The wind howled as it passed through the street, its cold blast hitting the people littering the pathways like a sharp knife leaving their bones achy and sore.

The force of the wind was so strong it was sending trees leaning to one side before letting them regain their balance only to slam back into the bark seconds later throwing them once again to the side, the nights sky above them was littered with gray thick clouds warning the inhabitants of Sunnydale of the upcoming storm.

A loan figure was walking in the shadows, his mind on the body he was caring in his arms, the weather the last thing on his mind.

Taking a deep unneeded breath Angel continued through the street making sure to keep out of sight, not that the people walking the almost quiet street were paying much attention, they never did so why should they start now?

The area around him burst into light suddenly with the sound of a deep roar, the sky above him tearing open and allowing the rain it had promised to make its presence.

Tightening his hold on Buffy's body Angel allowed himself to take a quick look at her, nothing had changed, her eyes were still closed, her skin still ice cold and white…he didn't know why he thought for a second it might have changed.

The rain drops began soaking the thin shirt he was wearing, the leather coat he usually wore wrapped around Buffy's still body, closing his eyes again the falling water Angel shook his head succeeding in flicking off the water that had ran down his face.

He needed to get Buffy inside before her clothes became soaked right through, he knew she hated it when she got wet…stopping that train of thought he scolded himself for letting himself think like that…the Buffy he knew was gone.

Taking one last glance at her he began moving faster through the street, wanting to get home and to a place where he could sit and think about what he was going to do…no doubt Giles and Joyce were waiting for him to walk through the door to the Summers house with a live Buffy following but that wasn't going to happen, not now and not ever again…how in the world was he going to break the news to Joyce she wouldn't be able to handle it and who could blame her, he didn't… he probably wasn't doing the right thing this very moment but for once Angel didn't care about doing what was right.

Finally after ten minute he found himself walking up the drive way to his mansion, his body wet and tired, it seemed the whole situation had sucked the energy from his body and soul, blinking the unwanted water out of his eyes Angel moved Buffy in his arms so he could turn the doorknob and nudge the door open with his foot before entering into the quiet room.

Kicking the door shut with the back of his foot Angel wasted no time and headed straight for his bedroom still holding Buffy's lifeless body in his arms.

Once there he slowly lowered her onto the bed not caring that he had given her his room or that despite giving her his coat she was just as wet as what he was, stepping back he instantly missed the weight of her in his empty arms.

Turning to the window he was just in time to see the streak of lightening that appeared on the black night's sky, Angel always had loved a good thunder storm but tonight he didn't care too much for it.

Walking towards the window he grabbed hold of the curtains before drawing them together blocking out the sight of the storm inch by inch until all you could see was the black material of the curtains.

Sighing he turned back around and headed towards the bedroom door, if Buffy was successfully turned then he needed to tie her down, there was no telling what she would be like…there had never been a turned slayer before, she could be could be just like a regular vampire or even stronger then the master vampires out there as her new vampire strength could only add to her slayer powers.

Not wanting to think about what might happen and how she would be as a vampire Angel left the room, his powerful legs taking him downstairs in no time.

….

"What's taking so long?" Joyce asked worriedly turning to face Giles, her eyes holding back the tears she felt.

The sound of thunder drew closer as Giles sat there thinking of something to say that would reassure Joyce, but his mind came up blank, sighing deeply he forced his own emotions to calm down, lifting his shoulders slightly he finally spoke, "I'm not sure…maybe Buffy wanted to take a few minutes to try and fix herself up."

Shaking her head Joyce continued to pace in front of the lit fire that Giles had made in hopes to gain their attentions, "No…no even if she had she would have been back by now."

Standing from his seat Giles reached out and took one of her arms in his, stopping her from pacing and turn to look at him, "Joyce, you have to calm down…Buffy wouldn't want to see you like this."

