"Hey girl. Long time no see, or hear." Gunn said.
Buffy ran up and hugged Gunn around the neck tightly. "I can't believe it! You're here! In Sunnydale!"
"Yup."
"What are you doing here?"
"Just came to see how that demon slaying gig was goin' with you."
"How'd you find me?"
"Went by your address that you left me with. Your mom said you lived here now."
"Oh. You're not evil, are you?"
"Huh?"
"The last friend I had from LA that came to visit me here was evil."
"Not evil. Swear it."
Angel cleared his throat.
"Oh! Gunn, this is my fiancé, Angel."
"Yo man, what's up?"
"Not much. It's uh, nice to meet you. Buffy's never mentioned you before." Angel said.
"Really?"
"Nope. How do you guys know each other?"
"Gunn and I used to hunt demons and vampires back in LA. He has a gang of vamp street fighters. They helped me out a little back in LA after I saved a few of them, including Gunn here." Buffy said.
"Still owe you for that one." Gunn said.
"Forget about it. You've helped me plenty of times. You wanna come in?"
"I could find a place."
"Don't be silly. Angel and I can set up the couch for you."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive! Right Angel?"
"Huh? Oh, right. Sure." Angel said.
"Cool. Thanks." Gunn said.
"Welcome." Buffy opened the door and allowed Gunn and Angel in before she walked in. She went and got blankets and pillows from a closet in the hallway. When she came back, Gunn sat on the couch alone and Angel was in the kitchen. "Here ya go." She laid the things down on the end of the couch and sat down next to Gunn. "So, what's up?"
"Not much. Just been real busy up in LA."
"Demons or vamps?"
"Both."
"Something's wrong."
"A little."
"Here you go." Angel said. He handed Gunn a mug filled with coffee and he handed Buffy a glass of tea then he sat behind Buffy and she leaned down onto his chest and rested there. "So, something's wrong?"
"He was getting to that sweetie." Buffy said. "Oh! Wait! How's Alonna?"
"Great. For a pile of dust." Gunn said bitterly.
"What!?"
"Yeah. It happened a couple of months ago. We were ambushed and she got taken."
"Oh God, Gunn!"
"They took her in broad daylight. Pulled up in a van and took her."
Buffy looked stunned. She was near tears as she listened to Gunn continue.
"We went to find the bastards that took her and all I found was Alonna. Or at lease what used to be her. She offered to change me. Said that we could keep the family together and I could watch out for her forever. I let her reach up and try to bite me. I said goodbye to her and staked her."
"Oh Gunn." Buffy scooted over the distance on the couch and wrapped her arms around his neck. He hugged her back tightly but not daring to cry. Buffy pulled away. "Gunn, I am so sorry I wasn't there to help."
"Not your fault. I gotta face my own demons, right? I guess Alonna turned out to be one of 'em."
"I'm still sorry. LA was my turf. OUR turf and I left."
"You had to."
"I could have stayed with my dad."
"I understand why you didn't. At least now I do. You got sick of it. You had your life taken from you. It was great while it lasted, but now you've probably given it up for good and started this whole new life with your man here."
"I didn't."
"Didn't what?"
"Give up. I tried. It's just not something I could do. After I moved here, I found out that it was the Hellmouth. The place where all the creepies come to vacation. Of course, it wasn't just my mom choosing to move here. Whoever made me a Slayer made this town my new turf. I've been keeping up the slayage for 4 and a half years now."
"Really?"
"Really, really."
"Why? I member when Merrick died, you said you'd quit for good as soon as you got vengeance on the vamps that followed Lothos."
"I did. But fate had other plans for me. I don't know where'd I be right now if I'd given up. It's not something I can give up. Besides, you know you could never give it up, so don't even play."
"She was the reason."
"I know. And not completely. You've been doing this most of your life, Gunn. And I knew you long enough to know that you're not gonna give it up because Alonna's gone. You're gonna go on and fight the good fight in her name."
"Of course I will. If the grief don't kill me first."
"It won't. I promise."
"So, why don't you tell me about your boy here? What's his deal?"
"Angel? We've known each other since I moved here. We were on again, off again for a while, but we got our act together last year and he proposed to me over summer."
"Congrats to ya both."
"Thanks."
"So, how'd you and Buffy meet? I don't remember you." Angel asked.
"Well, it was about my second time out without Merrick with me. I didn't tell anyone that I was going out. That's probably why you didn't know. But Gunn, his gang, and I were tracking the same cadre of vamps. Gunn here thought that I was a bystander caught in the onslaught."
"Well, that was until I saw you start to fight." Gunn said. "Man, this girl was amazing. Bustin' moves I ain't never seen done by no normal human. More like those gymnasts you see on TV. Wait, did you say you don't remember me? You were in LA?"
"Uh, yeah. I was sent to, uh, protect her." Angel said.
