Buffy let out a muffled sigh in her sleep. Mmmm… yummy, human, Angel dream. Happy dream, she thought delightedly. When her alarm clock's shrill noise penetrated the beautiful images in her head, Buffy had to struggle not to throw the damn thing across the room. It wasn't like she had nice dreams very often.
No matter how painful they were when she woke up.
She lay a few more minutes under the warm covers, trying to soak up the last remnants of the dream. It wasn't like she hadn't had it a million times before. She and the man she loved were living together in a little brick house with a white picket fence. She flopped back against the pillows and scowled at the ceiling. She couldn't dwell on things that wouldn't… couldn't ever happen.
'Sides, she had a scoobie meeting to attend in a half-hour.
Groaning, she hauled her lazy carcass out of bed and into the shower. 'On a Saturday morning, no less,' she thought bitterly. She closed her eyes and let the warm water pound onto her shoulders and back.
Angel. Human. Dream.
'Okay, canceling all thoughts to one Buffy Anne Summers. Now.'
She stumbled half-heartedly into the kitchen and plopped down into a chair. "Mornin'," she muttered to her mom.
"Morning, sweetie," her mom replied. Joyce frowned. "Isn't this a Saturday?"
"Scoobie meeting." Buffy answered concisely, staring wearily at the coffeepot.
"It'll stunt your growth, Buffy," Joyce protested, following her gaze.
"Mom," she groused, "I'm eighteen. I'm already stunty. Gimme that wonderful wake up drug."
Joyce sighed disapprovingly, but set a steaming mug of caffeine down in front of her daughter. "Did something happen on patrol last night?" she asked carefully.
"What? You think 'cause you gave me coffee I'm going to tell you about my latest encounters with death?"
"Buffy!"
She stared sheepishly into the coffee mug. "It's okay, Mom. No close encounters for me last night." She grinned, "But those vamps got the pointy end of the stick. Literally."
"Well, I wish that you'd be more forthright with me, Buffy."
Buffy let out a silent moan. Nope, she hadn't had this conversation millions of times before. She took a large gulp of coffee. Set the mug back down on the table. Smiled. She could do this without being sarcastic and annoyed. Really, she could.
"Mom, last time we got close on the whole slayer issue it didn't work out so great."
Joyce gave her a disapproving look. "I am only your mother. What would I know, anyway?"
Why did all mothers have to be so good at the guilt trip thing? "You tried to burn me at the sake, Mom," Buffy said bluntly.
She didn't even seem the least bit apologetic. "They were cute kids. How was I supposed to know that they were demons? It wasn't like my daughter was going to tell me."
Buffy's head thumped wearily against the table. Why, oh why, did her mother have to be so good at prying things out of her? WHY? She might as well give it up.
"There were these three vamps," she started. "There wasn't anything weird about that, except the fifth just stood there. Watching almost…."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"So you say that she just stood there watching. Even after you staked the first few vampires?"
"That would be about the it," Buffy replied, nodding in Giles' direction. Quite frankly, she was getting very tired of repeating her story. First to her mother, and then to Oz and Willow after they picked her up, and finally the rest of the scoobies. Even Cordelia had shown up, moaning that she was missing out on her beauty sleep.
"She might have just been afraid of you," Willow offered, "you know, you being the scourge of the undead and all."
Xander slapped his hands together. "Plus, I was there looking all macho."
Cordelia snorted. "Was that before or after you started screaming like a girl?"
"After," Buffy supplied helpfully, ignoring Xander's frown.
"Yes, yes of course." Giles muttered, seeming as though he was in another world. Probably was, too, Buffy mused to herself. That was Giles, could always count on him to find something interesting about vampires that stared at you.
"But what do we really know?" Willow asked. "Name? No. Vampire? Yes. But there are a lot of vampires!"
"She's right." Oz said with a nod. Buffy thought that it looked like he wanted to add something, but she couldn't really be sure. You could never really be sure with Oz.
"Well, they sure had one hell of a lot of punch," Xander said, partly to himself.
"And there we have it," Cordelia snapped with a sweep of her hand, "I come to school on Saturday to listen to how Xander got beat up. Again. Why am I even here?" Cordelia got up, seemed to think it over, and sat back down. "Wait, I just answered my own question."
"Cordelia. You're looking nice today… but are those bags I see under your eyes? Maybe you should have slept," Xander retorted.
Cordelia groaned. Now she was bored. "That's it, I'm leaving."
"That's right! You run! We'll certainly all miss you!" Xander cried sarcastically. Off the looks of everyone else in the room, "What?"
