3rd Person's POV

Cordelia swings the door to her locker open as Xander stands behind her.

"So... Buffy's party. Mañana."

"Well, just because she's Miss Save-The-World and everything, you have to make a big deal? I have to cook! And everything."

Xander frowns, "You're cooking?"

Cordelia shrugs fixing her lipgloss, "Well, I'm chips and dips girl."

Xander gasps, "Horrors! All that opening and stirring."

"And shopping and carrying."

"Well, then you should have a person who does such things for you." He says as he steps closer behind her.

Cordelia nods not knowing that Xander had been talking about himself, "Well, that's what I've been saying to my father, but does he listen?"

"Um, so, uh... You're going, and, and, and I'm going. Should... we maybe... go?"

Cordelia freezes. They still hadn't told Laney about whatever the heck was happening between the two of them and now he wanted to show up together.

"Why?"

"I dunno. This... thing with us, despite our better judgment, it keeps happening. Maybe we should just admit that we're dating."

Cordelia slams her locker closed and turns around lightly pushing Xander far away from her, "Groping in a broom closet isn't dating. You don't call it a date until the guy spends money."

"Fine. I'll spend, then we'll grope. Whatever. I just think it's some kind of whacked that we feel we have to hide it from all our friends... especially you know who."

"Well, of course you wanna tell everybody. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I, on the other hand, have everything to be ashamed of."

Xander scoffs, "You know what? 'Nuff said. Forget it. It must've been my multiple-personality guy talking. I call him Idiot Jed, glutton for punishment."

He looks at her and exhales, then turns and walks off.

...

In Ms. Calendar's classroom, she walks to her desk with an arm full of papers. She sets down her mug and a couple of other things and begins to go through them. Behind her a man in a dark suit and hat approaches her. He stops and looks at her.

Enyos, "Jenny Calendar."

Jenny spins around, startled. She stares at him in surprise, "You startled me."

"You look well." Enyos steps up to her desk.

"Yes, I'm fine." She goes around her desk, "I know I haven't written as much lately. I've been busy."

"I cannot imagine what is so important to make you ignore the responsibility to your people."

"Well, I've been working and..."

Enyos interrupts her shaking his head, "The elder woman has been reading signs. Something is different."

Jenny frowns, "Nothing has changed. The curse still holds."

"The elder woman is never wrong. She says his pain is lessening. She can feel it."

Jenny curses looking down, "There is..."

Enyos frowns, "There is what?"

Jenny looks up, "A girl... well two-"

Enyos exhales in disgust, "What? How could you let this happen?"

"I promise you. Angel still suffers. And he makes amends for his evil. He even saved my life."

"So you just forget that he destroyed the most beloved daughter of your tribe?! That he killed every man, woman and child that touched her life?! Vengeance demands that his pain be eternal as ours is! If this, these girls gives him one minute of happiness, it is one minute too much!"

"I'm sorry. I thought..."

Enyos glares, "You thought what?! You thought you are Jenny Calendar now?! You are still Janna, of the Kalderash people! A Gypsy."

"I know... Uncle. I know."

Enyos sighs with a slight nod, "Then prove it. Your time for watching is past. The girl and him, it ends now! Do what you must to take her from him!"

Jenny nods firmly, "I will see to it."

...

Buffy sits in the library at the table while Giles paces behind her. She proceeds to tell him about the creepy nightmare that she had and how it was slowly coming to fruition.

"...and then my mom broke the plate. It was just like my dream. Every gesture, every word." She looks up at him, "It was so creepy."

"Yes, well, I-I-I'd imagine it would be... fairly unnerving." Giles sits on the end of the table.

Laney, Xander, and Willow come bounding in.

"Hey! It's the woman of the hour." Xander says.

"Happy Birthday Buffy!" Willow and Laney both yell as they walk over to the table.

Willow hugs Buffy's shoulders and gives her a big smile. She lets go and goes around to the other side of the table with Xander as Laney sits on the table. Buffy just looks down and pulls her hair behind her ear.

"Not Happy Birthday Buffy?" Laney frowns noticing the atmosphere around the girl.

Giles clears his throat, "I-it's just that, um, part of the nightmare that Buffy had the other night actually transpired."

