Chapter Seven

Buffy looked around Giles' living room. The two groups were still mixing pretty well it seemed. Everyone was spread out between the couch and different chairs but no one was tucked away in a corner trying to avoid the others. Hoping the camaraderie would continue Buffy took a deep breath and stood up as she briefly squeezed Angel's hand letting him know she was about to announce their news like they had talked about.

"Okay guys, Willow, Angel and I have some news for you and it's not about Glory," Buffy announced confidently and smiled. She glanced at Willow quickly and received a smile and thumbs up signal from the Wicca.

Buffy was used to breaking news to the group, but since this was Angel's soul and a touchy topic (especially for some) she was a bit nervous. Sensing her distress and hearing the increase of her heart rate, Angel moved to the chair beside Buffy and took her hand.

As she interlocked her fingers with his Buffy smiled and said, "Angel's soul is permanent. He and Willow discovered that Jenny had changed the curse and now he'll never lose it."

Angel's grip on her hand tightened as he watched Xander jump up off the sofa. "You think that's good enough! What, you think that means you can get groiny with each other again?! And that it won't be deadly for us?!" Xander accused.

"Xander, shut up," Buffy said in a deadly voice.

"Hey, I'm the one that checked the information before Angel even told Buffy anything about it. Nobody went in blind or without making sure everything would be ok. Besides it was a happiness clause not a sex clause on the original curse." Willow interrupted before Xander could start again.

"Oh yeah, 'cause you have never made a mistake before," Xander turned on Willow.

Giles stood and faced Xander saying, "I have every faith in Willow's ability to know whether or not the curse bound Angel's soul to him permanently." Giles then looked away from Xander, over towards the pair in question, held Buffy's gaze a moment and continued, "Besides, it's already been put to the test and I know the difference between Angel and Angelus."

Giles started walking across the room towards Angel as Xander opened his mouth again, "You what…! You of all people couldn't agree with them being together. Dead Boy will always be just that. Dead Boy!" Xander felt someone tap his shoulder from behind.

Xander turned around and barely registered that he was facing Buffy, before her open palm connected hard with his cheek. Xander's head whipped to the side as Buffy stated in a deadly calm voice, "First of all, HIS name is Angel. Secondly, 250 years plus of walking this Earth eliminates him from the 'boy' category in which you are still stuck. And finally, if you don't learn to at least live with the fact that he is the one I choose then you may as well leave now without looking back."

As Buffy spoke Xander slowly straightened and looked her in the eye. At the end of her little speech he took a wider look around and noticed Giles, Wes, Cordy, and Gunn standing protectively, supportively around Angel while Willow and Tara both looked abhorred at his behavior and Anya just looked hurt.

"So I am alone on this? Even you Anya, after I told you everything he did to us?!" Xander asked.

"I trust both Giles' and Willow's detail, research and ability. What you told me he did was truly horrible, but I was a vengeance demon for many, many more years than Angel has been alive in any form. Do you really think your story disturbed me that much? Why do you really not want Buffy to be with him? Am I not the one you want?" Anya questioned.

Xander started to move toward her and reassure her that he did want her, but before he got to where she had been she was up and out the door. He made no move to follow her, but instead turned back on Buffy, "See what you did now?"

Shocked that he was blaming her for his relationship issues Buffy wasn't able to form a response before Angel got in Xander's face.

"You can say whatever the hell you want to about me. Call me names or whatever makes you feel better. I don't care. But you will never again disrespect Buffy. She has either protected or saved your ass more times than I care to count and yet you still have the nerve to question her. You have no idea what being the Slayer really means even after all this time. A true friend would. Disrespect her again or hurt her in any way and I will conveniently forget I have a soul," Angel promised.

Not wanting the gang to see exactly how much Angel scared him Xander sat quickly on the couch and looked away.

Angel felt Buffy's calming hand on his back and turned around. Instead of facing her though he faced Giles since Buffy had moved to tuck herself neatly into Angel's side.

"While I am not going to jump up and down for you two being together again I must reiterate that I do know the difference between you and Angelus. I may have my bad days now and again, but most important to me is Buffy's happiness," Giles spoke quietly to the pair since everyone else had moved off once Xander sat down.

Giles then extended his hand to Angel who, despite his shock at the Watcher's words, managed to shake his hand as they came to and recognized a silent agreement – Buffy comes first.

Buffy just let a single tear slide down her cheek at the moment and then hugged and murmured her thanks to Giles.

The excitement finally over everyone returned to research, except Xander who finally decided to go look for Anya.

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Over the next few days the group did a lot of research on hell dimensions, alternate realities and portals. Wesley and Giles came to believe that it would be possible to send Glory to an alternate reality that would not allow her to ever return since they were going to strip her powers as well. Finally, the research had paid off and the planning had begun.

"Ok, everyone listen up, Buffy called.

First, we have to keep Glory occupied, but in close proximity to the spells we're going to use. Angel and I will have that responsibility…"

"So will I" Spike interrupted Buffy as he sauntered into Giles' living room.

Angel sneered at his grandchilde, "Why is he still alive?" was the question directed at Buffy as Angel moved to pin Spike against the wall.

Buffy answered as she moved to Angel's side, "Because he can't hurt or attack humans and his strength comes in handy from time to time against other demons."

Trusting Buffy's judgment Angel let go of Spike with the promise of a threat, "You survive against Glory and the two of us will be having a serious discussion."

For once Spike kept his mouth shut as he watched Angelus flame to life in Angel's eyes.

Back into planning mode Buffy began again, "The three of us will keep Glory occupied. Giles, Wesley, Willow, and Tara will be performing the rituals and spells – first to strip Glory's power and then open the portal that we'll send her through. Gunn, Cordy, Xander, Anya – I need you to protect the four of them in case something gets past the three of us."