************

Angel couldn't remember ever feeling so nervous in his entire life, and that was saying something. The reassuring smiles Buffy gave him were not really helping either; Vampires and demons he could deal with, but the thought of his love's father positively terrified him.

And then Buffy spoke the words he'd been dreading all night, or at least ever since he'd been informed of their dinner plans. 'Daddy's here.'

Angel craned his head slightly and immediately spotted a broad shouldered, brown haired man in perhaps his late forties approaching them. His distinctive features had little resemblance to Buffy's, but Angel noticed the likeness he had to her in his air, and the solid assurance of himself his eyes portrayed. Yes, Angel was now very aware that although his love had inherited her looks from her mother, her personality was, he guessed, strikingly similar to her fathers. And if Buffy's determination and stubbornness was anything to go by, he was not in for an easy trip.

'Daddy!'

'Sweetheart!'

Angel watched from the sidelines, feeling like a spectator who wasn't supposed to be there as father and daughter embraced.

'Daddy, this is Angel.' Buffy shot Angel an encouraging look and moved back to his side, giving his hand a comforting squeeze.

'Pleased to met you, Mr Summers,' Angel held out his spare hand and Hank shook it, not without reluctance, Angel noted.

'Well, shall we sit and order princess?'

*********************

The following hour consisted of far less interrogation then Angel had expected, but he suspected that this was simply because Hank had decided beforehand that he didn't approve of Angel instead of the possibility that Hank was a very relaxed father. Angel got the impression that Hank didn't have to ability to be relaxed about *anything*, except perhaps spoiling his daughter.

'How about a nice walk through the park to help our dinner go down?'

Both Buffy and Angel coughed slightly and looked at each other anxiously.

'I don't think that's such a good idea,' Buffy replied quickly. 'I mean, Sunnydale really doesn't have such a great park, you know, litter, gangs.' *vampires.*

'Oh, I wouldn't worry about any 'gangs',' Hank laughed, 'they're all talk, these youths. And I'm sure things will be fine if Angel gives orders for his group to leave us in peace.'

Buffy's eyes hardened in cold warning. 'Dad!' She glanced at Angel, worried that her father's insinuation that Angel belonged to a 'gang' had hurt or angered him, but his face was blank, expressionless mask. Only his eyes betrayed him, showing her an insight to his emotion. And to Buffy's surprise it was neither hurt nor anger, but a troubled confusion.

'So, what do you say to this walk?' Hank prompted.

'Sure,' Buffy smiled weakly, silently praying that their blood-sucking enemies would be so kind as to take the night off.

Angel followed Buffy and her father out of the restaurant deep in thought, unable to shake off Hank's earlier comment. There was something just not *right* about it, and Angel had learnt long ago to listen to his instincts. If only he could place his finger on what was so wrong...

He was brought out of his troubled thoughts to the sensation of Buffy nudging him discreetly. One look at her face, and his own senses kicking into action told him what was wrong. Vampires. He stilled beside her and cocked his head, trying to locate them. Two to the right, one to the left...

'Dad, there's this really great store I want you to see,' Buffy said quickly, her mind working rapidly. *oh god, oh god, oh god*

'You go ahead,' Angel added without missing a beat, 'I'll catch up with you.'

Buffy gave him a grateful look before ushering her father away towards the 'store'. When Angel finally caught up with them ten minutes later Buffy allowed herself to relax slightly and planted a quick kiss on her boyfriend's lips. It was only after she'd pulled away that she realised Hank was staring at Angel in confusion.

Hank continued to stare for a moment. 'What happened to your jacket?'

Angel glanced at Buffy, only to find his own troubled expression reflected by hers.

'I don't know,' he answered softly, 'but I'm going to find out.'

*********

'Your jacket?' Giles looked over his glasses at Angel with growing interest. 'Really? How curious.' He paused for a moment and Buffy could swear she could see the wheels turning in his head.

'That's not the word I would have used,' Buffy muttered. 'My *father* almost discovered that vampires really exist!'

'Your father?' Giles blinked and looked at her in concern. 'Am I right to assume that he's still unaware of Sunnydale's darker side?'

'If you wanna go for the understatement, then yea. 'Darker side'? Don't you mean 'demonic, evil, annoying-'

She trailed off when she felt Angel's hand pressing gently on her shoulder.

'I'm sorry,' she sighed and shot Giles an apologetic look. 'It just bugs me sometimes.'