Buffy frowns, "Which means Drusilla might still be alive. Giles, in my dream, and  I-I couldn't stop her. She blindsided me... A-Angel was gone before I knew what happened."

"Even if she is alive, uh, we can still protect Angel. Dreams aren't prophecies, Buffy. Y-y-y-you dreamt that the Master had risen, but you stopped it from happening."

Xander nods, "You ground his bones to make your bread."

"Ew..."

Buffy sighs in relief, "That's true. Except for the bread part," She turns to Giles and grimaces, "Okay, so, fine. We're one step ahead, but I wanna stay that way."

"Absolutely." Giles nods as he stands up, "Let me read up on Drusilla, uh, see if she has any particular patterns..." he starts toward his office, "Why don't you meet me here at 7:00? We'll map out a strategy."

Buffy sighs looking at the others as they all suddenly become super interested in their hands and books lying around, "Ugh well... What am I supposed to do until then?"

"Go to classes, do your homework, have supper..."

"Right. Be that Buffy."

Laney shrugs, "You wanted to be normal for a day... have fun."

Buffy sticks her tongue out at Laney and gets up from the table, grabbing her bag. She says bye to everyone before heading out of the library.

Xander frowns pointing as Buffy leaves, "Well, that's not a perky birthday puppy."

Willow sighs, "So much for our surprise party. I bought little hats and everything."

"I bought balloons and tiny cookies."

Xander pursued his lips, "I was gonna bring myself."

Laney slaps him across the back of his head, "Nobody wants that."

Willow smiles before shrugging, "Oh, well. I guess I'll tell Cordelia."

As she starts to go, Giles drops his book and shakes his head, "No, you won't. We're having a party tonight."

Xander stares at Giles blankly, "Looks like Mr. Caution Man, but the sound he makes is funny."

"No literally... who are you?"

Willow frowns and nods in agreement with Laney.

"Buffy's surprise party will go ahead as we planned. Except I won't be wearing the little hat."

"But Buffy and Angel..."

Giles holds up his hand halting Willow from continuing on, "May well be in danger... as they have been before, and, I
imagine, will be again. One thing I've learned in my tenure here on the Hellmouth is that there is no good time to relax. And Buffy's turning 17 just this once, and she deserves a party."

"You're a great man of our time." Xander cheers.

Willow smiles, "And anyway, Angel's coming. So she'll be able to protect him and have cake."

"Precisely."

...

Later that night, Buffy comes walking down the hallway getting closer and closer to the library. Jenny sees her and quickly catches up.

"Buffy."

Buffy jumps startled, "Oh, my God, I didn't see you there."

Jenny smiles, "Sorry. Um, Giles wanted me to tell you that there's been a change of plans. Uh, he wants to meet you someplace near his house 'cause he had to run home and get a book or something."

Buffy rolls her eyes, "'Cause heaven knows there aren't enough books in the library."

Jenny nods with a shrug, "Uh, he's... very thorough."

"Oh, which is not to bag. It's kind of manly in an obsessive-compulsive kind of way, don't you think?"

"Mm-hm. Um, you know, my car's here. Why don't I drive you?"

Buffy shrugs, "Okay."

She starts out to the parking lot. Jenny watches her go a few steps and then follows.

After a couple minutes, Jenny's beetle rolls slowly along as they pull beside an alleyway outside the Bronze.

"Are we goin' to the Bronze?"

"I'm not sure. Giles gave me an address. I'm just following his directions." Jenny says nervously.

They round a corner, and Buffy sees something going on.

"This looks funky. Stop for a sec."

A truck is parked in an adjacent loading area. A man jumps off of the truck bed while another walks across the loading dock.

Jenny frowns, "No, Buffy, maybe you shouldn't."

"Sorry. Sacred duty, yada yada yada." Buffy gets out of the car and goes to investigate.

Jenny sighs, "What is this?"

Buffy walks up and stops by the cab. She sees Dalton carrying a wooden box.

"Every time I see you, you're stealing something."

Dalton growls.

"You really should speak with someone about this klepto issue."

The truck's engine starts. Buffy turns and reaches for the door handle.

