Okay :) I am totally loving the feedback I've received from all you readers, so THANK YOU SO MUCH and... Keep them coming.

Now I have a very tough reviewer critic reader, I'm sure you know who you are, but I love it, it makes me better. Anyways my reason of bringing this reader up is that they've asked that I kill someone in the story that they don't like, and neither do I- well not with Angel anyways... So... read on and find out :)

Happy reading...

Chapter 3

Buffy knew she wasn't going to be able to keep the fact that Angelus was probably in town already... hidden, but… for the time being, if he didn't show his face… she didn't wanna worry her friends or the new arrival of the potential slayers.

Willow came in from the kitchen, "Okay… all done… house re-protected as per your request…"

"Thanks Will…" Buffy answered.

"Alright, I'm done playing ignorant to what is going on Buffy, so tell me what's up?"

"Nothing Will…"

"Fine, keep with the evasiveness but you're gonna have to spill eventually…"

Buffy just sort of smiled and Willow went back to Dawn and Giles to continue their research.

With Giles, Spike, and Xander there, who were not the biggest fans of Angel, the house in the midst of turmoil with all the girls, the First, and now Angelus… he was just the tip of the iceberg in the mountain of problems that she had to deal with.

/

They were all gathered at the dinner table for their nightly meeting, "So, do we get to go out patrolling already?" one of the girls asked.

"Not tonight… there's something that I have to take care of first…" Buffy answered.

Her friends looked at her questionably, which was quite often now a days, and they did not like it one bit.

The potentials grumbled their response but took orders as given.

"Xander, Spike… why don't you take them down to the basement and train there while I go take care of… stuff…"

"Sure Buff…" Xand gave in and lead the potentials down stairs.

"I thought I'd be backing you up with whatever you're needing to handle…?" Spike questioned.

"No…" she gave her order determined.

"But…" he began to argue.

"Spike!" she warned.

"Fine slayer… do as you please…" and walked off. But he wasn't going to be giving up that easy, he thought.

Buffy got ready and went on patrol… alone.

/

Angelus began to get ready; knowing sundown would be here soon and he ached to see that hot blonde little slayer of his. He began to head outside when someone suddenly took him by neck, feet hanging in the air, and tossed him across the room.

Angel had stopped taunting the Demon, certain that he would not let any harm come his love…

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE…" the woman's voice spoke angry.

Angelus got up in fury ready to attack then noticed it was Cordelia… he was baffled for a moment…

Angel and the demon argued in their head as it all began to make sense… Cordy was the real evil and threat. And this whole time she'd been right there in front of their eyes… planning and plotting.

She continued to yell, "Do you have any IDEA how long it's taken me to plan all of this out…? Centuries… Wolfram & Hart, Darla, Angel's son, the beast, your return 'ANGELUS'", she quoted with her fingers, "and what does your dumb ass do?" she paused. "Run back to Sunnydale for that little blonde bitch of a slayer who couldn't care less of you…?"

Angelus growled under his breath as rage filled him; a second later without hesitation… he rushed Cordelia pinning her to the wall.

Cordelia laughed as he held her against it by the neck; "Do you think that I'm scared of you?" she smiled cockily grabbing his hand on her neck.

A flash of that serene devilish grin crossed his lips, which was one of his trademark looks. He leaned close to her face, their noses almost touching; then whispered, "I'm going to do what our little Angel should have done years ago…?"

Angel's concern rang loud inside Angelus mind he yelled, *Don't hurt her… she's possessed, she's still part of…*

But he interrupted his plea by returning, and you think that matters to me why…

As Angelus' response left his thoughts, he grabbed her more securely and snapped her neck in one swift and precise movement.

The thought of ripping her throat out had crossed his mind, but he didn't want to ruin his appetite… after all, that was being reserved for a taste of the blood of his slayer.

Angel was stunned… he couldn't believe that he had just witnessed his best friend being murdered by his hand, of all things, well Angelus' hand, without being able to do anything about it.

"Oh… get over it…" Angelus said out loud, "Hated the chatter-y bitch… Had wanted to do that for such a long time…" he answered very satisfied. You and your freaking inner monologue of I think I'm in love with her, or no what I feel is just friendship, or I can never be happy I can't do that to her… had really just annoyed the shit out of me, so…

"Glad I could be of service…" he grimaced as he picked up a weapon.

*NO!* Angel yelled as Angelus let the ax go through her neck on the ground.

"Gotta make sure the evil bitch doesn't come back to life…" he stated simply disposing of the body.

Angel silenced as the feeling of guilt filled their thoughts…

Could you stop with freaking brooding in my head? It's giving me a headache and we've… got a date… He made sure he looked presentable tugging at his collar shirt… and headed out the door.

/

Buffy left the house on patrol… she knew the gang and the new potentials had questioned her now knew attitude about patrolling. She'd first had pushed them to be fearless and into going on patrol, but tonight she'd changed her mind, them unsure as to why.

