Beta by Sigma

Chapter 7

Buffy sighed heavily as what she was trying to avoid was thrown in her face. She gave Dawn a disappointed look, but Dawn glared back defiantly. "Buffy," Willow asked, "what is Dawn talking about? What did she mean about Angelus being back?"

"Yeah," Xander shivered, remembering his experiences with the homicidal vampire, "did you see him? Does Giles know?"

Anya jumped in, "I want to make it clear that Xander and I are going to Europe, very far away from him! You should, too."

"What?" snapped Dawn, "Buffy won't run! She's the slayer! She's not afraid of him right Buffy? Buffy?"

"I didn't say she wasn't the slayer," sniffed Anya, "I'm only saying that this is Angelus we're talking about. You know, the one she sent to hell…"

"That's enough!" shouted Spike. Everyone suddenly became quiet and turned to look at him.

"All right, Spike, just cool down..." soothed Buffy, "Look, guys, I think we should all go to the Magic Box, so we can talk more freely.

*

When they got to the Magic Box, the fighting started up again, but at least it was somewhere private. Buffy held her head, the bickering getting to her. Tara glanced at her, looking slightly confused.

She didn't know Angelus; she barely knew anything about Angel, although she'd heard some stories. Buffy wordlessly pleaded for some help, and Tara smiled, glad to be able to do something, "Underneath our skin, it crawls all over covering our voice, silent the night…"

Suddenly, it was quiet. The gang's mouths still opened and closed but no sound came out, and they began to look around, wondering what had taken their voices.

Buffy cleared her throat, "Don't worry, Tara just did a spell so I could actually talk reasonably to you for a minute. I can't…Xander! I saw that!...I can't give you much information about Angelus. I only heard two days ago about Angel losing his soul. No one in Angel investigations knew what had happened, and none of them seem to be around anymore. It's probably better that they stay out of sight. There's probably not much they could do anyway.

"About telling Giles..." She had thought about telling him, but she couldn't make him go through his memories...Ms. Calender...and he had left to make her less dependant on him, "About Giles, no one, and I mean no one, is to tell him about it...Not even you, Xander."

An offended expression came over Xander's face. "Why me?" he mimed silently.

"I'm going to take care of him myself. I didn't even want to tell you, but that didn't work." She looked accusingly at Dawn before continuing. "Oh, and one more thing before Tara removes the spell Last time Angelus was here, we couldn't leave because we were still in high school. Now, however, we're grown-ups. I want any of you to feel free to leave. But, if you want to stay, I could use the help." As she finished, her voice trembled. She felt that she had no right to ask for them to risk their lives...but she needed them so much!

Tara waved her hand, "Voices."

"I'm going to stay!" declared Willow, as she reached for Tara's hand and smiled.

"Me, too!" said Dawn, looking right at Buffy who frowned back at her, "I'm not going to stay with Dad. I'm going to stay here!"

Buffy hesitated, "I'll think about it."

Xander and Anya had been quietly arguing, but then Xander turned to the rest with a grin, although Anya looked nervous, "We're staying."

"I'm only staying because of Xander." Anya sighed.

"Thank you, Anya," Buffy smiled at her.

As Anya smiled slightly back at Buffy, Xander looked questioningly at Spike. "What?" asked Spike, "You don't have to ask me. I'm bloody well staying! I'm the Big Bad, after all."

Dawn giggled at that, while Buffy gave him a quick kiss. Xander seemed rather disgusted by it, so Buffy turned quickly to him, although she spoke to all of them, "Xander, as you can see, Spike and I...we're together. Right now I don't have the time to explain it or bicker about it. I'm a grown up and I'll do what I want. And, Xander, you have no right to act like that. No one said anything when you had affairs with that mummy girl, the reptile teacher, Faith...should I go on?"

Xander swallowed hard and blushed; Anya stared at him, looking quite upset. Willow tried to break the tension, "What will you need us to do?"

"Um, first, you can look on the net for any information about Angelus. Spike can help you with getting information from local demons. Tara, I need to you put protecting spells on our houses...and Spike's crypt."

Spike looked surprised at that, but then smirked at her as she continued, "Xander, I need you to find the three nerds and get them here. I don't care how you get them here, just do it. Dawn...do you have any homework to do?"

"Nope. Can I help Willow?"

Buffy sighed, "Ok, but not too much."

"Thanks" she grinned, jumping up and hugging Buffy. Xander turned to leave, but Buffy waved him toward the back of the store, and he followed, curious. "Look Buff," he said as they got out of the other's hearing, "if this is Spike…"

Buffy raised a hand to stop him, "It is about Spike, but probably not what you're thinking. I'm a grown up, and you don't have a right to interfere in my life."

"Really? This is how it works then? I thought that after all we've been through...let me tell you something we are family! You saw what my parents are like! You've barely ever seen Willow's parents, just like your father. Anya's parents are long dead and same with Spike. We're all family. Even if you don't think so, we are."

Tears began to slid down her cheeks, "I do think of them as family, Xander and…I'm sorry if I hurt you. I didn't mean to. However, even a family needs to understand that I can love, like, or just be with someone that they will may not approve of, but I still need support. What I actually wanted to say is this Angelus may kill me. I know that. And if he does, Dawn will be left all alone. I know she can trust you, Spike, and everyone else, even Anya. But if you keep pushing Spike away, you'll push her as well! And I...I can't fight if I know that Dawn will be alone!"

"Come here" Xander whispered, pulling her to him as she sobbed, "Don't worry, Buff! I mean, I don't think Spike will ever be my best friend, but I won't push him away. I promise."

"Thanks" she sniffed. "Now go get me those nerds!"

"Yes, mother." he said sarcastically, as she giggled and headed inside.

"Spike…" Buffy called as she entered the store, and he seemed to fly to her side.

"Is everything ok, pet?" he asked, worried.

"Yeah. I'm gonna go patrolling. I'll be careful, but I don't think Angelus is here yet."

"Right...but still watch out for yourself, luv." He gave her a deep kiss, before returning to helping Willow.

Buffy patrolled for almost an hour, but it seemed quiet. Caught up in her thoughts, she didn't notice the dark form stalking her.

When Angelus saw her dancing with Spike at the Bronze, he became furious and decided to forget waiting and to forget planning. He was going to take what was his, and he was going to punish her!

Buffy breathed deeply, enjoying the night air. Everything seemed to be turning out perfectly. The gang had accepted Spike, they were going to stay and help her, and Angelus didn't seem as threatening as before. She began to dare to hope that she'd make it through this and enjoy life with Spike and Dawn. Deciding she'd patrolled enough for the night, she turned to head for the Magic Box. Suddenly, someone grabbed her. "No!" she gasped.

"You can scream" A silky voice greeted her.

To be continue…