"If we could all focus here for a minute." Giles said, clearing his throat. "Buffy, you will patrol tonight and see if you can find this particular vampire."
She frowned. "That's it? That's the best you've come up with? We've been here an hour! Be all Watcher guy and tell me something important."
Giles looked mildly put out. "It would help if you were a little more descriptive. What did the vampire look like?"
Buffy chewed her lip thoughtfully. "She had shoulder length brown hair…"
Giles nodded. "That's perfect. I'll be able to figure out who this vampire is right away."
"No need to get snippy," she mumbled. 'Snippy? Did I just say snippy???'
"Well… maybe we could help," Willow offered timidly, "you know, split up so we have more of a chance of seeing her."
"I don't want to put you guys in danger," Buffy immediately protested.
Xander snorted. "Funny, funny Buffy."
She scowled. "I'm serious. You almost got killed last night!"
"But I didn't! This is what we do, Buff. We help you."
"It's part of the slayerette job description," Willow added.
Giles cleared his throat and wiped his glasses. "While Buffy is right assuming that going on patrol tonight may very well put you all in unnecessary harm, you've all been subjected to danger before and, I imagine, will again."
"No one goes ANYWHERE alone," Buffy hissed threateningly. "Got it?"
Willow and Xander nodded sullenly.
"I hate to bring this up, but how will the rest of us know what this vampire looks like?" Oz inquired thoughtfully.
Willow beamed at him. "He's smart," she told the group happily.
Buffy gave Willow a small smile, glad that things were working out between her and Oz. "She's not hard to miss, believe me… you'll know."
"Powerful…" Giles trailed off, shook his head. "She could very well be centuries old. If any of you do encounter her…"
"Run?" Xander offered.
Giles nodded. "Everyone meet back here at seven."
"I'll let Cordelia know!" Xander volunteered.
"Sometimes I'd like to know what goes on in your head Xander," Oz said incredulously.
"Take it from me, you wouldn't."
Buffy shared a look with Giles. "I don't know what it is about this one, but the soon as she's dust the better I'll feel."
Giles met her worried gaze. "Agreed."
Buffy looked down at her hands and spoke softly, "I'll go by the mansion and let Angel know."
Buffy tensed, knowing that Giles was still not completely comfortable when it came to the subject of Angel. "Yes, his help would be much appreciated," the watcher finally managed. Buffy gave him a relieved smile that he returned.
"What do we do in the meantime?" Willow looked hungrily at the computer.
"Since it is apparent we don't really have any information to research. I think you all should go home and get some rest." Giles sent Buffy and Xander a look, "Or even do some homework."
"Sure, ruin a perfect afternoon by bringing that up," Xander groaned.
"Hey, look at the bright side," Oz interjected. "You still get to call Cordelia."
"Yeah, and you guys can argue over whatever you argue over, and pretend you hate each other," Willow added.
Xander nodded, cheerful again. "There is that."
Buffy stood up. "As interesting as this is…" she shifted uncomfortably, "I think I'm going to go."
Xander folded his arms over his chest and gave her a withering look. "You just want to go see Dead Boy," he accused.
"No…" she lied.
Oz, Xander and Willow snorted simultaneously.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Daniel had been busy. Far under the town, where the pipes led and the smell of urine was present, Daniel was making her colony. The vampire gang that she had found yesterday, while stupid, was proving valuable. She smiled to herself thinking of Pedro. The leader had been characteristically helpful, full of fun facts to know and use against the slayer.
And he'd taken a particular liking to her. Daniel loved when they did that. It made things so much more interesting.
Their work had been fast and efficient. New vampires had been brought to her fold, ready and willing to obey her. Daniel was building an army and to her, numbers were the most important part. Of course, Daniel preferred men. Male vampires were much more helpful than women. Daniel had a certain… power over the opposite sex.
Daniel scanned the tunnel's searching for Pedro. She was vaguely considering making him her right hand man. Vaguely impatient, wanting more information on the slayer, she grabbed the arm of a passing vampire. Daniel fought the urge to swear. A female. Sometimes her fellow sisters weren't as easy to convince of her awesome power.
"Master," she said pleasantly, bowing down on one knee, "how can I be of assistance?"
Daniel frowned, watching the vampire closely. She took note of the way the girl looked at the ground, unwilling to stare into her master's face. She was short but still bent in a half-bow, unflinching and unmoving until her orders were given.
Daniel liked it.
"What is your name, Childe?" Daniel asked.