But Angelus was a different story, she thought letting out a breath.

She took the same route as always, she knew that if he'd want to see her tonight, he'd find her…

The night was quiet, unnervingly still… those unaware of the dangers in the shadows would probably think it was a beautiful night, maybe even romantic.

She scoffed at thought, if they only knew.

/

Spike followed Buffy from a distance… he'd learned to stay just enough outside her slayer radar. He was well aware of her being able to feel vampires blocks away but he'd learned a way around it though in a way he hated it, because of what it meant.

The only vampire that she could feel from miles away was well… he'd rather not even say his name, and it was because of that bond they shared. Something he'd probably never come close to having with her as much as he wished he could.

He stared at her from the shadows be in thought, he wondered why if she was just really going to patrol, why she'd said no to him or anyone else coming along. Something was wrong here…

/

Buffy continued her stroll through the city searching for any sign of him… Expanding her sense to feel him; luckily whether it was Angel or Angelus she felt their presence the same, strong and demanding.

Then out of the blue… a tingling sensation began to creep up her body. Her heart began to accelerate in recognition of what that meant. She continued her pace and waited for him to show. A slight moment of fear coursed through her, but she shook it off and tried to grab a hold of herself.

Something between excitement and anger was brewing inside her… Though Angelus wasn't ideally that someone she wanted to see, the fact that in one form or another it was Angel… somewhat softened her mood, which she was well aware of was wrong.

/

Before Angelus even actually saw her, he felt her. Ah… there it is… that energy, that wave of pleasure you feel when she's near… he thought delighted.

Somewhat of a growl rumbled in their minds as Angel remembered that feeling; he was jealous of himself, he thought oddly. *She'll know… she'll know…* he repeated to himself doubtfully.

Angelus laughed wickedly; there was no need to make him miserable now. He'd soon be able to watch.

/

Buffy headed into a graveyard still patiently waiting, but nothing came… She stopped and called out annoyed, "I know you're out there so why don't you just come out… show your face…"

Angelus smiled rolling his eyes, women… always impatient, he thought as he approached her, and in the most tenderest tone he could muster he called out her name, like he was use to seeing her and Angel together, "Buffy…" and came into view.

Spike had been taken for a moment thinking that she'd discovered him following her and boy he knew he'd pay for that, but when Angel came to view he froze. What the hell he was doing here, he thought angrily.

Buffy turned around, emotions traveling thought her body a million miles a second, Angelus was coming towards her, but he wasn't acting like the psychopathic vampire she'd known. Was he pretending to be Angel? She questioned herself.

He spoke again, brooding serious tone and everything, "I was on my way to your house, but I felt you near so…" He held back a smirk as he realized how pathetic he sounded.

*Come on Buffy, look into his eyes, see it… come on…* Angel plead inwardly.

Buffy narrowed her look searching for Angel in his eyes… no trace of him there. She did though, recognize that look of passion, hate, and fire Angelus always displayed to her, unaware to him obviously, or he wouldn't have been stupid enough to play this game.

Well… I'll bite she thought, he wants to play games; then I can play too…

"Angel…" she murmured with a smile walking towards him.

She approached him without hesitation and hugged him to her, she wondered how far he was going to be willing to go…

Angelus hugged her back; a mischievous smile curved his lips in her hair as he already felt triumph. This will be easier than I thought…

*That's what you think fiend…* Angel returned, *can't you tell she knows…?* Angel quickly picked up on her change of mood, and that twinkle in her eye that appeared every time she recognized a lie.

Wouldn't you like to believe that… he returned.

She moved away leaving just enough space between them to see if he took the opportunity to attack and instead, he leaned in to kiss her… slowly pacing himself, though his kiss came rough.

She was shocked and non-responding at first, but her need of Angel combined with being years apart took over and reason went out the window. Yes this was Angelus, but this was still her man's body so… she kissed him back.

*Buffy…* was all Angel let out, *why was she doing this… didn't she know who she was kissing…?*

Angelus smirked as they finished kissing…

Spike watched as the woman he loved, was in the arms of the vampire he would always hate and never be for her… and it hurt, but more than that it angered him, he took one last look at her and walked away, didn't need to see any more of that.

She pulled away slowly gazing into his eyes as if they were those of Angel's and asked, "So… what are you doing here?"

"We're having a problem in LA with this demon; I was hoping Giles would let me take a look in his books for anything that might help us…" he answered easily.

Well at least he's half telling the truth, she thought, "Oh… ok well, wanna finish up patrolling with me? And then we can go to Giles' place and look." She offered.

"Sounds like a plan…" he said grabbing her hand and leading the way.

She began to think how the hell was she really going to pretend to help him without inviting him into the house. But… not only that but why would he pretend to be Angel? Could it be that he may actually feel something more for her other than hate? Then a line her mom used popped in her head, she'd always say, there's a fine line between love and hate Buffy, remember that…