Disclaimer: All these characters (Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles, Angel) belong to the WB and that production company that I don't know the name of right now... So don't you dare try and steal 'em from them! And BTW, this story (including the werewolf, Anthony) is mine...
NOTE: Ok, so this story takes place in between the "Invisible Girl" episode and the "Prophecy Girl" episode. This is my first attempt at a "Buffy" fanfic, so try and bear with me...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buffy Summers looked out of her bedroom window. It was the window where she and Angel shared a moonlit kiss -- just before he turned into a vampire and jumped out the other window.
She sighed to herself and thought, *Angel, why do you have to be a vampire? To make the pain even deeper, a vampire with a soul?* She fiddled with the cross around her neck.
Her door opened and her mother came in.
"Honey, Willow is at the door. She says it's important," her mother said and left.
Buffy got up and headed for the front door. Why would Willow be here at night? She certainly didn't leave her house unless she was going to The Bronze or the school library to help Buffy study.
When she reached the door, Willow was pacing around back and forth frantically on her front porch.
"Whoa girl. Chill for a sec and tell me what's wrong," Buffy said, taking hold of her shoulders.
"Can we go up to your room and talk? It's really important Buffy," she said, a look of concern in her eyes.
"Sure." Buffy led her up to her room.
They both took a seat on Buffy's bed.
Buffy looked at Willow straight-faced. "Now, tell me what's up."
"It's about Angel," Willow said in a monotone voice.
Panic shot through Buffy.
*What was wrong with Angel? Could he be -- DEAD?*
Buffy frowned and her eyes widened. "What happened to Angel?" she shot out, almost automatically.
"Giles told me that Angel came to him and told him that he was going to take on the Master himself because he doesn't want you to, and he doesn't was you dead. Awfully romantic, but awfully dangerous and stupid. This has something to do with the book Angel gave Giles the night --" Willow started then caught herself. "The book. It's the book."
Buffy stared at Willow wide-eyed. But when Willow got to the part about the book and faltered, Buffy regained herself and asked, "The night what?"
Willow looked away sheepishly. "Nothing. Forget it. It doesn't matter now. We're talking about Angel's life now."
"Oh no girl," Buffy said. "Tell me -- the night *what*?"
Willow looked back at Buffy. She shook her head. "Angel -- he saved us, not the janitor, from Marcie."
"And you didn't tell me? Why didn't you tell me?" Buffy asked persistently.
"I don't know. Ask Giles. He's the one who didn't want to tell you. I guess it's the pain factor though," Willow sighed. "But Buffy, can we get back to what we're going to do about Angel now?"
Buffy shook her head. "There is no 'we'. There's only *me*. I'm going to the cemetery to check things out."
"Let's go."
"No, you're going home. I don't want you hurt. I'm just going to see if I can stop Angel, and if we get into trouble, I'm sure we can handle it," she said solemnly. "Willow, go home quickly. God knows what's out there at this time."
Willow nodded and left the house.
Buffy turned to her closet and brought down the chest she had filled with her "weapons." She took out a stake and the leather jacket angel had given her.
The only reason she kept the jacket in her chest was because she didn't need another gift from him around her to remind her of him. She already had the cross for that. There was that, and she really didn't need the jacket for anything. She just felt like wearing the jacket tonight.
She ran downstairs like a maniac and crashed into her mother.
"Sorry mom."
"Where do you think you're going?"
"The Bronze."
Her mother gave her a quizzical look.
"Don't worry. I'll be home before midnight," she said, kissed her mom on the cheek, and left the house.
*Now to the cemetery,* she thought to herself.
The cemetery was as quiet and scary as usual. There was absolutely no sign of Angel -- but then again, she could never tell if he was there of not.
"Angel?" she asked quietly.
She walked passed the gravestones and suddenly ended up at the entrance to the crypt. The door was closed. So that meant he wasn't here yet.
She hid behind a coffin a waited.
Ten minutes later, she saw a dark figure come in.
It was Angel all right. When he stepped into the moonlight, Buffy almost melted. He was simply beautiful. Although she knew herself that they could never become a couple, she just could not deny the feelings that bubbled up inside her when she saw him.
Angel stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a shuffle inside the room.
"Show yourself."
Buffy stepped up from where she was standing and met his eyes squarely. "Hey," she said.
"What are you doing here?" Angel asked.
