Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy herself, and any other related characters or places are the sole property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB. The character Erik and this story are my own ideas and I would like to keep it that way... unless of course the people at BtVS would like to buy them.
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Part One
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The night was especially dark and gloomy even for Sunnydale. Not even the light from the moon could shed light on this dreary little town and what was happening in the dimly lit alley behind the Bronze. A trio of teenage girls enter the alley from the Bronze on their way home after a night of partying and dancing. The trio were unaware that they were being watched from the shadows and as they continue down the alley a loud crash startles them. They turn to face the sound only to see that a cat had toppled over some garbage cans.
"That scared the shit out of me!" the first girl screamed.
"Let's go, this place gives me the creeps." said the second girl.
As the girls conversed, they did not notice a dark figure drop down from the fire escape behind them. The trio turned around about to continue on their way as they noticed they were no longer alone.
"Ohh!!" the second girl screamed.
"Sorry to startle you." the man said.
"If you'll excuse us." the third girl said.
Without hesitation, the man steps directly into the path of the three girls. As the man steps into the light, we see that he is none other than Angelus, "You're not going anywhere." he barks out. "I haven't had dinner yet." Without warning two more vampires jump out of the darkness as Angelus puts on his ‘game' face. The girls panic and try to flee but the other two vampires grab them. One girl starts to scream as the second struggles to get free, "Somebody help us!" the third girl cries out. "Scream all you want," Angelus says as he strokes the girl's neck, "but no one can hear you.".
Inside the Bronze music fills every corner with its deafening sound which would make it impossible to hear the cries of help coming from outside. However one person takes notice of the screams, "Did you guys here that?" Buffy asks her friends.
"Ere vwhat?" Xander replies as he stuffs the remains ofa bagel into his mouth.
"I didn't here anything... are you sure it wasn't just your imagination?", Willow asks.
"I don't know, but I'm gonna go outside and check things out anyway. You two stay here." Buffy says as she gets up and heads for the exit.
Back outside the vampires are about to enjoy their meal but a figure exiting the Bronze interrupts them. "Excuse me fellas but shouldn't you ask a lady out before having her for dinner?", Buffy says sarcastically. "Well look who's here," Angelus slyly remarks, "it's the Slayer herself." Buffy's face goes pale as she realizes that Angelus is one of the vampires. She tries as hard as she can to hide her feelings in the face of danger. Angelus is obviously not impressed by her phasad, "You shouldn't have come, Buffy, you're not ready to face me.", Angelus says. Buffy collects herself, "Wanna bet?". She springs into action, flipping forward head over heels three times. On her third flip she plants her feet squarely into the chest of one of the vampires sending him flying and freeing two of the girls. As the two girls run off, Buffy attacks the second vampire with a vicious roundhouse kick to the head causing him to lose his grip on the third girl who also runs off. The first vampire grabs Buffy from behind as the second vampire regains his balance and punches her in the face. She snaps her head back and says, "Now you've gone and made me mad...". She lifts her legs off the ground and kicks the second vampire knocking him down and causing the other vampire to loosen his grip on her, "Big mistake.". Buffy takes this chance to toss the first vampire over her shoulder and into the second vampire. She looks around for something to stake them with... a mop catches her eye and she grabs it and breaks the handle off. With stake in hand she turns to face the vampires who are now just getting up off the ground and it just so happens that they are lined up right in front of her. Buffy thinks to herself, ‘Too good to be true.' and she cartwheels towards the vampires and drives the stake right through both of their hearts. The vampires let out a blood curdling scream as their bodies explode into a cloud of dust. A sound of applause breaks the silence, "Good, very good, but they had not near the experience that I possess." Angelus says.
"Spare me the chat and lets get this over with.", Buffy says.
"Not tonight, Buff, I've got a prior engagement to attend to", Angelus replies as he tosses a garbage can at Buffy causing her to lose her balance and fall into a pile of garbage. As Buffy lies on the ground, Angelus takes off into the darkness of the night beyond. Buffy sits up and says to herself, "Why?".
