Buffy and Angel were walking slowly and quietly towards her house. She wanted to talk to him but couldn't think of anything to say. Each time she looked at him, he seemed to be lost in his thoughts and she was afraid she would only disturb him. He caught her looking at him but didn't know what to do. She must found him so strange, why was he so afraid of talking to her ? He had decided he would try to be friends. Friends talk.

"Are you okay ?" he asked, still looking forward, not able to look into her eyes yet.

She was so happy, he hald talked to her ! Stop it, Buffy. You're not a teenager any more and he is a man.

"I don't know, I guess I am. It's hard to forget everything but at least I have great friends to help me" she replied. Thinking about people to help her, she thought about her mother. "Angel, can we..can we go to the cemetery where my mother was buried ?" she asked hesitantly

"It's dangerous to go there at night, especially for you, you should wait for the sun to rise" he advised but if she insisted he couldn't refuse her that. He knew what it was to not have parents any more, at least she didn't kill hers.

"Please, I won't be long, I just want to see her grave. You know, I feel like it's not real, when I'll see it...please, plus you'll be there to protect me, right ?" she implored him

"All right" he whispered, she barely heard him. He changed direction and they made their way towards the cemetery.

"Thank you"

Buffy stood in front of her mother grave, Angel stayed behind her.

Joyce Summers

1960 - 2004

Beloved mother and friend

She didn't remember her mother but being in front of her grave brought back some feelings. She was sure she had dearly loved her mother. She cried without realising it until Angel took her in his arms. His arms felt so strong and comforting. He couldn't watch her cry, he had lost his will of being as far as possible from her and had encircled her with his arms. He didn't want to let her go but as usual someone had to interrupt them.

"Slayer" called a vampire. He wasn't alone, there was three of them. Angel placed Buffy behind him.

The vampire who had spoken, jumped on him and threw him a punch. Angel fought back but he didn't have any stake. He sent the first one flying but another one attacked him. This one had a sword and cut him on the ribs. Buffy watched the scene in front of her with terror, she was the damn Slayer, she was supposed to be strong but she was so frightened. Angel couldn't take the three vampires without weapons so he took Buffy's hand and they started to run in direction of her house.

They reached her house and locked themselves inside. Angel watched the vampires go away. He felt so ashamed, he hadn't been able to protect her. She could have been killed by his fault. He realised he was still holding her hand and let it go like it was burning him. Buffy couldn't help being hurt by his move but didn't let it show. He put his head on the door. She thought it was because he was suffering from his cut, she felt responsible.

"I'm sorry for putting you in danger" she apologized "I'll go get some bandages, take your jacket and shirt off"

He looked at her with disbelief. She had her back to him and was going to find the bandages so she didn't notice. She had exactly said the same thing when they had been chased by the Three and he was hurt. He pushed that thought aside and went into the kitchen where she was waiting for him.

"Are you ok ?" she asked concerned. He took off his shirt and she thought she had forgotten how to breath.

"I will survive" he answered with his famous half smile, noticing the way she was staring at him.

"Nice tatoo" she said trying to stop staring at his half naked body.

"You thought so" he smiled, he couldn't believe that was happening. It was like he was living the same day again. They were there like nothing had happened, like before when they could talk without being harsh to each other. He didn't want to interrupt their whatever it was even if it was bad, he shouldn't let her so close to him but he simply couldn't resist her.

She stepped closer to him and started to clean up his cut. She was shocked by the familiarity of her act. An image flashed in her head, it lasted a second but it was efficient. She saw herself, looking younger and Angel at the same place. She was also cleaning him up.

"I did that before !" she exclaimed "I remember" she was so happy, it was her first concretememory "I did that before, right ?" she hoped she hadn't created that memory.

"Yes" smiled Angel, happy for her. She had remembered something, it was great and she looked so pleased. She jumped on him, and realising what she had done, she stepped back, blushing.

"I'm sorry, I got too excited for a moment"

"It's ok" he replied, still not aware of how her touch had shooked him. A part of him didn't want her to stop but another didn't want her to touch him.

He put back his shirt. Buffy was looking everywhere but at him. She was so ashamed of her act but it had felt so right and he hadn't pushed her away. Maybe they could be something after all.

"I think you should call Giles tomorrow, and tell him you have remembered something" he broke the silence. He looked so calm, likenothing hadhappened, she wanted to break the mask he was wearing. Unfortunately she wasn't as good as him in hiding her feelings.

"Tell me about that day" she asked bluntly

"Uh..I don't think I should, Giles said you should remember alone" he said awkwardly. He didn't feel like talking to her about their past. Buffy somehow sensed it wasn't only because of Giles, so she insisted.

"But I remember this one so you can tell me what happened" He looked at her and realized she wasn't going to let him go without getting what she wanted. She reminded him of Cordelia.

"You were fighting three vampires, they were winning and I helped you but we couldn't have defeated them so we took shelter in your house. I was hurt, you cleaned me up just like you did today"

"That's all ?" she asked without hiding the deception in her voice. She din't know what she was expecting but maybe something that could havehelpep her to understand their relationship.

"Yeah" he murmured, not understanding the tone of her voice. What did she want to know ? She realised she wouldn't obtain anything else from him if she didn't ask.

"Angel, I.. I was wondering... what kind of relationship we had" as soon as she asked her question, his eyes darkened. He wasn't ready to answer that but he couldn't help all the anger that rose inside of him. He knew it wasn't her fault but still the anger was stronger than his reason. Buffy thought she wouldn't get her answer but after a long time he replied.

"Anything but friends" he said sharply. Buffy looked at him, without understanding. What did he mean by that ? She wanted to know.

"Were we..ennemies ?" she asked, scared of his sudden change of attitude.

