A/N: Long time for a update I know XD. But I've been busy with many other things, including very annoying sickness :P. I'm not 100% fond of my story so far and I feel I could do better in some areas but hey, it's my first Buffy fic y'know XD. I'm very fond of the idea itself though and I wonder if it will really play out similarly in canon when Buffy founds out he's going to ressurrect Giles (IF she finds out. It's clear she doesn't know in Season Nine at the moment). Buffy coming to stop Angel despite still not forgiving him at the moment seems in character to me :D and don't worry: Practically no light-heartedness in this one. Pure angst XD which I guess is to be expected. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or anything related to it's making. That's the wonderful Joss Whedon. But if I did, Tara would have never been shot and Willara would still be canon, Harmony would be staked already (Still have no idea how's she's still alive. She's completely incompetant), and Cordelia would have definitely never passed on ( I miss her XD)!

Constructive Critizism is much appreciated if there is any! ;)


The Dreaded Confrontation

Buffy's entire body tensed when she heard the door to the estate open. So many different emotions cascaded through her heart like a waterfall, none of them pleasant. Mostly, she felt anger. She could scarcely believe that on his road to redeem himself again, this was what he had come up with. Of all things, it had to be ressurrection. It wasn't like she didn't want Giles back. Ever since watching him die right in front of her eyes, she had felt nothing but loss and a aching sense of hopelessness that she refused to ever show completely. Part of her screamed at her to let Angel do it, to bring him back. Buffy wanted nothing else but that to come true.

At one point in her life, she might have been weak enough to give in, just to not be alone anymore. To have Giles watch her back and listen to his at times annoying stammers or read through his books being the stuffy, old guy that he was. But she changed. Buffy wasn't the same naive teenager she was and the years of hardship and suffering had weathered her as such. No matter how tempting it was for her to have her father figure return, she would never forgive herself for ripping him of his peace. Buffy remembered her traumatic ressurrection with a painful clarity and all the emptiness she had felt afterwards. Giles deserved rest and peace in Heaven. She was sure he was there and to take that away from him knowingly ... was just heartless to her. He, of all people, never needed to go through that process. Buffy never wanted Giles to deal with what she did and she'd die before she let it happen. Besides her own personal reasons, it was also pure logic to her. There was no magic in the world thanks to yours-truly and it should be physically impossible. If it somehow did work, nothing good would come out of it. It never did on normal cirumstances to begin with, what made it any different now? If anything, the consequences would be even worse.

So yes, she felt totally justified to admit just how pissed off she was right now. She almost wanted to kick Angel's ass but her typical Slayer instinct might not be the right course of action. She could admit to that but that didn't make her any less frustrated or fighty. ' After this is over, I need a serious zompire to beat the crap outta, stat.' Buffy noted, deciding that pretty soon she was gonna patrol London to do just that. It always made her feel at least a little bit better in the past. Wasn't any different now that's for sure.

Faith looked uneasy. ' Crap. He's back, already?! I wasn't finished handling B yet. She's already riled up. It's obvious.' Buffy's shoulders were tense and her expression was incredibly somber, a touch of anger shining in her hazel eyes. ' Buffy really shouldn't of came. Damn B and her stubborness. ' Faith put a hand on her shoulder, causing Buffy to turn her head at her.

" Go easy on him, B. He's being dumb. We covered that and all but his mind's pretty screwed over right now. You can't start shouting at him and accusing him right off the bat. " Buffy stared at her incredulously, her mouth opening as if to stay something but the Dark slayer cut her off. " The vamp's pretty fragile, remember? Gentle handling is what you do. "

" And what's 'gentle handling' getting you so far? " Buffy retorted, her voice tinly veiled with sarcasm. " Obviously not by leaps and bounds. "

Faith glared at her slightly, annoyed. " It's the only option for me, B. Anything else and he'll fly off the track. I'm not liking this anymore than you, remember? " She reiterated forcefully, refering their conversation several minutes ago.

Buffy pulled away from her hand on her shoulder. " You can't just do nothing, Faith. Angel needs to realize he's making a mistake. He wants to avoid that, right? Well, I'm helping. " She whispered back. " Okay yeah, you have to be sorta easy with him to get anywhere. But you can't be this cool about it. That's why I'm here. Why I had to came. " Buffy insisted firmly, her tone unwavering.

" Here's the difference, B. You don't understand what he's going through. I do." Faith began in a hushed, serious tone. " Yeah, you have one advantage in this situation that I don't. You're still his slayer, at least to him. I'm not the one he has mushy feelings for. Not my part to play. He might actually listen to you because of how he feels for you. " Faith conceded easily. " But you have never killed a innocent person and then deal with the conscience afterwards. You never lost control and went off the deep end. Me? I'm practically the poster child for screwing up majorly. Atonement? Redemption? You can never understand that B, even if you want to. That's why it had to be me who took him in. You know that. " Faith said confidently, completely believing every word.