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The sun shone brightly over the campus of Sunnydale High as Buffy walked across the lawn, but did nothing to brighten her day. All she could think about was how she let Angel get the best of her last night. She decided that she would talk with Giles about it and began to head for the library.
Giles had been sitting in the library since early in the morning, like he had so many mornings before, reading over volumes of leather bound books trying to make sense of the prophecies contained within. At that moment Buffy comes bursting through the library doors and blurts out, "Why, when I think I have my emotions curbed, can Angel still get the best of me? Huh, can you tell me?". "You and Angel have been through a lot together, and it's understandable...", Giles replied. "Understandable!? I'm the Slayer, I should've taken care of Angel when he lost his soul again in the first place. If I had we wouldn't be worried about his next move or who his next victim would be.", Buffy barks out. "Yes you are the Slayer, but you cannot expect, especially in this day and age, to separate your social life from you life as the Slayer. I have come to learn that now.", Giles says.
"I guess.", Buffy murmurs.
"And now on to business, I was reviewing my texts when I came across a prophecy.", Giles says.
At that moment Willow, Xander, and Cordelia enter the library. "Prophecy, did I hear you say prophecy? What is it this time, three-headed dogs, a cult of flesh-eaters, or a demon that can end the world with a thought?", Xander asks. The trio joins Giles and Buffy at the table. Giles gives Xander a disapproving look as he answers his question, "No, none of the above. The prophecy states...", Giles refers to his text, "Beware, the Chosen One, of inner demons for no matter how deep one buries them they will surface and be the downfall of the Slayer.". "What demons? What will be the downfall of the Slayer?", Xander asks. "The text is vague. It just keeps referring to inner demons causing the Slayer's downfall.", answers Giles. "And what's that supposed to mean?", Cordelia asks. "It could mean that Buffy has to face her inner demons.", Willow replies. "My only inner demon is my unresolved conflict with Angel.", Buffy says. "So all you have to do is kill Angel before he kills you.", Cordelia says. "It may not be that simple. If Angel is what the prophecy refers to as the Chosen One's inner demon, then killing him may not be enough.", Giles adds.
"What do you mean?", Buffy asks.
"You may have to resolve the situation before, um, killing him. I'll have to consult other volumes to find any other references to this prophecy.", Giles replies. "And I'll surf the net to see what I can find out.", Willow says. "Okay, find out what you can and we'll meet back here tomorrow.", Giles says.
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That night in the warehouse district a meeting of the pure evil and the cold hearted is taking place. Drusilla, Spike, and Angelus gather around a conference table, "What are you telling me Angelus, that you let the Slayer go because you didn't ‘feel' like killing her? What the hell is wrong with you?", Spike asks. "The timing wasn't right. Timing is everything you know.", Angelus replies. "Would you like to tell us when the timing will be right?", Spike yells as he rolls his chair around. Drusilla gets up and stands behind Spike and wraps her arms around his neck. Angelus gets up and turns his back on them. "Don't worry my love, Angel will take care of everything.", Drusilla says to Spike. "Well, Angelus, do you have anything to add?" Spike says as he gestures towards Angelus with his hand. "When I feel that the Slayer has suffered enough for what she has done to me then I will destroy her, and not one minute before... besides, I have a plan.", Angelus replies. "Oh you do, do you?", Spike says slyly.
Across town that same night other vampires are having a meeting of their own. The three vampires wait eagerly as a lone man about eighteen years of age, with a tousled mop of brown hair, deep blue eyes, and dressed to kill in a leather trench coat walks up the street towards them. One of the vampires says, "This is gonna be a piece of cake.". To far away to actually see the vampires, the lone man senses them anyway and says to himself, "Piece of cake for who?". He continues down the street wary not to let his would be attackers know that he is aware of them. At that moment the vampires surround the man and begin to circle him. "Rule number one, never underestimate your opponent.", the man says as he removes a battle ax from under his coat and takes a defensive stance. One of the vampires makes a leap for the man who buries the end of the ax's handle into the vampire's chest causing it to explode into a cloud of dust. "Rule number two, always look before you leap.", the man continues. As two more vampires move in to attack the man swings the ax above his head, decapitating one vampire and slashing the other across the chest. "And rule number three, quit while your ahead.", the man finishes. The last vampire watches as his headless comrade explodes into a cloud of dust and decides to take the man's advice and runs off. "Well your no fun." the man laughs as he walks off into the night.
