Title: Before the Fall of Rome (10/?)

Author: Brooke

Email: yabbadabbadome13@yahoo.com

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I wished I owned the two Xanders' from "The Replacement" though. Buffy and friends are owned by Joss, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, The UPN and whoever else has rights to the show.

Summary: You remember all that crap that started post-puberty…yeah, it's great isn't it. It was when life started

Distribution: I don't know why anybody would want this, but if somebody does…sure.

Feedback: Definitely!! Tell me if it sucked or if you liked it. Whatever. Just write back!

Authors Note: Takes place in an AU season 1 where Buffy and Xander are best friends and Willow is the new girl as Sunnydale High. It is the beginning of their sophomore year and, as 15 and 16 year olds, hormones and feelings are taking center stage.

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Buffy had been right about this place, Willow thought as she glanced around the dining area discretely. She had said that Scott had taken her to Guerdinni's for their first date and that it was one of the fanciest places in town. Willow was surprised that Percy would pull out all the stops for their first date though; Scott was, like, obsessed with Buffy, so it made sense. She and Percy were…well, not at all like Buffy and Scott, that was for sure.

Willow glanced up at her date and saw him watching her. She put a warm smile in place and took a sip of her Sprite and laughed a little as Percy redirected his eyes when she caught his gaze.

"So," he ventured after a moment and a bite of bread stick, "Do you like this place?"

Lame. Willow thought, but smiled at him again, "Yeah, its' nice."

"It's Italian," Percy nodded.

Willow's brow furrowed and she looked down at her food. She had no idea how to respond to his statement of the obvious but it was a god-sent that he was speaking again. "Ranker told me about it," he told her, "I told him that I had a hot date and I wanted to take her someplace special."

She gave him a genuine smile for that complement. Just as he was prone to making ridiculously asinine comments, he was always quick to throw out sappy endearments, as well. Willow figured it for a talent because the latter made the former fade into the back of her mind. "I didn't know Andy Ranker could pronounce foreign names."

Percy shook his head a little and chuckled. "Sometimes I don't think Andy Ranker can say his name," he agreed. "But I think I got the idea if what he said. I mean, even if I didn't, this place is great as far as mistakes go."

Willow took a bite of her pasta and pondered what he had said. He had had conversations about this date with his team, even asked their opinions. He had taken it seriously…

"I'm glad you like it," he told her, "I was wiggin cuz I didn't know if you would."

She lifted her eyes a little to catch his. "I made you nervous?" she asked in the innocent voice that Buffy had shown her always worked on guys. In fact, as testament to how well it worked, Buffy had even used it to get Xander to show Willow his baby pictures. She knew it was golden because he had to get them out of a huge show box hidden under his bed.

Percy's eyes darted around the room for a moment. "Yeah," he choked out, "Yeah, a little… I mean…girls…"

"Girls what?" Willow prodded curiously.

"I don't…ask them out, I guess," he said honestly. "The girls a school like the football star - they flock. You didn't. You have mystery." He narrowed his eyes at her as if he were studying her. "I want to know why you're different."

Willow looked down at the table shyly. "Wow," she breathed out. "I have to admit, I wasn't expecting such a deep reason."

"Why?" Percy grinned, "Cuz I'm a jock. Just here to be pretty and catch a ball?"

"No," Willow disagreed too quickly. "Maybe," she admitted with a small grin at his raised eyebrows. "I just…I was trying to figure out why me? And I wasn't expecting you to have…"

"I see you everyday, Willow. Everyday; and you're something new to me each time. I surprised me too, you know? I guess I'm more than I thought I was too."

She gave him a half smile, "You are more."

"You going to help me believe that?" he asked quietly.

"You want me to?" Willow's heart was racing. She was all nervous and her legs were shaking a little under the table. She had never been very good with boys, and they had never really pursued her to get any practice in at interacting with them, but this one…this popular football team captain was putting himself out there for her, it seemed, more than she expected. He was just as vulnerable in this situation as she was, and it was completely new to her.

