Chapter 2

This was too much.

It had been a hectic couple of weeks, what with the latest Big Bad, but it had also been a hectic few years. After the hellmouth had disappeared, it had been from one town to the next for Buffy, dropping off slayers here and there, helping people settle down with their new-found power. Finally, after a couple of years of travel, she, Dawn, Faith, Xander and Giles had settled down in LA, the other ex-potentials scattered over America and the world.

Dawn was in college just outside of the city and came home every weekend. She had turned out to be a very powerful, strong-minded young woman. After all the heartache of her childhood, the early years of her adult life had been more productive and enjoyable than anything else. She had decided that helping people, whether they were new slayers or just confused kids, was for her, and was majoring in psychology so that she could help more people in the future.

Buffy and Faith had become a lot closer during their travels. Surprising themselves, they had managed to learn a lot from each other and somehow, by not being the only two slayers in the world, had grown together. At this point they were both working in their local Starbucks, which kept the rent together without being too time consuming.

Xander had got a job in a local construction company and was doing very well out of it, and Giles had found a small niche in the growing market of Witchcraft Literature and opened another shop, 'Magic Shelves'.

Angel had been in Cleveland with Willow and Kennedy, they had been monitoring the other hellmouth for activity from the First. Fortunately nothing much had happened yet so this last week when Buffy had called for help, Willow and Angel came, leaving Kennedy to fight for herself.

It was the first time that Buffy had seen Angel since their memorable conversation just before Sunnydale was destroyed, and it was hard for them both. They had fought this battle, side by side, and Angel had been kind, if distant.

Now, as Buffy stood in the strengthening sunlight with Angel's heart beating under her hand, she didn't know what to do.

'How can this be? How could you become human without a spell?' she asked accusingly.

' I was told it might happen. There was a prophecy that said the vampire with a soul would become human but there are lots of prophecies that never come true, you should know that.'

' This is so strange. I don't know what to say.'

'Last time you did.'

'Last time?' she said, confused.

' It doesn't matter.'

'Look Angel, this is just too much right now. I've had no sleep for the last two days and I can hardly believe what's going on. Tell me what's happening. I feel like there's something you're holding back about this. It's not normal for a vampire to suddenly become human, that's all I know. You are way too calm, what's wrong with you? '

She stood back from him, the exhaustion and confusion riddled over her face.

'Tell me what's going on.'

He took a step forward and kissed her slowly on the lips, softly at first but with growing urgency. At first she was reluctant but after a few moments she gave in and her arms crept up his back.

A crash from behind them broke the couple apart. Xander staggered out from behind a battered bit of brickwork, Willow closely following.

'What's going on guys?' he said, cheerily and upbeat as usual. He glanced around and saw Buffy looking at Angel oddly.

'Angel's alive,' Buffy replied in a very confused, distant voice.

'What?' said Willow.

'Jiminy Cricket , sending a hellbeast to a different dimension isn't enough for you for one day? Tell me Angel, why do you always have to be the centre of attention?'

' I love you too, Xander,' Angel jibed.

'Xander, why aren't you so shocked?' Buffy asked sharply.

'Well, we kinda knew this was gonna happen some day.'

'We?'

Willow looked shifty. 'I did too. When Angel found out he rang to ask us whether we thought he should tell you. I said no because I thought it would distract you.'

'I feel so betrayed,' Buffy said, in the same distant, semi-sarcastic tone as before. 'Faith, did you know about this?'

Faith sauntered out onto the grass. 'Know about what?'

'Angel becoming human?'

'Angel's human? What! When did this happen? Why did no one tell me about it? No one tells me about anything round here.'

'I'm starting to feel like that too.'

The group stood around Angel and Buffy, congratulating, speculating, while they stared into each other's eyes.

After some time, Buffy stood back from the little cluster of people and yawned.

'I'm exhausted, I think I'm gonna go crash. Willow can you stay at Xander's tonight, I think me and Angel need to have a chat,' she said, a quick sideways glance going between them.

'Sure, you guys should go, Buff, you look like you're gonna fall over. Come over to Xander's tomorrow morning though, 'k?' Faith replied quickly, giving Buffy a glance that she understood completely understood. It meant 'get out of here quickly, get with Angel and tell me about it tomorrow'.

'Yeah, you go, I don't mind staying at Xander's, as long as he'll have me.'

'Course I will, we can have a movie fest, the typical post-apocalypse comedy type though,' he said.

They said their goodbyes and then Buffy and Angel separated themselves from the rest of the group and walked the few blocks to Buffy's apartment. Not a word passed between them as they walked up three flights of stairs, side by side.

Eventually, they reached the door and Buffy fumbled for her keys, opening the door slowly. Walking into the room, they stood, facing each other, alone at last.