"Getting you out of here. It's not you who has to fight the Master," Buffy said calmly, not moving from her spot.
"What's so wrong about caring for someone?"
"My point exactly. Let's go," she said, turning away and starting out.
A figure stepped inside the room. A vampire.
"Oh great. You know, I really didn't feel like getting into any trouble tonight. But the Slayer's job is never over, right?" Buffy said sarcastically.
"So, you're the Slayer, huh? Who's your friend?" it asked. It was a girl.
Angel gave an inhuman growl. "Not one of you."
Buffy stepped closer to the vampire. "Now, do you feel like starting with me tonight?"
The vampire growled. "Anytime."
"I guess they never learn," she sighed.
She swiftly took out her stake and staked the vampire. It disappeared into dust.
"I don't want you dead," Angel said suddenly from behind her. He apparently picked the conversation up from where they'd left off.
"Angel, I don't want you dead either. C'mon, we're leaving," she said and walked over to him. She grabbed his arm.
Then... KABLAM!
It felt like a shot of electricity shot through her. She looked at him and his face was just as blank as hers was.
"Buffy?" he asked in disbelief.
"Angel..." she said shakily.
He stepped back reluctantly. "I have -- to go. See you around."
Then he left, not even looking back.
* * *
"So Giles, how do you explain what happened between me and Angel last night?" Buffy asked the next day at school.
He fiddled with his glasses for a second. "Well I really don't know."
Xander stepped up and said, "I have an explanation. In every case of love, there is the presence of lust. You just had a, um... heavy dose of it?"
"Don't take up philosophy anytime soon," Buffy said. "But Giles, there has to be some kind of explanation for this. This is no ordinary run-of-the-mill romance here."
Giles took a deep breath and said, "I have heard that there *is* something called 'The Soulmate Principle'. What it is, I really do not know because I have never done any extensive study on it. I suppose I'll do that now."
He got up and went into the stacks.
"Now that we'll have that explained, Buffy, tell me what happened last night?" Willow asked.
Buffy went over her story again.
"He actually told you he cared? How romantic!" Willow exclaimed.
Xander coughed. "Well... if he's really your type..."
Willow punched him in the arm. "Of course he is! Why would she have..." she looked over at Buffy, "That blank look on her face?"
Buffy sat there at the table with her head resting on her hand, apparently she was in a total daze.
*Oh Angel... Why?*
* * *
Angel sat on his bed, feeling the tormenting pain that her got whenever he saw Buffy. He didn't know why it happened to him. He didn't know why it had to be the Slayer. He didn't know that anything like this could happen between the Slayer and a vampire -- correction, a vampire with a soul.
Maybe it was possible, but there was absolutely no explanation for it. How could a slayer and a vampire fall in love? If there was an explanation for it, he knew, as well as she, that they could never be anything.
*I love you Buffy. I just wish I could tell you how much...*
* * *
"Earth to Buffy! Is anyone there?" Xander asked that night at The Bronze.
Buffy snapped back into reality. "Huh?"
"I can see where your mind's running off to," Willow said and smiled. "Still thinking of Angel?"
Xander got up. "I'll leave you chicks to your 'guy talk' and head over to the dance floor."
As soon as Xander left, Buffy asked, "Are you ever going to speak up?"
"Oh no, no, no, no, no," she said and shook her head. "Never. I can't. That causes *a lot* of trouble."
"If you never talk, you'll never get him."
"If I *do* talk, he'll never speak to me again."
"How do you know?"
Willow stopped. There was a long pause and then Willow said, "*You* never answered my question."
"About what?"
"Angel."
Buffy looked away. "Oh."
"Well?"
"Well... Yeah. I still think of him... Every now and then," she answered feebly.
"Every now and then? Doesn't seem like it. Twenty-four/seven seems more like it," Willow said.
"Buffy chuckled. "Maybe. You know, I have a feeling that what happened last night was..." her voice trailed off and never finished.
"Was what?"
Buffy's expression turned into a look of confusion. "I don't know. I don't know how to describe it."
"Hm."
Suddenly, the lights flickered and everything went black. Everything seemed to be silent for a moment. Then a scream broke the silence.
Immediately, and almost automatically, Buffy jumped out of her chair and started for the noise. Remembering she was in a pitch-black club, she stopped in her tracks. Her Slayer senses kicked in when an animal-like growl almost scared her.
Screams came from everywhere now. People scrambled to get out, one of them knocking her onto her back. With her agility, she flipped back onto her feet.
