A/N: ahhhh... cliffie! I know! Don't kill me! Heh... That was one of my favorite chapters to write... but the one I like better? THIS ONE! Yayness! Lol.The song is by Poison and it's called 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' (Ergo (sp) the title)

IceBlueRose - AHH! I love you! You're now my second best to Goddessa! Ooo you make me giddy!

great big buffy fan - Because I know it drives ya crazy xD Lol

Goddessa39 - Eek! I know, I know...Not BA and I was GONNA write that one fic that would end up BA but it wont let me so I kinda put that on hold, but if you have any ideas for a BA fic, lemme know... WARNING: You're gonna hate me after this chapter...

Slayerq - Spike's reaction? Will be VERY interesting.

Another thank you to Slays, vik, and slaygal166.

Disclaimer: If you don't know by now... not mine.

Distribution: Anywhere, let me know.

Chapter 13: Thorns

We both lie silently still in the
dead of the night

Draco's hand reached into his back pocket and he swiftly pulled out his wand. Angel, who was a bit startled and confused at this action, refused to show it and just kept a hot, golden glare sternly on Draco's face.

"Put down the stick."

"Why? Does it threaten you?" Draco countered with another trademark smirk.

"Do I threaten you?"

Draco shrugged as best he could with a hand wrapped around his throat. "Do I threaten you? I mean, I must considering if I didn't you wouldn't be making an attempt ot kill me."

"Who said I was gonna kill you?"

"I just assumed. Buffy won't be too pleased."

"Buffy is mine--"

"Buffy belongs to nobody. What's goin' on here boys?" Buffy asked with her hands on her hips and her jaw set in a stern line. "Getting to know eachother, I see?"

Angel's hand immediatley dropped from where it proceeded to strangle Draco and the flaxen wizard quickly slid his wand back into place. They each took a step back from eachother and only nodded at the other.

"Just having a chat over tea."

Angel cleared his throat. "Yes, and I particularly like the my tea the best. It's delicious."

Draco looked at Angel like he was the stupidest person.. er vampire who walked the earth. "That's not what I meant you nimwit."

"You're just like Spike. I really don't like it. I don't know what she sees in you."

"She sees someone who breaths."

"SHE is right HERE!" Buffy shouted loudly enough for both men to turn and face her with apologetic looks.

They both mumbled brief 'sorrys' before re-entering the lobby. Buffy stopped Angel before he could go in and made sure that Draco was clear out of hearing and in conversation with Willow.

Although we both lie close together
we feel miles apart, inside

"Don't cause any trouble." She warned.

Angel scoffed. "Don't, Buffy. You're in my hotel. With my rules. My game."

"Is that what this is to you! A game! Oh let's see who can win Buffy's heart! Oo! Oo! Can I go first!" She screamed sarcastically, uncaring to the full room that had turned to watch the scene.

"Buffy, can we do this later?" He asked softly.

"No! I don't think so! I'm SO not in the mood to pretend I'm not getting pissed off at you! Every single time I see you, you're like this, Angel. YOU left ME remember that? Huh! Do ya! Cause I sure as hell do!"

"Buffy, please--"

That was when her first made full forced contact with his jaw.

Was it somethin' I said or somethin' I did
Did my words not come out right
Tho' I tried not to hurt you
Tho' I tried
But I guess that's why they say

And he so wasn't expecting that. He reached up and massaged the spot that was going to have a fresh bruise in an hour or so and then clenched his fists, fighting the change. He could control it, he could control himself...

"Did it hurt?" She asked him weakly.

With only a slight nod, he made no other motion.

"Good." Her fist slammed into his face once more only this time on his right upper cheek. Angel stumbled back at the impact, still a bit surprised she had hit him again. Once was enough for crying out loud!

"Buffy, I'm not gonna hit you."

She gave a heartless chuckle and then took a step toward him, clenching her fists at her side. "Yes you are." She punched him again. "And I'm gonna kick your ass for it too."

Every Rose Has It's Thorn
Just like every night has it's dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every Roes Has It's Thorn

Draco moved forward to intervene but Willow grabbed his upper arm and shook her head.

Wesley gave a soft smile. "As Cordelia once said, It's the Angel and Buffy show. First they talk out their differences and then they punch them out. Or something along those lines, I believe." He missed Cordelia dearly and the thought of her was heartwrenching.

Draco winced as Angel made a failing attempt to ignore the pain she was causing him with her words and reflexes. "So uh... will she kill him?"

Willow knitted her eyebrows together. "You're worried about his welfare?"