Dalton makes a hasty escape. The truck door swings open before Buffy can reach it, and a vampire kicks out at her, hitting her in the arm, but not hard. She grabs for him and pulls him out of the cab and onto the ground.

Dalton lifts the box onto the back of the truck. The vampire gets up from the pavement, and Buffy punches him, knocking him back down again. She backs up toward the truck to get around him, but a third vampire standing in the bed grabs her by the jacket and lifts her up. He gets her in a full Nelson hold. She pushes him back into a large box. He is stunned and lets go of his hold. She snaps her head back and butts him hard.

The other vampire has climbed onto the truck bed also and comes at her. She punches him, turns and punches the one behind her, turns and punches the other one again, then kicks him in the chest, making him fall and roll over a crate. She blocks a swing from the one behind her, grabs his arm and shoves his head into the crate.

Inside the Bronze, Angel peeks out from behind a pillar and looks around.

"Where is she?"

The others peek out from behind the pool table and look up at him.

"Shhh! I think I hear her coming." Willow smiles as she glances over at Oz who shrugs with a smile.

Buffy punches one of the wooden bed retainers and breaks off a piece. She jams it into one of the vampires' chests, and he bursts into ashes. The other grabs her from behind, lifts her up and carries her onto the loading dock. He throws her at a door. She hits it and rolls away.

The gang hears the fighting going on outside and looks toward a window. Within seconds, Buffy and the vampire come crashing through the building and hit the floor. Everyone gets up to look.

Buffy scrambles to her feet and kicks the vampire as he comes for her. He stumbles back a few steps. The others come closer to see. Buffy grabs a drumstick from a drum set, spins around with it, thrusts it into the vampire's chest and pulls it back out. The vampire explodes into ashes. Oz watches in astonishment. Cordelia jumps up from behind the pool table with her arms raised high.

"Surprise!"

The others all look back at her.

Oz nods, "That pretty much sums it up."

Buffy hops down from the stage. Angel goes over to her. Cordelia lowers her arms. Laney pats Cordelia's arm.

"You did good..."

"Buffy, are you okay?" Angel asks looking for any injuries on her body.

Giles steps forward, "Yes. W-what happened?"

Buffy points behind her, "Uh, there were these vamps outs..." She freezes looking around, "W-what's going on?"

"Oh, um... A surprise party." Giles blows on a party favor.

Cordelia and Laney say in unison as they hold a cake together, "Happy Birthday."

Buffy smiles, "You guys did all this for me?" Turning to Angel she grins, "That is so sweet."

Angel frowns, "You sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

Willow grimaces as she looks at Oz, "Are you okay?"

Oz shrugs, "Yeah. Hey, did everybody see that guy just turn to dust?"

Laney smiles reassuringly, "That's what I said the first time I saw this."

Xander nods nonchalantly, "Yep. Vampires are real. A lot of them live in Sunnydale." He gestures between Willow and Oz, "Willow will fill you in."

He walks off as Willow sighs, "I know it's hard to accept at first."

Oz shakes her head, "Actually, it explains a lot."

Jenny comes into the Bronze carrying Dalton's box.

"Hey, can somebody give me a hand here?"

Angel and Giles take it from her and set it on a table.

"Those creeps left this behind."

Buffy frowns looking at the box, "What is it?"

Giles inspects the box, "I have no idea. Can, can it be opened?"

Buffy nods looking at it all around, "Yeah. This looks like a release right here."

She works the latch and opens the box. Inside is an arm clad in armor. Buffy looks over at Giles in disgust. Suddenly the arm raises up, grabs

Buffy by the throat and begins choking her.
She struggles with the arm as Angel quickly realizes what was happening. He tries to pull it off of her but it's grip was super tight. Between them they get it off, and Angel stuffs it back into the box while Buffy steps back and tries to catch her breath. Giles slams the lid shut. Buffy coughs as Angel helps her aside.

Xander jokes, "Well, clearly the Hellmouth's answer to 'what do you get the Slayer who has everything?'"

"Good heavens. Buffy, are you all right?"

Buffy leave against Angel as she rubs her throat, "Man, that thing had major grip."

