Here we go again: Part Three
by Pandora
"Mom. It's okay he won't hurt you." Buffy had ben hoping her mother wouldn't be home. Although Joyce knew Buffy was the slayer, buffy still found it hard to talk to her mother about that part of her life. Now she was going to have to explain about Angel and it just gave Buffy a headache.

"Won't hurt me? But you said-" Joyce was still not sure how to react to her daughter's other life. She didn't ask to much about it. But she sure that Buffy had told her that Angel was evil. But he used to be good. and now? It was all so confusing!

"It's a really long story mom." Buffy was going for the short explanation but she was pretty sure her mother was going to demand a more complicated answer.

"He's a vampire!" She was so confused. "One minute he's your boyfriend, then he's evil and now-?"

"The night Xander died I performed a ritual to restore his soul." Buffy sighed. She was tired and she needed a shower.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I haven't exactly been myself lately, Mom." Remembering how she had behaved in the cemetary made Buffy cringe. She had stopped living since Xander died. Hadn't gone to school or talked to her friends at all. She slept all day and did sweeps and dusted vamps all night. Not much of a life.

Joyce had noticed the change in her daughter since the funeral. She had been lenient about school because she was trying to be understanding about the difficult life Buffy lead. But having a vampire in the house? What was Buffy thinking?

Angel could tell that Joyce was about to snap from all of this so he chose that moment to speak up. " Joyce, we were attacked. This was the closest safe spot. I wouldn't have troubled you if Buffy hadn't been with me."

"A considerate vampire! There's one for the books!" Joyce slumped down onto a chair in exasperation.

"Mom, it's okay. He won't hurt you, I promise."

"What about you?" Joyce knew that Buffy had loved him very deeply. She wondered if buffy could take losing him again.

"I would never hurt Buffy intentionally. What happened to me was beyond my control. It will never happen again."

"What if it does Angel? "

"It won't. But if it does, Buffy will have to kill me."

"Can you do that, Buffy?"

"I almost did once tonight." She said nudging him gently with her elbow.

He smiled and looked down at her, his eyes were full of love.

"Most parents have to deal with their daughters growing up and dating at some point but dating a vampire? Sound like an episode of Jerry Springer!" Joyce laughed. "I'm just going to have to adjust to the fact that my daughter is special." She looked at Angel "With special problems."

He smiled and reached out his hand. She shook it . "I'm going to bed you two. Angel, sleep on the couch." She couldn't believe she was letting it go this easily but Buffy surprised her more and more each day with her maturity. It was time to trust Buffy's instincts.

"I can't...the sun..." he faltered.

"Oh! Well..."

"Mom, he can stay in the basement."

"Good. I'm going to sleep. Night, Buffy." Joyce hugged her daughter tightly. Scared that at any moment some monster could take her away. But glad that she no longer felt so out of the loop where Buffy was concerned.

"Night, Mom"

Angel and Buffy stared at eachother in the hall for a few minutes before either of them spoke. When the silence was broken they both spoke at the same time.

"Buffy-"

"Angel-"

He stopped. Allowing her time to finish. "The basement is that way." She pointed, indicating the basement door and walked to the stairs.

"Buffy-"

"Don't! Just because I couldn't kill you--don't want to kill you-- doesn't mean I want anything else. I can forgive but I can't forget! don't you see that?"

"I didn't expect you too. It's just that-"

"It's just what?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too. Doesn't exactly make any of this easier does it?"

"No, it doesn't." He stepped towards her and reached out and gently stroked her cheek. The claddagh ring on his hand was again pointed in towards his finger. It grazed her cheek causing her to look down at the ring on her own finger. She had taken it off when Angel lost his soul but had returned it to her hand a couple of days later because it made her feel closer to him somehow. It had helped her separate her feelings for Angel from the demon that had controlled him.

"I can't lose you again." She said quietly.

"You won't." He said, eyes brimming with tears. He walked around and up the stairs and stood in front of her. " Giles told you that this time, it can't be reversed. I'm yours for good-if you still want me."

"What if you get killed?"

'What if you do? Do you think I want to live without you?"

"It could be dangerous." She said stepping into his arms.

"It was always dangerous. I'll watch your back if you watch mine."

"Promise?"

"I promise." He kissed her softly and she lead him quietly up the stairs into her room, closing the door behind them.


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