Angel's vision turned red and his blood boiled. Without conscious thought, he ran in, sword drawn, slashing like a madman. One of the more stupid vampires continued forward and reached out to grab Buffy. With a roar, Angel pulled his arm back so viciously it was ripped from its socket and with the other arm, Angel beheaded the vamp so fast he didn't even feel it. In one blurring moment, the only trace of the vamps was the ash clouded air.

Breathing heavily, Angel walked over to a wide-eyed Buffy and offered his hand.

Buffy just stared. One moment she was ready to kick some major vampire ass when a familiar tingling entered her senses. Before she could register what it meant, a black clad figure moved ferociously, beheading everything in sight. Angel, she thought shocked. A game-faced Angel offered his hand to her, obviously unaware of his appearance.

"Are you ok?" Angel asked, his voice full of concern. Pulling Buffy up, she seemed to have realized what she was doing and dropped his hand immediately.

"You're a-a vampire," Buffy stuttered uncharacteristically. It can't be, no, no, no.

Angel looked surprised until he realized he was still game face. "Buffy, please, I won't hurt you..."

"Get away from me," Buffy said, tears shining in her eyes. Backing away, she just ran.

Angel stared at her retreating form. He didn't know how long he stood there, feeling his heart break. Within the span of a day, he had come to love her wit, sarcasm, her spirit. Now it was all gone, not only that, she was afraid of him.

Trudging back to his car, he drove to AI and without saying anything to his waiting crew, went down to his apartment. As soon as he was out of an earshot Wes announced, "He didn't give a word of greeting, nor did he report on his patrol. Something is amiss."

"How do you know he patrolled?" Cordelia wondered.

"His sword was all dusty," Doyle supplied before anyone else could, "Maybe someone he couldn't save?"

Everyone nodded, that had to be it, he did lose people once in a while and whenever that happened he would be withdrawn for days.

"Well, since the boss isn't here, I say we all go home!" Cordelia suggested.

"Finally, something that makes sense!" Doyle agreed.

"That sounds like a reasonable plan to me. I say the forces of darkness wait a night while we go out and have some fun!" Gunn announced before dragging a protesting Wesley out the door with Cordelia and Doyle following, a quiet Fred at their heels.

In his apartment, Angel sighed. He didn't want any of this for his friends, much less Buffy. Especially not Buffy. The thing that hurt him the most was the way she looked at him. Sitting down heavily, Angel stared into the dark, brooding. I miss her already, he thought surprised, I miss her after just a few hours. I wonder what she's doing right now.

"Giles? Is it possible...for another big apocalypse?"

"Buffy," Giles said surprised," All apocalypses are big, but, you want an apocalypse? Did you perhaps suspect one? Did something happened?"

"That's just it," Buffy sighed, "Nothing. There's nothing, I've killed no vamps since I've been here! There has to be something up!" Buffy complained. I can't tell him, he wouldn't understand. I don't know if Willow would, but I know Xander wouldn't. I honestly don't even know if I understand. Suddenly, Buffy realized Giles was talking. "-from Sunnydale. There aren't as many demons and you've only been there three days. I'm sure more will turn up sooner or later. However, I can check my books if you insist."

"Yeah, thanks a lot Giles, it would really help me a lot. Um, can a vampire ever be a good person?" Buffy asked casually.

"A vampire isn't a person at all. Xander certainly learned that the hard way, as did Willow. A vampire has no soul, no conscious of anything he does. The memories, feelings, even the personality might be the same, but it is a demon at the core," Giles droned in full lecture mode, "Why the sudden interest in vampire lore Buffy? Did something happen?"

Buffy hesitated. She wanted to tell him everything, but she wasn't even sure herself what to make of it. "Not really, I just have a hunch. I'll probably call in a few days and I will report if anything wacky shows."

"Good, then I hope you have an uneventful vacation."

"Night Giles, see you in a few weeks!" Buffy hung up the phone. After a second she picked it up again and dialed Willow's number.

