Renewal and Restoration
Author: buffy1
Spoilers: All of Buffy and Angel including season 5, to be safe.
Rating: PG (slightly graphic in parts)
Disclaimer: Just borrowing them. I think it's pretty obvious
Distribution: You're welcome to it; just tell me where it's going first.
Summary: Set two years after 'Chosen' and the year after 'Not Fade Away'. Angel is back to running Wolfram and Hart with the rest of AI when they receive devastating news.
Pairings: A/Nina to start with, W/F, and others.
Author's note: This is my take on what happens next. In this version Fred was saved and she doesn't stay as Illyria. Also Wesley and Gunn didn't die! Song is "Take Me Away" by Avril Lavigne.
Buffy's thoughts are in italics.
Previously on Renewal and Restoration:
"The Council is gone. Destroyed." Angel was speechless, and in a state of shock.
"Buffy?" he asked simply. Wesley was visibly upset,
"They found her body amongst those in Brazil. I'm sorry, Angel. She's gone."
"Guys!" Fred interrupted, bursting into the office, "Something's happened."
"Now what?" Angel asked.
"She's missing! Buffy's body is missing.
"Excuse me," a demon next to them interrupted, "did you just say the Slayer is dead? The original Slayer?" Angel and Spike both nodded sadly.
"You must be mistaken. I know some people in South America and they know for a fact that the Slayer is not dead. Name's Buffy right? She's alive, and she isn't happy."
"Angel?" Wesley asked, opening the door and walking inside the office.
"What is it Wes?"
"We just received reports from our offices in South America. Demon populations are being slaughtered all over the continent. Not one demon has survived."
Angel entered a dim cavern with nothing to light it but an old torch mounted on the wall, and he saw her.
"I was wondering when you would get here," she said. Angel froze in shock,
"Buffy?"
Chapter 7
"Buffy?"
"Hello Angel," Buffy said with a mirthless smile.
"What are you doing here?" Angel asked, genuinely confused.
"Well, in case you didn't notice…there are a lot of dead demons outside," Buffy explained curtly. Angel ignored her tone,
"I noticed. Your handiwork?"
"Mmm hmm," she answered.
"And the Fera demons in Brazil? That was you too?"
"That was me"
Angel was shocked. He never knew Buffy could be so merciless,
"Why?"
I feel like I'm all alone
All by myself I need to get around this
My words are cold
I don't want them to hurt you
If I show you
I don't think you'd understand
Cuz no one understands
"Why? Why for entertainment of course. Any other reason? It's not like I have anything else to do…" Buffy turned away, "…or talk to," she added contemptuously.
"It's not like you to go around slaughtering random demons. I know you and-"
'I'm not me anymore. Who am I?'
"Correction, Angel. You DID know me. Maybe it's escaped you during your time with Evil Incorporated, but things change, and so do people."
"Not everyone. Not always"
"Do I look like that innocent little teenage girl you used to know and love?"
"Maybe not, but I know you. The real you,"
"The real me?"
"Yes, the real you. The part of you that you hide from the rest of the world. You don't always have to be strong, Buffy"
"Yes I do"
"You don't! I'm looking at you now and I can't see any sign of what you've just been through.
'What I'm still going through'
"I know you, Buffy, and I know that you must really be in pain, but you refuse to show it to the rest of the world. Grieve. People won't think any less of you for that."
"The world has never thought of me before, Angel, and it never will. I don't care what the world thinks of me anymore."
"Buffy please. I don't know what you're doing, or why you're doing it but…is this how you want your friends to see you."
"It doesn't matter anymore. They're gone. So stop pretending that you care about me and go back to L.A! Go back to being CEO of hell incorporated. And stay out of my way," Buffy made a move to leave, but Angel stepped in her way.
"Buffy. I'm not pretending that I care about you. I love you. I made mistakes. I know that. I decided to leave without even talking to you and I know I must have really hurt you. I'm sorry." Everything was silent for a moment, until Angel continued, "Listen, I know I have no right to ask this but, do you still love me?"
Buffy was shocked that Angel was so forward in asking her. She thought for a moment and answered, "I do." Angel smiled at her, happy, but her face remained impassive and her stare was blank. The smile faded from his face.
"I know you'll never forget about what happened, but you have to carry on with your life. Live for them."
'That wasn't what I meant. He'll never know what I mean.'
"I don't know what to do with my life anymore. With the others gone…"
"You can always work for me." Angel said quickly. Buffy's head shot up,
"What?"
"Well, I thought that since you don't have anyone to work with anymore, maybe you'd want to join my office in LA…" after seeing the look on Buffy's face he added,
"It's just an offer; you don't have to take it. We've changed it. It's not that evil anymore and we could always use a slayer on the team,"
"I dunno…"
"Please just think about it. Take my card," Buffy reached out and cautiously took the card from him and slipped it into the waistband of her leather trousers.
"I should get going,"
"Where are you living?"
"Oh I hang around," she said mysteriously before turning to leave.
"I've missed you Buffy"
"Yeah. I did too," she said not stopping.
"Think about my offer, all right?" Angel called after her.
"We'll see."
"Buffy…" Angel called gently. Buffy turned to look at him, "I'm sorry…about the others," Buffy gave him a rueful smile,
"So am I."
And she was gone.
To be continued…
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