When it came time to meet Jenny again, she almost cancelled, almost. The fear of speaking about what happened was rearing its ugly head again, but she was determined to make some sort of progress.

The night she had spent with Willow was refreshing, almost like her pre-incident phase but after she left, she felt numb. All she wanted was to go and join in on whatever Willow was up to in the real world, but she was scared to leave the house.

She knew it was silly, Parker was still locked up, he wouldn't be getting out, if he did manage to, it would not be until the trial and she had had nightmares that it wouldn't go well. She doubted anyone would believe her, sure they could see her scars but everything else? She wasn't so sure.

The most that she had used her phone for was texting or calling Willow or Darla, or on the odd time that he wasn't by her side, Angel. She had asked him to disable all notifications from any other app, so she wasn't aware of any gossip or whatever from her classmates. Willow also hadn't mentioned anything, or let on about what was being said.

Once she managed to step outside again, it was nice, Angel drove her to the office where Jenny worked and this time she wasn't as shut off as the last time. They had only talked about when she was younger and when she met Angel, having not really discussed this, even back then, this is where she wanted to begin. Taking it back, way back to the beginning, it felt needed.

Jenny was kind and open, making her feel relaxed and almost at peace with herself. She was thankful that this wasn't as bad as she thought it would have been. When their time was up Buffy felt a twinge, she wanted to keep going, instead she smiled and said that she would meet her again next week.

She had asked Angel to wait outside, to see if she could manage those measly few feet on her own and as she made her way outside, she could see him on the phone, looking almost pleased with the conversation he was having. A streak of jealousy ran through her, she knew she was a stress on him, but he hadn't smiled like that in a while.

Buffy climbed into the SUV and slipped the safety belt across her, trying to keep her emotions in check. Everything about her was off-kilter, keeping a reign on her emotions was tenuous at best, and right now? Lash out in anger? Cry? They were fighting with one another.

Angel looked at her tense frame and cleared his throat "No problem, bye" he placed his phone on the clip on the dash and stroked her arm "Everything okay?" He saw her eyes flicker to him before nodding and looking out the window. He knew everything wasn't but now wasn't the time and place "Okay".

The made the journey back to Sunnydale in silence, the soft music from the radio eventually was turned off and left them both in their thoughts. Just as they hit the Welcome to Sunnydale sign Buffy cleared her throat "Can you drop me off at Darla's?"

When he looked at her in question she wiped at her eyes "She asked me to come over" it was sort of true, Darla had missed her and had said so, plus she did miss her too. When Angel nodded, she thanked him quietly, then went back to looking at the passing scenery.

"If you need me to come pick you up just call" Buffy nodded and leaned over to kiss his cheek, she looked at him longingly before making her way back inside the house she once called home. Angel watched as the door closed and frowned, wondering where this slight change in mood came from.

Normally, she was attached to his side, not in a smothering way, but she barely left his side. It wasn't an annoyance, by no means would he reprimand her for it, so all of a sudden wanting to be away from him? Unusual. He sat back in his seat and looked at the door that she had just fled inside through for a moment before leaving for home.

Buffy leaned against the door and closed her eyes, she wanted to call on him to come with her as she knew he was still outside, but she wanted to be strong. Taking a few deep breaths when she heard the car pull away, she slowed her racing heart "Darla?" She followed her foster moms voice until she reached the kitchen "Hey".

Darla smiled "Hey kiddo, what brings you here? Thought you'd be spending the night with Angel" earlier she had said she would, on account of the therapy session. She saw emotion flicker on Buffy's face and frowned "Spill".

Buffy sat down beside her at the table and sighed "Earlier Angel was on a call, and he looked happy…" she felt silly airing her worries and frowned back at Darla when she laughed "What?"

With a roll of her eyes, Darla replied "That's all? What makes you think he's not happy?" Sure, lately there was not much to be happy about, but that dear boy was smitten with her foster daughter.

