Title: Broken Pieces

Pairings: B/A, S/F, G/F, X/A, W/O, G/J

Summary: Buffy is a girl with a haunted past when she moves to Sunnydale, there she meets someone she didn't expect. Can she deal with her past, and see her future?

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot line.

Author's note: Sorry bout the extremely long wait, but school can be very distracting and it's taking so long to write this chapter that I'm splitting it up into two parts. So here it is, and once again sorry bout the wait. Thanx a noodle. ;)

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            Willow got home from Buffy's late that night, and put off calling Angel until the next morning.

            After Willow left that night Buffy headed upstairs and climbed in bed. Before falling asleep Buffy mulled over in her mind what Willow said about Angel. Maybe she had jumped to conclusions about Angel and what she had seen on Saturday. Buffy promised herself that on Monday she would give Angel another chance to be her friend. Maybe.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Saturday ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

            Willow got up around 10AM and figured she'd wait until noon to call Angel, because he wouldn't answer the phone till then anyways. So until then, Willow took a shower, got dressed, and was puttering around on her laptop when she realized it was noon. Quickly she picked up the phone and dialed Angel's number.

            "What?" Angel answered the phone grumpily.

            "Morning to you to sunshine. It's Willow." Willow retaliated sarcastically.

            "So I gathered. Is there a subject to this particular call?" Angel said a bit more awake.

            "I have information/advice for you concerning a certain blond we know." Willow said carefully.

            Instantly Angel sat up in bed and was intently more alert. "What? Tell me." He demanded.

            Willow sighed into the phone and moved to sit on her bed. "I can't tell you much, mostly because it's not mine to tell. But what I can say is that you're not gonna have it easy if you want her. She's had a … hurtful past." Willow chose her words carefully. She didn't want to betray Buffy's trust, "All I can say is that if you really like her then you're gonna have to start at ground zero. You've lost her trust, and she's a little bit afraid of you."

            "What? Why?" Angel asked hurtfully.

            "It's not you, per say. It's more her past and memories she's more afraid of." Willow offered.

            "Well, how do I convince her I'm an okay guy, and get her trust back?" Angel asked.

            "First off, stop wooing her." Before Willow could continue Angel interrupted.

            "Wooing?" he said incredulously.

            "Wooing." Willow confirmed, " You know, stop acting like a guy who wants to date her, and act like any other friend. I'm serious, just do the friend thing. Don't push her about her past. She'll tell you when she's good and ready. Hang back and be there when she needs you and almost disappear when she doesn't. You really need to take it slow, and be nice, and be a gentleman." Willow finished, and waited for Angel's response.

            Angel's brain was a little slow in processing what he'd just heard, " Okay, I get it. I think. Are you sure you can't tell me something about why she won't trust me?" Angel prodded.

            "No. I told you, it's not my past to tell. I won't be the next person to violate her trust; she's had plenty of that for one lifetime. Shit!! I gotta go. I promised mom I'd be her guinea pig for the day. You know, pick my brain and stuff. So, bye. And remember, do the friend thing." Willow said all in one breath before hanging up.

            "Bye." Angel said thoughtfully. He hung up the phone and lay back down. He mulled over what he was gonna do in his head. He had to decide whether or not he could handle just being friends with a girl like Buffy. Angel decided that it was better to at least be friends than not be near her at all. The instant Angel made the decision, his little sister Kathy came racing into his room and jumped on his bed. "Oomph!" Angel caught Kathy.

            "Mom says it's time to get up." Kathy proudly proclaimed.

            "Fine munchkin. But I can't get up with you sitting on me." Angel pointed out to her.

            Kathy gladly jumped off her big brother and raced right back out of his room. Angel smiled at the little retreating form. Angel reluctantly got out of bed and headed toward the bathroom to take a shower.

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            Buffy awoke Saturday morning with her head spinning a little from the night before. It was kind of an information/emotion overload. But that was life and she would just have to deal with it and move on with her life. So Buffy climbed out of bed and got in the shower. When she got downstairs, her Aunt Jenny and Dawn were getting ready to leave. Dawn was going to a friend's birthday party, while Aunt Jenny was off to a company picnic. With a kiss on the forehead from her aunt and a hug from her sister, the house was empty. Except of course, for Buffy. Unable to think of anything to do, Buffy decided to go for a long walk around the nearby park. Maybe to think about things, or maybe just to clear her head. Buffy wasn't quite sure which.

            Buffy came back home at 7:15 just as the phone began to ring. Buffy ran into the kitchen and grabbed the phone before the machine got it. "Hello?" Buffy answered.

            "Hey Buffy. It's Willow." Willow said cheerfully on the other end of the phone.

            "Hey Wills. What's up?" Buffy asked.

            "Well… I was wondering if you'd be up for Bronzing it tonight? You know, hang out and have fun with fun with friends. What'd ya say?" Willow asked hopefully.

            Buffy thought it over for a minute. Her head was battling with itself whether or not she should go. In the end she decided, "Sure. That sounds like fun. I just need to take a shower and get ready."

            "Great! Oz and I'll pick you up around 8." Willow replied ecstatically.

            "Cool. I'll see you then." Buffy said. Buffy hung up the phone, took a deep breath and told herself, "You're fine Summers. You can do this. It's just friends. Willow'll be there the whole time. Okay, now a much needed shower."

            Buffy showered and did her hair in record time. Buffy decided to wear a pair of snug broken-in jeans and a deep forest green tank top, that seemed to make her eyes shimmer like emeralds. Just as Buffy was putting on her favorite cross necklace, the doorbell rang. Grabbing her black boots as she left her room, Buffy headed downstairs to answer the door.

            "Hey hey Buffy. You look great!" Willow complimented as she stepped through the doorway.

            Buffy sat down on her couch, finished zipping up her boots and said, "Thanks Will. You look great too." Buffy stood up and grabbed her leather jacket from the railing and said, "All set."

            Willow nodded and led the way to Oz's van. Buffy brought up the rear, making sure to close and lock the door behind her.

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            Well that's it the new chapter. What do ya think?? Send me feedback speedy quick!!!! Thanx a noodle! ;) SlayerChic503