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

Reviews: Welcomed and appreciated

Xander spoke up first. "I think we should all be handling this with Buffy. Especially Will, she needs Buffy right now." He resented the fact that everyone just let Angel order them around.

"Xander, just get over yourself. Please. Willow needs you. I need you. Concentrate on something other than your jealousy. If this keeps coming up, I am so leaving your ass in the dust." All the turmoil, all the tragedy, and all he could think of was his precious Buffy.

"It's not what you think Cordelia. It's not jealousy, at least not in that way. We're the core; we have been here from the beginning. And he just waltzes in and takes over." He looked to Giles for support. "Am I right, G-man?"

"Right now Buffy needs Angel. He's her partner Xander. And as much as she loves us all, he comes first. And he needs to explain the situation to her, in his own way. He's her link between our world and her new one." He tiredly explained.

"Well, what about Willow? She's in the same boat?" He refused to let his opinion be pushed aside.

"I'm not the slayer, Xander. The fate of the world never rests on my shoulders. I'm not saying this isn't terrifying, but I'm gonna need Buffy to get though this and I need her strong. Angel can help her, he loves her." Willow sniffed, got up and went to Giles and Jenny.

"Ms. Calendar, thank you. I haven't thanked you yet, but I am really grateful for what you did for me." She stole a glance at Giles. "Can you stand to look at me?"

Giles saw the fear and sadness in her eyes and his heart broke. He took her in his arms; despite the pain from what he was sure were broken ribs. "Oh Willow, could you ever doubt the affection I have for you? We'll get through this together; we'll all be strong for you. Never doubt, we're your family." He held Jenny's gaze over Willow's head and she smiled at him.

"Okay, hate to break up this little love-fest, but these kids are gonna be expected at school tomorrow. And Willow has parents that are gonna expect to see her in the light of day. So tell me watcher man, how you gonna handle those pesky little practicalities?" Spike didn't hate these people, in fact he was quite fond of a couple of them, he thought as he looked over at Willow and Cordelia. Yeah, the princess was coming out of this with quite a bit of strength and she was a hottie as an added bonus. And Willow, well maybe he wasn't going to have to wait all that long for her, what with this new turn of events.

"I'll make a few phone calls and take care of Monday. I think car problems on a trip up North will take care of one missed day at school and we'll figure the rest out tomorrow. We are all in need of some rest after tonight's events. Yes indeed." Giles looked at Willow, still in his embrace.

"Giles, how am I going to tell my parents about this? They'll never understand. I mean, I don't really understand. I'm only seventeen. I'm not like Buffy, I don't have her strength, her independence. I'm a wimp, a nerd and a wimp. Oh…feel the panic rising again, can't breath."

"Umm…hello Willow. Vampire. Dead. You don't need to breath." Cordelia sighed and went over to her. "Come on, Angel's got like a hundred rooms here, I'll stay with you." She turned to Spike. "Show me to the linens and to a bedroom, Willow and I are going to bed."

"Sounds like a plan, can I watch?" He arched one eyebrow and gave her a wicked smirk.

"As if." She huffed, a smile playing at her lips. "Xander, stop whining and come up and sleep in the room next to ours. If she starts wiggin again you'll have to stay with her. I need my sleep." She took Willow by the hand and led her up the stairs, following Spike.

Obviously no one took him seriously andXander realized he was feeling left out. As was become the norm, Cordelia was right. Just how did that happen? He shrugged acceptance. "My lady orders, I obey. See you guys tomorrow?" He motioned to Giles and Jenny.

"Yes, we'll be back. If you need us, we'll be at Giles', but later. I'm going to run him over to the emergency room, I think he has broken ribs." Jenny stood and put her arm around him, bracing him as he walked.

"I just need a bit of rest and I'll be fine. We'll be here tomorrow, please, don't hesitate to contact us for any reason." He limped out the door, leaning heavily on Jenny.

Kendra had been out, looking for some demons to kill. Seems the threat of the most recent apocalypse had sent them scurrying in all directions to hide, leaving her to deal with her thoughts. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She was a slayer. A solitary warrior. Not one who cared about others, certainly not one who cried at their misfortunes.

She should just call her watcher and catch the next flight home. Home, where she trained and studied. Home, where she could be alone. Fighting alone, eating alone, sleeping alone. She sat on a gravestone and felt very sorry for herself. For her life or lack of one.

"Feeling sorry for yourself love?" Spike leaned against a tree and lit another cigarette. A sight Kendra was becoming very used to. He smiled at her frown. "I know, I know. I'm a vampire and you should be killing me, but hey. I just saved the world, think you can give a reprieve 'til morning'?"

"Why are ya here? Don't the scoobies need ya?" She was also feeling very left out.

"They're all going to sleep, or trying to anyway. One big slumber party at Angel's place. Don't feel like the big group-hug good night." Spike too a deep drag. "I may be driven to help my sire, but all those warm fuzzies are just a bit much for this demon."

