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Author's Note – I have decided to completely scrap my other chapters and just continue writing in the direction this story is going rather than trying to make it fit back in with the chapters I had written before. In my original chapters, I had a message to ShinodaBear, who reviewed my work. Thanks so much, even though you didn't like the Angel-turning-Gunn part of the story. And sorry, I didn't actually end up getting the season one DVD's because I had no way of getting to the shop. I plan on getting them today, but you never know. They may be gone… (NO!) So again I say to ShinodaBear, I'm sorry but I don't know about Gunn watched anyone's sister die so I'm sorry if this wrecks the story a little bit for you. I also apologize for any other "mistakes" I may have made, and I hope that people are liking the direction my story is headed. Please keep reviewing!
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Pairings – Angel/Faith, Buffy/Spike, and that's all for now
CHAPTER SEVEN – CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Downstairs, Angel had sat down on a dusty old couch. Spike, who had slowly followed him, was only just entering the room. He closed the door and wandered down the stairs, not taking his eyes off Angel for even a second. He sat on the couch next to his grand-sire, without saying a word. They sat there in silence for what seemed like hours, until Spike sighed heavily and impatiently, signalling for Angel to say something.
'What?' he asked irritably, turning to face Spike.
'Nothing.' Spike replied, acting like an innocent child.
'Go on, ask your questions. It's only fair that I answer them for you.' Angel said, relaxing back into the groove of the couch.
'I'm curious, how did you get back?' Spike asked, taking full advantage of the offer.
Angel sighed. 'I had to plead with a judge after I couldn't take it anymore. I begged him to let me go back, telling him that it wasn't my time. He told me that I was already dead, and that my time had come 200 years ago. He was right, but I wasn't going to let that stop me. I thought up so many different reasons for him to allow me to be sent back, until I used the battle with the Senior Partners. For some reason, he didn't have any argument to that example.'
Spike looked at him openly, waiting to hear what he'd say next. 'So what, he just thought that you did that out f the goodness of you heart? Bollocks, Angel. That battle took place for one reason, and you told us that one reason when we signed up for this bloody thing.'
'Yeah, I know. But the thing is, he left me in a room from a little while and went and spoke with some guy dressed entirely in white, who then came back into the room with him.'
'So they finally came to take you away then?' Spike said, trying to crack a joke. Angel looked at him with a menacing stare, which at the same time showed his annoyance. Spike sunk back and stayed quiet.
'He said to me that the battle against the Circle and the Senior Partners was meant to kill me. He was surprised that I hadn't come sooner, but decided that since I had managed to survive until Eve staked me, I deserved to be given the chance to live and fight again.'
'Bloody Eve, I swear we should both drive a stake through her heart. That'll show her.'
'Yeah, I agree.'
'Well, at least you came back safely.'
'Not exactly. Spending the day inside of a dumpster isn't exactly my interpretation of coming back safely.' Angel scowled.
'Oh right. Well, there's not a lot we could do about that. We didn't even know you were alive. As far as Buffy and I knew you were dead and gone. And poor Faith, she was wrecked after that night.'
'God, Faith! I have to see her. I can't let her think that I'm dead for real. How has she been?'
'Settle down mate, she's fine. Sure she's had herself locked in a room upstairs for the past three days, but besides that she's fine.'
'Have you seen her? Have you gone to check on her?' Angel asked angrily.
'Yeah, what do you think, I don't care? The poor girl thinks you're dead Angel, and so did we. I had to comfort her, I couldn't just leave her on her own. I brought her some food, but I don't think she's eaten much. Only comes out to go to the bathroom, and that's at 3 o'clock in the morning anyway.' Spike rolled his eyes after the last sentence.
'I've got to go and see her.' Angel said, getting up off the couch.
'Ah, remember a little thing called the sun? Are these windows tinted?'
'Last time I checked. I got them done before we relocated to the Wolfram and Hart building.' Spike looked blank. 'Nevermind.' He trudged up the stairs, flung open the door and disappeared into the foyer of the building. He raced upstairs, knocking on every door until he reached Faith's.
Of course, it was the very last door, right at the end of the corridor. He tapped lightly on the door, before turning the handle.
'Go away Spike.' Came a female voice. 'Or Buffy…' it added, after a short pause.
'Faith?' Angel whispered. He heard shuffling inside before the door flew open before him.
'Angel?' Faith stood in front of him, her brown hair matted to her head after an early shower. Her face was dark, still with a few scratches from the battle. Even thought it was a while ago, these things took time to heal. Her eyes were wide in amazement as she threw her arms around him. He held her close, her head resting on his chest. She began sobbing softly into his shoulder, as she hugged him.
They stood there in the doorway for ages, just holding each other. Eventually, Angel released her. Although, she refused to let go.
'Faith, I'm sorry…' Angel told her. She reluctantly pulled back, though remaining close to his body. '…I'm sorry that I left, but it wasn't my choice.'