"Brittany, Master," the girl answered.
Daniel tucked one long finger under the vampire's chin, raising her head to look in her eyes. "You are subservient."
"Yes, Master."
"You have heard of me," Daniel purred hopefully, removing her finger and gesturing for the girl to stand.
She nodded, staring intently at the ground again. "Every vampire, demon, man alike should fear your name, Master. The slayer will finally be brought down."
"Very good, Childe," Daniel whispered. "You know much. Tell me, where is Pedro?"
"With the newborns, Master, they are beginning to awaken and are thirsty for a taste of blood."
"And why, Brittany, are you not helping to keep Pedro with the fledglings?" Daniel questioned, a hint of anger in her voice.
"I am sorry, Master, but I felt that if the men could handle it, I could be of use elsewhere." Brittany took her eyes off the ground, finally looked into Daniel's eyes. Her gaze was slightly challenging. "I find men easy to corrupt… they are of little mind. Not smart like you."
Daniel chuckled. "Watch out, Childe," Daniel said in an amused voice. "I admire your observation, but be careful not to get into trouble." She ran a sharp nail down the girl's face, not hard enough to draw blood, but the threat was there. "I would not want an accident to happen."
Brittany lowered her eyes, bowed, and rushed away. Daniel watched her go a mixture of amusement and weariness in her eyes. That one was smart, but may have to be watched. Yet, Daniel could admire her spark. She would keep a special eye on her.
Daniel swept around the bend, eyes circling calmly around the newborn tunnel. There vampires wandered around, snarling and drooling, needing and drawn to the life overhead but not daring to take their first feed until the sun went down.
Pedro lay eyes on her, gave a sick smile, and lay down into a deep bow. Daniel watched him with growing boredom. "Only the slayer can bring about my Resurrection, Pedro," she purred thoughtfully.
"The slayer," Pedro repeated, feeling a small flash of fear.
Daniel smiled with confidence. "A hint of fear I sense, no?"
"The slayer is strong, my master," Pedro answered. "She has destroyed many of our kind, including The Master."
Daniel leaned back, deep in thought. A fledgling called out for blood, and Daniel gave it a disgruntled look. "Come Pedro." Pedro followed her obediently. Once out of the smell of desperate vampire hunger, Daniel considered him once more. "Tell me all you know, strength and weaknesses."
Pedro took a deep breath. "Her name is Buffy Summers. She is different from the previous slayers. Less focused, her watcher allows her to have a life." Pedro paused, "She also has friends."
"Friends? I think I met one last night. Bumbling little fool who almost got killed," Daniel reflected sharply. "Still," Daniel added as an afterthought, "a slayer who has friends. This is certainly new."
"Most of her friends have special powers. I've heard rumors that one is a witch, another a werewolf, and her watcher has proved himself skilled in battle." Pedro cleared his throat nervously, "She has a…"
"A what?" Daniel spat.
"A pet vampire."
Daniel scowled and her eyes narrowed. Pedro backed away with a small amount of fear. "Making deals with the slayer. Coward should be killed without any mercy by his own kind." Suddenly, Daniel stopped and smiled, "Him or her?"
If Pedro thought the question was odd, he didn't show it. "It's a him."
Daniel chuckled. "A him, hmmm? Pray tell, what is his name?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Angel?" Buffy called softly as she entered the mansion. She hoped that he wasn't asleep, not wanting to disturb him, but knowing he wouldn't mind.
Her call was answered by a slightly slurred "Buffy?" Which Buffy figured meant that she had woken him up or he was really drunk, but she suspected the former.
When Angel emerged from his room, Buffy couldn't help but notice his state of shirtlessness. She tried not to stare openly at his naked chest, but he obviously noticed because to Buffy's disappointment moved to put on a shirt.
"What's up?" he asked, looking her over in concern.
She blushed, embarrassed and touched by his obvious worry of her. "Weird vampire activity," she answered concisely, businesslike. It was better this way. If she just stared at a spot above his head, instead of lowering her head and staring deeply into his hypnotic deep, brown eyes…
Angel raised his eyebrows, seeming almost amused, "Define weird."
"Well four vampires, three attacked and the only female…" Buffy trailed off. "Have you been working out?" she blurted out suddenly. 'Whoops,' she thought sheepishly. Clearing her throat, she stared at the ground, "Right, vampires…. Vampires that stared…"
Angel grabbed her arm, cutting off her impassioned speech, ending all thoughts in her head. Next thing she knew, his mouth was crushing hers, the world began to spin, and it didn't matter. Non of it seemed to matter, not vampires, not the world… not the curse.