Without looking at her Buffy took a deep breath and shrugged, she knew deep down that he was happy, that they were happy but lately, she didn't think very highly of herself. How could she? She barely left his house, sometimes even his room, therefore, Angel barely made it outside too.

Darla sighed "Why don't you ask him?" She felt Buffy stiffen, so she relented "Okay, why don't we have some food then i'll drop you off and you can ask him?" She smiled widely and ran her hand up and down Buffy's back. Seeing a small smile in reply, she nodded and pulled out a take-out menu, wiggling it at her.

Having spent the vast majority of her time with Angel, mostly hiding in his room, it was nice to spend some time with Darla. The last time they had went out for lunch was full of panic and unease, tonight was nice. Darla offered to drive her back to Crawford Street, so she sent a text to Angel to let him know.

Waving to Darla, she closed over the door and smiled, happy that she had managed to spend an evening away and was able to walk a short distance on her own. Feeling ready to tackle her worries, she went into the kitchen where she heard his voice, followed by another she hadn't heard in a long time. She stopped in her tracks harshly, like she had slammed into an invisible wall.

He wasn't alone. He was with Cordelia. With a goofy smile, with his hand resting over the rather large swell in her belly. She sucked in a breath, like way back when, when she first seen them together, she felt sick… but now? She felt like spitting fire, she couldn't think straight. When and how did this happen? Is this why he was happy, had he just been given great news?

Hearing the sharp intake of breath Angel looked over at her, he could see the sharp line of her jaw and knew that she was reading this situation completely wrong. Before he could say anything, Doyle came back into the kitchen and slung his arm over Buffy's shoulder, pulling her tight "Hands off my girl, Angel".

Angel shot him a look and dropped his hand, Doyle chuckled and looked at a confused Buffy "Buffy, how you doin?" He smiled down at her, and pulled her tight when a small smile worked its way across her face.

Cordelia rolled her eyes "Hands off Buffy, before Angel starts marking his territory" she smiled at Angel then back at Doyle. He raised his hands in mock surrender and came over to her, wrapping his arm around her waist, his hand resting on her belly.

Still unsure as to what was going on she looked at Angel, then at Doyle, Angel came over and pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth "Buffy this is Cordy" he knew they technically had met, sort of, a bit ago, but he was being polite.

She nodded and whispered "Yeah, I remember".

Cordy pursed her lips together and bit back "Miss Moron remembers you too" seeing the look of horror on Buffy's face, she chuckled at that and the glare from Angel "I'm kidding, god, Buffy, I remember you too… it's nice to see you again" she gave her a genuine smile.

Buffy nodded, she wanted to feel insecure next to the gorgeous brunette, but the look Cordy was giving her didn't make her feel twisted inside, she actually looked at her like a friend. She looked to Cordy and Doyle who were whispering to each other, and her eyes lingered on the bump.

She wanted to ask so many questions, but she didn't know where to start. She shook her head and looked up at Angel. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and smiled down at her.

Doyle looked at the pair and cleared his throat "Well it was nice seein' ya mate, Buffy" he nodded at her then cupped her cheek with his hand "Get some rest" he locked eyes with Angel then led Cordy outside.

Buffy turned in Angels embrace and looked up at him in confusion "Huh?!"

Angel shrugged "Cordy was looking for some extra work in between shoots, started with Doyle and things got serious…" he quirked his eyebrow at serious, having a baby was quite a solid life decision.

The first time she had seen Cordelia in a magazine she almost choked on her soda, that woman had been a sore spot for her for a long time. Seeing her cozy with Angel made her feel that sickly way, like back when she caught them in the pool together.

She nodded "Okay… but isn't it awkward that you and her" she wiggled her eyebrows "Y'know, and now her and Doyle".

Angel rolled his eyes "Me and Cordy were never serious, besides, after you left that day, it took almost an hour for her to stop bitching about it, so…" he gave her a look which made her giggle.

