New Way of Life
NOTE: I do not own these Angel and Buffy characters, but if you see anyone whom you do not recognize, he/she belongs to me.
A/N: This story takes place after Chosen, but before Conviction, meaning it's the summer in between. To put down a recap, Spike burned up, everyone (minus Anya) escaped on the school bus, Buffy and her friends haven't split up yet, and Angel Inc is preparing to move into W&H. On with the story…
CHAPTER 9
"Angel?" he looked up to see Dawn and Gunn standing in the doorway. "What's wrong with Buffy? We heard screaming up here and then she went right passed us out the door."
"It's a long story, Dawn," Angel said, shaking his head, still trying to conceive it all himself.
"Did you guys have a fight?" Dawn asked. "Was it one of those couple things?"
"I don't know if you can call us a couple anymore," Angel said in a whisper.
Dawn's eyes bulged out with surprise and anger. "You… you hurt her again," she snapped.
"Dawn—" Angel started, approaching her.
"This is crazy," Dawn continued. "Every time you're around Buffy gets so happy and ends up completely miserable by the end of the day. You always do this to her."
"You don't even know what happened," Angel attempted to reason with the teen.
"I don't have to." Dawn shook her head with a scoff. "I'm glad you're not together anymore. I don't know why my sister falls for vampires. You're all the same. Always trying to hurt her."
"Well, at least I didn't betray her, Dawn," Angel reminded harshly, causing Dawn to freeze. "When it got tough I didn't throw Buffy out of her own house. From what she told me that was your call."
Dawn's eyes sparked with painful tears at the truth and cruelty of his words. She turned and ran off down the hall, slamming the door to her bedroom.
"Popular with the ladies tonight," Gunn remarked.
"Gunn, just get out," Angel said, sitting back down on the bed.
"Hold up," Gunn said, putting his hand in the air. "I'm not some little high strong girl. You listen when I talk."
Angel glanced up at Gunn with surprise, as the black man sounded almost like his father. "What?"
"What the hell is wrong with you today?" Gunn asked his friend. "You lost what's left of your mind?"
"Buffy wants us to get back together."
"So? I thought you were back together already."
"It's not that simple, Gunn," Angel rationalized. "We have a job and friends back in LA."
"Yeah, I get that," Gunn nodded. "Beasties better beware when they see you go flying into tombstones." Angel started to say something, but Gunn continued with, "Angel, you can't even take down one lame ass vamp anymore without nearly breaking your leg."
"I know," Angel admitted lowly.
"And I know what you're scared of." Angel looked at him, waiting for what Gunn would say. "Being happy."
"What are you even talking about?"
"Ever since you met up with Buffy and her friends you been fighting the good fight, taking your scrapes, and doing the suffering thing. Whenever you got to crack even the smallest little smile or whatever you were with Buffy. Then when you got the big happy with Buffy you lost your soul and turned into a psycho."
"We going somewhere with this?" Angel nudged.
"Be quiet," Gunn rebuked him, holding up a warning finger, actually making Angel shut his mouth. "You so scared of something bad happening with Buffy you can't even look at the good that'll happen so you decide to break the cute blonde's heart again."
Angel sat in silence, taking in Gunn's lecture. "She is cute, right?" Angel finally said with a smirk.
"Damn straight," Gunn replied firmly.
Angel sighed deeply, going to stand by Buffy's vanity. "My entire life I've never been the same person. First Liam, then Angelus, then Angel. When I realized that demon made me human I panicked. I didn't know who or what I was anymore. Am I still Angel or… what?"
"Yeah, but don't even deny the look I saw on your face when you saw Buffy again," Gunn said, taking Angel's seat on the bed.
"I can't live without her, Gunn. Not now. Not when we actually have a chance…" he trailed off suddenly.
"What is it?" Gunn nudged.
"What if I let her down?" Angel said, glancing into the mirror at his long lost reflection. "I can't even stake a vampire on my own. While she's fighting she has to worry about me getting hurt every second."
"Do I got super strength?" Angel turned to look at Gunn. "Or super hearing, super speed, or any of that other mess you represent with?"
"No."
"But I kick vampire ass on a daily basis, man," said Gunn, standing to get in Angel's face. "I can help you get back into the game. You just gotta try harder. Don't tell me you scared of a challenge."
"Not a chance," Angel said, turning macho.
"Cool then." Gunn and Angel smacked hands affectionately. "Now go find that cute blonde."
Angel smiled softly then headed out, but turned back before he was out of the room. "Hey, Charles?" Gunn looked over at him. "Thank you."
Gunn nodded his head once, hiding the grin he wanted to let off.
As Angel headed downstairs, Willow suddenly stepped in front of him on the last step that led into the living room. The red haired witch's eyes had turned so dark with anger that they looked to be black.
"Just hold it right there, mister," Willow hissed.
"Willow, you don't have to," Angel assured her. "I was wrong to hurt Buffy in any way and I'm going to go talk to her. Let me pass now?"
Willow nodded and stepped aside, allowing Angel into the living room and out the front door. "Damn, I'm good," she smiled to herself.
Buffy hugged herself closely, standing by the large water fountain she and Angel had visited when he'd first got to Rome. Things just seemed so right during that time then Angel had gone through a serious mood swing and he wasn't the same person he was when he'd got there. Buffy glanced into the water to see several dimes and pennies inside. The Slayer shook her head at the people who would honestly waste money on a wish that would never come true. However, she had to admit that when she and Angel had first broken up after her prom, she'd gone to many wishing spots to try to somehow get him back mystically. Up until their earlier fight, Buffy had thought the wishing might have actually worked, but it obviously hadn't.
