And I thank everyone for their reviews and I give you the fourth chapter. I guess this means I have to finish this story. Oopsy. Well I'll work on that.
Oh, yeah and this is a fun chapter. Hehehe. Also I own nothing.

Enjoy!

Chapter 4: "Orange Halter"

"Anya, where do you have the orbs of Thesulah?" Willow called from a shelf in the Magic Box. Anya was behind the counter.

"The Orb of what?" Anya shouted back.

"Orb of Thesulah." Willow answered. She walked back to the counter. "I need one for a spell. I'm working on."

"Why on earth would you need one of those? I mean the spells connected to them are lost." Anya asked.

"Not entirely. I'm trying to play with one of the spells a friend translated for me. I used to have one. I think I lost it in the move to the dorms." Willow said as she double checked the shelf. "It was one of the first big spells I did."

Anya turned and checked the inventory list. It took her a few minutes. Tara walked in. She carried her bag from classes. Willow greeted her with a kiss.

"New spell?" Tara asked. Willow smiled.

"Actually a very old spell. If Anya can find the orb I need." Willow answered. They walked over to Anya at the counter. "Any luck?"

"We don't carry them. At least I don't think. Giles may have one in the back though." Anya said. "Why do you need it?"

"I'm doing a favor for a friend. I can't ask Giles. He'll get mad." Willow said. Giles walked in.

"I'll be mad about what?" Giles asked. Willow froze for a second.

"You'll get mad about how Anya broke your teapot." Willow lied.

"Hey! You said you'd never tell!" Anya said. Giles raised his eyebrows and took his glasses off to clean them again. The bell rang and Buffy walked in.

"Good Morning!" Buffy said cheerfully. She seemed a lot happier than yesterday. Buffy was wearing jeans and an orange halter under a black jacket. Her hair was all bouncy. "So how's everybody?"

Everyone stood in shock. It was Anya who broke the silence.

"Is Angel evil again?" Willow glared at her. "Well, Xander filled me in. And Buffy's all cheerful. I thought she and Angel had sex."

"No. I killed the demon last night. So Sunnydale is safe once more." Buffy said. She put her bag down on the table. "Giles, what would happen if the Mohra's blood got on someone? Say a vampire."

Willow exchanged looks with Giles. It was the exact same thing she had asked yesterday. Tara and Anya watched Giles too.

"I'm not sure. I have to check my books." Giles said. He saw Willow raise her eyebrow.

"Oh I found it! It's an orb of The – " Anya started to say as she pulled a box out from under the counter.

" – Myscira. An orb of Themyscira. It's for a new spell. The orb can be enchanted to – um." Willow said, stumbling on her lie.

"To hold light." Tara said, saving Willow's lie. Willow reached over and took the box from Anya.

"Put it on my tab." Willow said. Buffy raised her eyebrow.

"Well, I'm off to class. Tell me if you find anything about the demon's blood." Buffy said. She waved and walked out the door. Willow glanced around the room. Giles was out of earshot.

"So what is this orb for?" Tara asked. Willow smiled.

"It's an orb of Thesulah. It's used in an ancient Romanian Spell to restore the soul to a vampire." Willow said. "I used the spell once. When things got really, really bad."

Tara nodded. "So what are you going to do with it now?" Willow smiled.

"I'm going to tweak the spell so that the little clause about losing the soul. If I can fix that…" Willow's voice trailed off as Giles walked back into view. He was carrying a book.

"Where did Buffy go?" Giles asked. "I think I found the information she wanted."

"Class." Willow said. Giles saw the box in Willow's hand.

"What is that?"

"Crystals." Willow lied. Giles nodded suspiciously. He looked like he was going to ask more questions. "I have class." Giles nodded. Willow smiled. She and Tara left for class. Giles shook his head and returned to his books.

~B~

Buffy was feeling light and spirited as she walked through the dark cemeteries of Sunnydale. She was still dressed in her orange halter. It had been a fun day. Classes were good and she had even managed to meet Dawn and Mom for lunch. And Mom was overjoyed to see Buffy so happy, though she didn't think to ask why. Buffy smiled as she walked casually among the graves.

"Vampires, here vampires." Buffy said, cheerfully. She was in the mood for a brief fight, just as an exercise. Then it was off to meet the gang at the Bronze. A vampire fought his way out of the grave. "I can't believe that worked."