Pulling her arm out of his hand she stepped back slightly, "I'll calm down when Buffy is safe and sound in this house…until then I will panic as much as I want," walking over to the chair she took a seat, "Mr. Giles, if you had children you would under stand, you spend your whole life trying to do what's best for them, care for them…protect them from anything that may cause them harm…if something happens to Buffy I will never forgive myself, if I hadn't gone outside that…that vampire would have never taken me hostage and Buffy wouldn't have had to come and try to save me…" her words died off as she buried her face into her shaking hands and finally let her tears fall.

Giles waited a moment, torn between letting her have time to herself and comforting her, deciding on the later he moved so he was kneeling in front of her, reaching out he gently pulled her hands back away from her face, once her eyes rose to his he spoke, "Joyce you mustn't blame yourself…non of this was your doing…" seeing she was about to disagree, he tightened his hold on her hands reassuringly, "Non of this, it's not your fault." With that Joyce began to cry once again, letting go of her hands Giles placed a hand on the back of her head and bought her closer to him so he could place her head against his shoulder.

…..

The water surrounding him had turned ice cold moments earlier but Angel had stayed under the spray of water, allowing the droplets to wash away the evidence of what had happened hours before, once he had tied Buffy's body up and simply sat there watching her for hours Angel had finally had enough of sitting in his stiff uncomfortable clothes and headed to the bathroom giving himself distance from Buffy's silent body.

Reaching for the off button Angel lifted his head once more up so the cold droplets could run down his face in a refreshing manner before finally shutting off the shower and reaching for the towel he had hung up on the wall.

Running the towel over his wet body Angel took a couple of minutes to dry himself before realising he hadn't bought any new clothes in with him, sighing he cursed himself before wrapping the towel around his slim waist and exiting the bathroom, the steam from the room following him as he made his way silently down the hallway, his ears listening for any movement from his room.

A moment passed where Angel waited for any sign Buffy might have risen while he was in the shower, happy that all was as he left it Angel opened the door, his muscles tight in case something was to happen.

But as he pushed the door open and entered the room Angel relaxed, Buffy was as he had left her.

Taking one last glance at her Angel closed the door before making his way over to the wardrobe where he grabbed a pair of black slacks and black throw over jumper.

Feeling slightly self conscious Angel turned to look at Buffy, he knew she wasn't watching, hell she hadn't moved let alone open her eyes in all the time they had been here, shaking his head Angel grabbed a pair of black boxer and socks before dropping his towel and slipping into them.

Angel wasn't new to being naked in front of woman, as a man he had spent countless hours with the village whores and as Angelus slept with more women then he could count but being naked in front of Buffy felt like his first time all over again, she had only seen him naked once on the night of her birthday...the night they had made love and even then the lights had been down low and the weather was much the same as tonight.

She's not Buffy! His mind screamed at him.

Sighing knowing he was right Angel put his socks on before stepping into his trousers, he had them around his waist and was about to do up the button when a noise from behind him made him stop dead.

"Angel?"

For a whole minute he stood there, his back to the bed, his fingers still holding his trousers up, forcing himself to do them up Angel looked over his shoulder at her.

Her eyes were wide open and looking straight at him, her face pale and questioning.

"Angel...what's going on?"

Turning so he was fully looking over at her Angel took a hesitant step towards the bed, his eyes watching her carefully for any sign she was faking her innocence.

With any other person he knew they would be, but like he had thought earlier Buffy was a new situation, she was a turned slayer, on a whim she could have kept her soul due to her calling as a hunter of vampires.

But as Angel drew closer to her he found himself doubting it very much, with that thought he never took the next step and instead stood his full height, "You can drop the act...I know your not Buffy."

"Angel, what are you talking about?" She asked a frown appearing on her face.

Keeping his eyes held with hers he kept his voice calm, "I know you don't have your soul."

Slowly the frown on Buffy's face disappeared and a smile took its place, "There's no falling you is there,"

Hearing her confirm his thoughts Angel felt like a sledge hammer had been rammed into his chest, his heart constricting with the fact Buffy really was gone, inside he had been praying he was wrong and that somehow she had managed to keep her soul.

Without another word and not being able to be in the same room as the demon wearing his lovers face Angel grabbed his top before leaving the room, his body feeling like it was on fire from where she was watching every move he made.