By the time she had gotten to school, Buffy's newfound confidence had waned somewhat. She still didn't understand what had happened to her slayer strength and who was protecting Sunnydale at the moment? She wanted to patrol but honestly feared for her life if she ran into a vamp. She needed answers. She knew Giles kept a secret batch of books in his office, books that he'd thought were too much even for her to know about. She didn't know if the same was true in this reality, but she was kind of banking on it.

The dreams she'd had last night weren't a coincidence. That much she knew. Setting aside her Angel dreams and concentrating on the gold-skinned, blue veiny people, She knew they were the key to whatever was going on. She wasn't sure how she knew, she just did. Maybe all her slayer abilities hadn't deserted her after all. Hopefully, her instincts were right.

Waiting until she knew Giles was taking Study Hall, she skipped History class and sneaked into the library. Hoping no one else was in there. Thankfully no one was. Thanking whatever luck was on her side that Giles didn't lock his office door, she made her way inside and softly closed the door behind her. Heading straight for the little bookcase in the corner of the room. She slid it out of place, with much more difficulty now she didn't have her slayer strength.

Bingo! There they were, hiding in a neat pile between the bookcase and the wall. Looks like Giles was still Giles despite whatever reality they were in. Quickly she shoved the books in her bag and pushed the bookcase back into place. Making her way out of the library, she ran to the closest girl's bathroom and locked herself in a stall.

Taking the first book from her bag she began to flip through it trying to find anything that mentioned gold-skinned people in white togas. An hour later she'd missed both her history and PE classes, she was no closer to finding anything. She'd learned quite a bit about the world with no shrimp though. Sighing, maybe she just wasn't meant to find any answers.

Pulling the last book from her bag she was just about ready to give up when something on the first page caught her eye. A drawing of a man and a woman with gold skin and blue veins, both wearing white togas. Just like the two beings from her dream! She frowned when she realised the writing was in some language she didn't recognise. Flipping the page it continued, she couldn't understand a word of it. Until she caught a small footnote at the bottom of the page, "English translation - page 345".

Thank god! Flipping to the right page she found the English translation. After sifting through quite a bit of nonsense she found the part she was looking for. "The Oracles are servants for the Powers That Be. The Oracles reside on a higher plain than humans, but the gateway can be found residing underneath Kecheek." Buffy frowned, that sounded familiar. Sitting back she tried to think where she'd heard that name before.

Then a lightbulb went off inside her head, it came to her. They'd learned about local history when she'd still been at Hemery. Kecheek was now Santa Monica. The book actually gave coordinates of the gateway's location. She'd need to check on a map of L.A. but now at least she had something concrete. Quickly making a note of the coordinates, Buffy made her way back to the library. Now it was lunch she didn't need to worry about running into Snyder in the halls.

"Ah Buffy," Giles said as she walked into the library. "I was hoping you could help me sort this new shipment of books after school?"

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "As riveting as that sounds, Giles. I was hoping to go shopping in L.A. with Cordy and Harm after school?"

"L.A? Why not shop here in Sunnydale?"

Buffy rolled her eyes, "Oh please, Giles! The shops in Sunnydale never have anything remotely fashionable. I can't be expected to wear clothes that were in style when you and mom were still in school!"

Sighing Giles said, "Well no I suppose not."

Before he could finish Buffy cut in, "Great! So you'll tell Mom then?" Knowing full well her mother wouldn't let her, but if Giles said it was ok she couldn't argue. "I'll be home by nine!"

She practically ran out of the library, where she ran straight into Angel who was walking down the corridor. "Woah". He said as he steadied her on her feet. "Careful."

Buffy felt a thrill of electricity run through her as Angel's hands rested on her upper arms to keep her from falling over. By the look on his face, he felt it too. They stood staring at each other for what felt like hours. Until Cordelia's shrill voice broke them both from the reverie. Buffy looked up to see Cordelia and Harmony arms linked and walking straight towards her. "Buffy there you are!" She took Buffy by the elbow as she steered her away from Angel, not before giving Angel a death stare though. Shrugging, Angel walked away whilst sneaking a few more glances at Buffy.

"You don't want to mix with the likes of him Buffy. And where have you been? You missed third and fourth period." Cordelia complained.

"I honestly didn't feel like sitting through history and then I lost track of time," Buffy explained, then frowned. "I thought you liked Mr Salty Goodness? Why don't I want to mix with Angel now?" Buffy was confused.

"Oh well, I did. But after I put myself out there last night and asked him out. He suddenly changed his mind today. Making up some excuse about needing to look after his younger sister."

"Maybe he actually does need to look after his younger sister?" Buffy offered. Although she was secretly hoping he had blown Cordelia off. She wanted Angel, she didn't want Cordy anywhere near him.

"Well after I kindly offered to come over and keep him company from the boredom that is younger siblings, he said no. He wanted to spend time with his sister. I mean what kind of guy wants to actually spend time with his younger sister? Anyway, I said maybe we could go out some other time, and he said that he didn't think so." Cordelia looked quite angry now, "Whatever, his loss. So what do you guys want to do tonight?"