Percy nodded and moved his hand to grasp hers over the table, "I might go back to shallow without you." He joked about himself.

His hand felt warm over hers, slightly damp against the top of her palm. "Wouldn't want that…"

"Can I get you anything else?" a voice interrupted from above them and suddenly both looked up to face the waiter.

"No," Percy gave a tight lipped grin, "Just the bill." He then turned his attention back to Willow with a smile, "I made a promise to the lady's father to have her home in about forty minutes and I've got one more place to take her."

The young looking waiter nodded, his eyes darting between the couple. "Sure thing," he nodded before moving to walk away. He stopped suddenly and re-approached the table again. "Do you guys go to SDH?" he asked looking them over again.

"Yeah," Percy told him leaning back in his chair, as if to let him know that this was not the time for conversation. "Percy Jackson," he said, "Quarterback."

"Thought you were familiar," the other boy nodded. "Hope you have a better season this year."

Percy narrowed his eyes at him, "Yeah. What are you? Alumni?"

"No." The boy said simply. "Junior. Dan Osborne."

"The Dingoes Ate my Baby?" Willow spoke up. "You guys play the Bronze a lot, huh?"

"Yeah," the waiter nodded with a small smile. "It's not football, but I did sprain my finger once."

"Well for the music it's worth it," Willow offered with an impressed smile. She thought that she had recognized the waiter earlier; after all he was pretty hard to mistake. He was about 5'5, but his most distinguishing feature was his bright orange spiky hair and clear green eyes. He was very cute in the non-conventional rocker boy way. The complete opposite of her current date, but attractive nonetheless.

"I agree." He said with a slight grin.

"How bout that bill, Dan?" Percy cut in a clipped tone.

"Oz," the waiter corrected shortly. "Coming right up."

Willow heard him sigh as he turned and walked away this time. She kept her eyes on his back as he walked towards the waiter station, but soon heard Percy's voice in the back of her mind…

"So," he said, squeezing her hand with a small smile. "Feel like a little walk?"

Willow turned to face him and put a smile in place. "Yeah," she agreed.

"I know you're new here," he continued, "And I know that Buffy has been showing you around, but I know some places she may have neglected to take you too…hopefully."

She bit her lower lip and nodded, "I don't know, she is a pretty good tour guide…"

"I just hope she didn't steal any of my moves," Percy licked his lips with a grin. "If I can't show a pretty girl Old Tyme Downtown Sunnydale at night, I'm going to be fresh outta luck."

"I'm sure you'll offer a shiny new perspective." Willow assured him as the Oz re-approached the table.

"The bill," he stated, placing the small black folder on the table in front of Percy.

"Thanks man," he said, taking out his credit card and handing it over. He then focused on Willow again, "You're gonna love this." He said excitedly, "I can't wait to show you."

~*~*~*~

Something was following her; Buffy knew that for a fact. She could feel it…a tingling in the back of her neck as she walked slowly down the dark street on her way to Xander's place.

She looked around and then crossed the street in a slow jog, careful not to look in behind her. Buffy liked using the whole 'I'm an unsuspecting helpless little girl' thing to her full advantage. Most demons didn't know what hit them when she lifted them up by their throats and threw them all over town – it was pretty funny actually. But, right now, toying with demonic vices wasn't what she wanted at all, so she chose to ignore whatever it was as long as she could, if for no other reason than to save time.

See, right now, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was internally battling Buffy the Teenager – and the teenager was winning. She wanted to make out with a hot boy, so she was kicking the ass of whatever ancient mumbo-jumbo that the Slayer had instilled her with. Besides, the thing that was following her didn't seem to be attacking her…it was just trailing her, for the last fifteen minutes.

Buffy scouted out her surrounding looking for a half decent location to end this low key chase. She knew she would have to – the idea of the little boy who had died at the hands of something that she didn't kill in time assured her of that. And, what with that strange vampire from the house who knew all about her and Xander still unalive and kicking…she just couldn't take the chance of leading danger right to him.

