A/N: This is my first attempt at a fanfic (not to mention the first time I have ever let anyone read what Ihave written)so all reviews good or bad are more then welcome. Also I am going to post a few chapters right away since my stories sometimes take awhile to get started so please please be patient, things will happen I promise.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story. All of them belong to the God Joss Whedon.

Summary: Buffy Summers' best friend, William,moved away when she was 8 years old with the promise that he would come back to her as soon as he was old enough. Now thirteen years later after she has given up hope, he returns to her life, but will they recognize each other or will they pass through each others lives without finding the one person they have longed for since their childhood.

Prologue

"Lizzie." He said standing in front of his best friend, on her front porch, as tears welled up in his eyes.

Elizabeth knew something terrible must be wrong. She had known William all eight years of her life and couldn't ever remember seeing him cry. "Willy what? What's wrong?"

The little boy two years older then she, stood there, unsuccessfully trying to hold back his tears. "I'm moving, Lizzie." He told her simply. "Dad said we are going far, far away and that I won't be able to see you for a long time."

"But, you can't move." She protested as she too began to cry. "You can't leave me. You are my best friend. I love you. Please don't leave." Elizabeth begged him as she threw her arms around him sobbing uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry." He told her through his own tears, holding her close to him. He didn't want to move far away. William took a deep breath and pulled away from his friend. "Lizzie, I have to go now, before my dad gets mad at me for being longer then I was allowed."

"But." She began to protest.

"I can't stay, I wish I could, but Lizzie when I am old enough I'll come back for you."

"You promise?"

"Yeah, I promise." He answered her and started on his way home.

"Then I will see you when we're older." She whispered to herself then ran into her house and up to her room where she stayed for the rest of the day.

As Elizabeth blew out the candles on her sweet sixteenth birthday cake she closed her eyes and pictured the little boy, from down the street, with the pale skin, light brown curls, and crystal blue eyes hidden behind silly glasses, and wished she could see him again. It was the same wish she had made on every one of her birthdays since her best friend had left. "You probably don't look so goofy anymore." She thought to herself. "Oh, William, you are old enough now. When are you coming back to me?" Opening her eyes she glanced at her closest friend at the party who exchanged a knowing glance with her.

Faith was the only one of her friends that knew about the little boy from eight years ago, the one that had left and taken her heart with him. She felt sorry for her best friend, but couldn't understand why she was holding on this long to a boy that she would probably never see again. She had lost some of her friends when she was younger, but had never held on to the hope that they would one day see each other again. No one had really been that important to her, except for Elizabeth. They had made a pact at the beginning of high school, that no matter what happened they would always be friends. That, no matter what happened, they would be close to each other and never move far away from the other.

"Buffy?" Faith said to Elizabeth later that night after everyone had left and they lay in the dark wrapped in their sleeping bags on the living room floor.

Buffy that was what Elizabeth was called now. Once she reached middle school she started to hate her name and wanted something that was different, she wanted a whole new life. Hopefully one in which she could surround herself with friends and not think about the one that had left her so suddenly when she was eight years old. The change had for the most part worked. By the time she was in high school she was one of the most popular girls in school, every one wanted to be her friend, but the only one that she had allowed herself to get close to was Faith, and the memories of little William still haunted her sleep.

"Do you still think that he will come back?"

"He promised that he would and he has never broken a promise to me, but I fear that as each year passes it is less likely that he will come back. Maybe he forgot about me not long after he left."

"I doubt that B. If the two of you were as close as you said you were then I don't think that he forgot about you that quickly. Look, you said that he only turned eighteen this year, give him some time to get himself on his own."

"You're right. I don't know what I was thinking. I mean, it's not like I should have expected him to show up at my front door the moment he turned eighteen."

"Just give him some time. Who knows, maybe Boy Wonder will return soon."

"Maybe." Buffy whispered closing her eyes and drifting off to dreamland.

"I need out of here Faith." Buffy cried into the telephone.

"B I told you when I left for L.A. that you should come with me, that you shouldn't let your father push you around. It's your life, not his. If you don't want to be an econ major then don't do it. Pack your shit and get out of there. I told you when I got here that Angel said he would take care of you. He still has a position open for you at the shop and a place for you to live. Come on Buff, take the offer and get out of there. Your dad doesn't have to know that you are here. Just leave."

"I, I don't think I can." Buffy stated quietly.

"That's bull and you know it. Your father does not own you and if you want to do something different with your life then do it. He has no say in it. You don't even have to tell him just pack up and leave. Hank doesn't even have to know where you are."

"But what if he finds me. You know I will have hell to pay."

"Then he will have to deal with Angel and me. You know my step brother loves you as much as he does me and wouldn't let him get to you."

"I know. Maybe I will come, but what if…" Her friend cut Buffy short.

"What if Boy Wonder comes looking for you?"

"Yeah." she replied meekly.

"Look, B it's been what, twelve years? Forget him already. If he hasn't come back by now then he isn't coming back at all. You need to start living girl. I mean you have had what, one real boyfriend your entire life, and let's face it; Riley wasn't much of a man. Girl you need to have some fun. Come on. Come out to L.A. with Angel and me. You won't regret it I promise."

"Okay" Buffy said hoping that her friend was right. "I'll start packing and as soon as I am ready to leave I will call you so you know I'm coming."

"Wicked. I'll tell Angel you're coming and he will get things set for you. It's gonna be great B."

"Yeah" Buffy agreed only half-heartedly.

"Can you believe I've been here a year already?" Buffy asked Faith as the two friends walked into Exotic Detailers together. "Time has gone by so quickly. I mean I never imagined myself working in a place like this but it's so much fun and the work is so easy."

"Yeah, Buff, never thought of you as the car detailing type."

"I probably wouldn't be, but everyone here makes the job so enjoyable. And, meeting some of the top movie stars, big plus. I am so grateful that Angel kept his offer open."

"So you don't regret leaving?"

"Not even a bit." Buffy told her friend, meaning every word. She had left two days after talking to Faith about wanting out of the life her father had forced her into and once she was settled hadn't given it a second thought.

Angel had given her a job at an auto detailing shop that he had been given by his father the year after he graduated high school. It wasn't just your ordinary detail shop, though, they catered to the high class people of Los Angeles, big time lawyers, actors, actresses, movie directors, and any one else that was looking for the right people to take care of their exotic cars. Buffy had quickly become friends with the other people that worked for Angel. They were all serious about the work that they preformed but made sure to have fun doing it. Angel paid his employees well and all of them lived rent free, including Faith and Buffy, in an old hotel that he had purchased and remodeled. Everyone had their own living quarters, but Angel had the lobby fashioned into a large living room where everyone could hang out together. One night a week Angel would rent movies and order pizza and everyone would gather together and have a good time. Angel believed that happy employees were the best employees, and Buffy was definitely happy.