Chapter 8: Moving on.

Title: Reunion time.

Author: Nikka

Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that English is not my native tongue so you may find some spelling & grammar mistakes, you're more then welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.

Disclaimer: Angel & Buffy's characters are not my creation (wish they were) they belong to Joss Wehdon and David Greenwalt. Other characters that are not familiar from the show do belong to me.

They walked the street; the moon shining above them. They didn't say anything, just walked together, each in his own thoughts.

"So..." Buffy stopped she didn't know what else to say.

"So...are you ok with all of this?" Angel knew she had learned a lot of new things in barely two days. He was worried about her; she didn't seem to be affected by anything.

"I'm ok, a bit confused, but ok" she replied calmly.

"Shouldn't you be scared...or...or sad? Heck, even angry would work!"

She looked at him. He didn't understand how she could care so little about life--her life in particular.

"Angel...you've been gone for so long...God, sometimes it seems like a lifetime has passed. Things have changed."

"I accept things changing, Buffy. I can even accept you changing...but not like this."

"Like what, Angel? Go on, say it." She urged him.

"Like a zombie. You walk, talk, and eat. You sleep and breath, but you're not really here; you're detached from life. How can it be, Buffy? Now, most of all, you should embrace life, not shut it out!"

"I'm not shutting it out...it's just hard getting used to life after being in a coffin for 3 months." she explained.

"I can't imagine how you felt...I only spent a couple of hours in a coffin, but, from what I understand, you were rescued by your friends--brought back to life. That has to mean something, something huge."

She looked sad; he didn't understand...how could he? She'd never told him where she really had been...how happy she had been. Strangely enough, the only person she could tell was Spike.

"Buffy?" Angel called when she didn't say anything.

"I'm here." she said quietly.

"Are you really?" Angel asked. This was her chance to tell him.

"Yes, really. You're worrying about nothing. We should go back." She didn't take the chance; she wasn't ready to tell him, not yet.

"Hi, we're back." Buffy called out as she entered the Magic Box.

"Hi!" Cordy greeted them. "Did you have a nice walk?" she asked Angel as she was changing Connor.

"Yeah, it was nice stretching my legs after being cooped up here all day."

Cordy smiled at him; she knew how he felt. She missed home also.

"Wish you could have come." he murmured to her.

"I know, but you really wanted to go and Conor needed feeding. Maybe next time." she smiled at him. Her smile seemed to melt his unbeaten heart.

"So, found anything new?" Buffy asked Willow.

"Nothing much. We did some more research based on the information Spike gave us, and we found the Brolug's picture in this book" Willow replied.

"Yes, but we couldn't find any picture or direct reference to the magistrate himself. It's like he doesn't exist." Wesley said sounding extremely frustrated.

"What do you mean doesn't exist? Didn't you find him earlier in the book of Helius?" Buffy was confused.

"We thought we did, but the translation was wrong." Giles explained.

"Wrong how?" Angel asked as he lifted Connor up and into his arms.

"We thought under the picture of the Brolug the book said *the magistrate*, but what it actually said was *the one with the magistrate*." Wesley replied.

"Are you sure this time?" Buffy asked, a bit annoyed by the mistake, but mostly annoyed by the fact that Spike got involved.

"Yes we are. We checked with several sources and they all say the same thing." Tara said.

"So, what do we know about this guy so far?" Gunn asked.

"We know that he passes judgment, that his powers are incredible, and that there's no point in harming him." Giles said. He looked rather annoyed also. The magistrate was about to arrive and Giles knew nothing about him.

"Cause others will come, right?" Dawn's question cut off Giles's thoughts.

"That's correct." Giles answered, rubbing his nose.

"So, basically, we know nothing, right?" Buffy asked but no one answered. "Then I say enough". Everyone looked at Buffy. "Enough research, enough being here all day and night. I say we go home and when Cordelia has another vision, we'll deal." Buffy looked at everyone who seemed quite shocked to hear her say that.

"Buffy, you want to give up?"

"No, not give up, Dawn, but move on. We're getting nowhere and I'm sure I'm not the only one who had enough. Just cause he's coming doesn't mean I'm going die."

"I think Buffy's right". Cordy said suddenly.

"Cor, I don't think we should get involved; it's their business." Angel whispered to her.

"We were sent here for a purpose, so I think it is our business. And my opinion is: enough is so enough!" she replied.

It didn't take long for the others to agree with her and, a few minutes later, they were on their way home. However, Giles and Wesley did insist on taking a few books with them.

While Giles and Wesley went to Giles's place to continue the research, the others went to Buffy's house.