She was glad that it was fairly deserted right now, not that Sunnydale had a happening after hour's scene even on the weekends; but now she was past any of the late night stragglers that were out. Buffy stopped dead in her tracks and folded her arms across her chest. "Alright," she huffed out. "I'm gonna stop with the cat and mouse and start with the ass kicking of you."

There was no noise in response and she narrowed her eyes, turning around slowly. The street was still deserted. "Can you stop wasting my time please? Jesus, I've got curfew." She said into the night.

Still nothing.

Suddenly Buffy felt the air behind her change slightly, almost just a whisper of wind on her bare arm and she spun around. She grabbed with her right arm and her hand curled around the throat of the thing that was trying to pass discretely behind her. The throat of…the guy from the cemetery earlier in the night. Great. Her mind said sarcastically, Just what I need.

Angel gasped in surprise and held himself tense as he was lifted off of the ground by the Slayer, who herself, couldn't be taller than 5'3. "Nice to see you again," he choked out with a labored smile when he saw her roll her eyes at him.

"Can't say the same for you," Buffy sneered and retained her grip on him. "Why are you following me again? I thought I told you before how unflattering stalking is."

Angel reached up and gripped her wrist, applying slight force on her pressure points and felt her hand relax. Buffy snatched it away from him and cradled the numb appendage in her left hand with a scowl. "You're lucky I don't kill you right now." She shot at him with narrowed eyes.

"I suppose." Angel nodded, but then asked, "Why is that?"

"You're not worth the effort." She said back immediately. "And stop nodding at everything I say. It's annoying." She added when the man moved his head.

"Listen," Angel said quickly. Silence was not something he could afford with this girl and he knew it. "I think we got off to a bad start…"

"Gee," Buffy put her finger on her chin, "Whatever gave you that idea? Oh wait," she answered herself, "It could've been the whole I'm destined to kill you cuz you're a vampire thing."

"Then we're back to wondering why that hasn't happened yet." Angel pointed out.

"You're pushing your luck…"

"I…I just wanted to make sure that you got in alright tonight, that's all." He interrupted her.

"How sweet of you." Buffy smirked at him. "But I can take care of myself," she added as she pushed her way past him, making sure to use extra force when she ran into his arm on her way. She had been friends with Xander and Jesse long enough to pick up on some basic sarcasm and know how to use it as a defense mechanism. She didn't know how to read this man, but what bothered her more than that was that she didn't have a decent answer for him. Buffy had no idea why she had not killed this demon yet…she didn't want to think about why right then either, she just wanted to get very far away from him.

"I know," Angel assured her, now talking to her back, "But that doesn't change the fact that something is coming…something big." That got her attention he noted as she stopped again and turned slowly to face him. "You can feel it, can't you?"

Buffy looked directly into his eyes, trying to see what he was getting at. There was something in his dark orbs…something whole and burning and… "What is it?" she asked quietly, her voice catching in her throat. Suddenly her mission to get to Xander's was pushed to the back of her mind, because truth be told, she could feel something. It was big, and it was making her itch with nervous anticipation that was consuming her more and more with each passing day.

"I don't know…"

"Then you're no help," Buffy said quickly and grabbed at him. She had him lifted up by the collar of his black duster before he could react, and had her stake pulled out of her waistband and to his heart as she took in his wide eyes. "I guess I can kill you now then," she smiled, what she knew was an evil grin.

"I can help," Angel said quickly. "That's why I'm here. I want to help you…"

"I thought I told you that I didn't want anymore friends." Buffy questioned her hesitance again, but kept the man suspended.

"And I thought I told you that I didn't care what you think you need."

"You're not in the position to pull any shit here," Buffy pointed out. "I've got you beat right now."

"I'm not going to fight you," Angel said. "You can know I'm going to do anything I can to help you because I'm not going to let you die, or I can do it in secret, but I'm not going to fight you."