Willow frowns looking at the box nervously, "W-what was that?"

"It looked like an arm." Oz replies.

Angel stares at the box in shock and worry and slight fear, "It can't be. She wouldn't."

Xander frowns confused, "What, uh, vamp's version of 'snakes in a can', or do you care to share?"

"Angel?"

"It-it's a legend..." Angel replies as Giles looks at the box closer, "way before my time... of a demon brought forth to rid the Earth of the plague of humanity... separate the righteous from the wicked... and to burn the righteous down. They call him the Judge."

"The Judge? This is he?" Giles asks.

Angel shakes his head, "Not all of him."

Buffy stands raising her hand, "Um, still needing backstory here."

"Um... He, he, he couldn't be killed, yes? Um, a-an army was sent against him. Most of them died... but, uh, finally they were able to dismember him, but, uh... not kill him."

Angel nods, "The pieces were scattered... buried in every corner of the Earth."

Jenny nods with a grim look, "So all these parts are being brought here."

Buffy sighs, "By Drusilla. The vamps outside were Spike's men."

"She's just crazy enough to do it." Angel glares at the box.

Willow bites her lip looking at the group in worry, "Do what, reassemble the Judge?"

"And bring forth Armageddon."

"Is anybody else gonna have cake?" Cordelia asks as she goes to the pool table.

Laney shrugs and follows her, "I'm down."

Giles huffs as he starts to pace around, "We need to get this out of town."

"Angel." Jenny states staring at him as he stares at the box.

Buffy frowns, "What?"

"You have to do it. You're the only one that can protect this thing."

Buffy scoffs, "Well... What about me?"

"What, you're just gonna skip town for a few months?"

"Months?"

Angel nods not even second guessing, "She's right. I gotta get this to the remotest region possible."

"But that's not months."

Angel gestures grandly, "I gotta catch a cargo ship to Asia, maybe trek to Nepal..."

"Whoa what?" Laney says as she drops a fork of cake from her mouth.

"You know, those newfangled flying machines really are much safer than they used to be." Buffy replies.

"I can't fly. There's no sure way to guard against the daylight." Seeing the look on her face, Angel sighs, "I-I-I don't like this any more than you do, Buffy. But there's no other choice."

"When?"

"Tonight. As soon as possible."

"But it's my birthday."

Laney groans, "Girl it's gonna be your last birthday if we don't get that arm outta here."

Buffy stares at her not amused.

"I'm just trying to help you." Laney shrugs once again eating her slice of cake.

Jenny comes over to the two and frowns, "I'll drive you to the docks.

...

In Spike's warehouse, Drusilla is confronting Dalton. He has his eyes lowered in shame.

"You lost it? You... lost my present." Drusilla stares angrily.

Dalton frowns, "I know. I'm sorry."

Spike sighs as he sits in a wheelchair still injured from when he tried to run with Dru in the church.

"It was a bad turn, man. She can't have her fun without the box."

Dalton nods, "The Slayer. She came out of nowhere. I didn't even see her. She-"

Drusilla cuts him off by putting her finger to his lips. She stares into his eyes. She lifts off his glasses and drops them to the floor. She stomps on them and grinds them into the concrete. She lifts her head with her eyes closed.

"Make a wish."

Dalton stares confused, "What?"

She holds two fingers up to his eyes, "I'm going to blow out the candles."

Spike rolls his eyes used to Dru's dramatics, "You might give him a chance to find your lost treasure. He is a wanker, but he's the only one we've got with half a brain. If he fails, you can eat his eyes out of the sockets for all I care."

"I'll get it. Please. I swear."

Drusilla thrusts both hands at him and pulls them back at the last instant and up into raised fists, and smiles at him evilly. She bends down and picks up his glasses.

"Okay."

She unfolds them and sets them back on his nose.

"Hurry back then..." She pats his head and steps over to Spike sitting in his lap. Dalton breathes a sigh of relief and leaves to begin his task.

...

Giles is researching the Judge in the library. He looks up from his books and frowns looking at Willow.

"Where did Laney go?"

Willow shrugs, "I don't know, she was just here a second ago. She probably went to go get a snack."

Giles nods then glances at the clock, "They should be back by now."

