Buffy walked into Giles's apartment after school. She tossed her bag down on the table in the entry. Spike was in the kitchen pouring Weetabix into his blood.

"Spike, what are you doing here?" It was still awkward for them to be in the same room together let alone talk to each other. After Willow's "will be done" spell, she couldn't decide if she wanted to punch Spike when she saw him or kiss him. Punch him, she definitely wanted to punch him. "Never mind, where's Giles?"

"Good evening to you too slayer," He said walking into the living room and throwing himself down on the couch.

"I don't have time for this. Where is he?"

"Don't know, haven't seen him all day."

"If you're lying to me…"

"Oh right, because I care whether or not you find your precious watcher."

"Shut up, Spike."

Just then, Giles walked in the door carrying (would you believe it?) lots of books. "Buffy, I'm glad you're here. I have a few theories about our strange commando friends."

"Actually Giles, I need to tell you something."

"What is it Buffy?" He set his books on the table looking concerned.

"Um, in private maybe?"

"Yes, of course," Giles said and led the way into the kitchen. Spike looked over the back of the couch at them, but didn't get up.

"What's wrong."

"Well, I'm not sure how to… I mean I… I did something, bad. I think. I'm not sure I don't really remember. I mean I kind of remember, but not exactly," Buffy rambled.

"Buffy, slow down. What is it you think you might have done?"

"Well, after Thanksgiving, you know I went to LA." Buffy fidgeted. "While I was there me and Angel we, uh… you know."

"You mean to say," Giles cleaned his glasses. "You and Angel, you…"

"Yeah. I mean I think so." Buffy sighed. "I don't really remember, but it's like…. I know."

Spike laughed from his seat at the bar. "So sex with Peaches isn't so memorable then, eh?"

"Spike! What are you doing?" Buffy asked.

"Well I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, vampire hearing and all. I thought I'd join you."

"You thought wrong. Go away Spike." Spike stayed where he was, but he didn't say anything else. Buffy turned back to Giles. "I wouldn't have said anything if I wasn't certain. I had this dream… One of those slayer-vision-dream-things."

"So," Giles put is glasses back on. "We should be concerned that Angelus may be free. You went to Los Angeles weeks ago, why didn't you say anything sooner?"

"I told you I can't really remember, but if Angelus is back, he's coming here, Giles. We have to be ready for him."

"Yes, right." Giles's face went dark as he left the kitchen and went to call the other Scoobies. Buffy walked around the bar and leaned against it looking worried. She couldn't help but think of all the damage Angelus had done last time. He killed Ms. Calendar, nearly killed Willow, and almost sucked the world into hell. Buffy thought the best case scenario would be if Angelus came after her and left the rest of the world alone, but that still meant her friends were in big trouble. And all of this was just because she and Angel had been left alone for a minimal amount of time.

After a few hours Willow, Xander, and Anya had all shown up and Buffy updated them. Willow blushed.

Xander panicked and said, "How? I mean I know how I just mean, how? You and Angel… Angelus is coming here?"

"Most likely," was Buffy's nervous sounding reply.

"Who's Angelus?" Anya asked.

After explaining Angel's evil soulless version to Anya, Giles suggested preparation plans.

"Buffy, you should call Cordelia in Los Angeles; tell her what's going on. No one should be left alone." Buffy nodded and went to the phone to make the call.

"I'll stay with Xander!" Anya offered.

"Me and Buffy can sleep over at her mom's; make sure Joyce is safe too." Willow said.

"We'll also need to increase patrols and in bigger groups. As soon as Angelus sets foot in Sunnydale we'll need to know about it," Giles declared.

"Ooh I know about a spell. We could use it to set off a sort of alarm if any big bads come into town," Willow said.

"That's very good Willow, yes. We should definitely look into that."

Buffy rejoined the group. "I talked to Cordelia. Turns out, she was just about to call us. Angel is awol," she paused and the group felt tense. "Willow, you mentioned a spell."

"Yeah, but it's only an alarm. It won't keep him out."

"How fast can you put it together?"

"If the magic shop has all of the ingredients I think it can be done in… maybe two hours."

"What about that vampire-keep-out spell?"

"I think I have all of the ingredients for that one," Giles said. "I could do it myself."

"Good. Okay. Sunset was about an hour ago so if he's only leaving LA now, we've got time," Buffy looked nervous as she spoke. "Anya go with Willow to the magic shop." They nodded and left. "Spike, Xander, we're going patrolling."

"You've got it slayer," Spike said as he jumped up from his bar-side seat.

"Giles, work on that keep-out spell. You'll just have to reinvite Spike when we get back."

Angelus watched the last ray of sunlight disappear from the room as he hid safely in the shadows. He'd been waiting for just the right moment. He always loved to plan it all out. Each step had to be perfectly placed. He'd spent weeks sleeping in Angel's bed, drinking pig's blood, and listening to Cordelia prattle on about her latest audition for one TV commercial or another. He was tired of playing the soul boy and helping the hopeless.

The street outside had steadily quieted until only the occasional car broke what to human ears sounded like silence. Any vampire in town however could hear quite the commotion. Angelus was back. They all knew. Those who were lucky enough to have been turned by a member of the Aurelian clan could feel his presence and had alerted the others in their excitement. Luckily for them, Angelus wasn't trying to keep it a secret. He knew that as soon as Cordelia realized he was missing she would assume the worst. She had been watching him carefully, scrutinizing his every move, looking for some sign of Angelus. Maybe he should have killed her before he left. Maybe he wanted her to call Buffy. Maybe he wanted the little blonde to sweat a bit, to panic before he finally arrived back on the hellmouth.