"Hello?"

"Willow? Hi, it's me," Buffy said.

"Buffy how was your first couple of days?"

"Fine. Cordelia's ok. She's like an ex-popular person," Buffy described.

"That's good right? I mean, you're an ex-popular person. Is it good?" Willow said, beginning to babble.

"Yes, it's good. Slightly more self centered, but she's really nice once you get to know her," Buffy assured. She still wasn't sure if she wanted to tell Willow about Angel. She was with Oz, he was a werewolf, so maybe she could understand.

"Buffy? There's something you're not telling me," Willow's voice came over the line.

"Uh, you have to promise not to tell Giles."

"Sure, of course I won't tell him," Willow assured.

"I, um, met a guy," Buffy started, holding the phone back to avoid the shriek from Willow.

"He's really great and his name is Angel. He's Cordelia's boss, but he's sweet and nice and sensitive and..." Buffy broke down and started crying. And he's strong and evil and older than me by a lot, she thought sadly.

"Buffy, are you ok? What happened? Why can't I tell Giles?" Willow asked frantically. She felt so helpless, sitting on her bed playing with the phone cord.

"Wills he's perfect in everyway," Buffy sniffed, "Except for one major flaw."

"What is it? Is it something hellmouthy?" Willow inquired.

"Yeah, he's, he's a vampire," Buffy choked out, "You have to promise me you won't tell Giles."

"He's a vampire? Is he slayed? Did he hurt you? What-"

"He's not slayed. I just don't know what to do Will! I mean, sure he's a vamp, but he's a great guy that didn't hurt me when he totally had the chance," Buffy said, thinking about the day. He must've really been holding back, she thought suddenly, just as much as I was. She set about telling Willow about the entire day. He was so perfect in everyway, how could he possibly be evil? Clearing her head of those thoughts she listened to Willow's advice.

"As far as I know, vampires are evil. He's Cordelia's boss? I'll bet she knows about it. What's he do?

"He helps people," Buffy said quietly, "his life's work is to help people in need. The logo for his detective agency is an angel and their slogan is 'We help the hopeless.'"

"You think he eats them as a favor?"

"No," Buffy realized, "I think he actually helps them. I mean, if every single person that went to his agency came out dead, I think the cops would get the hint. But, a good vampire?"

"I could research it without Giles knowing. Anything unusual about him? Besides being a vampire and all."

"He, uh, has a tattoo on the back of his right shoulder. It's a bird or something. Don't tell Xander, I don't think he'd understand."

"Tattoo, don't tell Xander or Giles, name is Angel. I think I got it. I'll call you if I get anything. Just don't do anything until then. Maybe talk to Cordelia, make sure she isn't alone in a room with him or something like that."

"Will do, thanks a lot. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"No problem, call me if you have anything else to report."

"Ok, night Will!"

"Good night, Buffy."

Hanging up the phone, Buffy collapsed on the bed and despite the day's events, had dreams of a vampire and slayer in love.

Cordelia came home, looking around her dark apartment. "Dennis?" she whispered.

A statue floated in front of her. "Is Buffy home?" The statue bobbed up and down. "Is she asleep?" Another bob. "Good, Thanks so much for putting up with her, it must be hard. Well, I'm going to bed, you can do whatever you want, just keep it low."

The statue set itself back down and the remote floated up, wiggling in her direction. Satisfied, Cordelia closed her bedroom door and Dennis watched TV.

In her room, Buffy felt her Slayer Sense go off. Walking to the kitchen, she got a glass of water. Running a hand though her hair she sighed. What's going on? It's been niggling at the back of my mind since I got here. Draining the glass, she was about to go back to bed before seeing a remote hovering in midair, changing the channel. Quickly, she slipped inside Cordelia's room.

"Cordy, wake up," Buffy nudged her urgently, "There's a ghost in the house."

