PART THREE

"Buffy, wake up."

"Go away, I'm sleeping."

"Buffy, Giles is here. Well everyone is, we found some answers."

That woke me up. Angel was kneeling next to the bed.

"Giles is here?" I asked sitting up.

"Yeah, and Willow, Xander, Cordelia and Oz."

"Oz? He left didn't he? Oh, no, wait…wrong world." I mumbled, I looked at the digital alarm clock, it read: 5:46. "In the morning?"

"Yeah, I rang Giles after you remembered getting engaged. He ordered an immediate Scooby meeting. We left you to sleep, though. Hope you don't mind."

"No, it's okay. I value sleep very highly."

"Get dressed and come downstairs, everyone's in the living room."

(page break)

I couldn't hear anyone talking as I walked down the marble stairs. I wanted to turn and run away, but I know what will happen if I do that again.

"Buffy," said Angel getting up from lounge, I could see everyone know. Willow was sitting close to Oz, Xander was sitting next to Oz and Cordy was sitting on Xander's lap. It was the strangest thing I had ever seen. "How are you feeling?"

"Same old." I answered, what does that even mean? "So, what are these answers?"

"Well, we don't have any yet." Answered Giles coming out of the kitchen carrying a tray with a teapot and seven cups, with teaspoons, sugar and milk. "But we do know where and how to find them."

"That's good." I said. "Right?"

"Yes and no. It's risky-"

"I don't care, none of you do either. You just want to fix it, like I do."

"Buffy, no need to be so harsh." Warned Giles.

I nodded. "So what is it?" I felt extremely uncomfortable; the others were starring at me with bewilderment. I felt something in me snap, "we don't look different, so you can stop staring."

"Well,-"

"Um-"

"Sorry-"

"God, don't be a bitch."

"Buffy, calm down." Said Angel walking over to me, and taking my hand. I wanted to pull it free, but found that I couldn't, not because Angel's grip was too firm, but because I wanted him to touch me. "Come and sit."

"Okay."

He led me to the lounge, I sat down and he sat beside me, no longer touching me, but it was nice that he was closer then he had been throughout this whole ordeal.

"Hi, Buffy." Greeted Willow, smiling sadly. "I'm-"

"I know who you are. I know who all of you are." I explained. "No intro's necessary."

"Cool, you look the same. Doesn't she look the exact same?"

"There are some differences." Said Angel, my eyes widened, as did most of the others.

"And how would you know that?" Xander accused.

"Xander, stop it." Hushed Cordy.

"No, I want to know."

"So do I." Seconded Willow.

"She has a scar on her neck, a-"

"Vampire bite." I finished. "I don't want to talk about it."

"But I want-"

"Xander, it is not your business!" Giles said loudly. Xander nodded and didn't say anything else. "Now, the reason that we are here is because somehow two Buffy have switched places…but I don't think it's that simple." He turned his face towards me. "I think the two Buffy's are in the same body, you've-"

"What? We've smooshed together! I can't be two people, Giles."

"You're not, you are one person. We know that the only differences between our worlds is that Angel is human, which altered the timeline dramatically."

"Yeah, none of you guys are together." I said waving my hand at the two couples in front of me.

"But everything before Buffy's seventeenth birthday is the same, it's just the two and a bit years after that are different. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, go on."

"We found someone, or something, that can help us. They are on the side of good, but it's still-"

"Risky."

"Yes, they are known as the Oracles, a sort of conduit between the mortals and the higher beings, they may have some answers and might fix this whole thing."

"Good," I stood up, "so, what are we waiting for? I say we get this over and done with."

"I agree." Giles relaxed and sat on the arm of the lounge opposite Angel and I.

"So, when can I leave?"

"I'll come with you in case you need backup." Offered Angel.

"Okay. Giles, so where do we go?"

"Los Angeles."

(page break)

"I don't want to be in a room with them for, well, ever."

"They're not that bad, Buffy."

"Are you kidding? They hate me, or think I'm some abomination. I didn't mean for this to happen."

"I know you didn't, but it's happened so we're going to fix it."

I stopped walking, Angel turned, his face asking me if everything was okay.

"I'm fine." I lied unconvincingly. "I am not fine, but-"

"Don't worry about it now, we have a post office to find." He said half-smiling. I want to die, or kiss him, kissing would be better. The whole dieing thing, been there done that.

"Okay."

We began walking again, Angel's duster flapping in the wind, while I had pulled my jacket tight around me. It wasn't cold, but it made me feel safer.

