One-Week Later

Faith wanted to take Buffy shopping before they went back to Bermuda. Bermuda may have been beautiful, but the clothes there were not top choice. Buffy sifted through the racks of clothing, everything was so pretty, but she wondered what her other self would like. What her tastes in clothes were.

"Amy, you're taking forever! You act like you've never seen clothes!" Buffy smiled.

"I just want to pick something she would have liked." Buffy sighed. Faith gave her a confused look.

"She?" Faith implored.

"My other self. The real me. I can't remember my name or what I like, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try." Buffy demanded. Faith nodded understandingly.

"Take your time," she said comfortingly as Buffy picked a few clothes off a rack and headed for the register.

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Willow walked into the store, and when she did she almost fell to her knees crying. A blonde girl that looked exactly like Buffy was purchasing clothes. Willow knew it had to be her.

"Buffy! Buffy!" Why wasn't the girl turning? Willow touched her shoulder, "Buffy? Oh, God! I am so glad to see you. We all thought you were dead. Are you okay? Where were you?"
Buffy looked towards Faith in confusion.

"Do I know you?" Buffy whispered. Willow began to cry.

"Buffy please. Please! Don't you remember me? You have to. I'm your best friend! Try to remember!"
Faith stepped in front of Willow.

"Willow, she doesn't remember anything. She has amnesia...this is Buffy?" Faith looked at Buffy, "We have to take her back home. Angel...will probably want to see her. How come I never got to see a picture?" Faith asked joyfully.

Willow happily laughed. "Buffy hates cameras." Willow smiled, "You're alive. I can't believe you're alive."

Buffy was nervous as hell. On one hand she was going to meet all the people she once knew and cared for, on the other hand she had no idea who they were!

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Buffy nervously walked into the house that Willow and Faith had brought her to. Angel answered the door, and he stumbled backwards and collapsed to his knees.

"Buffy?" Buffy looked back at Willow with tears in her eyes, "Buffy! You're alive! You're alive! I though you were dead. I wished so hard for you to come back. I love you. Why aren't you hugging me, why aren't you kissing me?" Angel asked, his eyes darting around, confused. Buffy began to cry.

"Are you mad at me for not finding you. I tried. I did! But, I'm weak when I'm grieving. You know that!" Angel explained frantically. Buffy shook her head and wiped a tear away from her eye.

"I don't know who you are!" Buffy fell to her knees beside Angel. He was crying now.

"You remember. You remember! I know you do!" Angel searched her eyes; she wanted to remember so badly. She shook her head.

"I can't! I want to so badly!" She touched his face. He was willing her now, willing her with his heart. Remember.

"Please say you remember." She shook her head no. She couldn't make herself remember even if he wanted her to.

"Do you remember the time that I proposed to you, and I forgot to bring the ring, and you almost said no?" Buffy closed her eyes, letting the blackness take her back in time to a place where her name was Buffy...

"Buffy, I have something to ask you." Buffy looked up from her desk, and Angel was standing before her - a quivering, nervous mass. He was beginning to sweat, and Buffy smiled, somehow taking a pleasure in his nervousness.
"You have something to ask me?" Buffy pretended to be out of the loop. It was making him even more apprehensive.
"Yes, umm," He wiped his brow, and fell to one knee.
"Will you...marry me?" Buffy smiled and held out her hand. Angel coughed and looked at her hand. His eyes widened, and he muttered underneath his breath. She thought she heard something along the lines of 'oh, crap!'
"I forgot to bring the ring!!" He checked his pockets one last time. "I did. I'm sorry. Here, I'll be right back." He got to his feet and headed towards the door. Buffy sighed.
"No, Angel. Stop. Ask me to marry you when you can do it right. When we can do it right." Angel grunted, and then he understood. He did want her to have only good memories of when he asked her to marry him...

It all came flooding back. Buffy remembered him. She couldn't believe she remembered. She loved him with her whole heart. Angel looked at her with pleading eyes.

"Please tell me you remember. Do you remember the time I bought you a puppy, or the time that you met my mom, and my sister, Faith, spilled salsa all over your pants?" He pointed to Faith, and she looked down, surpressing a smile. Buffy kissed him.

"I remember! I remember, I remember!!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms. Angel laughed happily.

"Oh, God! I couldn't save you. You weren't there!" Buffy hugged him tightly.

