Title: War Zone

Author: Cat

E-mail: Cathy@edcom-int.com

Disclaimer: Joss owns everything. And whoever wrote Save the Last Dance deserves a mention too.

Distribution: Just ask.

Spoilers: none, totally AU fic

Rating: NC17.

Parings: B/Aus, W/O X/A C/G

Feedback: Welcomed. Like it or not, tell me!

Summary: It's Buffy's first day at a tough inner city school. To survive she has to make friends with Angelus. It's not as easy as it sounds!

Authors Notes: I have borrowed heavily from "Save the Last Dance" but this in no way follows the plot of the film.

Chapter 1

Buffy was apprehensive to say the least as Giles pulled up outside her new high school.

"Do you want me to go in with you?" he asked.

Buffy took a deep breath. "No, I've been to school before."

"Yes, I know. Still..."

"Giles, I'll be fine." She really didn't feel fine though. This high school was tough and she really wasn't sure she'd fit in. But with Giles escorting her, she was certain she wouldn't fit in. She patted his hand reassuringly and got out of the car. "See you tonight."


Buffy felt completely out of place as she walked up the steps. She had SO over dressed. She had tried to tone her style down, she had gone for smart casual with black slacks and a thin green pullover. Unfortunately everyone else seemed to be aiming for street urchin.

As she walked in she could feel everyone eyeing her and mocking her. She tried to ignore them and walk briskly past.

Just inside the school doors were security guards and metal detectors. Buffy couldn't believe the sight. She had known they had them here, still, she was used to Sunnydale High where no one brought anything more offensive than a dirty magazine to school.

Her bag was quickly searched and she passed through the detector. She tried to ask one of the guards where the office was but he had moved on to the next bag and ignored her.

She walked away hoping to spot a sign.

Halfway down the main corridor she was too busy looking for the office to notice the handsome young man walking towards her. He pushed past her causing her to drop her bag.

She turned to face him as he walked away "EXCUSE ME!" she yelled. He didn't even look back, just held his hand up in a dismissive gesture. "Asshole." Buffy muttered to herself as she picked her bag up and continued.

She eventually found the office and was handed her schedule. Her guidance councillor took her into her office and explained a few things to her.

"First off, don't get into trouble." She said. Buffy shook her head. "There's lots of trouble in this school. It may look calm but it's just waiting for the next fight to break out. When it does make sure you aren't around and what ever you do, don't choose a side."

"I wont." Buffy promised.

The councillor smiled. "Good." She got up. "I'll show you to your first class."

As they walked she continued to speak to Buffy. "Remember what I said. And if you ever need help or if you think there's going to be trouble, come see me, got it?"

"I got it."

"Tell me what's going on or I can't help you. Understand?"

Buffy nodded "I understand, don't pick sides, keep my nose clean and grass people up to you."

The councillor looked shocked but before she could reply Buffy opened the classroom door and walked in.

The teacher looked up. "Miss Summers I presume." Buffy nodded. "Well take a seat. We're studying Othello right now. Don't feel you need to join in, I'll catch you up after class."

Buffy nodded and sat down in the only empty chair while the teacher handed her a copy of Othello.

"Now, who can sum up Othello for me in as few words as possible."

Buffy kept quiet and let the others speak. She had studied Othello but she didn't want to be known as the teachers pet.

As class let out Buffy breathed a sigh of relief. One down, only the rest of the day to go. She spotted a water fountain and headed for it. She put her bag down and leaned in for a drink. As she stood up her bag was gone. She looked down the hall. Nothing, she looked the other way to see a red headed girl holding it.

"Rule number one. Never put your bag down." She handed it back. "These guys'll have it in no time."

"Thanks." She said taking the bag. "I'll remember that."

"Best you do. I'm willow."

"Buffy."

"You new?"

"First day."

"Stick with me, you'll do fine."

Buffy smiled. "Thanks." She was glad to have a friend, someone to point out the problems and pitfalls. She was also glad willow didn't dress like a street urchin, at least she wasn't the only one out of place now.

Come lunchtime Buffy had been separated from Willow, they had different classes. She looked for her in the lunch hall as she carried her tray through the lines of tables. She spotted willow sitting alone and went to walk over. Just as she got close though three other girls sat down. Buffy rethought her plan and walked past.

"Buffy." She turned to see Willow waving. "Sit here."

Buffy smiled and sat.

"Buffy this is Cordelia, Anya and Faith, guys, this is Buffy."

They all said their hellos.

Buffy stayed out of the conversation mostly, just listening to them talk about their lives. Then she spotted the man who had bumped into her earlier, she hadn't seen his face but she recognised the jacket.

"Asshole." She muttered.

"What?" asked Willow.

"That guy over there." She explained. "He knocked into me in the hallway, didn't even apologise."

"It's OK, he won’t. That's Angelus, basically runs the school."

"So avoid him?" asked Buffy.

"We don't." said Cordelia. "If you want to be accepted in this school you need his protection."

"Is that why you guys dress differently?" asked Buffy, hoping she didn't offend.

"Yep." Said Cordie. "We're in the in gang so to speak so we can do what we like. Everyone else just wants to fit in so they dress like they think they should dress to avoid attracting attention."

"So Angelus is the in gang?" she asked trying to be clear.

"Part of it." Explained willow. She pointed to where Angelus was, "See that red headed guy?" Buffy nodded, "He's Oz, my boyfriend. The brunette next to Angelus is Xander, Anya's man and the black guy is Charles but call him Gunn, he's Cordie’s special person."

"Are you Angelus's girlfriend then?" she asked Faith.

"He doesn't have one right now. I'm more of a sister type."

"Not surprised." Said Buffy then she blushed as she realised how that could be taken. "I mean that he doesn't have a girlfriend, not that you aren't his girlfriend. I think I messed that up."

Faith smiled at her babbling. "Don't worry, I got ya. It's cool."

"Anyway," continued Cordelia. "'Cos we're with them we can pretty much do what we want. People know if they say anything against us they'll get a beating for it."

"And you don't mind that?" asked Buffy. "People getting beaten up I mean."

Willow considered her answer. "This isn't a picnic Buffy. This place is hard on you. If you try and fight it you be crushed. Angelus isn't the only bad ass around here, there are worse, much worse. Learn who your friends are, keep your nose clean, don't go running to the guidance councillors and you'll do fine."

Buffy nodded. She didn't speak much for the rest of lunch she just kept her eyes and ears open for any other useful information.

Chapter 2

She next saw Willow outside the school gates at the end of the day. She was with Xander, Oz and Angelus. Buffy considered ignoring them but decided she'd have to face him sooner or later. Especially if she didn't want to be beaten up by someone else.

"Hey Will." She interrupted.

Willow let Oz's arm fall from around her shoulders as she faced Buffy. "Hey. We were just discussing plans for tonight. We're going to the Mockingbird, it's a club, wanna come?"

"I don't know. I'm not really old enough."

"You got $20?"

"Yeah."

"Then no problem. Xander here can get you an ID." Seeing Buffy still looked doubtful she continued. "Come on, don't tell me you already have a better offer?"

"I don't it's just..." she let her words trail of. She knew she'd be ridiculed if she said Giles wouldn't let her go.

"Hey," Angelus butted in. "If the rich bitch doesn't want in don't push her." He said to willow.

"Excuse me!" said Buffy angrily.

"Yeah, you seem to be saying that a lot today."

"Well at least I don't have the vocabulary of a retarded three year old." Buffy turned to Willow. "I'll be there. Where is it?"

"Come to mine for 8, we'll go from there."

"OK." Buffy said her good byes and left shooting Angelus a death stare.

Giles was home when Buffy got back. If you could call it home. It was a small apartment in serious need of redecoration but it was all she had. It had a tiny kitchen, a box of a living room and two small bedrooms. Giles greeted her and asked how her day was. She brushed him off and headed for her room.

She hated it here. The apartment was a mess, the school was a war zone and to be accepted she had to hang around Angelus and lie to Giles.

She sighed. 'If only Mon were still here.' She thought.

Feeling the tears beginning to form she got up off the bed and went to the wardrobe to choose something to wear for tonight. Keeping busy was the only thing that stopped her breaking down.

Getting out wouldn't be hard, Giles worked as a guitarist in a blues band which meant he worked most evenings. Hopefully she'd be back before he was.

Buffy arrived at Willow's apartment at 8. Willow only lived a block away so Buffy walked there. Willow greeted her and invited her in.

"Where's everyone else?" she asked.

"They're meeting us there." Willow explained as she finished getting ready.

Willow's apartment wasn't much better than Buffy's but it had a woman's touch to it. It wasn't quite as bleak as Buffy's place.

Willow came out of her bedroom dressed in a red skirt, white blouse and calf high boots. Buffy suddenly felt out of place in her black dress.

"Wow, you look great. Do I look OK?"

Willow looked at her, her expression thoughtful.

"Well. Could do with some improvement I suppose." She took Buffy's hand and led her to the bedroom. She began rifling through draws.

"Here," she said handing Buffy a red blouse. "Put this on and tie it around your waist." She next went to the closet and brought out a pair of high-healed court shoes. "Put these on too."

"I can't even walk in those." She protested.

Willow looked at her as if to say "well you asked."

Buffy relented and changed her flats for the shoes offered.

Willow smiled. "Come on then, let's go."

Buffy walked after her, teetering on the heels.

They met Xander outside the club and he gave Buffy her fake ID. Buffy paid him. The picture didn't look much like her. She hoped it would work.

They got in without any trouble and found the other girls sitting at a table near the bar.

The guys were seated away from them, a few tables down.

Angelus noticed Buffy as she walked in. How could he not, she was beautiful. She was also stuck up, in his opinion. He didn't base this on much, just the little he'd seen of her and her words earlier. That look of contempt she had when she saw him, like she was better than him or something.

Xander came up behind him. "Like something you see?" he asked.

"Please. That bitch. I'm just waiting for her to fall flat on her face and get shown up."

"She's not so bad." Said Xander, defending her. He didn't know her well either but he liked her.

"What would you know?" Angelus spat back.

