Okey-Dokey Chapter 3! Wow, this one is really long! Hehehe. Okay to continue, thank you all for the reviews, I'm so happy everyone likes this. I guess it means I'll have to finish it. Oh yeah, I own nothing!

Enjoy!

Chapter 3: "Silky Shirt"

Giles got to the Magic Box early, as he always did. But today, he was earlier than usual because he wanted to do further research on the newest demon. He unlocked the door and went in. Willow was standing by the counter waiting for him. Giles almost dropped his briefcase in shock.

"Must you do that?" Giles asked. He walked over and put his briefcase on the counter. "What are you doing here this early?"

"I wanted to talk to you. I'm worried about Buffy." Willow said. Giles sighed.

"I'll put up a pot of tea. We can talk before Anya gets here." Willow nodded. "You spoke to him yesterday on the phone, correct?"

"I spoke to Cordelia. She said he was already here. Which actually explains a hell of a lot. I mean Buffy said something weird a couple of days ago. Like she felt his presence or something. Is that even possible?" Willow asked. She ranted on a little. Giles sat down at the small research table.

"I presume it is possible. There are no real defined rules when Buffy is involved. This new demon seems to have affected her." Giles answered. Willow walked over and sat down at the table with him.

"Tara told me that Buffy seemed very out of it Friday. She said that Buffy was saying weird things about having a puppy or a cat. She also mentioned that time Angelus killed my fish." Willow said. Giles raised his eyebrows. "Yesterday she said that she heard his heart beat after you mentioned the demon's blood. Giles something is going on."

"Willow, I can see that. Will she talk to you?"

"I can try. She just seems really out of it." Willow said. Giles stood to get the kettle. Xander and Anya walked in.

"Has anyone seen Buffy? We went to get her, but Dawn said she hadn't seen her since last night." Xander asked.

"Yeah. I saw the demon." Anya said.

"Where?"

"By the docks."

"Didn't Giles say it liked salt?" Willow asked. "That makes sense."

"Do we know how to kill it yet?" Xander asked as he walked over to the table to join Willow.

"We have yet to find that out." Giles said as he walked back in with a cup of tea. "None of my books seem to say anything."

"Great, another un-killable demon to add to this wonderful world." Anya said as she walked over to the cash register.

"It's not un-killable. All you have to do is smash the jewel in its forehead." A very familiar voice said from the balcony above. Everyone looked up. Giles dropped his teacup. Willow's eyes went wide. Xander jumped back in fear.

"Oh my God! He's evil again!"

~B~

Buffy woke with a start. It took her a few seconds to remember where she was. She was still wrapped tight in the blankets. She was still safe in the mansion. Buffy sat up and ran her hand through her hair. She had been dreaming, one of those really good dreams. The kind with surround sound. Buffy felt her heart beat pick up as she remembered the dream. Perhaps a cold shower would be a good idea. The only problem was she had no other clothes. Buffy reluctantly untangled herself from the bedclothes. She pulled her shoes back on and grabbed the leather jacket as she walked out.

~B~

"Buffy! Giles is on the phone for you!" Dawn shouted up the stairs.

"Thank you!" Buffy shouted back. She had showered and changed. The clean clothes were much better. And the cold shower had help with the dreams. Buffy grabbed the phone. "Giles, what's up?"

~B~

"Buffy, um, ah. We figured out how to kill the demon." Giles said. He paused for Buffy's answer. "Yes, you have to smash the jewel in its forehead…What book? Yes a book… Right we're at the Magic Box. Um, hold on." Giles put a hand on the reviver and turned to face Willow. She was standing next to him. Xander and Anya were sitting at the table. "Are we going to tell her?"

"Um. Let her come over." Willow said. Giles nodded and turned back to the phone. Willow crossed her arms and turned to face the shadows. He was still standing there. "What are you going to tell her?"

"The truth I suppose." Angel said. He walked out of the shadows into the main room of the Magic Box. But was careful to stay out of the sunlight. Xander was still watching him suspiciously.

"So we're positive he's not evil again?" Xander asked. Anya was still watching Angel.

"He goes evil? I bet that's fun." Anya said. Xander rolled his eyes.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Angel asked. Giles hung up the phone and walked over to them.

"She's on her way. Though Dawn may be coming with her." Giles said.

"Great, more people for Dead boy to kill." Xander said. Angel snarled.

"I'm not evil!" Angel snapped. Willow stepped between them.