" Faith? " Angel called from the doorway, closing the door behind him with a loud click. " You still here?"

Faith's eyes darted to Angel's voice. Buffy's did as well, looking equally as upset and uncomfortable as before. Without warning, Faith shoved Buffy into the one of the many closets in the estate. " Mmmh-!" The petite blond made a irritated sound of protest, as the brunette cupped her hand over her mouth to silence her. " Chill for a minute, 'kay B? Just until I figure out a way to break your visit to him. He's gonna need a warning ahead of time. " She whispered urgently. Buffy's sudden appearance would not be something Angel would take in stride. She was certain of that.

The older Slayer glared at Faith, annoyed that she was doing this now but also annoyed she had allowed her to surprise her so easily. ' Yeah, but in a closet? Really?' was on the tip of Buffy's ever loose tongue but she forced herself to stay quiet, realizing the logic in that statement. So, Buffy settled on simply glaring at her.

Seeing Buffy somehow obey her ( Shocker of the century to her, due to the blonde's willful desposition), she hastily shut the door behind her. " Yeah, Angel. Still here. " Faith replied, forcing her voice to sound casual. She sauntered up to Angel's position who was currently standing a few feet from the door ' Close one, too. Almost didn't react quick enough. ' Faith reflected, relieved. " So, how did the dusting gig go? " She asked, feigning interest. Truthfully, she didn't give a crap, too busy thinking of how she was going to break to him his ex's visit.

" Uneventful. Not much of a challenge, really. Zompires are just too easy. I actually prefer regular vampires. " Angel replied, genuinely disappointed. It was never much of a fight anymore. After everything that happened, fighting seemed to temperarily ease his guilt just for a second at least. Action helped him get his mind of things, if only for a moment.

" Sorta agree. When your in the mood for a real ass-kicking, zompires don't always satisfy. " The slayer answered, her tone sympathatic. " But hey. Easy kill. Not always a bad thing. The dumb ones can be fun to beat around." She said, forcing a smile.

" Maybe. " Angel said, smiling slightly. However, his mood abruptly changed. A deep, confused frown etched his features as he smelled a achingly familar scent. ' That scent ... it's Buffy's. I'd know it anywhere. ' Angel identified, shock and confusion spiralling his mind. ' But that doesn't make any sense. Buffy wouldn't be here. She's at San Francisco, isn't she? I have to be imagining it ... wouldn't be the first time. ' He had to be mistaken. Buffy being here would be the last thing to happen. It was just wishful thinking on his part. But it was so strong ...

Faith stared at him in concern, noticing his sudden odd change of attitude. " What's up with the face, Angel? Something wrong? " She inquired, though inwardly she already knew exactly what was bothering him. ' Damnit. Didn't get a chance to explain him to yet. Stupid vampire sense of smell. '

Angel stared at her for a minute, a look of terrible confusion and hopelessness on his handsome face. " It's ... nothing. " Angel said evasively, sitting on the couch slowly. It had to be nothing. But his nose was telling him the complete opposite.

She joined him, crossing over the hall to the where Angel was. " Sure looks like something. Just tell me, already. " Faith pressed, preparing for his inevitable barrage of questions or worse, "I hate myself" moments.

Angel hesitated for a moment but Faith continued to stare at him intensely, pushing him to tell her. He sighed, before finally admitting. " It's Buffy. " He admitted. " Her scent ... it's here. And fresh." He turned to his friend, brown soulful eyes searching. " It's telling me she was here ... Was she? " He asked, his voice coming out a bit panicky and urgent.

Faith paused for a moment, mulling over her next words carefully. " You're the vampire, Angel. You can trust your super smelling or whatever, right?" She said vaguely.

" She was. " He confirmed, getting up quickly from his sitting position. Angel immediately began to pace back and forth, anxiety clear in every line in his body. " Buffy's not supposed to be here. " He stopped for a moment, turning to her in frustration. " She's supposed to be in San Francisco, not here here. " He babbled, soon beginning to pace once more. " Having a normal life. Working as a bodyguard from some place called Deepscan. "

Faith narrowed her eyes in suspicion. " How do you know all that? Don't tell me you were keeping tabs on her too? " She queried. He did the exact same for Connor. To be honest, even though she knew had had good intentions doing it ... she found it a bit creepy.

Buffy also heard this from him in his frantic mutterings ( To be honest, she didn't know how she could ignore it. His voice was pretty loud when he was freaking out over something) while still in the closet, barely stopped herself from gasping. ' He keeps TABS on me!? How totally annoying. I can take care of myself! He knows that!' Buffy thought angrily, the realization a blow to her independence and pride. Even when she ignored him and refused to speak with him for so many months since Giles's death, he still had to be so damn overprotective!