The growl came again.
Buffy stood her ground and listened to where the noise was coming from.
*Funny,* she thought, *the noise seemed to be coming closer.*
That was when someone --or something-- grabbed her shoulder.
It was big and hairy and it was definitely not a vampire.
The growl was coming from behind her now.
With one swift motion, she grabbed its arm and threw it over her shoulder. She heard a loud crash-- it probably landed on the bar or a table or something.
There was one problem though-- how was she going to fight this thing if she was in total darkness? Sure, her Slayer senses made her eyesight sharper, and she was able to see better in the dark, but everything was black. Maybe she would rely on her other sharpened senses again.
"Stay there!" a voice said.
*Angel.*
Buffy heard a loud crash and that inhuman growl that could only come from a vampire. Then she heard something whimper and scurry away.
The light flickered back on and the club was empty except for her. The bar was wrecked, and some tables were smashed. Most of all, there was no sign of Angel.
* * *
"So Giles, what was that thing that attacked me last night?"
"By your description, it seems to be a werewolf," Giles said.
"Those things really exist?" Xander asked.
Giles nodded.
"Vampire and werewolves... Too much like a bad horror movie for me. Then again, this is an everyday experience for all of us," Willow said. "I'll stop talking now."
"Buffy, about that 'Soulmate Principle' I was looking up for you..."
"What'd you find out Giles?" Buffy asked anxiously.
He took off his glasses and started for wipe them with his handkerchief. "Well Buffy, the 'Soulmate Principle' states that a person has only one exact match in this world, one person you are destined to be with forever. Once you find that person, you can never be apart from them again. You're complete," Giles explained. "And according from what you told me, it seems that you and Angel are in fact soulmates."
"Can you expand on that Giles? How is it possible for a vampire to have *the* Slayer for a soulmate and vice versa?" Xander asked.
"It's possible," Giles said. "It doesn't primarily have to stay in one certain race. A soulmate is someone you cannot be without. From what Buffy told me about their last meeting, it completely suffices that they are."
"So Giles, you're saying that Angel and I can never be apart? Oh yeah. I'm the Slayer, and he's the vampire. We're supposed to be *enemies* here!" Buffy shouted.
Giles blinked. "He has a soul."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Sure! That's *really* supposed to help! He's only out a night, and yeah, I'm out at night too, but I'm out there fighting an evil of some sort. A relationship based on, 'Hi sweetie, I'm going to slay some vampires tonight. Don't wait up?' I don't think so."
Willow seemed to get giddy and said, "This is so romantic!"
Giles, Xander, and Buffy look at Willow.
"Sorry."
"Buffy, so what do you plan to do now? Seeing you can't be apart from him and all?" Xander asked, almost sadly.
Buffy smiled sadly. "Stay away from him as much as I can. And if I *do* see him... I'll ignore him."
That was a lie and she knew it. How could she possibly stay away from him now that she knew he was her soulmate? It wasn't possible.
"So what about the werewolf?" Buffy asked sadly.
*Soulmates... Destined to be together forever...*
* * *
That night, Buffy patrolled The Bronze, just incase the werewolf showed up.
After two hours, she was ready to call it a night. But just when she was ready to enter The Bronze, a shuffling caught her attention.
She turned around, in fighting stance, ready to take on anything -- well, as long as it wasn't Angel.
"Are you really ready to take on me girl?" a husky voice asked. "I'm stronger than any vampire on the face of this earth."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Buffy said coldly.
"I'm giving you a chance to escape," he said and chuckled. "Those are not the type of weapons you need to take on me. You'll lose."
Buffy straightened. "If I *do* leave, how do I know you won't take advantage of the moment and attack me?"
"You have my word. And I *do* keep my promises."
* * *
Rupert Giles was staying at the library extra hours to help Buffy investigate on werewolves.
As Giles was looking through a book, an uncanny silence filled the room. He turned around and... nothing. He continued to read but then stopped again. It felt like someone was watching him. He turned around again.
"Mr. Giles," Angel said.
"Oh, it's you," Giles said nervously. "What is it you want?"
"Something happened between..." Angel's voice cracked, "Buffy and I the other night."
"Ah, so you want me to explain to you what I have already explained to Buffy, correct?"
Angel nodded. "Yes."
"It's called the 'Soulmate Principle'...."