"You saw a ghost?" Cordelia mumbled sleepily.

"No, but I saw a floating remote changing the channel," Buffy said stubbornly.

"Are you sure you didn't just dream it?" Cordelia asked silently cursing Dennis.

"I can still hear it," Buffy answered her head tilting to one side.

"Fine! God, I'm too tired to deal with this! Dennis!" Cordelia yelled. The door opened and closed. "This is Dennis. Dennis this is Buffy. He's a good ghost, if a little annoying. Now let me sleep!"

Dennis and Buffy left the room and just stood there. Suddenly Buffy had an idea.

"Dennis?" A statue hovered in front of her and tilted a little. "Does Cordelia know Angel's a vampire?" The statue moved up and down emphatically. "Thanks, don't tell her I asked." The statue nodded again before setting back down and the TV turned on again.

Looks like Cordy definitely knows of the supernatural. Dennis could explain the Slayer Sense I've had since I got here. So, Cordelia knows Angel's a vampire, she still works for him, and she has ghost roommate. Giles would be so proud.

Getting back into bed, Buffy fell asleep, dreaming not of Dennis, but Angel. A good Angel...

...who woke up in cold sweat. Panting, his eyes swept around the dark room wildly. Taking a deep breath he didn't need, he concentrated on what made him wake up. Thinking back to his dream, he watched it unfold with horror.

Dream

He was in the middle of a battlefield, surrounded by a ring of demons. Bumping into something, he spun around to face Buffy, twin daggers gripped in her hands, a sword strapped to her side. Dozens of dead demons lay at her feet and with a quick sweep, he realized that there were other people. A man dressed in tweed, a teenaged boy, a red headed girl, another boy with reddish brown hair, and a brown haired girl. All of them were fighting with his own crew and blades were flashing everywhere. Back to back with Buffy, they created a bubble of stinging steel, making their way to the heart of the demons. Just as the way was cleared, a deflected arrow buried into Buffy's side.

"NO!!!" Angel cried out, falling to the floor. The nightmare left him confused, angry, and most of all, terrified. Terrified for the girl he had come to know in such a short period of time. Terrified at the thought of losing her. Terrified of at the realization of how deep his feelings really went. He'd fight for her, kill for her, most importantly, he's died for her.

Badly shaken up, Angel climbed back into his bed and he just lay there brooding. I love her, he thought sadly, and she ran away from me as soon as she saw my face. Attempting to close those thoughts from his mind, he thought back to the dream. It had seemed so real, almost prophetic. He hoped with all his being that it wasn't.

Getting out of bed and going to the table overflowing with research books, he started flipping. Searching one dusty book after another, he skimmed through the complex descriptions and hand drawn pictures. Hours later, the sun was about to spill over the horizon and he glanced tiredly at the clock. Almost 6. His eyes glazed over as he remembered the events that happened just 12 hours ago. Sighing he continued the weary task of finding something relating to his dream.

Pausing when he heard the office door open, he silently debated with himself on whether of not he should tell them about his dreams. He postponed his decision when a concerned Cordelia came down.

"Why are you up? You should be sleeping," Cordelia scolded, "I know you lost a person, but you have to get over it! You need to get out there and save others!"

Angel was surprised, "What?"

Cordelia just sighed, "We know the reason you've been so down is because you lost someone to vamps last night on the hunt."

"Oh! Yeah, it was a girl," Angel said realizing it was the perfect excuse. "I arrived too late, if I had gone in sooner..." Angel broke off, feeling just how true that was.

"I know, it hurts, but you need to get some sleep. Take a shower, put away your patrol gear and move on," Cordelia ordered walking off.

"Thanks...is Buffy here?" Angel asked after a second.

"No, she's sick, I guess she fought too hard yesterday." Cordelia called from the lift.

"Guess so," Angel whispered. At least she's safe at home and not taken by vampires, Angel thought with relief.

