A/N: Here it is!!! Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. If you like this one, do it again!

That evening, Buffy took Kathryn to a little Italian restaurant. She'd gotten Angel's letter from Willow, and it was currently resting in her purse. She planned to give it to Kathryn tonight.

"How was school today?" Buffy asked as they sat down and looked over their menus. Kathryn smiled.

"Fine, I guess. We had a sub in History, so that was nice," Kathryn shrugged, careful to avoid any mention of Angel. Buffy laughed softly.

"Sub days were always the best."

Mother and daughter talked animatedly through the entire meal. Kathryn was surprised at how easy conversation with her mother came. The first day at the Espresso Pump had been slightly awkward, but now it was as if Kathryn had known Buffy her whole life.

"Kathryn, I have something I want to give you," Buffy said as the meal wound down.

"Oooh, presents?" Kathryn asked with a childlike gleam in her eye.

"Haha, well not quite. It's a letter that Angel wrote you just before he died. He wanted you to have it when you turned eighteen." Buffy pulled out the thick envelope and handed it across the table to Kathryn.

"When should I read it?" Kathryn asked. Even though she knew Angel was alive, and she'd met him, she still wanted to read what he'd had to say.

"I would suggest when you're alone." Kathryn nodded. She looked up at Buffy.

"Can we go home? I'd like to read it now," Kathryn explained.

"Sure honey." Buffy put a few bills on the table, enough to cover the bill and more, and took Kathryn back to the mansion.

"How was dinner?" Willow asked Buffy as they sat on the couch. Kathryn had run upstairs to her room the second they walked in the door.

"Really good. She's such a good girl, I can't believe she's mine sometimes. I mean, she hasn't even been in a fight yet," Buffy laughed.

"That's the one thing she got from Riley, her total need to please authority."

"Thanks for taking such good care of her Willow," Buffy sighed. Willow laid a hand on Buffy's knee.

"You're welcome Buffy. Have you decided when you're moving into Giles' house?" Willow asked. Buffy laughed and ran a hand through her hair.

"I have no idea. I mean, just Giles and me? I just…I don't know."

"You're welcome here as long as you want, you know that," Willow promised.

"Thanks Will, you're the best."

Upstairs, Kathryn carefully opened the envelope. She was met with an elegant scrawl that covered the entire sheet of paper. It was worn and yellowed, and part of Kathryn wondered if it was just age that made it that way, or if Angel had a thing for really old paper. Taking a deep, ragged breath, Kathryn started to read.

My Dearest Kathryn

You don't know me, but I'm your father. One of, anyway. My name is Angel, and I loved you and your mother very much. I don't know if your mother could ever bring herself to tell you about me, because I hurt her very much, but I'd like to explain a few things to you.

I was a vampire, but not the evil ones you, no doubt, have encountered. Many, many years ago, I was cursed with a soul. That curse turned out to be the biggest blessing I could've ever been given, and I didn't deserve it. The curse led me to your mother, whom I loved with every fiber of my being.

I left her, and you, because I thought it would give everyone a better life. I'm not sure if it worked or not, but I hope it did. Your mother is probably still very angry with me, but deep down I know that she knows I loved her. If she doesn't, could you tell her that for me please?

I wish that I could've seen you grow up. You were a beautiful baby, and I'm sure you grew into a gorgeous woman, just like your mother. I wanted to be there, to see every little step in your life, your first steps, your first words, your first date, even the first vampire you killed (which your mother may never let you do). I know that all of this probably means nothing to you, because you don't know me, but I love you, Kathryn. I needed you to know that.

Happy Birthday, Mo chuisle.

Angel

For some reason, Kathryn couldn't stop crying. Angel was alive, she'd seen him, and yet his words had somehow affected her so deeply that she couldn't control her tears. She buried her head in her pillow so no one would hear her, and cried. She cried for the part of her mother she would never know, the parentless childhood she'd had, and the love that so many people had obviously lost when Angel died.