"Whoa there. Just passing a comment."

"Keep it to yourself next time."

The others all looked on in shock. Angelus rarely got this worked up over something so trivial.

"Yo, Angelus." Said Gunn. "Chill. We're here to have a good time, remember?"

Angelus nodded. "Sure. Whatever."

Buffy went to the bar to get the drinks. She ordered a beer for Faith, light beer for Willow, chardonnay for Cordelia and an archers and lemonade for herself.

As she ordered her drink she heard someone scoff. She turned to face Angelus, standing next to her.

"What now?" she asked.

"Archers and Lemonade. Come on, my dog drinks harder than that."

"I'm not a dog."

"No, you're a pussy cat."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Angelus smirked. "It means you're a bitch."

"That's a dog." Angelus's smile faltered slightly and it was Buffy's turn to smile. "Get your terminology right please. A female dog is a Bitch, a female cat is a She. You are a bastard. That's an illegitimate child, in case you were wondering."

Buffy handed the barman the money, took the tray of drinks and left Angelus fuming.

Buffy arrived home earlier than Giles and breathed a sigh of relief. At least she hadn't been caught. She went to bed still fuming over Angelus's treatment of her. What right did he have to say those things to her?

Chapter 3

Next day at school began much better then the previous day. At least Buffy knew where she was going and she had the girls to talk to over lunch.

In the afternoon she had her first Computer lesson.

Buffy noticed Angelus sitting at the back of the class with Xander and Gunn. She quickly looked away and sat at a terminal in the front, as far away as possible.

The teacher greeted them, Buffy especially since she was new, then he began the lesson.

"I have here." He said waiving some sheets in the air. "Your project assignments. You have been split into groups of two and each given a slightly different program to write." Hands flew up all around the classroom. The teacher held his hands up. "Before you ask, no you may not switch partners. All teams have been randomly selected, if you don't like who you're with, tough. Think of it as a life lesson. You'll have to work with a lot of different people in the real world." He said as he began handing out a sheet to everyone. "And I don't think I need to remind you this counts as 25% of your grade."

Groans were heard as some people were given their assignments. The girl next to Buffy sighed when she got hers and whispered to her friend. "I'm never going to pass with her as a partner."

Buffy was handed her sheet.

Students: Angelus O'Connor and Elizabeth Summers.

Description: Design an original program to hold and process personal information on over 300 people. The program must be able to deliver results on specific search criteria such as height, DOB, hair colour, eye colour, age etc.

Time: Two Weeks

Notes: A detailed break down of the program will be required detailing which student programmed which lines of code. The breakdown of programming must not be more than 60/40between both students.

Grade: this will count as 25% of your final grade.

Buffy sat back and sighed. She couldn't believe it.

She considered asking for a different partner but knew it wouldn't do any good. He had already said he wouldn't change the assignments.

Buffy knew she could design the program, that wasn't the problem. Working with Angelus would be though. Would he even agree?

"Yo." She heard Angelus call.

"Yes." The teacher turned to him.

"Who's this Elizabeth girl?"

Buffy tried to shrink down in her seat hoping in vane she wouldn't be noticed.

The teacher looked around and pointed to Buffy. "That's Miss Summers."

Angelus couldn't believe it. "Fuck." He exclaimed under his breath.

"Hey," Gunn tried to reason with him. "Might not be all bad. She is a bit of a babe."

"A babe with a big mouth."

"You can handle her bro."

Angelus wasn't comforted by the remark.

The teacher finished handing out the assignments. "Now, you have one hour remaining. I suggest you team up and use it to come up with an outline of your project. Oh, and please note, no two people have the same project so there can be no copying."

He left the classroom.

Buffy knew she should go to Angelus and try and make peace. She couldn't though. She couldn't move.

She eventually heard Angelus walk up behind her.

"Look, I know we don't like each other." She said, not looking at him. "But we hang out with the same people and we have to work together now. I'll be civil if you will."

Angelus sat down beside her. "Nice speech." he smirked.

"Do we have a deal?"

"Me be nice to you? Umm, let me think."

Buffy could feel her blood boil. "Don't you want to pass?" she said through gritted teeth.

"Whoa princess, don't get all steamed up." He said condescendingly, laughing at her.

Buffy took a deep breath. Her anger wasn't helping. "OK." Another deep breath. "I have a few ideas if you're interested." She said calmly.

"Not really."

Buffy shook her head. "Fine." She began collecting her things up.

"What's wrong?" he asked knowing full well.

Buffy didn't answer but stood up and left the class.

"Hey princess, you know you don't have a hall pass right?" he called after her.

He looked over to Gunn and Xander. Gunn shook his head as if to say 'that was wrong'. Xander just shot him a glare.

Buffy ran straight to the ladies bathroom and found an empty stall. She felt like crying. On the second day of school she had a project that was 25% of her grade and a partner from hell. She held her tears back though and breathed deeply.

Maybe she could write it all and fake Angelus's sections. It would be a lot more work for her but much less grief in the long run.

She heard the bathroom door open.

"It's clear." She heard a male voice say. She heard a scuffle and someone being dragged in.

"Shut her up!" said another male voice.

Buffy could hear the woman crying softly.

"Now, what you want to go pissin' me off for Leanne?" the first voice asked. "Aint I always been good to you? Aint I always come through for you?"

"Yes." The woman sobbed.

"And now you avoidin' me 'cos you cant pay me. Is that any way to treat me?"

"N... No. No Vinnie. I'm sorry."

"Good girl. I knew we was understandin' each other." There was a long pause. "Now I'm gonna make this real simple for ya. I want my money. All of it by Friday, got it?"

"Y.. Yes. I'll have it, I promise." Buffy heard a slap and the woman began to cry harder. "I swear I will. Please. I'll have it all."

Vinnie's voice now grew friendly. "That's my girl. Now clean yourself up."

Buffy heard two sets of footsteps leaving. Before the door closed Vinnie spoke again. "You know what happens to bitches who don't pay don't ya?"

"Yeah."

"Good girl."

Buffy waited a few moments after the door closed before leaving the stall. The woman was still crying.

"Are you OK?" asked Buffy.

The woman looked up shocked. "I'm fine." Her eye was beginning to swell.

"Are you sure?"

"Just stay away from me."

Buffy shrugged and left the bathroom. Of course she had nowhere to go and she didn't have a hall pass. She leaned against the wall and sighed. 'What a shitty day!' she thought.

Chapter 4

Buffy earned herself a detention at the end of that day for being in the hall without a pass. She didn't mind too much. She went straight there so as to miss Willow and there for Angelus on the way out.

She sat there going over ideas for her computer project.

When she was finally set free she walked home. She considered going to see Willow as she passed her building but didn't. Willow was a new friend and might not understand. Not to mention the fact that she was Angelus's friend first.

She carried on walking, trying to figure out a way out of this awful situation. She had tried being nice and it had earnt her ridicule and derision.

She stopped suddenly and realised she had passed her apartment. Cursing, she turned to go back.

"Where you goin' in such a hurry?" she didn't recognise the boy in front of her but she knew the voice. He was the one from the toilets earlier.

"What do you want?" Buffy asked.

"Just a chat darlin', just a chat so we's understandin' each other."

"I don't want to understand anything."

He advanced on her. "But there's things you have to know. Like messin' with me. Not a good idea, you catch my drift?"

"Keep my mouth shut." Said Buffy, not moving even as he advanced on her.

"That's right." He smiled but it was hard and cold. "I just think you might need a little reminder of that."

"You do know who my best friend is don't you?" asked Buffy, trying to bluff her way out.

"Who's that darlin'?"

"Willow Rosenberg. I don't think Oz and his friends would be too thrilled if you hurt me."

The boys smiled grew. "This is perfect. I've been meanin' to send them a message for a while now and here you fall into my lap. Must be fate."

Buffy was really scared now. She felt like she had just made things much worse.

She had.

Buffy climbed into bed. Giles had left by the time she got back so she didn't have to face him. He had left a note though and Buffy left him one back to say she was having an early night.

She had taken painkillers but she was still sore. She probably would be for a while.

What she would look like tomorrow was anyone's guess.

Chapter 5

Buffy woke up early and went straight to the mirror. Her left eye was swollen almost shut, her lip was split and swollen. She let her nightdress fall to the floor. Bruises had appeared all over her pale skin.

There was no way she could go to school like this. Or let Giles see her. She went to the kitchen and wrote him a note to say she had left early. She then retreated to her room.

She hoped he had a rehearsal something today and would be out. She didn't want to be trapped in her room all day.

Giles left at about 10am and Buffy emerged into the rest of the apartment. She was still in pain but the Tylenol took the edge off. She made herself a big bowl of frosted flakes and sat in front of the TV.

Her reasoning was she already looked like a freak, being fat couldn't make it any worse.

The frosted flakes didn't help her mood much though. By lunchtime she was really depressed. Wasn't there any decent daytime TV?

She was interrupted by a knock on the door. It couldn't be Giles, he had a key. She turned the TV off and crept to the door. Looking through the peephole, she saw Willow and everyone else standing there.

Buffy didn't want to face the guys but she couldn't leave Willow out there. She opened the door.

Willow gasped as she saw Buffy's face.

"Oh my god. Buffy you should have called us."

"I know. I'm sorry."

Willow hugged her until she heard Buffy hiss in pain. "Oh, sorry."

Buffy invited everyone in. The whole gang was there. Willow, Oz, Anya, Xander, Cordelia, Gunn, Faith and Angelus. Angelus was the last to come in. Buffy avoided his gaze, looking at the floor.

Willow looked shocked to see the state of the apartment. While she didn't think Buffy was rich like Angelus did this could almost be called squalor.

Thankfully no one mentioned it, not even Anya or Cordie. Buffy felt the need to address it though.

"It's not much but it's home. Can I get you something?"

Everyone declined and they all found places to sit in the living room. Most were on the floor.

"So, how did you guys know?" Buffy asked.

"Well first you weren't there and then we heard rumours you had been taught a lesson. We had to check." Said Willow.

Buffy smiled slightly.

"Who did it?" asked Angelus. His voice was hard and Buffy flinched as he spoke.