"That's enough. Buffy is coming here. And you're both going to behave. Dawn is coming with her. So everyone will behave." Willow ordered. Just then the door burst open and Spike ran in wrapped in a blanket.

"Great, another one." Xander said. Spike threw off the blanket.

"What the bloody hell is going on here? Some big demon comes smashing into my crypt in the middle of the night. I'd like to know why." Spike said. He turned around at the group and spotted Angel. "Grandsire? What the bleeding hell are you doing here?"

Angel reached up and punched him. Spike fell backwards. He came up with his vamp face on. Angel hit him again.

"Why is he here?" Angel asked. Willow sighed.

"Because he can't bite anymore."

"The bloody Initiative put a chip in my head. Can't kill anything anymore." Spike said he walked across the room and sat down. "It's really insulting."

"Yet he's still annoying as hell." Xander said. Anya smiled. "I just realized something, this is going to be a really interesting meeting."

Willow nodded in agreement. Angel and Spike continued to stare at each other from across the room. Giles went to make more tea. Willow sat down at the table with Xander and Anya.

"Let's tell him how Spike's trying to get in Buffy's pants. I want to see how he'll react." Xander suggested with a smile. Anya smiled too.

"I like that idea. Let's do that." Anya suggested. Willow rolled her eyes.

Everyone in the room turned as the front door opened. Dawn and Buffy walked in. Buffy wore the cross and jacket. She was talking with Dawn. They heard part of the conversation as they walked in.

"So, English was horrible. I mean she could barely read Shakespeare, how could she teach it?" Dawn said.

"English teacher, what do you…" Buffy's voice died midsentence. The tingling sensation was back, stronger and more powerful than ever.

"Buffy, what is it?" Dawn asked. Buffy turned to look into the room. She froze as she spotted Angel. He was standing in the shadows. Her mouth fell open in shock.

"Angel." Buffy said. Her voice was barely a whisper. So the tingling had been true. It was him.

"Buffy." Angel's voice seemed to stroke her name. Like he always had. He was just like she remembered him. Just as tall and imposing and just as gorgeous. Buffy took a couple of steps towards him. It took a lot of strength not to run across the room and throw herself against him.

"How have you been?" Buffy asked. She was fighting to keep her mind on the present day. Her dreams kept coming to mind.

"Alright. I like the jacket by the way." Angel said. Buffy half smiled. "What about you?"

"New demon. Could swear I faced him before, can't seem to remember the details though." Buffy said. It was then she spotted Spike. "Why is he here?"

"Not really sure." Willow answered.

"Demon attacked my crypt." Spike answered.

"Did any of its blood get on you?" Angel asked quickly.

"Why the bleeding hell would it? I ran here. Not going to fight something I don't know." Spike answered. "You know what, this party's getting boring." Spike grabbed his blanket and left.

"Please, Will, let me tell." Xander begged. Willow smiled but shook her head.

"When do we get to open the store?" Anya asked. Giles rolled his eyes.

"You can open in a few minutes. Buffy?" Giles said. Buffy nodded.

"Come on, Angel. I'll catch you up on the demon in the training room. We don't want to keep Anya from her money." Buffy said. She walked towards the backroom with Angel behind her.

"Is anyone worried that he's going to come out all grrrr?" Xander asked. Willow glared at him.

~B~

Buffy knew it was going to be a very awkward conversation. The room was already tense. Angel stood on one side. Buffy on the other. Without thinking she pulled the jacket around her. Though she wished it was his arms.

"I never thought you kept that." Angel said referring to the jacket.

"I didn't think I did either." Buffy answered. Her voice was a whisper. She felt the tears well up behind her eyes. She bit them back. "So this demon, have you fought it before?"

"Once or twice. It seemed easy enough to kill." Angel answered. He kept his voice even and emotionless. Buffy nodded. She turned away for a second to collect herself. It had been a rough few weeks.

"Did I ever fight it?" Buffy asked. Her voice was still a whisper. Angel was standing beside her when she turned. She looked up into his eyes. Angel reached over and ran a finger along her jaw line. She heard him growl when he saw her neck.

"What bit you?" Angel asked. Buffy could hear the demon in his voice. He was turning into the protective side again. "It wasn't Spike. I can't smell him on you."

"Dracula." Buffy answered. Angel snarled. Buffy wondered if the count had broken some major vampire rules. "And then Riley broke up with me, because he was jealous."

"Of Dracula?"