Standing up, Angel took Cordelia's advice and drained half a bag of blood before throwing it aside in disgust when he pictured Buffy's face when she saw his vampire self. Feeling his heart break all over again, Angel fell heavily onto his bed and fell into a blissfully dreamless sleep.

Buffy sat on the couch and stared at the TV, not seeing what was on. Why did he help me, why didn't he try to attack me like all the rest, she wondered. I spent the entire day with him, fighting him. Even though he was really holding back, he was worried the whole time about me. He wouldn't have done that if he was planning on killing me later. Plus, Cordy is definitely alive and not one of the undead. She might be evil, but... With a heaving sigh, Buffy imagined her friends' reactions. Giles would stutter, sensing her growing feelings for him and mutter regretfully about her duty. Willow would probably try to back her up. Xander...he would most likely say something like you slayer, he vamp. Oz would be characteristically silent and Anya, well, no one knows what Anya might say. Possibly some comment on how he looks. Falling on her side, she tried to make sense of the thoughts and feelings swirling in around her head. He hasn't done anything to hurt me, she thought finally, he's done nothing but help and for that I should give him a little credit. As soon as she thought that, a burden was lifted off her heart, making it instantly easier to breathe. Falling into a fitful sleep, Buffy caught up on the rest she missed while waiting for Cordelia to get home.

Opening her car door, Cordelia rolled her sore neck. "I blame Angel," she complained opening her apartment door, "If he hadn't been so down I wouldn't have stayed and fallen asleep. "Stupid, mopey, vampire," she muttered rubbing her neck.

"Hey, Cordy, how was work?" Buffy asked sticking her head up from the couch.

"Painful," Cordelia groaned massaging her neck. She didn't see Buffy's eyes widen, then blaze with anger.

"How are you feeling?" Cordelia asked, going into the kitchen.

"Better," Buffy answered, eyes narrowed, "I think I'm going out."

"Alright, just come back by 2 and don't wake me up!" Cordelia yelled at an empty room.

Buffy dashed to her room, grabbed her patrol bag, and rushed out the window. "I have got to use the door," she muttered racing towards the agency.

Deftly using a hairpin, she looked back proudly at the unbroken, but open door. Quietly moving through the rooms, she crept downstairs. With a predatory grin, she spotted Angel on the bed. Moving closer, she saw that he was only wearing boxers. Swallowing hard she thought, don't think about the almost naked Angel on the bed, think about the vampire that bit your sister.

Her rapidly beating heart was a strange accompaniment to her slow, pounding steps. Memories flashed before her eyes as she moved closer and closer to the bed.

Boom

The first vampire she ever killed turning to dust.

Boom

A vamped out faced closing in on a victim.

Boom

The face of a terrified teen, helpless.

Boom

The pain on Cordelia's face.

Boom

Angel in game face closing in on Cordelia.

Boom

Angel with blood dripping down his face

BOOM

Angel coming at her!

Buffy found herself at the edge of the bed, her stake held at the ready above the bed. She plunged her stake down.

FLASH

Angel smiling.

Angel laughing.

Angel's graceful punches and kicks.

Angel's blush-inducing look.

Angel's kiss. That one perfect moment of bliss that sent her out of herself and onto the moon.

Buffy jerked her hand away with supernatural speed and tossed the stake away. Gasping, she stumbled back and stared at Angel with wide eyes. Then she slowly sunk to the floor and swiveled to rest her head on the edge of the bed.

Angel slowly opened his eyes in surprise; she didn't kill him. Hesitantly, he put a hand on her shoulder. Buffy tensed, then forced herself to relax. His thoughts and emotions were in turmoil, but in the end could think of only one thing to say. "Why didn't you kill me?" Angel asked softly.

"I don't know," Buffy responded. She had just gone against everything she stood for.

"You should have, I could kill you in a second," Angel said sadly.

Buffy looked up in surprise. He sounded remorseful, regretful, about it.

