Authors Note: Prepare yourselves, this chapter is really monumental and an important one. And just for the record, I don't hate Angel exactly, but this might not be a chapter for anyone to read who likes him. But then again, this is a Spuffy story, so why would Angel fans be here anyway?

Oh before I forget again, the winner of the 100th review and the character that's going to appear in the story soon is No Safe and Sound! Congrats! And everyone watch for the character they created.

Alright, I think that's it, enjoy the chapter, because I enjoyed writing it. Ok, I'm too excited and I have to go before I give anything away!

Angel

When Angel left for LA, he thought Buffy would move forward. Take care of her mom, get an education, maybe have a few college boyfriends, hangout with her group of friends and maybe make new ones, and of course save Sunnydale and probably the world again. He thought Buffy would move forward. Not move on.

He expected her to date other people if only briefly, because of course he had said they were over. But he never wanted that, he couldn't let her go; it wasn't in his nature, how his mind worked. But he did realize she would find other people attractive and college boys will be college boys and go after pretty girls like Buffy, but he never in a million years expected what he heard when Angel picked up the phone that day.

That Buffy wanted to rescue Spike. Xander thought she was having romantic feelings for Spike. Angel expected her to still be in love with him, instead according to Xander she was upset over his annoying little rat of a grand-childe? It was times like these when Angel wondered why he hadn't killed the little pain in his ass a century ago.

He couldn't believe it though, he wouldn't. Angel realized Spike wasn't fat or bad-looking, if it wasn't for the mama's boy nerdy pathetic poet act and those hideous glasses way back when, Angel suspected he would've been popular with the London crowd, especially the woman. Angel helped him out of his shell after he was turned. He sort of liked the guy back then. But no, little Willy decides to bite him in the ass as thanks and try to take Drusilla. That was when Angel decided that he couldn't stand Spike, and after everything Spike did to him, Buffy suddenly decides that she doesn't care and that she wants to help the little bleached psychopath.

Angel had taught Spike everything, and now he returns the favor by trying to steal Buffy.

They say don't hate the player, hate the game. But when you invented the rules, losing really stinks. And Angel hated to loose.

Guess he was going back to Sunnydale.

Buffy

"What are you doing here?" I asked again.

I shifted the backpack uncomfortably. It was the first time I had seen him since…since he left. I took a deep breath and looked up into his brown eyes. The fact that no feelings rose didn't escape my attention.

"Xander called me. Something about an Initiative kidnapping…Spike?" Angel said his name like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

So that's what they were talking about. Why would Xander call Angel? He hates Angel. But, I guess he likes him more then Spike.

"Look", Angel began, obviously seeing emotion run across my face, "Don't blame Xander because he called me, I want to be here to help you,"

He gave me those puppy-dog eyes that I would've fallen for as a high school girl, but I wasn't that girl anymore. Everything that's happened, everything I've been through…I've grown up, and I've changed.

"So, you want to be around me, but only when there are bad guys running around?" I crossed my arms.

I may have matured, but his leaving still had hurt.

"Buffy, this isn't about us-," he began, talking to me like I was a child.

He always did that. I forgot how annoying it was.

"Then who is it about, Angel? Because for me, it's about helping Spike," I told him.

"Well yes, Xander did mention your little adventure with my grand-childe…," he trailed off, running a hand through his dark hair.

"What about it?" I demanded, getting angry now.

How dare he come in here and think he gets to tell me how to run my life again. Because that's where this was going, I knew it. This wasn't about stopping the Initiative, it was about stopping my feelings for Spike.

"I don't know what happened on the trip, Buffy, but Spike can be a very good actor when he wants to be. He's impatient, but for the chance to kill a Slayer, he'd wait. Wait the whole trip just to get close to you and then finish you before you could think to stop him," Angel explained.

"He wouldn't do that. He's not like that anymore. He's changed," I replied, glaring up at him.

"He doesn't have a soul, Buffy," Angel replied exasperated.

"Good. He won't go crazy when have sex,"

I knew that was probably crossing some line by the shocked and guilty expression that crossed Angel's face, but I kind of didn't care. I was pissed.

"Do you have a death wish?" He finally shook himself from his stupor to glare at me.

"Because that's what you'll be, if you go in there and rescue Spike; dead. Maybe not that day, or the next. Maybe not that week, or even that month. He'll wait, but the time will come when your back is turned and he'll strike, just when you're least expecting it. Is that what you want to be, Buffy? To be the third Slayer on his belt?" He yelled.

"Who do you think you are, coming in here and telling me what to do like I'm still some kid? Well guess what Angel, you left. You decided being here, around me was too hard for you. That all this wasn't worth it. You made your choice. I'm making mine,"

And I turned around. And I took Harmony's stupid little unicorn backpack with Spike's stuff and I walked away.

"Buffy! I love you, I'm trying to keep you safe!" I heard him call.

There is was. Still, after everything, it was still all about him. I stopped, and I heard him run through the headstones to catch up to where I was. I turned back around, perfectly calm and collected but inside I was practically seeing red. I wanted to hurt him like he had hurt me, to yell and scream and tell him to go to hell. Again. But I stayed calm.

"You left me. And at first, I didn't think I was ever going to get over you. But then I went to 1880, and everything changed. It took me awhile, but I realized that I didn't love you anymore. I never really did. Because true love never fades, not unless it was all a lie," I was looking at him, but I couldn't see him and it didn't matter, because really, this time it was about me.

"Buffy…," he reached out a hand like he wanted to stop what I was saying.

But I couldn't even see it. I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts and I realized something that had been in front of my face the entire time. My heart beat sped up and I smiled to myself. I had just been to blind to even see it.

"I loved you Angel. But, I was never in love with you. But…I am in love with someone else. And they're in trouble, so I have to go,"

And this time, I left.

What do you guys think? Buffy finally realized! Good? Bad? Review and let me know!