* * *
"I never knew something evil to keep their promises," Buffy countered. "Maybe you're just scared to take on me."
The werewolf laughed. "You're too brave girl. If you want to fight me, first you have to find me. Let's play a little game..."
Buffy heard a "woosh" above her and automatically leapt onto a dumpster. It threw a metal pipe at her and she dodged it easily.
"Tougher than I thought... But not tough enough."
* * *
"As you can see, if my conclusion is correct, you and Buffy are indeed soulmates," Giles concluded.
"Are you sure?"
Giles nodded. "I'm afraid so. But, um, what is the problem with that? She knows you are a vampire."
"That -- is -- the problem," Angel said. "We can never be together. She's the Slayer, and I'm -- the vampire. It's a fact that we were born enemies."
Giles coughed. "What do you suppose to do about it then?"
"Stay away from her. That's the only way."
* * *
Buffy fought the werewolf with all her strength, but it clearly wasn't working. It was very strong and very fast. Even though she dodged its attacks with the best of her agility, she could not get a hit in.
All of a sudden, everything went quiet.
*I guess it got tired...*
Buffy turned around when she felt it. There was a stinging pain on her back. A really deep stinging pain. The werewolf had slashed her on her back!
Now, she was pissed -- really, *really* pissed.
"Where are you?" she called. "First, you ruin my night. Then you slashed me. Finally, you *ruined* my *new* shirt! You *deserve* to die."
"Really?" it said. "Why don't *you* prepare to die?"
Buffy jumped in the air, anticipating the werewolf's move. But she was off, and it whacked her down to the ground -- on her back.
"What did I tell you Slayer? I *am* stronger than you," the werewolf breathed, landing on top of her.
It was a grotesque sight indeed. The werewolf's face was a whole mass of hair and its teeth -- of God -- his teeth were larger and scarier than any vampire's. They were probably used to rip flesh right off a person's body.
His eyes were glowing yellow with triumph. It came closer, drooling and licking its teeth. Most likely, he was going to eat her.
"This will be the best meal I've had," it growled and swooped down to her throat for a bite.
Buffy closed her eyes, already feeling the pain -- but it never really came. The next thing she knew, the werewolf was no linger on top of her. Something came out of the shadows and knocked it off of her.
She got up carefully and steadily, still suffering from the slash on her back. She looked around and saw two shadows brawling a few feet in front of her.
"You stay away from her!" on of the figures shouted in a growl.
*Angel.*
"Who are you?" the werewolf asked.
"Only one of the strongest vampires on the face of the earth." A growl and a snap came next. Then a whimper and something running away.
"Are you all right?" Angel asked, coming to Buffy's side.
She turned to him. "Thanks."
"No problem," he said casually. "But are you all right?"
"What do you think?"
Buffy turned around and showed him the slash on her back. It was bleeding wildly and the five separate slashes were deep -- *very* deep. The werewolf's claws apparently ripped the flesh.
Angel put out a hand to touch one of the cuts.
Buffy gasped.
Then he felt it.
It was sort of a tugging sensation -- like something was pulling him toward her. Something he couldn't pull away from. He immediately took his hand off of her.
"Well?" she asked, her back still turned.
"It's deep," he said. "You have five slashes."
Buffy turned around, a frown on her face. "I better get back home and bandage myself up. See ya."
She turned and started to leave.
"Wait," Angel said. "Come to my home. Your cuts are deep -- you can't hide them from you mother. I'll --" he flustered for a moment, "bandage them up for you."
*I promised myself to stay away from you Buffy, but I can't. I have to help you,* Angel thought.
At the same time, Buffy was thinking, *Angel, I know I have to stay away from you, but I can't.*
"Thank you," Buffy said dazedly and followed him.
* * *
"Nice place," Buffy commented when she entered. She sat on a couch carefully. "I thought you guys --" she caught herself and realizes what she was bout to say.
"Hm?"
"-- didn't live like us," she finished unsurly.
"They don't," he said. "I do."
"Oh."
There was silence for a while.
"Um, so, are you going to fix my back up or what?"
Angel snapped out of the trance he was in. "Oh. Oh yeah. I'll be right back."
As soon as he left, Buffy let out a long-held breath.
He walked back in with a first aid kit.
"Take your jacket off..." he started, but then seemed to flush and lose his words. "Oh."
Buffy looked at him, confused for a second after taking off her jacket, but then understood. "Oh. We have a problem."
