Angel glared at Methos who ignored him. Everyone else arrived and Dawn bent down beside Methos to check out her sister for herself.
"Are you ok Buffy?" Dawn asked and helped Buffy sit up. "Peachy, I think." Buffy said, closing her eyes as she felt her palms start to sting. Methos and Angel were still glaring at each other. Duncan and Giles felt the tension and bundled everyone back the their respective cars before the police got curious about the explosions at the abandoned Naval Base.
Buffy's 'amazing flying girl' routine had only netted her scraped palms and a singeing, and Riley had a broken wrist. They were all very lucky Giles scolded and the girls ignored him and slept on the way home.
The girls were dropped off at their respective homes, with Duncan speaking with the parents each time. The adults met at the dojo and talked quietly.
Angel looked at Buffy who was looking at the ground. He leaned towards her, "Hey, can we talk?" Buffy raised her eyes to his unhappily, "Do we have to?" Angel nodded and she sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Let me show them around the dojo then we can talk." She turned, "Hey Dawnie, guys, come in here and see my home away from home!"
Everyone walked in and Buffy gave them the grand tour, then Angel dragged her off to a corner of the training room. Methos turned and walked into Duncan's office with Willow, Richie and Giles, while Dawn and Xander decided to sit out on the front steps.
Angel paced, "It's been months Buffy. Are you ready to come home yet?", there was frustration in his voice. Buffy hung her head, weary to the bone and in no mood to dig through this emotional shit.
"Angel, I'm not ready." She didn't meet his eyes and he stopped pacing to look at her in growing shock. "You love him!"
Buffy shook her head, a little panicked. "I don't know yet."
"I can't believe that you love him!" Angel roared and Buffy winced.
Methos had been sitting on the corner of Duncan's desk, kicking a leg idly, trying to look unconcerned but far from it. When he heard Angel yell at Buffy he jumped up and went to the door only to find Richie blocking it, "Move Richie." He growled and Richie looked over his shoulder to Duncan, who shrugged and nodded. Methos burst out in time to hear Buffy reply in frustration.
"Maybe I do love Adam. I am so not talking to you about what I feel about him." She shouted back, then groaned in embarrassment at the audience. Methos stopped in total shock, wild hope in his heart. Angel spun around and saw Methos.
"I've done some research on you 'Adam Pierson', or should I call you Methos.' Angel's voice slashed with scorn and Buffy looked up to see Methos' wince.
"What do you think you know Vampire?" Methos' voice was filled with cool disdain as if the conversation was beneath him. Angel stalked over to him and Willow went over to Buffy and put her arms around her shoulder. Buffy was grateful for the support.
"I know that you were once one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I know that you are responsible for thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of deaths. That you were the horseman Death and you lived up to your name." Angel spat this at Methos who stood rigidly, face set, eyes burning as he faced Angel's accusations.
Buffy stood slowly and both men looked at her as she stood there, pale and trembling. "Is it true Adam?" she asked and saw by the pain in his eyes that it was.
"How can you even love him?" Angel protested and Buffy turned to face her first love, sorrow deep in her eyes.
"Angelus. Scourge of Europe. Killed his family when he became a new vampire. Was responsible for driving a woman insane then siring her as a vampire. How many people did Druscilla kill, Angel? You were responsible for siring hundreds, perhaps thousand of vampires and responsible for how many deaths? Remember Ms. Calendar?" She shot back quietly and Angel winced as the shot hit its mark.
"I forgave you for all of that because I loved you. Could I do any less for Methos?" She turned away to Willow, then looked back at both men.
"You asked me if I was ready to go home. Someone I love said something wise that I didn't realize was true until this moment." Her eyes met Methos' eyes then settled on Angel. "I have made a life here. I've already made my decision." She turned to Willow and sagged and Willow leapt up and caught her. Methos stepped forward, and Willow shook her head no. Giles and Duncan herded Methos, Angel and a 'very sorry to have stayed' Richie out the door, the men wincing as they heard Buffy start to sob heartbrokenly in Willows' arms.
Angel walked to the car and shook his head. It was over. He realized that he had probably lost her when he had listened to Joyce, then had made the decision to walk away on graduation day. He didn't realize that he had held the world in his fingers that day. What a fool he had been, and his shoulders slumped in defeat.
Duncan clapped Methos on the shoulder as he fought going back into the dojo and confess every insecurity and wrongdoing to the woman he loved. He had come so close to screwing this up and he vowed he would get it right.
Giles said something quietly to Xander and Dawn, then walked to Duncan. "I think I'm going to take Angel home." He said simply and Duncan nodded. "I canna disagree. Willow and Dawn are staying?"
"Yes, and Xander too. It was nice working with you Mr. McLeod." The men shook hands and Giles walked over to Methos. "Buffy is like my daughter. I know how difficult that she can be. Good Luck Adam." He held out his hand and Methos shook it.
"Thank you Giles, I'll certainly need it." Methos' eyes met Angel's, and Angel looked away and got into the car. Giles got into the drivers side and pulled away, heading to the airport. Duncan watched in silence, then looked over to Dawn who met his eyes and nodded. Dawn took Xander into the dojo to look for Buffy.
Methos was watching the stars, when the door opened and Xander came out with Buffy in his arms, Willow and Dawn following. Methos moved quickly over to check on her and saw the tracks of tears on her sleeping face. 'Oh Buffy'.
Duncan came over as well, "I'll take her to my place. Willow, will ya be coming as well?" Willow nodded and Xander gently gave her to Duncan who walked with her to his car.
Xander and Dawn drove to their B&B and Methos stood in the moonlight outside the dojo. Trying to adjust to his world totally shifting, he shook his head and got into his Jag and drove away.
