AN: Some of my fabulous reviewers said they thought Angel was being a wimp. I really want to convey that he isn't a wimp he is just really broken with out Buffy. Anyways I think that would be the ONLY reason why Angel would have hooked up with Cordelia either on the show or in my little alternate unvierse.

Angel was in shock. Was it true? This had to be some sort of trick.

"Anyways I recognize a few people and I would like to thank those who had once been my friends for such a warm welcome," Buffy continued with locked eyes on Angel, her hidden meaning clear.

Angel could see the anger in her eyes. 'Oh God her eyes, I should have known' he thought in vain.

"Well Buffy, welcome back to Sunnydale," the teacher said. "Why don't you have a seat next to Angelus since Cordelia has gone home early."

A couple of kids, who'd been in the cafeteria, snickered at the mention of Cordelia's name but Buffy was concentrating on Angel's response. She had seen the realization dawn on his face and now he was avoiding her gaze. She wasn't sure whether she liked that or not.

Angel vaguely heard the teacher assign Buffy to sit next to him. He almost expected it because of the recent appearance of irony in his life. Not only was the gorgeous new girl his old best friend but also he had humiliated himself by forcing himself upon her. Not only was he going to have to deal with the repercussions of his actions but also he'd have to deal with them and the intense attraction he had to her. He began picking the last three days a part and found all sorts of clues of her identity that had been shoved into his face and mentally hit himself. When she did sit next to him, he was jolted away from his broodings and into reality.

The teacher's voice droned on and the class's attention had returned. Buffy looked at Angel and saw him staring intently at her cross. He reached out to touch it and she didn't pull away. Despite the hurt Angel had caused she recognized what he was doing and why he had to do it. The cross was one of the only physical things that hadn't changed about her and in touching it; it made her being there real.

"I never went a day with out wearing it," she said quietly.

"Buffy, I…"

"Don't," she said turning abruptly causing him to drop the necklace. She wasn't ready to hear his apologizes or reasons or explanations. She didn't look let alone speak to him again the rest of the period much to Angel's dismay. He continued to glance at her. He was afraid if he didn't check to make sure she was still next to him he'd wake up from a dream and she'd still be lost to him.

Buffy was unnerved by his constant glances, but refused to let him see it. The truth was her walls were breaking being this close to him.

When the bell rang Buffy couldn't get out of there quick enough. Frustrated Angel jammed his hands through his hair but didn't make a move to leave. After the class emptied Doyle walked in looking for Angel. Usually they met up after 5th period to walk to 6th, but when Angel hadn't come out of class Doyle had come in to find him. He saw Angel staring intently at his desk with his hands in his hair and he knew something was seriously wrong, Angel never showed his emotions.

"Hey man, ready for math?"

"Buffy," Angel breathed with out looking up.

"What," Doyle wasn't sure he'd heard correctly. He had lived through the Buffy and Angel friendship. He'd seen how close they were (and if he was honest he was jealous of their closeness.) He had also seen how broken Angel had been once she left. He refused to speak or hear her name. So hearing Angel say this out of the blue shocked Doyle.

"The new girl," Angel continued staring off into space, "The new girl IS Buffy."

Doyle didn't know what to say and after a long silence all he could think of was, "Shit."

After School

Finally sixth period ended. Buffy couldn't remember a time when she had been more exhausted. She couldn't stand the emotions that Angel had brought forth in her. She also couldn't believe how quickly news had spread about her true identity. True many people hadn't attended O'Connor Elementary and therefore knowing her true identity meant nothing, but to those who had known her it made a world of difference. For instance Xander, who was the first to see her upon hearing the news ran up to her and demanded answers.

"Whoa, Buffy?"

"Xander, look I know you will all have questions but I am really not in the mood."

"How could you have lied to us like that, we defended you when Cordelia blackened your name never expecting you to ever thank us and then you totally play with our heads."

"Defended me? Funny, cuz the way I hear it, it was Willow who defended me and you just followed." and with that she walked away.

Luckily Buffy made it out of the Sunnydale hallways with out meeting anyone else she had once known. That didn't mean she made it out of there easily. People were throwing themselves at her, guys trying to make a good impression and girls wanting to befriend her. It was times like these that Buffy wished she could be the little girl no one noticed once again. Although she liked being the center of attention, it made getting from one place to the next difficult.

Willow was waiting for Buffy outside of the school when Oz walked up.

"Hey Willow"

"Oh, Hi Oz"

"So did you hear Elizabeth was Buffy?"

"Oh yea…well I already knew."

"Oh cool."

'It is now or never…Oh Buffy I hope you're right' Willow thought, "Um, Oz would you like to go out with me sometime?"

"Yea, I'd like that."

"Cool."

"Willow?" During her conversation with Oz, Willow hadn't seen Buffy rush by her or Angel walk up next to her.

"Angel? I mean Angelus…I mean are you sure you should be talking to me?"

"Willow, did you know?"