Angel stared at Faith, startled that he had let that slip out so easily. He cleared his throat and sat back down on the couch. " No, I wasn't. " He admitted, his voice quiet. " Willow told me before she left. After we helped her with the scythe and stopped her from going dark in Quor'toth, I asked her how Buffy was. She didn't want to at first but she seemed to trust me a little bit more. That's how I know. I ... I just wanted to know if she was alright. That's all. " He stated matter-of-factly, his voice sincere.

Buffy felt complete shock hit her. ' Will was here?! She came HERE with the scythe?! Why didn't she tell me?! She could have. And how in the hell did she get into the hell dimension, Quor'toth?' Buffy wondered, dazed by this information. Some part of her felt hurt that Willow didn't tell her she was going to meet Angel and Faith, but a larger part of her felt relieved. Willow probably just didn't want to have her involved or burdan her with the information. ' Good 'ole Will.' She thought, gratitude and affection for her friend hitting her. At the time, she probably wouldn't of been able to handle it and she knew that. She could barely handle it now.

Angel appeared to be continuing talking to Faith, his tone sad. " Faith ... I don't want Buffy involved with this ... With me. She doesn't deserve this. She deserves to be back in California ... and as far away from me as possible. "

Faith's expression was sympathatic, pity for her vampire friend welling up inside her. " Angel, you have to face her sometime. Sooner or later, it was gonna happen. You know that. "

" No, I didn't know. " He reiterated, a surprising amount of indigantion in his voice. He got up again to pace once for a moment, before whirling around in his wild movements to turn to his friend again. " Last time I saw Buffy, she couldn't even look at me. She never wanted to see me again. You would know. " Angel pointed out, his tone still angry. " I deserve it. I don't deserve her forgiveness! If Buffy never forgives me, it's just my punishment. "

Faith stood up too and put her hands up in a calming gesture. " She was just hurt. Her foster pops just died! What do you expect from her? She said a lot of not-so-good things about you, but she was grieving. Buffy may be pissed at you since then, but she doesn't hate you. " Faith indicated, desperately trying to soothe Angel from one of his self-loathing moments. " She doesn't have it in her."

Angel was silent for a moment, his dark eyes full of pain. " Even if she does decide to forgive me ... I shouldn't accept it. " He said finally, turning his eyes away from Faith's face. " After all the suffering I put her through ... all I ever give her is heartbreak and grief. Buffy's a great person, much better than most people out there, especially me. More than almost anyone I know, she deserves better. Someone like me? I just ruin her life. That's exactly why it's for the best that cut myself out of her life completely. That's what I've been trying to do. " Angel turned his head to look at her. " That's why Buffy shouldn't be here. "

Faith glared at him. " Y'know what? You're right. You cause B a lot of suffering. Maybe everything you say is completely true. But if I remember right and I think I am, everything you did last year was for the world. But it was also so Buffy could live, too! If it wasn't for you, she'd be destroyed. Popping up daisies or whatever again. So ya screwed up? Who doesn't?" Faith shrugged before continuing. " But that doesn't change the fact that you're the reason B's even still breathing right now. "

" But at what cost? " Angel countered. " I'm the reason innocent people died in trying to 'save the world'. With Buffy, I had to destroy everything she stood for, all her morals, sunk her as low as she could possibly go. Until she became a shell of her former shelf. I wish a thousand times it didn't have to be that way. Buffy has every right to hate me for that. " He took a deep breath. " Honestly though ... I'd do it again if I had to. As long as Buffy survives, it doesn't matter if she hates me her entire life. Better than her loving me and dying. " Angel admitted. " I never want to go through that again. "

Faith walked closer up to him, poking him in the chest forcefully. " Well, it's too late now. B's here, so stop moping about it. Don't you miss her? " She muttered angrily.

" Of course I do. I miss Buffy. " He agreed sadly. " But all I ever do is complicate things for her. She deserves better than that. I can't be selfish with her like that. Not now, after everything-"

" Yeah, yeah. After everything you did to her. Killing Giles, breaking her heart, making her suffer. " Faith recited easily. " But I keep hearing this from you. 'Buffy deserves better' , ' Buffy deserves this'. How 'bout you stop chosing what's best for her and let her make her own choices for once. She's not some little kid that needs to have you protect her all the time, Angel. If B decides to forgive you and choses to help you or whatever, then it's her choice. Not yours. " She stated unwaveringly.

" But I can't, Faith. I don't want to hurt Buffy. I never want to but I seem to do it anyway. " Angel argued pitifully. " What if it happens again? I don't want that for her. "

" Well then, it's B's fault for deciding that. It would have been her decision and it would be her fault for giving you another chance. " Faith said bluntly. " But at least let her decide for herself. "

Angel looked away. " She probably won't forgive me anyway. She shouldn't forgive me. "

" Remember what I said eariler? B may be angry as hell towards you but it's beyond her hating ability to hate you forever. You're Angel, after all. "

" Right. " He scoffed, disbelief scoring through him.