When a knock on the door came nearly an hour later, Kathryn had cried all the tears she had left. She lifted her head off her pillow and gazed at the closed door.

"Yeah?" She called.

"Kathryn? Can I come in?" Buffy asked. Kathryn stood up, wiped her eyes, and opened the door.

"What's up?" She asked, sitting back on her bed, Indian style. Buffy wandered in and looked around. She knew it was the old nursery, but nothing looked the same. The walls were covered in posters of male celebrities, and pictures of Kathryn and her friends. A glance to Kathryn's bedside table confirmed what Riley had said, there was a picture of Buffy holding Kathryn the day she was born, in a silver frame.

"I just wanted to see how you were. Angel tends to pack a punch with his poetry," Buffy smirked. Kathryn noticed again the sadness in Buffy's eyes.

"Yeah he does. I think I cried for forty-five minutes after I read it. He said he loves you by the way." A single tear slid down Buffy's cheek.

"Mom, how come you don't just cry all the time?" Kathryn asked. Buffy wiped the tear away and patted Kathryn's knee.

"Honey, I think that for the most part, all my tears are dry, I don't have any left in me."

"What's your favorite memory of you and Angel?" Buffy smiled, thinking off all the good ones they'd had, even if she hadn't been able to see them at the time.

"It's hard to choose. I think it'd have to be this one time that we had a picnic at Weatherly Park one time. It was during my senior year, late at night, we'd finished patrolling a little earlier, and we just sat in the park eating. After that we cuddled and talked, and of course there was smooching. It was one chunk of time where I didn't have to worry about being the Slayer, or about the next big bad. I just basked in the moment." Kathryn's eyes were shining with tears as Buffy finished the story.

"I wish I had known the two of you then. You looked so happy in that picture from the other day, but now you seem so sad," Kathryn commented. Buffy tried to give her brightest smile.

"I am sad, Kathryn. I still miss Angel with everything I have, but now I'm home. And when I'm with you, or Willow, or any of the rest of our little family, I feel a little happier. And someday, I'll be happy again. I promise." Kathryn couldn't stop herself from reaching out to hug her mother. Buffy held on to Kathryn for all she was worth and wondered once again how she stayed away for so long.

"We need to go shopping!" Kathryn exclaimed, pulling back abruptly. Buffy raised her eyebrows.

"Why?"

"You don't have any clothes, do you?" Kathryn asked, knowing exactly what the answer would be. Buffy smiled and looked at her hands.

"Not really. I have a few things, but that's mostly slay stuff." Kathryn raised her eyebrows, as if that should've been obvious before. Buffy laughed out loud.

"Ok, let's go."

Buffy and Kathryn walked through the mall for hours. Both women got more than they had planned, Buffy with some money Angel had left her and Kathryn with Riley's credit card. They'd then had lunch in the food court, which had improved considerably since Buffy's last visit.

"Were you at the mall a lot when you were younger?" Kathryn asked as she chewed her food. Buffy smiled at some fond memories, and some not so fond.

"Yeah, actually. But, it was about equal parts shopping and fighting," Buffy admitted. Kathryn frowned.

"Fighting?"

"Vampires. Even Angelus once," Buffy explained. "Your grandmother got really mad at me one time because I was supposed to pick up a dress for her while she got food, but instead I ran into a vampire. He got away, but by that time, I had forgotten about the dress and the stores were closed. I got grounded for that one," Buffy laughed.

"What about Angelus?" Kathryn felt morbidly curious about Angel's evil counterpart. She dropped her fork onto her plate and leaned forward, listening intently. Buffy looked uncomfortable for a moment, but started her story.

"It was just after my seventeenth birthday, and Angelus was working with Drusilla and Spike, who had just raised a demon called the Judge. The Judge burned the humanity out of people, at full strength it would take only a stare to combust. Angelus and Drusilla brought him to the mall to 'feed'. I blew the Judge up with a rocket launcher, but Angelus ran like the cowered he was. I chased him, we fought, I couldn't kill him. That's pretty much all there is to that story."