He took a deep breath. "Sorry," he began calmer. "Who was it?"

"Vinnie. I over heard him threatening a girl called Leanne in the bathroom after I ran out of class. I guess he wanted to make sure I didn't talk."

"This isn't a lesson." Stated Xander. "This is a challenge."

"What?" asked Buffy.

"Did he know you hang with us?" asked Willow. Buffy nodded. "Then this is a challenge to us. Or Angelus more accurately. Vinnie hates him and wants to see what he's going to do now."

Buffy turned to Angelus. "So you're the reason he did this?" she asked. She couldn't believe she'd been beaten up over someone she hated. Buffy shook her head and laughed without mirth. "Of all the people he could have chosen he takes it out on the one person you hate most. You gotta love irony."

Angelus felt bad. If he hadn't given Buffy such a hard time she wouldn't have been in the toilets to hear anything. And if she hadn't known him she would have got off a lot lighter.

"I'm sorry." He said flatly.

"Sorry? SORRY! What the fuck would you know about sorry?" she spat. "You hate me, you've made it quite clear from the start that you think I'm some stuck up, rich, snob. Well look around you. Does it look like I have money? And now I look like a looser from a Mike Tyson fight 'cos you don't play well with others." She paused. "Your pathetic."

Willow placed a comforting hand on Buffy's arm. Buffy realised her anger had been displaced on Angelus. It didn't make her words any less true though.

"Who's up for pizza?" asked Xander.

Almost everyone agreed so Oz, Xander, Gunn and Angelus left to collect it. Buffy thought it strange that they all went, it was just a couple of pizzas but she didn't mention it.

Chapter 6

An hour later the guys still weren't back.

"This is ridiculous. Where are they?" Buffy asked.

The girls all looked at each other, unsure if they should tell Buffy.

Willow finally spoke up. "They've gone for Vinnie."

"What? You can't be serious?"

Willows face was serious though.

"They have to." Said Cordie. "If they don't it just gets worse and they'll attack everyone they can."

"But this is crazy, he's going to retaliate again."

Anya piped up this time. "I doubt it. If I know what's going on they're being taught a lesson that makes what happened to you look like child's play."

Buffy felt ill at the thought of people being hurt over her.

Faith was the next one to speak. "I know how you feel. You come from this normal world where people get along and police deal with things like this. Things don't work that way here. If they don't do this we become targets for anyone who cares to take a crack at us. We can't rely on the police here. We have our own justice."

Buffy looked at her horrified. "But it's wrong."

"So was what happened to you." Faith paused. "I noticed you didn't go to the police."

Buffy couldn't deny that.

"Why? Because you know the shit load of trouble it would cause. Everyone goes after a grass Buffy. You did the right thing." Another pause. "Just call us next time, OK?"

Buffy nodded. She wasn't happy with what was happening but she couldn't stop it. This wasn't her turf, it was theirs.

Angelus and the others arrived two hours after they had left, with pizza.

"How did it go?" asked Willow.

Buffy could see most of them had bruised or bleeding knuckles. Angelus's looked the worst.

"Went well." Said Xander.

No one elaborated. Buffy was glad, she didn't want details.

The pizzas were handed out and everyone began tucking in. No one spoke for a while.

Angelus refused to met Buffy's gaze, everyone else look uncomfortable too.

"What now?" Buffy eventually asked.

"Stick together." Said Oz. "Stay in pairs at all times, preferably with one of us. Just until things settle."

Buffy nodded, it did seem like the only thing to do. Still, she hated relying on them for protection.

"We have to cover your eye Buffy." Said Willow. "When's your mom or dad coming back?"

"I live with Giles and I don't know."

"Who's Giles?"

"He's an old friend of my mom's, she died last year and we couldn't track my dad down so I came to live with Giles."

"Still, he's not going to like that eye is he?" asked Willow. Buffy shook her head. "So, where's your makeup?"

Buffy went into the bedroom and returned with a small basket filled with makeup.

Willow rummaged through.

"It's going to have to be dark to cover the bruising. We have a little experience of this. And if he asks tell him we had a makeup party."

Buffy sat there feeling like a picture on display with everyone looking at her. Willow applied the foundation and concealer to the damaged areas. She then applied heavy eyeliner and a dark eye shadow to her lids. She blended it in and used a plumb for her lips to cover the cut.

She handed Buffy a mirror.

Buffy looked awful, like a hooker. Still, it did cover the split lip and black eye. They were still swollen but it was harder to tell now.

"Thanks Will."

"No problem. Mind if we...?" she said indicating the makeup.

Buffy shook her head and the girls passed out makeup, applying it heavily to themselves.

Soon they all looked like goths, it was nice to be in good company.

"You look nice." Said Angelus, trying to be nice.

Buffy rolled her eyes. She looked like a dime store hooker. 'Mind you' she thought 'figures that's what he'd go for.'

Gunn checked his watch. "Schools out, we are officially in the clear parent wise." He caught himself. "Or guardian wise."

Buffy smiled. Her first genuine smile all day. She really did feel cared for with these people.

Chapter 7

They were making small talk when Giles returned.

"Oh, Buffy. I wasn't expecting company." He said walking in and taking his coat off. "Good Lord." He said turning to her. "What have you done to your face?"

"We had a little impromptu makeup party. Is it OK if my friends stay for a while?"

"Uh, yes, I... I don't see why not." He paused, sizing her friends up. He supposed it could be worse given her school. "I'll be out most of the evening, should be back around 11."

"OK."

"Yes, right. Well, I'll leave you alone." He said retreating to his bedroom.

"You didn't say he was British." Said Willow.

"Why?" teased Buffy. "You have a thing for older, British men?"

"No, I just think it's odd you didn't mention it."

"He's been British for as long as I've known him, it doesn't occur to me any more."

"What's he do?" asked Angelus.

"He's a musician. Plays with a group called 'The Life And Times'."

"I've heard of them." Said Cordie. "They play all over don't they?"

"Used to. They're pretty much LA based now. Old age caught up with them."

The rest of the evening was spent making general chitchat covering all subjects from teachers to fashion and the latest teen pregnancy. The guys pretty much split off and discussed ice hockey, the playoffs and protection for the women.

At around 10.30 they made to leave. Buffy hugged all the girls in turn and thanked everyone for coming over.

As they all filed out Angelus hovered behind. "Um, Buffy. I was wondering... I mean... What I mean is..." Buffy looked impatient. "Do you still want to work on this project together?"

That was the last thing Buffy was thinking about, it hadn't crossed her mind since last night. "I um, guess we have to don't we." She stated simply.

"Yeah. So, I'm free at lunch tomorrow if you want to go over... anything."

He seemed genuine. "OK, tomorrow at lunch."

He smiled. "Night Buffy."

"Night."

Buffy closed the door and went to bed.

Chapter 8

Buffy still had to wear heavy makeup the next day but not as bad as it had been. The swelling had also gone down a lot. The pain was still there but it too was wearing off.

Angelus was waiting outside her building for her.

"Oh, I thought Willow and Oz were meeting me?" she said.

"Change of plan."

"OK."

They began walking. Neither spoke until nearly at the school gates.

"I am sorry Buffy." Said Angelus.

"For what?"

"Everything. I miss judged you, I'm sorry. I was cruel, I'm sorry for that too. Most of all I'm sorry that knowing me caused this to happen."

Buffy still couldn't forget what had happened between them, or what had happened the other night. But she could forgive. Perhaps they could become friends after all.

It looked like she was going to need him in this school. "Thank you." She said.

Vinnie wasn't in class that day. Word was he was in hospital along with two of his friends. Buffy didn't ask for details and she wasn't told any.

It seemed to her like everyone looked at her differently now. She wasn't just a face in the crowd, she was someone to be careful of.

Buffy wasn't sure if she liked it or not.

At lunchtime she met Angelus and they retreated to the computer room to discuss ideas.

Angelus actually seemed pretty smart. He knew what he was talking about. They soon had an outline of the project and divided up the workload between them. Without his tough guy mask on Buffy actually found he was OK. Nice even.

They went their separate ways and Buffy joined Willow and Faith for gym class. It wasn't very structured, you basically took turns of different pieces of equipment. Most of the lesson was spent waiting for a turn.

Buffy choose the pummel horse to work out on since it had no queue. She had been a cheerleader at Sunnydale and worked out quite a bit. The routines requited it.

She took her run at the horse and vaulted over it.

"Wow, did you see that?" said Faith to Willow.

"Yeah. I never knew she could do that."

In the changing rooms after they cornered her.

"Where'd you learn that stuff?" asked Willow.

"What stuff?"

"The vaulting."

"We had to do it for cheerleading at my last school. We were pretty good, going to the state championships and everything."

"Wow. Do you miss it?"

"Kinda. But it's OK."

Chapter 9

The rest of the week was uneventful. Angelus remained friendly and her wounds soon healed. Gradually Buffy began to feel at home.

Vinnie was back at school on Monday. Angelus warned her as he walked her to school. For that day she wasn't to go anywhere without someone else. Not even to the toilets.

Buffy was scared and heeded his advice.

Vinnie was fuming. Angelus had really worked him over.

He wasn't in a position to retaliate though since his arm was still in a cast and his friends hadnt come back to school yet. He had spent the time in hospital thinking of other ways to get back at Angelus.

He had decided the way was Buffy since the severity of his beating meant Angelus obviously cared about her.

Vinnie headed straight for Spike when he got to school.

Spike wasn't a member of Vinnie's gang, he generally kept to himself. But he could defend himself if required and was left alone.

"What is it?" asked Spike impatiently.

"I need you to do something."

"Yeah. Like what?"

"Buffy. I need you to get Buffy away from Angelus."

Spike smirked. "And why would you want that?"

"You know why. Just do it."

Spike slammed Vinnie against the locker. "Don't talk to me like that. Now, what's in it for me?"

"OK, I'll pay you. Anything you want."

Spike let him go. "OK, $100 up front and I'll see what I can do."

"Up front? How much more do you want?"

"Depends really, on how hard the job is. I'll let you know."

