When Angel woke up, he was both shocked and surprised to see Riley first thing. He could have imagined anything but that. The young man before him was curiously silent. Angel looked around him, and found himself in his bed, in his mansion. How did he end up there? Why wasn't he anymore in the cold white cell? He had so many questions but looking at Riley, he was quite sure that the young man had answers.

He realised that Riley had cleaned his wounds and had brought clothes for him. Why hadn't he brought him back to Buffy's house? He didn't feel the pain any more, he was already healed. He slowly got up so now he was facing Riley.

"What happened ?" he asked in a low, firm voice

"I...I am sorry" was all Riley could utter, at this moment, he was really impressed by Angel

"I don't care about your apologies. What the hell happened ?" He asked again, slowly losing his calm. Riley looked up and made eye contact with the ex-vampire. There was no way he was getting out of there without answering. And when he would answer, there was also a chance, he would not get out of here either, at least not in good shape. But he had decided to act like a man and to assume his errors.

"I informed the Initiative, it's a..."

"I know what it is, go on" interupted Angel impatiently

"I told them about you and they were realy interested in how you became human again. They wanted to make experiments on you. That's why they capture you, it's all my fault. I'm sorry" Riley told him and stepped back.

"Why are you stepping back ? Do you think I will hurt you ?" Angel growled

Riley was shocked by his questions. He didn't want to hurt him ? But his voice was too menacing, the young man didn't approach.

"If you thought that than you are...definitively RIGHT" Angel said empaphising the word right by hitting Riley on the face. His fist connected several times with Riley's face and stomach. Finally, he pushed him away, realising how bad he was bleeding.

"Go, clean yourself and don't try to run away" He wasn't finished with him yet, he wanted to know why he had really done that. He knew that the boy hated him but there had got to be another reason. Riley entered into the bathroom, he felt so ashamed, he didn't even protect himself. When he had decided to tell Angel the truth, he knew the consequences and was ready to assume them. Once he finished cleaning himself up, he went back into Angel's room only to find it empty. He found it strange and made his way towards the front door where he found Angel in the living-room. He was sat on a couch, visibly tense.

"Come on, Riley" he heard him say calmly. Riley sat on the opposite couch. They stayed still for a long moment before Angel finally broke the silence

"How did I get out of the Initiative ?" Riley shifted uncomfortably from his position on the couch, he felt unneasy but more confident when he saw taht Angel wasn't about to fight him now. He already had a black eye but nothing serious.

"I realised that I had made a mistake by telling them about you"

"You were the one who took me out of there?" Riley only nodded. He noticed a serious look appear on Angel's face, he looked like he was alone in the world, wondering about something Riley could not guess.

Angel locked eyes with Riley. He had at first wanted him dead but when they had captured him, he had realised his mistake and delivered him. He had no clue how to react about that. Sure he had nearly got him dead but he had risked his life, his job to save him. He took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry for lately, you were a big moron but thank you for saving my life" Riley couldn't believe his ears "By the way, why did you do it?"

His question was simple and Riley knew the answer but he didn't want to tell him. Unfortunately, he was forced to reveal his true feelings. He looked down and answered.

"I know that you are not a bad guy, I only did it because I was jealous"

Angel had to force himself not to laugh. He was jealous. Jealous of what ? Buffy had told him that she loved the guy, she was only confused at the moment because she didn't remember anything. But if she did, she wouldn't even laid her eyes on him any more, she hated him, she told him clearly.

"You have no idea what you're talking about. There is no need to be jealous. She hates me and she loves you" he answered in a low voice, filled with regret.

On the other side, Riley couldn't help the laugh that escaped from his lips. Angel glared at him, misunderstanding his laugh.

"Are you kidding ? She never loved me but she never stopped loving you" Riley said with a sad tone and at the same time an accusating one. He would have done anything to be loved by Buffy. He loved her so much.

Angel looked at the man in front of him like he was a fool but remembered that he was unconscious when everything happened, when she shattered his soul.

"Believe me, you don't know what you are talking about but listen to me. When she will recover her memory..."

"If she does" interupted Riley

"When she will remember her memory" continued Angel, ignoring him "you are going to be by her side, and never let her go. If you hurt her..."

"Stop" interupted Riley, this time more violently "You are the one who doesn't know what he is talking about! Where were you the last three months ? I was there. You didn't see her state, I saw it, she was so sad...I tried to help her, she didn't want me here, she wanted you but you left her. Who are you to tell me not to hurt her when you are the one who hurt her the most ? You left scars which are never going to heal. She will love you forever. Before she lost her memory, she wanted us to break up" he finished, not knowing what he had reveal the last part.

Angel stared his so-called ennemy. He was surprised by his outburst. He stayed still, waiting for Riley to calm down. His words echoed in his head. What if he was right? Did she really still love him? Was he strong enough to try again ? That was the real question. He didn't know if he would be able to survive another reject.

"Do the others know that you delivered me?" he preferred to change subject, Riley was grateful for that but this subject wasn't really better.

"They don't even know that I was responsible for your disappearance" he whispered

"Then they won't know"

"What ?" exclaimed Riley, visibly surprised

"Do you want them to stop trusting you? I don't think so" He got up and looked at his watch, it was 9:15 pm "We will tell them that the Initiative captured me and you saved me, all right?"

"Why are you doing that? I thought you hated me"

"I thought you did the same" was his short response "I don't have to explain it to you but they won't know. I am going to take a shower then we will go to Giles'"

He went into the room to take the clothes that Riley had put on his bed and went into the bathroom. Riley stayed in the living-room, not knowing how to react to this news, the others wouldn't know what he did. He din't understand why Angel was helping him but he was grateful. He waited for the ex-vampire.