Dawn grabbed the phone and ordered pizza. They were all hungry; after all, it was evening, and they hadn't eaten since morning.

About an hour later, after they'd all eaten, they sat in the living room, exhausted. It was only eight o'clock and it was a Saturday night, but they felt like it was midnight.

Around that point, Tara and Willow excused themselves and went to bed. After a few minutes and more than a few innuendos from Anya, Xander and Anya departed, along with Fred and Gunn. Dawn had left right after the pizza arrived; she'd grabbed a slice and headed out the door, saying something about going to Janice's place. Lorne took Connor upstairs, supposedly to put him to bed. Actually, it was just an excuse to sleep for a while on a normal bed instead of a messed up one.

"So, what now?" Cordy asked.

"Now, I go to sleep. I don't care it's barely 9, I'm tired." Buffy said as she got up and started to pick up the empty boxes of pizza.

"Buffy, you go ahead, we'll clean up." Cordy said to her.

"Are you sure?" Buffy asked hoping they'd say yes because she was exhausted. Cordy and Angel nodded.

"Good night" she called over her shoulder to them as she headed upstairs.

"Good night Buffy".

"So, alone at last. Are you tired?"

"I'm a creature of the night, I'm never tired." Angel said with a smile.

"Feel like going out?" Cordy asked with a spark in her eyes. Angel grinned. He loved seeing her so excited about something.

"Come on, Angel." She pleaded. "We haven't gone out in ages".

"What are you talking about? I took you to the ballet just a few days ago".

"Please. Watching guys in tights jumping around is not my idea of fun. Besides, we didn't even see half the show".

"Ok, we'll go." Angel said, giving in.

"Yes!" Cordy exclaimed, "I'll go get dressed. You should, too, your shirt is covered with Connor's food."

A few minutes later, they were both dressed and ready to go.

"So, where to, Miss Cordelia Chase?" Angel asked, extending his arm to her.

"To the Bronze." She grabbed his hand and they walked out smiling.

"I told you it was love."

Buffy jumped. She had been sitting on the window ledge, looking out into the blackness.

"Spike, what are you doing in my room?" Buffy asked tiredly.

"I think the two love birds forgot to lock the door on their way out."

"Look, if this is your pathetic attempt to make me angry, it's not going to work. I'm too tired to care." Buffy got into bed and tried to relax.

"No, luv, you don't care anytime." Spike sat on the edge of the bed.

"Spike, get out. I'm tired and I don't have time for your games."

"You say you don't care, but I wasn't the one staring out the window a few moments ago watching them leave."

Buffy sat up. "What do you want, Spike? Do you want to make me feel bad or is it just one of your sick games?" Buffy had had enough of Spike's remarks.

"I only want you to see the truth, pet." Spike raised his arm and touched her hair. She pushed his hand off.

"I'm not your pet and I know the truth. The truth is you still think I could ever love you; you still believe that something can happen between us. In your sick, perverted mind, you really believe that if I see Angel and Cordelia together, I would want you!" She stopped and smiled bitingly. "I would never want you. I'd rather spend the rest of my life alone then to spend a single night with you." She stopped and stared accusingly at him.

He got up and backed away to the door, a shocked look on his face, his eyes sad.

"I know you didn't mean all those things you said, but you know what, Buffy?" he stopped for a moment and looked at her. "I don't care. You're a cold bitch who thinks the world owes her something. So you were in heaven and got kicked out, big deal. There are worse things in this world. Despite what you may think of me, you know I love Dawn and you know I took care of her when you were gone. I deserve at least some respect for that!" He turned and walked out the door.

She sat there, not believing what she just said to him. How could she? Yeah, he was Spike, but he had looked after Dawn, and she knew that he really did love her. If she could cry, she would have, but there were no more tears left. She turned off the light and lay down, trying to sleep.

"Love hurts. I told you that over a hundred years ago, and it still seems relevant doesn't it, William?"

"What do you want? I answered your bloody questions, now let me be!" Spike said to the man.

"Come now, that's no way to talk to an old friend."

"You're not my friend, Magistrate".

"I just came to say 'thank you and see you soon'. I don't have to tell you not to say a word about our little...encounter, the recent one, I mean."

"I won't." Spike replied coldly.

"Oh, and, William," Spike turned to the magistrate. "Staring at her window all night won't change her heart, nothing will. Not now".

"Why?" Spike asked, almost pleadingly.

"She's in too much pain at the moment, too much denial. Give her time. Good-bye, William. See you soon".

TBC

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