"Well actually, I was hoping we could take a trip to L.A?" Buffy asked, she needed Cordelia to drive her there. "I need to pick up a few outfits I left at my dad's and I thought we could shop while we're there?"

Cordelia and Harmony (both never ones to turn down a shopping trip) agreed enthusiastically.

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Cordelia dropped Buffy off at her father's apartment she had quickly grabbed a few outfits so she wouldn't be empty-handed. Thankfully her father wasn't home. She'd made the excuse to Cordelia and Harmony that her father was home and wanted to spend time with her, now that she'd dropped in unexpectedly. Cordelia agreed to pick her up once they were done shopping.

Now Buffy made her way to the site of the coordinates she'd found in Giles' old book. Turns out the gateway to the Oracles was actually underneath the old post office. Glancing at the notes she'd made, Buffy completed the ritual to gain access to the gateway. Suddenly there was a flash of bright light and she found herself in some sort of chamber facing the two beings she'd seen in her dream.

"What offering have you brought us?" The man asked.

"There was supposed to be an offering?" Buffy asked confused, "The book didn't say anything about an offering." Quickly Buffy rummaged through her bag, finding a belt that was decorated with sequins and rhinestones she said, "Um, I offer this?" Hoping it would be enough.

The belt flew into the hands of the woman. "Shiny." She said as she fastened the belt over her toga. "What do you want to know?" The man asked harshly.

"Um, am I still the Slayer? I woke up yesterday in a completely different world. Angel is human. Where has my strength gone? Who will fight the vamps if I can't? What..."

The man held up his hand to silence her questions. "You are the slayer?" He asked incredulously. "I thought you'd be taller."

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Buffy said sardonically.

"You made a wish, did you not?" Asked the woman. "You wished to be a normal girl, for your lover to be a normal boy. For vampires and demons to no longer exist."

"I did?" Buffy asked. Remembering her sad musings from the other night. "Yeah, I guess I did. But surely people make wishes like that all the time. Why did mine come true?"

The woman raised her eyebrow at Buffy. "You are, or rather you were the Slayer. When you make a wish it isn't the same as a normal human's wishes. There is power behind your wish. You just happen to be the strongest and most powerful Slayer that has ever lived in your world. It is that strength and power that enabled us to grant your wish."

"So, Angel is actually human? And no more vamps, no more apocalypses, no more slaying?" Buffy asked excitedly.

"It is as you wished, and that is how it will remain. You no longer need your slayer strength now there is no more evil for you to battle." The man said, "But, you have retained your other Slayer abilities. Your power of intuition and premonition. This is a precaution. You can live your normal life but that doesn't mean that evil from other realms won't try to gain access to your world."

"Oh great, so I'm guessing this normal world thing won't last long then?" Buffy asked, her mood rapidly deflating.

"The Powers have determined that all evil is banished from your realm. The power behind your wish and their will is great. But sometimes evil's hunger can be greater." The woman explained.

"So..?" Buffy began but was interrupted when the man shouted.

"Enough! You have your answers. We will speak no more." With a wave of his hand, Buffy was thrown back through the gateway with a bright flash of light.

Picking herself up off the floor she thought about her conversation with Oracles. A huge smile formed on her face. She was normal. No more bad guys. No more slaying. Just school, and her friends and...she let out a loud happy sigh, Angel. He was human. He was at her school. He wasn't cursed anymore. He blew Cordelia off. Today was a good day. She almost skipped back to her father's apartment to wait for Cordy and Harmony.

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Buffy had spent most of the drive back to Sunnydale in deep thought. Not that Cordelia or Harmony noticed, they were too busy talking about the clothes they'd bought. "I'm home." Buffy shouted as she walked into her house. "Mom? Giles? Dawn?"

"We're in the kitchen honey." Joyce's voice floated through the hallway. Buffy began making her way to the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Sighing she turned around and answered it. On the other side stood Angel. Completely dumbfounded she stood there gaping at him. "Buffy? I didn't know you lived here," he said, amused at the look on her face.

"Um...I...er...yeah. That's me who lives here." Buffy frowned at her rambling, whilst Angel let out a low chuckle. Her mom's voice floated through from the kitchen. "Who is it, honey?" Before Buffy could answer, Dawn and another girl the same age came bounding down the stairs. "Angel!" The girl said, "You could have come a bit later, I was having fun!"

"Now you know Ma said to pick you up at nine, Kath. I'm not gonna be late!" Angel said as he ruffled the girl's hair. Buffy didn't know what on earth was going on when her mother came to the door. "You must be Kathy's brother?" Joyce asked.

"Yes." Angel replied, "Thanks for having her over, Mrs Giles. My Mam asked if Dawn would like to come over to our house after school tomorrow? I can bring her home around the same time."

"Oh please, Mom. Can I? Can I? Can I? Please?" Dawn begged as she jumped up and down. Causing Joyce and Angel to laugh. "Well, I don't see how I can say no, now." Joyce chuckled.

