"You too, huh?" She whispered.
He didn't reply, but instead collapsed to his knees. He began to cry, it seemed for no apparent reason. She knelt down beside him.
"Shh. Shh. It's okay, I'm here. What's wrong?" She was starting to cry as well.
"Oh God." He said, strangled. "What…what have I done?" He clasped his hands to his face.
"What do you mean?" Buffy was sincerely puzzled.
"I…I killed her." He said quietly.
"You can't mean-" Her eyes widened.
"How did this happen to us?" He croaked.
"I, I don't know." She looked down at the books. "I was about to figure it out. Come with me." She whispered.
Buffy unlocked the door, and she and Angel began to go up the steps. They got to the top step when she heard a noise.
Joyce coughed "Buffy?"
"Oh, hi, Mom."
"Don't 'hi, Mom' me, young lady." Joyce's arms were crossed in a menacing manner. "Who is this young man with you?"
"Angel." He smiled weakly.
"Mom, you do remember Angel, don't you? My tutor?" Buffy tried to refresh her mother's memory.
"Oh, yes. Okay, carry on." She smiled and walked away. "But don't be up too late studying, I don't want his parents to worry."
"Don't worry about that, ma'am." Angel said quietly.
"You called my mom 'ma'am'?" Buffy asked, disbelieving.
"It's respectful." Angel said simply.
"Still, you're like way older than she is." Buffy insisted and she sat down on the bed.
"Not in appearance." He sighed as he took the spot next to her. She put her hand on his face and felt how smooth it was.
"So, you'll never ever change?" She whispered, "You'll always be just like this?"
He paused and looked down "Yes."
"I kinda guessed so. But you know what they say about assuming-" She smiled as if she didn't really want to.
"Yeah. So, research?" He said quietly.
"Total research mode. You take the big dusty version and I'll take the less confusing one. Deal?" She raised an eyebrow at an obviously sulking Angel. She softened her voice abruptly. "Angel, it'll be fine. We'll find a way, I'm sure of it. I'll get Giles' help in the morning, if he doesn't think I'm too much of a loony." She kissed his cheek. "Can we get started?"
"Hand it over." He looked up.
"I knew you'd see it my way." She grinned.
They researched for hours and seemed to find no recorded case similar to their own. Each case noted a vengeance demon or as they liked to be called, "justice" demons. Nothing mentioned Acathla.
"God, what time is it?" Buffy frantically asked with a groan.
Angel pulled out a pocket watch, one that looked very old and antique and rubbed his eyes "It's eleven. I should probably go." He stood up. She grabbed for his hand.
"Don't." She whispered.
"Buffy, I have to." He insisted quietly.
"Angel, whatever happened, it's given us a second chance. I don't intend on wasting it." She bit her lip.
"We don't belong here, Buffy."
At this, she removed her hand coldly and in a hurt voice replied "I'll check with Giles in the morning."