"Looks like we have another nice moon tonight." Buffy didn't even have to turn around, recognizing the voice that always gave her goose bumps.
"What do you want?" she asked lowly.
"Buffy, you have to know I'm sorry," Angel said sincerely.
She finally turned to look at him. "What's with the change?"
"Gunn yelled at me," Angel replied with a little smirk.
Buffy chuckled to herself. "Good," she said with self-satisfaction.
"Buffy? You remember don't you? That day we spent together after I moved to LA?"
"Yeah," Buffy admitted. "Kissing, pier, and all."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Angel asked her.
"I told you I'd never forget," Buffy said, approaching him. She took his hand and wrapped it around her waist. "Figured you'd believe me."
"You've lived with it all this time?"
"Hasn't exactly been easy. Angel, I love you and that will never change. But you have to stop with this dominant thing. It's not as big a turn on as it was back in eighteen-whatever year you come from."
Angel smiled gently and brushed back some of her curls out of her eyes. "Buffy, I love you more than anything in this life. The thought of you hurt or… dead, it kills me inside."
"Well, the thought of you being dust on the side of the road doesn't fill me with the big jollies, either. But we don't have to worry about that anymore." Buffy reached up and touched his chest as if to get close to his heart. "Angel, you're everything I'll ever need."
"Does that mean you want to try again?" Angel asked.
Buffy got on tip toes and gave him a loving kiss on the lips. "If that doesn't answer your question then I'm totally insulted."
Angel pulled her in close and enveloped her lips in a zealous kiss, letting the tiny sprinkles of water that sprayed from the fountain just wash over them.
Back at the house, Willow and Kennedy sat on the couch, Willow playing in Kennedy's hair. Xander sat on the loveseat, flipping through channels on the TV.
"So you think they'll be OK?" Kennedy asked.
"It's just the classic Buffy and Angel saga," said Willow, putting Kennedy's hair into a long braid. "They are so hot for each other, though. They'll work it out."
"Yeah, our own little modern day Romeo and Juliet," Xander added. "They made me watch that in the ninth grade you know. I would never rent the video of my own free will or anything."
"We believe you, Sir Macho-lot," Willow smiled at him.
"You guys are probably right," said Kennedy. "They'll be fine. Plus it helps that Angel's unbelievably gorgeous." Willow and Xander immediately stopped what they were doing and focused all attention on her. "What? I'm gay, not blind."
At the sound of the doorbell Willow said, "That's probably Buffy and Angel now." She stood from the couch and went to answer the front door. "Wesley?"
"Willow, hi," the British man greeted.
"Oh, um, come in," Willow ushered him inside then shut the door behind him. "Angel's not here right now, but Gunn's upstairs."
"Thank you, but I would like to see them both," said Wesley. "It's important."
"Willow," Xander said reproachfully, going up to the witch. "What's with the inviting total strangers into our home thing?"
"Xander, it's Wesley," Willow said, looking at her lifelong friend like he was clueless. "Wesley Wyndham-Pryce?"
"No way," Xander said, eyeing Wesley's rugged exterior. "Someone needs a razor."
"Um, hi?" Kennedy greeted, walking up to the others. "I'm Kennedy."
"Wesley Wyndham-Pryce," said Wesley formally, holding out a hand to her.
Kennedy shook the hand and said, "Hmm, first Gunn, now you. Are all of Angel's friends hot?" She added immediately at another look from Willow and Xander, "Not blind."
"Yeah, we should so get a hot tub," Buffy's voice could be heard as the doorknob turned.
"We could," Angel agreed as the two of them walked in with the help of Buffy's key. "Could be fun, t— Wes."
"Whoa." Buffy's eyes bugged out at the sight of her former watcher. "And again, whoa."
"Hello, Buffy," Wesley greeted the Slayer. "How are you."
"Good," she replied, never taking her eyes off him. "Are you wearing jeans?"
"Wesley, is everything OK?" Angel asked.
He shook his head. "No, Angel. Everything's not OK."
"Wes." The room turned their attention to Gunn, who was coming down the stairs. "Hey, man. Ain't seen you in the longest."
"Gunn, we have problems," Angel told the black man.
"You find out what was up with Angel?" Gunn asked Wes.
Wesley sighed as he began recalling everything. The team back in LA finding Angelus and what they'd learned from the demoness in the sewers.
"From what we found out, this demoness is very powerful," Wesley said. "More powerful than the Gypsies. Yet, we found her in nearly as bad a condition as Angel had been in from Angelus getting ripped from her."
"Wait a minute," Buffy cut in, more than a little upset. "Are you telling us that he's back?"
"Yes," Wesley nodded. "But not for long. We've found a way to get rid of him. However, Angel, we need you for this."
"Just point me in his direction," Angel said determinedly. "Whatever needs doing."
"I hope you key that attitude in mind," said Wesley then paused for a moment, not sure how to continue. "Angel, we need to put Angelus back inside you."
"What?" Buffy and Angel exclaimed in unison.
Wesley continued with, "We need you to be a vampire again."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Now please review while I engage in my meal of chicken noodle soup and pop.