"Know what?" she asked purposely playing dumb.

"Did you know she was Buffy?"

"Oh, well yeah but she made me promise not to tell anyone and I didn't want to break her trust…"

"It's ok I wouldn't exactly have expected you to run and tell me anyways, I haven't been the nicest person since she left."

Willow was getting really uncomfortable now. 'This is not the Angel we all know and love,' she thought sarcastically, 'what is he playing at?' "I won't argue with you there."

"Did she, I mean has she mentioned me at all?"

"Oz, I'll talk to you later ok, I need to talk to Angelus alone."

Angel's POV

When he'd arrived home he'd immediately attacked his mom with acquisitions.

"Hello Angel How was school?" Kalie called from the kitchen.

"MOM, Did you know Buffy was home?"

"What, Oh did you see her? Tell me how did she look? Oh I've missed that girl? Come tell me all about…"

"MOM. How could you have known and NOT tell me?"

"You loose that tone of voice with me young man. For you information I didn't know until this afternoon when Joyce called me. Apparently Buffy wanted to surprise everyone and made Joyce promise not to tell. So you damn well better apologize for coming in here making demands and yelling at your mother." Kalie was furious.

Angel slumped into the chair at the table, "I'm sorry Mom, it was just seeing her after so long, and she's changed so much, I didn't recognize her and I made a fool out of myself. When I found out it was too late and I went kinda crazy. You didn't deserve that."

"Well don't fear you and Buffy have always been able to work things out."

"No Mom, I've really screwed up this time."

"Well you will have an opportunity to talk to her tonight."

"Tonight? What's tonight?"

"Well when Joyce told me that she was home I just couldn't stand not seeing her as soon as possible. So I invited them over for dinner tonight. We haven't had guests in so long…"

"Yea ever since Dad left…"

"AND I thought it would be nice." she finished over riding his comment. "Now get out of my kitchen so I can prepare the food," she said playfully.

"Ok." As soon as Angel got out of the kitchen it hit him. Buffy was coming over. Buffy was coming over tonight. All of a sudden there were butterflies in his stomach and he didn't know what to do with himself. 'This is new,' he thought, 'I never get nervous when I have to deal with girls.' He tried to shake it off when his cell phone went off in his pocket. He pulled it out to see Cordelia's number flashing across his screen. He winced, that'd be the first thing he'd have to change if he wanted to make things right with Buffy. Not wanting to deal with her tonight he ignored the call. Well 6 missed calls later he finally picked it up.

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!" Cordelia screamed into the phone.

Finally putting the phone back to his throbbing ear, "Here, I just didn't feel like talking."

"YOU'VE BEEN AVOIDING ME. You listen to me Angelus I am Cordelia Chase and if I call my boyfriend he better damn well answer the phone. No one, and I mean NO ONE, ignores me."

"What do you want Cordelia."

"I heard that little Miss Fluffy is back in town. That in fact she is the one who spilt milk all over me this afternoon."

"So?"

"I am calling to know the truth?" Cordelia demanded, beginning to get extremely frustrated.

"Yea, it's true. Now I have to go…"

"Hold on Buddy, you aren't getting off that easy. So what does that mean to you? Her being in town again."

"What should it mean?"

"Well I happen to remember how Fluffy…"

"Buffy," he growled.

"What ever, She played with your head and I want to make sure nothings changed since she had the indecency to show up again in a place where she is not wanted."

"Cordelia, I don't have time for this, we are having guests over for dinner and I have to go get ready."

"Guests…who? It is common knowledge Angelus, that your mother is friends with that fiend's mother and I want to know if she is being allowed to step foot in MY boyfriends house."

"Who I have over to my house is nothing of your concern. Good bye Cordelia." and he hung up.

Angel was on pins and needles waiting for Joyce and Buffy's arrival and when he heard the doorbell ring he made a mad dash for the door. He opened it to find himself face to face with Buffy.

"I was hoping you would come," he said. Both teenagers were immediately slapped in the face by the déjà vu of the situation. It was the exact same scene that had been played out all those years ago when Buffy had first come to his house. As if right on cue Kalie entered.

"Buffy?" Buffy noticed she had gotten a lot thinner and seemed paled by stress. She felt immediate sympathy for the pain this woman must have gone through in losing her husband.

"It's me Aunt Kalie." Kalie wrapped her in a huge hug then held her out at arms length much the way Joyce had done.

"Wow" Buffy was again amazed at how similar the two women were and she was so thankful they had had each other through out their stressful lives. "Baby you look amazing."

"Thank you Aunt Kalie."

"Doesn't she look amazing Angel?"

"Yea, she's beautiful." Buffy was taken a back by this statement. As she mulled it over in her head she refused to see his sincerity and instead was angered by this statement.

"Well why don't you two kids go on up to Angel's room. I am sure you have lots to talk about and we will call you down for dinner and you can fill me in on your life."