"For over a hundred years I killed mercilessly, and I did it with a song in my heart," Angel continued morosely.

Buffy looked at him, he was full of guilt. She couldn't help it, her heart went out to him and she couldn't help but trust him with her life. Getting up, she sat next to him and tilted her head away. "Go ahead."

"What?" To sat Angel was surprised would be a huge understatement.

"You said that you could kill me in a second, do it."

Angel stared at her neck, then looked at her face, her eyes were shining with trust.

"It's harder than it looks."

Suddenly Angel grabbed her arms and pinned her to the bed, vamped out.

Buffy didn't even flinch. She just lay there calmly, completely trusting him. Even when he slowly lowered his head, she didn't try to get up.

Angel was astonished, here he was, in the perfect position to kill her, and she wasn't even trying to stop him. His fangs were scraping her ear as he whispered, "Still believe that?"

Moving her head up slightly, right next to his ear despite the sharp prick, she answered, "You'd never hurt me."

Pulling back, Angel used all of his will power to change back to his human visage and saw unwavering belief in that statement. "You don't know even me."

"Maybe not," Buffy said, "But I'd like to."

"Vampires aren't what most movies make them out to be," he warned, "They're really something to be afraid of."

"I know," Buffy said knowingly, "But for some reason, I don't think you are."

"Buffy, you can't even imagine the horrors I committed," Angel tried again, "You deserve better."

"Don't you think I should decide what's best for me?" Buffy countered, "Look, you were a bad ass a hundred years ago, big whoop, guess what? I don't care. That's not the person you are now, the Angel that I know. The Angel I know is sweet, caring, would never hurt me, and definitely a much better person than he gives himself credit for. We've all done stuff in our past we're not proud of, burning down a gym for example, but you do things to make up for it, and helping people live? That seems like a pretty good atonement for any sins that you may have committed. I don't care about what you used to be like, I care about the person you are now."

Glaring challengingly at Angel, Buffy waited for him to respond. He did.

Angel listened to every word Buffy said, not quite believing what he was hearing. By the time it was over, there was only one thing left for him to do. Lowering his head on a glowering Buffy, he gave her a kiss.

What was meant to be gently kiss, quickly turned into an intense make out session. Pulling back, Angel said, "Suddenly I'm very aware that I'm almost naked."

Blushing, Buffy nodded, "You should probably get changed."

Kissing her softly one more time, he got up and moved towards his wardrobe. Getting up, Buffy moved around the small apartment and looked into the sink. "Angel?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you still bite people?"

"Oh, I should probably tell you the whole story on that."

"It might help," Buffy called from inside the fridge. Containers of blood?

Angel appeared in the doorway and asked, "Hungry?"

"Not really," Buffy answered.

"Ok, so, um, let's sit down," Angel gestured to the table.

"For over a hundred years I killed mercilessly, and I did it with a song in my heart," he repeated.

"What changed?"

"I fed on a girl about your age. Beautiful, dumb as a post, but a favorite among her clan."

"Clan?"

"The Romani, Gypsies," Angel clarified, "The elders decided the perfect punishment; they restored my soul."

"A souled vampire," Buffy whispered, "It must be killing you. The guilt for everything that your non-souled version of your vampire self did. Now that you have a conscious, you feel like you have to pay for what you did. How old are you?"

Angel looked at Buffy like she had another face. "Wha-um, 240, how did you know that?"

"I didn't, that's why I asked how old you were."

"No, I mean, how did you know all about souls. That a conscious comes with a soul, without it, a person kills without remorse," Angel asked.

"I, uh, well," Buffy's thought's raced. Should I tell him? If he really is the person that I think he is, then there should be no problem, but what if this is all just an act? The added bonus of me being the Slayer might be too much. I trust him, she thought finally, but I can't put the rest of my friends in danger. If it was just me to worry about, I would, but I can't risk my friends. I'm sure he'll understand.

