Buffy heard the woman come over the intercom announcing that flight 118 to Los Angeles was about to board. She grabbed her bag and headed to the boarding ramp. Her cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey Buff. What's goin on?"
"Oh, hey Wilson. I'm about to board."
"So, what'd you find out from that Jonathan guy?"
"Well, whoever he thinks I was, am, seems very, interesting, but, mysterious. She was always saving people and she got into trouble a lot. It's just so weird. I mean there's someone out there with my face and my name. Or, is it me, and I've had amnesia for my entire life. Reincarnation? I'm thinking some crazy thoughts here Wilson. I just don't know what to believe."
"Buffy, just calm down. He could be confused, or maybe you know, that twin thing is still a possibility. Wow, think about it, two of you. That'd be neat."
"Focus Wilson. That's not even a possibility. I guess I'll just have to research it some more when I get back from LA. The planes boarding and I have to get off the phone. I'll see you when I get back. Bye."
"Bye."
Buffy handed the flight attendant her plane ticket and found her seat on the plane. She sighed as she looked out the window, wondering what she would find at the end of her journey. As Jonathan told her all about their days at Sunnydale High, and how she had saved the whole class from something called, the Ascenssion, she slowly began to remember these odd things that weren't part of her past at all. *Why do I have two sets of memories?* It just didn't make sense. She looked to her left at the man seating himself next to her. He was tall, pale and unnaturally thin. He didn't look threatening in any way, but Buffy felt a tingle go up her spine. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but she shook it off and decided to take some of the sleeping pills her doctor had given her for the trip. She never had liked plane trips.
*********************
After checking into her hotel and going out shopping and for a bite to eat, she decided to go for a walk. She didn't know how long she walked, but she realiezed that it was dark. *I guess I better get back. Ugh. I do not want to go meet that guy tomorrow.* She got the feeling that she had gotten on the plane again. *What is that?* She turned slightly and saw a strange looking man following her. She began to walk faster and she heard him speed up behind her. Suddenly she felt a hand grab her and she was on the ground. She was thrown up against a wall and was given enough time to regain her footing. The man grabbed her neck and then, suddenly, he was gone. She heard a scuffle going on beside her and looked over to see another figure fighting with the man who had tried to hurt her. She decided now would be the opportune time to run.
**********
Angel made short work of the vampire and returned to the hotel. The gang was eatting Chinese food and everyone seemed to be interested in something different.
"Angel. How was patrol?"
"Usual. Willow, can I talk to you?"
"Yeah. Sure."
She followed him into his room and shut the door behind them
"Whats up? New evil in town?"
"Can a person come back, umm, from the dead?"
"Angel, what are you talking about?"
"Nothing. Nevermind. It was stupid to ask. I'll talk to you in the morning."
"Angel..."
"I'll see you in the morning."
Willow turned and walked out of the room. *Why didn't I tell her what I wanted to say? I think I just saved Buffy.*
***********
Buffy couldn't remember a time in her life when she had been as scared as she was tonight. She took a shower and got into bed. Just as she dozed off the dreams began.
*She was walking through a meadow of green, green grass and wild flowers. She had always loved wild flowers. The sun was rising high in the sky and when she looked over, she saw him. Standing against the sun, the most beautiful man she had ever seen.
"Hello."
" I thought I'd never see you again."
"Again? We've met before?"
"Many times. But this, this is different. Its new."
"What's happening? I'm having these strange memories. I don't know what they mean. Can you help me, tell me what they mean."
"I have to go. Our time is up. We will meet again beloved"
She felt tears come to her eyes as he faded away. Tears for a man who she had never met, but some how loved. She lay down in the grass and let the memories flood her mind. Vampires, demons, apocalypses, love, passion, hate, fire, swords, stakes, lovers, enemies, friends, family, death, destruction, and the one person that her memories centered around, that man. The man she felt she had loved since she took her first breath, and would love until she took her last.
Buffy jerked awake.She burst into tears and lay in bed, crying the rest of the night about lovers, family, friends, unknown, but not forgotten.
**************
Angel suddenly woke up. Buffy had been in his dreams before, but always they were in the same place. The old Sunnydale mansion; this time it was different. A field of wild flowers, the sun; it was pleasant, instead of the usual gloom that hung in them. He could feel her, taste her, and smell her, without even getting near her. He could feel her love, and her confusion. The only thing he didn't understand is why she didn't know him. That was the question in his mind that kept him awake for the rest of the night.
*************
She regretted her little crying jag the next morning. Her eyes were puffy and red and she looked like hell. *I hope this place has a gym. I have major stress overload.* She was startled when the phone rang.