Quietly watching from a secluded spot in the graveyard, Buffy sits in total amazement. ‘Who was this guy?', Buffy thinks to herself. ‘And what is he doing in Sunnydale?'. She gets up and starts to walk, as she strolls through the headstones she slips a stake from within her sleeve, she stops when she is in the path of the fleeing vampire. "And just where do you think you're going?", Buffy asks the vampire. The vampire stops dead in his tracks and is stunned to be confronted by the Slayer, "Oh, boy.", the vampire whimpers. Then the vampire charges Buffy, "Gimme a break.", she remarks as she dodges the attack and drives the stake through his back and straight into is heart. The vampire goes down to his knees and as he falls face to the ground he explodes into a cloud of dust, "They sure don't make ‘em like they used to.", Buffy laughs to herself.
At the Summers' residence all is quiet as Buffy climbs in through her bedroom window. The phone rings making Buffy jump, "What the...!? Whoever it is better have a good reason for calling at this hour.", she says to herself. She answers the phone to hear a familiar but almost forgotten voice, "Buffy...". "Angel?", she asks with a spacy look on her face, "Is that you?". "Yes Buffy, it's me...", Angel pauses as he moans in pain, "something's happening, I don't know what it is.". "Are you all right?", Buffy asks sympathetically. "I'm not sure, Buff, but somehow I feel that everything's going to be all right... I need you Buffy.", Angel replies. "Can I see you?", he continues. "I don't know...", she answers. Angel moans in pain again while he says, "If you change your mind, meet me in the park tomorrow night. And remember Buffy, I love you.". At that moment Buffy hears a click and a dial tone as Angel hangs up, ‘What should I do?', she thinks to herself. ‘Should I trust him? Could it be possible?'. She hangs up the phone as she climbs into bed and pulls the covers up around her.
Later that night a storm begins to brew over Sunnydale, lightening lights up the sky as thunder rattles the windows. Through the open window in Buffy's bedroom a gust of wind and a drizzle of rain wake Buffy from her slumber. She looks up with her unfocused eyes and notices a silhouette of a man standing in her window, "Angel?", she mutters. At that moment a flash of lightning reveals that the man is not Angel but the mystery man with the ax. Buffy springs out of bed, alert and focused, "Who the hell are you, and why are you in my room!?", she yells. "My name is Erik and I'm here to protect you, the Slayer.", Erik replies.
"Protect moi? From what, may I ask?", Buffy remarks.
"From the monster known as Angelus... you do know that he is preparing a trap for you, do you not?", Erik replies.
"Of course." Buffy says, ‘But I was hoping that he wasn't', she thinks to herself.
"I'm sure you have plenty of other questions.", Erik says.
"I sure I do...", Buffy replies. The two stay up the rest of the night talking, Erik tells Buffy how he has slayed demons, vampires, and other creatures for the past one thousand years and how he has taken it upon himself to protect the Chosen One. Buffy tells Erik about her adventures as the Slayer, about the Hellmouth, and about the mystical convergences that cause freaky supernatural events to occur in Sunnydale. It wasn't until she woke up with the sun shining through her window that she realized that her visitor had left. "Buffy! You need to get up and get ready if you want me to drive you to school!", her mom called from downstairs. "In a minute, mom!", Buffy called back.
In the library Willow and Xander sit around the table talking as Buffy walks in with smile on her face and a glow about her that brightens up the room. Xander takes notice of Buffy and says, "All right, what's up?". Buffy snaps out of her day dream and says, "What are you talking about?".
"Who is he?", Willow asks with a smile.
"Who's who?", Buffy asks.
Xander says, "Nice imitation of an owl, but..."
"Tell us about the guy you met.", Willow adds.
"Is it that obvious?", Buffy asks.