Buffy smiled as she engaged the newly risen vampire. The fight was over quickly. Buffy didn't even break a sweat when she dusted the vampire. She smiled and brushed off her coat.

"Do you always sing for them?" Angel asked from the shadows. Buffy jumped and turned to face him.

"You, collar and bell." Buffy said. She was still cheerful. Angel even allowed himself to smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Just around." Angel asked. "Where are you headed?"

"Bronze. Meeting Willow and Xander." Buffy said with a smile. Angel said nothing. Buffy would swear she heard him growl under his breath. It was that low growl, the one that always sent tingles up her spine. Buffy slowly backed away from him. She crashed into another vampire.

The vampire attacked her and went to bite her. He grabbed her coat and it tore. Buffy swore and punched the vampire. The fight was brief and she managed to stake him. Angel offered her a hand to get up. Buffy looked at the ruins of her coat.

"I liked this coat." Buffy said. She pulled it off. She was wearing her orange halter, which was completely backless, except for a couple of strings to tie it. This time she knew she heard Angel growl. And suddenly she felt herself pinned to a tombstone with Angel's body pressed against hers.

"Buffy." Angel said, his voice was low and husky. "I've missed you." Buffy looked up into his eyes. She saw his eyes flash yellow for a second. And then his lips were on hers. Buffy felt her back arch up as she pressed her body against his. It had been so long since she had felt his lips. But it was like no time had passed. The kiss deepened and Buffy felt Angel's hands run up her now bare back. The chill sent shivers up her spine. The passion returned in a second and it was even more powerful than before.

Unfortunately, the forces of darkness didn't seem to care. Two vampires jumped out of nowhere to attack them. Buffy felt them and broke the kiss, reluctantly. She and Angel fought the vampires in complete sync with each other. And dusted them quickly.

"I should get to the Bronze. They'll be worried." Buffy said. Angel nodded. "I'd say come, but they're not sure about you being back yet."

"I get it, Buffy. I have something to take care of anyway." Angel said. Buffy nodded.

"I guess I'll see you around." Buffy said. She shivered.

"Here, you're cold." Angel said. He put his jacket over her shoulders. Buffy smiled.

"I'll give it back to you this time." Buffy said. Angel smiled and touched her cheek.

"I'll be around." Angel said. Buffy smiled and the two walked off in opposite directions.

~B~

The Bronze was crowded that night. Willow and Tara sat at a table near the dance floor. They watched Xander and Anya on the dance floor. They were swing dancing. Buffy walked in and spotted them. She walked over.

"Hey. Sorry I'm late. Unscheduled slayage." Buffy said as she took off the long coat and sat down.

"Well you made it. Your lipstick is a bit smudged though." Willow said. Buffy's eyes went huge. She grabbed the napkin holder to check her reflection.

"Great." Buffy said. She spotted Xander and Anya. "What are they doing?"

"Their version of dancing." Tara said. Buffy nodded. Willow watched her.

"Are you sure it was vampire slayage that kept you?" Willow asked, with a sly smile. "Cause you haven't smiled like this since – since high school." Buffy shifted in her seat, she seemed to be trying to hide a smile.

"Maybe." Buffy said. Tara watched the conversation, a bit confused. Willow glared jokingly at Buffy. "Okay. There was more than just slaying. There may have been one – I mean one little kiss."

Willow giggled as did Buffy. Tara still looked confused. Willow turned to her to explain as Buffy looked around the room.

"Buffy and Angel used to be all hot and heavy during high school. Until he went evil and she sent him to hell. Then he came back and left for LA after Graduation." Willow explained. Tara nodded catching on.

"So, how was the kiss?" Tara asked. Buffy hesitated before answering. Willow and Tara turned on Buffy, waiting for her to answer.

"Okay, it was more than a little kiss. Do you guys need details?" Buffy asked. She liked this, this girl talk thing. Willow nodded. "It was – God, it was like he never left, or went evil. We just picked up right where we left off."

Willow nodded; Buffy seemed absorbed in the memory of the kiss. It had been a long time since Buffy had seen Angel, never mind kissed him. Willow could imagine the tension between them. Xander and Anya walked back over to the table.

"Hey Buff, you made it." Xander said cheerfully. Buffy nodded. "Did you see the dancing?"

"Oh, without a doubt." Buffy said with a smile. "Anyone want a drink?"