It was as if the same thought seemed to echo in Angel's mind, and he pulled away, breathing pretty hard for a person—make that vampire—who couldn't breathe.
He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry."
Buffy blinked furiously, wishing that her head would stop spinning so. "That's okay… you are?"
A slow, smile spread across his face. Buffy nearly passed out. He had the most amazing smile. "What's the right answer, here?" he teased gently.
"That we can't risk your soul," Buffy whispered, longing and pain in her voice.
Angel gave her a heartbreaking look, but didn't comment. "So these vampires?" his voice was neutral, not betraying anything he was feeling.
Buffy was relieved to be on familiar territory. Evil vampires she could handle. It was just the evil boyfriend thing she had so much trouble with. "There was a group of vampires that attacked on patrol last night. The leader, the only female, only stood by…" Buffy explained slowly, then she thought of something she hadn't mentioned to Giles, "It was almost as if she was studying me rather than out to kill me. If that makes any sense."
Angel frowned. "A vampire studying a slayer?" he questioned dubiously.
Buffy looked confused for a moment, then frowned indignantly. "That's not fair," she pouted.
Angel chuckled. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then looked into her eyes, hesitating a moment. He hated how they were always so close… so close… but so far away. He loved her warmth, her goodness, her light, but was so afraid to get close to it, so afraid of the consequences. So he took her into his arms, held her tight, listened to her steady heartbeat. "Most vampires aren't that smart…" he whispered into her ear.
She gulped. "Yeah," she said. What the hell were they talking about again? Closing her eyes, Buffy did the only thing she could—she relished his firm hold.
"This one is bugging you," Angel stated.
She sighed, pulling slightly away so she could study him. He always knew what she was thinking. His strong arms, still wrapped loosely around her waist, tightened instinctively. "There's something different about her, Angel." She pursed her lips, thinking about the cold shiver that had run down her spine the other night. "It scared me."
"We'll fight it," he reassured her softly, calmly.
She nodded, pressing her cheek to his dead heart. She wondered vaguely, like she'd done hundreds of times before, what it would be like if she could feel it beating beneath her ear. "I know."
She could feel it getting too intimate, knew that she was too helpless against him. He rocked her gently for another minute, giving the only comfort that he could. It's painful for him, Buffy thought. To have this burden hanging over his head…every time they touched, every time she needed to be held.
He stiffened, and she pulled away, looking sadly at the ground. "I should probably go do homework or something," she mumbled.
"Yeah," he agreed firmly.
She struggled to fight back her tears of frustration. What I want from you I can never have…. She shook her head, a vain attempt to clear the momentary gloominess. "I'll see you later, okay?"
Angel smiled painfully and brushed her hand lightly. "I need to get some sleep anyway."
Liar, Buffy thought. Yet, it was easier that way. Simple lies. So that parting wasn't as painful, so there was a real reason to part. She nodded, throat clogging painfully.
Angel brushed her mouth lightly, a kiss that was soft and feathery… that made her head spin and her body craving for more. But that was it. That was all that she could have. And tomorrow she would make up a whole new excuse for why she had to come and see him again. "Be careful," he warned softly, worry in his eyes.
"Hey, I'll kick her ass. She's just another vampire. I've dealt with way worse."
Angel's eyes darkened, clouding momentarily with guilt. "I know," he said darkly.
Buffy cringed. Would it ever stop between them? Could it ever get to a point where they didn't hurt each other every time they talked? She cleared her throat, and shifted uncomfortably. "Anyway… I really do need to—"
"Go," he finished wearily. Angel looked at her with a prying gaze, which seemed to rip right through all her barriers. Right through her skin, seeing the underlying pain, the fear, her want, her love…. It was always like that with him. He knew her so well. Knew when she wanted nothing more than to throw herself in his arms, close her eyes, and make it all go away.
"I love you," she told him hesitantly, practically choking on the words, but knowing that they were the most natural thing in the world for her to say.
"I love you," he answered back, giving her one last lingering gaze, before turning his back and walking towards his bedroom.
Buffy stared at his retreating back for a moment before walking sadly away from the mansion.
Angel turned to watch her go, a mixture of pain and regret on his face. He hadn't let on just how worried he was. Last night he had sense the arrival of something new, of something evil. It had called out to him and, against his will, Angel could feel the draw of it. It was strong, stronger than the usual vampire, and Angel was afraid for his self-control.
He couldn't tell Buffy.
It was a long time before Angel slept.
TBC