Hello again! I would just like to apologise in advance for the shortness/ filler-ness of this chapter, I would also like to apologise for the "misspelled" words that have slipped through. I am not comfortable or used to spelling things without the "u"s or replacing "s"s with "z"s, but since Buffy is American, I have attempted to incorporate some of the American spellings in this story. I would like to give a big thank you to nurjen08, Angellufy, SMGbest, and jude1028 as a reward, all of you receive virtual stake- for all your virtual vampire slaying needs.

Also, I would like to address the issue of Willow being out of character and not telling the rest of the Scoobies that Angel is back. Willow is Buffy's best friend, I like the idea of there being an unwavering loyalty between the two of them (true friendship being one of the main things that we hope to gain in life). I also want to make this story have suspense and tension- by Willow telling the Scoobies that Angel is back, I think it just takes the suspense out of it (because the longer we wait, the more explosive the reveal will be)

So anyway, that's enough of my ranting. Please enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Buffy, but sadly I don't. I am merely a teenager that has too much free time on her hands.

A rumbling, not due to a storm, raged throughout the town of Sunnydale.

On the bad side of town, in one of the more derelict and vandalized graveyards, there was a bright flashing of light.

A skeletal figure, cloaked in a blood red cape and suit, seemingly dropped from the sky. He landed with a grace that could not be possessed by a normal human being. In fact, his whole appearance suggested that he was not of this world. Most noticeably, the red irises that shone in the darkness.

The figure's thin lip curled at the smell of the cool and fresh night air. He longed for the brimstone, fire, and blood of his own world. But no matter, the air would be filled with terrified screams soon enough.

He began to walk, a predator like one at that. He would soon claim this world for his own.

†

He winced yet again.

"I'm sorry," blurted out Buffy for what seemed like the millionth time that evening. Angel gave his usual sorrowful gaze as she continued to bandage his wounds.

His encounter with Pete four days ago had resulted in some pretty nasty scratches. Though neither of them had spoken of that night since, both the slayer and the vampire knew that there was some unspoken agreement between the two. That it would be best if they remained just friends.

After all, Buffy was with Scott now, not that Angel knew that, and she was very comfortable… no, happy around him. The fight between Pete and Angel had left the vampire extremely weakened—he ought not have pushed himself like that.

Buffy firmly maintained that she could've taken the monster that had consumed Pete, she had only been momentarily blindsided. Yet deeper down, she knew that she was glad that he had come.

"You shouldn't apologise, Buffy," he murmured quietly, watching as she continued to gently bandaged his hand. This was about the millionth he had said this in response. She gave a huff and roll of her eyes- refraining from arguing with him… only just. She finished the bandaging, not focusing on the fact that it was nice to feel his large and graceful hands in her own small ones. She decidedly pushed herself further away from him on the newly purchased couch, next to the brown paper bag that she had brought with her.

Her hands gripped the bag and she thrust it towards him. They both knew its contents- Angel couldn't take the risk of being seen, nor did he really have the strength to take care of himself at the moment. She could hear the liquid sloshing in its container, it didn't really bother her- in her line of work, blood was not really an uncommon thing seen. Angel took the bag gently from her and she could see the hunger flash in his eyes.

"I know it's not exactly fresh…" Buffy said ashamedly. Her only way of getting sustenance that Angel needed was to visit the Sunnydale Butcher. Surprisingly, the butcher did not ask any questions as to what Buffy was going to do with it. Then again, nothing in Sunnydale was exactly normal. He probably thought she was partaking in some pagan ritual or something like that. Angel looked at her again, the ever present guilt that was now in his eyes was fully directed at her. It almost made her wince. All that pain and suffering she had caused and he was the one that felt guilty?

She cowered slightly under his gaze, focusing on her hands in her lap finding them the most interesting thing that she had ever seen. She felt, rather than saw him nod. Her slayer senses were going haywire, aware of every muscle that moved and flexed, every series of simple gestures that were done with such an inhuman grace. Or maybe that was just because the particular vampire sitting a few feet from her (What she had liked to dub her "Angel Sense", when she had only just begun to know him.)

She looked up again and found him staring at the bag. He never ate in front of her. After the first night that she had brought him the cold pig's blood, they had argued resulting in the horrific, yet not totally unheard of, act of Angel calling himself a demon and a monster.

She, of course in the usually Buffy-fashion, had replied glibly and had stormed out of the mansion. Buffy did return the next night though, carrying the brown bag from the butcher. They did not mention the spat from the night before, and Buffy left just as soon as he had taken the bag from her grasp.

Buffy stood, knowing it was her cue to leave. Angel looked up and Buffy's heart clenched at the disappointed look that he was giving her.

"You're leaving?"

The blonde slayer shifted her weight uncomfortably from foot to foot, and nodded, not trusting her own voice as it would surely declare that she was staying.

She gave a small smile to him, and a promise to be back tomorrow. Buffy left the mansion as fast as her feet would carry her. All she wanted now was to find something to kill.

†

"—and she didn't turn up, after I had expressly told her that we were going to have a lesson on the mystical properties of certain stones," Giles huffed, piling yet more books onto the already overladen table.

Xander leaned back in his chair and shrugged, "Can't exactly blame the Buffster for clocking out on that one, Giles."

"Honestly, if that girl did not have her head attached to her body, she would lose it in a matter of minutes."

"That'd throw off the vamps, bet they've never seen a headless slayer before."

Giles didn't even bother to correct the teenage boy, who was now crossing his eyes and leaning back on the hind legs of his chair.

Faith snorted before continuing to eye the books with a mild distaste, "B wasn't with me last night, I offered for us to go patrolling together, but she said that she was doing that weird rock thingie with you."

Willow, who had been listening to the conversation while flicking through the pages of a particularly old book on the customs of Wicca. Buffy had told her some excuse about how her mom was making her stay in the night when Willow had invited her to the Bronze. She could have been patrolling, but… then why would she lie about being under house arrest for the evening? Unless…

The unbidden image of Buffy and Angel crying together on the floor of the supplies room rose to the front of her mind, and she stifled her gasp.

"Well she certainly didn't make it to this 'weird rock thingie'. I must speak with her about this," affirmed Giles, promptly taking off his glasses and rubbing them with the cloth he kept in his pocket.

"She was with me," blurted out Willow, effectively stopping Giles' rant, "We had to study. Buffy must have forgotten to tell you."

"A study party? And I wasn't invited?" said Xander, mock hurt written all over his face. Willow rolled her eyes, feeling herself becoming more comfortable with the lie.

Giles looked at Willow, his eyebrow raised—he did not comment or question though, and for that Willow was grateful. A moment later, Buffy herself appeared in the door way of the library, making her way over to an empty seat beside Willow. She took one confused look at the stacks of book on the table, her eyebrows raised.

"Are we starting a book club?"

Buffy shot Giles an amused glance, not realizing how close she had just come to being discovered.

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-Isabella-