Willow and Xander say in unison, "Yes.". At that moment Giles enters the library from his office, "You seem rather chipper this morning.", Giles remarks to Buffy. "She met someone.", Willow blurts out. Buffy hits Willow on the arm, "Ouch, hey I couldn't help it.". "So what's his name?", Giles asks as his paternal instincts kick in.
"Erik.", Buffy answers.
"And what do we know about this, Erik?", Xander remarks protectively. "He's just a nice guy, he's athletic, smart, and REALLY good looking.", Buffy answers. Then she mumbles, "oh and he just happens to be over one thousand years old.". Then Giles and Xander stand up and Giles says, "Pardon me?". "He's over one thousand years old.", Buffy repeats herself. "Why can't you meet a normal guy?", Xander jokes. "Xander.", Willow remarks with a frown. "Sorry, Buff, but it's good to see that your getting over Angel.", Xander says and Buffy replies with a smile, "Thanks, Xander.".
"Speaking of Angel, I suggest we get down to business.", Giles says. "I have referred to a number of other volumes and have found the same vague references made by the prophecy to inner demons. I also followed links referring to the inner demons as the demons that possess the body of a vampire, which supports our theory that Angel is Buffy's inner demon.", Giles continues. "So all Buffy has to do is take out Angel to prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled, or as the prophecy puts it... the downfall of the Slayer.", Xander says. "I don't think so.", Giles replies, "Killing Angel will only bury Buffy's inner demon deeper and according to the prophecy it will ‘surface and be the downfall of the Slayer'. I think that if we could return Angel's soul to his body once again Buffy's inner demons would be resolved and the prophecy averted.". Then Buffy asks, "Does anybody have any ideas on how we can return Angel's soul to his body anyway?". Nobody answers and Buffy continues, "No I didn't think so. And as I see it the only course of action that I can take is... to kill Angel.". Xander gets up to leave, "Problem solved, and I really must be going. I promised I'd meet Cordelia before class.", he says as he leaves. "Are you sure you are ready to face Angel?", Giles asks. "I'm as ready as I'm ever gonna be, and if not I'll have Erik around to help.", Buffy replies. "Erik? How can we trust him?", Giles questions. "Trust him because I trust him.", Buffy answers. "I trust him.", Willow says to Buffy. "Well, if you put so much trust in Erik then I guess I will have to trust your instincts.", Giles says. "So that settles it, tonight it ends... one way or another.", Buffy says.
Outside in the courtyard Cordelia sits under the shade of a tree waiting for Xander who walks across the lawn towards her. As Xander walks up to Cordelia's side she looks up at him and says, "You're late.". Xander replies with a smile, "Well you know how it is when you're out to save the world all the time.". "Did you guys figure out that prophecy yet?", Cordelia asks. "Sort of. It looks like Buffy has some personal issues to overcome.", Xander explains.
"It's Angel isn't it?", Cordelia asks.
"Afraid so.", Xander replies.
"Sometimes you just have to feel sorry for that girl.", Cordelia remarks.
* * *
Later that night in the warehouse district Angelus, Drusilla, and Spike are involved in a heated conversation. "And you're so sure that the Slayer will meet you tonight?", Spike quips. "No doubt about it my friend. What choice does she have? She either believed what I told her or she's determined to get this over with as soon as possible.", Angel replies. "You see, Spike, Angel has everything under control.", Drusilla remarks. "You got that right babe.", Angelus says to Drusilla as he caresses her cheek. Drusilla closes her eyes in reaction to Angelus' touch and places her hand over his. This infuriates Spike who tries to get out of his wheelchair, "Now, now Spike, you mustn't exert yourself.", Angelus says as he walks over to Spike and holds him down in his chair. Angering him even more Spike barks, "Don't worry about me, just take care of the Slayer.". "No problem.", Angelus says with a devilish grin.
