Angel and Cordelia were still in front of Giles' apartment. Screwing up his courage, he knocked on the door and his face became an unreadable mask. Cordelia looked at him and released a sigh. She wished Giles had never called, it couldn't end well when those two were involved.

The knock gave Giles a start. Xander looked disappointed and Riley was fuming. Last time he was there, everything had changed. Buffy on the other hand was anxious to meet that famous Angel. Willow got up and went to open the door.

"I told you he would come" she said unnecessaryly to the others. Buffy had told her what had happened between Angel and her three months earlier. Buffy was heartbroken, she couldn't even try to imagine Angel's state.

She opened the door and was surprised to see Cordelia.

"Angel...Cordelia, please come in" she whispered, not knowing why.

"Hi Willow" Angel answered nicely, he was angry at the slayer, no need to be mean to Willow who had always be nice with him.

Cordelia barely gave her a glance. They entered the apartment and stood in front of everyone. Xander and Riley were glaring furiously at Angel who ignored them but Cordelia was returning the glance. Giles was nervously cleaning his glasses, sensing the thick tension in the air, getting thicker and thicker each instant. Willow sat on the sofa next to Buffy in some reassuring way, as if she wanted to tell Buffy that she was there, and that she wasn't alone, she could count on her.

Buffy was amazed by the tall, mysterious, dark, handsome man who had just stepped in. They forgot to tell her he was breath-taking. She couldn't have been friend with a man like that especially when she couldn't stop staring at him. Her mouth went dry. She was glad for that or else she would be slavering. He sounded familiar, just like his name but she couldn't find anything else. She was just irresistibly attracted to him. She looked as he walked towards the wall as far as possible from them, and leant against it. She couldn't help noticing that he was avoiding to look into her eyes. He hadn't set his eyes on her since he had entered. Another mystery. Her life seemed to be quite mysterious but she would try everything to unravel the mystery that was that man and what he meant to her.

Cordelia turned her eyes to Buffy and noticed how she was drooling over Angel. What was the matter with that slayer ? How could she look at him like that after what she had said to him? She had no idea Buffy didn't have a clue of what had happened between the two of them..

Riley noticed the way Buffy was looking at him too. Jealousy overwhelmed him, it had always been about that vampire. She could never loved him because of that demon. He was determined to take his revenge.

No one spoke for a long moment, there was an awkward silence until Angel broke it.

"Why did you need my help? She looks perfectly fine to me" he said calmly adressing no one in particular and looking at the wall opposite.

"I didn't ask for your help"replied Xander and Riley at the same time

Giles was about to speak but didn't find the words, he should have explained the situation over the phone, he suddenly felt guilty. He found himself awestruck but the change in Angel, he looked so cold and distant. He had never really been the friendly type but he was sure that something had happened, he was even more distant.

"I don't have time for this shit so you'd better keep your remarks and looks for yourself. It's my first and only warning. Next time one of you messes with me, I won't be that nice" he said so calmly that it surprised everyone, his words and his way of saying it weren't matching at all. He looked so calm, that's maybe why Riley didn't consider his threat.

"Who the hell do you think... ?" started Riley, walking towards him. He didn't have time to finish his sentence because Angel's fist connected with his nose and broke it. Riley started to scream in pain and stepped back, his hand on his nose trying to stop it from bleeding. The others didn't know how to react. Cordelia was smirking, maybe it wouldn't be that bad after all.

"I thought you knew better, BOY, last time I kicked your ass wasn't enough ? Anytime you need a lesson, I'll be ready and pleased to give it to you" said Angel the same calm way, then turning to Xander he added "You want a taste?" Xander stepped back until he reached the wall at the opposite and couldn't go further but he still felt as if he was too close to the vampire.

Willow looked at him in disbelief. He had changed so much, she couldn't believe it. Was it because of what happened ? Giles also couldn't believe what he was seeing, Angel had always been so calm.

Angel ignored the glances he was receiving and turned his head towards Buffy for the first time. She didn't miss the pain in his eyes. His eyes were so dark, she was sure his soul could been seen inside. Strangely, she wanted to take all that pain away. But when he looked at her, she saw his pain changed to anger to indifference. The anger was so brief that at first she thought she had just imagined it, but when he spoke to her, she knew something had happened between them.

"Next time, you should keep your boy toy chained. So what's the deal ? Why did you call me ? Aren't you able to take care of your town any more?" he snapped

Buffy was speechless, why was he so mean to her ? His tone was so harsh. She didn't want him to be mad. It nearly brought tears to her eyes but she fought them. She couldn't break in front of them, especially not in front of him. She just wanted him to love her. Where did that come from ? She had only met him but it was like she had known him for her entire life. He felt so familiar and at the same time so unfamiliar.