Vinnie pulled some money out of his pocket and began counting 100 out. Spike took the wad from him. "That'll do for now."

Vinnie was about to protest but Spikes look told him not to. Vinnie was a hard man with his mates to back him up but alone he was as good as useless.

Spike smiled. "See ya Vinnie." He said walking off.

Spike kept an eye on Buffy that first day, watching her. She was bright, pretty and always protected by someone or other. She wouldn't be easy to get to. He was sure he could manage it though.

Over lunch he heard her discussing going to the club that night with her friends. Spike thought that would be the perfect place to become better acquainted with her.

Chapter 10

Buffy had to sneak out again that evening. Giles would never approve. Willow and Oz met her and escorted her to the club.

It was packed but the rest of the gang had saved seats for them.

Spike watched her enter and saw her sit with her friends. He was just waiting for his opportunity to get her alone.

He didn't have to wait long, she soon went to get drinks.

"Hi there." He said, standing next to her at the bar.

"Hi."

"I'm Spike by the way."

Buffy smiled. "Nice to meet you."

"And you are?"

"So not interested."

"Aww come on, give a bloke a chance. Look, one drink, if you don't like me we call it quits."

Buffy looked him over. "And you leave me alone?"

"No, to be left alone requires a drink and a dance. For just a drink I'll keep pestering."

Buffy smiled. He was kind of sweet. "OK, a drink and then we'll see."

She took the drinks over to her friends and joined Spike back at the bar. They had tired to talk her out of it, especially Angelus but she had told then it was just one drink.

Angelus watched Buffy like a hawk. Spike wasn't to be trusted and he knew there was something more to his interest in Buffy than met the eye. Spike wasn't attached to any group in the school. He wasn't a target though because he was tough. He kept to himself mainly unless pushed. Angelus had seen some of his work. Spike was certainly no Angel.

Angelus was also jealous, not that he would admit it.

Buffy had fun with Spike. He was charming and funny. She decided not to take it too far though. She had learnt not to trust people too quickly. She finished her drink then as promised returned to her friends.

Spike protested. "We haven't danced yet Pet. I meant it when I said I wouldn't leave you alone you know."

Buffy smiled. "Rain check."

"It's up to you but I'm a man of my word."

Buffy smiled and left.

"What did he want?" asked Willow.

"A dance."

"Why'd you say no?"

Buffy shrugged. "I don't know really."

"Stay away from him." Warned Angelus in a cold voice.

"Excuse me? I'll decide who I talk to and who I dance with thank you."

"I mean it Buffy. He's bad news."

"Thanks for the advice. That's what I was told about you too."

Angelus was growing angry. "There's more to this than meets they eye Buffy. He's after something."

Buffy grew angry now. "So he couldn't possibly just like me right? NO, there has to be an ulterior motive. Nobody would like Buffy right?" She asked sarcastically.

"Buffy..."

She interrupted him. "Could you contemplate getting over yourself for a minute. This isn't about you, it's about me. He likes me, I like him, it isn't brain surgery. And for the record, your opinion doesn't matter to me any more than the barman's does so keep it to yourself next time. OK?"

Buffy stood up. "I'm heading home."

"We'll walk you." Said Oz.

"No, it's fine really. I'll take a cab."

"Then we'll wait with you."

Angelus couldn't believe he had ever thought that bitch was OK. He downed his beer and headed to the bar for another.

Chapter 11

Buffy arrived home to find Giles was still out. She hated lying to him. She was also upset over Angelus. Just when she began to think he was OK, he turns on her.

She sighed and got ready for bed.

Spike found Vinnie the next day at school. He pulled him aside, into the janitors closet.

"We need to talk." He said.

"About that?" asked Vinnie.

"I think you know what. I've been thinking. There's more to this little scheme of yours than meets the eye. I want to know what."

"Nothing. There's nothin' going on."

Spike grabbed Vinnie's arm, twisted it behind his back and pinned him against the wall.

"Now the truth."

"Nothing, I swear." Spike twisted his arm further up Vinnie's back. "OK, OK, I'll talk."

Spike released the arm a little.

"The plan is that you get Buffy away from Angelus. Then..."

"Than what?" asked Spike pulling the arm higher again.

"Then we... Party."

"You mean you and your mates work her over?"

"Yeah."

"But that's not all is it? You know Angelus will come back at you."

"Not if he doesn't know."

"God, your gonna kill her?"

Vinnie smiled. "That's the plan."

"He'll still come after you, you know. Please tell me you've thought of that?"

"I have. I'll tell him what happened to his bitch myself actually."

"Ambush."

"You got it. He'll take me off campus, he has to with all the security here and BAM! My guys get them all at once."

Spike released Vinnie and lit a cigarette.

"Are you cool with that?" asked Vinnie turning to face him again.

Spike thought a moment. "Yeah. Don't make no odds to me what happens to them. But the price has gone up."

"How much?"

"$10,000."

"WHAT! Oh you gotta be shittin' me!"

"No," said Spike calmly taking a drag. "We're talking about murder here. If you want my help and my silence it's $10,000. I know you can get it. Just squeeze a few of those junkies out there."

Vinnie was pacing in the closet, thinking. "OK, I should be able to get it. Payment once you deliver Buffy to us."

"I don't think so. Cash, up front by tomorrow or the deals off."

"I cant get it that fast."

"I think you can. And if you cant, well, have a nice life."

Spike walked out of the closet leaving Vinnie alone.

Buffy met the gang for lunch. Angelus was off with her though, when he wasn't ignoring her he was making snide comments.

Buffy let most of then lie. She wasn't up to another argument at the moment.

After lunch Spike stopped her on her way to class.

"Hey there, long time no see."

Buffy smiled. "Hi."

"So, when do we get that dance?"

"Some time."

"Come on, don't play coy with me. How about tomorrow night, you and me, anywhere you want?"

Buffy was about to refuse his offer when she saw Angelus glaring at her from across the hall.

"I'd love to. Pick me up at 8?"

Spike smiled. "Until then." He kissed her briefly and walked away, Buffy watched him leave.

"You have no clue how stupid you're being do you?"

Buffy looked to Angelus. "No, I don't. Is it SO wrong to want to have a little fun whit a nice guy?"

"He's not a nice guy Buffy. I've seen some of the people he's messed up and they aren't pretty."

"Like Vinnie? I've seen him, that was some number you did on him. His two buddies aren't even back at school yet."

Angelus sighed. She just didn't understand. "OK, fine. But don't come crying to me when it all ends in tears."

He walked away. Buffy watched him leave as well but this time she was glaring.

Chapter 12

Spike arrived to pick Buffy up at 8 the next evening.

Thankfully Giles had already gone out. He would never approve of this bleached blonde, leather wearing, Billy Idol lookalike. Buffy greeted him at the door with a smile and they left.

Spike had his $10,000 and now he had to earn it. Vinnie and his crew were waiting in an old warehouse a few blocks away.

Spike suggested walking to a restaurant he knew of, taking a path by the warehouse as a shortcut.

Buffy didn't like the route they were taking, it was too dark, too quiet. Spike tried to reassure her but she still felt something was wrong.

A little way before the warehouse she stopped.

"I'm going back." She said turning.

Spike couldn't let her go. "Aww come on Pet, you have me with you." He called after her. Buffy didn't answer she just kept on walking. "Shit." Said spike under his breath.

Catching up with her he pulled her arm so she faced him. "I didn't want to have to do this." He punched her, sending her flying into the wall. Before Buffy could recover he slung her over his shoulder and carried her the rest of the way.

Buffy tried to kick and scream but she couldn't get free.

"Scream all you want pet, that's why they chose this place."

Spike walked into the warehouse and dropped Buffy to the floor in front of Vinnie.

"There you go." he turned and left.

Buffy stood up. She was faced with Vinnie and four other people. Two of then looked beaten up like Vinnie, probably by Angelus and the others.

She began to back away.

"I wouldn't do that." Said Vinnie pulling a gun out of his belt and pointing it at her. "This wont hurt much. Or rather it wont hurt for long."

Spike looked back before he reached the door. He sighed, he liked Buffy. Still, he had his money, he turned to leave.

"Where are you going?"

Angelus stood in front of him with a gun aimed at his face. Spike backed away, into the centre of the room with the others.

Xander, Oz, Gunn, Willow, Cordie, Faith and Anya appeared through the door as well, all carrying a gun.

Vinnie saw them advancing and pulled Buffy to him, his arm around her throat, the gun aimed at her temple.

The other gang members pulled their guns out too.

"Vinnie, you never learn do you?" asked Angelus.

"Don't look to me like you in any position to be givin' insults." He said pushing the gun harder into Buffy's temple. Buffy whimpered.

Angelus smiled. "Go on then, do it. She don't matter to me. It's you I want."

"I think she does matter. I think she matters a lot." Vinnie pointed to gun to the plaster cast on the arm around Buffy's neck. "This tells me she matters to you."

"Then do it. Take her out of the equation and we'll settle this, just you and me."

Vinnie began to sweat.

"I'll do it man! I mean it!" he said to Angelus.

Buffy whimpered again, she could hardly breath, the arm around her neck was so tight.

"Angelus." She whispered pleadingly.

Angelus heard her. His heart cried when he heard her helpless voice, pleading with him for help. But he couldn't show weakness. If he did she was as good as dead.

Angel aimed the gun at Vinnie. "You have three seconds to release her before I shoot you both." Vinnie looked to his gang members for help, they looked as scared as he was.

"One..."

Vinnie's heart was pounding.

"Two..."

He could feel beads of sweat running down his face.

"Th..."

"OK! OK!" he pushed Buffy to the floor.

"Walk to me." Angel said to Buffy, never taking his eyes off Vinnie.

Buffy tried to stand but before she was on her feet the shots rang out.

Chapter 13

Buffy awoke to find herself lying in a bed. She looked around, she didn’t recognise the place.

"Hey there." Said Faith coming into the room. "You had us worried."

"Where am I?" asked Buffy.

"Somewhere safe, for now. How do you feel?"

Buffy tried to sit up but felt a searing pain in her leg. "Aah!" she cried out.