That same night Buffy and Erik stroll through the park talking to each other and Erik asks, "Are you up to this?". "I have to be, I'm the Slayer.", Buffy replies. "Of course you are, but I'd hate to see something happen to you...", Erik says as he caresses her cheek with his open hand. "What are you...?", Buffy mutters. She raises her hand up to meet his as she thinks to herself, ‘Is this really happening?'. Erik takes Buffy by the chin and raises her head as he begins to kiss her, at first she hesitates and thinks to herself, ‘I really shouldn't...'. Then Erik's kisses become more passionate, ‘Oh what the hell.', she thinks to herself. Buffy returns his kisses just as passionately, they embrace each other for what seems to be an eternity when Buffy pulls back. "Why do I always fall for older guys? My last boyfriend was over two hundred years old and you're pushin' twelve hundred.", Buffy remarks with a sad grin. "Call it fate, call it what you will, all I know is that I care about you... and it's been quite a long time since I've been able to care about anyone this way.", Erik replies. "I...", as Buffy begins to speak a spooky feeling overcomes her, "you should hide, he'll be here any minute.". ‘Why now?', she thinks to herself. "I'll be over here if you need me.", Erik says as he enters the woods. ‘I need you.', Buffy thinks as she prepares herself to face Angel.
Buffy does not have to wait long before her ex-love, Angel, comes lurking out of the shadows. "I'm touched that you decided to show up, Buffy. I've missed you and now that...", Angelus says as he smiles. "Drop the charade, Angelus, you don't fool me.", Buffy barks back. "It would seem that the both of us are putting on a charade...", Angelus remarks as he sniffs the air, "his stench is all about you. Did he tell you that he loves you?". "You're not gonna play with my emotions tonight, Angelus, I'm over you... I've moved on, and now it's time for you to do the same.", Buffy says as she takes an offensive stance. "If you wish to end your life so quickly then who am I to stand in your way?", Angelus says as he puts on his ‘game' face.
Buffy decides to make the first move, she charges at him and delivers a punch to his midsection and an uppercut to his head. With her left leg she executes a kick to Angelus' head, but he grabs her leg and laughs, "Is that the best you've got?". This angers the Slayer and in one fluid motion she launches herself off the ground and delivers a kick to his head with her free leg. Buffy lands on her feet as Angelus is sent to the ground, he immediately gets up and says taunting her, "Once more with feeling.".
Buffy makes a series of well executed attacks to no avail, Angelus defends against her every move in a playful manner. However he soon grows weary of playing around and grabs her by the throat lifting her off the ground. "The game's over, Buff.", Angelus says as he throws her against a tree. The force of the impact knocks the wind out of her lungs and Buffy falls to the ground. With a bloodthirsty look on his face, Angelus prepares to attack when out of nowhere Erik tackles him to the ground. The two ancient warriors get to their feet and take defensive stances pondering each other's next move. "So your Buffy's new beau? I should warn you, it'll never work out in the end. She'll only break your heart...or try to put a stake through it.", Angelus says sarcastically.
Buffy regains her composure and gets to her feet. She watches as Erik, the current man of her life, and Angelus, her once lover, fight to the death. ‘I can't let this happen.', she thinks to herself, ‘Angel deserves a chance to regain his soul... but what if his soul doesn't want to return? No, I have to think positive, if there's a chance for Angel to come back then I have to give it to him.'. At that moment Erik pulls out his battle ax and raises it to attack, "Nooo!!", Buffy yells as she tackles Erik allowing Angelus to escape. Erik says, "What were you thinking?", and pauses as he looks into Buffy's face and sees the expression of a lost and confused child. Without saying another word he takes her head and places it on his shoulder. All of a sudden Buffy begins to cry uncontrollably as the nights events begin to take their toll on her.
Erik escorts Buffy to her house and walks her to her front door. On her front porch, she fumbles for her keys and unlocks the door. As she begins to open the door, Erik reaches for her shoulder and turns her around, "Everything's gonna turn out for the better, trust me.", he says gazing into her eyes. "I hope so.", Buffy replies. Then they share a short passionate kiss as they embrace each other in moment that they both hoped would last forever. Erik pulls away from Buffy kissing her on the forehead as he turns to leave. Buffy watches him walk down the steps and out to the street, ‘Don't go.', she thinks to herself. She doesn't take her eyes off him until he disappears into the night, at which time she enters her house. She leans against the door closing it behind her and lets out a deep breath, "Why do these things always happen to me?", she says to herself.
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