Summary: What if Buffy had gone with Angel into that hell dimension on the finale of Season2? My first fan fiction, I think this would be considered AU.

Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. This just all just for entertainments sake, I hope.

When Buffy had called, asking if they could come over and give Joyce a ride back to her house, Willow and Oz had been in each others arms, having just finished making love. She and Oz had found refuge, comfort and intense pleasure together since the beginning of summer. After Buffy had left, Willow was inconsolable and Oz had been there for her. One thing had led to another and Willow had never looked back. Her only regret was that she hadn't been able to talk to her best friend about it. She was so looking forward to spending time sharing girly stuff with Buffy again, although at the moment it seemed things were going to have to wait while they all figured out what the future was going to hold. She just hoped Buffy would be a little bit of the same girl who left and that they would be able to share all the good stuff along with the bad.

"Willow, are you alright?" Buffy could tell there was something different in her friends' voice. It had been 20 years since they had really talked, but some things never changed and Willow's voice, her demeanor was one of them. "Oh my god! You and Oz, am I right? Ohmygodohmygodohmygod! We so have to talk, soon!" Buffy felt just like a 17 year old again, this was ridiculous, but she couldn't help it.

Willow smiled into the phone, there was her Buffy. She was so relieved. "Popcorn and chocolate, as soon as we avert whatever it is we need to avert. Be there in about…" she looked over at Oz, who was throwing on his t-shirt and looking for his underwear and pants on the floor, "20 minutes?"

"Sounds perfect. Thanks Willow, for so many things."

"I love you, too Buffy."

So, here they sat, in Joyce's living room. Oz running his hand up and down Willow's back, causing funny little quivers in her stomach. Xander sat across from them, a scowl on his face. Some things never seemed to change, and Angel married to Buffy with a cute little baby to make things even stronger between them seem to just about throw him over the edge.

Cordelia was starting to get really pist. "What the heck is wrong with you? It so does not concern you, anyway. You know the two of them were meant to be together and if you do not get your shit together Mr. Harris, you will not only be losing your precious "slayer slash vampire", whom I may add you never really had. You will be losing me! And buddy, if you think you can find someone as hot and popular as me, well…well, you just won't!"

"Cordy, it's not that. It's just…he killed Ms. Calendar, he tortured Giles, he's just… bad. Evil. I don't see how you can just all sit here and act like this is something normal, that we should just all accept it." He put his head in his hands.

Ignoring Xander's latest tirade, Cordelia stepped over to where Joyce was holding Connor. "Can I hold him?"

"Um, are you sure Cordelia?" Joyce had developed a fondness for Cordelia, although she wasn't quite sure why, but she was a bit nervous entrusting her grandson to her.

"Oh yeah, he's really cute and I'm sure he would love to know that I held him when he was tiny. Something he can tell his friends about someday."

Willow rolled her eyes and laid back against Oz. "You know Cordy, Buffy and Angel are the ones who aren't going to age, not you."

"Willow, I will be hot until the day I die, unlike you with your red hair and freckles. Do you even moisturize?"

"Now girls, here Cordelia, take Connor. Remember to support his head." Joyce handed him over, hoping to avoid anymore sniping.

Faith had had just about enough of this. "My god, how you guys bitch! Cordelia, 60 and hot? Never gonna happen. Willow, doesn't matter how you age, Oz will still love you when your tits hit the ground. So just stop." She walked over to Xander, "Just get it over it, Harris. B has found her prince, so he may be a little old and he may drink blood and he may harbor a nasty little beastie inside, and by way, who doesn't? She loves him, she chose him and that is that. Joyce and Giles are coming to terms, do the same or find yourself all alone. I may not be Cordy's biggest fan, but face it Xand, you hit the mother load with that one." She looked over at Willow and gave her a "and you know what I mean by that" look.

Xander felt as if someone just slapped him in the face. And if his attitude didn't change he was sure both Faith and Cordelia would deal an actually slap. He stood up and walked over to Cordy. "I'll try. Cordelia, you know how much I care for you. You know how much you mean to me. I'm sorry."

"Can it Harris. Words are so cheap. Just show me, and I mean everyday of the life you have left." Cordelia's attention was focused back on Connor. "Look at this little guy, isn't he the cutest? Got his looks totally from Angel. He is like totally checking out my boobs! He can't be a perve at his age, can he?"

Willow looked at Oz, "Honestly, I really am trying." Turning to Cordelia, "I think he must be hungry, Cordelia. Why don't you give him back to Mrs. Summers."

It took all of Joyce's willpower not to burst out laughing. And poor Rupert was trying so desperately to disappear into the chair he was sitting in.

"So, Joyce," Giles finally spoke, "Angel is seriously considering using Spike as muscle to protect the child? It seems a bit dangerous to me."

Faith was thinking the same thing. "I think I'm gonna do one more loop around the graveyard before I call it a night. One good slaying before bedtime and I sleep like the dead."

"Do you want me to cover your back, Faith." Xander really didn't want to be here when Buffy and Angel showed up.

"No. I can handle it. Besides, you have some dealing to do. Make nice with B and her Angel."

"No chances, Faith." Joyce warned her.

"No worries, Mrs. S. It's 5 by 5."

Faith found Spike sitting by the fire in the main room of the mansion, sipping on some blood and nibbling on a box of Wheatabix.

"That has to be the weirdest food combination I have ever seen." She slid down the wall, opposite Spike, to face him.

"It gives nice texture to the blood, you should try it sometime." He looked at her from under his lashes. He could tell she didn't trust him and he was in no mood to convince her. "What gives, pet. Come to make sure I leave town? Connor wants me and I have to be honest, not sure I can leave. It's pretty wonky."

"Wonky, yeah, that's the word for this whole situation." She got up and paced.

"So slayer, got some pent up energy you need to work off? I have plenty of remedies for that. I could keep you going all night and day. Care to stay and help me kill the time?" He arched his scared eyebrow.

Faith walked over to him and picked him up by the lapels of his black leather duster and looked into his eyes. "Honey, you couldn't keep up. You'd be begging for more but they would just be empty words 'cause I would've used you all up. Work on the stamina William. When I think you can handle the heat, I'll reconsider." She should've been insulted, but he had some real balls, considering she could end his sorry undead life on the spot.

They looked into each other's eyes, waiting for the other to blink first. Faith just couldn't hold it any longer, she dropped himand began to laugh. This is ridiculous, she thought. I am here with the slayer of slayers, and I can't seem to bring myself to stake him.

Spike retrieved his pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket, "Smoke?" He offered her the pack along with his lighter. Faith looked at him for a moment, then shrugged, "Sure, what the hell, I'm bound to be long dead before the cigs do me in."