Angel slipped out of Buffy's room shortly before dawn and snuck into the basement. He left a note for her on her nightstand. He knew that if she woke up and found him gone again she would suspect the worst. He smiled as he curled up on the couch in her basement. He was happy. Truly happy. And this time nothing was going to take that away from him.
* * *
Buffy awoke with a start when her alarm went off. She jumped up and looked around for Angel. He was gone. she felt a lump form in her throat. Then she saw the note propped on her night stand and she let out a sigh of relief. She read over the note. She clutched it to her chest and thought
She had decided it was time to go back to school. She took a shower and dressed quickly before going down to check on Angel.
He was asleep on the couch. A contented smile on his handsome face. She kissed him lightly and he opened his eyes. "Good morning." She whispered.
"Hey!" He said, kissing her.
"I'm going to school."
"That's good. I'll be here when you get back."
"Actually, could you meet me in the library at sunset? I need to stay after and talk to Giles about Spike."
"You think that's a good idea? I don't want to get in Giles' way especially after..." He couldn't bring himself to talk about Jenny. He could imagine how he would feel about the man who killed the woman he loved--whether it was their fault or not.
"I need you for this. Remember, I watch your back, you watch mine?"
"Then I'll be there." He promised. She kissed him again before heading back upstairs.
"Sleep tight." She said with a grin.
He smiled, watching her small form disappear.
* * *
Sunnydale High School was alive with energy. Buffy felt strange when she passed the spot where she had killed Dru. Where they had found Xander. She kept expecting him to run up to her and tell one of his stupid jokes. But he would never do that again. She thought trying to force back tears.
She entered the library without her usual bounce. Giles had his back to her when she tapped him gently on the shoulder.
He spun around, "Buffy?!"
"You were expecting a monster?" She tried to joke.
"I'm sorry. It's just that I wasn't aware that you'd be returning to school today."
"A lot of stuff happened last night. you seen Will?"
"Ah. No. Not since the funeral. What happened last night?"
"Oh the usual. I tried to kill Angel, Willow stopped me, Spike attacked us."
"Was anyone hurt?"
"No. No fatalities. Angel and I hid out in my house."
"I thought you said--"
"Giles! Keep up! Angel and I are cool now."
"Do you think that's wise?" He was astonished. He'd seen he way she'd behaved since Xander died. She had no fear and she was ruthless. She had been going after vampires with a vengeance. That she would let Angel back into her life, and apparently her heart as well, after all of that, made Giles scratch his head in confusion.
"I had to forgive him Giles. He's...he's... my heart."
"This could be foolhardy, Buffy! How could you forget? He killed her, Buffy!" Giles shook with rage when he thought of Jenny, lying, neck broken in his bed.
"Giles, that was the demon-not Angel"
"Well then all is forgiven! Xander was right! We should have killed Angel when we first found out what he was. No favorites. Just like any other vampire."
"You touch him--and I will kill you." she threatened quietly. Her eyes were pleading though. They pleaded forgiveness and they begged understanding.
"I can't believe that after the hell he put you through, that you would just forgive him..." Giles slumped into one of the chairs.
"Giles, put yourself in my place. I know you're hurting but be rational! I've given the whole "vampires take over the body of their victims but it isn't the person in control" speech enough times."
"He's still a vampire!"
"He has a soul. The Angel I know would never have done what he did to Jenny. That was the demon, Giles. If you thought about it you would know that."
"She's right, Giles." They turned to face the person who had entered the room unnoticed.
"Willow? You too?" Giles was outnumbered. The part that frustrated him was that he was starting to suspect that they were right.
"I wouldn't have stopped Buffy last night if I didn't believe it."
Giles took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. "If I live a thousand years I will never get the vision of her, lying there, out of my head."
"Angel is going to live a thousand years and I know he will never forgive himself for it." Buffy walked up to him and put her arms around him. "We have to heal, Giles. We have to forgive. We have to move on. Holding on to the pain only makes it worse."
"I suppose you're right. It will be difficult to look at him..." He trailed off.
"We'll help you Giles." Willow said helpfully.
"We have some business to take care of." Buffy said.
"Spike?" Willow asked.
"Let's just say he wasn't too happy with the way we took cae of Drusilla."
"You two should go to class. I'm going to try to figure out when and ow he will attack next." Giles said as he collected two of his books into his arms.
"Last night he had five vamps and he took us by surprise. I don't want to be caught off guard again." She determinedly.
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