A/N Yeah, another chapter! (and reviews really help for more)

She grasped her hand tighter around his, moving her body closer as they walked. He smelled of fruit, a simple contrast to the rain like atmosphere of the night.

"How are things in Sunnydale?" Angel asked, stepping down from the curb and nearer to her.

She shrugged, her shoulder brushing his. "Not good." Her voice had grown quite. "Lot's of big bad, the biggest baddest of them all." She knew his gaze was on her, but she couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes. "I messed it up, I thought we were ready, I thought I was ready for anything hell could throw at me." Buffy sighed with a wry smile beginning at her lips. "I didn't expect the executive of hell to show."

"The First." He whispered.

The Slayer solemnly nodded. "I'm not ready for this fight, not yet, probably never."

"It's OK." In a movement Buffy could barely process he swung her around in front of him and placed his hands on her shoulders, eyes meeting tearing green pupils. "You don't have to be the one fighting. Jasmine will take care of it."

Placing a hand over his softly, she shook her head in disbelief. "Who is this Jasmine you keep talking about? I'm the one who always has to fight, and I have to do it alone."

"No Buffy." He pulled her closer to him. "You don't have to do this at all."

The Slayer forced her way out of his hold. "What is going on?"

Without comment he grabbed for her hand and took in his grasp. He ran, dragging her along in his pursuit. "I can't tell you." Angel said, grinning wildly. The Slayer stumbled for her footing as she brought herself to his speed. "I have to show you."

They ran through the night, vampire leading Slayer through the turns of silent streets. Buffy wasn't surprised as she saw the mansion loom in the distance. Angel always had a passion for the place. He led her along the path, slowing his pace to a walk and she let her feet do the same. "She's amazing Buffy." Angel said, sending her a glance back as they neared the door. "Can't you feel her from here?"

The Slayer stopped at the words, and untangled her hand from his grasp. He waited for her impatiently as she thought clouded her eyes. "Yeah, I feel something." Her words had become hard and cold, grabbing a stake from the inside of her jacket, she ran toward the door before Angel could catch her and burst into the mansion.

It was awash in pale light, the cobwebs and dust had been swept away, leaving the clean surfaces. The front room had been renovated into a living room, which left Buffy confused. How long had Angel been in Sunnydale to remodel a whole house? She rushed further into the room before the vampire could catch up with her and flew up the stairs, running head first into a green skinned demon that had just entered the hall.

"Hello there." He said, putting either hand on her shoulders and looking at her. "You must be Buffy."

He grinned, but the Slayer did not even bother to make eye contact. Grabbing one of his arms she twisted to his back and pinned the arm. "What the hell is going on!" She screamed. Angel came in front of her, and tried to caution her down with his hands.

"Buffy, calm down, Buffy, just please let Lorne go."

The Slayer gripped tighter, and let her gaze become intense on the vampire. "You waltz into my town like were old buds, like everything's all right, well guess what Angel, they're not. I'm not a stumbling school girl anymore, I've been to heaven and back again and by god if I'll let anything I feel for you drag me down. There's something evil here, and I'm going to kill it." Buffy took a sharp breath, and watched as he became angry at her. "Before you try to stop me, remember what happened last time we fought." She flung the demon that had been in her grasp toward him, and gave a quick glance as they both fell hard into the wall. Buffy ran toward the pulsing power that bled into the air and seeped through the walls. Tensing for the fight she kicked down the door to one of the nicer rooms.

Facing away from her, a women with long curls of black sat in a red stain chair. She was talking to a young girl. Blue eyes watched her in a mesmerized stare. Suddenly the one in the chair stood, and turned to face the Slayer. Buffy readied as she completed the motion, and them meeting her gaze, fell to her knees.

"I. I." She stammered off as the Jasmine walked over and knelt by her side.

The god smiled, and Buffy lost her composure, feeling tears of joy run down her cheeks as the weapon clattered toward the ground. "It's an honor to meet the Slayer." She said in a song like voice that washed the Slayer in emotion she had though she'd lost when being forced from heaven.

The Slayer was still to astonished to make a sound. The girl who had been talking to Jasmine came by her side and they exchanged a dialogue Buffy couldn't follow. The god left, and the blonde felt as though apart of her was leaving with it.

"You OK?" The girl asked, giving her a wry smile. "I know the first time seeing Jasmine can be intense, but you just have to remember she'll be back."

It took all her strength to respond. "Where did she go?"

"She's afraid that if Angel sees you, he'll lose his soul." She explained, giving her hand to Buffy. "My names Fred." The girl said as the Slayer grabbed her offered grasp and struggled to her feet.

"Buffy." She said almost quivering and losing her balance.

Fred smiled. "Angel told us about you." She paused, and then let her words out in a quick wave of mumbled, frantic words. "Jasmine said that she might be able to make the curse permanent."

The Slayer looked at her, disbelief in her eyes. "She could. . . do that?"

"She can do anything." Fred grinned, and started toward the door, motioning for to follow. "Wesley wants to meet you."

Buffy nodded, running her hands along her arms and followed the girl. As she walked she could feel the growing presence of Jasmine. But it quickly ebbed back into the air as they passed a room. She sent a longing gaze as they quickened their pace, but kept following Fred. They descended the stairs to find a man with intense eyes and a hardened face that was framed by stubble. His blue jeans and red button down shirt seemed to clash with the very being of him until his gaze softened.

"Buffy." He said, coming to take into a hug. The Slayer responded, and drew back instantly as she suddenly realized who it was.

The Slayer let her eyes burn into his for a moment, cementing her thoughts. Her smile grew wider. "Wesley, you look great."

He grinned back and nodded toward Fred. "Angel found her?" He asked her, and the girl nodded.

"Jasmines with him right now." She responded.

"I know." Wesley said as Buffy drew herself fully from the embrace.

Catching her breath as both looked on, she tried to get her thoughts together. "You shouldn't be here." She started finally. "There's something major at work and I don't want Angel. . . any of you to be involved."

The ex Watcher smiled at her, and it took the Slayer a moment to recognize it as one. Watching the ceases in the face stretch into the grin made it seem unnatural, as though he was just relearning how to do it.

"That is why were here." Fred stated, a half smile painted on her lips.

"The First, correct?" Wesley asked her. The Slayer solemnly nodded.

"Jasmines plan to spread her influence throughout the world cannot be achieved if she lets The Fist Evil continue with it's own plans." He paused. "She wants to see you now."

Speechless, Buffy moved toward the steps.

"You know where your going?" Fred called out tentatively, making a move to follow.

Buffy gave a small smile to herself as she let her hand skim the rail. "Yeah, I can feel her."