Title: Angel from Heaven Angel from Hell

Author: meee

Disclaimer: None of it belongs to me

Summary: AU Buffy is an exiled angel whose only chance of returning to Heaven is to help Angel redeem himself. It gets complicated.

Timeline: Present is the year 2027, but most of it takes place in 2007. All of Buffy's story from the show took place 100 years before it did in the show.

Feedback: First fic so pleeeaaase?

Year: 2007 (1 day later) Location: Plane over the U.S. (Destination: L.A.)

"Angel, really, it's okay. The plane is not going to crash, it's not going to catch on fire, and it will not explode. We will not drown in the ocean, which is impossible anyway, since we're not flying over the ocean, or have to go bungee-jumping without the bungee," comforted Buffy while trying to bite back a laugh. She patted him on his shoulder.

"How can you be so sure?" Angel said worriedly, trying to relax against his seat.

Buffy sighed, shaking her head. They were on a night flight to California to visit the friends she had made during her exile. Those friends were probably Angel's best bet for redemption, which meant her best bet for going back to heaven. Buffy tried to convince herself that that was a good thing. This was what she had been hoping for the past five years on Earth.

But after she had talked with Angel and gotten to know him, she started to feel what she had felt before grow and expand. It was part sympathy for the things he had to go through, she knew that, but she was sure that it wasn't all sympathy. There was something else.

"I'm proud of you, you know," Buffy said suddenly, turning towards Angel.

"Huh?"

"Well, I know, I've only known you for a couple of days now, but from what I've heard, I'm proud of you. And you should be proud of yourself. I mean, hey, you haven't been insane these past two days, right?"

Angel just looked at her, which made her embarrassed. She looked out her window so she didn't have to look at him.

Angel didn't tell her that she was probably the reason he was changing so quickly. Being near her made him happy and so far, these were the best two days he'd had since he got his soul back.

The pair stayed wrapped up in their own thoughts as the plane flew across the country.

"Oh, look! We're here. Good old Cali. We should be in Sunnydale soon once I buy another car. Maybe I can get a better one this time. One that actually moves," Buffy said as the plane landed.

"So, um, what exactly are your friends like?" Angel asked as they got out Buffy's bags. Angel hadn't brought any bags since he didn't own anything. Except his borrowed Hawaiian tourist outfit.

"Well, I met them when I was trying to get back to Heaven. They all go to Sunnydale High. There's a Slayer and her Watcher and friends. They kinda remind me of my friends when I was alive. I wouldn't be like I am today if it wasn't for them. I'll bet you my car they'll be waiting for us at the high school library."

"That's not fair. You said yourself your car was awful," Angel pouted.

Buffy just giggled at his expression. "Fine my new car then. Happy?"

"Yeah," Angel smiled.

"You'll like them lots. I met them right after I came to California a couple years ago and they helped me out a lot. Like I'm going to help you."

Angel nodded. He knew it was selfish since she was there to help him, but he felt a little used because the only reason she was there was so she could go back to heaven. He wondered if she actually cared what happened to him.

"What's Heaven like?" Angel asked as Buffy sped down the road in her new car. He was curious and he himself would probably never have a chance to be there. And it kept his mind from freaking out about Buffy's driving.

"In one word, it's bliss. You can feel that you're loved by the people you love. It's like a permanent high. Without the drugs," Buffy said. She hid her pained look as she described it.

"It doesn't get boring?"

"Well…Most people don't know this about the afterlife 'cause we're not 'authorized' to give info about it, but you know how people here on Earth fight against demons? Yeah, there's a war a little like that in the afterlife too. Heaven vs. hell. Angels vs. devils or demons as we call them," Buffy said.

"Why do they fight?" Angel had never heard about this side of dying before.

"It's a little complicated…" Buffy turned her head to look at Angel.

"Whoa. Okay, keep your eyes on the road," Angel said nervously.

Buffy laughed, but turned to face the road again.

"So what's the story?" Angel said after his unbeating heart felt normal again.