"It’s OK, lie still."

"What happened?"

"You got shot in the leg."

Buffy tried to think back. She remembered the shoot out, gradually she remembered the pain in her leg and trying to crawl to safety. Before she could get to safety though she felt tired and collapsed.

"Who started it?" she asked.

"The shooting? We think it was DJ, the fat one."

"Is everyone else OK?"

"We’re all pretty banged up but alive. They came off worst. A bullet grazed Willow’s arm, Xander took one in the side, Angelus took two, one in the arm, one in the shoulder but that’s all for bullet wounds. "

"Why aren’t we in the hospital?"

"We go there they’d report it and know we were involved. We don’t know if any of Vinnie's crew are dead but we can’t risk it."

Buffy nodded and tried sitting up again. She managed it this time but felt dizzy.

"Lay still." Faith admonished. "You lost a lot of blood. I’ll get you some pain killers."

Faith left.

Buffy felt like this was a dream. Real people didn’t get shot. And if they did they went to hospital and reported it to the police. They didn’t get a band-aid at a friend’s house.

Faith returned with a prescription bottle and handed Buffy two pills and a glass of water. Buffy took the tablets.

"Try and rest." Said Faith leaving again.

Buffy awoke again to see it was dark out. Two more pills lay on the side table, she took them.

She tried standing. She could stand on her good leg and just about hop/shuffle to the door. She heard voices coming from down the stairs.

She was wearing only a shirt but it covered everything it needed to. She shuffled down the stairs.

"Hey." Said willow going over to help her. "You shouldn’t be up."

"Couldn’t stay there."

Willow helped Buffy to the sofa and sat her down.

Everyone was there.

"Well look who it is." Said Angelus sarcastically, his arm was in a home made sling.

Buffy looked down at her hands. "I’m sorry." She said meekly.

Angelus just scoffed and walked out of the room.

"Don’t worry about him." Said Anya. "He’s just grouchy."

"Getting shot needlessly will do that to a person." Said Buffy.

"This wasn’t your fault." Said Xander.

"Wasn’t it? You all tried to warn me, especially Angelus. I was just too dumb to listen."

Xander sat down next to her on the arm of the sofa. He was clearly protecting his side, where he was hit. "If it wasn’t then and with Spike they would just have found another way and another time. No one’s at fault here."

Buffy didn’t believe him but she didn’t argue.

"Sorted." Called Cordie coming into the house.

Everyone turned to her.

"What’s sorted?" asked Buffy.

"Parents. And Giles in your case. I went over, covered for you."

Buffy hadn’t even thought of Giles. "How long have I been here?"

"A day. We couldn’t take you home last night so we brought you here. And you can’t go home tonight, not in that state."

"Where is here?"

"Angelus’s house."

Buffy groaned inwardly at the thought of having to stay with him. "What did you tell Giles?"

"Last night we used your key and wrote him a note to say you’d gone to bed early. I went over tonight to say you were staying at mine for a history cram session."

"You guys think of everything."

They smiled.

"Thank you." She said looking around the room. "You saved my life."

Xander placed a hand on her shoulder. "All in a days work."

Chapter 14

Buffy hobbled on the cane Faith had found for her and went to find Angelus in the kitchen. He was brooding over a mug of coffee.

"I’m sorry." Said Buffy. "And thank you."

Angelus looked up. She expected his face to he angry, he just looked sad though. He didn’t speak but he gestured for her to sit opposite him at the table.

"They told me you followed me." Buffy continued as she sat down.

Angelus nodded.

"I’m sorry about your arm." Still no reaction. "Thanks for letting me stay here."

Seeing she was getting nowhere Buffy stood up. "I’ll stay with someone else tonight. Get out of your way."

"Wait." Buffy turned back. "You can’t stay anywhere else."

"Why not."

Angelus looked at her like she was stupid. "Because everyone else has parents and parents get worried."

"You don’t?"

"No."

"I’m sorry."

"Yeah, your sorry about a lot of things."

Buffy wasn’t in the mood to fight. Plus she felt she was the one in the wrong here. She simply turned and left.

Willow and Xander returned to their homes that night. The quicker things got back to normal, the less heat they would face. The painkillers would keep the pain at bay and both were used to treating and hiding wounds.

Buffy was left alone with Angelus. She stayed in the living room, out of Angelus’s way in the kitchen, watching TV until she grew drowsy.

Angelus came through later to see Buffy asleep. He found a blanket and placed it over her. He sat opposite, thinking.

This wasn’t Buffy’s fault. On some level he knew that. This was his fault. He had known this day would come. The day when someone he loved would get hurt because of his lifestyle.

He couldn’t help taking it out on her though because, maybe if he tried to hate her, he wouldn’t have to give into that thought.

But it was too late for that, he already knew it had happened.

He was also a murderer. Three of Vinnie’s crew were dead, including Vinnie. The other two were in hospital. Spike had disappeared.

He knew he wouldn’t face jail, they would never talk to the police because if they did it would come out that they had kidnapped Buffy and they would be in hot water too.

The authorities weren’t his problem here. He was. What he was turning into.

He had made his mother so many promises as she lay dieing. He would be a good student, he wouldn’t do drugs, he wouldn’t fight, he wouldn’t get involved with gangs, he would find a good job and a good woman and settle down a long way away.

But slowly he was being dragged into the world of violence, guns and gangs.

He could trace the moment when it began. Just two months after his mother died and Faith was being harassed. He couldn’t leave her, he had to step in.

A fight ensued, Angelus won and then everyone wanted a crack at him. He defended himself and soon earnt his current reputation.

His mother would have been mortified if she could see him now. It didn’t matter how right his intentions had been, he had become the very thing she hated.

He lay back in his chair and gradually drifted off to sleep, praying as he always did, to his mother for her forgiveness.

Chapter 15

Angelus awoke to see he was now covered by a blanket and Buffy had gone.

He soon found her in the kitchen looking in the fridge.

"How are you feeling?"

Buffy jumped at the sound of his voice. "Sorry. I’m a little on edge. I’m fine thanks."

"I don’t have much in the way of food. Sorry."

"It’s fine, really."

They stood awkwardly looking at each other for a time.

"Buffy,"

"Angelus." They began together.

Buffy smiled. "You go first."

"I wanted to apologise for my behaviour yesterday. I was out of order."

"No, you weren’t. I’m the reason this happened, all of it."

"No, if it hadn’t been you it would have been someone else. And we might not have been so lucky. I just didn’t want you to get sucked into this life and in my own warped way, I was protecting you."

Buffy hobbled over to him, put her hand on his cheek looked into his eyes. "Thank you."

Angelus leaned down and captured her mouth in a brief, tender kiss.

He pulled back and looked into her eyes.

He saw an innocence and a purity that scared him. He pulled away.

"I’m sorry."

"What for?"

"I shouldn’t have done that."

Buffy was confused. Something she was getting used to with Angelus. "Why not?"

"Because… It’s complicated."

"Only if you make it complicated."

"Buffy… I… We come from different worlds. I don’t want to drag you into mine."

Buffy raised the hem on her shirt to show the dressing on her thigh. "I’d say I did a pretty good job of that myself."

Angelus turned away. "All the more reason you should get out now."

"I cant. I’m trapped here. For now at least. Angelus you can’t abandon me. Like it or not I have to stay here. And like it or not I’m a target now too."

"You don’t get it do you! This life is hell! You’ll be lucky to see your 18^th birthday let alone graduate!"

Buffy walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It doesn’t have to be that way."

"I don’t have a choice." He said shrugging her hand off.

"Yes you do. You can choose to live. Fight. Not for drugs or turf. Fight to live. Fight to get out of here."

"And how exactly do I do that?"

"I don’t have all the answers. But I do know you want out. I know your grade point average is higher than mine ever has been. If you really thought this was a dead end street you’d have given up along time ago."

She was partly right. He had always dreamed of getting out, fulfilling his mothers dream for him. But now, after last night, that all seemed so far away.

Buffy put her hand on his shoulder again. "Fight for me." She said softly.

Angelus felt like he was balancing on a knife edge. To one side was Buffy and her hope. On the other side was the life he had cast for himself. The one that had already lead to murder.

He honestly didn’t know which way he would fall until he found himself in Buffy’s embrace. He didn’t remember turning around, or pulling her to him.

It felt almost unreal. He kissed her. Not tenderly like before but with passion. Buffy returned the kiss and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tightly.

Buffy could feel his hardness pressing into her abdomen. She was just as turned on, she needed this as much as he did.

Angelus lifted her off her feet and sat her on the edge of the kitchen counter. They both moaned as pain shot through Buffy’s thigh and Angelus shoulder but neither considered stopping.

Buffy began tearing at Angelus’s clothes, desperate to touch his flesh and feel that intimacy.

Angelus parted Buffy’s legs, never once breaking the kiss and quickly unzipped himself. He rubbed his length along Buffy’s lips until she was ready for him, hoping he could contain himself.

Buffy began to claw at his back with her fingers, moaning at him through their kiss.

When angelus felt she was ready and he wouldn’t cause her pain he slipped inside. Buffy gasped and pulled him closer, wrapping her legs around him.

Angelus began thrusting inside her. Buffy broke the kiss and lay her head on his shoulder. He began kissing her neck.

Buffy could feel when he was nearing climax and pulled him even closer, if that was possible. Angelus came inside her and rested his head on her shoulder, as she did to him. Both stayed still, panting and holding each other.

Angelus gradually came back to his senses. He had crossed a line, he had chosen a side. Going back would be much harder now.

Buffy realised this was an acceptance of her and her offer of hope.

She was never this forward, sexually, before. She wasn’t a virgin but she also wasn’t prone to sleep around. Especially with someone she had never even had a date with. But for some reason this felt right. She didn’t feel cheap, she felt accepted. She knew this was the beginning of something, not the end.

She didn’t fully understand Angelus’s sudden passion, but she didn’t need to.