"It doesn't matter who saved who. I came back. You would have come back too. You know, suddenly I feel like I'm in the Princess Bride movie, and I should say, "Love conquers all". Or something weird like that."
Buffy laughed, tears streaming down her face. Willow was in tears, and Angel suddenly realized that there were two other people in the room. Faith was now crying. Angel looked at her strangely.

"Faith, what happened to "Ms. Tough Girl"? Faith covered her face with her hands.

"I'm sorry, but can I just say that you guys are so meant to be together. I've got to call Spike." She ran out of the room and Willow seemed to be considering calling someone too.

"I guess I should say I love you at least." Buffy said while pulling away from Angel's embrace.

"At least." Angel kissed Buffy again.

"I can't believe I remember everything now. I remember you, Xander, Willow, my father. My father! I have to go visit him." Angel half smiled, but got up to get the keys to the car.

"Okay, let's go." Buffy grabbed her coat and headed out the door. Angel drove silently down the road that led to Buffy's house. He seemed to have a lot on his mind.

"Mr. Broody, what's on your mind?" Angel gripped the steering wheel tighter.

"It's just...it's just, that at your funeral-" Buffy's jaw dropped.

"Hold up! Funeral? I was gone how long before I had a funeral? Can I see my grave?" Buffy asked, still staring at him. Angel shook his head at Buffy.

"First off no! Secondly, you were gone for three weeks, and I told you I searched for you everywhere. Your father told us to stop looking. It's just at your funeral, your father didn't even cry. Or when Dawn was crying I had to comfort her because your dad just left her there. It was completely heartless!" Buffy sat back in her chair.

"Maybe, he didn't think that I was dead." Buffy nonchalantly stated.

"But, why would he tell us to stop looking for you if he believed that you were still alive?" Buffy bit her bottom lip.

"I don't know. But there has to be some rational explanation, my father isn't involved in anything bad Angel." Angel turned into Buffy's drive way. Her house was dark, and ominous looking. Angel had a bad feeling. Buffy opened the door.

"Dad? Dad?" There was no answer, and the silence seemed to reverberate off of the thick walls. Buffy started up the stairwell, when the lights suddenly flickered on. Buffy turned her head. Hank was standing at the bottom of the steps; he looked distraught and somehow psychotic.

"No! You aren't real! I told you to stop haunting me. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. Please just go away!" Hank's voice choked in his throat. He scratched at his face. Buffy ran down the stairs. Angel stayed close to her.

"Be careful Buffy." Angel sternly said.

"He's my father Angel." Buffy looked her father in the eyes, "Daddy, I'm real. I'm alive. See..." She brought his hand to her face. His eyes widened in shock.

"I didn't mean to kill you. I didn't. I meant to kill him!" Hank pointed angrily at Angel. Angel gave Hank a hateful lookl, "Everything...was going fine until you came around! 'Angel Jonnson - handsome and kind'" Hank mimicked, his eyes menacing, "My daughter couldn't resist you. No! You took her away from me. I had to do something; I had to kill you just like I killed your father! What else could I do? You were taking control of my family, I worked so hard for them!" he growled. Angel was breathing heavily now. His hands were clenching in and out of tight fists. Buffy grabbed her father's arm. She was beginning to cry in anger.

"What are you talking about daddy? You set the bomb on my boat? I loved you. How could you do that to me? I did nothing but love you. I don't ever want to see you again! You're a-a-a...." Buffy walked towards Angel and grabbed his hand.

"I did it for us! I did it so he wouldn't take you in! Don't you understand? I did it because I loved you!" Buffy looked away from her father. Angel let go of her hand, and walked towards her father angrily. He punched him in the face, sending Hank flying across the floor.

"That's for Buffy!" he snarled, and then thumped Hank harshly in the side, "And that was for my father." Angel grabbed Buffy's hand and they walked out of the door.

"I'm so sorry Angel. I never knew. I never knew!" she cried, sobbing into his chest. Angel tightened his grip on her hand.

"I'm just glad I know what happened now. My father can rest in peace now" Buffy half smiled and opened the door to Angel's car. She sat down and grabbed her cell phone out of her purse.

"What are you doing?" Angel asked as he sat down and closed the car door. Buffy looked up at him, and then turned back and dialled a number. Putting it to her ear she said, "Hello? Yes, I'd like to report a murder." Angel smiled and started the car. The mansion faded slowly away as the car drove down the street...