Angel started to get annoyed. Why was she looking at him that way? He had every right to be mad. She was looking at him like she would have when she was sixteen and it deeply hurt him. Her eyes were so deep and reflected so much confusion but he couldn't let her break him again. Those three months had even been harder than the years he had spent in Hell.

"What the hell was that all about? I thought you were...hurt and couldn't fight. Damn, say something, stop looking at me like that!" he yelled

Buffy looked down, he was hurting her like she had never been hurt since she had woken up without her memory. She felt so lost at the time and thought she couldn't feel worse but some words from him and she was fighting the urge to cry. She opened her mouth but the words wouldn't come. She didn't know what to say without annoying him more. She wished she could disappeared.

Before Angel could add something else, Willow interrupted him.

"Angel, STOP, please. We called you because Buffy has amesia, she doesn't remember anything" she explained

Cordelia opened her mouth and stared blankly at the slayer. Was it some kind of trick or had she really forgotten everything ? Angel just stared at Buffy like he was trying to absorb what Willow had just said. If she really did not remember anything, then she had forgotten all the things she had said to him, so he couldn't blame her any more. Could he think of a second chance for them ? She had forgotten that she hated him, they could start a new relationship. But she would recover her memory and it would only get worse. He wouldn't let her affect him again. But seeing the look in Buffy's eyes, he couldn't help feeling like they were before everything happened, before Angelus, before she sent him to Hell, before they got separated... He was brought back by her smooth voice.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember what I did to you, but I'm really sorry I hurt you" she said in a voice barely audible.

Angel looked at her speechless. He couldn't think of a thing to say. She seemed to be so sincere and innocent. She was apologizing for something she didn't even remember doing. He wanted so badly to believe her, to forget everything and make it right but he couldn't. He had been trying to hate her for three months and now she didn't even remember the harm she had caused him. It was too much to take in. Everyone was observing him, waiting for his reaction while he was fighting with himself. He couldn't take it any more and stormed out of the apartment.

Cordelia wanted to go after him but was stopped by Giles.

"I think he needs some time alone"

"It's all your fault" then turning her head towards Buffy, she added "Especially yours, I knew I shouldn't have let him come. But once he heard you were in danger, he couldn't think straight. On purpose or not, there is only one thing you know how to do well. You already hurt him enough, I won't let you do it again".Once she had uttered those words, she seemed to relax. She just stared at the door where Angel had left hoping he would come back fast and that nothing would happen to him.

Buffy didn't know what to say. Could she have hurt him that much ? She must be an horrible person then. She wasn't sure she wanted so much to remember any more. She wanted to make things right with Angel, she couldn't support him being mad at her. She was slowly falling in love with him without even realising it. She had to find more about their relationship. They couldn't have been just friends. Plus, the way Riley was looking at him could only prove her thought, he was jealous, he wasn't jealous of Xander. But what was the deal with Xander? Why did he hate him ? There were so many things she wanted to understand but at the same time was afraid of knowing.

Cordelia was visibly worried about Angel, she kept watching the time.

"How did Dead Boy come here? I'm talking about the sun. Does he have a special lotion or what ?" Xander asked confused

When he became human two months earlier, Angel had made her swear she wouldn't tell anyone in Sunnydale but she didn't see any point in lying to them, they would learn it sooner or later, she sighed "He gained his humanity back" seeing their confusion, she snapped "I don't want to talk about it, if you need answers, you'll have to ask him"

Everyone was trying to put up with Cordelia's confession. Giles wanted to know more, he had never seen a case like that, he was curious to know how it was possible. Willow couldn't help the joy she felt inside, Buffy and Angel could be together now, no more curse. She hoped they would be able to forget all their problems and focus on their love which she was sure was still present and strong. She noticed the way Buffy was looking at him. Riley and Xander were fuming. Riley because now, Buffy and Angel had a chance he was sure she wouldn't let go when she would gain her memory back. Xander because there was no reason left for him to hate Angel.

"Who is Dead Boy ?" asked Buffy, still shocked by her meeting with Angel

"Angel, it's just a nickname Xander uses for him" answered Willow

"What does it mean that he gained his humanity back?"

"Before he was a ... he was a.." started Willow

"He was a blood-sucking vampire" finished Riley angry

"What? I don't understand. Vampires can become human again ?"

They explained to her about Angelus, how he was cursed, his soul and how he joined the good side. Of course, they didn't tell her about their relationship. It was an unbelievable story, she couldn't help being fascinated by the ex-vampire. She hoped he would come back. She wanted to learn more about him. She was worried about him. It felt strange.

TBCPlease Review

NEXT CHAPTER YOU WILL KNOW WHAT HAPPENNED BETWEEN BUFFY AND ANGEL

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