Angel looked curiously at the blonde beauty. She was unlike anyone she had ever met before. Just when he thought he had her figured out, something new would come up. He could hardly believed that Buffy was so unworried about the idea he was a vampire. It took him months to get his crew to believe that he wasn't Angelus anymore. Knowing that whatever she was about to say was a lie, he decided to let it go, it was the least he could do.

"My step-dad of sorts, he has this girlfriend who's a gypsy and she was always going on about souls and the existence of vampires. I really don't think she's so crazy anymore," Buffy lied. That's a pretty good lie if I do say so myself, she thought.

Angel blanched. "A-a gypsy. I think it's better that you not tell her about me. It's not that I don't trust her, it's just that gypsies tend to hold very strong grudges. If anyone of them found out I was alive..."

"But Ms. Calender would never do that! She's all cool with vampires and demons. I mean, the way she talks about them, it just seems like they seem like everyday things. Wow, probably right about that one too," Buffy covered.

"I know, but just don't, for my sake," Angel pleaded.

"I really think it's ok, but if you don't want me to, I won't," Buffy said.

"Thank you. So, what do you want to know about me?" Angel asked switching topics.

"Well, I think the questioning of feeding habits wouldn't be too wrong. What do you eat?"

"I haven't bitten a human since the day I got my soul back. I either drink pig's blood, or I steal the occasional donation," Angel admitted sheepishly.

Buffy on the other hand heaved a sigh. No reason for her to stake him in a Slayer's eyes. "That's a relief. Sorry, I sorta looked into the sink and after seeing what was there, I went to the fridge."

"It's ok, I had to hide it when you came over yesterday, but I had a late dinner."

"Have you really been in the detective business for eight years?"

"No, more like 25. But in order to pass off as a human, I had to make it sound reasonable. My detective agency isn't exactly legal. I mean, we do help the hopeless, but without the help of a badge. And a lot of the time the hopeless turns out to be a demon of sorts. So, the law isn't exactly on the hero's side."

"Don't I know it," Buffy muttered under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing!"

"Right," Angel said suspiciously, "Anything else?"

The night dragged on, the questions going back and forth. Twice Angel got up to refill the coffee pot and by the time the sun rose, they were both dangerously jittery. Checking the clock, Angel realized that they had about five minutes before the gang was due to arrive and he had yet to ask Buffy the one question that had been bugging him all night.

"Buffy now that you know I'm a vampire, are you sure you want to...get involved?"

Buffy looked shocked. Ok, that came out of no where. "What? Duh! I mean, why not?"

"It's just that I can't give you anything a normal person could."

"Right, super strength and lightning fast reflexes couldn't help anyone," Buffy commented sarcastically.

"No, but constantly being around the supernatural can't be good either," Angel countered,

"Look, Buffy I care too much about you to get you involved in this war that's been raging for centuries. You don't need to be involved and I'd kill myself if I was the reason you ended up dead."

As much as Buffy really, really wanted to tell him about her being the Slayer, she couldn't. Not until she had gotten the ok from Giles. Now she was incredibly moved by just how much Angel wanted to protect her.

"Angel, I get all the things that go bump in the night are out to get me and the innocents. But I'm not that innocent myself and if you're one of the things that are out there, I figure it's got to be safer. Look, I'm not looking to get married or anything, I just want to go out, have some fun, get to know you better. Do you not want to?"

Angel sighed. That look she was giving him was absolutely tearing down any of the reserves he had built up against her. "I do, I really do, but are you su-"

"Good! Then it's settled. I'm so positive that I'm surprised I'm not a battery. Or something like that...anyway, I'm sure," Buffy rattled, thrilled that she had confirmed a spot for herself in Angel's life. "So Wesley was a rogue demon hunter?"