Buffy relaxed her arm and let his feet hit the ground again, but kept her stake poised. "You're not really great at keeping secrets then, are you?"

"I don't think you are either." Angel sent her a knowing smirk as he adjusted his coat, careful not to make any sudden movements as he could feel the tip of her stake still pressed into his chest.

He's been following me all night… "Who are you?" she asked cautiously, her brow furrowed.

Angel swallowed. He was half nervous at being so close to the Slayer and half terrified at the fact that he was standing so close to Buffy. Buffy who had no idea how much he knew about her. Buffy who he would die a thousand times over for, and she had not idea…was not allowed to have any idea. Angel wondered how long he could keep that a secret, especially since he knew she had to be feeling something towards him too. She had to because he was still tangible and not blowing in the wind.

"Angel," he told her simply.

It was Buffy's turn to nod. "Cute name," she looked him up and down, "Almost pretty. How'd you get it? It's sort of an anomaly, isn't it?"

"How do you know what I am?" he answered her question with a question, keeping his voice steady.

"I can feel it." Buffy smirked. "I supposed to be able to feel the vampire deal…frankly, you reek of it…"

She trailed off when she heard a faint noise come from her left and she turned to face it. It sounded like a muffled aborted scream…a male scream.

"You hear that?" Angel asked her, studying the same direction that Buffy was no facing.

"Yeah," she nodded, not facing him and starting towards the noise in a sprint. If this Angel character wanted to help her, it was up to him to keep up.

Her heart was racing as she ran towards where she thought she heard the scream come from. She was constantly being impressed by herself at the amount of instinct that she had inherited from the Slayer virtually over night. The feelings were powerful, amazing…almost overwhelming.

Buffy had lost track of Angel as she turned the corner into an alley. She was about three blocks away from where she had stopped to confront Angel… Angel. She still had questions for him, she still didn't trust him. Why would a vampire want to help a Slayer?

"Hey!" She called out when she saw it. It being exactly what she thought it was – a vampire feeding in progress. Something was coming; this was the fifth vampire she was going to kill that night. It was a female, short, blonde, and mostly blocked by the body of a tall male that she was holding and feeding from. "You're not supposed to eat after seven, it's bad for the whole digestion deal," Buffy quipped approaching the tow figures.

The female vampire sneered at her, blood glistening on her lip as she licked at her fangs. "Surely you know all about a late night snack." She smirked and Buffy watched the man's head fall forward, his body partially limp. She hoped he was alive…that she had gotten there in time.

"Bad line," Buffy said as she charged her new opponent, "Now I'm going to have to kill you for calling me fat, too."

The vampire flung the body she was holding towards the alley wall and Buffy watched through the shadows as the man crashed, unconscious, into some crates. "I'm game," she grinned, "I'm still hungry anyway."

Buffy landed a snap kick to her stomach and doubled her over before bringing her knee up, connecting solidly with her face and sending the vampire backwards to the ground. "Not much for the fisticuffs, huh?" Buffy asked with raised eyebrows as she watched the vampire holding, what was probably, a broken nose.

Darla watched her attacker, the pain in her eyes overshadowed by her confusion. "Who are you?" she asked in a voice muffled by her hands as she stayed on the ground.

Buffy glanced at her and made her way over to the body that had been discarded so callously into the alley wall. "You worst nightmare, I assure you." She said confidently as she crouched down beside it, working hastily to clear the debris. Buffy reached down and tugged at the unconscious man's collar, pulling him into a sitting position and a horrified gasp broke out of her throat. "Jesse?!" she was suddenly on high alert and she tried to get him off of the ground, "Oh my God, Jesse! Come on!" she shook him lightly as she felt of a pulse on his wrist, finding a weak beat. "Wake up Jess…"

"Friend of yours?"

Buffy looked up as the female voice was right on top of her now. The distraction of finding out that the victim was one of her best friends giving the demon a massive advantage as she had been snuck up on.

