CHAPTER 10

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, although I wish I did because I'd find a way to put Angel and Buffy back together; where they belong. You will also notice that I've snagged some lines from a few episodes on either Buffy or Angel.

Summary: What if the Oracles had in fact restored Angel to his vampire state instead of taking back the day (In "I Will Remember You" on Angel) so that a prophesized miracle could occur?

Historical Note: This trilogy takes place between the fourth and fifth season of Buffy, and between the first and second season of Angel. You may also notice some of the later elements are from later seasons of either show.

Author's note: this trilogy will go back and fourth between Sunnydale and L.A. More so in this first series. The second there isn't much crossover's going on, there may be a few though. I really tried to keep to both shows storylines as much as possible. Some events (The Glory bit in season 5 on Buffy for example) will be either pushed back or taken out in general. These events may have been important on the shows, but not in this story.

And Just to let everyone know so that there is no confusion, Darla was never resurrected in season 1 finale of Angel. So none of that Darla stuff ever happened. Yep, instead of Darla giving birth to Connor, Buffy will. As far as I can tell so far, the 'Connor' story line will remain the same. I'm still debating about the Cordy/Connor thing tho. Who else was going 'eww!' when that scene with Cordy and Connor in 'Apocalypse, Nowish' aired??!

In Sunnydale...

"Alright, so here's the plan. We go straight to my house; see if my mother's alright, then check in with Giles and the gang." Buffy said as they entered Sunnydale.

"Buffy it's ok, your mom's fine," Angel assured her as he headed for Revello Drive.

"Mom are you home?" Buffy asked curiously as she entered her house. "Mom?" she called out again. Then all of a sudden, Joyce came down the stairs.

"Buffy? What a surprise. What are you doing here? And where's Connor?" she asked sounding concerned. Angel walked over towards the living room.

"We left Connor with the guys back in L.A." Buffy explained. "You alright?" she asked.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Joey asked curiously.

"You do know about Faith being out and on the loose, right?" Buffy asked checking.

"Yeah, but why should I be worried?" Joey asked.

"Mom, don't you remember. I put her in that coma. She's going to be out searching for some way to pay me back for it," Buffy explained. "She's going to be coming after you,"

"Buffy, why would she come after me?" Joyce asked.

"Cause she's crazy. I don't know. Look let's just get you over to Giles' house where you'll be safe, with Connor. He misses his grandma," she said as she walked towards her mother and softly grabbed her arm.

"Well, well, well, It's been a while hasn't it, B?" A familiar voice said from the front door. Buffy quickly spun around. It took her a second to realize who it was as Faith stepped out of the darkness.

"Faith," she said sounding surprised.

"Don't sound so surprised B. I knew Giles would call you and tell you that I got out," she told her as she took a step forward; then looked at Angel. "Although I must say. I thought you two would be over by now, but no. Here you are living the life you've always wanted. Your still with your man," she continued as she looked back towards Buffy. "And come to find out, you've even got a baby now, congratulation," Faith said bitterly.

"Thanks," Angel said speaking up as he slowly walked over towards Buffy and her mother.

"And look who's stepped into the big daddy shoes now. I never pictured you the type to settle down. I always figured you to be a bad ass your whole life. Chicks dig that you know," she told him.

"Look Faith. I've got a lot to do. Can we please just get this over with?" Buffy asked getting annoyed.

"Chill out B. I'm not hittin' on your guy. I'm only teasin'," she explained.

"Can we just get to me kicking your ass so I can get home," Buffy asked again. "It's late, and I'm tired," she added.

"Wait. You think I came here to fight you? Why would I do that B?" Faith asked sarcastically. "Oh wait. You put me in a coma cause your boy here needed the blood of a Slayer to survive. How'd that work out?" she asked coldly. Angel looked at Buffy then his gaze fell to the scar on her neck where he had bit her. He knew that she would always bare that scare on her neck from him. Angel felt angry at himself for doing that to her, even though she forced him to.

"Wait. Don't tell me. You drank your honey's blood to save your own ass. How convenient," Faith guessed looking at Angel. Buffy had heard enough. She walked over to Faith.

"Come on, B. Hit me, just once," She egged her on. Buffy gave Faith what she was begging for and punched her in the jaw, causing her to stumble back further out the door.

"There's my girl," Faith said as she touched her split lip with her finger. "You know. I'd love to stay, but I've got a few things to do before I kick your ass," Faith explained.

"See you later," Faith said looking at Angel before she turned around and ran off. Buffy moved to run after her, but Angel stopped her.

"We still have to bring your mom to Giles' house. We'll catch her later on, I promise," he told her. She nodded.

"You're right. Come on mom. Let's go," she told her mother as they all headed to the car.

* * *

Later that night, Buffy decided to patrol down town for Faith, and to pick up the slack. She told Angel that she could handle it, but he insisted on going.