Buffy laid her head on his chest, a little giddy at the fact she had ruined their evening back them "Oh, I'm sorry" she squeezed her arms around him, holding him tight. She peeped up at him and sighed "Angel… I, I want to say that I am… sorry".

When he frowned, she closed her eyes "I saw you look so happy earlier and when I saw you two together there, I…" she took a deep breath but kept her eyes closed.

Angel ran his thumb over her lip, taking extra care over her scar "Buffy, look at me" she slowly looked up at him, looking so damn vulnerable "Doyle called me earlier to let me know about the baby, I was going to tell you, but you seemed upset… you didn't think that me and her?" She nodded "All you had to do was ask".

Buffy rolled her eyes "Oh but that would be too easy" she ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him down, so that she could kiss him softly. She now felt embarrassed, why her thoughts immediately went to that place, she didn't know. Angel had been with her through thick and thin and had barely left her side.

Angel smirked against her lips when she made that strangled noise in the back of her throat, he could feel her face burn against his "Look, it's been a long day, let's get to bed" he nipped at her lips then smiled down at her, whilst his hands rubbed up and down her back.

She nodded slowly before taking his hand in hers, since the night at the park they hadn't been intimate, at first, she was terrified of bursting the wound open but now? They hadn't discussed it, but Angel was a perfect gentleman, letting her lead them into what she was comfortable with.

Once they stripped down to their underwear, they climbed underneath the covers and snuggled. Buffy pillowed her head against his chest, letting the rise and fall of his chest soothe her "I love you, Angel" she had barely whispered it, but he heard it and whispered back that he loved her too.

Oooooooooooooooo

The next morning, they were both woke up by the ringing of the doorbell, Angel cursed when he saw the time, normally Giles would be up this early and would answer the door, but he was once again staying with Jenny in the city.

Buffy mumbled and kicked his shin lightly, to get him to move and stop the chiming. Angel rubbed his face with his hands before getting up, swiping his discarded t shirt off the floor and pulling it over his head. He cracked open the door to see a delivery man holding a box, he forced a smile and signed for it before closing the door softly.

"Buffy, it's for you…" he saw her creep down the stairs, looking at him curiously. They made their way into the living room and sat on the sofa. He watched as she carefully peeled the security stickers and peeked inside, when she gasped, he frowned "What is it?"

She licked her lips before letting out a ragged breath, flipping the lid off the box, she shook her head and felt tears fill her eyes. The dress she had tried on in LA had to get some minor alterations before being posted to them, she had forgotten all about this.

Angel watched as she wiped at her eyes before trying to jam the lid back on the box "Hey…" without saying anything she grabbed the box and threw it onto the coffee table, shaking her head "Buffy?"

After a deep breath she looked at him "I didn't want to go before but I can't now…" she inhaled sharply "I can't let them see me…"

He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her to calm her down, after a beat he felt her breathing even out. He ran his fingers through her hair, pulling it away from her face "Buffy, you look beautiful in that dress, it would be a shame to waste it…"

When she shook her head again, he silenced her with another kiss "I'm not going to force you to go but I will be there, so will Willow and so will Oz, you deserve a night where you don't have to think about anything that's happening right now".

Buffy sighed "Angel, how can I look at people and not feel them staring" she brought her hand up to her mouth to cover the scar. Prom was just over five weeks away, they were also planning on relocating back East for the next month or so, would they even be back in time?

Angel covered her hand with his and lowered it from her mouth "let them stare, they'll be staring at the most beautiful woman in the room" he gave her a heartfelt smile and kissed her hand "It's your decision".

She took a deep breath and nodded, it was a decision, a big one, before she was scared of all the whispers on the photos and now it would be whispers of what happened to her. It would also be the first time that she would be around her classmates since the attack.

Putting a pin in her thoughts, she leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes, letting his loving embrace soothe her tired and weary soul.