Rating: PG (if you can watch the show, then you can read this)

Summary: Takes place a five months after Darla stakes herself (again).

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters… It all belongs to Joss Whedon and co.

A/N: Ah! Too much revising!

Chapter 10- Riley

Buffy watched as crowds of people ran screaming from the night club.

"I wonder what got them." Buffy mused as yet another person bumped into her.

"Sorry, excuse me. FBI! Sorry! 'Scuse me ma'am."

Buffy looked behind her as ten black clad men clambered of a large black car.

"I'm sorry, we have to evacuate the area."

A tap on her shoulder made Buffy turn around again.

"Buffy?"

Buffy looked at the large man.

"Riley." Buffy was lost for words. "H-hi. What are you… doing here?"

"Oh, some demon." Riley moved aside as his colleges rushed inside.

"So… the whole FBI thing's just a cover-up?"

"Yeah."

They stood together awkwardly.

"I'd better go check out this demon."

"Yeah. Do you need a hand?"

"Um… OK."

Buffy followed Riley into the now empty club.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Darla looked around her room. This place is a dump, she thought. Still, it was the only one she could find on the other side of town at short notice. Even if it did smell like vermin and decay.

She sat down on a lumpy armchair. She really shouldn't let him do this to her. He is nothing. But then why did she want to go back? Did she really lo-.

The door slammed open.

"I thought you'd be here." Faith strode in.

"How did you find me?"

"Asked around." Faith shrugged.

Darla shook her head. "I just want to get away."

"From what?"

"This is stupid." Darla stood up. "I'm talking to a slayer. Who isn't trying to kill me."

"Aw come on." Faith rolled her eyes. "Isn't it a good thing I'm not trying to kill you?"

Darla took a deep breath.

"So are you gonna tell me what's bugging you or what?"

"It's Angel and you know that."

"Is that it?" Faith looked at her quizzically. "Or is there more? What are you scared of?"

"I'm not scared of anything." Darla snapped.

"Yeah? Then why did you leave?"

"Because I… because…"

"Yeah?"

"I'm scared of letting myself love him again."

"Oh." Faith sat down on an empty chair. Darla sat back down in the armchair.

"Last time… I thought it would be forever." Darla ran her hand through her hair. "For a hundred and fifty years, he was my mate, my lover, my guardian… my Angel. We were inseparable. But when he got his soul… I couldn't bear to look at him. My darling boy. Now he wasn't even half the demon he used to be. Sometimes, I hate myself for bringing him that gypsy girl. Other times, I hate him. For what he made me go through. I hate him for making me think of him when I was alone. I hate him, for making me miss him. Vampires aren't supposed to have those kinds of feelings for each other. But Angelus and I, we shared something no other vampire would ever share."

Faith looked stunned. "Wow. You really should have told him. Not me."

Darla shook her head. "I can't. I…"

"Why not?"

"Stuff him." Darla stood up abruptly. "I'm going hunting."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy wiped her hands on her jeans as she watched the demon being taken away.

"Thanks." Riley walked up behind her. "For helping with the demon."

"No probs. I mean… that's what I do right?"

Riley smiled. "So… do you want to go out for coffee sometime? I mean to catch up."

"Sure that would be really nice."

"When are you free?"

"I can do… tomorrow. No wait. I'm busy. How about the day after?"

"That's good enough for me."

"Great. Where should I meet you?"

"Um… Meet me in the park. Then we'll walk over."

"Right. Let's say uh… 3?"

"Yeah." Buffy grinned. "3 it is."

"Well… bye." Riley looked back at her as he made his way towards the waiting car.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Woah. What do you mean you're going hunting?" Faith followed Darla to the door.

"I'm going to find myself some proper food. Pigs blood, honestly. I don't know what I was thinking."

"I thought you were giving up this whole killing thing."

"I was. But I've changed my mind."

"I can't let you do that." Faith moved to stand in front of the door.

Darla laughed and grabbed Faith's neck.

"You know? You're the only damn person that's showed any respect towards me and I don't want to hurt you… not much anyway. But you are not going to stand in the way of me and my food. Got it?"

Faith squeezed her eyes closed as Darla tightened her grip on her neck.

Darla smirked and threw Faith across the room.

When Faith looked up again, Darla was gone.

"Shit."

To Be Continued…

A/N: Riley? What the? OK, exams coming up. Won't be writing much for the next week.