They walked down the empty streets hand in hand as they kept their eyes out for Faith or any vampires that were out.

"Do you remember that time you went out patrolling with me when the Gorch brothers were in town? We were supposed to be looking out for them, but we spent most of the night kissing?" she asked him remembering that night. It was a few days before her seventeenth birthday she remembered. Before they...

"Yeah, I do," Angel said as he smiled at her. Then a vampire jumped out from the shadows in front of them. Buffy instantly kicked it.

"Wow. Wait just a bloody minute. Do you always go around and kick people?" Spike asked. Buffy raised a brow.

"People?" she asked. Spike sighed.

"You know what I mean." Angel could sense something off about Spike, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. Spike wasn't acting like his self; he was less…aggressive.

"Spike, what are you up to?" Angel asked.

Spike looked at Angel. "Me? What makes you think I'm up to something?" Angel cocked his head.

"Comon Spike. I know you better than that; something's up; something your not telling us."

"I don't know what your-" Before he could finish his sentence, Angel punched him in the jaw. In return, Spike quickly punched him back. He then all of a sudden screamed in pain as he clutched his head.

"Nothing, huh?" Buffy asked.

"Bloody Hell, if you must know! Some military people caught me and placed this bloody chip in my head that causes 'extreme neurological pain' every time I try to hurt any living thing," Spike explained. Angel grinned.

"It sounds like you've been neutered," Angel pointed out smiling. "Well, at least you won't be able to hurt anyone," he noted.

"Yeah. It's bloody great," he said sarcastically before noticing Buffy was no longer pregnant.

"Hey, you're no longer knocked up," Spike noted. "Hey good for you. Where is the little bugger?" He asked looking around. Angel walked towards him.

"None of your business," Angel growled. Spike began to laugh.

"I see you haven't changed a bit. So how's the family life?" Spike asked.

"You know. Why am I letting you yak on?" Angel asked as he walked towards Spike.

"Now wait a second. You're going to hit me again are you now you know I can't hit either of you back. Now that's not playing fair," Spike told them. Angel shrugged his shoulders and turned to walk away. Spike sighed in relief just as Angel turned back around and punched him once more in the jaw.

"Bloody hell! What was that for?!" Spike asked.

Angel shrugged his shoulders again. "Just because."

"Look. We have things to do, and as much as it would satisfy me to kick your ass, I'm afraid I have more important things to do," she told him before she turned around.

"You wouldn't be looking for that wanker Slayer, are you?" he asked quickly. Buffy spun around in surprise.
"You've seen Faith?" Buffy asked quickly.

"I don't see why I should tell you. Your great pouf here punching me out," he said as he wiped the blood from the split lip Angel had given him. Buffy raised her fist. "Alright! Alright! I saw her a few minutes ago in the Bronze dancing with a group of guys," he told them. "Had quite the little fan club going." Buffy looked at Angel before turning around and walking away.

"Hey, wait a one bloody minute! She's crazy. What are you going to do? Tie her up and try to reason with her again?" he asked. Buffy stopped in her tracks.

"I thought I'd try a more physical approach," Buffy said as she and Angel began to run towards the Bronze.

* * *

When they finally arrived to the Bronze, they found nothing in the alleyways, so they decided they'd look inside. Faith was sure to be in there.

"Come on," Buffy said as she tugged at Angel's shirt, and walked inside. They began to search around for Faith, when Buffy felt a tap on her shoulder. She quickly spun around only to find Harmony standing there.

"Hey Buffy. I thought it was you," Harmony said as she smiled.

"Harmony. I thought you-"

"Died on Graduation day?" she finished. She shook her head. "I've been going through a lot of changes though," she told her. "It's been a while since anyone's seen you here. Hey, is it true you left Sunnydale 'cause you got pregnant? 'Cause you look great," she asked. Buffy looked at Angel, then back at Harmony.

"Yeah. I have a baby now. He's three months old," she told her.

"Congrats. Is tall, dark, and handsome here the father?" Harmony asked referring to Angel. Buffy looked at him and smiled.

"Yeah," she confirmed happily. "Angel, this is Harmony. Harmony, this is Angel," She said introducing them.

"Oh yeah. I remember you from Graduation day!" Harmony said remembering. Buffy then saw Faith dancing with a few guys.

"Angel. We gotta go," she said as she motioned over to Faith. Angel looked over and saw her.

"Sorry. We've gotta go," Buffy said as she and Angel began towards the crowd of men that had gathered around Faith. They decided to split up, and corner her so that no one would get hurt. Angel walked over towards Faith, as Buffy stayed further behind in case Faith decided to run.

All of a sudden, Faith noticed Angel walking towards her. She then decided to have a little fun with him. She knew that Angel was Buffy weak link.

"Hey there good lookin'" Faith said as she walked over to him; still dancing.

