A/N: COOKIES FOR EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED!!! :-)

Chapter Fifteen: An Unexpected Visit

Alec leaned on the kitchen counter, munching on an apple, and trying to think of the best way to tell the Scooby Gang the rather bad news that they were leaving. He, Jewel, and Max had a little meeting a few minutes ago after Max's 'recovery' from her heat. And there was an unanimous decision that they had to leave. Sure, they made some new friends here in Sunnydale. Friends that the transgenics couldn't bear seeing getting hurt. But as the saying goes: 'family always comes first.'

And besides, Buffy and her friends were more than capable of handling themselves.

Alec locked gazes with Max. It was now or never.

"Buffy," Alec started, tossing the half-eaten apple aside. "We need to tell you guys something."

The blonde Slayer raised an eyebrow. "Sure, what is it?"

It was then that the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Alec said with an innocent grin, glad to have an excuse to get out of the situation for a while. He went out of the kitchen, oblivious to the glares emanating from the two female X5s.

He flung open the door and came face to face with—a total stranger. He was dressed in black. Spike-style, as Dawn would've called it. He had a slightly larger build than Alec, and he was wearing a rather hostile glower. "May I help you?" Alec asked in a polite tone, although the soldier in him suggested otherwise. He didn't like the aura this man was giving off. He could be dangerous.

"Who the hell are you?" the stranger asked.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that?" Alec asked with a frown. "You're standing in front of my house, and you're asking me who I am?" Okay, so technically it wasn't his house. But, hey, anything to get this man to go his way and leave him alone.

"You're house?"

Busted. Alec thought, grimacing inwardly.

"As far as I know, this is Buffy's house." The man continued, bordering on angry.

Alec's features softened. Oh. So this guy knew Buffy. "Oh, so you know Buffy?"

The man looked confused for a moment, when Alec visibly relaxed. "Yeah, I do. I'm Angel, and she's a friend of mine."

Alec shrugged. "Whatever." He held open the door to give 'Angel' enough space to pass through. But the man remained where he was, staring at Alec expectantly.

"Care to invite me in?"

Realization dawned. "You're a vampire." Alec stated accusingly.

"Yeah, so?" Angel asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you scared or something?" he taunted.

Alec smirked his famous I-am-the-devil smirk, and pulled out a stake from his pocket, twirling it lazily in between his fingers. "Not really."

Angel shook his head muttering something about 'Buffy hanging out with crazy insane pretty boys' or something like that.

"Yeah, I get that a lot." Alec said, smirking at him. "Come in."

Angel obliged, glancing furtively around the room.

"Hey, Alec, who is it?" a drawling British voice asked. Angel froze when he heard this voice, Alec was sure to notice this. Spike came out from the kitchen and he too, froze when he saw Angel. "Peaches?"

"Well, I guess you two know each other too--" Alec said, feeling surprised for a second. Well, it shouldn't have been a surprise considering both were vampires. They were sure to know each other. "--As you are calling each other pet names."

"Try insults," Spike retorted. "Angel's my – grand-sire." (A/N: Did I get that right?)

"I'm afraid the word sire isn't part of my vocabulary," Alec said rather sarcastically. "Although 'grandpa' is. And I cannot see the resemblance between the two of you – Paleness maybe."

The two vampires glowered at him.

Alec raised up his hands in surrender. "Kidding—kidding. Honestly, you vamps have no sense of humor. I'll go get Buffy now."

"No need to, she's already here."

The three spun around to see Buffy entering the living room. Her expression was – not gloomy. Alec guessed that Max hadn't spilled the news of them leaving to her yet.

"Buffy," Angel breathed, approaching the slayer and laying a hand on her cheek.

Spike growled.

Alec stepped back.

Buffy took away Angel's hand and dismissed the two males. "Um, Spike, Alec. Could you give us a second please?"

Alec nodded, and disappeared into the kitchen. Spike's eyes lingered on Angel's – a warning – before vanishing away from their sight as well.

"Angel, what are you doing here?" Buffy asked quietly.

"The First," Angel started. "He has risen."

"The First was summoned, actually." Buffy clarified, recalling what happened the day before with the Familiars.

"Summoned?" Angel echoed incredulously. "By whom?"

"By a bunch of lunatics that called themselves the Familiars."

Angel pondered this for a moment. "I've read about them before, I think. – They're an ancient breeding cult that dabbled with the Dark Arts – black magic."

"Righty-O." Buffy stared at the vampire for a second before asking him again the unanswered question. "What are you doing here? Because I doubt that you simply came around for a visit, coz' now's a pretty bad time for one considering the fact that we would be facing the biggest Big Bad of our lives in the next coupla' hours."

"My point exactly," Angel confirmed. "I came here to help."

Buffy's face fell. "No."

"No?" Angel repeated perplexed. "Buffy, you're leading a group of un-fully trained potentials. They're not Slayers yet Buffy. They don't have enough strength or experience to fight such a big battle. This isn't just some patrol anymore...this is war."

"And you think that I don't know that already?" Buffy asked, an edge to her voice. "These girls have the potential to become a Slayer. These girls have it within. I believe that they can do this. Because if they can't, I would've already sent them packing ages ago." Buffy inhaled deeply, as Angel looked at her with understanding eyes. "Besides, I need you to form a second just in case I fail. If we do lose – it would be my fault."

Then Angel said something that she did not expect. "This is about Spike, isn't it? There's something going on between the two of you." It was a statement, not a question, and Buffy could hear the sadness tinge the back of his voice. He was after all one of the few people she had loved so much before, and although Angel was still in her heart, she just simply didn't feel for him in that way anymore. There was somebody else now. And she confirmed it without hesitation.

"Yes."

Angel nodded slowly, accepting this fact. Buffy smiled.

"Here," the dark haired vampire pulled out something from the pocket of his leather jacket. He gave it to her. Buffy took it, and gazed at it for a few minutes, admiring its beauty. It was an amulet. It was sapphire in color, and the light reflected upon the surface and into the interior fractions of the charm where the color was so much darker – almost black. It was hauntingly beautiful.

"What's this?" Buffy asked, finally coming out of her trance.

"It's supposed to have cleansing powers," Angel explained. "Although I'm not sure exactly how it works. All I know is that it must go to your – champion. Which I'm guessing is – Spike."

"Thank you – for understanding."

Angel smiled.

Then he left.

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