"Buff?" Jesse's voice mumbled and she was pulled by her hair to her feet by the vampire, forcing her to drop him back into the boxes with a thud. "I think she gave me a hickey," he said dazedly, now starring up at the night sky through blurry eyes. He slowly moved his hand to the side of his neck and felt the slick swollen skin there. "Yeah," he assured himself as he listened to the muted sounds of a struggle happening near him, "That's a hickey…"

Buffy winced as she dropped Jesse back to the ground, but sighed at the fact that he seemed to be, at least, semi-conscious. Her relief was short lived, however, as she was thrown backwards and into a brick wall behind her. Her vision spun and went momentarily black as her head connected with the wall first and her legs gave out from underneath her as she slid to the ground.

She was expecting a follow up hit, but when she opened her eyes she saw why it didn't come. Buffy watched as Angel help the other vampire from behind and threw her threw her forcefully, sending her flying about seven feet off of the ground and into the opposite wall with a loud crack. Buffy got to her feet and started back to where Jesse lay, leaving the fight to Angel.

Buffy pulled her friend up into a sitting position again and watched Angel over her shoulder…he was beating the female mercilessly, and she just seemed to be taking it with a smile on her face. "You're okay, Jess," Buffy turned back the boy in her arms. "I'm gonna get you to a hospital…"

"Whatareya doinn ere Buff?" Jesse slurred through his blood loss. "It's not safe here.

"Tell me about it." Buffy mumbled as she stroked the hair off of his forehead. She was trying to work out the best way to pick him up and the shortest possible route to the hospital from where she was. "Wanna hurry that up?!" she called out in frustration to Angel, "I haveta get him help!"

Angel glanced back to Buffy over his shoulder and Darla used the distraction the kick him in the groin. He winced as he doubled over, now looking up at her through his eyelashes as she grinned down at him, still in demonic vestige. "Oh, poor Angel." She sang. "I thought it was a lie, but it's true."

"What is?" Angel bit out through clenched teeth.

"That's the Slayer." Darla grinned at Buffy as if she had just unwrapped a prize – the realization had just dawned on her. "The Slayer that you're protecting…that you love."

Angel stood up and unleashed a strong jab to her face, turning her around and sending her to the ground a few feet away. "Leave now, Darla, or I'll kill you." He said seriously.

Darla was laughing at him as she rolled to her feet. She brushed the dirt off of her quilt and tilted her head at him, "I'll leave but you know this won't be the last we meet lover. It's far from over."

Angel watched her as she backed into the darkness. He couldn't kill her anymore than Buffy could kill him…that was a wrapped realization. He shook his head and ran over to the kneeling Slayer.

"Long lost girlfriend?" Buffy smirked at him distractedly, not exactly knowing why her voice sounded so bitter right then.

"Something like that," Angel answered. "Let's get him out of here." He changed the subject and moved to lift Jesse off of the ground.

Buffy jumped at the vampire's movement, "No," she shielded her weakened friend's body with her own. "Don't touch him." She shifted her weight and stood up with his body, one arm under his knees and the other around his shoulders.

"Buff…" Jesse looked blearily at her as he found himself in the air, her face above his. "Didya just pick me up?"

"Yeah Jess," she said to him tenderly as she started out of the alley. She knew she was going to have to explain a whole lot to him, and knew that Giles was going to have to pencil in another freak out because of it – but; she resigned, she would have to worry about that later. "We're going to the hospital."

Jesse looked like a thousand questions passed through his mind, but all he could muster was a nod before he shut his eyes. "You just keep my path clear," Buffy called back over her shoulder to Angel as she kept walking. "If anything gets in my way right now you won't have to worry about facing anymore Slayers."

Angel just watched in confused disbelief as Buffy kept a swift pace and her voice faded as she got further away. That was just one more thing he was drawn to about her – she had friends and she would die for them. She would kill for them. He stood to his feet and followed her path. He didn't know if she would make true on her threat, but he knew that he didn't want to find out.

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The End Part 10