Sunnydale 3 years earlier

When Buffy and Angel got to school on the first day of 6th grade they made their way over to the table where the group met every morning. Everyone was excited, as this was his or her last year of elementary school. Buffy could feel some tension but decided it was safe to ignore it because Angel was by her side and no one would dare hurt her then. The bell rang for the start of school and Buffy was worried because this was the first year Angel wasn't in her class. Most of the group was in the other 6th grade class, but Buffy, Cordelia, and Willow were in Ms. Fowler's. Luckily Buffy and Willow were sitting together and Cordy was on the other side of the room.

"Buffy," Willow whispered, "I don't think you should sit with us at lunch today."

"Why," Buffy whispered back, taken a little by surprise. Willow had always been the nicest one to her, next to Angel of course.

"Because Cordelia is going to ban you from the group when Angel isn't around," Willow stated.

Buffy could see the sincerity in Willow's eyes and knew how bad she felt, but also the fear of Cordelia finding out she told.

"Thanks Willow," Buffy said softly.

Buffy walked into the cafeteria and walked around the table where she would normally sit. Angel was president of the student council and they often held their meetings at lunch, which happened to be today's case.

Buffy saw a boy with sandy blond hair sitting all alone.

"Riley," Buffy asked, "Can I sit with you?"

"Oh, um, yeah, s-sure," he stuttered out scrambling his stuff aside so she could sit down. They ate in silence until…

"How cute," Cordelia announced across the cafeteria, "Buffy finally found someone who was just as big of a loser as she is. Now finally she can stop kidding herself and Angel doesn't have to hang out with her anymore. He only did it because he felt guilty anyways. Buffy and Riley sitting in a tree…" she sang.

Buffy jumped up and ran from the cafeteria

"Stay away from our group and Angel," Cordelia yelled after her before continuing to laugh hysterically.

Buffy ran smack into Angel in the hallway.

"Buffy what's wrong? What happened?"

She wouldn't answer him but ran straight for the girl's bathroom and cried.

After school Angel walked beside Buffy towards her house, but no matter what he said she wouldn't talk to him. They reached her house and he followed her right in. They made it into her living room before Buffy collapsed into tears and told him everything. Angel, who had known Cordelia al his life, couldn't believe how cruel she had been.

Later Angel's mother came to pick him up, but Buffy wouldn't let him go until he promised not to mention this to the group. Reluctantly, he promised.

The school year followed pretty much the same way. Cordelia constantly would taunt Buffy.

"We never liked you anyways," Cordy sneered as Buffy walked by, "If it wasn't for Angel having to be nice to you because of your moms, none of us would have even talked to you."

Buffy would never cry in front of her. No one in the school would talk to her, except Riley. Angel would try, but Buffy would always turn the other direction and walk away from him. She began working in Miss Calendar's class at lunch.

"Are you sure you don't want to be with your friends at lunch, Buffy?"

"Yes, Miss Calendar, I am way sure."

At home Angel would either be over or on the phone. Every night Buffy would cry to him and once again make him promise not to mention it to the group the next day. It broke Angel's heart to see her grieving so, but he kept his promise for fear of losing her. Despite Cordy's beliefs, Buffy and Angel's friendship only grew stronger during this time. They slept at each other's houses at least three times a week.

One night they had been sitting up late talking when Angel said. "Buffy, I think I love you. You are my best friend and I think I love you."

"I love you to, Angel."

Angel smiled, kissed her on the cheek and they fell asleep.

Two weeks later

"Buffy don't you want to have a party for your birthday, with all your friends," Joyce asked her daughter.

"Nope, just Angel." Buffy answered. She still hadn't told her mother about her Cordy situation.

"OK," Joyce sighed, "Don't forget your dad is picking you up the following afternoon."

One week later - Buffy's Birthday

"Happy Birthday dear Buffy, Happy Birthday to you," Joyce, Kalie, and Angel finished.

Buffy blew out the candles. Her only whish was that Angel would be with her forever.

That night Buffy and Angel were up in Buffy's room getting ready for bed.

"Buffy, I got you something for your birthday," he said pulling out a small black box.