"Coke." Willow answered.

"Me too." Tara added.

"And one for me." Anya said. Buffy nodded and stood up. She bumped Willow's bag and the orb rolled out of it. Buffy bent down and picked it up.

"Will, what's this?" Buffy asked. She is a bit confused. Everyone turns to Willow for an answer. She hesitates.

"It's an orb of Themyscria. For a spell." Willow said, sticking to the lie she had used earlier. "You can enchant it to hold light."

Buffy continued to stare at the orb. Her memory flashed to the Sunnydale High Library. Giles said he had an orb as a paperweight.

"It's an orb of Thesulah." Buffy answered in a whisper. She seemed afraid of the orb. "Why do you have an orb of Thesulah? Is something going on that I don't know about?"

"Buffy, I – " Willow started. Buffy cut her off, she was near tears.

"Do you think I can't control myself? Or are you afraid I'm not going to think before I act?" Buffy asked. Her temper was rising and she was losing control. "It was one kiss."

Buffy put the orb on the table, grabbed the coat and stormed out of the Bronze. The gang watched her go. Xander turned back to Willow.

"Orb of Thesa – what?" Xander asked. Willow picked up the orb and put it back in her bag.

"An Orb of Thesaluh. It's used in the spell to return a vampire's soul." Willow said with an even voice. "The last time I did it was right before Buffy sent Angel to hell. You were there Xander."

"Why would it throw her so much?" Tara asked. "The orb I mean."

"When Angel lost his soul he became Angelus and tortured us, especially her. He killed Ms. Calendar and tortured Giles. Buffy blamed herself for everything, changed her name and ran to LA for a couple of months." Willow said, calmly and evenly. Anya and Tara listened intently. "There are more details but you'd have to ask Buffy. She told me that she loved him more than anything else in the world. And he's back now. So she's kinda thrown."

"How do we fix this?" Tara asked.

"There's some detail we're missing. I'm positive it has something to do with the demon's blood. And Buffy knows nothing about it." Willow said.

"I say we leave it alone. At least we have the spell this time." Xander said. Willow looked up at him. "Just in case." Xander held Willow's gaze for a second longer then left. Anya went with him. Tara turned to face Willow.

"What is the orb for then?" Tara asked. Willow half smiled.

"I'm going to bind Angel's soul so there's no way Buffy could set Angelus free again. She needs some happiness in her life. Want to help?" Tara smiled.

"Yeah, I do."

~B~

It was midmorning when the curtains over the windows in the mansion parted. Angel jumped back from the sunlight and reached for a weapon. It was not Buffy's presence he felt enter the room. Angel turned, battle axe in hand and came face to face with Willow. She was standing by the window with her arms crossed. He lowered the axe.

"Willow, is there something I can do for you?" Angel asked. Willow stepped into the room.

"I did a spell yesterday and it had an interesting result. Who are the 'Powers that Be'?" Willow asked. She sounded stronger than she felt.

"They're what they sound like. What kind of magic were you working?" Angel asked.

"A spell. I was going to bind your soul." Willow answered. Angel faltered in his next words. He was completely shocked Willow would ever do something like that for him. But he was willing to bet she had done it for Buffy not him. "The thing is, I couldn't do it. The Powers that Be said it had already been done. The interesting part was that they said they did it after they returned their human champion to his be-souled vampire form. Care to explain?"

Angel inhaled even though he had no breath. Willow was good at what she did. Angel turned away from her and paused to think. Willow stepped towards him, she was angry.

"That's not the most interesting part though. They said you gave up the most happiness you ever had, that you gave up humanity." Willow said. Angel could feel the power growing around her. "Answer me."

"Yes. I was human. The Mohra demon's blood mixed with my own. I became human for a day. It is – it was the happiest day of my life. And I had to take it back so I could protect Buffy." Angel said. Willow heard his voice break as he remembered the day. She was beginning to think Tara had been right. Buffy was there.

"When?"

"About a year ago. After Thanksgiving."

"Buffy was in LA then. She was there when you were human." Willow said in shock. She sunk into one of the chairs. It suddenly made sense. Everything made sense. "You two spent the day together, with no consequences."

Angel let her deal with the information she had just figured out. He had never thought anyone would ever figure it out. Angel had suspected that Buffy would have some remnant memories. She was the Slayer. Her prophetic dreams had probably given her some sight into the day.