Buffy had been quiet through this whole exchange. So Dawn was friends with Angel's little sister. This was great! Now she had an excuse to see Angel outside of school. Looking at Kathy and back at Angel, she could see the striking resemblance. They both had dark brown hair and dark chocolate eyes. Kathy's hair cascaded down her back in soft curls, and she was tall for her age, bigger than Dawn.

"Well, I'd better get Kathy home." Angel said as he guided Kathy off the front porch. "Thanks again, Mrs Giles." He turned to Buffy giving her one of those half-smiles of his that always made her weak at the knees and said, "It was nice to see you again Buffy." Before turning and walking down the path with Kathy.

Buffy just stood there gazing at his retreating back, with a goofy smile on her face. Closing the door, both Joyce and Dawn stood looking at Buffy with amused smiles on their faces. "What?" Buffy asked, frowning. "You like him," Dawn stated.

"What? No, I don't!" Buffy replied, annoyed that it was so obvious.

"Yeah, you do," Dawn smirked.

"Well if it helps any Buffy, I got the distinct impression he liked you too," Joyce said, smiling.

"Do you really think so?" Buffy asked hopefully.

"See, I told you." Dawn butted in.

"Shut up Dawn!"

"No!"

"Yeah!"

"No!"

They carried on upstairs until Buffy slammed her bedroom door in Dawn's face.

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The next evening as Angel drove Dawn home, his mind was on her older sister. He'd only caught a glimpse of her around school today, she hadn't been in any of his classes so far. Whilst he spent most of his time with Oz, Willow, Xander and Jesse, Buffy seemed to be with Cordelia and Harmony most of the time. He hoped she was going to be home when he dropped Dawn off.

"Angel!" Came Kathy's voice from the back of the car.

"What?" He said, annoyed she'd interrupted his thoughts about Buffy.

"I was just telling Dawn how we're going ice skating this Saturday and she said she and Buffy love ice skating. Can they come with us?" Kathy asked excitedly.

"Do you want to Dawn?" Angel asked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.

"Oh yes. I know for a fact that Buffy would love to come too. She likes you, you know." Dawn said mischievously.

Angel raised an eyebrow at that. "Does she?" He asked, smiling.

"Oh yeah, she gets this look in her eyes whenever your name is mentioned," Dawn said giggling.

"You know, she'll probably kill you for telling me that, right?" Angel replied, amused.

"Yeah, I know. It's my job to annoy her though."

Angel shook his head and laughed as he pulled up outside Dawn's house.

Just as Angel was about to press the doorbell Buffy opened the door wide, a huge smile on her face. Angel smiled back. They stood there looking at each other without saying anything. Dawn and Kathy kept looking at them back and forth before, looking at each other and rolling their eyes. Older siblings were so predictable.

"Angel wants to know if we want to go ice skating with him and Kathy on Saturday?" Dawn said loudly, trying to get both their attention. "What?" Buffy asked, a little dazed from the heated look in Angel's eyes. "Um, yeah," Angel said, giving himself a mental shake so he'd stop staring at Buffy. "I'm taking Kathy and Dawn said that you both love ice skating. So I was wondering if you wanted to come with us?"

Flashbacks of Angel killing the Order of Taraka guy, and the kiss they'd shared afterwards in the ice rink flashed through Buffy's mind. That was one of the sweetest kisses they'd ever shared. He'd been in full game face and tried to pull back, but she'd held on to him tightly. She thought he'd looked just as beautiful in game face as he did in his human visage. Now she would be going back to that same ice rink, with Angel. Skating with Angel. Human Angel. Ok so their annoying younger sisters would be there too, but still. Ice skating with Angel!

When a few minutes went by and Buffy didn't say anything, Angel started to get nervous. "I mean obviously if you already plans then..." Angel started to say.

His voice broke Buffy out of her train of thought and she quickly said, "What no."

"Oh ok, well no problem." Angel looked completely dejected.

"No, I mean no I don't already have plans and yes, Dawn and I would love to come ice skating with you and Kathy." Buffy smiled at him.

Angel's face lit up with one of the biggest smiles Buffy had ever seen. She'd never seen him smile like that before. "That's great." He said, still smiling. "We'll pick you up around eleven. See you tomorrow."

He turned guiding Kathy down the path once again before turning and giving Buffy another smile.

Buffy was in heaven. She floated back into the house. Not even hearing Dawn telling her mother about their ice skating trip. She seemingly floated upstairs and fell back onto her bed. A big dreamy smile on her face. She was going ice skating with Angel. Angel was human. Ice skating with Angel. Angel was human. Angel had asked her out. Well sort of. She frowned then. What if he was just being nice? What if she was just the older sister of his sister's best friend?

Well, then she'd just have to make him see her as something more. Smiling she dialled Willow's number. They'd begun to get closer over the past week and this was totally something she'd normally share with Willow. Cordy would definitely not approve." Hey Willow, you'll never guess what just happened..."