"Maybe Buffy needed a few minutes to pull herself together. Poor Buffy, on her birthday and everything."

Xander nods getting up, "Hmm, it's sad, granted. But let's look at the upside for a moment. I mean, what kind of a future would she've really had with him?" Willow looks sadly up at him, "She's got 2 jobs-- Denny's waitress by day," Giles looks up, too, "Slayer by night-- and Angel's always in front of the TV with a big blood belly, and he's dreamin' of the glory days when Buffy still thought this whole creature of the night routine was a big turnon."

Willow frowns in slight discomfort, "You've thought way too much about this."

"No, no. That's just the beginning. Have I told you the part where I fly into town in my private jet and take Buffy out for prime rib?"

Willow sees Buffy come in, "Xander..."

"And she cries?"

Giles stands up quickly, "What happened?"

"Dru's guys ambushed us. They got the box." Buffy huffs crossing her arms over her chest.

"Where's Jenny?"

Buffy nods towards the door, "Uh, with Laney. They took Angel to get clothing. I, I had some here."

Xander looks at Buffy confused, "And we needed clothes because..."

"We got wet. Giles, what do we know?"

Giles sighs fixing his glasses, "The more I study the Judge, the less I like him. His touch can literally burn the humanity out of you. A true creature of evil can survive the process. No human ever has."

"What's the problem? We send Cordy to fight this guy, and we go for pizza." Xander smiles at his own joke.

"Can this guy be stopped? Without an army?"

Giles looks away from Buffy and reads, "Um, 'no w*apon forged can kill him.' Not very encouraging. If we could only stop them from assembling him."

Buffy nods, "We need to find his weak spots, and we need to figure out where they'd be keeping him."

"This could take time."

Willow nods looking towards Xander, "Better do a round robin. Xander, you go first."

Buffy agrees, "Good call."

Xander heads for the phone.

Giles looks at the trio confused, "Round robin?"

Willow smiles, "It's when everybody calls everybody else's mom and tells them they're staying at everyone's house."

"Thus freeing us up for world saveage."

"And all-night keggers!" Willow frowns as she receives a look from Buffy and Giles, "What, only Xander gets to make dumb jokes?"

...

Laney glances down at her phone as it vibrates on the table. She picks it up and sees Angel's name on it making her glance around at everybody else. They all seemed to be into their researching, so she decided to take one for the team and figure out what was wrong alone.

Quickly getting up and leaving the library, Laney walks through the halls as she messages Angel back.

'What's up? Something wrong?'

'Very. We were ambushed.'

'Shit. I'll let the others know.'

'Before doing that, do you think there's any clothes around?'

Laney frowns in question then thinks for a moment.

'I don't know. I'll check.'

Quickly making her way towards the gym, she runs into Jenny who smiles at her nicely.

"Hey you guys still nose first in the books?"

"Yeah they are. I'm trying to find clothes for Angel. Apparently they were ambushed. However I don't see what that would have to do with clothes."

Jenny nods then looks past Laney and drops her mouth slightly in shock, "I do."

Laney turns around and stares in surprise, "What the heck happened to you guys?"

Buffy sighs, "Went for a swim. I'm gonna go tell the others what's going on. But first I really need to change, it feels like a fish is somewhere it shouldn't be."

Laney grimaces while watching Buffy swiftly move past her into the locker room, "Ew."

Jenny claps her hands together and heads towards the gym supply closet, "Okay I'm going to see if there's anything in the supply closet. You two stay."

Jenny disappears in the darkness of the hallway as Laney pulls Angel's hand and takes him into the guys locker room.

Laney let's go of his hand and walks around finding a fresh towel. She walks back over to Angel as he sits on a bench nearby and hands the towel to him.

"Are you okay?"

Angel nods with a small smile, "Just fine, Laney. Don't worry."

Laney scoffs, "I wasn't worrying. Just making sure you're okay for Buffy's sake. The girl would be a mess with you."

Angel chuckles, "I know. Wait you wouldn't be a mess without me."

Laney smirks shaking her head, "You wish."

"Hey uh... I know it's Buffy's birthday but I was thinking about this when I was trying to figure out what to get her. And I realized that I wanted to give you something."

