Fall From Grace

~Keysuna

A/N Oh yeah, this is great, start another multi chapter story while I'm still in the middle of Demon Letting. Oh well, I'll still be working on that, just inspiration struck and it's such a pity to let a good idea fall beneath the cracks of the keyboard.

Summary: Jasmine and the Fang Gang come to Sunnydale, seemingly causing the First to fall from Big Bad status in the process.

Timeline AU, set right after Dirty Girls in Buffy. As for Angel, the events that occurred up to Inside Out happen, Fred never goes on her holier- than-though mission to clean Jasmines shirt and so everyone in the Fang Gang stays in happy shiny people mode. Faith does not go to Sunnydale with Willow (but instead gives a call into that guy she was talking to Spike about, hehe) Everyone got it? Good.

Pairings: Both B/S and B/A, not sure what the ultimate paring with be. X/A W/K

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Caleb rose the wine to his nose and let the aroma fill his senses.

"You were told not to spread your influence on the Hellmouth." The man took a sip, savoring the taste before setting the glass on the table and turning toward Jasmine. "You said you wanted the ensouled vampire, you said the Slayer was of no interest to you."

Jasmine smiled, letting her fingertips graze the edge of the bookcase before turning her attention toward the man in front of her. "I changed my mind."

"This was planned, careful detail was put to making this work. You appearance here disrupts that greatly." Caleb shook his head and let his eyes meet her own. "The City of Lost Angels was free ground for you. Our only intent was the Slayer line, why do you interfere?"

"I have a vendetta with your master." She put simply, walking closer toward him. Blue summer dress like skin against her. Caleb glared. "Four of your mortal years ago, my Angel nearly killed himself." She came at his side and brushed a hand along his chin. He caught her slender wrist in his grasp. "It was your master that nearly soiled my plans, I am just returning the favor." Jasmine pulled her wrist free from his grip. "Though I will not fail in what I set out to do."

Caleb placed his hand along the underside of the cup, and brought it back up to his lips. "Never touch me again." He whispered, and without taking a sip he continued. "That vampire at the Slayer's side would cause her to triumph, it was not clear as to whether he would leave. That risk could not be taken and so there was action taken to exterminate the risk." Swirling the liquid slowly, his eyes traveled to hers briefly. "And that risk would be gone if it wasn't for your interference."

Jasmine crossed her arms against her chest and crocked her head to the side. A smile begun at the edges of her lips. "Yes, well, your master knew I needed the vampire. I couldn't of been born to this world without him bringing a vampire born human first." She paused a moment. "The snow was clever, don't you think?"

"Do not think that we are gone from this." Caleb raised the drink to his lips and drank long before speaking again. "You have your fun now, but the First will follow through on what was to be done." The cup drained, Caleb crushed it in his hands, watching as the glass spilled to the ground. "The Slayer line will be ended, nothing will get in our way."

Pale sun glinted off the fallen shards, and Jasmine let her arms fall to her side. "Tell me, the Slayer, is she strong?"

"She is dirty, like all the girls, she is dirty." Toeing the glass with his toe, he closed his eyes. "The power in her is dark, a demon bound to her soul. She doesn't realize, then again, she is only human."

Jasmine nodded. "I look forward to meeting her."

Opening his eyes, Caleb met her gaze one last time. "We will not be standing on the side lines."

"Nor do I expect you to, I know what you will do, and I will do everything in my power to keep you from achieving that."

Caleb nodded. "I will tell the First of your decision to stay." With those last words he carefully stepped over the glass and brushed his way past Jasmine without touching her. She watched as he disappeared out the door and into the merciless light of day.

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Buffy watched her feet walk along the moist grass. The moon hung in the fog drenched sky, looking down at her in a taunting sort of way. She wanted to yell back at it, to watch it hide under clouds, cowering at her strength. But she didn't dare do anything so foolish because something was following her.

A vampire was stalking the Slayer.

She arrived at a clearing in the woods she had wound her way through, and stopped. The demon was powerful, she could feel it pulsing through the air. Clutching the stake tighter, the Slayer listened to the breeze as the creature made his way toward her. It was behind her now, walking slowly toward her turned back, and she readied to attack. A hand rested on her shoulder, and without waiting for the forceful bearing of her throat, she turned.

"Buffy?" The voice stopped her before she could bring the stake up to his heart.

The Slayer choked on the sight of him standing there. Faint beneath the shadows and blended with the dark. Dropping the stake with an unheard fall to the ground, she gaped. "Angel, what, how- I mean, what are you doing here?"

He smiled, one that Buffy only barely made out by the faint light of the moon. Suddenly, the vampire had her in his embrace, and the Slayer settled into it without thinking. "I love you." Angel said, kissing her on the forehead. "I just wanted you to know that."

Buffy pushed her way half out of the hug so that she had a clearer view of his eyes. "What's going on?" She saw him smile. "Your smiling again." The Slayer pointed out. As she was about to comment on the absence of a painfully bright shirt he took her in a kiss.

"I'm not allowed to be happy?" He asked when he finished stealing breath from her. A grin appeared on his face.

Still stunned from the passionate embrace, Buffy stumbled back. She didn't share the look of bliss Angel wore. "What are you doing here? If your to help the fight against the First, that's great. And if your not, I don't have to time for this." Summoning the strength she had lost at the sight of him, she shouldered her way past the immobilized vampire and into the depths of the night.

"There's no more fight." He said simply, causing her to stop and turn toward him.

"There's always a fight." Her gaze met his and hardened. "Your the one that taught me that."

Angel shook his head, and brought his eyes back to her, a soft smile still on his lips. "There's no more fight, not anymore. Just peace, and love, and us."

The Slayer looked at him, as though her eyes had fooled her into seeing her old lover. The one that spoke now was not the Angel she knew, was not anyone she would like to know. "What has gotten into you?"

"Jasmine." He took a step toward her. "I can prove to you the fight is over, please Buffy, just let me show you."

Disbelieving him and herself, she gave a slow nod and followed him as he brought her through the woods.