He looked at the floor where a small woman lay dying, her chest covered in her own blood. He swept from the room, his skin warming as the human blood replaced the old butcher shop pig's blood that his body had become accustom to. Reaching his car he tossed his cigarette to the ground. He looked out toward the dark California sky line and climbed into the car. Even as he drove he kept his new favorite treasure clenched in his fist. In his hand was a small pink flower, common and easily recognized by most witches as Lethe's bramble.

Buffy and the others had seen exactly one vampire since reaching the cemetery. That vampire was Spike. Spike, who was oddly quiet. He hadn't made a single comment about Buffy, Xander, or Angelus no matter how certain the other two knew that he must want to.

They walked the path through the cemetery for the third time and still no sign of any vampires. All of the dirt was packed down and the grass undisturbed. They left and headed out to the next cemetery. There was a fresh grave there, but no signs that the corpse had or would be reanimating.

Buffy sighed. She was anxious about Angelus coming into town, but she had been looking to take out her frustration on a few newborn vamps. The frustration caused by her lack of control of the situation was becoming a problem for the slayer. The lack of demon activity was starting to bore her. She needed something to take her mind off of Angelus. She would welcome anything that distracted her from her thoughts. She didn't want to keep thinking about Angel and whether or not they'd be able to put his soul back before she could kill him. Buffy didn't want to keep wondering how much damage he would do before either of those things had a chance to occur. Who would he come after first? Buffy was certain that someone would die. It would be someone she loved. It wouldn't be the only death to happen before Angelus could be stopped, but it would not only be a game changer, it would be a life changer. Unless Angelus had changed his ways (which Buffy thought was very unlikely) and decided not to mess with her friends and family, death was hanging over each of their heads. She felt horribly guilty for putting them in this kind of danger. She just wished she could remember how it happened. Maybe it wasn't her at all. Maybe something bad had happened, something nonsexy and majorly magically that made it not so much her fault. She would feel less guilty, but it wouldn't change the fact that her loved ones where in terrible and unpredictable danger. Buffy was so caught up in her worries that Angelus could have been walking right behind her and she wouldn't have even felt it.

Spike was busy contemplating what might happen when his sire catches him helping the slayer. Angelus wouldn't understand his chip issue. He'd insist that Spike had gone soft, that he had joined the slayer in fear of her or some nonsense. Spike was also concerned about whether or not Angelus would be on another end of the world mission. The whole destroying the world bit had been rather out of character. It must have been caused by Angelus being locked away in the cage that was Angel. It made him crazier than Dru. Spike didn't think he would try to destroy the world again, but he would certainly make destroying Buffy his priority. While Spike was all for the slayer dying, he wanted to be the one to do it. If he had to see someone else kill the slayer, Angelus was the last demon he'd want it to be. As long as she wanted his help, Spike would stand by the slayer in this battle.

"Where are all the vamps?" Xander asked.

"Well," Spike paused to light a cigarette. "If they heard that Angelus is coming to town, they'll be busy competing to be his new lackeys. They like to think they're all gonna be pals with the poof."

"Really? They're all excited about being minions?" Xander asked incredulous.

"Oh, yeah. It's a big deal him being the head of the Aurelian clan all," Spike couldn't help but sound a bit proud.

"It doesn't matter where they are," Buffy said. "What matters is they aren't here. We should head back to Giles; see if he has any news."

"I don't see why you're so down, Buff. No vamps means there's time to get a nap before Angelus shows up," Xander said.

"I'm the slayer, Xander. It's just what I do. I slay."

"There's an awful lot of cemeteries in Sunnydale, pet. We ought to keep going," Spike was concerned that the slayer was worrying too much about the oncoming danger to focus on the here and now.

"Sure, but I really don't think we'll find anything," Buffy said sounding agitated.

"Don't be so glum. I'm sure something nasty will turn up, always does."

"We can only hope," Xander said sarcastically and with a small laugh.

Willow and Anya made it back to Giles's shortly after he had finished the spell to revoke the vampire invitations. Willow had found the book containing the spell and they ran to the magic shop to get all the ingredients. Luckily, they'd found everything they needed and Willow could put the spell together without delay. Giles helped Willow set everything up and she began. The other three left her too it and wandered about Giles's apartment waiting for the others to return.

Giles was the most anxious of the lot. Angelus was the one danger that he wished his slayer never had to face. Sure she'd faced incredible danger and been put into the most horrible of circumstances, but Angelus topped the list without a doubt. It's never easy fighting with one's lover, but when the fight is to the death, it becomes nearly impossible. At least it would be for any human. To Angelus, it was fun, it was a game. He chose to do this because Buffy was the greatest testament to Angel's humanity. Angelus hated her for that. Angelus doesn't often hate his victims, and that makes the torture that comes before hand all the more heinous.

Giles went to the kitchen and poured himself a scotch. He was afraid for his slayer and afraid for her friends, but he felt nothing for himself. There was a part of him that wanted Angelus to come after him. All of that anger of Jenny Calendar's death had resurfaced. He thought he'd moved on, but how does one get over the death of one that was so dearly loved? He could feel a part of him that he hadn't felt in years rising up. It was the part of him that he liked to pretend wasn't really him at all. It was a monster that goes by the name that few still insist upon calling him. It was Ripper, and Ripper was ready for vengeance. But vengeance would have to wait, because Buffy had made it back safely and Spike would be waiting for an invitation.