The ex-vampire made his way towards the bathroom. He wasn't doing this favour to Riley but to Buffy. He didn't want her to know what happened. When she would recover her memory, she would continue her life as if nothing happened. Even if she didn't love him any more, she wouldn't be pleased to learn that her boyfriend had nearly gotten him dead.

Buffy was in her bedroom, she had slept for the past few hours. She looked at the clock, it was already 9:30 pm. She had to be at Giles' at 10 pm. She got up and went into the bathroom trying to forget Angel. She hoped he was still alive and not missing.

Angel had finished, he was getting dressed but he couldn't believe that was the clothes that Riley had picked. He was wearing his leather pants, his red silk shirt and his leather jacket. He absolutely looked like Angelus: wild, dangerous and sexy. But he liked these clothes, they suited him perfectly, he felt good in them. He went into the living-room. Riley looked at him with a strange feeling of jealousy, the man was hot. He stopped staring when he noticed the look Angel was giving him.

"Are you ready ?" Angel asked him, he got up.

"Angel ,I wanted to thank you"

"What for ?"

"For not telling the others"

"I am not doing it for you"

That was the last words spoken during the drive. We could only hear the radio.

Sometimes, things just seem to fall apart
When you least expect them to
Sometimes you want to pack up and leave behind
All of them and all their smiles

I don't know what to think anymore
Maybe things will get better
Maybe things will look brighter
Maybe

Sometimes, people surprise you
And people surprise me
Well I guess that's the price we pay
For wanting so badly

Everyone had arrived at Giles'. Cordelia had tried to callAngel again but no one answered. They were so worried, they didn't even realised that Riley was missing. Buffy was looking through the window, she hadn't spoken since she had arrived. Willow was worried about her. She seemed so lost.

Buffy couldn't understand her feelings. She barely remembered the man, who by the way hated her, but she couldn't stop thinking of him. Could it be love? She was lost in her thoughts when a knock on the door was heard. She turned her head towards the door but didn't move.

As usual, Willow was the one to answer. She opened the door and gasped in surprise. She let the two men enter into the apartment. Everyone looked at them. Buffy wanted to jump on Angel and hug him but she couldn't move. Cordelia, on the other hand, didn't hesitate. She threw herself at him, nearly making him fall, he smiled.

"Good to know you missed me"

"I was dead worried" she said hugging me "Where were you?" she finally let him go. Everyone in the apartment looked at him.

Riley looked down. He didn't know what to think. No one seemed to care he was there. Angel realised the discomfort of the young man beside him and strangely felt sorry for him.

"I'm still waiting for an answer. Why are you with him by the way?" she said, throwing a disgusted look at Riley.

"Because he saved me" Angel responded, not feeling the shame he thought he would. Maybe he didn't hate the guy after all, it was just because he had what he had always wanted, Buffy. Without that, he could have liked the guy..or maybe not.

At his answer, they all look bewildered, waiting for him to explain. He didn't want to talk but felt like he had to.

"I was captured by the Initiative. When Riley saw me, he delivered me. End of the story" he said, clearly pointing the fact he didn't want to talk about it. Cordelia noticed it and took a mental note to ask him about this again later, when there will be only the two of them. Now she was too glad he was back.

"Any way, what's important is that you are back, thank you Riley. We were really worried, I think we all need to relax. What about the Bronze ?" She proposed, Angel looked at her. He really didn't want to go "You can't refuse. Plus you are dressed to kill" she smiled

"Very funny" He answered, not amused which only increased her smile. Buffu couldn't help staring at him.

"I didn't ask for your advice, you are coming, end of the story" she replied imitating him "Are you all ready?" she asked the others. They all nodded except Giles.

"I will let you, young people party and I'll stay here. Good night and I'll see you tomorow"

They went out of his apartment and walked towards the Bronze.

TBC ?

PLEASE REVIEW

Lyrics by Grey Daze - Sometimes

Veronica : thank you very much but I don't have enough time with school and all, anyway I will try to update sooner

sarah : I don't hate Riley, I just hate his relationship with Buffy but he is not that bad. I didn't think of Willow lol but thank you, Oz will make an appearance. I think Cordy and Xander too because they have both changed and they are more mature. I'm glad you like my story

buffynangelforever : thank you for reviewing, I'm glad you like it.

lessthanangelic1 : You were right it was too much to make him kill him, I hope you liked how I made them solve their problems but sure they will never be friends. Don't worry, no way she is going to remember by hitting her head again. Thank you, it was nice reading your random babbling like you called it.

Heather : Thank you for reading, reviewing and liking my story.

Jess : Like I said before to lessthanangelic1, killing was a little too much. I don't want Angel to kill humans, even Riley. Thank you for thinking that it's a good work, it's my second fanfic, the first one was bad... I'm glad you like this one.

Fanficer Lore : You will have to wait a little longer for that answer...I don't really know myself. Thank you for reviewing.

Celena : Thank you, I'll try to update sooner

urangel : I thought too that it would be a good idea to make Buffy only remember Angel. I didn't want to make Riley stupid because he isn't. There will definitely be more b/a in the next chapters. THANK YOU very much for often reviewing. You are reviewing since the beggining of this story, I really appreciate.

miteymel : I hope the ending is not too soon, I want to write a long story but what do you think? Should I end it soon? Thank you for reviewing.

never look back : I didn't want character bashing either, thank you for reviewing. What do you think of what happened between the two of them ?

carmen : thanks for reviewing, I'm glad you like my story but I don't hate Riley and I think he is not a bad guy, he just can't replace Angel, poor him..

nonsda05 : thanks, I hope you liked this chapter too