Angel digs into his pocket and pulls out a silver necklace. The engravings on the necklace were very intricate and detailed.

Laney stares at the jewelry in awe, "Wow... It's beautiful."

Angel clears his throat and stands up walking behind Laney as he unclamps the necklace.

"My people -- before I was changed -- they exchanged this as a sign of devotion. It's a claddagh ring. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty... and the heart love... but in a-"

Laney giggles, "Totally platonic way."

"Very."

"Got it... thanks Angel. That's so sweet. See I told you we would be best friends forever."

Angel chuckles clasping the necklace onto Laney before moving away. Jenny who had been hiding listening to the whole conversation frowns. She knew something bad would happen soon just as she was warned. Angel was happy... too happy.

And it was mostly Laney's fault.

...

Buffy comes striding out of the cage of books and weapons as Angel and Laney follow Jenny into the library. Giles looks down at them from the stacks.

"I think I know where Spike and Drusilla are."

Giles comes down the stairs and stares at Buffy, "That's very good, however, you, you do need a plan. I-I know you're concerned, Buffy, but you can't just go off half-cocked."

"Hehe cocked... ouch..." Laney glares at Angel as she holds her arm.

Buffy clears her throat, "I have a plan. Angel and I go to the factory and do recon, figure out how far they've gotten assembling the Judge. You guys check any places the boxes could be coming into town. Shipping yards, airports, anything. We need to stop them from getting all the boxes in one place."

"Yes. Yes, well, um, actually, that's quite a good plan."

"Eh... I'd say 75/25 we'd win."

Buffy sighs rolling her eyes, "This thing is nasty, and it's real, Giles. We can't wait for it to come get us."

"Right."

Buffy grabs her bag, and she and Angel make tracks for the door.

"Be careful."

...

Buffy and Angel sneak quietly along the upper level of Spike's warehouse. They look down at the party going on below. Sneakily they walk to the railing.

"I saw this..." Buffy whispers, "The party."

They see the Judge walk into view flanked by Spike with Drusilla following. The Judge stops and senses something.

Spike frowns looking at the Judge, "What? What is it?"

The Judge looks around, then up at Buffy and Angel and growls.

Angel curses, "We gotta get outta here."

They try to make a run for it, but there are vampires heading them off on both sides. The two are quickly yet not shockingly, captured.

Buffy and Angel are brought before Spike, Drusilla and the Judge.

Spike chuckles, "Well, well. Look what we have here. Crashers."

Buffy glares, "I'm sure our invitations just got lost in the mail."

Drusilla licks her fingers staring at Angel, "It's delicious... I only dreamed you'd come. Rrrr."

Angel struggles as Dru walks closer to Buffy, "Leave her alone."

"Yeah, that'll work. Now say 'pretty please'." Spike smiles jokingly.

Judge stares blankly, "The girl."

Drusilla gasps, "Chilling, isn't it? She's so full of good intention."

Angel gets himself between the Judge and Buffy.

"Take me!"

"No!" Buffy shouts.

"Take me instead of her!"

Spike raises his hand, "Uh, you're not clear on the concept, pal. There is no instead. Just first and second."

"And if you go first, you don't get to watch the Slayer die."

Angel's captors pull him back. The Judge reaches for Buffy. Angel looks up and around for a way out of this. Drusilla wraps her arms around Spike and smiles. Angel freezes and thanks his lucky stars. He sees Laney hidden up on the railing holding onto chains that were holding up Spike's video monitors, which so happened to be right between the Judge and the others. He makes eye contact with Laney and sees her nod as if saying get ready. He turns to see Buffy getting ready to defend herself.

"Don't touch him!" Angel barks out just as Buffy kicks the Judge in the chest and knocks him back.

Laney shakes her head rolling her eyes seeing Buffy hold her leg. Did the girl forget that the Judge harnesses too much power and evidently pushes back out negative energy towards his enemies when they touch him. Guess Laney would have to save the day once again.

Angel shakes off his captors as Laney drops the chains. The Judge comes to a stop beneath the monitors as they crash to the floor on top of the Judge. The crash was hard enough to knock a hole in the floor.