Eventually Angelus lifted his head from Buffy’s shoulder, Buffy did the same and their gazes locked. Buffy couldn’t read Angelus’s face. It was a mask of mixed emotions. Buffy smiled at him then his face changed. It was an expression she hadn’t seen before. It wasn’t his usual smirk but a full, genuine smile.

Angelus went to lift her up in a fireman’s carry but immediately felt pain shoot up his arm. He had forgotten all about his injuries. Buffy giggled at his effort.

"You support me with your good arm and I’ll hop on my good leg." She offered.

"Deal."

Slowly, and with much mirth at their equally banged up bodies, they made their way to the bedroom to cement their union with love this time, instead of lust.

Chapter 16

Buffy woke from her nap to see Angelus sleeping. She gazed at him looking so serene. Another expression that was new to her.

She wasn’t sure exactly what their relationship was now. Although if she had tried to explain it before she would have had equal trouble.

She wasn’t phased though, she knew things would improve from here. They may get worse before they got better but Angelus was on his way up.

Angelus awoke to see Buffy smiling down at him.

"Morning." He smiled up at her.

"Afternoon actually." She said kissing him.

"What time is it?" he asked when they broke apart.

"Almost 2."

"The others will be over soon to check on us after school."

Buffy nodded. "Bet they wont expect this."

Angelus shook his head. His expression grew grave. OK, he had accepted Buffy and her dream of a way out of this life but that was still all it was, a dream.

"What’s wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"Don’t give me that. We both know it isn’t nothing."

Angelus sighed. It would be so hard to explain.

"Try." Asked Buffy as though reading his mind.

Angelus decided he would have to start at the beginning.

"My mom didn’t want us to live here. When she was young she had promise. A career, nothing grand but it was something. A husband, a baby. A family." He swallowed.

"My dad left out of the blue and she couldn’t keep her career up and keep me too. She didn’t know where he was. Her company fired her eventually. I was a sickly child and she took too much time off. Her parents were dead so all we had was each other. She got a job working at a hotel not far from here. They gave her an apartment over the lobby and let her keep me on the premises so she could look after me herself. The wages weren’t much but there was no rent. It was enough." He paused.

"Eventually she got a better job in an office and bought this house. She couldn’t afford anything in a better area. But we got by." He swallowed again. "Two years ago she got cancer. She fought it for six months but her insurance wouldn’t pay for anything too radical. I suppose it was inevitable she was going to die, she never stood a chance really." He paused again.

"She made me promise her so much when she died. She had life insurance that she said would help me but that it wasn’t much and I would still have get out of this hell, that I wouldn’t let it get to me, drag me down. I tried but I just got sucked in. One day I woke up with a reputation as a hard man. I’ve tried to loose it but… But I couldn’t let the strong pick on the weak. I had to help."

Angelus closed his eyes. "If she could see me now she’d be turning in her grave."

Buffy took his hand and kissed it. "She’d be proud of you."

Angelus pulled his hand away from her. "NO!" he said sharply. "She’d hate me."

Buffy took his hand again. "No. She knew the realities of life here. She knew you would have to help people. If you turned your back, that’s what she’d hate. What she wants is for you to make a better life than she did."

"Buffy I… I’m a murderer. Three of Vinnies crew are dead." He said despondently, his eyes still closed.

"But they were going to kill me. And they would have killed you given half a chance. Even the law recognised self defence." Buffy kissed his hand again. "You are not a murderer. You are a saviour."

Angelus opened his eyes and looked at her. She had tears shining in her eyes as she nodded her affirmation of what she had said. "My saviour. My Angel."

"So what’s my way out?" he asked. "How can I change what I am?"

Buffy sighed. "Here you cant. You have to accept the realities of this place. But you already know that. You also know college is the only way out. Live that long and you’ll be free."

Angelus scoffed. "No one wants someone like me. My only chance is a scholarship and that’s no chance."

"No, that’s every chance." Buffy paused. "Besides, if all else fails I have a college fund."

Angelus looked at her shocked. "You cant be serious?"

"About having a fund? Yes, I do have one, I cant touch it until I’m 18 though. About using it to help you." Buffy paused to collect her thought. "It’s for helping us. It’s not much, we’d both have to work our way through as well but it’s enough. Not for ivy league or anything but it would cover two years tuition for both of us at UCLA."

Angelus couldn’t believe she was serious. They barely knew each other. He knew he loved her. Somewhere inside he couldn’t deny that. But she was risking so much on him when he hadn’t even told her that.

Buffy could tell Angelus wasn’t keen on taking charity. She was sincere in her offer though and hoped over time, she could persuade him to accept. Or at least try for a scholarship.

Before they could continue discussing anything they heard a key in the front door. Angelus sat up.

"They’re back." He said jumping out of bed and getting dressed.

Buffy lay there hurt that he seemed to be trying to cover their relationship.

"Yeah, I guess I should be going to. Giles hasn’t seen me for ages, I better put in an appearance." She realised she had nothing to wear. "Where are my clothes?" she asked.

"we had to throw them out, there was a bullet hole in the jeans and the top was covered in blood." He rummaged about in his closet and threw her some things. "Try these. They’ll be too big but you can get home in them."

"Thanks." Said Buffy half heartidly.

"Hello?" they heard Cordie calling.

"Be right down." Angelus shouted back.

Buffy got dressed silently in Angelus’s over sized clothes. He was obviously keen to hide their relationship from his friends. Buffy wasn’t sure what to make of it. To be honest she wasn’t sure of anything right now. She had never knows someone be so changeable.

Angelus dressed in jeans and a pullover then went to help Buffy.

"I’m fine." She snapped.

"What’s wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing."

Angelus left it at that and waited for her to change.

"You don’t have to wait, I can make it down stairs alone."

Angelus didn’t understand her reaction. She was suddenly cold.

"Sure." He said retreating downstairs.

Chapter 17

Buffy hobbled downstairs to see everyone assembled in the living room. They were discussing the day at school.

"We should be in the clear." Willow said. "They haven’t spoken to the police and no one’s noticed that we’re hurt. You and Buffy better come back tomorrow though or people will start to get suspicious."

Angelus nodded then he saw Buffy standing in the doorway. "Hi."

"So you two managed not to kill each other." Said Anya. "Least that’s something."

"Yeah." Said Buffy. "I have to get home now."

"I’ll drive you." Offered Angelus.

"I’m fine, I’ll take a cab."

"Don’t be ridiculous, I’ll drive you." He said firmly.

"Fine."

Cordelia rummaged in her bad and pulled out a tubi-grip. She offered it to Buffy.

"What’s that for?" she asked.

"To cover the reason your limping. Just tell Giles you sprained your ankle today and the nurse gave you this." She also brought out some dressings and bandages. "you’ll need to change these every morning too. More often if the wound is weeping." A final look and she handed Buffy a bottle of pills. "Take two three times a day."

Buffy accepted everything and sat down to put the support on her ankle.

"Here. Let me." Said Angelus kneeling in front of her.

Buffy allowed him. Xander had fetched Buffy’s cane from the kitchen and handed it to her.

"All set." She said. "I guess I’ll see you all at school tomorrow?"

"Sure thing Buff." Said Xander. "Just go easy on that leg."

"I will." Buffy stood to make her way to the front door. Angelus tried to take her arm but she pulled it away. He trailed behind her.

Once the front door closed he turned on her. "What the hell was that?"

"Nothing."

"Don’t give me that crap. You act like nothings happened."

"ME! You’re the one who couldn’t stand them knowing what happened."

Angel sighed. Now he understood.

He opened the car door for her and Buffy got in. Once in the car himself he started the engine and tried to explain. "Buffy, this is all new to me."

"me too."

"I know. But…" he wasn’t sure how to explain it. "I just got scared of what they would think if they knew."

"Why would that scare you?"

"Because of what I said earlier. Don’t get me wrong Buffy, I do care for you, and I like being with you, I just cant accept that this is good for you."

"And if you cant accept it why should they?" stated Buffy.

"Yeah. Pretty much."

Buffy rested her hand on his thigh. "It doesn’t matter what they think. Besides, I don’t think they’ll think like that. I think they’ll be happy for us."

Angel nodded. "Maybe."

"They will. Have faith in them."

Angel pulled up in front of Buffy’s building. He got out and went around to her side of the car. This time she accepted his offer of help and together they made their way to Buffy’s apartment.

"Good Lord Buffy, are you ok?" said Giles upon seeing her.

"Fine. I fell over in gym is all. Hurt my ankle." She said as Angel helped her over to the sofa.

"Has anyone looked at it."

"Yeah, I went to the nurse she said it was just a sprain, to take it easy for a few days." Angel sat Buffy on the sofa. "Giles, this is Angel, he and I are dating."

"Oh, I uh, well I wasn’t expecting that." He held his hand out to Angelus. "Nice to meet you."

Angelus shook is hand. Thankfully it wasn’t his right arm that was hurt. "Likewise. Do you mind if I stay with Buffy a while?"

"Uh, no, no, not at all."

Giles made himself scarce.

"Are you trying to show me up?" he asked.

"What? Telling Giles? No, I just have a hard time lying to him. Better to be open about the stuff I don’t have to lie about."

Angelus nodded. Still her honesty with Giles made him feel bad about his earlier actions in front of his friends.

"Hadn’t you better get back?" said Buffy. "They must be waiting for you."

Angelus nodded. He should get back. "I’ll pick you up tomorrow before school."

"You cant drive to school, you wont have a car left by the end of the day."

"And you cant walk there. Besides, I can probably work something out with the janitor. For a few dollars he usually lets me keep it somewhere safe."

"OK, see you tomorrow then."

Angelus leaned in and kissed her. It was meant to be a brief kiss but it wasn’t. he eventually pulled away when they both felt the need for air.

"You have to go." Said Buffy quietly.

"I do." He kissed her again, running his fingers through her hair.

"Part of the going actually involves standing up and walking away." She said as they broke apart again.

"I know." He leaned in for another kiss just as Giles walked in. He pulled back from Buffy, smirking. "Tomorrow then."

Buffy nodded. "Thanks for getting me home."

"Not a problem." He leaned in for one more brief kiss then stood up and left, saying goodbye to Giles as he went out.

