Hi everyone!  I'm in such a good but also bad mood today.  If anyone lives in England…and especially London where I live…you will know its been SNOWING!!! Yay!  Love some of the white stuff.  Unfortunately…my school day tomorrow hasn't been cancelled…yet…so I'm in a sucky mood.

Woah…again with the lots of reviews!   So flattered that you all like it…very happy…makes the writing that little bit easier!

Sam-453:  Yay you updated!  See…my warning works, dunnit?  Ok…Xander Junior not very good name…but I am going to have tons of problems with naming my kids when I have them…so you should feel sorry for them!

Everyone who reviewed and asked about Sirius and Buffy:  Hmmm…still not gonna tell ya!  I've got TWO persons in mind for Buffy…not quite sure which one I'm deciding on…as for Charlie…he's reserved for another slayer…

Please review!!!

Chapter 4.

Buffy woke shortly before midday, excited about the prospect of arriving in England in a few hours.  She jumped out of bed, showering quickly and drying her hair magically.  She dressed in blue jeans and a cream vest top and almost ran down the stairs, where the girls and Dumbledore were waiting for her.

"We've called everyone; we've told them that it's an emergency meeting and their all meeting at the Hyperion right about now."  Willow informed, sipping some of her orange juice.

"Everyone?"  Buffy warned.

Willow rolled her eyes.  "Yes, everyone, even Spike."

"Good."

Tara looked at her watch and jumped up.  "We better hurry, we called about an hour ago, and they should all be there by now." 

Buffy nodded and removed herself from the kitchen table, draining her glass of apple juice and grabbing her duster that Spike had given to her three years ago.  It was an identical to the one he wore, and Buffy hardly took it off.  When Buffy had asked how he had got it, he had just grinned and remained silent.

It did not take them long to get to the Hyperion, it was only a few streets away from where the girls lived.  But it was quite a challenge hiding Dumbledore, for he looked very strange in his forget-me-not blue robe.  But they got there with only a few stares, and they entered the crowded lobby of the Hyperion where everyone was gathered, Buffy standing by the doorway, watching her beloved friends.

Xander and Anya were sitting on the sofa, three year old Sarah playing with Xander Junior's trucks by their feet.  Xander Junior was with Giles, rolling his eyes as Giles tried to explain what a Polgara Demon was. 

Wesley was with Gunn and Lorne by the desk, talking about the last demon they had killed.  Faith was talking to Spike, Spike grinning every once in a while as Faith made another threat to kill him.  Cordelia was polishing her nails opposite Giles and Xander Junior, making stupid comments every now and again, which caused Giles to roll his eyes at the brown haired girl.  Angel was talking to Fred.

None of them noticed when the four came in, so Dumbledore decided to gain everyone's attention.

"I have very bad news.  The world is going to end." 

There was silence, then:

"Again?"

"But I like this world."

"Who's the bloody wanker who's ending it now?"

"But I just got this really nice pink skirt-"

"Let me just get my books-"

Buffy giggled as people rushed around the room, Giles gathering his books and putting them on the table and Faith and Spike handing out weapons.  Cordelia was the only one who remained where she was, blowing on her nails.

"Everyone!  Calm down.  I am only joking, but it is reassuring to see you all preparing so quickly."  Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling more than usual.

"Dumbledore, how nice to see you again."  Wesley greeted, putting his bow and arrow back in the weapons box. 

Dumbledore smiled and everyone settled back down to where they were before, Buffy sitting next to Spike and Faith, ignoring Angel's wistful look. 

"So, what brings you to the wonderful city of Los Angeles?"  Xander asked, sitting Sarah down on his knee.

"A proposition for Buffy."

"Oh?"  Giles asked, and Buffy smiled at everyone, ready to tell them her news.

"Dumble-d wants me to go to England, to join the Order and fight against Voldemort.  I've said yes.  I leave tonight."

The room was silent and Buffy looked around the room at everyone's faces.  She hoped that everyone was ok with was she was going to do, but if they weren't she was still going to leave; she just wanted everyone's support.

Spike was the first to voice his opinion, and he turned to Buffy, a sad look on his face.  He still loved her; he had ever since and even before he had been given the chip by the Initiative.  Buffy had never returned his love, but Spike was very dear to her, he was a very close friend.  "Well, I won't say no Buffy, but I'll miss you.  Won't be the same without the blonde slayer."  He said, half smiling at Buffy.  She smiled, squeezing his hand. 

"Good luck to you Buff, you need it in the land of tweed."  Xander said, grinning at Buffy.

Anya gave her opinion.  "Have fun Buffy, I wish you sun and lots of orgasms."  She said, not caring that her two children were near. 

