Summary: It's 1968 and Angel has found a moment of perfect happiness. Just what it means for Buffy remains to be seen. Not happy with the title, so this may change. Will take place at the beginning of Buffy/Season 2, but will deviate from original story line. Almost totally AU. Buffy/Angelus

Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. I'm just doing this for fun, and hopefully entertainment

This chapter didn't upload correctly, sorry I just noticed. Will update this weekend, thanks for the reviews and patience!

As Buffy had suspected, the meeting with her mother wasn't going well. Giles had been under the mistaken opinion that once push came to shove, Joyce would give in rather than lose her daughter. He wasn't prepared for the stance she had assumed.

"I am so sick of this whole thing." Joyce walked over to look out the window, her back to Giles and Buffy. "The two of you come to me with this…with this what? Threat? If I don't agree to let Buffy risk her life everyday, she'll just go ahead and live on her own and do it anyway? I don't think so. No counter-offers accepted!"

"Mrs. Summers, really. Our intention was never to threaten you. But you must see the position we are in, we…"

Joyce cut him off, "We, we, we! She even lets you talk for her." She looked at Buffy sadly. "I've lost you, haven't I? You don't need me." she put her hand up to stop Buffy's protest. "Wait, don't try to placate me. I know you don't. You love me, but you don't need me. And I love you, but Buffy, I don't know who you are anymore. And I'm scared. I just can't stay here anymore." She searched her daughter's face and saw a look of resignation there. I'm about to desert my only child and she knows it.

"What does that mean mom?"

"I could call the authorities and force you to come with me, I could have you locked up, I could do all sorts of things caring parents are supposed to do. But none of them have a daughter who is the chosen one. I'm afraid I'm a bit too prosaic to deal with this. But I also realize what you are, so I've come to a decision, I'm moving up to Seattle. A friend offered me a job in her gallery awhile ago and I spoke with her yesterday and I took it. I want you to come with me, but I know what your decision will be. You won't, can't, leave what you are behind. And I can't live with that." Joyce shook her head. "You've been like this since you were a baby. Once you make up your mind about something, there's no talking to you."

"I don't know what to say Mrs. Summers. That you could just leave your daughter like this." Giles was ready to throttle the woman.

"Giles, stop. She has to go. It's best that she goes. We've been lucky so far. Mom's been safe, but now that she knows…well, something could happen." She was replaying Angelus' words in her mind, 'Any demon worth his salt…' It was best that she go.

Joyce looked at her daughter, "When did you grow into this adult?" Turning to Giles. "Just give me the papers to sign Mr. Giles. And do it quick, before I change my mind and call the police." Joyce had to fight the tears that were threatening to fall. Time for that later.

Joyce looked at her daughter, her baby. It wasn't fair that the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. As her mother, she wanted to protect her, shield her. But now, their roles were reversed. It was up to Buffy to protect her, as well as the rest of the world, it appeared. And deep down Joyce knew it was up to her to allow her daughter to do it. She had to let Buffy go, let her live the life she was fated for. If she stayed, her fear would hold Buffy back. Walking over to her only child, she pulled her into her arms. She was so small.

"I love you sweetheart. I always will. And you'll always know where I am. If this madness ever ends, there will always be a place for you with me. Promise me you'll live."

Not even attempting to stop the flow of tears, Buffy held onto her mother as if it were the last time she would ever see her again. And Joyce did the same. "Mr. Giles, I am counting on you to take care of her. Don't let her die. Don't let her become just another slayer statistic."

"I promise you that I will stand by her with my last breath, Joyce. You can count on that."

The next few weeks flew by for both Buffy and her mother. Joyce had Buffy's furniture delivered to her new place. It still sent Joyce into fits of anguish at the thought of her little girl having her own apartment, all alone at seventeen. I was still a couple of months until her birthday, but if she thought of Buffy being only sixteen she wouldn't be able to do this. But being so close to Mr. Giles gave her a bit of comfort. And each night she knew Buffy was out on patrol she also realized she had made the right decision to leave. She imagined all sorts of horrors, the vampires that attacked her daughter those weeks before were gone. But she knew there were dozens more to take their place. She also knew that Buffy was surrounded by people she could count on. That young man from the first night seemed to have befriended Buffy and was out on patrol with her every night, as well as the constant companionship of Willow and Xander. Yes, she decided, she had made the right decision. After all, it wasn't like she could talk to the mothers of other slayers, she was the only one and she had to come to these conclusions on her own. Joyce took one last look around the living room of the house on Revello Drive and looked over at her daughter as she did the same thing.

"I really thought this move was going to be a new beginning for the both of us sweetheart. I'm so sorry it turned into this nightmare."