Giles turned his attention back to Angel. 'Have they stolen anything else of yours?'

'About three other jackets. Nothing else.'

'I shall have to refer to my books, but it seems to point to the possibility that the vampires- assuming that that is what we're dealing with-'

'It was vampires who stole it,' Angel confirmed, 'although whether they were working for other vampires or a different creature altogether I don't know.'

'Well, lets put that angle aside for the moment, it would seem that someone, or something, is planning to perform a spell which either involves you, or affects you.'

Angel sighed softly but didn't look surprised. 'The thought had crossed my mind,' he admitted.

'Wow, hold up just one second,' Buffy cut in, alarmed. 'A spell? What kind of spell?'

Giles looked up thoughtfully, as if considering Buffy's question. He pulled his glasses off and began to rub them absentmindedly- a sign that told Buffy he was going into full watcher mode.

'There are several possibilities, but luckily we can narrow them down. Vampires are much more immune to a large proportion of spells then most creatures, which means we can rule out a large number. And I think it would be fairly reasonable to assume that Angel, you yourself are not needed to be present for this spell, just a possession of yours. The fact that more then one item has been stolen- all items identical- is very intriguing-'

'Giles, just spill! What spell do you think they're trying to perform?'

Giles didn't answer immediately; instead he turned to study the Slayer and her vampire gravely, debating with himself about how much to say.

'Of course this is only one possibility, and I might be wrong-'

'Giles.'

He coughed nervously. 'It is my belief that our enemy intends to take Angel's soul away from him.'

A stunned silence followed and Buffy was the first one to react; squeezing Angel's hand tightly as if to reassure herself he was still there and turning to Giles in disbelief.

'They can't do that! They can't! Right?'

'I'm afraid they can, but I don't believe there is cause to panic just yet,' Giles replied calmly.

'Can't we do anything? Stop them, perform another spell?' Buffy glanced around desperately. 'Willow! We can ask Willow-'

'Buffy, there is no counter-curse to stop their spell from being effective,' Giles said gently. 'I think the best course of action would be to find out who- or as Angel pointed out- what is behind all of this. If we can get to them before they can get to us-'

'How are we meant to do that?!' Buffy demanded wildly. 'We've got to stop-'

'Buffy.' Angel placed a calming hand on both her shoulders. 'Calm down, it'll be alright. We'll find whose behind this-'

'How can you say that?' Buffy replied in disbelief, her eyes wide with panic. 'I don't want them to take you away. I don't want to lose you. I can't.' She willed away the tears of fear and love that threaten to overpower her, but one look into her eyes told Angel just how much she was hurting.

'Ssssh, you're not going to lose me, I promise.'

'I can't face *him* Angel.'

'You won't have to.' He told her firmly.

She looked up at him sharply. 'You're being way too calm here. What do you mean 'you won't have to'? Angel, don't you dare go getting any stupid ideas.'

'Buffy, maybe it's best if I use Oz's cage until this demon is found. What if I suddenly turn and you don't know about it? Buffy,' he continued urgently, his eyes pleading with hers in desperation, 'we don't know when this spell is going to be performed, and I can't afford to be in any position that will allow Angelus to run free.'

'You want us to lock you up in a cage?' she looked at him in disbelief. 'Like an animal? No, Angel, that-'

'I think Angel's suggestion is probably for the best,' Giles spoke up gently. 'It's nothing permanent Buffy, just for a little while.'

'But I need you,' she all but whispered. 'How can I deal with this. what if I don't find him? Angel, what if I fail?'

Angel felt his heart breaking at the turmoil his love was being forced to endure. This wasn't fair on her. Angel understood fully that he deserved much more punishment for his past, but endangering others? Hurting others? That wasn't right.

'Fail? You, Miss Summers, could never fail,' Angel said firmly, smiling slightly in an attempt to keep things as light as possible. 'It'll only be for a while.' He added before bending down to gently kiss her.

They kept it light, aware that Giles was still in the room with them, although he had conveniently realised he needed to go and search for a book in the stacks. When they pulled away Buffy looked up at him with hardened eyes, and Angel recognised immediately her resolution to stay strong. He had expected nothing less, and he felt more pride and admiration for her then he could express.

'That's my slayer,' he said softly. 'I love you.'

'You know I do too,' she replied firmly, refusing to say the actual words as if that would somehow symbolise a goodbye. And Buffy had never liked goodbyes.