Buffy missed him immediately but she would just have to get used to that.

"Um, Buffy. Might I have a word."

"You can have a sentence."

"Yes, quite." He paused and cleaned his glasses. "This Angel fellow."

"Yeah."

"Well, how well do you know him?"

Buffy smiled at his protectiveness. "Well enough. I’m not being silly here Giles. I trust him."

"Yes but… Well I understood that he, or rather Angelus, has somewhat of a reputation."

"He does have a rep Giles but that’s only for looking out for people and protecting them." Buffy paused before telling him any more, unsure how much she should reveal. "He’s already helped me, that’s how we met."

"Quite. Well as long as your careful then I’m happy."

"Thank you."

Chapter 18

Angelus walked back to his car feeling flat. His mood had altered drastically as soon as he had left her. He considered returning but Mr Giles would probably think him stalker like.

Besides, the others were waiting for him.

Angelus wasn’t really sure what he felt at the moment. His emotions were all so raw. He decided to tell the others when he got back though. Buffy deserved that much.

"Way to go B!" exclaimed Faith when he told them. "I wasn’t sure she had it in her."

No one else spoke. "So what do the rest of you think?" he asked looking to Willow first.

"Well. I think she’s nice and you two make a good couple."

Next he looked to Xander. "She’s good people, don’t let her get away."

Next came Anya. "As long as it doesnt affect me."

Then on to Cordie. "Take care of her, and you two will be very happy."

Gunn. "I don’t got a problem with it."

Oz. "It’s cool."

"So you don’t all think I’m putting her life in danger then?" he asked.

"It’s already in danger." Said Cordie truthfully. "Being with you is the safest place she can be right now."

Angel sighed inwardly. He wasn’t sure they believed what they had said but they weren’t openly against it.

Angel arrived to pick Buffy up as arranged the next morning. Buffy had decided to go without the cane today, it would look less suspicious. She had taken an extra pain killer that morning and exercised the leg so she could just about walk now.

Angelus admonished her for leaving the cane behind but he had to admit he saw the logic behind her thinking. The less conspicuous they were the better. She was getting good at covering.

He was worried about her though. Not only about her being able to get around without the cane but also because he didn’t want to draw her any further into his lifestyle. He pushed those thoughts aside though and decided to be selfish for a while. He would enjoy her while he could.

Angelus pulled his car around the back of the school into a small, fenced off area. He got out and left $10 under the wiper blade before going to help Buffy out. She accepted his help and he walked her over to the school.

Willow, Oz and Xander were waiting by the school gates. Every one enquired as to how everyone else was doing, wound wise. They all reassured each other they were fine before going into the school.

Willow pulled Buffy aside, just out of Angelus’s ear shot.

"I heard," she said. "I’m so happy for you."

Buffy was relieved. "He was so worried about how you’d react."

"I know. You’ll get used to him."

Buffy smiled. "I’m beginning to wonder."

Willow nodded. "He’s a strange creature alright. But never fear, you have me to explain all the eccentricities to you." She smiled.

They reached the top of the stairs to find the guys waiting for them.

"Where are the pills?" Angelus asked Buffy.

"In my bag. Why?"

"Take them out. The guards will search your bag and since the prescription isn’t in your name they’ll take them away. Just hope they don’t frisk you."

Buffy nodded and removed the bottle from her bag, stashing it in her pocket.

"I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this searching thing." She mumbled as they walked in.

Chapter 19

Buffy was pleased with how her day was going when she met up with the gang at lunch. Angelus greeted her with a big kiss which was always a good greeting in Buffy’s book. He then insisted she sit while he got her lunch for her.

Buffy had to admit, there were some perks to being shot.

Everyone seemed to be buying the sprained ankle excuse. She had heard talk of Vinnie and his crew but they were old news now. The latest gossip was of a drive by last night in which Carlos had been shot. Buffy didn’t know who Carlos was but she was pleased the heat wasn’t on them any more.

Angelus returned with a tray of what passed for food in a school cafeteria and they all sat around talking.

Buffy tried to ask about Spike but was quickly hushed up. Angelus leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Later, never talk about it in public." Buffy nodded her understanding and moved the talk onto their latest Maths homework.

The afternoon was even better than the morning. With her faked note from Giles and her obvious limp she was excused from Gym and spent the time completing her computer programming. By the time school was finished so was she.

Buffy hated having school work hanging over her head so she was glad to have it out of the way. She handed a copy to Angelus so he could de-bug the code. He groaned as she handed it to him.

"Why did I ever agree to de bug this."

Buffy limped closer and put her arms around him. "Because you like me."

Angelus smiled and kissed her. "So I do."

"Could we stop with the suck fest and go please?" Cordie interrupted them.

Buffy and Angelus shared a smile then they walked to his car. It was a squeeze to fit everyone in but they managed. And the men didn’t seem to mind having their hunnies on their laps too much. Angelus pulled up outside his house and everyone got out.

Buffy went to the kitchen to grab a drink, Angelus followed her.

"So, can I ask about Spike now?" she asked.

Angelus nodded. "We don’t know where he is. We assume he crept out during the shooting and is alive and kicking but we don’t know."

"So what happens if he comes back to school?" asked Buffy.

Angelus sighed and leaned against the counter.

"I don’t know. I know what I should do is kill him but…"

Buffy went over to him and hugged him. "Your not a murderer."

Angelus wrapped his arms around her, taking comfort from her.

Buffy had to ask though. "What happened if you do nothing to him?"

Angelus sighed. "If what he did ever gets out and they know I didn’t nothing in return, we’re all as good as dead."

Buffy nodded. "We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Chapter 20

Spike was indeed live and kicking. Just. He had been badly injured with three bullet wounds. One to his left shoulder which was OK, one to the left side of his abdomen which was also fairly superficial, the other one though hit him square in the gut. He had managed to crawl away and call his uncle, Larry.

Larry had picked him up and taken him to his doctor. Spike had been unconscious by then and the doctor had a hard time saving him but he did.

This was a doctor who, for a fee, was happy to treat anything without informing the cops.

Spike knew he’s owed Larry big time after this, not least financially. But at least he was alive.

He was also in a great deal of pain. He knew his gut wound should have had surgery and he didn’t know what the consequences of not having surgery would be. But he just had to live with that. The doctor said that was why he was healing so slowly, because the internal injuries were having to heal themselves. Spike didn’t give a shit about that, he just wanted to get better.

Spike lay back on his bed and thought of that night, letting his anger fester until it was almost palpable.

The doctor kept telling to try and relax.

"I had a fucking near death experience." Spike would shout at him. "How the bloody hell do you expect me to relax."

No, his anger was a good thing. It motivated him to get better.

And when he was better, god help anyone who crossed his path in getting to Angelus.

As the weeks passed Angelus grew more comfortable with Buffy and their relationship. He even began to hope that Spike was dead, that he would never have to face him.

The gang all began to relax as the police investigation found nothing.

Vinnies remaining gang members were released from hospital but they didn’t return to school. They transferred to another school in the district which suited Angelus just fine.

Buffy’s leg healed. The pain was occasional now and more of an ache than a pain. Angelus’s wounds also healed. His were more serious that Buffy’s and still hurt but he wasn’t one to make a fuss over things like that.

Willow and Xander were also healing nicely.

The gang met every day and chatted. Buffy sometimes wondered how they found so much to talk about but they did.

Angelus and Buffy never discussed using Buffy’s money for college again. Buffy didn’t want him to feel insulted. They had applied to various colleges and were still waiting to hear if they had been accepted. Buffy and Angelus posted their applications together. As Angelus popped then into the mail box Buffy squeezed his hand. He smiled at her.

Every day without incident brought him closer to freedom.

Chapter 21

Buffy’s 18^th birthday was approaching and Angelus had arranged a surprise for her. As it turned out he also had something to celebrate.

"Angelus!" called willow. "Get your ass down here now!"

Angelus came hurriedly down the stairs, his hair still dripping from his shower and his modesty protected by nothing but a towel.

"What’s the fuss?" he asked.

"You haven’t checked your mail."

"So?"

"So there’s a letter from NYU." She said handing it to him.

He stood and looked at the letter for a while.

"Just open it already, the suspense is killing me!" whined willow.

Angelus took a deep breath and prepared for rejection.

He didn’t real all the letter, he just scanned it.

Accepted…

Half scholarship…

A broad smile fell upon his lips. "I’m in!"

Willow hugged him. "That’s so great." She pulled away from him when she realised her shirt was getting soaked.

"This is just the first." Said Willow. "I can see all the others just lining up now to accept you. You’ll have your pick of schools."

Angelus hoped she was right. "I have to finish getting ready."

"Oh, Yeah, sure." Angelus was already halfway up the stairs before Willow called out. "Don’t you want to call Buffy?"

"No, I’ll tell her this afternoon." He said looking back with a wicked smile.

Well maybe he could wait but Willow couldn’t. She got straight on Angelus’s phone and called everyone except Buffy.

Buffy didn’t know what to expect this afternoon. Her birthday fell on a Saturday and he had old her to be free from 1pm till the next day and dress smart casual. Buffy had no idea what he planned. It had been hard convincing Giles to let her go but he had eventually come around and agreed.

Angelus arrived on time, dressed in black leather trousers and a red shirt. Buffy had to tear her eyes away from his strong physic to look at his face.

"Hi." She said sexily.

"Hi back." He said swaggering into the apartment.

"You look happy." Said Buffy.

"I am." He said smirking.

"Care to share?"

Angelus appeared to consider the offer. "Well, there is this." He said handing her the letter.

Buffy pulled it out of the envelope and read quickly. "Oh my god." She said throwing her arms around him, "This is SO great." She kissed him. "I’m so proud of you."

Buffy let go of his and pulled on his shirt. "I think we should celebrate." She said pulling him towards her bedroom.

Angelus wanted her but he knew they’d be late if he gave in. besides it would be so much better if they waited, letting the passion simmer.

He stopped letting her pull him and stood still. "We have to go." He said smirking at her.

Buffy pouted. "We could be quick." She pleaded.

"Nu uh young lady."