"Was that the worst fight with Angelus?" Buffy couldn't stop the laugh that exacped her mouth.

"No. The worst was when I sent Angel to hell because Angelus had tried to end the world. He got a hold of this demon, Acathla, who was supposed to suck the world into hell. Willow restored Angel's soul, but it was too late, and only Angel's blood would save the world."

"Oh. Wow. I'm so glad I'm not the Slayer," Kathryn sighed. Buffy nodded.

"It's a tough gig, sure, but I've been the Slayer for so long, I don't really remember what it means to be a normal person. You learn not to miss it," Buffy shrugged.

"Still…oh! We should get back, Willow insists that I be in before dark," Kathryn sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Willow's a smart woman."

The mother/daughter duo left the mall and started the walk back to the mansion. Luckily, it was only a few miles away, but the sun had already set. Buffy started to get antsy, and reached inside her purse to make sure her two stakes and the cross she always carried were there. Kathryn noticed her mother's sudden change in attitude and slowed down.

"What's wrong?" Kathryn asked. She'd never seen anyone, even her father, act like this after dark. Buffy glanced at the bushes on either side of them.

"These streets are crawling with vampires. They must've gotten braver after Angel died and I left."

"I think Willow said something about…"

"Can you fight?" Buffy interrupted.

"What?"

"Can you fight? Did anyone ever teach you?" Buffy snapped. She'd stopped walking and was now handing Kathryn a stake and a cross.

"Kind of. I mean Dad taught me the basics."

"Good. Aim for the heart, and don't die, ok?"

"Mom, no one's attacking us," Kathryn pointed out.

"They will be in about five seconds."

Sure enough, at least a dozen vampires sprang from the bushes. They surrounded Buffy and Kathryn in a broad circle. Buffy recognized the leader. Anger boiled in her blood. How many times had she given him a 'get out of jail free' card? He must've had a serious death wish.

"'Ello cutie," he said in his thick English accent.

"How many times do I have to tell you to get out of town Spike?" Buffy asked with an edge to her voice. Kathryn sank into a defensive stance and eyed the exchange cautiously.

"I heard the slayer was back, and I just had to see for myself. Let's have a look at the lil' bit, eh?" Spike sauntered up to Kathryn and reached out to touch her hair. Kathryn slapped his hand away and held her cross up.

"Don't touch me," she hissed. Spike laughed.

"Like mother like daughter. I'll tell you what Slayer; we can let the nibblet go and you and I can have this out. I want to see if you're still as spunky as you used to be."

"Not a chance," Kathryn blurted, before Buffy could say anything.

"Kathryn, first rule, if a group of vampires gives you an out, take it. Second rule, I'm your mother, you have to do what I say, and I say go. I can handle Spike," Buffy ordered, never taking her eyes off the blond vampire.

"No way. I'm not leaving you here to take on twelve vampires."

"Kathryn, I do not have time to argue with you. Please do not choose this as the first time you defy authority." Kathryn noticed the slight pleading in Buffy's voice, but couldn't bring herself to leave.

Angel stopped dead in his tracks. He heard the sounds of an argument, and knew from the feeling in the pit of his stomach that Buffy was there. Turning the corner, he saw her. It was the first time in eighteen years he'd actually seen her, the other day at the soccer fields he hadn't even caught a glimpse.

Buffy stood protectively in front of Kathryn, who looked even more like her mother than Angel had first thought. In front of Buffy was Spike. Angel growled low in his throat, forgetting for a moment that he was human. He's thought growling was strictly a vampire trait, but he'd discovered years ago that he could still do it.

Angel watched as the vampires surrounding Kathryn and Buffy lunged. Spike stood back, waiting to see how many of his minions made it. Clenching his fists, Angel started forward. He wasn't as strong as he had been, but he was still stronger than most men. As he ran, Angel scooped up a piece of broken crate with a point just sharp enough to make a stake.

