Chapter 1
It had been five years since Angel had been born, and because his mother had been human he had none of the weakness of a vampire.
Buffy had trained three men to look after him during the day. They became trusted and were treated like guardians.
On the day of Angel's 6th birthday Buffy got a call from her second in command Faith. She was based in Sunnydale, a hellmouth resided there but so far had been dormant.
"B, this hellmouth just woke up and I'm telling you it ain't a morning person. Willow and Fred are trying their best but we need some back up A.S.A.P."
Buffy sighed this was the last thing she needed. Willow was their most powerful witch while Fred was a portal expert. She knew what she had to do no matter how much she didn't want to.
"Alright I'm on my way tonight, Spike, Xander and Gunn should be able to look after Angel, while Kendra and Tara can keep an eye on Dawn's and Riley's groups."
"Okay B why do you keep calling Angelus Angel anyway?"
"I just did once and he liked it so I call him Angel, besides he does look like one."
"You know he isn't going to be happy that your leaving on his birthday."
"Yeah but an active hellmouth needs attention, and if it's as powerful as you say, well then it can't be helped."
"Whatever B see you soon"
Buffy put the phone back on the cradle and went in search for Giles. She found him in the library, whenever he wasn't with Angel he was in the library looking at demons and translating prophecies.
"Buffy shouldn't you be getting things ready for the party?" Giles asked when he acknowledged her presence. She truly was like a daughter to him. He had sired Buffy along with her mother and sister, sensing potential in all of them. If he had known what her sister would turn into. Oh well past is past.
"Cordelia is dealing with it, honestly sometimes I wonder why you sired her. Anyway Faith called" she then went on to repeat the phone call ending with. "I'm leaving tonight for Sunnydale."
"Oh dear, oh dear, that's not good what about Angel, he's going to be devastated."
"What's devastated" Giles and Buffy turned to see Angel standing in the door way.
"Hey there birthday boy, wow 6 years old, your going to be a big strong man like your father soon." Buffy tried to get his attention off the question he had asked.
"Thanks, Buffy you're coming to my party right?" Buffy winced inside, he sounded so happy, she didn't want to break his little heart.
"Angel, something's come up. I'm gonna have to go away." Her heart broke as she watched his expression fall.
"Why do you have to go today, it's my birthday and I want you here, who's going to protect me?" Angel tried to hide his tears, he didn't want to act like a baby in front of his father and Buffy.
Buffy came and lifted him up.
"Hey you've still got Spike, Xander and Gunn not to mention Cordy, Tara, Kendra and your father. They'll all die before anything could hurt you. That's why I'm leaving." She set him down and stayed at his level.
"Come on cheer up, you are the boss now, you can order the boys all you want."
Angel smiled a little.
"Now before I leave, I'm quite certain I have a present for you."
Angel fully smiled and jumped up and down. Buffy reached into her pocket and pulled out a chain that had a Griffin sitting on top of an A on it.
"Here you go wear this to give you the strength and courage of a griffin."
"What do you say to Buffy" Giles said as Buffy put the necklace on Angel. They both knew that the necklace had been fitted with a homing spell.
"Thank you. How long are you going to be away for?" Angel asked while he admired his new necklace.
"I'm not certain, it could be a while before I get back"
"Promise you'll come back." Angel pleaded
"Angel" Buffy sighed
"Promise Buffy, please we need you."
Buffy hesitated she never liked making promises she didn't know she could keep, but to ease his mind . . .
"I promise no matter how long it takes I'll come back, I've got to speak to the others let them in on the sitch" she referred the last part to Giles, heading to the door she turned and smiled at Angel.
"Bye Angel take care of everyone, Giles I'll call you once I'm down there."
Angel ran to his dad as the door closed.
"I don't want her to go"
"Neither do I but you know what she's like, stubborn and will never leave danger to others. Come on we have a party to get ready for,"
Sunnydale nine years later.
A lone figure walked through a graveyard alert and silent. The sounds of a struggle disturbed the air and the figure took off running.
The person stopped suddenly as he came upon a woman fighting three big demons at once. The person didn't interfere just stood transfixed at the power the little woman held. Then one of the demons got her on her back and spoke in a raspy voice.
"You will die and the prophecy will not come true."
Buffy braced herself to feel the sharp wooden weapon pierce her heart, but it never came, slowly she opened her eye's expecting Faith to be now fighting. The person however was defiantly not Faith; he seemed to be a male of 25 and was fighting like a pro.
Soon the demon were dead, buffy stood up and brushed herself off. Her movements stopped when the man turned around and the necklace he wore glinted in the moon light catching her eye.
She had seen it before, flashes of a boy and a promise flashed through her mind, then she heard herself gasp a name once familiar.
"Angel"
Angel smirked and stepped closer to his old guardian and most trusted friend.
"Hello Buffy."
A.N um I couldn't exactly remember what bird was on the tattoo on Angel's back so I made it a griffin.
