Disclaimer: Sadly, all characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and 20th Century Fox etc. If they did belong to me, Angel/Angelus would always be in leather pants, Buffy would never sleep with Riley, or Spike (ew) and a piano would have fallen on Darla causing all the legs to splinter and stake her in the chest way before she had the chance to even touch Angel.

AU note: Hi everyone, I just wanted to have a little chat before you hopefully start reading my story. This is my first so I hope its okay. I know this initial chapter is pretty short and basic but I just wanted to get it out so I had something started, the chapters will be longer and more in depth once I get going. This will be a Buffy-Angel fic but will have most of the other characters as well (from both Buffy and Angel). This will be first person and the POV will alternate between Buffy and Angel so their thoughts are in italics, conversations are normal, and dreams are in bold and italics…I hope it isn't too confusing. If and when I have any author notes they will most likely be at the end of the chapter but I just wanted this one as the initial read. Again, this is my first fic so I hope you enjoy it and if you have anything to say whether its good or bad please feel free to review or message me but I do ask that if you have any criticism with regards to my story I ask that you do it respectfully because I am not here to take insults, I am here to share my ideas and make friends with people who enjoy the same thing I do. So please, if you don't have anything nice to say or can not say it in a polite manner than don't bother. Thank you again and I hope you like it. :D

Rating: Hmmm rated T for now…later chapters will be rated M (for chapters involving explicit-adult content etc will have a note before the chapter, please do not read if you are under the legal age.)

Spoilers: Uhhmm this story isn't designated to a specific time period following the show but it will involve bits and pieces from both Buffy and Angel through out.

Day of Reckoning: a Sweet Surrender

Chapter 1: A Prophetic Dream?

POV: Buffy

It feels like it happened just yesterday in a funny scream and cry kind of way. Everyone said it was supposed to get easier, I don't understand that…how is it supposed to get easier or less painful when your love walks away? You watch movies, read books, hell you even see it happen in real life when a person gets left by the one that they supposedly love. They cry for a couple of days maybe a week if it was really hard and then they get up, go to work, and meet mister perfect in their daily morning coffee run and they live happily ever after. Well I guess I wasn't so lucky. Its been 53 days since he left and I still have to cry for 20 to 35 minutes before I can even get myself out of bed on a good day, then the really hard part comes where I have to get ready and leave the solace of my room and put on my happy go lucky face so everyone thinks I'm fine, not that they would really notice either way.

"Good morning honey. Are you hungry?"

"I'm good mom; I think I'm just going to grab a coffee on my way to class." Yes Buffy, maybe you'll even meet that mister right you were mentioning earlier. God I'm pathetic, I never even used to drink coffee until I started dating Angel, now its really the only connection I have to him, well that and a piece of wood that I carry around with me.

"Alright dear, have a good day. Oh, I won't be home for a couple of weeks, I have to go to New York to pull together some art for the gallery, so we won't be able to do our movie marathon this weekend."

"Oh," remember to smile Buffy, remember to smile, "that's okay, I'll go to the movies with Willow or something. Have fun." It's rather sad when the only plans you have are watching old movies with your mom and even she cancels on you.

"Buffy!"

"Oh hey Will, where's the fire?"

"What? Oh ha no uh no fire, I just wanted to catch you before class. I was talking to Riley, you know our psychology TA and it just so happened that we started talking about you, so guess what?"

Oh I'm sure it was just coincidental that you guys started talking about me. I don't know why she even bothers trying to lie about it, I figured out her plan after the first 4 dates she set me up on. I was starting to think she gave up.

"You have a date tomorrow night! Isn't that exciting?"

Thrilling. "Yeah Will, that's great and all but uhm what if I had plans tomorrow night?"

"Oh well see I thought of that but I called your mom yesterday and she said she was going out of town so you were free."

"You called my mom to see what I was doing?"

"Yeah. So aren't you excited? I mean Riley is so cute and…"

I know I should really be paying attention to what she's saying but I can't believe she went and asked my mom about my plans and set me up with Riley of all guys. I mean there's nothing wrong with him or anything but he's just so farm boy basic and his clothes are too bright. Angel never wore bright clothes or Kmart clothes for that matter…he was so classy and mysterious, wait – no, bad Buffy! You know you can't be thinking about him while out with people. Remember, its happy Buffy now…I can wallow in self pity later.

"Yeah Will, listen sorry I gotta get to class but its uhm awesome with the whole Riley and I thing, thanks."

"Oh yeah, okay well I'll talk to you later…I knew it would work out between you two!"

God it's like she's already picking out my china patterns.

"Come out, come out, come out little vampires. I know you're around here somewhere."

"Buffy."

"Angel?" Oh god.

"I heard you were on the hunt."

Hmm that sounds vaguely familiar. "Uh," speak Buffy! "yeah, you know just some late night slayage. What are you doing here?"

"I came to help."

God that smirk, oh how I missed you. "Help with what exactly?"

"You."

Huh? "Huh?"

"You have to be ready."

"Okay Angel, what's with the cryptic? I have to be ready for what? No Angel wait! Ready for what? …ANGEL!"