Fallen From Grace Chapter Four By Skitty

Dawn knocked on the office door, a soft quiet knock so scare it could barely be heard. Robin looked up from his desk. "I thought you were Buffy," He admitted sadly.

"Nope, just lil ole me," Dawn said, coming into the room and sitting across from him.

"At lesat we know where she is right?" he looked so hopeless she had to nod. "She had friends in L.A., people who'll watch out for her? Like that Angel guy?"

"He'll take care of her," Dawn agreed. There was a pause, and both principal and student listened to the sounds of the school going about it's day. Unaware that their beloved guidance counsellor wsa alone in the city, fighting the greatest evil yet.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"He knows?" Willow screeched at Cordlia. "He knows?!"

"You told Buffy!" Cordelia shouted back. "She told Faith, Faith told him!"

"Faith's spoken to Buffy?" Willow paced angrily. "And then to Angel? He's probably with her right now! We're ruined."

"Unless we break them up," Cordelia's voice was lower. "We could kill him."

"No, now he'll never leave her side. And she won't let that happen," Willow suddenly got an idea. "Unless she thought he was evil. Then she would do it herself."

"She doesn't know his soul's bound. We get them together, she stakes him," Cordy looked out the window. "If she really has hardened."

"It's time we found out," Willow decided and began laying out plans.

~*~*~*~*~*~

It was after midnight when Buffy made her way home. After the meeting she'd had with her dad's lawyer, she'd been unable to sleep and gone for a walk. He left her everything: the house, the cars, the servants' contracts, his millions, even his firm. She'd gone from broke to millionaire over night. And it had cost her father.

She scream alerted her Slayer senses, and Buffy ran toward it. Willow stood alone, a dark cloud surrounding her. Her hands crackled energy, lightening spewed from her finger tips. "Hey Buffy, how's it going?" she smirked, floating to the ground. "You've really been a pain in the ass lately, okay always. I've decided to share my feelings with you."

"Go ahead," Buffy cocked a fist.

"You're pissed at me. Admit it, Buff. You had it so good before I switched sides again. Those girls looked up to you. You had a great guy. You finally stopped screwing Spike. You were pregnant before Spike killed the baby. Maybe if he had a chip it wouldn't have happened. Who knows," Willow taunted. "I ruined that. And you know what? I'm glad."

"Duh, you work for the First," Buffy snapped, wincing at the comment about her and Robin's child. She'd barely even showed, but Spike had known. He said he'd heard the second heart beat. And he believed that if the child and Robin went away, he'd have her again. So he killed their son. Buffy had been in the hospital for weeks, while Robin tore Spike apart. They'd been crushed.

"Maybe, but sweet, innocent little me is too," Willow stepped closer. "How much of the past year have you spent bullying me?" A shock hit Buffy making her bleed. "How many times have I head your 'I'm better than every one' speech?" Another hit her. "Ever since you got to Sunnydale you've done nothing but hoard yourself over me," the shocks wer constant now. In the shadows Angel approached silently, having recieved a message from 'Buffy' to meet her there.

"And all the while her 'holiness' is off screwing vamps, whether they have souls or not!" Willow continued, knowing all too well Angel could hear. "Did Spike feel good, Buffy? Tell me, did he ride you, or were you in control? 'Cause I think that's where you and Riley screwed up. I'm thinking you're the type who likes to be dominated. You certainly had enough stains and bruises last year."

With that she turned and left the alley. Her plan with Cordelia was a fake. The bimbo was an annoying complication, a pain who knew nothing about pain. She'd never understood pain or suffering, never truly loved. She was a demon. A shape shifter, who'd stolen the body she wore. She was not a force of evil.

The true plan was to isolate Buffy, not drive her completely insane with guilt. To isolate her, all that needed to be done was to push Angel away. Simple really, when Willow knew all of Buffy's secrets.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel ran to Buffy, clutching her bleeding body to him. "Please live through this. Please don't slip even further from me," he whispered as he rushed her to his car and sped to the hospital.