"She said she felt your heart beat." Willow said to herself. She then rounded on Angel. "I didn't get it. You need to tell her. And you need to tell her that your soul is bound."

"Willow, she'll hate me." Angel said. "She'll hate me for taking it all away."

"You don't know that." Willow said. She felt weird comforting Angel. Even after all that had happened. "Tara told me that every person in this world has only one soul mate. She said that it's hard to find that one person that has half your heart and the chances of finding them is next to nothing. Tara said when you do find them, you have to hold on to that person, otherwise you'll end up alone." Angel looked over at Willow as she spoke. "Xander and Anya are soul mates. I can see that. I know Tara is mine. Buffy is your soul mate. Don't let her go."

Willow stood and picked up her bag.

"But she's my best friend, if you hurt her. I'll send you to the worst place I can think of. And it will be worse than Acathla's hell." Willow threatened. Angel smiled. She turned to go.

"Willow." Angel said. Willow turned back to face him. "Thank you." Willow smiled.

~B~

Buffy woke with a gasp. She was in her room in her own bed. Buffy ran her hand through her hair. She had been dreaming again. She was in Angel's apartment, and there was ice cream and peanut butter. And sweet forever kisses. Buffy threw back the covers and got up. It was still dark and there were a couple of hours before sunrise. She slipped to the kitchen on silent feet and grabbed the ice cream carton from the fridge. It was cookie-dough-fudge-mint-chip. Just like in her dream. Buffy turned to the drawer for a spoon. And started on the ice cream.

"I always figured it was your favorite flavor." Buffy spun around. Angel stood in the doorway to the kitchen. "I tasted it once. Makes you miss food."

"I thought vampires couldn't eat." Buffy asked.

"Food doesn't taste so good." Angel said. He stepped into the kitchen. "If I remember correctly, I was feeding it to you and it dripped on me." Buffy smiled as she remembered.

"I licked it off. But that's a dream." Buffy said. Angel shook his head. Buffy looked confused.

"It wasn't a dream." He took off his coat and sat at the island opposite her. "Do you remember coming to LA after Thanksgiving?"

"Yes. That's when the Mohra demon attacked you in your office." Buffy answered. Angel nodded.

"That's not what happened. The demon attacked and then got away. We chased it through LA. Its blood mixed with mine…"

"And you became human." Buffy said. It was like she was finally remembering the day. "The dreams are true." Buffy paused for a second. She was still absorbing all that Angel was saying. "I saw you walking in sunlight and I felt your heart beat."

"We spent the day together. It was the happiest day of my life, Buffy. I was with you." Angel said. Buffy let him talk. As he spoke the images came back to her. So clear, so wonderful. "The demon came back and almost killed us. You managed to smash the jewel with a chain like you did on the dock. I went to the oracles and asked them to make me what I was. They said if I stayed human, you would die."

"You gave up your happiness, to save me." Buffy said, her voice a whisper. "To be what you were. And they just did it. A cursed vampire with a soul." Buffy turned away.

"Willow said they gave me something else, a gift." Angel said. Buffy turned back. Her eyes were full of hope as she met his.

"They bound your soul." Buffy said. She was in awe. She could, they could.

They stood apart for a few long minutes. Just staring at each other across the room. Buffy was dealing with the memories that were returning. Angel was waiting for her reaction. He saw her eyes change and a smile form on her face. She took four steps around the counter and stood less than a foot away from Angel. His fingers barely brushed her shoulder.

"If I had known, about my soul, that top you were wearing in the cemetery would have been like your coat." Angel whispered. Buffy smiled.

"I know." Buffy said. And then their lips met. It was passionate and possessive. Buffy wrapped her legs around Angel's waist as he slammed her back into the counter. It was like another, now remembered, kitchen scene. Something crashed to the floor. They jumped.

"Buffy?" Joyce called from the stairs. "Are you alright?" Buffy and Angel broke apart. She was scared all the sudden. Great thing for Mom to find. Slayer daughter making out with be-souled vampire in the kitchen. "Do you need help?"

"I'm fine, Mom! Go back to bed." Buffy shouted back. She was still wrapped in Angel's arms standing in the shadows of the kitchen.

"Alright." Joyce called back. Buffy looked up at Angel. She was giggling.

"Could you imagine if she found us?"

~B~