Angel nodded his head in understanding and started moved away.

'Angel and I will keep searching for any information,' Giles spoke up as he approached them once again. 'I think the best course of action for you would be to go home and try to rest. We can decide on a plan of action in the morn-'

'Wait! Angel can't stay here. The sunlight, and people walking into the lib-'

'Buffy, we'll shut the curtains, and Giles can put a sign telling people the Library is closed due to.'

'Refurbishing.' Giles supplied.

'I'll be back first thing in the morning,' Buffy conceded reluctantly, taking one last look at Angel before turning and leaving, refusing to say any goodbyes.

************

Buffy Summers slumbered peacefully in the abyss of unconsciousness, a small frown the only tell-tale sign of her troubles. Five minutes later she found herself awakening suddenly, for the fifth time that night.

She groaned in frustration and automatically rubbed her eyes, although she was wide-awake. 'Why can't I ever get a good nights sleep?' she grumbled. 'Oh goody, I'm talking to myself.'

Her thoughts turned to Angel and that jumpy feeling in the pit of her stomach returned, just as it always did when she was worried about him, or knew he was in trouble. Soon her whole body was on edge, the slayer within desperate to get up and just *do* something. Forcing herself to stop thinking about him, she instead found her thoughts drifting to her father; unbidden images returning to her from the past week;

~~~ And if he kills me I shall be most upset

~~~~~~ I just thought that I heard them mention your father

~~~~~~ Daddy found out about us, although mom *swears* she never told him

~~~~~ I'm sure things will be fine if Angel gives orders for his group to leave us in peace ~~~

Buffy froze when she suddenly realised what was wrong with that sentence. Surely her father couldn't have known Angel was a vampire? Surely he wasn't referring to vampires when he'd spoken of Angel's 'group'?

*Stop it! I'm just being paranoid. This is my own father I'm talking about!*

Buffy forced any thoughts to the back of her mind, determined to get at least one hour of solid sleep. With one final yawn she buried her head deep into Angel's pillow, finding comfort in his scent, and allowed sleep to claim her once again.

**********

When Buffy entered the library the following morning the first thing she noted was that the entire gang were present, and everyone, even Cordy, had a book in hand and appeared to be flipping through it rapidly.

'Hey, what's going on?' Buffy asked nervously, not sure if she really wanted the answer.

She didn't wait for a reply before turning her attention to Angel, who looked, she noted immediately, worse then she felt. She hurried over to him and placed a hand up against the cage, smiling softly when Angel did the same, allowing them a small amount of contact.

'Hey,' she spoke softly, not wanting the others to hear their conversation. 'How are you?'

'I'm fine,' he assured her, but Buffy suspected that he would probably claim that he was fine even if he were about to fall a thousand feet head first.

'I got you some fresh clothes,' she offered, suddenly shy.

Angel simply grinned and thanked her. 'Did you sleep well?'

'I slept. Buffy answered, knowing that lying would be pointless with Angel. 'You?' She asked quickly before he could scold her.

'Uh huh.'

She turned back around to survey the group and caught sight of Giles hurrying down from the stacks. 'Ah, Buffy, I'm glad you're here.'

'What's wrong? What's happened?' Buffy asked slowly. She knew that expression on her Watcher's face. It generally meant an apocalypse or something to that equivalent was heading their way.

'Things might not be as straight forward as we first believed.' He coughed slightly. 'After extensive research I discovered that the spell does not actually become immediately effective. The effect is very gradual-'

'How gradual?' Buffy interrupted.

'The entire process could take up to an entire week. It is my belief that the spell may have been cast last night, although the symptoms won't become apparent for a few more hours.'

'Symptoms?' Buffy echoed sharply.

'Yes, Angel should be able to tell us when it begins because he should be able to. to feel it pulling on his soul.'

Buffy looked at him in horror. She was perfectly capable of reading between the lines.

'So Angel's gonna be in pain?'

'It won't be too bad Buffy, I've survived worse,' Angel assured her, but she saw past his external front, and his eyes looked anything but convinced.

She didn't trust herself to reply to that with out revealing just how worried she was about him. Instead she allowed- almost welcomed- her slayer instincts to take over and guide her. 'Okay, Giles what I need is tips on how to find this guy.'

'I'm afraid I can't help you there, but you should know that once the spell has been cast, the only way to stop it will be to kill the creature that cast it.'

'And then he'll be okay?'