"Up there you nitwits! Go!" Spike orders as he sees the Slayerette once again here to save the day. The girl had gotten on his nerves but he couldn't help but be slightly impressed she continued to hold her own.

Laney quickly leaps over the railing and lands beside Angel squatting with one leg slide out to the side. Her head snaps up as her hair flings over her shoulder.

"Ew did I just do a freaking superhero landing?" Laney stands up and shivers as she shakes her head, "Never again."

Buffy struggles free and runs to Angel and Laney. She sees the hole in the floor.

"This way!"

They go to the hole, and jump down into the sewers below. Buffy rolls away from the hole, and Angel drops down behind her. Laney groans looking down at the nasty water.

"Um I'll find another way."

Hearing gaining footsteps behind them, Laney curses. Angel shakes his head and holds out his hand.

"Yeah no I don't think so."

Laney pouts then jumps down. Angel catches her by the waist and let's go as she gets onto her feet. Buffy watches the two feeling her little jealousy monster come out, but she quickly shakes her head and remembers that Angel was her boyfriend.

The three get to their feet and start down the tunnels. Back inside the warehouse, Drusilla gives the order to pursue.

"Go!"

Two vampires rush to give chase. Buffy pulls a door closed behind them as their two pursuers drop through the hole and start after them. They look around to see where they went, but don't see anyone. They start down the tunnel, checking the side tunnels as they go, and continue past the door. When they've gone by Buffy opens the door and checks if the coast is clear. Seeing no one she steps over to a ladder and starts up.

She lifts a manhole cover up, pushes it aside and quickly climbs out into the pouring rain. Laney follows right behind then Angel.

"Come on. We need to get inside."

Angel opens the door to his apartment, and they all gather in. He turns on the light as Buffy closes the door behind them. He takes off his heavy coat and lays it aside. Buffy is soaked through to her skin without a coat or jacket.

Angel frowns, "You're shaking like a leaf."

Buffy nods, "Cold."

Angel sighs looking around, "Let me get you something."

He gets some things from his armoire and hands them to her.

"Put these on. Get under the covers, just to warm up."

Buffy walks over to his bed and sits down. She looks up at him. He faces away to give her privacy.

"Sorry."

Laney pursues her lips and peeks at Buffy as she changes then looks away awkwardly. She felt the tension between the two and wanted to be anywhere else but there.

"Um sorry to ruin the moment y'all are having. But I'd rather be anywhere but here right now. So I think I'm gonna run home and hope I don't get caught." Laney starts to move towards the door as Angel side steps her making her freeze.

Buffy nods slowly not realizing that Angel was blocking Laney's way out, "Okay be safe."

Angel frowns shaking his head immediately, "Absolutely not. I'll walk you home."

"What?" Both girls say then look at one another before frowning and looking away once again.

"Drusilla and Spike's guys are still out there. The judge could be roaming around. I'm not taking any chances of you possibly being caught."

Laney scoffs with a playful smile, "I can take care of myself, Angel."

"I know you can. But it'd make me feel better if I saw you home."

Laney sighs as Buffy shakes her head behind Angel. She looks at his almost pleading eyes and groans.

"Ugh fine. But hurry up. I would like to be in my bed before 1am."

Angel nods and turns to Buffy, "You stay here. I'll be right back."

Buffy groans in annoyance as she watches the two leave the room.

...

Laney walks side by side with Angel as her hand wraps around his arm hiding her face in his side as he holds his head down. They didn't know if Spike's guys were around and they didn't want to test it, so they had to lay low.

"You know you really didn't have to walk me home."

"I wouldn't have been able to sleep if I didn't."

Laney peeks up at him and smiles, "Aw really?"

Angel nods chuckling, "Yeah really. You're important to me, Laney. No matter how much it hurt to say that just now."

Laney slaps his chest as she giggles, "You're so mean... you literally love me. No matter how much you try to act like we're not besties... you know deep down that you are 100% obsessed and will always have a soft spot for me."

Angel keeps quiet as they continue to walk. He knew this for sure. But what he also knew was that Laney reminded him a tiny bit of Dru before he had been given his soul. Deep down the bad part of him wanted to ruin Laney. But luckily for Angel they side of him would never show up again.

