Chapter 3:

Buffy sighed as she raised her hand to knock on the front door of the old Hyperion Hotel. As doing so, she realized that it was a HOTEL...meaning no knocking needed for entrance. She opened the door, and peeked inside. The lights were slightly dimmed, and there was this smell about the place....the first word to enter her head was dank. Then she noticed him, coming down the stairs. He was smiling at someone. She slightly bowed over, and noticed Cordelia. She tried to hear what they were saying. Angel had reached the ground floor. "I was just thinking about things. People, you know, how they think. Like you for instance... You hate Faith. You absolutley do not like her. Still, you want to help her. That's just..." Cordelia frowned. "Has someone been putting vodka in your blood? Cause you're dicussing emotions..." Angel shrugged "Ha ha, see. You're funny aswell as compassionate. And I, well, I get off a good one ever once in a while, but you..."

Cordelia's face started to show a big frown. "Angel, are you trying to say you love me?" Angel shrugged. " What??!!" Cordelia smiled. "I love you too."

Angel frowned, pacing through the room. " You do? When did this."

Cordelia smiled, turning towards a blonde girl, a handsome dark stranger and Wesley. "Angel loves me. I love him." Angel stared at his employee in wide-eyed shock. "Oh my god." Cordelia was still smiling, and waved towards the other people. "You guys love us and we love you." The blonde girl nodded, and the guys shrugged. "We love you Angel..." They nodded in agreement. Buffy couldn't restrain herself any longer, and walked into the building. All the coziness between Cordelia and Angel was giving her very barfy feelings. As soon as she walked in, she noticed Angel's eyes widen, and Cordelia's mouth dropping to her knees in a very un-lady like way. " Hey.." Buffy smiled a little. "Sorry to interrupt your love-fest, but I was getting worried you guys might actually hug..." She scolded, while walking towards Angel. "Again, hey..." She smiled. Angel frowned. " Buffy...What are you doing here?" Buffy shrugged. "What? Does a girl need an excuse to visit her demon ex-boyfriend who left her behind in solitude on a Hellmouth?" Angel frowned again. Buffy sighed. "Kidding. You are right, I didn't come over to go on a shopping spree with Cordelia or anything..." "Like I'd ever set a foot in a shop you buy your clothes... unless WalMart starts selling DKNY..." Cordelia scolded, but didn't push it any further due to Angel's warning looks. " Erm..yes..." Buffy hesitated, then turned back to Angel. " We need to talk... Something happened..." "Like what...Did we miss the Apocalypse again? " Cordelia interfered. Buffy turned towards her, annoyed. " Do I need to rent a room here to get some privacy? God Cordelia, after 2 years I thought you might have grown-up, but your skin is as thick as ever. " Cordelia shrugged. "As are your thighs... Come on guys, we'll leave Little Miss Cranky Slayer and Angel alone..." She walked upstairs, followed by Wesley, Fred and Gunn. As soon as they were out of sight, Buffy turned to Angel.

"So.." She hesitated. Angel shrugged. "So...?!" She smiled a little. "Angel, I remember. That's why I am here..." He frowned. "What are you talking about?" She seemed a little dissapointed at his reaction, but continued anyway. " I remember cookie dough, and the kitchentable " She blushed a little. "And most of all, I remember this..." She placed her hand on his chest, right above his heart, and kissed him. The kiss lasted for a couple of minutes, before Angel pulled away. "I'm sorry Buffy, but I can't..." Buffy nodded. "I know. It's not fair, but I know." Angel sighed, stepping away from her. "How?!?" Buffy looked at her feet, in doubt. " I honestly don't know Angel. I just had these flashes, and it all came back to me. " She hesitated, and took his hand into hers. "It must have been so difficult, letting go of me, of us, like that..." Angel sighed. "It was the only way. You weren't supposed to remember Buffy." She nodded. " I know. But hey, maybe the PTB woke up at the good side of the bed, and decided to cut us a little bit of slack?!?" Angel shook his head. " No way. It must have been someone....something else..." Buffy sighed. " Fine. So what do you want me to do?!" Angel shrugged, and kept quiet for a second. Then he breathed in deeply, and said in a monotous voice. " Go home. Research with Giles or something. I'll handle this on my own." As he had spoken the words he noticed Buffy's eyes widen. "What?! You just want me to go like nothing happened?!" Angel nodded. " That's right. And as far as the world concerns, nothing did." Buffy didn't even wait for the words that were coming next, she just reached for her coat and ran away from the harsh words. Angel watched her go, and felt as if his arm or leg had been teared off, again. "It's for our own good..." He whispered, as Cordelia came walking down the stairs. He gave her a quick glance, and she nodded. "Buffy's gone, so you'll be brooding in your room for the next week or so. Gotcha! " She shrugged as she walked downstairs to get herself some coffee. With all the mixed emotions going on, no one seemed to notice the dark haired girl slipping out of her room upstairs , and hitting the road to the bus station.

Spike looked to the little girl that was curled up beside him on the couch, and put out the television. He got up, carefull not to wake Dawn. He smiled. He grabbed a blanket from the closet, and tugged her in. As he stood there, watching over here, he could resist, and leaned in to plant a little, sweet kiss on the girls forehead. "Sweet Dreams, Pet." He turned away, and walked towards the bedroom, leaving her to rest on his couch.