There was no doubt in Giles' mind that she was referring to Angel. 'Well, that is part of the reason why it is now so vital to find this creature- and kill him. The effects of the spell can not be reversed. Killing him will stop it progressing, but it won't reverse it.'

Buffy stared at him and it took a moment for the full impact of those words to hit her. And then she felt sick. Physically sick. 'Oh god.'

**********

One hour later Buffy found herself outside of her own house and feeling very much like an intruder. She had almost fled from the confinement of the library, desperate to find this demon before it was too late, but the great expanse of out-doors had only served to increase the feelings of desperation and defeat building within her. Finally she had just started walking, pleading with fate that perhaps she might be lead to the right place. So far the only place she'd been lead to was her own house, she noted with a tinge of bitterness.

Not knowing what else to do, she turned the knob and entered. An instinct she couldn't identify stopped her from calling out to announce her presence, and instead she made her way through the hallway and towards the kitchen.

'Yes, it all went very smoothly. Not a hitch, and soon our little friend should be making an appearance.'

Buffy halted at the sound of her father's voice and frowned in confusion. Who was he talking to on the phone? And what about?

'Yes, the jackets have been disposed of. We wouldn't want any reverse spells occurring now, would we? You can never be too careful, whether such a spell exists or not.'

Buffy's confusion grew at the sound of her father discussing spells. This wasn't right. Her father didn't know anything about spells and-

'Ah, I believe they have him contained within the Library at Buffy's school. Shouldn't be a problem to collect him from there.'

And suddenly she understood. Everything. How had she not seen it? But her father? Her own *father*? No, it couldn't be. He couldn't have cast the spell.

She moved towards him blindly, to overcome with so many emotions to think practically.

Hank spun around, surprise evident on his face. 'Buffy!' He blinked slightly before collecting himself. 'Mike, I'm going to have to call you back, something's come up.'

Buffy stared at him in disbelief as she watched him place the phone back in its holder. Who was this man stood in front of her? Her father? No, he had never been her father. Not really. Biologically, yes, but not in terms of anything that mattered to her in a father.

'What's going on?' She was surprised at just how cold and controlled she sounded, and apparently so was her father.

'Buffy, don't use that tone of voice.'

'What. Is. Going. On?' She demanded, taking a slow step towards him.

He paused and ran a hand through his hair. 'It's for the best, Buffy. It's for you.'

'Excuse me?'

'I know who you are.' He admitted quietly. 'I knew you were the Slayer right from the beginning. But it's become harder and harder for me to deal with it. I want you to have a normal life Buffy. I want you to be normal.'

Buffy felt as if he'd just slapped her, and the only emotion powerful enough to prevent her from breaking down right there and then was her love for Angel, and her determination to save him. 'What have you done?'

'I have informative here in Sunnydale and-'

*Oh god, my own father's been spying on me*

'And when I heard that you'd been dating that *thing*-'

'Thing?! Don't you *ever* talk about Angel in that way. You hear me? I *love* him.'

Hank ignored her and continued, as if speaking to a child prone to outbursts. 'I didn't think it would be too sensible to just kill him- you'd waste all your time mourning over him- so what better then to turn him into the monster he really is and make you see the light?'

'You're sick.' Buffy whispered, leaning on the counter for support. *Just a dream, just a dream. No way is this real. Deep breath and you'll wake up back in bed next to Angel. Oh god, please* 'Who cast the spell?' she asked suddenly.

'I did.' Hank said simply.

Buffy froze. *Oh god, no. I can't. I can't kill him. My own father. Oh god.*

Somewhere in her mind she was aware of the tears spilling down her checks, and the sobs that were escaping her, but all she could concentrate on was the pain rippling through her entire being, and suddenly she understood what it felt like to have a broken heart. ~~It's not what happens, but how you deal with it that makes you who you are~~ Angel had told her that once. Angel. Oh god. She had no doubt about what she had to do, and she had no doubt that she would do it.

'Buffy, you'll get over it. Don't worry.'

'Don't worry? Don't you understand? I *love* him! I need him! I can't let him die. I'm sorry, I can't.'

An odd smile formed on Hank's face. 'Well, I'm afraid there is very little you can do about it. The only option is for you to kill me. And let's be realistic here. I'm your father.'

**********

Angel winced as a new wave of pain coursed through him, sending his body into a helpless spasm as the tremors died down.