Laney lets go of Angel walks up the porch and unlocks the door glancing behind her. She raises an eyebrow at the frozen vampire and then smiles.

"You alright, Angel?"

Angel clears his throat as he begins to feel his chest tighten, "Mmm yeah... n-no I-I uh..."

Laney frowns seeing the discomfort on his face as he holds his chest. She grabs his arm and pulls him inside the house. As she pulls him to the kitchen, Laney then grabs a glass and fills it with water.

"Here, drink."

Angel stares at the glass Laney holds up to him in confusion, "Why?"

"You're looking kind of pale... are you injured?"

Angel freezes as Laney's hands move around his arms and graze his chest feeling around for some kind of cut or something.

"Uh I'm fine... my uh chest is just feeling sore is all."

"Sore?" Laney glances up at Angel as she stands in front of him, "Like someone kicked you in the chest or like when you can feel your heart throbbing?"

Angel looks down at Laney and freezes. He never noticed how bright her eyes gleamed when she stares at him.

"Huh?"

Laney smiles and shakes her head as she drops her hands from him, "Were you even listening? Rude..."

"Sorry. I don't remember being kicked in the chest. But it also doesn't feel like throbbing pain. It just feels like... indescribable spasms in my chest."

"We can talk to Giles tomorrow if you want?"

"Sure..."

Laney nods lifts the glass to Angel's lips, "Now drink so I feel better about you going back out there."

Angel chuckles, "You do realize I'm a supernatural creature. I'm more likely to be okay than you were."

"Yeah yeah big ole tough guy. I forgot who I was talking to."

Angel shakes his head, "Don't hate me cuz you ain't me."

Laney gapes at him as he chuckles to himself, "Who the hell taught you that?"

"Colby."

Laney laughs, "Remind me to tell him to never ever teach you anything like that again."

"Duly noted."

"Alright Casanova time to go back to Buffy. I'm sure she's about to flip her shit."

"She'll be okay... I'll make it up to her."

Laney wiggles her eyebrows as she playfully shoved Angel, "Will you now? Ew never mind, don't tell me anything else. But seriously if you two do anything at all... just remember you hurt her and I'll break your nose."

Angel nods with a grin, "Of course madam."

"Thanks for walking me home, Angel. You're a good guy." Laney stands on her tip toes and kisses Angel's cheek.

Just as her lips graze his cheek, Angel lets out a pained groan and grimaces as he brings his hand to his chest once more. Laney freezes and watches him in worry.

"Are you sure you're okay? Maybe you shouldn't go out."

Angel shakes his head, "No I'm fine. I'll figure it out. I should go."

Laney nods.

Angel walks towards her front door and turns around to look at her once more, "Sweet dreams."

"Night Angel."

...

Buffy leans back into Angel and cuddles her face to his. He puts his arms around her.

"You almost went away today."

Angel nods, "We both did."

Buffy sobs and sniffles as she grips tightly onto him, "Angel... I feel like I lost you. You're right, though. We can't be sure of anything."

"Shhh. I..."

She turns around to look at him, "You what?"

"I love you. I try not to, but I can't stop."

Buffy smiles staring at him in awe, "M-me, too. I can't either."

They start to kiss. After a moment Angel breaks off.

"Buffy, maybe we shouldn't..."

Buffy stops him, "Don't. Just kiss me."

Later they are both in bed asleep. Outside lightning strikes, and Angel wakes with a start and gasps for air as he sits up.

"Ahh!"

He gets up from the bed and hurries off. He pushes the door to the outside alley. He stumbles in the rain and crashes over into some trashcans then falls to the pavement. He cries out in pain and fear as he clutches his chest. The feeling worse than before. It felt as if someone was ripping his heart out.

As he takes what felt like his last breath, his eyes open wide and his chest pain completely disappears. He sits up slowly as he looks around in slight confusion. A small smirk appears on his face as he brings his head up slowly.

"It's great to be back."

What did we think of this chapter? How are we feeling?

Also here is the necklace!! It's so pretty.

Angelus is finally here 😭 what do we think is gonna happen?

Future predictions?

Any special requests...