The drive here had been a total bore. We didn't speak a word to each other for nearly two hours; we didn't talk about my little crying session last night, or the fact that he spent the night with me, or that he called me 'love.' Nope, we didn't say a word about it. I wanted to, but did he? I don't feel as connected to this Angel, not having a connection with even an alternate Angel is killing me.

"Here we are."

Finally.

It was a regular post office, but we weren't going inside it, we were going underneath it. I hate the sewers.

(page break)

The room was small and lined with marble, or is it limestone? I gave myself a shake, it doesn't really matter. There was a large archway, but no way of going through it; it looked as though it had been blocked up. Near the archway-to-nowhere, was a small pedestal with a bowl.

"Okay, this is it. Well, I hope it is, 'cause if it wasn't the owners must be really weird."

Angel smiled as he pulled out the pretty amulet we were giving them as an offering. "I can't come with you."

"What? No, you have to."

"I can't, you're the one who wants the answers."

"No, you do too."

"Not according to whoever's in there. Giles explained to me that it's about you, not the rest of us."

"Giles, why didn't he tell me this?"

"I don't know, ask him when we get back."

"You mean if we get back, I'm really not liking this."

"It'll be okay, just be Buffy."

"Easier said than done, I don't know who I am."

Angel sighed, and took my hands in his; I wanted him to kiss me. "You are you, Buffy Summers. Nothing could change that."

"Thanks."

"Okay, here we go." Angel pulled out some smelly herbs from his pocket, put them in the bowl – no, wait. It's an urn. My bad. '"We beseech access to the knowing ones.'" He then pulled out a lighter and the herbs set alight with high flames.

The archway filled with a brilliant white light, oh, crap. I gave Angel a smile and walked through the light hoping to be intact on the other side.

(page break)

The room was large and made of the same stone as the entry, there was some kind of light that changed colours bouncing off the walls, in the centre of the room stood two people; one female, the other male. But I know they're not people, they just look like it. Except for the ancient Greek wardrobe and the gold skin, they'd look totally normal.

"What have you brought us?" the female said.

"Oh, this." I held out my hand and the amulet whisked through the air and into the hands of the female.

"Very nice. Why are you here?"

"I've come for answers, you see I'm not meant to be here."

"She is the one." Said the male. "The one who crossed the worlds."

"Yeah, my name is Buffy-"

"Your name is important to you, yes?" asked the female.

"Yes, it's who I am. Buffy. Look, I just want some answers-"

"You did this." Said the male. "Your wish made this happen."

"I made a wish, I don't remember that."

"No, you don't because the time surrounding the wish has been wiped from your memory, to protect you from the cross-over itself. It can sometimes be quite horrific." Explained the female, I think I like her more. "You want to get back to your world, don't you?"

"Yes, can you help me?"

"No," said the male. Definitely like the girl more. "You have to choose. The two Buffy's are now one; you have to choose which world you reside in. The wish cannot be reversed, it was meant to be."

"Choose wisely. We will grant you your memories that have been lost, once you have returned to the Hellmouth. Then choose, you will know when you are ready. You need not return."

"Wait, that's it?"

"Yes." asked the male.

"You have been given a chance to be happy, to have what you want, of course nothing comes without a price. You will be called to sacrifice something no matter what you choose."

I was flown backwards and into Angel's arms. The force knocked us to the ground; I quickly untangled myself from Angel.

"Did it work?" he asked, also getting to his feet.

"Yeah, it did."

"But you just went in."

"Really? Wow, that's nifty."

"Did you find out anything?"

"Yeah, but it's not exactly good news."

"Oh." He said, turning away from me. "We should get going. Giles will want to know about this."

"Angel!" I called after him as he began walking up the stairs, he stopped and turned. "We're the same person and I have to choose which world I want to stay in. The Oracles are-"

"Okay, lets go."

"Angel, don't walk away from me." I went forward and grabbed his arm. "I need you to be on my side, I'm Buffy, you're Buffy. It seems that I always was."

"I know, I could feel it. I knew that you were my Buffy, but at the same time you weren't. I'm sorry, now I only see you. You're all I ever saw."

"Wow, I don't know what to say. This is weird for me, I think we should go now before I – or you – say something that's not ready to be heard."

I walked past Angel before I slammed him against the wall and tried to have my way with him. I know I blushed and I swore Angel saw it.

(page break)

"Buffy…" he said my name again. He's been saying it for the entire trip, each time he said it I'd look out the window, he'd give up speaking to me for a while then say my name again.

"Come on, we're nearly there. Will you just say something?"

"Oh, god."

"Well, that's – what's wrong?"

