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Disclaimer: I do not own BTVS, but I really wish I did. Angel leaving? Never would have happened.

Pairing: B/A (eventually), W/O, S/F

Summary: AU. The prequel to Werewolves of L.A. Buffy Summers is an ordinary girl, living a normal life, until her Mom gets a job as an art curator in a little town called Sunnydale. She thinks her life has come to an end. In fact, it's only just beginning…

"I still can't believe he was a demon," sighed Willow miserably as Buffy plaited her long auburn hair.

"I wish you'd stop beating yourself up over this," said Xander through a mouthful of popcorn, sitting next to them on Buffy's bed. It was time for the traditional monthly sleepover, and the three were vegged out in the Summers' residence watching dodgy romance movies.

On second thoughts, mused Buffy, chick flicks had probably not been the best movie choice considering what had happened in the past few months.

"To be fair none of us are exactly high in the dating leagues at the moment. I mean, Xander had a crush on a giant bug woman who he had to cut up into little pieces, and then the first guy I liked turned out to be a werewolf." She pursed her lips and concentrated on keeping all of Willow's hair between her fingers. "And the second one I liked ended up dead."

"So really we're all winners in the big dating game of life," said Xander sarcastically. He patted Willow's arm in consolation. "Who was to know that Malcolm would turn out to be a big demon robot who would try to kill us all? He seemed like a really nice guy, well, to start with anyway."

Willow laughed despite herself. "Well, at least we have the talent show to distract ourselves with."

Xander groaned. "Stupid new principal. Gah, I hate that man!"

Buffy chuckled. "I feel so sorry for you guys. I can't believe Snyder roped Spike and Faith into doing it too. I wish I could have seen their faces."

"Yeah, I've never seen Spike look so bummed. Oh no, I have – when we swapped all his hair gel that one April Fool's day, and he ended up putting glue in his hair instead. He had to shave it off in the end."

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Harsh."

Willow pursed her lips. "Well, we were twelve and it grew back when he transformed that month."

The blonde shrugged. "Right. Anyway, I've never been so glad for having Professor Farley run over his time; otherwise he might have got me too."

"Yeah," groaned Xander. "The one class I actually decided to skip and look how it worked out."

Buffy sniggered. "Crime doesn't pay Xand, and neither does missing social sciences."

"Goody two-shoes."

"Hey!" Buffy scooped Willow's hair into her right hand and swatted him with her left. "I am not. I was all ready to go and be delinquent with you guys when he spotted me heading to meet you. I couldn't get out of it."

Xander rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Hey- is that your cell vibrating?"

"I don't hear anything."

Willow nodded as well. "Someone's definitely trying to call you, where'd you leave it?"

Buffy frowned. "Um…"

"Buffy! Your phone's going off!" Called Joyce from the living room.

The blonde teenager shot them both a look. "Downstairs apparently. No wonder I couldn't hear it. You and your crazy sensitive hearing." She scooted off the bed. "I'll be one mo."

Buffy came back ten minutes later frowning pensively. "That was Doyle."

Willow and Xander shot each other looks. "Really?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "I'm going to pretend that you both didn't listen in on my conversation."

Xander threw his hands up to his chest in mock innocence. "Us, listen in?"

Willow patted the bed and Buffy flopped back onto it. "I thought you'd be happy to hear from your brother."

"Well, yeah, normally," said Buffy, fiddling with the bed sheet. "He wants to come see me."

"And that's bad because?"

"Because he said it in his 'I've got something really bad to tell you' voice. The last time I heard that kind of tone was when my parents told me they were getting a divorce."

"When's he coming?" Asked Xander.

"Thursday," she answered, nibbling on a nail. "I asked if he wanted to stop here, but he's booked a motel for a couple of days."

"But that's the night of the Talent Show," he whined. "I thought you were gonna come and support our musical debut!"

"Oops?"

Xander huffed. "That wasn't even close to sounding sorry."

"Returning back to Doyle," said Willow, "he's obviously planning to stick around for a while. Whatever it is can't be that bad."

Xander nodded, his mouth stuffed full of popcorn.

Buffy shot her friends a look of disbelief. "This is my life. My parents got divorced, I moved to a Hellmouth, I have to worry about getting chewed on by supernatural stuff, and the reason I had to split up with my last boyfriend was because he died."

She sighed. "My track record says it's gonna be bad."

Buffy sank into a chair and watched the after school talent show rehearsal, trying not to wince as Cordelia sang.

"If she's trying to kill us with her voice, I think it's working."

She smiled as Angel took the seat next to her. "I know. I feel sorry for Giles, this is the fourth time he's had to listen to the…uh, noise." She saw him smile out of the corner of her eye. "Are you coming to it?"

"Yep. I wouldn't miss Spike making a fool of himself for the world."

"I knew you were coming for all the right reasons."

He chuckled. "And you?"

"Can't. Doyle's coming that night. We're going out for dinner."

"Anywhere nice?"

She shrugged. "He's broke, so it'll probably be the first greasy spoon we find."

