Part Six

Buffy rolled onto her back feeling the dry earth behind her and the sun beating down on her face. She shifted slightly in the confines of the tight dress… Dress. She hadn't been wearing a dress. Immediately suspicious Buffy pulled herself up on her elbows to look down at her clothes. She was wearing a cream and yellow Edwardian dress. Definitely not what she had been wearing before.

Cautious and confused Buffy managed to stand up, using a tree next to her for support. A tree? Looking around her suspicions were confirmed she was in the middle of a dense knot of trees and she could see no clear pathway out. However unwilling to give up she brushed down her clothes and headed towards the most promising looking direction in grim determination to find out what the hell was going on.

A moment later she was satisfied to find Angel holding Connor in his arms and shepherding Dawn along beside him. Buffy smiled at the picture, it looked… right. Eventually Angel's sixth 'Buffy' sense told her she was watching him and he turned to see her. Buffy noted that his usual creature of the night clothing had been changed too, replaced with the traditional trousers and waistcoat sort of ensemble suitable for an Edwardian man, his spiky hair was grown and tied back away from his face. Or at least she thought their clothes were Edwardian she wasn't that sure, history had never been her strong point.

Angel found he couldn't help but to stare at Buffy, she looked so beautiful in the cream dress. The dress was tight around her torso, and split into stiff panels, it swelled away from around her waist, the cream fabric was decorated in swirling patterns of yellow leaves. The way it revealed and intensified every curve in her body… Angel was forced to take a breath and revelled in the way it felt as it travelled down his throat and calmed his emotions. Slightly. Buffy had taken a few steps toward him the skirts of her dress rippling around her legs. Angel gave Connor to Dawn and moved to meet Buffy his eyes taking in every detail of her appearance. The way the sunlight played across her face and the way she still looked immaculate, despite the fact a cut on her forehead told him that she had landed roughly after being transported here.

'Buffy…' He breathed the name that came as naturally as air to him. His hand reached out to put a strand of hair back behind her ear, she caught his hand holding it against her cheek and smiling at the warmth she found. Angel slowly drew her hand to him, and laid it on his chest, by his heart. Buffy's grin grew even wider and laughing she threw herself into his arms.

'God, Angel. It's really happened!' Angel felt his heart swell at the feelings every touch of her skin invoked in him. He lowered his head, as she turned hers to face him, their lips melded together in uncontrollable passion, his hands explored her back, yearning for more contact they pressed together and a small moan sounded from Buffy's lips as she arched against him.

A loud fake coughing fit interrupted the pair and Angel felt Buffy spin round in his arms to scold her sister for the intrusion to see a couple standing next to Dawn.

Buffy stared awe struck at the couple in front of her, they looked in almost every detail and way like Xander and Anya, but the puzzled expression on their faces told them that they had clearly never seen her before. 'Good Evening, I don't think I've seen you around here?' The man asked. Angel stopped her before she could say anything.

'My name is Angel O'Leary and this my wife Buffy, and her sister Dawn Summers. And that's Connor my son.' He let his Irish accent fall through in his speech, perhaps in an attempt to show that he was new to the area. Maybe they would think we were lost visitors, Buffy thought.

'Irish?' Angel nodded 'Well I've never been there myself but I've heard it's a beautiful part of the world. I was thinking of going there one day, oh yes sorry I forgot the introductions, I'm Alexander La Velle, and this is my fiancée Anya.'

'Hello.' Anya said politely giving a little half curtsey.

'Pleased to meet you.' Buffy replied giving her a warming smile, and a half curtsey of her own.

'Shall we walk together? This park is very pretty at this time of year and then perhaps after you could come back to The Priory and join us for supper.'

'That's very kind of you, shall we Angel?'

'Of course, it sounds like a very enjoyable evening.'

And with that the group walked off, Buffy, Anya and Dawn walked slightly ahead of Angel and Alexander, with Connor. Angel and Alexander were discussing the finer points of Art and it was all Buffy could do to not laugh aloud at the fact that this world's 'Xander' was a heavy intellectual. It was very odd, and nice too, to know that there were other versions of people she know in other worlds. Living peaceful existences, undoubtedly without the knowledge that vampires exist. Or not, Buffy thought remembering that the gatterdämon had said that there were no creatures of the night in this world. I guess I'm a retired Vampire Slayer then Buffy thought smiling happily.

'Why are you so happy Buffy?' Dawn's question cut across her thoughts and she smiled deeply at her.

'Just thinking about our new life, here. It's going to be great.'

'But what about everyone else?'

'They'll understand, this is my chance and I'm *so* going to take it.'

'But I miss them.' Dawn's deep hurt showed in her eyes and for a moment Buffy considered trying to find a way back, for Dawn to go back on her own. It wouldn't be so bad because then she could tell them that there were okay and happy, but then she would be sending her back to a world of demon's and darkness. And she could do that to anyone especially her sister.

'Dawn, honey. It'll be okay, you'll make new friends. And besides it's going to be better here, safer.'

'But what about the rest? Who's going to protect them now?'

'Faith can.'

'Faith?' Dawn sounded horrified at the idea.

'It'll be fine, besides she really wants to change, this is her chance to prove herself I suppose.'

'Isn't she in Jail?'

'She'll be out very soon. Angel told me.' For a while at least Dawn seemed satisfied, although Anya was looking at them, confused.

'Where did you come from, in Ireland?' She asked.

'Galaway.' Angel said as he came up behind Buffy, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck.

'Do you have anywhere to stay?' Alexander asked.

'No actually, we left in quite a hurry we didn't really have time to sort anything out. And we were… ah… robbed on the way, so we don't have anything all our luggage and money and things are gone.'

'Oh you poor darlings!' Anya exclaimed, 'You simply must stay with us!'

'We'd be delighted to,' Buffy told her. 'But how will we repay you?'

'Don't worry about that.' Anya told her but shared a look with Alexander before continuing with the conversation, but before they could continue Connor started fussing and Dawn passed him to Buffy who tried to settle him, but with basically no success.

'I think we need to find somewhere to change him, Angel.'

'This is probably a good time to go back to The Priory then.' Alexander told them, 'The maids will just love having a baby to look after.'

'They are rather broody, aren't they?' Anya told him and laughing they lead the group over to their carriage and their house.