Angel's eyes darted around the room. "I'll let you do this yourself..."
"I can't," Buffy said, unconsciously, then got an idea. "Look, how about I do this."
She turned around and lifted her shirt halfway. "How's that?"
Angel's eyes ran over her damaged back. The cuts ran a little higher, but they weren't too deep.
"Maybe it would be easier if I lie down on the couch," Buffy said, not believing what she actually said. She hissed when she settled herself on the couch.
*OK, wait a minute girl, you're lying on a couch with your back turned to a gorgeous guy, not to mention that he's you soulmate...*
Buffy took in a sharp breath when Angel started washing her wounds. It was a stingy, sharp pain that she felt. But it didn't compare to the pain she felt when Angel's skin touched hers.
To make the feeling go away, she decided to start a conversation.
"How bad is it?" she asked.
"What?" he asked, mesmerized by her.
"My wounds. How bad?"
He shook his head and snapped out of it. "They're deep. It's going to take some time to heal."
"That's the advantage of being a vampire, isn't it?"
Angel chuckled. "What?"
"You guys heal pretty fast."
"Oh."
The rest of the time was silent. Angel finished bandaging her back, and Buffy rolled her shirt down.
"Thank you Angel," she said, smiling gratefully. Then she looked away. "The only problem is my mom. She's really gonna wonder about my bloody and shredded shirt."
Angel took off his black jacket and held it out to her. "Take it. You need it."
Buffy took it, looked at him for a moment then back at the jacket. She shook her head. "I can't take it."
She handed it back to him.
He took it back reluctantly, but knew exactly why.
Buffy nodded her head. "Thanks. I guess I'll see ya."
She turned around and headed for the door. Just as she was about to turn the knob on the door, Angel stopped her by putting his hand on the door.
"I really have to go."
*And I really want to stay too...* she said to herself desperately. *But I can't.*
"I know," he said. After a pause, he moved out of her way and let her out.
Buffy shut the door behind her. She didn't leave and walk away, she leaned back against the door and...
*OUCH!!!*
She really had to be more careful about her back now. But Angel...
Angel, leaning against a wall, thought about her. Why couldn't they really be together? Why did they even have to be chosen as soulmates?
* * *
"As old folklore says, werewolves can only be killed with the traditional silver bullet or anything silver. They can also be killed by fire," Giles explained to them the next day.
"Oh great. All I have to do is buy something that's pure silver for about a hundred-and-somewhat-dollars, or lead him into a fire," Buffy said. "I'll go for the fire."
"I vote for the fire too," Xander said in agreement.
"Okay, so how do I get a werewolf to walk into a fire?" Buffy asked. "Like just anyone would actually just walk into a fire? Whatever."
Everyone went silent.
A few minutes later, Willow broke the silence.
"Maybe Angel can help you?"
"Now Willow --"
"Oh no, not him again --"
"Angel?"
Willow looked at the others sheepishly. "It was just an idea..."
Giles backed her up by saying, "A very good idea in fact. Maybe he can help you."
"Am I the only one who'll stay with Buffy?" Xander asked.
"Xander, who said I wasn't going to agree? It's a great idea and all but..." Buffy's voice trailed off.
"Well, why don't you just contact him?" Willow asked unconsciously. Then she caught herself. "Oops, sorry."
Buffy shook her head. "No, no. That's okay. He saved he last night. If he didn't, I probably wouldn't be here now."
She laughed nervously.
"Now wait a minute," Xander interrupted. "When did you actually plan on telling us this?!"
Buffy cleared her throat. "I -- I didn't. But, I think you should... um, know."
Willow got all giddy again. "Did he carry you to safety? Did he fight for you? Did he kiss you to make you feel better?"
"No..." Buffy started, "But he did bandage my wounds."
She smiled sweetly.
"So, we're playing doctor with the vampire now? Wonderful," Xander commented and rolled his eyes.
"We are *not* playing doctor. He just proved to be the perfect gentleman again when he bandaged my back," Buffy explained. "He didn't even comment on anything."
Giles pushed himself back into the conversation. "What happened to you back?"
Buffy flushed. "The werewolf... It um, slashed me."
"Oh my --"
"It what?!"
"How bad?" Giles asked.
"Angel said it was pretty deep -- there are five of them."
"So much for you protector," Xander said solemnly.
Willow gave him a look. "He saved her life!"