They continued to watch as Cordelia slowly murdered the song. "Fancy going to get a coffee?"

"Well, I'd offered to help Giles with the order and the programs." Cordelia skewered a high note. "Sure, let me grab my stuff."

She swung her bag round her shoulder and took Angel's proffered hand as they hurried out of the school. Angel's grip didn't lessen as they reached the sidewalk and Buffy seemed content to leave her hand in the warm, familiar fingers.

"Have you heard about the murders?"

"Mmm," said Buffy. "They're killing off all the talent show contestants, and after hearing Cordelia, I can understand why."

Angel smirked. "Any theories?"

"Nope, I'm leaving all of that to Merrick and Kendra. My scooby days are behind me."

"Really?"

"Nope, I just haven't had time at the mo. And I've got my own problems to worry about."

"Ah, Willow mentioned something about Doyle sounding…"

"Cryptic? Upset? Worried?" She pushed open the door of the coffee house and found a table near the window. "Yeah. I just keep thinking off all the horrible things he could have to tell me."

Angel ordered their drinks and then put a large, chocolate chip muffin in front of her.

"You look like you need it," he said at Buffy's raised eyebrow.

"Thanks." She gently began to unpeel it from the paper case. "I mean, what if he's come to say that he's moving and I won't ever get to see him again? Or that he doesn't want to see me, and he hates me-"

"Now you're just being irrational."

She chewed a chocolate chip. "Maybe. But what if I'm not?"

The waitress brought their drinks over and then hurried off to deal with the growing queue. Buffy wrapped her hands around her cup, soaking in the warmth.

"What are you really worried about?" Asked Angel gently.

Buffy glanced down and dug her nails into the cup. "That he's dying. My cousin, Celia, died when I was eight and I'm worried Doyle's going to get ill like she did."

Angel placed his hand over hers. "Buffy, I'm sure he's fine."

"But-"

"There's no point worrying yourself until you actually know what's wrong. You'll just make yourself sick."

She bit her lip. "I guess."

He squeezed her hand. "And whatever it is, we'll get through it together."

She smiled and squeezed his hand back. "Thanks."

There was a pause as Angel seemed to be having a debate with himself. Finally he opened his mouth.

"They're showing reruns of Breakfast At Tiffany's at the cinema. Want to come with me?"

Buffy pulled her hand back and her smile dimmed. "Angel, I-"

"No, it's alright. It's too soon isn't it?" He sighed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."

Her lips twisted. "I'm just not ready to jump straight back into our, well, whatever it was." She frowned. "Or dating in general for that matter. Just, give me some time?"

He nodded and linked his fingers together round his own coffee. Buffy decided to steer the conversation back to a safer topic.

"So have you got any ideas about who the killer is?" She laughed as she replayed it in her head. "Is it just me, or are you worried that when things get awkward our safe topics are murder, demons and the supernatural. I mean, most normal would people talk about the weather."

Angel smiled darkly. "Welcome to the Hellmouth."

It was Thursday, D-Day, time to face the music. Buffy swallowed. The least she could do was to hope the guys broke a leg in their big stage debut. Okay, bad choice of phrase living in Sunnydale. She pushed open the library doors.

"Hey guys, I just came to say…why are you standing on a table?"

Xander turned frightened eyes to the blonde standing in the library entrance. "The puppet ran off!"

Buffy rolled her eyes and walked in, perching herself on the enquiry desk. "Xand, what are you talking about? What puppet?"

"Morgan's puppet, Sid."

"Right, because of course being completely inanimate he can walk right out of here."

Xander ran his hands through his hair. "Don't throw my words back in my face!"

Giles and Willow appeared from out of the stacks.

"Xander, I assume you have a good reason for standing on top of the library furniture?"

"Sid's gone!"

"Good enough."

Buffy folded her arms. "So the puppets really real and that's what's killing off the students. So much for the human killer theory."

"It would appear so," replied Giles, casting his gaze around the room, as though the puppet would suddenly appear from under a chair, wielding a carving knife.

"Kendra's gonna have a ball. Bet she's never had to slay a mannequin before." The slayer walked in at that precise moment. "You're in for a fun night." Kendra raised an eyebrow. Buffy smiled back falsely cheerily. "Well, good luck for tonight, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Have a nice night with Doyle," said Willow as Buffy opened the library door.

"Yeah, I'll try. Have fun killing your dummy."

"Honey, you're fidgeting," said Joyce, watching as her daughter twirled her ring round her finger for the twentieth time.

"Sorry," said Buffy apologetically, and sat on her hands.

"You're not nervous are you?"

"No! That would be stupid. Why would I be worried about seeing Doyle again?"

Joyce shrugged. "I don't know, did something happen on your last visit?"

"Nope. I guess I'm just nervous for Xander and Willow."

"Oh yes," Joyce smiled and began cutting up vegetables for her meal. "It's a shame you didn't get involved, hon."

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Mom, me and stage performances are unmixy things. It would have been a nightmare."

Joyce pursed her lips. "Well, I just think it would have been nice for me to come and have seen you in something at your school."