He stayed behind Buffy as best he could so that she wouldn't catch him. Quickly, he staked three of the eleven vampires. He noticed Kathryn kill two. Buffy, as always, was a blur of motion. Dust flew around her as the numbers dwindled. Spike had engaged Buffy soon after, never noticing Angel in all the confusion. Praying that Buffy and Kathryn could handle the remaining four vampires, he slipped back into the alley.

"So Spike, what happened to that nifty little chip in your head?" Buffy asked as she and the British vampire circled each other. The rest of the vampires were dust in the wind, and Kathryn was standing back, away from the fight.

"Had it removed 'bout ten years ago."

"Yes, well, I think we may have to fix that."

Buffy sprang at Spike and tackled him, smiling at the sound of his head hitting the cement. His eyes rolled back and then fluttered closed. He was down for the count, momentarily.

"Kathryn, you got a cell phone?" Buffy asked, still sitting on top of Spike, just in case he woke up.

"Ye…yeah. Who should I call?"

"Riley. Tell him Spike's back, and that we need another chip."

Ten minutes later, a dark green hummer screeched to a stop just in front of Buffy and Kathryn. Riley jumped from the driver's seat, a tazer in hand. Two other military men jumped from the large car.

"Are you two okay?" Riley asked as he took Buffy's hand and helped her stand. She didn't need it, but remembered that Riley liked to be the strong one.

"Fine, thanks." Buffy stood back, looking towards Kathryn.

"I'm fine too, Daddy," Kathryn said quietly. Riley reached down and tazered Spike. The vampire's body twitched and Riley's guys scooped him up and threw him in the car.

"I want you two to go back to the mansion. I'll be by tomorrow to update you." Riley was all business.

"Gotcha," Buffy nodded. She grabbed Kathryn's hand and pulled her along.

They walked in silence for a few more minutes. Buffy was deep in thought, she'd felt Angel for the second time that day. She kept telling herself that it was simply being back in Sunnydale.

"Why was Dad so angry?" Kathryn asked. She'd never seen that side of her father. He'd looked so angry, and his words had been colder than usual. Buffy sighed.

"Your dad takes his work very seriously, Kathryn. Have you ever seen him on the job before tonight? He completely devotes himself to the task at hand, and usually it's not pleasant. Besides, Spike has a history with this town, one that heavily involves Angel and I, and to a slightly less extent, your father. Spike's appearance in town can't be making him happy," Buffy explained.

"Why does he have such a long history with you and Angel?"

"Angel made the vampire that made Spike, and for a few hundred years they ran around Europe together. Then during my junior year, Spike showed up here. Until the day I killed Angel, Spike was a pain in my ass, then we made a deal and he left town. Just after the start of my freshman year of college, he showed up again. That's when your dad met him."

"Why haven't you killed him?"

"Spike?"

"Yeah." Kathryn couldn't imagine her mother letting a vampire just walk away.

"I thought once that I had, but it turned out he was alive. Then we made that deal so I let him go if he promised not to come back. The next time I saw him he was wearing a ring that made him invincible, and the next time he had a chip in his head, so he was harmless. And he helped a little with demons here and there."

"Why not today?" Buffy frowned. She was silent for a moment, her brow furrowed.

"I don't know. I guess I'm so used to not…old habits die hard."

Angel shrank back into the shadows as Buffy turned around and stared directly at where he had been. The fight was over, Riley and his fellow commandos had taken Spike away, and Angel's girls were safe. He planned to follow them back to the mansion to be sure they were safe, but he had wandered too close. Buffy had felt him, again. So instead of doing what he wanted, he turned around and made his way back to the apartment he'd lived in before he lost his soul. Soon, Buffy would find out he was alive. He planned to tell her himself before that happened.

A/N 2: I'm not sure where I'm going with Spike in this fic, but I can assure you that never, ever, will this be Spuffy. I won't bash Spike, because I love him to death, I just can't stand him and Buffy together. R&R PLEASE!!!!!