"It happened" Angel smiled at her first proposition.

"Why are you protecting me, then ?" she had thought that talking to him would have make things clearer but on the contrary, it only blurred things and made them harder to understand.

Because I can't stop loving you, he thought bitterly. "Because you need protection and stop asking questions, the answers are not still good to hear" he quicky changed subject "You need to rest, you must be tired"

"Were we lovers ?" she asked with more confidence. She wouldn't let him know that he impressed her.

Angel stared at her, she could see the hurt in his eyes for a moment, she couldn't stand seeing him like that when she knew that she may be responsible but she had to know. Angel was lost in their past, the memories were overwhelming him. He fought back the tears, he couldn't break, especially not in front of her but each time she mentionned their past, it was so hard. He turned his back to her. Seeing that she couldn't get anything more from him and that she shouldn't push him, she moved towards the stairs and asked him to follow her. They stood in front of her mother's room.

"You'll be sleping here. Do you need anything else ?"

Yes, you but instead he shooked his head and entered the room "Goodnight, Buffy" he din't let her time to reply and shut the door behind him. She stayed against his door for several minutes.

She then thought she was crazy and went into her own room. While she was with Angel, she had forgotten how tired she really was. She sunk into her bed and immediately felt asleep. Angel, on the opposite couldn't sleep. He was fighting so hard to not go into her room and watched her sleep. He had always liked doing that. She was so beautiful when she was asleep, she looked peaceful and innocnet. She looked like an angel. He felt so weak, he thought he would have been able to resist her but only one day and he was already crazy about her. The most important thing was to hide it, he didn't want to let her hurt him again when she would recover her memory. He could have tried a relationship with her now but it would be like he was using her, she wasn't really herself.

Thinking of her drove him crazy, he wanted her and he hated himself for that. He hated to love her. He couldn't resist any longer so he got up and got dressed. He walked throught the corridor and stopped in front of her door. He wanted so bad to enter but he couldn't. He walked away and went out of the house. He definitely needed some air and some time alone, especially far from her. He walked and headed towards the cemetery. When he was about to go back, he heard a scream. Finally some action, he really needed to unwind.

In the morning, when Buffy woke up, she looked at her clock : 9:15 am. She had slept well, she made her way towards Angel's room but it was still closed and she didn't feel like waking him up. She went into the bathroom, took her shower and headed downstairs to eat breakfast. She had prepared breakfast for Angel too. At first, she had waited for him, but hehadn't come down so she had eaten. She went into the living-room to watch some TV. She began to feel really bored and realised it was already midday. She decided to wake up Angel.

She went upstairs and stopped in front of his door. How would he react ? She quietly entered the room and was surprised and frightened to find it empty. Where was he ? He could be any where, hurt. She was so worried. She ran to the phone and called Giles.

"Giles, it's me, Buffy. Do you know where Angel is ?" she asked panicked. Please, let him know where he is.

"No, I thought he was with you" asnwered Giles

"No, his room is empty" she replied sadly

"Don't worry, Buffy. Angel can take care of himself. Come to my house, I'll call the others" he said calmly trying to reassure his slayer.

She put down the receiver and went into her room to find a coat. Her attention got caught by a box. She took it and opened it. She found familiar things in it. She unintentionally took the cross she had around her neck in her hands. She closed her eyes like she wanted to memorise the souvenir that came into her mind.

"Ah, heh. Is there a problem, ma'am? " Angel asked

"Yeah, there's a problem. Why are you following me? "

"I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, I don't bite" She backs off and lets him get up, but keeps her fighting stance.

"Truth is, I thought you'd be taller, or bigger muscles and all that. You're pretty spry, though" he said massaging his neck

"What do you want ?"

"The same thing you do"

"Okay. What do I want ?" she replied letting down her guard

"To kill them. To kill them all" he answered stepping toward her

"Sorry, that's incorrect. But you do get this lovely watch and a year's supply of Turtle Wax. What I want is to be left alone!" She started a determined walk away.

"Do you really think that's an option anymore? You're standing at the Mouth of Hell. And it's about to open" She stopped, turned to him and looked at him with a wide-eyed gaze. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small box.

"Don't turn your back on this" he tossed her the box "You've gotta be ready"

"What for?"

"For the Harvest"

"Who are you? "

"Let's just say... I'm a friend" he started to leave

"Yeah, well, maybe I don't want a friend"

Angel turned back "I didn't say I was yours"

He left. Buffy stared after him for a moment, then opened the box. It contained a silver cross and chain

She was so happy, she remembered another thing. It seemed to be her first meeting with Angel. Her second souvenir about him. She continued to touch the things she had found, and they all felt like Angel. She hoped she would remember another thing if possible everything. She was tired of trying to understand her own life. Why did she keep all those things ? They must meant something for her. She touched the jacket in it.

"Well! Look who's here!"

"Hi" replied Angel

"I'd say it's nice to see you, but then we both know that's a big fib"

"I won't be long"

"No, you'll just give me a cryptic warning about some exciting new catastrophe, and then disappear into the night. Right ?"

"You're cold"

"You can take it"

He took of his jacket "I mean, you look cold" He put his jacket around her shoulders

It was Angel's jacket, he had given it to her. She only hadmemories about Angel. She hoped she would also find why she did to upset him that much. She had almost forgotten that he was missing and that the others were waiting for her at Giles'. She grabbed a coat and rushed towards his house.

Giles had called everyone except Riley but he came any way because he thought he would find Buffy there. Cordelia was trying to reach Angel on his cell phone but he didn't pick up. She was really worried. Plus, Buffy should have been there a long time ago. What was she doing ?

TBC

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I'm sorry it took me so long to update but with school I don't have enough time left. If you read

PLEASE REVIEW it really helps me to write faster.