"I know you're trying to be supportive, but don't be."

The doorbell cut off Joyce's response. Buffy leapt off the kitchen stool and raced for the door. "I'll get it!"

Doyle was standing on the other side, grinning at her. "Hey sis." She let him grab her in a bear hug and then pulled away.

"You're early. Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"

Joyce appeared behind her. "Buffy, don't tease him. Hello Doyle."

The young man grinned and produced a bouquet of Chrysanthemums. "For you."

"Oh they're lovely," Joyce beamed. "I'll go put these in some water."

He turned to Buffy and she tucked her arm under his. "Ready to go? I see you've dressed up."

She glanced down at her jeans and green dress shirt. "Haha. You made an effort as usual."

Doyle raised an eyebrow. "My trainers are comfy."

"I was talking about your jeans. I swear if you took them off they'd probably still be able to stand up. Have they even seen soapy water in the past three years?"

"I'm saving the planet."

"By not using a washing machine? Ew, gross." He scrubbed his hands through her hair. "Hey! Watch the do!"

"That's revenge for saying I don't wash. I'll have you know Tara thinks I'm very clean."

Buffy laughed. "Has she lost her sense of smell?"

"Oi! Watch it blondie."

Joyce reappeared at the front door. "Are you two going to be leaving anytime soon, or is the front porch really that great?"

"Sorry Joyce, we'll be on our way."

"See you Mom." The door closed behind her as they walked down the street. "So how is your lovely girlfriend?"

Doyle shifted awkwardly. "She's fine. She's doing some really great paintings at the college and they're thinking of holding an exhibition of her work soon."

Buffy raised an eyebrow at his discomfort but said nothing. "I wonder if Mom would be interested. Maybe we could come up and see it."

"Yeah, that'd be great. Tara would really appreciate your support." There was an awkward pause and Doyle rubbed the back of his head. "Listen, Buffy, I haven't been entirely straight with you. I wanted to talk to you about…"

He coughed and began to gasp for breath.

"Doyle?"

He took a deep breath in and out, his face white. "I'm alright."

She rubbed his back. "Are you sure?"

He nodded, his face still ashen. "What I was about to say was that there's something you need to know about Tara and me…"

He burst into another fit of coughing and doubled over on the sidewalk. "Doyle!"

He waved her away. "I'll be fine!"

"You're not fine-"

He vomited into the gutter. "You're sick. Come on, we'll go back to your motel."

"But dinner…"

"We can order in," said Buffy firmly.

"About what I was going to say…"

"Can we talk about this in your room? Sunnydale isn't exactly the safest place to walk at night."

Doyle shrugged and let her sling his arm over her shoulder. "Sure. Do you want me to walk you back afterwards?"

"No!" Said Buffy and grabbed her brother's arm. "I mean, I'll ring some friends after we've finished. We all walk home together."

He began to shiver, even though the night was a warm one. "You really take this protection thing seriously, don't you? You've never been this paranoid, not even in L.A."

Buffy nodded. "Well you know how it is, little town, people go a bit crazy."

"Right."

They managed to stumble back to the motel that Doyle was stopping in fairly quickly and Buffy soon had her brother tucked up in bed. She put a hand on his forehead.

"You're burning up. Doyle, were you feeling alright before you came here?"

He nodded, as a cold sweat began to bead on his forehead. "I felt fine, right up until about sixish. And then I've been getting these sudden coughing spasms, but they don't last long."

He shivered violently. "I'll be fine in a bit, maybe it's one of those twenty four hour things."

She bit her lip. "Maybe. But I'd feel better if Mom took a look at you. We should have gone back home."

"I don't wanna trouble Joyce."

He coughed again as another fit took him, this one longer than the rest. Buffy was helpless to do anything but watch.

She fetched him a glass of water from the bathroom tap once it was over and helped him sip it. Ten seconds later it had come back up again, and Doyle was gripping his stomach in agony.

"Doyle?"

"Now I know what it feels like to be a woman."

Buffy managed a weak smile. "Well, we know you're not pregnant."

"No," he choked out, "but I feel like something's ripping me in two." His face had now lost all colour and in the moonlight spilling in through the ripped curtains he looked corpse like, caught in his death throws.

The coughing seemed to have stopped for the moment, but the agonising pains in his body were getting worse. His eyes rolled back into his head as the spasms lanced across his body.

"Doyle. Doyle!" She dialled 911 on her phone frantically.

"Hello, which service do you require?"

"Amb-"

Her phone beeped and then died as the battery failed. "Damn!" She chewed her lips frantically and tried to calm her brother down. It didn't look like he could hear her anymore.

"I'm going to get help."

She'd reached the door when Doyle suddenly convulsed on the bed, curled up in the foetal position. He was shaking frantically, his teeth sinking into his lips so that blood ran from his mouth. He let out a cry as his flesh rippled. His skin tore in two down his back and ripped itself from his body.

She screamed.

Right, so that's all from this chapter, if you enjoyed it please read and review, and I may just post the next chapter up a little quicker so as to put you all out of your misery. On the other hand I may not ;)

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