"Angel's a vampire." Buffy said.
"What!? How? He was in the son." Gunn asked, backing away a little.
"I know it's confusing, but he has this gem that makes him invincible. Truly immortal."
"Why haven't you staked him? Have you gone soft?"
"No! No, he's a good vampire."
"No such thing."
"There is! I didn't think it was possible, but it is. He has his soul."
"A vamps a vamp Buffy. What the hell are you doing with one?"
"I love him."
"You love a demon? Has he bitten you?"
"Yes. On both accounts."
"He bit you?"
"I made him. I had to. He would have died."
"One less vamp."
"I'm going to go take a shower." Angel said, standing up.
"No, Angel. You don't have to." Buffy said.
"No, I need to." Angel walked through the bedroom door and shut it behind him.
Buffy wheeled on Gunn. "You may be my friend and all, but you can't just come up in my house and start talking about my fiancé that way! It just doesn't happen. I love him. I love his soul. I'm his. I'll always be his. Maybe that's just something you'll never understand."
"You let him bite you!"
"Because he would have died!"
"So what?"
"So what!? Gunn, I expected stuff like this from your gang, but not from you! I thought you had a brain in your head. Not everything is black and white and you know that as much as I do. There are shades of gray in there and Angel and I are a part of that gray. I thought you were too. Obviously I was wrong."
"Slow down Buff! I'm sorry."
"Are you? Really? Gunn, you were never Rambo on all vamps and demons. What happened to you?"
"I lost my cause."
"Alonna?"
"Yes."
"Bull shit. Would Alonna like it the way you're acting?" Gunn didn't say anything. "No. The answer to that was supposed no. She would have welcomed Angel with open arms. He on the side of good. Our side. Alonna would have seen that. Why can't you?"
"I should go."
"You don't have to."
"I'll find somewhere else to stay. After all, I came from the streets. How hard could it be?" Gunn walked to the door, Buffy trailing after him.
"Please don't. I'm sorry. When it comes to Angel, I get a little crazy."
"You love him right?"
"Of course I do."
"Then keep him to yourself. My gang'll be on him in a heartbeat."
"They're in LA."
"Shows how much you know." With a slight grin, Gunn walked out the door.
Buffy sighed and went to her and Angel's bedroom door. She knocked lightly and waited for Angel's response. None came. She opened the door and peeked in. The bathroom door was open a crack and steam poured out. Buffy smiled and walked over to the bed. She removed her clothes and stepped into the bathroom. The steam was heavy and she could barely see to the shower. That's why she didn't see the figure pop out from behind the door and grab her. Buffy squealed and turned in the tight grasp.
"Angel! Damn it!" Buffy said.
Angel laughed. "Sorry. I heard you knock and knew you couldn't resist a shower with me."
"Ass."
"Yes, I have one. See." Angel turned and showed his butt off to her playfully.
"Ugh!" Buffy turned and walked to the shower. She pulled open the door and stepped in, shutting it behind her.
Angel followed and got in with her. With a smile, he picked Buffy up and pushed her against the wall. She wrapped her legs around his waist and lowered her head to kiss him. Buffy let out a sharp gasp of surprise and pleasure as he entered her slowly.
After the shower, Buffy and Angel lay wrapped up in each other's arms on the bed. Angel kissed Buffy's hair. "What happened to Gunn? In all the excitement, I forgot that he had been here."
"He left." Buffy said. "We, uh, we argued a little and he left. It's ok. I know him. He'll be back."
"How well do you know him?"
"What? What's that supposed to mean? Are you jealous?"
"No. I just mean, I've seen his type before. He's from the street. Kids like that can be dangerous."
"He's not a kid. He's older than me."
"Still, I'd keep my eye on him. He's unstable from what I can tell. It's tough to lose your sister."
"Yeah. I don't know what I'd do if I lost Dawn."
"I don't know what I'd do." Buffy laughed. "What!? She's my soon-to-be sister-in-law."
"I don't know. Maybe it's just the fact that you said that losing her would hurt you too. You've already been through that once."
"Yeah. I have."
"Well, tomorrow I've got Slayer training with Giles. Isn't that weird? I've been without it for so long."
"I guess it's weird. I mean, you and I have been training together for a while, so it shouldn't be anything new."
"Whatever you say Giles." Buffy sat up. "Come on. We have yet another night to spend with my mom and sister."
"One more round?" Angel asked with a pout.
Buffy looked at the time. "The way we were going in there, we'd be late."
"Your mom would understand."
"Yes, she would. But Dawn would make me put up with some really stupid crap."
"She was the one that routed for us to get together and stay that way. Why's she giving us such a hard time?"
"I'm her sister. You're her soon to be brother. How would you be at that age?"
"Good point. Let's go."
A/N You have not seen the last of Gunn. Don't worry. I will elaborate!