"Oo, British guys.  I won't say no if Dumble-d asks me!"  Faith said, winking at Dumbledore.

"I imagine there is another motive to this decision."  Giles said, peering at Buffy behind his glasses.  "I imagine this has something to do with your family."

Buffy nodded.  "If I go to England, I'll hopefully see my old friends again.  Lily and James are dead, but Dumbledore says Harry's alive.  I want to see Lupin, Sirius and Peter again, if I can find them."  Buffy explained, her heart beating excitedly at the prospect of seeing the people she had been taken away from.  She loved her life here, and the people in it, but she was just aching to see her 'family'.

"Well, I hope you find them.  But do come and visit me, I will be going back to my house in Bath in September."  Giles said, a sad smile on his face.  He loved Buffy, as if she was his daughter, and it was sad to let her go.

"From Angel Investigations, we wish you plenty of demon butts to kick."  Cordelia chirped, tossing her brown hair over her shoulder. 

"And have lots of wild British sex."  Anya reminded, her hand on the small bump which was forming on her body.

"Thanks Anya."  Buffy grinned.  She looked expectantly at Angel, but he made no move to say anything, and after a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Cordelia coughed loudly.

"Right, we have to, uh, do that thing, we were going to do-" She said, screwing the cap on the nail polish bottle and dragging Wesley and Gunn out of the room.

"Yeah, we have to do that thing, remember?"  Willow added, gesturing for everyone to leave.  The room cleared and the only ones left were Angel and Buffy, Buffy sitting on the sofa and Angel a couple of metres away from each other.

The awkwardness was almost tangible, and Angel made an effort to avoid Buffy's gaze.  He looked anywhere but her, the floor, the door, the window, but when he had looked at everything in the room but Buffy, he realised he could not avoid this forever.  Buffy had similar ideas.

"Spill." 

"What?"

"Tell me what you think, Angel.  I want your opinion."

"Would you stay if I told you I did not want you to go?"

"No."

"So why do you want my opinion?"

Buffy sighed, staring intensely into Angel's dark eyes.  She loved his eyes; they told her everything about him-all the hurt, the pain and the suffering.  Angel had left after her graduation, and Buffy had tried to get over him, she had tried really hard.  She had dated Riley, and she thought she had fallen in love with him, but when he got that job from the military, she had not gone to the helicopter at midnight in an effort to stop him.  Xander had talked to her, told her to go, but she had known, deep down that she did not love Riley, she loved someone else.  Angel.

"I still love you, y'know."  Buffy whispered, but Angel heard her and he smiled hopefully.  "But we can't."  His face fell.  "You made a decision for us, remember?  You left.  You left.  Not me.  And I thought I could get over you, but I guess I couldn't.  Nine years later and I still love you.  But too much…shit has happened.  We can't, you know that.  I probably will never stop loving you, but I have given up on thinking that we can be together.  So why can't you?"

Angel made his way towards her, sitting on the coffee table opposite her.  He took her hands in his and squeezed them tightly.

"You were the best thing that happened to me Buffy.  I love you so much, and I don't want you to go.  But, I know you have to, so I'm not going to stop you.  I want the best for you, just like I did nine years ago.  I know we can't be together, but it can't hurt in hoping, can it?"  Angel looked deep into her eyes, and before Buffy knew what she was doing, she leant forward and kissed him lightly on the lips.  He was still for a moment, but he got over his shock quickly and he was kissing her back, with so much longing that Buffy inwardly gasped.  At the touch of his lips against hers, she felt as if she was seventeen years old again, kissing the man she loved.  She felt ready to give in, the feelings that she thought had been buried resurfaced and she felt herself melt into Angel's hold.

But before she could get herself too involved, a cough interrupted them, and the pair pulled apart, Buffy jumping away from Angel like a caught teenager.  She did not look at Angel, and did not see the hurt look in his eyes.

"Buffy, we should get going.  If you would like to say your goodbyes…"

Buffy nodded at Dumbledore and stood, moving away from Angel.  The others came out, and Buffy hugged them all.  Goodbye's were exchanged, kisses and hugs were given and tears were shed.  Before long, she had said good bye to everyone, and Willow, Tara, Buffy and Dumbledore stood at the door of the Hyperion. 

"I'll see you guys soon, I promise!"  Buffy cried.

"Bye!"  They all chorused, and with one last look at Angel, Buffy exited the Hyperion, her three friends following her.

OK…this is not a Buffy/Angel pairing…I repeat again…they are meant for each other…but not in this story…k?

Sorry for the short chapter…things should be getting longer soon.  Next stop…the Order.  And you'll also find out why Joyce and Hank got Buffy…I know a few of you have wanted to know.

Please review!