"Of you." Buffy finally felt the tears fall. She took one step closer and buried her face in Angel's shirt. He was surprised but wrapped his arms around her. Buffy smiled slightly through her tears. Angel was wearing one of his silky shirts. It felt soft and smooth against her skin. She buried her face against his chest. It felt so right. Angel just pulled her closer and held her tight.

"I felt your heart beat." Buffy whispered. Without his vampire hearing, Angel wouldn't have heard it. But he still didn't say a word. He just held her.

~B~

For some reason the Magic Box was extremely busy. Giles and Anya barely had time to rest. Willow and Xander helped out when they could. Dawn hung around, she only pitched in when Giles glared at her. Buffy and Angel stayed out of sight. Xander kept wondering if they needed crosses. Giles managed to close the store just in time for dinner.

"Wow, that was one hell of a long day." Willow commented as they all sat down to rest. Giles took off his glasses and started cleaning them.

"But look at all the money!" Anya said cheerfully.

"So, who's up for dinner?" Xander asked.

"I'll go for dinner. What about Buffy?" Dawn asked. Everyone suddenly seemed to remember about Buffy and Angel in the training room. "I'll get her." Dawn walked over to the back room.

"No!" Willow and Xander shouted at the same time. Dawn jumped back.

"We'll get them." Willow said. She grabbed Xander's hand and forced him to come with her. He reluctantly did.

"If he bites me, it's your fault." Xander said. Willow glared at him and they walked over to the training room. Willow knocked on the door.

"Buffy? Are you there?" Willow asked through the door. There was no answer. She turned to Xander. "Do we go in?"

"After you, Will." Xander said. Willow reluctantly pushed the door open, closing her eyes at the same time, afraid of what she was going to see.

It was not what they expected. Angel and Buffy were in the middle of the room, standing close but still apart. They were doing Tai Chi. Each of their movements were in perfect sync. Willow and Xander stood in the door way in complete shock. Willow's face changed as she watched.

"It's so sweet." Willow said. Xander glared at her.

"Sure. Until he goes all grrr." Xander said. Buffy and Angel ignored them. They were caught up in their own world.

"Do we interrupt them?" Willow asked. "I mean it's so sweet. Them, training like that. Look, they're moving together."

"You are aware how wrong that statement can be?" Xander asked. Willow half punched his arm. "Hey! Ooo I got an idea."

"Xander." Willow warned. He just smiled.

"Demon!" Xander shouted. Buffy and Angel whipped around and fell into combat mode.

"Where?" Buffy asked. Xander forced a smile.

"Well, now that we have your attention." Xander said. Buffy glared at him. She heard Angel growl and put a hand on his arm to stop him from attacking Xander.

"There's no demon. Xander want to catch your attention. So he kind of made it up. We wanted to know if you guys were joining us for dinner." Willow asked. She was speaking very fast.

"It's fine, Will. Yeah, I can't remember the last time I ate, I'm not really hungry though." Buffy said. She turned back to Angel. "Are you coming?"Angel said nothing. The two just exchanged looks. "We're gonna go out on patrol."

Willow nodded and dragged Xander away from the room. Giles turned to face them as they walked back into the main room of the Magic Box.

"Are they coming for dinner?" Giles asked. Willow shook her head.

"No. Xander shouted 'Demon' in a room full of demon hunters. Buffy said, She'd head out on patrol with Angel." Willow said. Giles nodded.

"So did they do it?" Anya asked. Everyone turned to face her. "You know what I mean. Did they have – "

"Anya. Don't finish that statement in front of Dawn." Buffy said from the door of the training room. "Angel and I are going hunting now. He thinks the demon might try to attack soon."

"Very well. Be careful." Giles said. Buffy nodded.

"Always am." Buffy said, cheerfully. She bounced or rather seemed to bounce out of the room. Everyone watched her go.

"Did Buffy just bounce?" Anya asked.

"I think she did." Dawn answered. Willow nodded in agreement.

"I have something to take care of." Willow said suddenly, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

"Are you staying for dinner?" Xander asked.

"Maybe. Depends what I find." Willow called back as she went out the door.

"What is she up to?" Dawn asked.

"Who knows." Xander asked. "So, what are we eating?"

~B~

The docks were pretty quiet, deserted. Buffy and Angel walked carefully across them. He was carrying a battle axe and she a crossbow. There seems to be tension between them, although they are trying to hid it.

"This seems eerily familiar." Buffy said. She kept glancing around. "So the demon likes salt. Docks make sense."

"I found it last time in a salt factory." Angel said. Buffy paused for a second, that sounded so familiar. "Pretty easy to take done." Buffy nodded.

