Cool Reception
Angel paused on the sidewalk in front of Redello Drive, he
glanced at the tree beneath Buffy's window with a faint smile.
"Coming!" Willow yelled.
"What do you need me to do?"
They both turned to see Xander running up the street.
"Get in the car, I'm driving," Angel said including both of them in his glance.
"Tara!" Willow called hurrying down the walk.
"Nice car, the color really suits you," Xander said climbing in the back of the pale pink convertible.
"I'm getting it painted," Angel growled reving the engine.
A moment later Tara spilled out of the door and slamming it behind her raced out to the care and jumped in.
As Angel drove Tara gave him a concerned look.
"His arm?"
Angel shivered at the magic coursing through him.
"Buffy'll probably beat us there," Xadner said.
Angel nodded and pushed harder on the accelorator.
"That's the place," Xander said pointing to a house half-way down the street with the front door wide open, swinging crookedly on one hinge.
Angel pulled the car to a screeching hault and raced through the door, the other three just a few steps behind him.
Deamora stood at the far end of the dinning area,
laughing.
Angel grabbed the knife wielding minions and spun him away
from Buffy.
"Just like old times," Angel said as they fell into sync with each other.
"Xander find Dawn and Will," Buffy yelled.
"On it," he replied.
Willow and Tara used their magic to clear a path for Xander
through Deamora's minions then turned to help Buffy and Angel; not that they
needed it.
Seeing the tide of the battle turning against him, Deamora began to dematierialize.
"On no you don't!" Willow cried, stretching out her hand
toward the demon lord.
"Thanks Wills," Buffy called as Angel offered her his cupped
hands.
Standing confidently before Deamora Buffy stretched up her
hand.
Hissing angrily Deamora lifted his own weapon, a long halbarer.
Angel continued working his way through the remaining minions.
Xander and Dawn appeared in the doorway then hurried to join Willow and Tara.
Buffy summersaulted over Deamora's head then stabbed her sword back, under her arm, impaling the Demon Lord before he could turn to defend himself.
"Dawn!" Buffy exclaimed running to embrace her younger
sister.
Across the room Angel began walking hesitantly toward the
sisters.
Buffy noticed Angel and gave him a quick distracted
smile.
"He wasn't with me when I was taken," Dawn said.
"Then where the hell is he?" Buffy demanded, worry warring with anger in her voice.
"Did you check his crypt?" Dawn asked irritably.
"What?"
"Buffy?" Angel said, uncertainly he reached out to touch her but stopped without completing the gesture.
For the first time Buffy really looked at her first
love.
Angel sighed as the tension drained out of his body and his
face lit up with a warm smile.
