Okay, I am SO, SO sorry for taking so long to update! I've been really busy, I know that's not a good excuse, but it's the only one I've got! But anywhoo, I won't be able to update again for a few weeks, only because I'm going on vacation, but I'll have lots of time to write, so I'll have a lot to post when I get back!

And again, thanks for the reviews, they mean the world to me!

Faith was sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee when Angel walked in the next morning. He sat down across the table from her. "Are you okay?"

She smiled at him. "Five by five."

"Spike said you were out for quite awhile."

"I'm fine, Angel." She stood up and took her coffee mug to the sink. "I didn't need a rescuer, and I don't need a babysitter."

He turned around, but her back was to him, and she was staring out the window, lost in thought. "So then, what happened?"

"I just got caught off guard. It won't happen again."

"Faith..."

She turned to face him. "Look, none of it would have happened in the first place if you hadn't sent Spike with me!"

Angel stood up. "I thought that he helped with..."

"Well, yeah, but I wouldn't have been..." Her voice trailed off.

He looked at her expectantly. "Wouldn't have been what, Faith?"

She shook her head. "Forget it." She made her way into the living room.

Angel followed her. "What are you so afraid of?"

She spun around, anger flashing in her eyes. "I'm not afraid of anything!" Her anger faded almost as quickly as it had come, and she dropped down onto the sofa. Angel stood above her, silent. She sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, okay?"

She decided to change the subject. "I did learn a few things about the hellmouth, though."

Angel sat down beside her, accepting the fact that she just wasn't going to talk to him about Spike. "So, what did you hear?"

"Apparently there's a new force in town, they call him 'The Phoenix'. Seems he came here a few months ago, kinda took over, gathered all the vamps together." She paused for effect. "And, he brought his very own warrier with him."

"The Mohra demon." Angel sat back.

She nodded. "I'd bet on it."

He looked thoughtful. "The Phoenix. Kind of full of himself, isn't he? Now we just need to figure out exactly what his plans are."

"Well, they're on to me now, so I guess we'll have to come up with another way to find out." She stood up to leave.

"Faith."

She looked down at him. "Yeah?"

"You didn't ask for my advice, but I'm gonna give it to you anyway." She waited, not saying anything, and he took it as a good sign. "You've got to learn to forgive yourself. It took me a long time to figure that out."

"Angel..."

"Everyone deserves to be happy. Even people like us."

A small smile played across her face, just for a moment. "Thanks", she whispered, then turned and walked away.

BBB

"Well, what happened?" The man's voice was deceptively quiet, but the vamp heard the warning in his voice, and he cowered before him.

"It was the slayer."

The man's eyes narrowed, though they were hardly visible in the darkness. He wore a long, flowing black robe with a hood that covered his head, and most of his face. "Slayers are everywhere. Eight vampires against one girl?" He shook his head menacingly. "It should not have been a problem."

"But..."

"I will not tolerate excuses, demon."

The vamp's face paled more than it already was. He was afraid of what The Phoenix would do to him when he told him what he knew, but it would be worse if he left anything out. He took a deep breath, and gathered his courage. "It wasn't just a slayer, sir. And she wasn't alone."

The Phoenix's gaze locked on his. "The slayer? The chosen one?"

He nodded. "One of the two, sir."

"Damn!" He clenched his fists. This was not good news. "And her companion?"

"A vampire."

"Angelus!" The Phoenix turned and walked to the window.

The vampire shook his head. "No, not Angelus. Another vampire, helping the slayers."

The Phoenix spun around, his robe billowing. "Get out!"

"But..."

"Find out who this vampire is! If one slayer is here, the other must not be far behind!" He turned away again. "And if the slayers are here, Angelus will be also."

The vamp saw his chance and scrambled out, happy to get away without a stake through the heart, or at the very least, a severe beating. He had heard the anger in the man's voice when he spoke of the slayers, and Angelus. He didn't want that anger focused on him.

The Phoenix stared out into the dark night, his thoughts in turmoil. Closing his eyes, he thought of Angelus. His evil had been legendary, until he had been cursed with a soul and fallen in love with the slayer. He of course knew of the defeat of the master at their hands, and how the two chosen slayers had defeated the first, after empowering all the potentials.

It was time for them to be stopped, once and for all, and he would be the one to do it.

BBB

"Angel!" Buffy bolted up in bed, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Buffy?" Angel sat up, noticing her terrified expression. "What is it? What's wrong?" He reached over and pulled her into his arms. She was shaking, and she was desperately trying to catch her breath.

"Angel, thank God!" She clung to him, and he held her, stroking her hair, rubbing her back, until he felt the shaking ease.

He pulled back and looked into her eyes, and saw the unshed tears gathered there. "Buffy, what's wrong?"

"A man...dressed in black. He..." She stopped and took a breath. "He stabbed you, and left you in an alley! I...I couldn't save you, I tried, but I..."

"Buffy..."

"It was so real! It was like before, when I saw Drusilla stake you..."

"Shhh." He pulled her once more into his arms. "I'm fine, and it wasn't true, remember? Dru didn't kill me. It was just a dream."

"Yes, but..." Her words trailed off. "You're right." She closed her eyes, and lay down in his arms, thinking. He was right, Dru hadn't killed him. She had.

Angel held her for a long time, until she finally fell asleep, but he stayed awake, thinking. Her dreams weren't exactly predictions, but when she had them, it meant trouble. He tightened his arms around her. He was not going to let anything happen to her, or to himself. The Powers had given them a gift, and he was going to make damn sure that they both stayed alive long enough to enjoy it.

Well, there you go! I hope it will tide you over till I get back!