Buffy ran up and hugged Gunn around the neck tightly. "I can't believe it! You're here! In Sunnydale!"
"Yup."
"What are you doing here?"
"Just came to see how that demon slaying gig was goin' with you."
"How'd you find me?"
"Went by your address that you left me with. Your mom said you lived here now."
"Oh. You're not evil, are you?"
"Huh?"
"The last friend I had from LA that came to visit me here was evil."
"Not evil. Swear it."
Angel cleared his throat.
"Oh! Gunn, this is my fiancé, Angel."
"Yo man, what's up?"
"Not much. It's uh, nice to meet you. Buffy's never mentioned you before." Angel said.
"Really?"
"Nope. How do you guys know each other?"
"Gunn and I used to hunt demons and vampires back in LA. He has a gang of vamp street fighters. They helped me out a little back in LA after I saved a few of them, including Gunn here." Buffy said.
"Still owe you for that one." Gunn said.
"Forget about it. You've helped me plenty of times. You wanna come in?"
"I could find a place."
"Don't be silly. Angel and I can set up the couch for you."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive! Right Angel?"
"Huh? Oh, right. Sure." Angel said.
"Cool. Thanks." Gunn said.
"Welcome." Buffy opened the door and allowed Gunn and Angel in before she walked in. She went and got blankets and pillows from a closet in the hallway. When she came back, Gunn sat on the couch alone and Angel was in the kitchen. "Here ya go." She laid the things down on the end of the couch and sat down next to Gunn. "So, what's up?"
"Not much. Just been real busy up in LA."
"Demons or vamps?"
"Both."
"Something's wrong."
"A little."
"Here you go." Angel said. He handed Gunn a mug filled with coffee and he handed Buffy a glass of tea then he sat behind Buffy and she leaned down onto his chest and rested there. "So, something's wrong?"
"He was getting to that sweetie." Buffy said. "Oh! Wait! How's Alonna?"
"Great. For a pile of dust." Gunn said bitterly.
"What!?"
"Yeah. It happened a couple of months ago. We were ambushed and she got taken."
"Oh God, Gunn!"
"They took her in broad daylight. Pulled up in a van and took her."
Buffy looked stunned. She was near tears as she listened to Gunn continue.
"We went to find the bastards that took her and all I found was Alonna. Or at lease what used to be her. She offered to change me. Said that we could keep the family together and I could watch out for her forever. I let her reach up and try to bite me. I said goodbye to her and staked her."
"Oh Gunn." Buffy scooted over the distance on the couch and wrapped her arms around his neck. He hugged her back tightly but not daring to cry. Buffy pulled away. "Gunn, I am so sorry I wasn't there to help."
"Not your fault. I gotta face my own demons, right? I guess Alonna turned out to be one of 'em."
"I'm still sorry. LA was my turf. OUR turf and I left."
"You had to."
"I could have stayed with my dad."
"I understand why you didn't. At least now I do. You got sick of it. You had your life taken from you. It was great while it lasted, but now you've probably given it up for good and started this whole new life with your man here."
"I didn't."
"Didn't what?"
"Give up. I tried. It's just not something I could do. After I moved here, I found out that it was the Hellmouth. The place where all the creepies come to vacation. Of course, it wasn't just my mom choosing to move here. Whoever made me a Slayer made this town my new turf. I've been keeping up the slayage for 4 and a half years now."
"Really?"
"Really, really."
"Why? I member when Merrick died, you said you'd quit for good as soon as you got vengeance on the vamps that followed Lothos."
"I did. But fate had other plans for me. I don't know where'd I be right now if I'd given up. It's not something I can give up. Besides, you know you could never give it up, so don't even play."
"She was the reason."
"I know. And not completely. You've been doing this most of your life, Gunn. And I knew you long enough to know that you're not gonna give it up because Alonna's gone. You're gonna go on and fight the good fight in her name."
"Of course I will. If the grief don't kill me first."
"It won't. I promise."
"So, why don't you tell me about your boy here? What's his deal?"
"Angel? We've known each other since I moved here. We were on again, off again for a while, but we got our act together last year and he proposed to me over summer."
"Congrats to ya both."
"Thanks."
"So, how'd you and Buffy meet? I don't remember you." Angel asked.
"Well, it was about my second time out without Merrick with me. I didn't tell anyone that I was going out. That's probably why you didn't know. But Gunn, his gang, and I were tracking the same cadre of vamps. Gunn here thought that I was a bystander caught in the onslaught."
"Well, that was until I saw you start to fight." Gunn said. "Man, this girl was amazing. Bustin' moves I ain't never seen done by no normal human. More like those gymnasts you see on TV. Wait, did you say you don't remember me? You were in LA?"
"Uh, yeah. I was sent to, uh, protect her." Angel said.