"Well, you know how angels are sent down to Earth sometimes? It's not us who have the big power to do that. The archangels are the ones to see for that mojo. Now that war isn't exactly like a kung fu karate chop type of war, it's more like passive aggressiveness in a way. It's like a big showdown of who has more power. So mostly the war just looks like some kind of staredown match. Now, if the demons in hell win that war, they can use the archangels' power to invade Earth again. And that would lead to…"

"All hell being loose," Angel finished.

"Exactly and literally in the worst way. I mean it's hard for some people to kill vampires and you guys are only undead. Think about trying to kill something that's already dead. It's practically impossible, and it wouldn't just be a small invasion. It'd be like, um, ants at a picnic. No bad example. Uh, killer bees at a picnic with honey? Anyway, that's what that whole war is about and also why Slayers become angels after they die. To add their power to fight in the war. Here endeth the lesson. And our road trip. Welcome to Sunnydale and the high school."

Buffy parked the car and nearly took off the bumper in the process. Angel flinched as he thought about the damage the car was going to take after a while.

"Come on. Like I said, we'll probably find them in the library. And it's a good thing we found some new clothes for you. I think they would've laughed if you were still wearing that hilarious shirt," Buffy said, grinning, as she got out of the car.

Angel sighed. He was a little nervous about meeting these other humans. He wasn't sure what these people would think of him. Having Buffy be there to support him gave him confidence, though. He felt like he could do anything with her around. He tried to push down the feelings though.

"We're heeeeeere," Buffy said, pushing through the doors to the library with Angel following.

There was a group of high school kids and an adult in a tweed suit and glasses.

"So that's Isabella, Topher, Kathryn, and Percy Taylor. We just call him Taylor, though," Buffy introduced, pointing to everyone. "Everyone, this is Angel, good vampire extraordinaire.

Angel examined Buffy's circle of friends. Isabella had a book in her lap, but she was looking up at him friendlily. She looked like the nicest out of all of them. Topher looked a little guarded towards Angel, and kept glancing from him to Buffy. Kathryn seemed bored with what was going on. She ignored Angel and checked her fingernails. Taylor, who was obviously the Watcher, looked at Angel curiously.

"Don't be shy," Buffy whispered into Angel's ear. "They already know you're on our side."

Angel felt like his body was heating up as Buffy's hand rested on his shoulder and her voice tickled his ear. Trying to push down his feelings (and the uncomfortable Junior in his pants), he walked over to the table and tried to follow Buffy's advice.

"So, what's the what? New apocalypse-y demon in town?" Buffy said, taking a seat at the table.

"Nope. Sunnydale's been strangely quiet while you were in New York. Completely apocalypse free," Iz said cheerfully.

"Means some other 'very dark power's' about to rise," Buffy said darkly.

"So what? We'll deal. It's what we do, yeah?" Topher said. Angel noticed that Topher's gaze followed Buffy a lot but never himself.

"I dunno, Topher. I've got a bad feeling about this new thing. Spidey sense, you know?"

"Chill, Buffy. Like Topher said, if there's a problem, we'll deal," Kathryn said for the first time.

"I must point out that if Buffy has any of her prophetic dreams, it would be best if we prepared," Taylor said, pacing in front of the library table.

"Well, I haven't. Let's just try and help Angel now with his redemption, 'kay?" Buffy wanted Angel to have as much help as he could get.

"I hope you feel welcome in Sunnydale," Iz said to him. "It's really small, but there's the advantage of always being in mortal peril here."

"Um, are you joking?" Angel asked.

"Sadly, no. Iz is right about that. We're on a Hellmouth, so there's as many demons as there are clueless people here," Buffy sighed.

Angel gave himself a mental kick. Of course, Sunnydale, Hellmouth. He'd forgotten about that.

"Anyway, I don't know about Angel, but I am really tired. All that flying and driving. I think we'll go to my apartment and get some of that shuteye that I've missed so much," Buffy said, standing up and stretching.

"You guys are staying together?" Topher said, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, unless you're willing to give up some cash, then yeah," Buffy said slightly coldly. "Come on, Angel."

Angel followed Buffy out of the library, but he took another glance at Topher, who was staring at the two of them a little angrily. Angel could tell that he had a crush on Buffy, and he wanted to growl at the thought of them being together. Not that Buffy and himself could be together.