Riley's POV

I could just tell that this was going to turn into an arguement. Everyone was super tensed while this Angel guy talked. Talked about something that happened that none of them noticed and was probably the reason that Buffy's best friend ran away from home.

"...and I thanked her for not making a big deal of it. She seemed wierd about that but she didn't object, so I thought it was fine. Then we were back to normal, if not a little strained. And then suddenly, she was avoiding everyone and -"

I watched Buffy closely, knowing that this might set her off. Angel was her first love and Willow had been her best friend. And the story sounded very much like Willow was some naive little nerd and Angel was the sophisticated older man. I wondered who's side Buffy would take.

"You say that she picked you up right before you uh...that is that you-" Giles couldn't get it out.

"Before they had sex, she picked him off the ground with one hand." Cordelia reiterated. I could definitely see this girl's likeness to Anya. Looked like Xander had the same taste in women. And that guy with Cordelia...the same could be said for her.

"Magic." Giles said with a nod. "Willow was learning. I wouldn't be surprised if she unconsciously reached for it during a fight." Giles pulled off his glasses and started to clean them. "It would also attribute to the spontaneous act afterward."

"What?" Angel demanded.

"I think we can all agree that Willow wasn't the type to engage in sexual acts with someone she didn't care for deeply or for someone in a relationship." Giles replaced his glasses and made eye contact with the vampire. "I don't mean to say it was against her will, or yours. Only that it influenced you both. Almost as if you weren't thinking of the repercussions of such an event."

"So, you still wanted her?" Buffy demanded from her ex. Yep, things just got even more uncomfortable.

Angel's hands burrowed into his pockets, a defensive gesture if I'd ever seen one. "Do you really want to know?"

"I knew it!" Buffy yelled, standing from the table. "When I found out that your 'training' sessions were for like five hours everyday. I knew something was going on."

Angel laughed a little and I tensed as Buffy's gaze narrowed. This wasn't good. "Buffy, there was nothing even going on yet then. I was just trying to teach her."

"So, there was a thing. It wasn't just that once...there was a thing. You cheated on me with my best friend."

The vampire sighed deeply. "Do you remember the night she passed out after headbutting the vampire?" Buffy nodded. "That's when I first started noticing. A few weeks later, I kissed her. We stopped and never even mentioned it. Just acted like it never happened. And then Angelus came-"

"Who has an obsession with her." Buffy hissed.

"I think Angelus might love her." Angel admitted.

"BLOODY HELL!" Hostile 17 shouted, jumping from his chair. "Angelus loves Red?"

"Well didn't you see that betrayed look on his face when she restored his soul again?" the black man asked. "I'd say he's got it bad."

"You bloody wankers don't get it." Spike...that was his name...said vehemently, "My bastard grandesire doesn't love."

"Spike's right." Angel agreed. " Angelus obsesses and possesses. And he pretty much hates Willow for making him love her."

"Is she in danger from him?" Dawn asked.

"Danger of being turned." Angel said flatly. "In his mind, Willow is his mate."

"Bloody hell." Spike muttered again.

"And what is she to you?" Buffy demanded.

Angel rubbed the back of his head. "I have feelings for her. I love her. I'm close to being in love with her. But..I haven't seen her in a long time. And she probably hates me."

"Probably?" Faith scoffed. "You screwed her and then told her 'thanks for not making a big deal' before she had a chance to. Sex is a big deal to Red, whether the magic freed her inhibitions a bit or not."

"Faith's right." Xander agreed, speaking for the first time in a while. I was surprised at how angry he looked. "And you should have known that Deadboy."

"Can everyone stop worrying about Willow for a minute. She betrayed me." Buffy declared. "How could she do that to me?"

"She made a fucking mistake!" Xander yelled. "And then she stood back and watched Deadboy fawn all over you while she probably loved him."

"He was my boyfriend. And now I find out, all the time I was left fawning over him and he wasn't even thinking of me like he made it seem."

"I never said I was brooding over you." Angel explained. "I still care for you Buffy."

"You care for me." she said scornfully. "Aw thanks."

Angel sighed. And wasn't that just wierd? For something that didn't breath to sigh? "Buffy, you're in love with someone else. Why is this such a big deal?"

"Because I never cheated on you." she replied, hands on hips. "And especially not with your best friend."

"What is the point of all of this?" Dawn demanded suddenly. "We're not accomplishing anything with this arguement."

There was a tense silence after this and finally, Angel spoke.

"The point is...we need to find her. Let her know she can come back. All her secrets are known now."

"Maybe not all." came a sing-song voice from the door.