'It's getting worse, isn't it?' Giles asked softly, both aware that he wasn't really expecting a reply.

Angel nodded and leaned his head back against the wall of his cage, trying to collect himself.

'I've found something!'

Angel turned slightly to be greeted with the sight of a very blurred Willow. 'I've found something,' she repeated excitedly. 'Look at this.'

Angel watched with curiosity as Giles took the book Willow offered him and scanned it, his eyes widening and sparkling with hope in the same way her's had.

'It appears we might have found that silver lining.' Giles spoke finally.

'What,' Angel paused, trying to bring the swimming room into focus, 'what have you found?'

'The spell has, for all intent and purpose began the procedure of separating your soul from the demon. This should, in theory, make it possible to continue the process, only switch it, so that the soul stays within you, and the demon leaves.'

Angel shot Giles a piercing look, managing to briefly bring everything back into focus. 'Human?'

'Yes. Human.'

Angel was silent for a moment before an idea suddenly hit him, and a small amount of his strength returned to him. 'This means that this spell will become ineffective, right?'

Giles nodded.

'I need. that means the person responsible does not have to be killed.' he trailed off for a moment, drifting into unconsciousness for a brief moment before recovering. 'You must get this news to Buffy. I do not want her to have to kill him.'

'Do you know who he is?' Giles asked in surprise.

'It's her father.'

The entire gang froze.

'Did you just say her father?'

'Her father,' Angel repeated.

'Just a small point,' Xander spoke up, 'if she does kill him, doesn't that mean that the spell you're planning to do won't work?'

'That. would be a good point,' Willow said feebly. 'There is one thing that might work.'

*******

Buffy took a deep breath as she watched her entire world turn up side down. Her father. She was going to have to sacrifice her own father to save her love.

'But you're not my father,' she said quietly, more to herself then him. 'You've never been my father.'

'Just calm down, Buffy.' Hank sighed and shook his head, as if speaking to a child.

'Don't you *dare* tell me to calm down. And don't you *dare* talk to me as if I'm a child. Do you know how many nights I used to waste, just hoping that you'd manage to come down and see me? My birthdays. Christmas. Easter. Never! You never had the time! And now you think you can just step in and ruin my entire life with a snap of your fingers? I've learnt my lesson, *father*.'

Hank didn't have a quick-fired response to that, and Buffy looked away, feeling more confused and lost then she could ever remember feeling.

She decided she was finally hallucinating- or at least hearing things- when she heard Willow's voice coming from the living room. She spun around to find Willow hurrying towards them, a look a relief on her face upon finding them both.

'I thought I wouldn't get here in time,' she confessed breathlessly, seemingly unaware of the astonishment and confusion written across her friend's face.

'Willow- what are you doing here?'

*Don't make this any harder. I can't stand for you to watch me do this- I can't stand for you to see me as a murderer*

'Giving you some good news,' Willow said softly, fully aware of the delicateness of the situation, and the pain and turmoil she recognised Buffy must be going through.

Willow glanced uncertainly at Buffy's father, who, she noticed, was slowly backing further and further up. Buffy followed her friend's glance and her eyes hardened immediately.

'If I didn't know any better I'd say you're getting closer to that back door intentionally,' Buffy commented casually, but the cold warning in her voice was unmissable.

Hank chose not to comment, perhaps having nothing to say, or perhaps due to a sudden realisation that maybe his daughter had more emotional strength then he had given her credit for. Instead he chose to smile weakly.

The Slayer turned her attention back to her friend, a cautious eye still watching her father. 'Willow.' That was all she needed to say, and Willow understood immediately what she was asking. 'I think you'll be glad to know that there's a loop hole in stopping the spell.'

Buffy's breath caught but she refused to allow herself to hope- yet. 'What do you mean?' Her voice wavered slightly in an excitement and desperation that couldn't be concealed from her friend.

'We found a spell,' Willow paused, 'a spell that can. stop the effects and-'

'Reverse them?' Buffy cut in, unable to stop herself.

'Yes, and it also means. you don't have to. you know. hurt him...'

Buffy blinked, not sure if her words had really sunk in. 'Wh- Oh.'

*Oh? Oh? All this hurt, and all I can say is 'oh'?!* She stood silently for a moment, her head lowered, before speaking slowly but firmly. 'Get out. Go, and don't you ever, *ever* think of coming back. You try to hurt him again, and I *promise* you you'll regret it.'

'Buffy-'

'Go.'