"Angel, you and your mom already got me presents, you didn't have to do this." she opened the box and there was a beautiful silver cross and a little paper saying 'Always'. "It's beautiful Angel, thank you."

He helped her put it on and said, "Happy Birthday Buffy Summers," before falling asleep with his arm around her shoulders.

The Next Day

Joyce was woken up at 7:30 am to pounding on her front door. Grumbling, she put on her robe and made it down stairs. As soon as she turned the doorknob someone pushed into her house.

"What the hell took so long," Hank Summers said looking around the living room, "Where is she, I'm on a tight schedule here."

"Buffy, is in her room, you were scheduled to come later this afternoon, go wake her up and I will make some coffee." Joyce stated, "Oh and her friend Angel is up there with her."

Hank stomped up the stairs. He found his daughter's room and was horrified at the sight.

"What the HELL is going on in here," he screamed at the sight of his 12-year old daughter sleeping with some boy. This woke up both Buffy and Angel.

"Daddy," Buffy exclaimed going towards him only to be shunned away. Seeing the immediate look of despair in Buffy's eyes angel became defensive and came to stand next to her taking her hand. At this moment Joyce ran in since hearing the commotion.

"Did you know MY daughter was up here alone in bed with a BOY!" Hank roared.

"Yes, I knew OUR daughter was ASLEEP next to a boy, Angel, and so did you," Joyce responded.

"This is Angel, I thought Angel was a girl."

Buffy noticed Angel begin to tense, so she jumped in to hopefully smooth things over, although she didn't really understand the problem.

"Daddy, this is my best friend Angel, we have been best friends since I moved here," Buffy rushed. "Now if you will go downstairs I will change and get ready to go."

"Joyce, I will speak to you downstairs. Buffy pack all your clothes and personal things, anything you can't pack I will by new in LA, you will be staying with me longer than expected," Hank demanded. "Boy, you can wait to say good bye to Buffy on the couch in the living room."

Joyce left, but Angel was hesitant. Buffy could tell her father wasn't leaving with out him, so she squeezed his hand reassuringly and urged him towards the door. Hank soon followed.

Buffy could hear her parents yelling from the kitchen, as she packed.

"You can not come into my house and bark orders Hank. And what the hell did you mean telling Buffy she was staying longer than expected," Joyce yelled.

"I have arranged for Buffy, a spot in an elite girls school in France and after seeing this disaster I am convinced she belongs there." Hank said very calmly.

"A Boarding School!" Joyce shrieked, "you are crazy if you think I am going to let you take my little girl away and ship her off to some foreign country."

"I will not have a daughter who sleeps with boys in her bed several times a week," Hank snarled, "I will not have a tramp for a daughter."

Buffy heard this and broke down crying on her bedroom floor. She was young, but she wasn't stupid. Her father was sending her away. Angel had crept up the stairs to find Buffy and the sight broke his heart. He had hoped that she hadn't heard her parent's argument.

"Angel, I don't want to leave," Buffy cried as she crawled into his lap."

Angel held her tighter, "I am so sorry Buffy. I don't want you to go. You are my best friend, what will I do with out you?"

"Oh Angel, I promise I will come back to Sunnydale one day, will you promise not to forget about me?"

"I promise Buffy," he cried, "I love you."

At that moment Hank burst through the door and Buffy swore she could see fire in his eyes. He grabbed her and yanked her from Angel's arms. He dragged her out the door and into his car. Buffy could hear her mom screaming, but all she did was watch Angel with silent tears in her eyes as the car drove away and he fell out of view.

AN: Thank you again for your reviews. This chapter is longer because I combined two that I had written so that we could hurry and get to the present day stuff! That was my biggest request (not that I blame you guys) so I wanted to make you happy. I will try to get another chapter out today but it'll be out tomorrow at the latest. I have had requests not to do any spike bashing in this story, and I will not. I really like Spike, I just hate the Buffy/Spike relationship. And despite this chapter there will be lots of Parker and Riley bashing in the chapters ahead. Oh and Cordelia, sorry if you like her but I really REALLY do not. So there will be some Cordy bashing. Well thanks for reading and keep reviewing!