Falling

Eleanor just stared at him, then shaking her head, as if to try and get all thoughts out of her brain she moved towards the door,

'Sorry, I need a cigarette.' As she closed the door behind her, Gunn stood silently in shock for a few minutes and then rounded on Angel,

'So this is why you've all been tip toeing around me the past week. You knew she was coming and didn't have the guts to tell me yourself. Well, you're a pack of cowards, the lot of you. Shit. Shit shit shit shit.' He breathed in, fully comprehending the situation. It really was shit he decided.

'Look Gunn, I think that its good that you get to see her again. Maybe you can explain and she'll understand…'

'Angel, you don't know her like I do. I betrayed her… it's a simple as that for her. I fucked her up just as everyone else she ever cared about did. She won't allow herself to forgive me.'

'Well then, maybe you just need to talk to her for your own peace of mind. Come on, don't tell me that you haven't had that conversation in your head every day since she left.' This last comment just earned Angel a glare. 'Right, I'm guessing you do then.'

Gunn couldn't really get a grip of what had just happened. He had never expected to see her again. He hadn't even tried to find her, to get into contact with her. He felt that he deserved every second away from her, although it killed him.

'Fine, if it means that we can just get on with things then I'll go and talk to her. How long has she been here by the way?'

'About an hour as far as I can tell.'

'God, poor thing, really thrown in the deep end huh?'

Angel just smiled wryly and motioned Gunn towards the door, 'Okay, okay hint taken… witness me moving outside now.' He opened the door, hesitated slightly and slid outside.

She was sitting on the porch steps dragging slowly on her cigarette,

'They'll kill you, you know?' he stuttered, trying to sound light hearted,

'I know.'

He began to seriously regret coming outside. He had no idea what he was going to say to her and just being in her presence was messing with his mind more than he could have thought possible. Somehow he thought she would have changed into a bitter, hard woman but... although an edge of cynicism was still there, he could see the girl he fell in love with was still there, sitting right in front of him. He sat down beside her,

'Well Williams, it looks like we've got ourselves a bit of a situation.'

'What? In that we are actually existing in the same reality?'

'Yeah kind of.'

'Well, I guess we just have to deal with it.'

'Hmmm, yeah I guess we do. But could we just have a bit of a talk and try to clear things up a little.' She exhaled briefly, her black mirth was obvious on her face,

'A bit of a talk would never be enough Gunn and you know that. Clearing things up? Nice euphemism. Things as you have termed it, is a bit complicated, don't you think?'

'Okay, well can't I just apologise then?'

'There aren't enough apologies in the world, but you can if you want to.'

'Sorry.'

'Feel better?'

'A little maybe.'

'Well, glad it worked for you.' Tossing her cigarette aside, she left him on the porch with his head in his hands.

'Okay girls, we have a new face around. This is Eleanor, and she is not another Potential. She is, in fact another Slayer, although maybe a little out of practice. There's no point in me going through who everyone is right now cos there are far too many of you, but just introduce yourselves to her and let her know of anything that's going on. Now, since we appear to be having some problems with a pesky priest I reckon that we should spend the next couple of days planning an assault. So, please can you all get with the training and try as hard as you possibly can. Okay, that's all.'

Buffy took seven of the girls downstairs to start some training. Eleanor was still feeling rather bewildered, having only been in the house for 6 hours, plus jet lag was beginning to set in.

She had met what Spike had termed 'the scooby gang' and she had to admit that she thought they were all pretty great. She had been strategically avoiding any of Angel's gang but as she headed towards the stairs to try and get a couple of hours of shut eye, she heard a familiar voice,

'El? El! Wow, its so great to see you, my god, where have you been?!'

'Hey Cordy,' she mumbled, 'Fred,' she acknowledged as she noticed the quiet scientist hovering behind Cordelia. 'How are you guys?'

'Oh we're fine, just fine… searing visions, bloodlust, death, destruction, apocalypse… usual day at the office really.'

'Glad to hear it.' There was a pause as Eleanor looked sadly at the girl who had once been her best friend. She really couldn't think of anything to say, any way to explain her sudden departure. Well, she thought, the truth is always an option… but only as a

last resort.

'He missed you' blurted out Fred suddenly, seemingly surprised by her own outburst, 'He still does' she added.

Eleanor just nodded, tears beginning to prick the back of her eyes,

'Uh, guys, I would love to catch up now but I'm beat, so I'm going to get forty winks,' she tried to keep the tremble out of her voice, but no one was being fooled. She gave them a watery smile and rushed up to her mattress, burying her tears in her unused pillow.

TBC

Yeah I know… not much point to this chapter but I promise I'll try and get the plot moving quickly. Oh and just so you all know – the situ with the First is exactly the same and yes most of it will play out similarly to Season 7 but there will be a few changes… not least cos the Fang Gang are in Sunnydale.

PLEASE REVIEW!