"Well, I... um... but... uh," Xander stuttered.
Buffy, Willow, and Giles smiled.
"Forget it. I'll stop saying things now," Xander said, obviously annoyed.
Giles retorted back to the werewolf subject. "What do you propose to do about the werewolf now?"
"Kill him," Buffy said simply and got up. She winced. "Ouch!"
Everyone looked at her, concerned.
"It's nothing. Just my back."
* * *
At home that night, Buffy looked out of her window. She was in no mood to fight tonight, primarily because her back hurt. She was also in too frustrated about Angel to do anything about anything else.
She looked up at the sky.
*Hm, it's the third full moon in a row. That's weird,* she thought and looked back at the street.
She saw a shadow and automatically grabbed her jacket and went outside. It was a reflex for the Slayer.
As soon as she was outside, she stood in fighting-stance.
"Who's there?" she asked, ready to fight.
Someone came out of the shadows. And that someone was Angel.
"Oh, it's you," Buffy said, relieved. "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see..." he faltered for a moment, "...if your back is all right."
Buffy nodded. "It's fine."
There was a long silence.
"I better go now --" Angel started.
"Wait," Buffy said, interrupting him. "I want you to help me."
His eyebrows went up.
"Fighting the werewolf. I can't do this alone -- you saw what it did to me. And I can't possibly fight that with this --" she gestured to her back, "on my back."
More silence.
"So what do ya say?"
Angel fidgeted for a second. "I'll help you."
Buffy smiled. "Thank you."
There was more unsettling silence.
"Do you have a plan?" Angel asked, breaking the silence.
"Burn it," she said coldly. "The only problem is that I can't just can't lead a werewolf into flames."
"You have a point."
The silence came again.
"Angel, haven't you noticed that there's been three full moons in a row?" Buffy asked, looking towards the sky. "Doesn't that seem... weird?"
"When there's a werewolf, not really. And when we live right over the Hellmouth, anything's possible -- Boca Del Infierno," Angel said, following Buffy's gaze.
"What?"
"Boca Del Infierno. That's what they used to call this place. It means 'Hellmouth,'" Angel explained.
"Oh."
More silence.
"When are you putting this 'plan' into action?" Angel asked.
Buffy sighed. "I don't know. Whenever this werewolf plans on showing himself again, I guess. The sooner we take care of it, the less problems I have."
Angel chuckled and glanced at her.
*She really is beautiful,* Angel thought, observing Buffy in the moonlight. The light was shining on her silky mane of hair, and she looked like an angel sent from Heaven to save him. Angel -- how ironic.
Someone stepped up behind them.
Buffy and Angel turned around to find a boy about Buffy's age standing behind them. He was good-looking. He had dark, midnight black hair and bluish-gray eyes. The boy was taller than Buffy, almost Angel's height. He looked well built, but there was an uncanny air around him. He seemed weird.
"Who are you?" Buffy asked.
"You should know. I go to your school."
"Sunnydale High? I'm sorry, but I'm kinda new there."
"You should know at least some of the basketball team. You're so popular and pretty and all..."
Buffy blinked. Hasn't she seen him somewhere before? He *did* seem a little familiar.
*And what was he doing here near ten o'clock at night?* she thought.
"I'm flattered," Buffy said truthfully. "But who *are* you?"
He stuck out his hand. "Anthony Madison, and you're Buffy. Buffy Summers. Pretty name."
*What a flirt,* Buffy thought. *Angel's here too.*
"Who's your friend?" Anthony asked, looking over Angel.
"Oh, this is my um, friend, Angel," she said, introducing the two.
"Hi," Angel said sternly.
"Hey," Anthony said. His attention went back to Buffy. "I have something to show you. It's near the cemetery."
Bells went off in Buffy's head.
Buffy gave him a blank look. "What is it?"
He grinned. "A surprise."
He held out his hand.
Buffy looked over at Angel. He nodded, which meant she should go and that he would be following them, watching her back. Then she reluctantly took Anthony's hand and he led her towards the cemetery.
* * *
"So Buffy, I was wondering, if maybe we could go out one night," Anthony said. "Of course, that is if you're free and all."
She gave him a quizzical look. "I don't even know you."
"Really?" he said and grinned.
"Yeah. I mean, there's Angel and all..."
"You and that guy Angel?" he asked, frowning. "He doesn't go to our school."
