out.

"I'm sorry, Buffy, I shouldn't have brought it up," Angel said quickly. She let out a shaky breath and shook her head, giving him a tight smile.

"No, its fine. I have to get used to talking about it sometime," Buffy shrugged. She supposed she should hate Riley for what he did, for ruining their family, but she didn't. She felt indifference, not hate. The person she did hate was Darla. She'd known since they were twelve that Darla was a bitch, but she'd never dreamed that her friend, the girl who was practically her sister, would do something so awful.

"When did you two get married?" Buffy paused. How much did she want to tell him? Everything? Or the abbreviated version?

"When I was eighteen and he was nineteen."

"Why so young?" Angel asked.

"We had a baby when I was sixteen. Riley thought getting married was the right thing to do, creating a true family for the baby and all that. Iona is seven now." Buffy carefully watched Angel's face as she told him. Did he cringe? No, his face remained neutral, no emotion.

"You had a baby at sixteen and still managed to make it all the way to law school?" Angel asked, sounding slightly in awe.

"Yes. Riley went to work for his father once we got married, and I stayed in school. Riley didn't want me to, he said his father had a job for me and that I should take it, but I insisted that Iona have at least one parent with a college education. I hadn't planned to go any farther than a Bachelor's, but then one of my professors encouraged me to take the LSATs, just to see, and I got a good enough score to be awarded a full scholarship here. I decided I couldn't pass it up, especially with my marriage dissolving," Buffy explained.

"I think that's great, Buffy. And I really am sorry for bringing up bad memories."

"Seriously, stop it. Don't worry. Now, enough about me and my problems, tell me about your life. What made you want to go to law school?" Buffy was eager to turn the conversation to a topic other than herself. She could talk about Iona forever, but her failed marriage, bastard ex-husband, and whore of an ex-friend were things she wanted to steer clear of.

"I was a stock broker, but when the market crashed I got laid off, along with three quarters of my company, and had to find something else to do."

"So how old are you?"

"Twenty six. You?"

"Twenty two."

Buffy was feeling good about Angel, about the possibility of maybe asking him to dinner, when Willow burst from the back room.

"Buffy!" The red head cried. Buffy smiled at her best friend and waved her over.

"Sorry," Buffy said to Angel. He shrugged, and waved off her apology.

"Don't worry about it."

"Hey Buffy! Who's this?" Willow asked, bouncing up to her best friend and slinging an arm around her shoulder.

"Willow, this is Angel, Angel, this is Willow, the owner of this fine establishment," Buffy introduced. Angel was the perfect gentleman, shaking Willow's hand and telling her how great her coffee shop was.

"Thank you, Angel. You're sweet to say that."

"I only speak the truth."

"Well Buffy, I have to keep working, but Oz told me you were out here with…someone and I just had to see for myself!" Willow said excitedly, glancing not-so-slyly at Angel. Buffy, caught between amusement and mortification, chose to laugh.

"Go ahead, Will. I'll see you this weekend, or you can stop by whenever. I know Iona would love to see you." When Buffy said that, Willow's eyes went wide and she looked quickly at Angel. Buffy shook her head, smiling.

"Uh…okay. Bye!" Willow scurried away, leaving a bemused Buffy and Angel in her wake.

"She's…interesting," Angel said. Buffy laughed.

"She is. She's not used to seeing me with a guy since Riley and I split, friend or otherwise."

"And that bit about Iona?" Angel asked. Buffy shifted under his gaze and sighed.

"I'm not ashamed of my daughter, but I don't usually talk about her to people I've just met. I don't need them judging me for being a teen mom before they even know me," Buffy explained. Angel nodded.

"I can understand that."

"So," Buffy said. "Back to telling me about you."

A/N: Let me know what you think of this chapter! PLEASE!