"Angel's a vampire." Buffy said.
"What!? How? He was in the son." Gunn asked, backing away a little.
"I know it's confusing, but he has this gem that makes him invincible. Truly immortal."
"Why haven't you staked him? Have you gone soft?"
"No! No, he's a good vampire."
"No such thing."
"There is! I didn't think it was possible, but it is. He has his soul."
"A vamps a vamp Buffy. What the hell are you doing with one?"
"I love him."
"You love a demon? Has he bitten you?"
"Yes. On both accounts."
"He bit you?"
"I made him. I had to. He would have died."
"One less vamp."
"I'm going to go take a shower." Angel said, standing up.
"No, Angel. You don't have to." Buffy said.
"No, I need to." Angel walked through the bedroom door and shut it behind him.
Buffy wheeled on Gunn. "You may be my friend and all, but you can't just come up in my house and start talking about my fiancé that way! It just doesn't happen. I love him. I love his soul. I'm his. I'll always be his. Maybe that's just something you'll never understand."
"You let him bite you!"
"Because he would have died!"
"So what?"
"So what!? Gunn, I expected stuff like this from your gang, but not from you! I thought you had a brain in your head. Not everything is black and white and you know that as much as I do. There are shades of gray in there and Angel and I are a part of that gray. I thought you were too. Obviously I was wrong."
"Slow down Buff! I'm sorry."
"Are you? Really? Gunn, you were never Rambo on all vamps and demons. What happened to you?"
"I lost my cause."
"Alonna?"
"Yes."
"Bull shit. Would Alonna like it the way you're acting?" Gunn didn't say anything. "No. The answer to that was supposed no. She would have welcomed Angel with open arms. He on the side of good. Our side. Alonna would have seen that. Why can't you?"
"I should go."
"You don't have to."
"I'll find somewhere else to stay. After all, I came from the streets. How hard could it be?" Gunn walked to the door, Buffy trailing after him.
"Please don't. I'm sorry. When it comes to Angel, I get a little crazy."
"You love him right?"
"Of course I do."
"Then keep him to yourself. My gang'll be on him in a heartbeat."
"They're in LA."
"Shows how much you know." With a slight grin, Gunn walked out the door.
Buffy sighed and went to her and Angel's bedroom door. She knocked lightly and waited for Angel's response. None came. She opened the door and peeked in. The bathroom door was open a crack and steam poured out. Buffy smiled and walked over to the bed. She removed her clothes and stepped into the bathroom. The steam was heavy and she could barely see to the shower. That's why she didn't see the figure pop out from behind the door and grab her. Buffy squealed and turned in the tight grasp.
"Angel! Damn it!" Buffy said.
Angel laughed. "Sorry. I heard you knock and knew you couldn't resist a shower with me."
"Ass."
"Yes, I have one. See." Angel turned and showed his butt off to her playfully.
"Ugh!" Buffy turned and walked to the shower. She pulled open the door and stepped in, shutting it behind her.
Angel followed and got in with her. With a smile, he picked Buffy up and pushed her against the wall. She wrapped her legs around his waist and lowered her head to kiss him. Buffy let out a sharp gasp of surprise and pleasure as he entered her slowly.
After the shower, Buffy and Angel lay wrapped up in each other's arms on the bed. Angel kissed Buffy's hair. "What happened to Gunn? In all the excitement, I forgot that he had been here."
"He left." Buffy said. "We, uh, we argued a little and he left. It's ok. I know him. He'll be back."
"How well do you know him?"
"What? What's that supposed to mean? Are you jealous?"
"No. I just mean, I've seen his type before. He's from the street. Kids like that can be dangerous."
"He's not a kid. He's older than me."
"Still, I'd keep my eye on him. He's unstable from what I can tell. It's tough to lose your sister."
"Yeah. I don't know what I'd do if I lost Dawn."
"I don't know what I'd do." Buffy laughed. "What!? She's my soon-to-be sister-in-law."
"I don't know. Maybe it's just the fact that you said that losing her would hurt you too. You've already been through that once."
"Yeah. I have."
"Well, tomorrow I've got Slayer training with Giles. Isn't that weird? I've been without it for so long."
"I guess it's weird. I mean, you and I have been training together for a while, so it shouldn't be anything new."
"Whatever you say Giles." Buffy sat up. "Come on. We have yet another night to spend with my mom and sister."
"One more round?" Angel asked with a pout.
Buffy looked at the time. "The way we were going in there, we'd be late."
"Your mom would understand."
"Yes, she would. But Dawn would make me put up with some really stupid crap."
"She was the one that routed for us to get together and stay that way. Why's she giving us such a hard time?"
"I'm her sister. You're her soon to be brother. How would you be at that age?"
"Good point. Let's go."
A/N You have not seen the last of Gunn. Don't worry. I will elaborate!