"Hello, this is Buffy."
"Hey, its Nick. Listen, I know that you're suppose to meet Mark today, but he called and said that he had a family emergency and can't meet with us until next month, so I guess you're off the hook."
"That's good. I had a bad experience last night and I wasn't looking forward to going anywhere today."
"What happened?"
"I got attacked. This guy came up behind me and threw me in an ally. Another guy came along and when they started fighting I ran away. Scared me to death, but hey, I'll live."
"Oh, Buffy, are you sure you're all right? Maybe you should report it to the police."
"Nick, this is LA, much like NY, the police have more serious things like murders and mass rioting to worry about. I'm fine, no harm done. Really, but I gotta go. I'm thinking I'm still gonna go to that restaurant and grab a bite to eat. I'll talk to you later on in the week. Bye."
"Bye. And please be careful."
She hung up the phone and grabbed her purse and room key and headed out.
*************
"Will this be all madame?"
"Yes."
Buffy handed the cashier her credit card. She had decided to visit some of the boutiques and had found a business suite that looked great on her.
"Thank you. Please come again."
She walked out of the boutique and saw a frozen yogurt shop and decided that a cone would be nice. She walked along the pier and thought about everything that was happening. The dreams, the memories, everything she thought she knew in life, now seemed to be becoming a blur. She stood on Santa Monica Pier watching the bladers, and bikers, children playing with their families, dogs running. Suddenly she got a flash. The man, from her dream, him and her, on this pier, kissing. His mouth on hers was like white, hot fire. She could feel his love for her and for some reason, she was ecstatic. Had they been apart for a long time? Why was it so wonderful to see this man? Why did she feel like it was the happiest day of her life? And then she realized why. This man held a piece of her soul. The man she had always compared everyone to. The man with the dark pools for eyes and the man who could look at her and see her soul. The man who could say a million words with one look. Then, suddenly, she snapped out of it. She sat down on a nearby bench and let her tears escape down her cheeks. She was so confused, she was begging, pleading with the gods to give her some clue as to what was happening to her.
**************
Buffy decided that the best thing to do to keep her mind off of things was to just go on like nothing was happening. She was determined to enjoy her vacation, but she also promised herself that she would look further into her 'situation' when she got back to New York. She went shopping at a street market and was looking at some paintings when she saw her. A young girl, about 16 or 17, long brown hair, baby blue eyes, she noticed that she looked like herself. Buffy had another memory flash. She was sitting on the floor with this girl, only the girl was much younger, there was blood and Buffy clasped the young girl's hand in her own *It's Summer's blood* She came back to reality and decided to follow the girl. Maybe she could lead her to some answers. *So much for that enjoying my vacation idea.* The girl stopped at a couple of shops, but only for a minute. She headed down Bodville Ave and then straight towards a huge building. It looked like it was, or had once been a hotel. She waited for the girl to go inside and then went up to one of the windows. She saw a red headed girl sitting on the floor and a blonde was playing with her hair. Two men in their late thirties, early fourties sat at a table in what looked to be the lobby going over books and seemed to be arguing. The girl she had followed sat watching the television and a couple sat making out in a recliner. She saw another man and woman arguing in another corner of the room. She felt drawn to them all. She started having flashes. Her and the redhead, walking along a bricked path, talking, a very big building in the background *You know I don't think you're getting the whole poop-head concept* The boy with the brown hair, in a big, marshmallowing looking suite, her punching him and yelling about something
*"Ow"
"Sorry Xander. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm just frustrated. Here, come sit down."
"Easier said than done."*
She saw herself standing above one of the men at the table. He was hurt, badly, and there was blood. She was crying. *I am so proud of you and what you've become.*
All of the visions flew at her at once. She saw herself fighting along side them. Crying with them, hurting them, forgiving them, most of all, loving them. Suddenly she felt herself slip into the darkness. She fell to the ground on the front steps of the building, unconscious.
****************
"Did anyone hear that?"
"Hear what?"
Angel had just come downstairs and he heard a thump against the door.
"It sounds like there's someone at the door."
Giles got up from the table.
"I'll go check."
He opened the door and a sound escaped his throat. Willow, Xander, and Dawn ran over to Giles's side. Giles ran outside and picked up the girl lying on the front steps. Angel got the same feeling he had gotten two nights before when he had saved a girl from the vampire. He knew even before he saw her who she was. Giles brought her inside and laid her on the couch. Everyone hovered around her. Angel walked over and looked at the sleeping beauty.
*It's Buffy.*