Willow watched as Buffy's father's shoulder's slumped and a flicker of relief filled his expression before it was quickly replaced with what Willow suspected to be a very false sadness.

'I'm sorry you feel this way, Buffy.'

'Go.'

It was only after she'd heard the sound of a door clicking- signalling his exiting from her life forever without so much as a goodbye- that she raised her head and allowed Willow to see the tears that trickled down her checks. Silently Willow guided her friend back into the sitting room and urged her to sit, an endless depth of sympathy apparent in her every gesture.

*Sympathy, but not understanding,* Buffy noted silently.

'Buffy, I'm sorry.'

'I would have done it,' Buffy said suddenly, desperate to confess her dark secret. 'I would have killed him. I would have done anything for Angel.' Buffy rose her eyes to meet Willow's, waiting- bracing herself- for the condemnation she was fully prepared to find in her friend's eyes.

'I love him,' She offered in a whisper, clutching to the fading words as if they were a lifeline- her only line of defence.

'I know,' Willow replied gently, 'You would have done what needed to be done- and we wouldn't have judged you for that, Buffy.'

*Loyal Willow, always knowing what to say* 'Yes, you would,' Buffy said quietly. 'Maybe not much, but you'd always have had it in the back of your mind. You know what I felt when you told me I wouldn't have to kill him?'

She ignored the shudder Willow gave at the mention of the word 'kill' and continued. 'Nothing. I felt nothing. I mean, I felt relief, but not for my father.' She laughed bitterly. 'I felt relieved that I wouldn't have to deal with the consequences, that I wouldn't' be a *murderer*.'

Willow shifted, wanting desperately to soothe her friend's pain, but not sure what to say that wouldn't sound stupid. 'That's only natural Buffy.'

'Is it?' Buffy challenged softly, 'I don't even know my own *father*, Will. He was just a stranger- a bad guy who I had to stop. That's my job, right? To kill the bad guys? Since when did things get so complicated?' She sighed and glanced around the room in frustration, her questions as empty as the air around them. 'Why can't things be simple, just for once?'

Willow looked down at her hands, understanding her friend's struggle, but having no answers to give her. 'He was human, Buffy. And I guess. there's always a part of every human that contains good. I guess no-one can be completely evil. That's why it's so hard.'

'Does that mean that killing Vamps is wrong?' Buffy demanded, and Willow's eyes widened in surprise. 'Coz sometimes I think we- human's- can be the cruellest creature around.'

'I don't know, Buffy.' Willow pulled her friend into a tight embrace, stroking her hair comfortingly and rocking her slowly.

Buffy sat silently for a while, allowing Willow to comfort her, occupying herself with the jumbled thoughts that hounded her. Finally she couldn't take it any longer and couldn't help asking; 'Will, Angel's okay, right?'

Willow smiled slightly and nodded. 'He's probably recovering even as we speak.'

Buffy's eyes darkened and she straightened up, guarding herself against the impact of a sudden realisation. 'But what's to stop this happening again?'

'Well, you might want to ask Angel.'

Buffy glanced at her friend sharply, very familiar with that tone. 'Will, what are you hiding?'

'I promised I wouldn't say,' Willow replied. 'See, resolved face?'

Buffy laughed softly before opening her mouth to speak again.

'No- don't you dare ask another question. I promised Angel I'd let him give you the news himself.'

'Wi-ll,' Buffy whined

'Nope, absolutely not. No.'

Buffy pouted and shot her her best attempt at puppy dog eyes.

Willow grinned coyly. 'Sorry, that's only gonna work on Angel.'

Buffy looked at her friend with false, wide-eyed innocence. 'Willow!'

They lapsed into peaceful silence for a few minutes before something suddenly occurred to Buffy. 'Will?'

'Hmmm?'

'How did you get here so quick?'

Willow blushed slightly. 'Well, see, I've been practising a few more spells lately, and-'

'This is gonna be a complicated story, huh?'

'Uh huh.'

'Tell me on the way, I suddenly have this urge to see Angel.'

***************

'Hey! Don't you dare think of getting up!'

Angel smiled softly at the stern order Buffy had just given him and relaxed back against the pillows obediently. 'Buffy, I'm not completely and utterly helple-'

'I don't care. Just admit defeat lover and let me take care of you.'

Angel let the smile slip from his face and suddenly regarded her seriously as he watched her move around his room; staking out a mystery object- probably an assignment hidden under the litter of clothing which just so happened to have every item belonging to her.