" Watch me be right. You just can't see past your extra broodiness to see that I'm not tripping here. " Faith said convincingly, a smile crossing her face. Angel was being hard on himself again, like always lately. She knew he wouldn't admit it but Buffy cared about him too much to not forgive him. Hell, she even knew Buffy didn't want to care as much as she does now. Angel needed a lot of things to happen for him: Redemption and atonement for Gile's death being one of them. But also needed the forgiveness of his Slayer too, no matter how much he said he doesn't deserve it. After all, she was still a strong, motivating factor in his life.


Buffy had stood in speechless, stunned silence from her place in the closet. She couldn't even speak she was so stunned, even if she wanted to. She had heard every word Angel had spoken about her. How she deserved better, she shouldn't forgive him, and that all he ever caused her was pain and he hated it. She agreed with all the pain he had caused her but she had never expected him to be so passionate about wanting to stay out of her life. Buffy didn't see his expressions from here but she could here it in his voice. It stirred some long-buried feelings inside her, besides her remaining anger she felt: empathy and gratitude. She never thought Angel would create those feelings in her again but she also couldn't believe that he was still so devoted to her after all these years. ' I know Faith told me he felt that way but it's so different hearing it. It's true ... that part of him really never changed. ' Buffy could not erase the heartfelt words out of her head.

But she also recalled what Faith had bluntly and straightforwardly told him. That it was her decision if she wanted to forgive him or cut him out of her life completely. She still didn't know if she could ever forgive him completely. She still felt anger at Angel's misguided choices of last year and she would not sit idly by and make excuses for his terrible actions. Not like Faith. She would confront him about it, express her anger, hear him out, and then she'll decide: Did she want to give him another chance or was it far too late for that? She truly didn't know but she would soon see.


Angel began pacing again. " So ... where is Buffy? If she's really here in London. How do I face her? " Angel fired at Faith. " Why is she here? This is the last place she'd visit. "

" Chill, Angel. Not gonna lie, B's still pretty pissed at you. " Faith admitted sympathatically. " So, prepare for B to launch insults at you. You're best bet is to just explain yourself honestly. B doesn't have the patience for anything else but the complete truth. "

" I'm not gonna try and justify myself. It's impossible. " Angel said immediately. " And lying to Buffy about everything would only make things worse. Make me feel even more guilty than I already am. " He replied, his tone miserable.

" And as for the why and the where ... " The brunette began uncomfortably, wondering how in the hell she was going to tell him Buffy somehow found out about his efforts to ressurrect Giles and was here to stop him because she believed it to be wrong. Nothing stopped Buffy once she made her mind up on something. Especially in a serious situation like this, her stuborn and orneriness is unparalleled. ' Nothing stops a slayer on a misson, 'specially her. ' She noted tiredly. This was exactly why trying to tell Buffy to go home or it was a mistake to come here ( Besides the fact that she travelled all the way to San Francisco and telling her off was too bitchy even for Faith). Buffy would never budge. She admired that trait of hers at times but right now, it felt like a terrible inconvience.

" Faith, get to the point. " Angel insisted, his voice uncharacteristically impatient.

Suddenly, one of the closet doors was opened abruptly, almost pulled off its hinges. None other than Buffy stepped out delicately, her patience finally wearing thin. " The ' where' is the here, actually. " Buffy quiped dryly. " And the why? Hard question to answer. Let's just say, I'm here because I need to be. " Buffy stated vaguely. Angel was gaping at her in utter shock at the unexpected entrance while Faith looked unsurprised, but annoyed. Buffy gazed steadily at Angel, her expression unreadable. " Hey Angel. Miss me?"


A/N: I finally finished the 3rd chapter XD, for those of you that care anyways :P. I enjoyed Angel's hating myself moments earlier because it's completely in character to me :). And Faith XD. I just love her. She's such a good and loyal friend to Angel. I made sure to portray that in this chapter :). I hope Buffy's character is in character. I decided to add in her thoughts over Giles because he is also a major factor for her reason for coming here. Not just Angel, though she (grudgingly) feels he needs her help and only she can do it. She's finally taking responsibilty, like Buffy often does eventually even when she doesn't want to. This is the case here. I also wanted to show that Buffy truly hasn't forgiven him and is indeed furious with him still. I hope I showed that well because I believe Buffy feels exactly like this in canon. More of that will be shown next chapter. ;)

Reviews are something I appreciate, even though I haven't too many yet XD. If you feel I'm getting something wrong in my portrayal please tell me. I truly hate OOCness ;D!