Angel held out his hand for Buffy and for the sake of their mothers Buffy accepted and together they walked off down the hall. As soon as they were out of sight Buffy ripped her hand away from his.

"Look, I have every intention to act buddy buddy with you while we are around our mothers. They have been through too much to have to deal with this. But when we are out of their sight I will not act like nothing has happened between us."

"Buffy, I owe you an apology for the way I've treated you the last couple of days. Things have really changed around here since you left and a lot has happened to me and…"

"Stop it. I am not looking for apologies, reasons, or explanations. We aren't from the same world anymore Angelus, we don't know each other anymore."

"But I'd like to. Jeez Buffy we used to be great together, I missed you so much…"

"Yea, I can see you did, that must explain why you ran to Cordelia for comfort."

"I am not in love with Cordelia, we are only dating http/search. for social reasons…"

"Angelus I don't care why. All I know is that you allowed her to reduce me to nothing and never once had the guts to stick up for me. We were supposed to be best friends…"

"Buffy, I never thought I was going to see you again!"

"I told you, NO I promised you I would come back. Just because when you promise something it means nothing doesn't mean that promises mean nothing to the rest of us."

"Promise?"

"YOU SWORE YOU WOULD NEVER FORGET ME! That night at the Bronze you had no idea who I was."

"Buffy look how much you've changed, I mean I would have eventually…"

"No Angelus," at this point she was shaking with fury and on the verge of tears, "I recognized you at first glance. God even Riley…"

"What the hell does Finn have to do with anything," Now Angel was not only upset but also a little jealous.

"Angelus I can't do this."

"Buffy, please call me Angel."

"What, isn't Angelus what you call yourself these days, I wouldn't want to ruin the name you have created."

"Buffy, look, I lost you once I won't do it again."

"Yea, well you have a funny way of showing your loyalty."

"What? Do you want me to break up with Cordelia? Is that what you want? I'll call her right now."

"You know what I want? I want to live my life with out having to worry about what others think of me. I was a little girl scared to the point I hated talking to people for fear they wouldn't like me. I shied away from everything my 6th grade year because of what Cordelia Chase thought of me. I had to continuously beg my father not to call me a slut on the phone because I used to sleep over at your house. I had to wonder what you thought of me every day I was in France because you never once wrote me a letter…"

"A letter? You want to see the letters that I wrote?" He went to his closet and pulled out three shoeboxes full of letters. Buffy didn't know what to say. "Every day for 2 years I wrote you a letter. Every one got returned to me."

"I don't understand"

"Don't you? Your father. All of your mail went through him. Whatever he didn't want you to read he either sent back or sent a letter of his own saying he'd burnt it. I remember the day the last letter was returned to me, your mother told me he even went through the letters she wrote and if there were any mention of me he'd burn them. Do you see what I mean…I never thought I was going to see you again."

Buffy didn't know what to say. This ruined the picture that she had of Angel that allowed her to move on with her life. Luckily Kalie chose that moment to call them down for dinner.

Dinner was peaceful enough. Buffy and Angel only talked to each other when absolutely necessary to keep their mothers at peace. Buffy told them all about her school and friends. Kalie loved to hear about the clothes and make-up and such. Buffy wasn't sure but when she talked about the dances with the neighboring boy's school and her popularity she thought she'd heard Angel growl. Soon after it was time to leave, as it was a school night. Kalie gave Buffy a tight hug and said she hoped to see her again very soon. As the mothers were saying good bye Angel leaned over and kissed Buffy's cheek. Buffy could feel the tears welling in her eyes for another time that day but refused to allow them to fall.

In the car http/search. that evening both Joyce and Buffy were silent. It was Joyce who broke this silence much to Buffy's dismay.

"Buffy, I have to tell you something."

"Yes"

"Well, I know you just got home and all, but I have to go out of town for two days."

"There is a surprise I have for you. But I'm bringing it from L.A. and I have to go get it."

"A surprise? Ok."

"Well that went easier than I thought."

"Why did you think I'd be difficult?"

"Well, I don't know. Anyways you will be staying with Aunt Kalie for those two nights."

"Oh, ok. WAIT, I'M STAYING AT AUNT KALIE'S?"

"Honey, calm down, yes is that a problem?"

"Mom, I am 16 years old I can stay home alone. Hell I was half way across the world all alone, I think I can handle a couple days at my house."

"You watch your mouth young lady. I have no doubt you can take care of yourself, but I will have you know that I just got you back from being separated for 3 and a half years and I will not risk any chance of losing you again. You will be going to Kalie's and with a smile on your face."

"I'm sorry mom. Ok, I understand."

Joyce and Buffy both took a deep breath to calm their nerves and the car ride was once again silent.

'I am staying at Angel's house for two nights. I am going to be living at Angel's house. I will be living with Angel.' Buffy helplessly thought over and over again.

An: I hope you guys liked. I know it has been awhile but I am trying. Thanks for the support and love! Je t'aime Angel