"The Oracles said that I'd get my memories back when we get to Sunnydale."

"Does that mean when we cross the border, you'll be…"

"I guess and we're about to get within city limits."

"Okay, here's the plan. As soon as we get in Sunnydale, I'll stop the car."

"Okay," I seem to be saying that a lot, or 'sure,' it's getting old. Everyone's been saying it, I guess it's the thing you say when you don't know what to say.

We crossed the invisible line that was the border around Sunnydale, I screamed as the memories and the pain flooded my mind. Angel yelled my name and I felt the car stop, but after that…

(page break)

"Buffy, Buffy wake up."

Arms reached for me and shook me awake.

"What is it? Is something wrong? Oh, god is it the Judge?"

"No, hon – Buffy – I'm human."

"Human!"

(page break)

"Mom, this is my boyfriend, Angel."

"Ah, it's about time you've let me meet him, Buffy. I was beginning to think you'd made him up."

"As if I could make up something so perfect."

Joyce laughed, "God, you are in love, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I really am. I want you to like him, Mom. It's important to both of us."

"I'll try my best, but he is corrupting my only child."

"He is not. He loves art and old stuff, so you should be able to talk about something."

"Art?"

(page break)

Knock, knock, knock!

"Who is it?"

"Buffy."

The door swung open, Angel stood fully clothed. Such a shame. He smiled widely at me. I smiled widely back, he went to kiss me, but I held up the box I was holding.

"We have to move you into the mansion, the lease for this place runs out in 2 days. No kissing till then."

"Liar."

"No, I'm not lying. I won't be able to stick to it, but I'm not lying."

"Come on, give me the box." Angel stuck out his hand, I gave him the box, then bent down to get the other one I had dropped outside the apartment. "Another one?"

"It's the only boxes in the house I could find. Willow and Xander are on their way with more boxes."

"Xander?"

"God, you are such a baby. You know it is your fault, how can you no boxes at all?"

"I just don't, I've never had many possessions, hence: no boxes."

"It's okay, I forgive you. But you will have to deal with Xander, I'm not sending him away."

"I know he's trying to get along with me, so I'll be nice."

"Good. A nice Angel is an Angel who gets a special something once we're alone."

"Oh, I'll be extra nice then."

I grinned, as did Angel. I went to kiss him, but the box got in the way.

(page break)

"I'm scared to tell her."

"Don't be. You're a grown woman, Buffy. It's your choice."

"I know it is, but I'm still scared of what she'll say."

"You're eighteen, and you're legally allowed to move out of home."

"Angel, honey, sweetie, calm down. Nothing will stop me from moving in with you."

Angel pulled me into his arms and kissed my crown. "I love you, nothing will change that."

"I love you more."

"I don't think so." Angel laughed and pulled my lips towards his.

"We should go inside, Mom is waiting for us."

"Yes, we should. But I want to do this some more."

(page break)

"Hi, Mom."

"Hi, honey. How are you?"

"I'm great. You?"

"Good. What's put you in such a good mood?"

"I'm normally in a good mood."

"Okay, so why did you ring?"

"I'm inviting you over for dinner, how does 6:30 sound?"

"It sounds great. I'll see you later."

"Thanks, mom. Bye."

"Bye, sweeting."

I hung up the phone.

"What did she say?" asked Angel next to me.

"It's a 'yes' from mom."

"Cool, now the others. Let's hope they can all come over tonight."

"Yeah," I agreed, punching in Giles' phone-number – which I now know off-by-heart, scary. "I want to tell them all together that we're getting married."

(page break)

"Peanut butter, preferably crunchy." I called out to Angel as he rummaged around in the refrigerator.

"Got it." He came walking back into his room, fully naked, carrying food for us to eat, and maybe to do other things with. Yummy. He slid into bed and I moved closer to him.

We smiled as we fed each other food, peanut-butter-covered-chocolate. Extra yummy.

"God, I love food."

"Food is good." I smiled.

"How come you never told me about chocolate and peanut butter?"

(page break)

"Oh, god."

"Buffy?"

"I'm okay. I remember everything."

"Everything?"

"Yeah, all of it." I burst into tears. All of it. I wasn't meant to remember all of it, I know I wasn't meant to ever remember that day in LA, but I do. It's the best day I've ever experienced, but it didn't happen in this world, it happened in the other one. The other one, it's my world, not some other one. It's my world with my Angel. Oh, god. Angel.

"Hey, come here." he pulled me into his arms and I wanted so badly for it to make me feel better, but it didn't.

TBC…
Hope you liked this part. I don't know when I'm going to update, love, Maddy.