Earning Redemption.

Title: Earning Redemption

Author: Laura

Chocolate_Decadence@hotmail.com

Summary: The way it was supposed to happen, if you ask me...

Spoilers: Hmm a few, not very important though, I haven't even seen S5 myself...

Disclaimer: Joss owns them. And the WB. Don't sue...I don't own anything except a rabbit...

Rating: Occasional swearing, but no rough fighting or sex scenes, at least, I'm not planning any...

Distribution: Just ask me. Or don't. I'll say yes either way...

One More Comment: Don't hate me because this is B/A. I know a lot of people are all Spike/Buffy and Angel/Cordy now, and I personally am a big sucker for Spike's humor and Cordy's wit, but I'm just a sucker for the original couple. Sorry...

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Chapter 1:

Angel swallowed hard as he noticed the demon attacking the fragile, young woman only a couple of feet away from him. She let out a cry, terrified, and he lunged forward, lifting his fighting axe, injuring the demon badly. A weird kind of green ooze stained his long leather coat as the horned creature sank to the floor. He lifted his axe once more, giving the demon his death penalty. One more roar from the creature, and it died. "Thank you." The girl said, curiously looking at him. He took her appearance in with the same curiousity. Long, reddish hair, a pale skin, and green eyes mixed with a hint of hazel. The eyes. It hit him hard. Those eyes looked so familiar, as did the rest of the girl.



i You're the only freaky thing in my freaky world that makes sense to me i



Buffy. Those eyes belonged to Buffy. What were they doing in the head of someone else? An eye stealing demon? His voice turned hoarse as he tried to speak. "Who are you? What are you?" She frowned. " Hey! Don't give me that crap again! I am totally human, with complete personality and everything." She pinched herself in the arm. "See, human, in blood and flesh, not just some form of energy wrapped up in a nice package!" Angel frowned at the babbling. "Human, in the delicious flesh, I might add...Hello Angel" A familiar, English accent added, and a blonde vampire emerged from the shadows. "Spike!" Angel hissed, and stepped before the girl, protecting her. "No need to rescue the little lady from me, I wouldn't hurt her. Would I Dawnie?" The girl shook her head. "No. It's okay, really!" Angel stepped away, allowing Spike to get closer, which he did. He put his arms around the girl's waist, teasingly bowing over her neck, while looking Angel in a much provocative way. She only giggled. Then it hit Angel. "Did you call her Dawn?" Spike smirked. "Yeah. didn't you recognize our little Niblet?" Angel would have paled, if he could. Instead he just stared at the girl, taking in the changes in her looks. The last time he had seen her she was only 9 years old, playing with Joyce's lipstick and wearing her shorter hair in two tails "Angel?" Dawn's nose wrinkled in a sweet way. Angel nodded. "I'm sorry... It's just. you have changed a lot" Spike nodded. "She has grown up to be quite pretty, hasn't she? Looks a lot like her sister." Angel sighed, still unable to tear his gaze away from Dawn. "Yeah, well. What are you doing here? And what are you doing with him? Does Buffy know?" Dawn nodded firmly. "Yeah. She's the one that send me to LA. To stay with Dad. She wanted me to get out off Sunnydale, away from the Hellmouth. She wanted me to have a chance on a normal life. She said I would be safe here. And Spike. he's.my friend , I guess." Dawn was giving Angel more information then his brain could process, so he just turned his face away from her. "I have to go. The sun will be up soon." He walked away, leaving Dawn with Spike. "Hey! Where are you going?" Dawn yelled after him. "Off to the batmobile, Pet..." Spike whispered.



"I think there's a vision on its way again, Wes, I am going all dizzy..." Cordelia annoyedly tapped on the desk with her fresh painted nails. Wesley leaped froward, ready to catch her if she would happen to fall during one of her "atacks" , but Gunn snorted. "Really? I think it might be because you haven't eaten anything all day on account of that diet...People get dizzy if they starve themselves..." Cordelia frowned. "Don't you patronize me, Gunn! For your information, nobody want's a girl with a fat ass....And I ate a biscuit!" She got up from her desk walking away with the sound of her high heels clicking on the floor, leaving the two guys behind her to stare at her butt. "She doesn't have, you know, a fat ass." Wesley added. Gunn nodded. "No, Sir."



Buffy smiled as she noticed Riley and Forrest walk towards her, and got up from the cold, stone wall she had been sitting on. "Hey" She smiled, and Riley kissed her softly. That was her favorite way of waisting time, kissing Riley. Leaving being in bed with Riley out, that was. She smiled as Riley pulled her into a tight hug. Things were going great. She had recovered from the loss of Joyce, made sure Dawn had a chance in the real world, found and made up with Riley, and dealed greatly with being brought back from death. And there was the fact that she was so totally over Angel, finally. The memory of him did no longer hurt her, only made her smile at a love long lost. She was building a great new life with Riley, safe and comforting. Leaving her nightly escapades out of that picture, ofcourse. As Riley smiled at her he pulled two tickets out of his pocket, showing them to her. "Garbage Concert Tickets? They're my favorite!?" Riley nodded, proudly. "Yeah, I knew that.they're in LA this weekend, and I thought it would make a nice change of scenery, don't you ever get the feeling we're in a rut, with the slayage every night ?" He smiled jokingly.



i What about that fire demon nest in cave by the beach. I thought that made a nice change of script.i



Okay, maybe not so over him as she liked to think. "Buffy?" Riley's voice seemed to come from far away, making her snap out of it. "Hmm.yeah." She answered. Riley shrugged. "I thought we could maybe visit Dawn on our way to the concert?" Buffy smiled. "Yes, that would be.nice." She kissed him again, softly. "I have to go now, meeting Willow for lunch." Riley nodded. "Sure. You do the girl-routine. I'll pick you up at 8 p.m. tonight, and we drive to LA?" Buffy nodded. "Sure.." She nodded to Forrest and Riley. "Bye." As she walked away she heard Forrest murmur something under his breath. "Lucky boy.she's hot! A bit peculiar, but definitely hot!"