"No vampires out tonight, guess I'll head over ta Buffy's place. I can see dem all tomorrow. I should probably be headin' back home as well. You took care of da big evil, so I suppose my job here is done." She sighed and hopped off the tombstone.

"You know poppet, I'm thinking Buffy's going to need you for awhile longer. You have no idea how hard it is to get use to this life change…or un-life change. Whatever. My point is, she's gonna be in a pound of trouble should that council of yours finds out. They'll kill her without a second thought."

She turned her head to him. "If day could. And I'm tinking dere's no way day can."

"Oh, you have no idea the sort of fuckin' wankers you're dealing with. Giles knows and he'll do what he can…but since you're a real slayer, I guess you should be gettin' home to daddy watcher." He flicked his cigarette to the ground and pushed off. "Buffy's not the only one who'll pay for this you know. But we'll carry on." He left her with those thoughts and a small smirk on his lips.

Angel laid Buffy on his bed, going into the bathroom to run a bath. How am I going to explain this to her, he asked himself. He looked at the ring on his finger, she was for all intents and purposes his wife. And now, she would be with him for all eternity. He knew he should feel more upset that this had happened, but the selfish part of him – which he acknowledged was not a minor part – rejoiced at the thought. And once she got use to the idea, she would as well, of this he was sure. But to tell her that it was he who sired her, well…he wasn't sure what her reaction would be.

He poured a little of her favorite bath oil in and swished it around before turning the water off and returning to Buffy.

She lay on the bed in the exact spot he had left her, her eyes staring off into the distance. "Hey babe, let me untie you." He reached for her hands and she pulled them away.

"What's wrong?" Angel was confused.

"What's wrong? I'm a vampire. How do you know this demon isn't just waiting for you to untie me to make it's move? I mean, how do you know I still have my soul? Do you still even love me? You fell in love with a mortal, someone warm. That's not me anymore. And I'm so cold…will I always feel so cold? Do you feel so cold?" Tears began to flow as she dug her head into his chest. "Please hold me. Tell me you love me, even if you don't."

"I love you, really love you. Come on baby, let's get you in a tub. You'll feel better and then we'll talk. I'll tell you everything." He untied her hands and undressed her, feeling how cool her skin felt. Looking at how porcelain-like her skin had become. She was even more beautiful now, if that were possible. He felt his desire rise and fought it down. Now was so not the time. He lifted her in his arms and walked with her into the bathroom.

Buffy looked up at him and realized she had never felt so close to him before. He was her life-line and she was not letting go. Angelus laid her in the warm water and Buffy gasped at the difference in the temperature. It felt so good, just what she needed. She looked at her lover. He was so gorgeous and she felt desire for him. She turned her head towards the wall, trying to push those thoughts out of her head. Crazy. I'm crazy; a vampire, a slayer and a crazy woman.

"Just relax Buff, don't think so much right now. Just let the water warm you and relax you." He took a wash cloth and began to massage soap into her back, when she leaned against the tub, he began to work on her front.

She moaned and luxuriated in the feel of his ministrations. She almost felt normal. Her eyes opened and she looked at him. "Tell me."

"What?" Angel had been totally immersed in his task, loving the feel of her skin under his touch.

"Just tell me what happened. Tell me why I feel this way."

Angel sat back on his heels, unsure of where to start, but began never-the-less. "Okay." He sat on the lid of the toilet and told her everything.

Buffy was staring at the ceiling the whole time Angelus was telling the events of the past hours. About Spike finding Willow turned, about Jenny Calendar returning her soul – she was so back in the gang. About rescuing Giles. About finding her on the brink of death. About handing the sword over to Spike. His fear for her and his decision to sire her. The legend about a slayer always retaining her soul, which seemed to be fact. She turned to him.

"Thank you."

He raised his head from his hands, unsure of what she had just said. "What?"

"Thank you for loving me so much that you would risk my hating you to save me. I know how hard this all must've been for you…I don't know what I would've done if I had lost my soul or if it had been trapped. You didn't know baby, you didn't know if I would've kept my soul. Thank you for saving me." She raised her arms, waiting for him to lift her out of the now cold water.

He looked at her, not sure if she were playing a game with him. But the look in her eyes told him all he needed to know. He went to her and lifted her up, soaking his clothes and not caring. Angel held Buffy to him. Barely moving. "I'll spend eternity making this up to you."

She had to laugh. "The thought of eternity with you kinda makes up for a whole lot of stuff."

"We'd better get some sleep. I have a feeling Giles and Jenny will be over pretty early." He kissed her and put her on the floor as he grabbed a bath sheet and began to dry her off. She unbuttoned his wet shirt and began to peel it off him.

"What are you doing?" He pushed her hands away.

"You are not coming to bed in those wet things." Buffy felt a fire deep within her belly that she had never experienced before and she needed him badly.

Angel recognized the look and laughed deep in his throat. "Guess acceptance and youth go hand in hand. And it looks like we won't be getting all that much sleep."

She rubbed her cheek against his chest. "We can handle it, Sire."