"Oh, you should have seen him..." Angel went on to the first time they had met, complete with a pair of chafing leather pants. He was so relieved that Buffy was as understanding as she was, but absolutely terrified that once she found out what living in the dark was really like, she'd come to her senses and leave him. Buffy's not the kind of person to do that and you know it, he told himself, admiring her even while telling his story. Her tinkling laughter brought his spirits up, higher than he had allowed himself before. You really do love her, he thought, I don't want to tell her too soon, I don't want to scare her away, not ever again.

For such a broody guy, Angel had the funniest stories. Ones that begged her to tell some of her own, killing her that she couldn't. I'm sure he'd understand, and when I do tell him, I'll get to tell him all my stories. Pushing aside those thoughts, she concentrated on him, taking in his deep, smooth voice that haunted her dreams, staring at the dark brown pools that had her hypnotized. I could stay like this forever, she thought.

Just as if her thoughts were spelled, the fang gang, headed by Cordelia barged down. "Angel! Buffy's missi-"

"-hi, Cordy, sorry I didn't come home last night, I had some issues to work out with Angel," Buffy apologized.

Angel held back a snicker at Cordelia's face.

"What, ah, exactly did you guys talk about?" Wesley asked tentatively.

Smiling wickedly back at Angel, Buffy answered, "Oh, just some things, the day you met him for example."

Instantly Wesley got all flustered and started cleaning his glasses. Cordelia laughed and Gunn just looked interested. "Oh really," he said looking at Wesley, "Funny, he won't ever tell me when he met Angel."

"Well, I'm not saying anything," Buffy said, "But I wouldn't be laughing too hard Cordy, I heard about your frog kissing phase."

Now it was Cordelia's turn to blush and Gunn was looking even more interested. "Where is Doyle anyway?"

"He had a hangover the size of- he's at home worshiping the porcelain goddess," Gunn answered, never looking away from the blushing pair, "Fred's upstairs keeping an eye out for customers."

"I'm not saying anything to you Gunn, but I'll give you some advice: get it out of them eventually, it's really hilarious," Buffy said laughing.

Angel let loose a laugh, he hadn't seen something so funny in a long time. He loved the way Buffy fit so comfortably with the rest of them.

As soon as the first chuckle got past Angel's lips, everyone stopped talking to look at him. Everyone, that is except Buffy, who had squeezed more laughs out of him that night with her sarcastic comments than everyone in the room put together. She just smiled at their disbelief.

"Is there something I'm missing here?" Cordelia asked, "'Cuz the last time I checked Angel was really depressed from losing someone on the hunt and now you're all happy, which never happens."

Wesley coughed, "Uh, what Cordelia means is that Angel goes, uh, hunting on occasion and when he went last night someone was accidentally killed by a-a bear. "

Buffy turned around at Angel and looked at him with mock annoyance, "Angel, you didn't mention anything about hunting innocent animals. You know what, I can't even look at you!"

Both Buffy and Angel had a really hard time not laughing at the looks on the others' faces. "Your right, that was wrong of me, no more secrets."

"Good," Buffy said with a twinge of guilt, "Because I don't want to come here one day and find you skinning some poor deer of anything like that."

"No, we wouldn't want that now would we. I promise the only thing violent will be me beheading a demon," Angel swore.

"Alright, I because I don't have to tell you how mad I'll be if I find you dusting a vampire. How stupid would you have to be to let it in here?" Buffy added, still not looking at Angel's friends.

"Actually, there's a sewer entrance in the living room. Which I always keep locked," Angel said hurriedly.

"Really, a sewer entrance, I'll have to take a look at that some time," Buffy said interested.

"Hello? We're still here!" Cordelia butted in annoyed, "How does she know?"

"I found out yesterday night, Angel saved me from some vampires, but was in game face. I freaked and ran."

"I would too," Cordelia mumbled.

"I just spent the night talking to him, finding out why you guys aren't all dead. Hey, you're not bitten," Buffy said suddenly looking at the side of Cordelia's neck.

"Huh?" she asked confused, "Of course I'm not bitten, when did you think I was?"