With a small laugh, Draco shook his head. "No, but if she kills him then I won't have to. Just something to cross off my 'To-Do' list."

I listen to our favorite song
playing on the radio
Hear the DJ say love's a game of
easy come and easy go

"You told me you loved me and you left me! How dare you take something so precious to me and stomp on it like you did! Every hit you take represents a part of me, a part of us that I'm throwing away!" She threw punches left at right screaming profanities at the top of her lungs.

"For the night we made love." Punch. "The Prom." Punch. "The day when you were human! You ASS!" Pu-- or not. Angel grabbed her tiny fist within his own and shoved her back. She fell backwards on the floor but immediatley stood up.

Looks like Angel had enough and he was cracking his neck as he fought his transformation once more. Buffy went for a roundhouse kick but was cut short when Angel grabbed her leg in mid-air and flipped her to the floor. She put her hands behind her head and did did a back handspring until she was on her feet again.

He slammed his fist against the side of her eye and then grabbed her roughly by the waist. "Stop it." He whispered harshly into her ear. Blood seeped from his inhuman skin and his teeth were baring in a pearly whiteness.

Buffy watched the thick red liquid trickle down her brow and in front of her eye.

But I wonder does he know
Has he ever felt like this

And I know that you'd be here right now
if I could have let you known somehow, I guess

Willow and Draco both decided that this was enough and pulled the two apart. It was quite simple, considering neither argued or said much of anything. They were too emotionally weak to speak or think or hell, even throw another punch.

Draco led Buffy to some empty room down the dimmed hallway and sat her down on the edge of the musty bed while he searched for a first aid kit. Luckily, Angel seemed to keep one in every room or some sort of system like that. Draco found one beneath the sink in the adjoining bathroom.

He kneeled down before his love and took out some peroxide and cotton swabs, beginning to dab at the small wound about her eye. He would've used magic, but that wouldn't make the wound infection-free. He wanted to make sure.

"Do you care to talk about it?"

Buffy shook her head and things remained quiet for a few minutes.

"I do love him." She said softly, breaking the silence. "But it's an old love that I don't feel anymore. It's put away in my heart so that I can start anew, a fresh love that I want, that I need. A love I have with you. Or a love I'm trying to have with you. I love him like a person should love an old lover. An old friend. He just.. he can't move on."

Draco carressed her cheek with his free hand while the other dabbed at the cut.

"I understand, and don't worry.. I think he gets the idea."

Every Rose Has It's Thorn
Just like every night has it's dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every Roes Has It's Thorn

"She's really, really over me." He said in a daze.

Willow rubbed his back sympathetically and sighed. "She loves you... but... not to sound mean Angel, but she's kinda over it. You need to move on too. You wanted her to find someone who she could love and someone who .. well... was human, normal, could give her what you couldn't. Be happy for her and move on."

His lips pressed against hers in a quick moment of passion that Willow instantly broke.

"Nuh-uh.. move on, but not to me! I'm gay! Gayness here, remember?"

Angel sighed. "Sorry, I just--I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm making a bad attempt at moving on."

"Hey, no big. Just take it slow and uh.. try and make amends with Buffy. Oh! And being civil to Draco wouldn't hurt either. He isn't a bad guy, Angel. I've talked to him and he really cares about her."

Though it's been a while now
I still feel so much pain

Like a knife that cuts you
the wound heals, but the scar, that scar remains

"Harry you need to listen. I'm not some sort of mirage and you're not bloody crazy!" Sirius tried once more to get Harry to believe him.

"Yeah, Harry. This is your uncle right?" Dawn asked as she looked at Sirius.

"Godfather."

"Your Godfather. Believe me."

Hermione shrieked in frustration. "Harry James Potter! Stop this right now! It's ridiculous! You know that we would never lie to you! Voldemort is GONE! He isn't playing with your mind and he isn't using us to harm you! Harry, we're your friends, not your enemies."

Harry shook his head and looked down at the linolium floor. "I know you wouldn't." His voice was almost a whisper, barely audible. "I know you wouldn't and I just-- I'm confused. He's been gone for so long and I've learned to deal with it. I've been bloody hell bent on putting it behind me and now it's thrown in my face like a souvenir."

"Harry, mate, just take some time and think about it, okay? Maybe we should uh, eat---"

"Dinner's ready." Wesley said, as if on cue, from the kitchen doorway.

Dawn sighed. "Oh this'll be fun."

Every Rose Has It's Thorn
Just like every night has it's dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every Roes Has It's Thorn