Title: A Time Once Had
Author: Meredith
Summary: What if the events of 'I Will Remember You' happened while Angel was still in Sunnydale? How will this affect Buffy and Angel's relationship when he has to give it up?
Notes: Buffy and Angel are still together, Giles has forgiven Angel mostly. Some parts taken from actual episode 'I Will Remember You.'
Rating: If you can watch the shows, you can read this.
Pairings: Buffy/Angel, Willow/Oz
Disclaimer: Don't own them. If I did, there would never have been any B/S or A/C, Angel's soul would be permanent or he would be human and Buffy and Angel would still be together.
Buffy sighed loudly. She was bored, simple as that. She glanced over at Angel, whose eyes scanned the area nervously.
"Do you see something?"
"No, but that's what has me worried."
"I say we call it a night, or early morning..." She suggested, lightly tugging on his arm.
"You should go home. I'll do one last sweep."
"You sure?" She suppressed a yawn.
"Come on, I'll walk you home."
They soon reached her driveway, just as the first rays of dawn appeared in the horizon.
"Angel." Buffy said, worried.
"Don't worry about it. I'll take the sewers." He gave her a quick kiss goodnight.
Buffy watched as he hurried away before going inside.
Meanwhile, Angel made his way through the sewers. Suddenly, a green-skinned Samurai demon jumped out at him. The demon's sword sliced into Angel's right hand. Finally, Angel was able to stab it in the heart with its own sword. Some of its glowing green blood got onto his hand and the cut on his palm. The blood swirled around and sunk into his cut, which closed up in front of his eyes. A light raced from his right hand through his whole body as Angel collapsed with a strangled cry. He gasped for air and felt something unfamiliar–his heart was beating.
He walked into the mansion minutes later in a daze. He picked up the phone and called Giles.
"Hello?"
"Giles, it's me. I need your help."
"An–"
"Don't say my name. I don't want Buffy to know–yet."
"What can I do for you?"
"I encountered a demon–green, Samurai-like. Some of its blood mixed with mine and somehow now I'm alive."
"A-Alive?"
"Yes. Pulse, heartbeat, need for oxygen. Do you know if there's anyone I can ask about this?"
"Uh, one minute please. Let me get my books." Giles returned a few minutes later. "It's a Mohra demon. Pretty powerful assassins, soldiers of darkness. 'Veins run with the blood of eternity.' Ah, that's it. Its blood has regenerative properties."
"And is there anyone I can speak to about this?"
"The Powers That Be. But they don't live in our reality. You have to approach them through channels–dangerous channels."
"What channels?"
Angel stood in front of Sunnydale High. The Oracles had said that it was permanent. He was human. He heard her familiar laughter before he saw her. She was beautiful in direct sunlight. He saw her glance around wildly. He slowly stepped out of the shadows and walked straight to her. Without a moment's hesitation, he pulled her to him as they engaged in a fiery kiss.