Buffy smiled. "Is that some kind of sin or something? He's a -- college student. He goes to -- the Community College. It's his first year."
"Where'd you meet him?" he asked.
Buffy paused for a moment, thinking of what to say. Then she answered with, "The Bronze. We talked."
*Well, that was true.*
"Nice."
The went on walking in silence for the rest of the trip.
A bad feeling came over Buffy when they reached the cemetery. Her Slayer senses instantly kicked in and she became more alert.
"It's a beautiful moon out tonight, don't you think?" Anthony asked, looking to the sky.
"I like half-moons myself," Buffy mumbled. "So what's my surprise?"
He chuckled. "I have a secret to tell the almighty powerful Slayer."
"Hey! How did you know --?"
He smiled then, and saw ivory-like teeth glitter in the moonlight.
"I know many things Buffy," he said in a weird voice. It didn't sound like Anthony anymore. "I know you've killed many things --*evil* things-- with your new-found powers. But lately, there has been something you couldn't just fight and defeat."
"How do you know these things?" Buffy asked in disbelief.
"Because..." Anthony started and then his face morphed into that of a wolf. "I am that thing."
Buffy screamed and called out, "Angel!"
"Shut up," it said hand grabbed her by the neck. It licked its teeth and was breathing heavily. "You're finished."
Buffy gave him a sweet smile. "Oh really? You know, drooling all over your dinner's bad manners."
She took her legs and rammed them into the werewolf's stomach. As it doubled over in pain, she took it's arms and threw the werewolf over her shoulder. It broke a few gravestones as it landed.
"Well, then again, I'm not exactly dinner. I'm just a pretty girl."
The werewolf growled and ran to ram her.
Buffy looked up and jumped to hang on a tree branch just in time to dodge its attack. Then she positioned herself on the branch and looked down at the werewolf.
"I see you don't take rejection very well," she said. "Is this what you do to every girl that does?"
It went to bite off the branch, but Buffy was simply faster. She jumped on its head as the branch cracked, and she landed on the ground on both feet, standing in fighting-stance.
"You know, I really didn't feel like fighting anything tonight. But nooo. *You* have to come along."
It growled and went for her again, but Buffy dodged the attack -- again.
*Angel, where are you?*
"Buffy!" Angel called and threw her a torch.
Buffy caught the torch successfully and mumbled, "Talk about Gothic-like."
The werewolf back off -- just a little.
"Now, I do have something to fight you with and defeat you for good."
The werewolf lunged at her to bite her hand off, but Buffy dodged it and the fire caught on the werewolf instead.
It howled and stepped back.
Buffy threw the torch at it and it went up in flames.
She watched in wonder as the fire consumed the werewolf -- Anthony. She expected it to run, but it didn't. It just stood there, accepting the fact that it was beaten.
"It's last words were, "You really *are* the Slayer."
Then it went up in flames and then -- disappeared.
* * *
"You actually did it?" Willow asked the next day at school.
"Yeah. With Angel's help," Buffy answered, smiling.
Xander sighed. "Angel -- does he always have to show up?"
"But it's a good thing he does. I'd have probably died if he didn't," Buffy said. "Besides, he is my soulmate."
* * *
That night at The Bronze, Buffy sat at the table with Willow and Xander in her own little world again. Of course, she was obviously thinking about Angel.
"Does she ever stop thinking of the guy?" Xander whispered to Willow.
"No."
"Oh."
Buffy sighed and said, "I'm outtie. I'm kinda tired tonight. See ya."
Xander stepped up to her to stop her. "But Buff, it's *Friday*. You have the whole weekend to sleep. C'mon, let's dance."
She pushed him out of the way. "Sorry Xander. I *really* need some sleep. The last few days have been hell."
She got up and left.
Outside, Buffy shivered. She should've worn her jacket. She didn't know why she walked out of the house without it. Really, she was wearing a thin-strapped silver satin short dress, which covered her back so no one could see the bandages. Of course, like always --well, *almost* always-- she was wearing the silver cross Angel gave her.
She sighed and walked on.
He Slayer senses suddenly kicked in. She felt someone following her. She stopped dead in her tracks.
"You know, I am *really* not in the mood to fight tonight, and sure *you* have to come along and make my week end on a *bad* note. So why don't you just come out of the shadows so we can just get this over with," Buffy said, exasperated.
She turned around and he scared her half to death.
"Hey," Angel said.