'I know.' She sobbed, wiping the tears from her eyes. 'It was Eve. Buffy and Spike have her locked up in the basement.'
'No they don't, she's been moved. Spike and I are down there now.' Faith hugged him again, though not as tight as before. She refused to let go again when he tried to push her away. He gave up and hugged her back, allowing her to bring him slowly into the room and close the door. She pulled him over to the bed, and they sat on the edge. All Angel did was hold her, and that was enough. They were reunited after their ordeal, but Faith didn't want details. She was content with just having him back.
CHAPTER EIGHT – OVER-SHARE
Late that day, the duo of Angel and Faith emerged from Faith's room. When they had all come to the hotel, Faith had deliberately chosen the room without a window because she felt as if she needed to be completely alone after hearing the news of Angel. Now that Angel was back, she wanted to open up the room even thought she knew that she couldn't. She also realised that by doing that, Angel could no longer come into her room during the day because of its exposure to sunlight. She hated the thought that she would have to be separated from him anymore.
They had been in there for hours, and it was now mid-morning. They headed downstairs, Angel leading. Everyone was there, except for Illyria the Slayers. Illyria was upstairs socialising with the Slayers. Gunn, Spike and Buffy sat on the dusty old couch and they all turned to face Angel and Faith as they descended the stairs.
'Nice of you two to join us.' Gunn commented. Angel smirked.
'Yeah, about that. Don't ask.' He said. Gunn rolled his eyes and relaxed into the couch.
'You feeling any better mate?' Spike piped up. 'I mean, after yesterday's conversation?' Angel shrugged.
'I don't know.' Faith looked at him, puzzled. As did Gunn. 'I guess I'm a little bit more positive about the situation, but I don't think its going to go my way.'
'Uh, you folks wouldn't mind sharing would you? You're kinda leaving us out of the loop.' Gunn said.
'It's up to Angel.' Buffy stated, looking over at Angel. He and Faith took a seat on another couch, Faith snuggling into his shoulder. He looked down at her, not changing his position.
'I guess that it's only fair for you two to know what Buffy and Spike are talking about.'
Faith drew back. 'What's wrong Angel?' She asked.
'Nothing's wrong, as such. Just, different.' Angel began.
'Go on…' Gunn said.
'Well, we spoke briefly last night about the Shanshu prophecy. I signed it away to join the Circle, but Buffy seems to think that you can't sign away a prophecy. Although, I had to sign it in blood.'
'Your blood?' Gunn offered. Angel nodded with a solemn expression.
'So what, you can't become human?' Faith questioned.
'I don't know.'
'Tell them about what happened when Eve dusted you.' Spike told Angel.
'Yeah, about her. I really wanna tear her a new one…' Faith started, but Angel grasped her wrist tightly.
'Not now.' Angel said. 'I don't think you guys would really want to know where I've been.'
'I think I can take a pretty good guess.' Gunn said. Faith agreed with a simple nod.
'Where?'
'Hell.' Faith said, and Gunn's expression of concern remained the same.
'Yeah. But it's not Hell as you'd imagine it. It's much worse. Everyone and everything that is bad, is there. Every evil being that you've killed is there, and they taunt you and tease you so you never forget what you've done. It's more than just Hell, it's like a metaphoric Hell that you wish didn't exist. All your nightmares become reality and all your hopes and dreams are flattened by all the corrupt evil that lives there for eternity. Trust me, you don't want to go to Hell.'
Everyone stared at him with worried looks, even Buffy and Spike. They knew about it before Faith and Gunn, but still couldn't handle it.
'Wow.' Was all that Gunn could say.
'No, wow doesn't even come close to covering it.' Faith whispered.
'I'm sorry, but you wanted to know.' Angel said, sinking back into the couch.
'It's okay Angel. It's not like it's an over-share or anything. We're like family and you can tell us anything.' Faith said.
'Still, I'm sorry you had to hear all the details. I would rather to have kept them to myself, but Buffy heard me talking to Spike about it and it kinda came out.' Angel sighed, and stretched his arm out across the back of the couch. Faith wriggled under his shoulder, and waited for him to drop his arm. He brought it down around her shoulders, and held her close.
Buffy stared almost jealously, but knew that she and Angel could never be after what happened years ago in Sunnydale, then here in L.A. She was happy to have Spike back, and moved closer to him, already being held by him before Angel and Faith came down.
Gunn was alone, but he didn't mind. The only think that he minded now was the cold, which he knew that Angel and Spike felt everyday. He didn't know how long he could take it, and he thought back to the memory of his sister.
Back then he hunted and killed vampires. Now, the irony of the situation, he just fought side-by-side with one in an apocalypse. With a vampire friend he had know for years, in fact, since he staked his sister. Now that would be an over-share.
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Author's Note – The next two chapters of my story… you like? I'd like some more reviews on the work I'm doing, to let me know if it's still any good.