"Faith. You need help," he told her; ignoring her erotic movements she made towards him. She then moved closer to him and put her hand around his neck, and began brushing against him.

"Faith, I'm serious," he said as he grabbed her hand and pulled it off of him.

"So am I. Let's go somewhere quiet?" she suggested. Angel shook his head.

"I know what you're up to. You can't keep doing this," he told her as he grabbed her wrist.

"The hell I can't," she said as she tried to yank her hand away.

"You're only making yourself worse," he told her as she yanked her hand away.

"You want me. Come and get me big guy," she told him as she slowly made her way to the exit. Buffy ran over to him.

"What was that all about?" she asked. She had seen the whole thing.

"She's trying to lure us out. Let's just give her what she wants so that know one in here gets hurt while were trying to get her," he suggested.

"You're right," she said as they began for the door to follow Faith.

* * *

Outside, Faith was waiting for them with a grin on her face as she leaned against a brick wall.

"For a minute there I thought you two were never going to come after me. Thought you two went off to screw or something," Faith said.

"Faith, listen to me. You need help. You have a problem," Buffy began calmly.

"No. The only problem I have is you. You took eight months of my life away from me, B. While you got to live your life and screw your honey here," she said motioning to Angel, "and have his kid; I was lying in a hospital bed; in a coma!" Faith explained angrily as she walked over to them. "And in my book, that counts as a big reason for pay back, B," Faith continued.

"Well then what are you waiting for?" Buffy asked.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you," Faith told her as she smiled. "What's your boy here going to do without the love of his life?" Faith asked coldly. "Guess we'll find out, now won't we?"

"Buffy, look out!" Angel called out. Buffy quickly moved out of Faith's way. Faith quickly spun around.

"Nice job, B," she said before she kicked Buffy in the stomach. Buffy quickly recovered from the blow to her stomach and punched Faith.

"Thanks. While you were in the hospital, I was able to improve my fighting skills," she told her. The comment made Faith angry, and she then tried to punch Buffy, but missed.

"You bitch! I'm going to kill you slowly," Faith promised. Buffy spun around and kicked her in the side.

"Is it me, or do you talk more while fighting?" she asked as she blocked a punch from Faith.

"Is it me or has your boy gotten more sexier since the last time I saw him," Faith asked knowing she'd be able to push Buffy's buttons that way. She then whipped a long knife out as it began to rain. "I guess it's just been a while," she concluded. She looked at Buffy.

"Where do you want me to put it first?" she asked as the two Slayers began to circle one another.

"I'm pretty sure I don't want it anywhere. Although, it'd be kinda nice to see it in you," Buffy told her.

"I'm so gonna kill you!" Faith told her.

"Yeah. You've said that several times already. It's funny though; your not doing anything," she told her. Faith then came running after her. Buffy tried to dodge the knife, but she missed and Faith sliced her along the side of her stomach

"Buffy!" Angel said as he ran over to her. He noticed the large blood stain forming on the side of her stomach. He quickly put his hand on her wound to try to stop the bleeding as Faith stood and smiled watching them. "Buffy, are you alright?" he asked. Buffy quickly nodded.

"Never mind me. Get Faith," she told him. Angel looked up, and noticed Faith was running towards them. He quickly got up and ran towards her. She instinctively threw a punch at him, but he was able to block it as he side swept her feet. She went down, but instantly shot back up. She then had the knife out again. Angel quickly kicked it out of her hand, and Faith walked closer towards him.

"You don't know what evil is!" she told him as she threw him into a wall. She walked over to him, and pulled him up.

"I'm bad!" she said as she punched him. He then realized what she was trying to do, and stopped fighting back; instead just trying to block her blows.

"Come on, fight back!" she yelled at him as she continued to punch him. "I hate you!" she called out as she punched Angel in the chest. "Come on, kick my ass!" she hollered as she continued to fight him. "I'm bad! I'm bad! Kill me!" she told him.

"I know what you want," Angel began as Faith punched him in his jaw. He knew he had to make her stop, so he punched her back. "And I'm not going to do it," he told her as she got up and tried to take a swing at him. He continued to try to block her kicks and punches.

"I'm not going to make it easy on you," he told her.

"I'm evil! I'm evil!" she shrieked as she began to pound on his chest as she broke down. "You bastard, kill me!" she yelled at him. He grabbed her hands to stop her as she began to slow down. "I'm bad. Angel, just please do it!" she pleaded with him. Buffy watched from behind as Faith pleaded with Angel to end her life of suffering.

"Please, please Angel, just do it!" she pleaded as she grabbed his shirt. Angel grabbed her as she sunk down to the ground and cried.

"Shh," he told her as he held her. "It's alright. It's ok. I'm right here," he assured her as she wept in his arms. Faith continued to sob in his arms in the alleyway.

"Shh," he said as he let her cry. Buffy stood there with a hand on her gash as she watched Angel try once more to get through to Faith.