Buffy kept her face straight and said, "Hi."
"I just wanted to..." Angel began but never finished.
She nodded. "Thought so. See ya."
She turned on her heel started to leave.
"Giles... He told me everything. I know," Angel said and Buffy turned around.
She walked back reluctantly. "So... You know. What's it to you?" she asked, trying not to bust out right there.
Angel swallowed, hard. "Can I... take you somewhere?"
She blinked. "I really don't know."
"Please," he pleaded.
Buffy nodded. "OK."
Angel picked up a faster pace in front of Buffy. She followed him, running.
"Where are we going?" she called.
"You'll see," he said.
They ended up on a cliff overlooking the whole of Sunnydale. It was beautiful.
"Wow," Buffy breathed as soon as they go there. "How'd you find this place?"
"I come up here every now and then. It's a good place to stay away from danger."
Buffy giggled. "Really. I should come her often."
Angel grinned in answer.
"So what is it you took me up here for?" she asked.
He looked down. "Giles told me."
"I know that. You told me already."
"It's just that. I don't know what to do," he said, looking up, his eyes looking watery.
Buffy was tempted to break out right there. She didn't know what she wanted to so. At first, she wanted to cry. Then, she just wanted to run away. But most of all, she wanted to hold him and tell him she felt the same way. The only problem was that she couldn't.
"Me too," she said in a shaky voice.
They stood facing eachother, looking desperately into eachother's eyes, looking for and answer. But they found none. There was none. Nothing at all.
The next thing they knew, they were holding eachother, Buffy crying hysterically.
"There's no way I can live like this," Buffy whispered.
"I know what you mean," Angel whispered back, feeling her silky hair against his cheek. "You know, you look like a witch."
This was definitely *not* the moment to laugh, but Buffy had to. It was uncontrollable.
"What makes you say that?" she asked, lifting a tear-streaked face up at him.
"Back then, all the way in the 1800s, there were covens of witches --"
"Like the one I fought?"
He smiled. "No."
"Go on."
"They were circles. There was the bad, and there was the good. They wore long, silver dresses --the good ones-- like yours. When they danced, they danced in the moonlight. Their hair shone in the moonlight. You look like them. Just more beautiful," he said and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.
She closed her eyes and held him again.
"It must be wonderful to know all these things. I wish I could've been there to see them with you."
"Me too Buffy. Me too," he whispered back in a choked voice.
It was the first time she'd actually ever heard him say her name. She felt at peace when he did say it. It was like something snapped into place.
"You know, sometimes I really do wish I was human again. Just for once -- to be with you. To spend a day with you at least. To see the sunrise -- just once. That's all I ask. I want to see the sun again," he told her. He was almost at his own breaking point.
"One day you will. I *know* it. And when that day comes, you'll be able to see the sun again and --"
He looked at her. "To be with you."
There was a *very* long silence then.
"Soulmates, huh?" Buffy stated. "Destined for eachother."
Their faces were only inches apart. Someone leaned forward and filled in those inches with a kiss.
Buffy didn't know how long they were in that position, but after the kiss, they went right on holding eachother. It seemed to last forever, and Buffy didn't want it to end.
"One day -- that's all," Angel whispered. He seemed to be wishing for it -- badly.
Buffy closed her eyes and began to cry again.
"I love you... Angel."
"I love you too, Buffy."
This time Buffy pulled back. It took all her courage and strength to so and it brought back the pain. Her eyes were still wet.
In a choked whisper, she said, "We can't be -- like this."
That was the truth. She knew it and he knew it.
He nodded sadly. "I know."
It was hard to tear their eyes off eachother, but the eventually did it and it hurt both.
"I have to go," Angel said, looking up at the almost-dawn sky. He took her hand and kissed it. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye Angel," Buffy said in a steady voice.
Of course, this wasn't their final 'goodbye,' but this one hurt more than the first. She knew that there would be a long period of time before they saw eachother again. They couldn't stay together for long, because it was too dangerous for them.
Angel walked away, and Buffy watched. He didn't turn back -- not even once. And in all that time, Buffy just stood there, feeling a deep pain in her heart.
Tears were still rolling down her face when he disappeared, and when the last tear hit the ground, the dark sky began to fill in with the rays of the sun, which was rising behind her.
The End
So, how'd ya like it? Maybe a little too mushy, huh? Well, I'll try not to make my next story *that* mushy. Stay tuned
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
