Author's Note: Happy holidays everyone! I really love this chapter because it finally gets the ball rolling. Please enjoy!
Buffy felt like she had just been cast out of paradise.
As she opened her eyes to face her dim reality, she realized that real or not, she liked being with Angel. Hell, she loved Angel and these dreams felt so real. They were such perfect imitations that Buffy was tempted into just going to sleep and never waking up again.
"Hey," Willow mumbled quietly as the Slayer sat up slowly. "I'm sorry to wake you up, but we kind of have a situation here." For a few seconds, Buffy felt nothing but pure hatred to her so called best friend. How dare she ruin her perfect moment? Buffy had always worked for others, but had never gotten anything in return. Why did she have to keep slaving away for people who would just die anyway? What was the point?
What is the point, Slayer? Why must you always suffer?
Buffy nodded in agreement with the melodious voice. She didn't want to suffer anymore. She just wanted to go back to sleep and be with her lover. Didn't she deserve it? Did the Power that Be not think she was worthy of a little respite?
You deserve to be with him, Slayer, the voice whispered, Come back to him.
"Hey, Buffy?" The witch snapped her fingers in front of her best friend's face, snapping Buffy out of her reverie.
"Oh, sorry," Buffy whispered, running a hand through her blonde hair. "Is something wrong?" Willow nodded and sat down in a nearby chair.
"Giles and Xander have run into a group of vampires on the east side of Sunnydale and won't be able to cover the other half," Willow sighed, almost as if she regretted what she was about to say next. "I was thinking that we should go help them out, but only if you're up to it."
"Let's go," Buffy tossed the covers off of her and welcomed the chance to beat someone up. Her mind was feeling so odd lately and she felt so mixed up. What was real and what wasn't?
They arrived at the cemetery in about five minutes and were out patrolling in six minutes. So far, all had been quiet, but Buffy couldn't help but feel that something bad was going to happen.
"Wow, it's pretty dead out here," Willow told her and Buffy nodded. "But, that's good, right?"
Another nod.
Why don't you join him once more, Slayer? Why live in this cruel world where you must be apart?
There it was again—the voice that was making her feel so confused. She loved Angel, but they needed to be apart. After Angel went all evil—
He's human here. He loves you and will be with you for an eternity.
Angel human? It was just too good to be true . . . and yet, it was just so tempting. She could be with him and feel his heart beat and eat food with him and go out into the sunlight with him. She could do so much with him and best of all, they could be together.
Together forever. Doesn't that sound nice?
It sounded so nice. So wonderfully, perfectly nice.
Then come to him, Buffy. He's here. Come and be with him.
Buffy nodded and slowly shut her eyes. When Willow turned around after hearing a thud, she found her best friend unconscious on the ground.
In Los Angeles, a door finally opened and a warrior began his trek to be his true love's side, unaware of what was happening to her.
Author's Note: Please review!