"On the bright side, there's no chance of running into Spike this time." Buffy said. She realized what she said a second too late. "I mean we're not going to get going to be captured by Spike this time."

Angel said nothing. Buffy just rolled her eyes and returned to glancing around the docks. This whole hunt was beginning to feel more familiar than ever. She was certain she had hunted this demon before. She just couldn't remember. Buffy turned. She felt the demon a second before she saw it.

"Angel! Look out." Buffy shouted. The demon dropped down from above and landed right where they had both stood a second before.

Buffy launched forward and engaged the demon. The crossbow didn't stop him. She vaguely heard it splash. Angel took over the fight as Buffy fell back. She recovered from the throw and searched the area for a weapon. All she found was a chain. Buffy grabbed it and launched back into the fight. Angel fell back and let her take over. He watched and felt a feeling of déjà vu. Angel knew that the last time Buffy had fought the Mohra demon she had killed it with a chain. Buffy managed to smash the jewel. The force of the demon's explosion threw her backwards. Angel didn't manage to move fast enough. Buffy fell backwards over the railing. Angel heard her splash down in the water.

"Buffy!" Angel screamed. He tore off his coat and dove over the edge after her.

~B~

The tension in the Magic Box was incredible. Willow sat at the table with Tara. They were holding hands. Anya stood behind the counter, she was counting her money. Xander sat at the table opposite Willow and Tara. He and Dawn were playing "Go Fish". Giles was by the book shelves going through his books.

"So, how long do we have to wait?" Tara asked. "I mean, who was that guy Buffy went hunting with?"

"That was Angel." Willow answered.

"He's a vampire with a soul." Dawn said. Tara nodded.

"Yep and when he loses the soul, he goes all evil." Xander added. He turned back to Dawn. "Got any threes?"

"Go fish." Dawn said. Tara turned to Willow.

"This is going to sound crazy, but could the heart she heard beating be Angel's?" Tara asked. Willow watched her for a second. She seemed to be thinking.

"Giles, this demon's blood, what would happen if it got on a vampire?" Willow asked. Giles looked up from his books, momentarily perplexed.

"In theory, it could potentially turn a vampire human, I presume." Giles answered. Willow's eyes grew large.

"So Angel could have been human?" Willow said. Everyone was playing attention to her now. "Wouldn't Buffy had heard?"

"Sweetie, maybe she did. Maybe she was there. Buffy said that she felt his heart beat." Tara said. Willow nodded.

"Could you imagine what would happen between them if Angel was human and she was there?" Willow said out loud. Xander swore.

"I don't need those images, Will." Xander said. Giles was cleaning his glasses again.

"But just think for a second. Buffy would be so happy. If he was human, he could walk in the sunlight and everything." Willow said. Xander glanced at the clock.

"Well let's hope nothing happened this time. Otherwise Sunnydale's going to have a new big bad." Xander said. Giles nodded.

~B~

They had ended up back at the mansion after the fight. Buffy was wrapped in Angel's duster over her soaked clothes. Buffy had showered while Angel had changed his clothes, he had been soaked through as well. Buffy came out of the shower wrapped in a red towel. Angel stood by the bed. He was dressed in black again, and wearing another one of his silky shirts.

"You don't have any clothes here. You can use some of mine." Angel said. He handed her a pair of pants and a shirt. Then turned around to let her change.

"Thanks for the bail out there. I never learned how to swim. You think I would after all those times I get thrown in the water." Buffy said as she dressed. "It's okay. You can look now."

Angel turned back. Buffy looked so small in his clothes, they were way too big for her. Angel watched her as she sat down on the bed. Her hair hung all wet and stingy around her.

"You've been spending a lot of time here." Angel said.

"I feel safe here." Buffy answered. "And now all I want to do is sleep. That was one strong demon." Buffy pulled her feet up and laid down on the bed. "I think I'll stay here. It's nice here. Nice and warm."

Angel watched as she nestled into the pillows and blankets. Her breathing changed and Buffy drifted off into sleep. He sat down on a chair nearby and watched her sleep. She was caught in a nightmare in the early morning hours. Angel was at her side in an instant. He pulled her into his arms and held her close. Buffy was crying again.

"Shh. It was just a nightmare." Angel whispered to Buffy as he held her. She clung to him.

"Stay with me." Buffy said weakly. Angel said nothing. He slipped into the bed beside her. Buffy snuggled into him. He wrapped his arms around her. She buried her face in his silky black shirt and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

"Forever." Angel whispered into her hair.

~B~