"Mom, it was far from a nightmare. I was finally able to be honest with you and I've met people, friends who will be in my life forever. This isn't a nightmare mom. It's what I do. And you just can't be a part of it. But thank you mom. For letting me go. For letting me do what I have to." Buffy gave her mom one last hug beforeJoyce got into her car for her drive up north. "Call me from the road, okay?"

"Yes, dear. And listen to Mr. Giles. What am I saying? You always listen to Mr. Giles. Be safe. I love you. And Buffy, keep your grades up." Always the mom, she waved as she backed the car out of the driveway.

"You too, mom. Be safe and I love you."

Buffy had been living on her own for almost a month. It had been very difficult that first week. But with Willow's constant support and Angel's constant presence, she had made it through and become even closer to both. She really hadn't told anyone at school, and to be honest the only ones she spoke to were Willow, Xander and Giles. She had made Cordelia promise not to talk to her cronies about it, so she felt it was something she could keep to herself. Although Snyder had to be told, so in a fit of being Snyder he might let it out. Oh well, she'd deal if it came to that.

With Christmas vacation just a few days away, Buffy was shocked when she came home from school and found a Christmas tree and several boxes with beautiful antique ornaments standing in her living room. And her beautiful Angelus in tight leather pants sitting next to them.

"How did you do this? I mean how did you get here? Thank you so much." She ran into his arms, both of them falling back. Angelus held onto her and took in her warmth and excitement. She was so happy and oddly enough this made him happy as well. He was beginning to get use to the feeling where she was concerned.

Buffy kissed him. "I love it and I love you." She spoke without thinking and immediately regretted her outburst. "Oh god, I can't believe I just said that, I'm sorry." She buried her head in his shoulder, too embarrassed to move.

She felt his chest rumble with laughter. "Babe, don't apologize for loving me. After all, it's what I've been working at." He lifted her chin to look at her. "As for how I did this, I had the tree delivered and I used a huge umbrella to get in. Didn't you see my car outside?"

Still feeling shy, she shook her head. "I guess I wasn't expecting it so I didn't see it."

"Buff, you have to be way more observant, even in daylight. Plenty of demons walk around in the daylight. You have to always be on your guard." While scolding her, Angel's hands worked their way up the back of her shirt to unhook her bra as he ran his fingers up and down her spine and took her lips in a deep kiss.

She moved in closer to him, grinding her hips into his, attempting to assuage the ache that was growing deeper and hotter.

The knock at the door jolted Buffy out of her trance. She jumped up and looked toward the offending door. "Angelus, hook me back up." She turned her back to him and he begrudgingly obliged. He knew who was at the door. Willow, she said she was bringing Christmas cookies over. Although she referred to them as holiday cookies, "I am Jewish you know."

Buffy opened the door to the bright cheery face of Willow and the not so bright face of Xander. Cordelia pushed her way in before she could be invited. "Well, the place doesn't look too bad. It could use a little color on the walls though. I'll see what we have at home. Nice tree." She turned to Willow and Xander. "Are you guys going to just stay on the stoop?" She took the plate of cookies from Willow and handed them to Buffy after she grabbed one from the top. "Oh, and here's a carton of eggnog."

"Um…thanks." Buffy turned to look at Angelus, who was now leaning back on the floor, propped up on his elbow. "Cookie?"

"Forgot to tell you, Willow's bringing holiday cookies over for the tree trimming." He couldn't help but smile at her discomfort, both physical and emotional. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked good enough to eat. And she loved him. This was a red letter day indeed. He got up and went to greet their guests.

"A little over dressed, don't you think?" Xander hated the fact that he almost always had leather on, what was up with that? They were in California, 80 degree winters. What a freak.

"Personally, I love the leather pants. It totally suits you. Although Angel, you might want toconsider a little color in your wardrobe. You are a winter, but that doesn't mean black only." Cordelia had given up on her little crush and treated him no differently than the rest of the freaks she occasionally hung out with, which lately seemed to be more often than not. Particularly Xander.

"I'll take that into consideration." He looked at her and Xander. Their smell were all over each other. Hmmm. Interesting, he'd have to share that little tidbit with Buff later. He couldn't believe he was filing away a bit of gossip to share with her when they were alone. Spike would most certainly call him a poof for that. But if he saw her naked, he wouldn't be so quick to judge. Their physical relationship was progressing; he was teaching her things that he knew made her blush when she was alone, but when they were together her passion far surpassed any of his expectation. What she lacked inexperienceshe more than made up for in her willingness to learn and try.He was finding satisfaction and release in their sessions and he was sure that by her birthday he would finally have her where he wanted her. He almost had her today.

"Let's decorate! Angel, the tree is perfect!" Willow pulled out a bag of blood for him, decorated with a red bow. He smiled at her gift and took it into the kitchen while the group put on Christmas carols and began to decorate. He felt a part of them and he liked it. Guess I gotta accept the fact that she makes me soft. And hard. He chuckled to himself and joined in the festivities.