They had spoken very little about the events of the previous week, although Angel knew the full story of events. Every attempt he'd made of trying to talk to her about it had been fruitless; the only reactions he'd received were her claming up, or suddenly remembering that she had to go do something. He hadn't managed to find the right time to tell her about the 'change' that he would soon be experiencing either, and the more time passed, the more desperate he grew to tell her.

'Buffy,' he called out softly, and she spun around, a small frown creasing her forehead at the intense and very serious expression he bore.

She sighed, knowing exactly what he wanted to talk to her about, and turned back around, not wanting to meet his eyes. 'Angel, I'm really busy, can't we talk later?'

He frowned slightly. 'No you're not. We need to talk.'

'Angel, I know what you're going to say, so-'

'Do you?' Angel interrupted her, and she could hear the challenge in his voice.

'I think so,' she replied, but Angel picked up on her uncertainty immediately.

'Please. Let's just talk, okay?'

She sighed again, this time in defeat, and move gingerly towards the bed. Once she'd moved within reaching distance Angel reached out and used what little strength he had to pull her down onto the bed, immediately slipping his arms around her waist to stop her from getting up.

'Angel.' she looked down, her hair tumbling down with her, blocking his view of her face.

'Hey,' he scolded gently, reaching a hand to draw her hair back. He was startled to find tears welling in her hazel eyes. 'What's wrong?' He asked, trying desperately to keep the alarm out of his voice.

'Just say it Angel. Say it and get it over with.'

Angel blinked in confusion. 'Say what?'

'I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry.' A few stray tears fell but she rubbed them away quickly.

'Sorry? Whatever for?' His eyes searched hers wildly; desperate to understand what was wrong. Desperate to put it right.

'I'm sorry,' she repeated, her voice barely loud enough to be classed as a whisper. 'I know you think. I know you think I wouldn't have done it.' She sniffed and rubbed her eyes again. 'You have to know that I would have. I'd do anything for you; you have to know that. You almost lost your soul. I'm sorry that I never-'

'What?' Angel echoed incredulously. 'You think- you think I'm angry at you for not killing your father?'

'You mustn't think that I wouldn't have-'

'Buffy, sweetheart, is *that* why you didn't want to discuss this?' Angel felt relief flood through him, but one look at the distress apparent in her eyes served only to fuel his determination to sort this all out. 'Buffy, I could *never* be mad at you for that! To even *consider* sacrificing your father for me- that's more then I could ever ask of you. And to actually *do* it?! I would never wish that upon you- you know that- and I was so relieved that you had an alternative.'

Buffy studied him closely. 'You're not just saying that?' she asked finally, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

'Would I have said it otherwise?'

Angel could almost see the tension leave her body, and she immediately slumped against him, hugging him closer.

'Angel?' She peered up at him, those adorable eyes of hers now shining with curiosity. 'Willow said I might want to ask you about something. to do with the spell, but I didn't want to bring it up before. coz of. you know.' She continued to watch him as he broke into a grin and laughed softly.

'It won't take effect for a few more days,' Angel warned her, 'but it appears that there might just be a few side effects to the spell they performed.'

'Side effects?' Buffy echoed warily. 'Like what?'

'Just some small things. such as becoming human.'

Buffy stared at him in disbelief. 'Oh my god! Please tell me you're not joking.'

'About this? Never,' he assured her.

'Human. You're going to be human.'

Angel allowed her to babble a little more before pulling her to him and planting a gentle kiss on her lips.

'You've got no idea how long I've wished you'd do that,' Buffy grinned before quickly adding, 'do it again.'

Angel returned her grin before obediently blanketing her lips with his own in a tender kiss.

'Dam!' Buffy exclaimed after he'd pulled away.

Angel raised an eyebrow in a gesture of amusement. 'Dam?'

'Just our luck! The one chance I get to spend an entire week with you I end up battling my own *father*, only to discover that you're going to become the week *after*? Your timing sucks, Angel.' She grumbled playfully.

'Maybe you can convince your mom to let you spend another week,' Angel laughed.

'Hmmm, I think telling her that you're gonna need to me play nurse should be a good enough reason.' Buffy agreed happily.

'You might not want to tell her *exactly* what our version of 'playing nurse' entails.'

'I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about,' Buffy teased.

'Then maybe I should enlighten you.'

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