"Last night, you were rubbing your neck and everything, I thought Angel had bitten you," Buffy said with an apologetic glance at Angel, "That's what made me come over here."

Hiding her embarrassment at Buffy's over protectiveness, Cordelia said, "Like I would let him within a foot of my neck! I'd stake him before letting him mark this perfect neck."

"Well, now that Buffy's safe, I think we should go check on Doyle. See how he's holding up," Gunn said, "I think he might be able to stand now. Come on."

"Wait!" Buffy called, racing to the kitchen. Everyone watched as she sped around it, calling out of random ingredients and a few minutes later, she came out with a half jar of some nasty looking black goop. "I can't cook, but I can sure make this well."

"What, puke?" Cordelia asked looking uneasily at the jar.

"No, it's a something that gets rid of hang overs. It's my De-hangoverer," Buffy said proudly.

"And by killing him, you plan on getting rid of it?" Cordelia questioned, still skeptical.

"Trust me, it tastes better than it looks and definitely better than any whiskey," Buffy said with a wrinkled nose, "Don't ask me how I know."

"We'll give it to him," Wesley said taking the jar.

"Make sure you take two teaspoons of that and put it in hot water, that alone will be too strong," Buffy added as they left.

"Will do!" Gunn called.

When they left, Angel wrapped his arms around her from behind, "Where did you learn to make that?"

"You know my step-dad? The one that's not Shawn, he gets drunk on occasion. This once time we really needed him to wake up and we all fed him nasty concoctions, mine worked the best and I've perfected it," Buffy told him.

"Thanks for not telling them about us," Angel said.

"I didn't want to unless you did, that's why I didn't bring up my knowing you were a vampire."

"I noticed, don't get my wrong, I want to tell them, but I don't know how Cordelia would react," Angel explained

"Yeah, did you notice how pissed she was when she found out I knew you were a vampire? I'm not really looking forward to what she might do if she found out we were dating. Speaking of which when are we?" Buffy asked leaning backwards to look at him.

"Well, since lunch is out of the picture and now you know why, I guess tonight. A movie ok?"

"A movie would be great," Buffy answered already thinking of the quality time in the dark with Angel.

"Afterwards I'll walk you home and you can tell Cordelia that you went out with some old friends or something," Angel said.

"But I thought we could patrol, you know, together," Buffy protested.

"Buffy, there is no way I'm going to let you patrol with me, it's way too dangerous. I can't risk you getting hurt," Angel said tightening his grip on her protectively without knowing it.

"I'm a big girl, I can handle it," Buffy tried again, "I beat you when we were fighting!"

"Your technique is good, I'll give you that, but if these guys land a punch on you, you're out of the fight. I just can't let you go out there," Angel said turning her around, "Promise me you won't go patrolling."

"I promise I'll be careful, plus I'll have you to watch my back," Buffy said with a pout.

Angel nearly gave in when she pouted at him, but he reminded himself that he wanted that face to stay alive. "Buffy."

"Ok, fine, I'll stay in after dark, but you owe me," Buffy said.

"Good thing I have a lot of time to pay you back," Angel said giving her a kiss. "Better?"

"No, I don't think that was enough," Buffy answered slightly out of breath, "I think we should do this on an installment plan."

"I like that plan," Angel said with a smile. Tilting his head to the side he said, "Looks like we'll have to do that."

"And we were just getting to the good part too," Buffy complained when she heard the door too, "Duty calls."

They both made their way up holding hands, only dropping them at the last minute, making their way towards the newest bout of trouble.

I have sooo much I have to tell Willow, Buffy thought excitedly.

Doyle is going to pound me for information later on, Angel thought sighing.

Neither of them knew the battle up ahead was about to begin.

I had some new thoughts on Buffy's response to Angel's vampire-dom that I liked better. Now that I've written it, it seems more compatible when watched and not read. If the first is better, then I'll change it back, I just thought this would be an interesting change. That' means feedback so...REVIEW!