Seeing she wasn’t getting anywhere, she stepped closer to him, raising one leg up onto his him. "Please." She whispered breathlessly.

Angelus knew how she felt but he had promised her this day and he wouldn’t let their mutual attraction get in the way. He pushed her off balance then swept her up into his arms in a fireman’s carry, walking her out of the apartment.

"Aww." Buffy moaned, "Your no fun."

Angelus kissed her as he carried her down the stairs. "The fun comes later." He said in a deep voice.

"So where are we going then?" asked Buffy as she got in the car. Angelus pulled out two tickets and handed then to her. She looked them over.

"The Californian state cheerleading finals?"

"Yep. I know you can’t compete at that school but I thought you might enjoy watching."

Buffy leaned over in her seat. "Thank you."

"Happy Birthday."

"Wont you be board though?"

Angelus smirked. "Lots of young, nubile girls wearing very little and jumping about? Um, I think I’ll be OK."

Buffy hit him lightly in the arm. "Pig!" she said affectionately.

"It’s why you love me."

"I knew there was a reason."

The afternoon went well. Buffy was captivated by the routines and whilst Angelus didn’t particularly enjoy himself, seeing Buffy so happy was reward enough.

"I think Emerson should win." Was Buffy’s considered opinion.

"I liked the the Crofts team better."

"That’s only ‘cos they gyrated a lot." Buffy teased.

"You caught me."

Buffy was right in her assessment and Emerson took first place. The show ended around 7pm and Buffy and Angel walked back to his car.

"Do you miss it?" he asked noticing Buffy’s wistful look.

"Sometimes. Hopefully I can get back in to it in college."

"That’d be nice." Said Angelus.

"What would?"

"To watch you doing that stuff."

She elbowed him gently in the ribs, "Get your mind out of the sewer."

"Sorry, I can’t help it with you." He kissed her gently.

"So, what now?" asked Buffy.

"Now, we go on to the honeymoon suite of the of the Hemmingway Hotel."

Buffy’s mouth opened in shock. "But you cant. It’s way to expensive and…"

Angelus placed a finger on her lips. "You deserve it." He said replacing his finger with his lips."

"We both do." Said Buffy. She took his hand as he led her to the car.

Chapter 22

The hotel room was fabulous. Not too much opulence as to be tacky but just enough to be extravagant.

Room service was ordered for dinner and desert was taken in the huge bath. Buffy sat between Angel’s legs, her back to him, eating her chocolate mouse and feeding him the odd mouthful. Two glasses of champagne sat beside the bath along with a bottle in the cool bucket.

"I could get used to this." She said putting her bowl aside and stretching in the warm water.

"Me too." He said reaching around and massaging her breasts. Buffy leaned back into him, reaching behind herself and tangling her hand in his hair. "You like that?"

"Uh huh."

"Bet you’ll like this more." He whispered seductively in her ear as one hand trailed a path down over her stomach to her wet centre.

She gasped as Angelus spread her lips and the hot water hit her clit. He began gently rubbing her bud, eliciting moans of pleasure from Buffy.

"You like that?" he whispered in her ear.

"Yeeees." Buffy moaned.

Angelus now moved his other hand down to join the first. While he continued rubbing her clit the other hand found her entrance and began slowly rubbing the lips around her it. Buffy moaned harder as Angelus began sliding two fingers into her, teasing her to another level of pleasure. Buffy could feel her climax nearing and Angelus began to rub her sensitive bud faster. Buffy let out one last gasp as her orgasm washed over her. Her body began twitching and he slowed his ministrations.

Buffy collapsed back onto him.

"You like that?" he asked again.

"Um, heaven. Now we have to find something fun for you though."

Buffy turned over in the bath, she knew he was ready for her and she reached below the surface of the water to take hold of him. She gently began rubbing his shaft as she moved to straddle his hips. She placed him at her entrance and gently sat down. Angelus groaned this time as she enveloped his member in her hot passage.

She leaned forward and began kissing his neck, grazing it with her teeth. Angelus began to thrust into her. Buffy tangled her hands in his hair again, scratching his scalp causing Angelus to groan again. Buffy continued kissing his neck as her hands found their way down to his back and began scratching it lightly. The scratches combined with the warm water and Buffy herself sitting on him, pleasuring him caused Angelus to come sooner than he had hoped. He unleashed his seed into her and pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her.

"I love you." He said quietly as he kissed the top of her head.

Buffy paused briefly. That was the first time he had said that. That either of them had said those words. "I love you too." She replied burying her head in his chest.

Buffy awoke the next morning to find herself looking into the eyes of her lover.

"Morning." She practically purred.

"Good morning. Sleep well?" said Angelus with a predatory smile.

"Like a log. You wore me out Lover."

Angelus leaned over and kissed her passionately.

"Thank you, I had a lovely birthday."

"Your welcome Lover."

"I wish I could wake up like this every morning." She said.

Angelus smiled as he pulled her into his arms. "One day darling. One day."

Chapter 23

Over the next two weeks Angelus began receiving other offers from colleges. Some refused him, others accepted him but no scholarship, some offered full or part scholarships.

Buffy also began receiving her offers. She wasn’t offered any scholarships but she hadn’t expected any. Her SAT score was high but her grades weren’t great.

The gang sat around talking about their various offers one lunchtime.

Willow and Oz had decided to go for Harvard, both being brains and all. Xander had applied for a builder’s apprenticeship, for which he accepted, Anya had decided to go to UCLA to be close to him.

Cordelia had been accepted but hadn’t received any offers of scholarships; hence, she couldn’t accept any offers. Gunn was in a similar situation but both were optimistic. Cordie had tried recently for some modelling work and had reasonable success. She decided to give acting a go and had arranged for evening classes. She hoped her modelling work would pay the bills while she learnt. Gunn was joining Xander taking an apprenticeship in building.

Buffy and Angelus had both received offers from NYU, UCLA and Colorado.

UCLA was out because that hadn’t offered Angelus a scholarship but Colorado and NYU were both possibilities.

Angelus wasn’t sure if he wanted the pace of the city or if he wanted something quieter like Colorado.

Buffy was happy with either one because both had cheerleading teams she could join.

Angelus was leaning towards Colorado, towards a change from city life.

They had discussed finances between them and although Angelus only had a half scholarship offers he could pay the other half of the tuition with the sale of his mothers house.

Buffy’s college fund would cover her tuition also and her mother’s house in Sunnydale had finally been sold. They decided to use that money to buy a small place, there by saving on rent, and keep the rest as a safety net. There was a lot of equity in the house since her mother’s life insurance policy had paid the mortgage off leaving them nicely settled.

Angelus wasn’t happy about taking money from Buffy but he agreed to share an apartment with her. They would both have to work since they had agreed not to tough the safety net unless absolutely necessary but neither minded that.

Buffy was studying Psychology and Angelus had chosen Economics.

That evening, everyone having decided on their choices and sent their acceptances off, they celebrated by going to the club.

Buffy didn’t lie to Giles this time, she persuaded him to let her go based on her acceptance at Colorado and a few tugs at his heart strings.

Buffy dressed in a new black top with a low, V-cut neck, a black leather skirt and knee high boots. Angelus picked her up in his now trademark leather pants and a dark blue shirt. They proceeded to the club, picking everyone else up on the way.

Buffy danced like there was no tomorrow. She was celebrating and was out to have fun. She drank slightly more than usual too, enjoying a taste of the freedom that would soon be hers at university.

Come midnight she was growing tired though and found a sofa to rest on while the others continued dancing.

"Hello cutie."

Chapter 24

Buffy turned to see spike sitting beside her, a gun pressed into her side. She forced her gaze away from the gun and looked into his eyes.

"What do you want?" she asked coldly.

"Revenge pet, for this." He said raising his shirt to Buffy could see the scars from his bullet wounds.

"You asked for that. You were taking me to be killed."

"Yeah, I know it’s kind of fare in that respect but see, I never was one to play by the rules. Now you and me are gonna get up real slow and walk towards that door. One false move and you die. Got it?"

Buffy nodded and Spike pulled her to her feet, he pushed her in front of him towards the exit, the gun pressed firmly into her back.

Buffy looked around for Angelus but she couldn’t see him there were too many people around.

Spike led her to an ally beside the club and pushed her away from him, Buffy stumbled then turned to face him.

"You do this he’ll kill you." She said.

"I know. Kind of expect it actually but we’ll see who comes off best."

"You don’t have to do this." Buffy pleaded.

"I know that. I want to."

Buffy became aware of someone behind Spike but she didn’t look at them in case she alerted Spike.

"Please spike. Don’t do this."

Spike cocked the gun. "I love it when they beg." He smiled coldly at her.

From no where spike was kicked in the back of the knee and he fell to the floor, the gun going off but the bullet ricocheting harmlessly off the buildings.

Angelus went to punch him but Spike jammed the gun under his chin as Angelus pulled his arm back. "I don’t think s…"

Buffy had crept forward and kicked Spike in the chin, sending him flying backwards. The gun flew from his hand and he hit his head hard on the sidewalk. Buffy could see blood around his mouth.

"Help me sit him up." She said to Angelus.

"Why?" he asked coldly.

"Because he’s bitten his tongue and he could die if we leave him."

"He should die." Said Angelus coldly. "He tried to hurt you."

Buffy settled for rolling spike onto his side and went over to Angelus.

"You are not a murderer." She said softly.

"So what now." He asked, venom in his voice. "He’s alive and he’s not going to stop now Buffy. He is gong to kill us or we have to kill him."

Buffy looked around at the scene.

"Maybe not. Help me."

Chapter 25

Spike awoke to hear shouting.

"THAT’S IT, NOW DROP THE WEAPON." the voice commanded.

Spike took a moment to collect himself. He was sitting, his back to the wall and his knees bent. His right elbow was resting on his knee and something was in his mouth. He pulled his head up and looked down to see it was the barrel of his gun in his mouth. His finger was wrapped around the trigger and the safety was off.

‘Bloody hell’ he thought realising if he had just squeezed the trigger as he woke up he would be a gonner.

He looked further afield now to see two policemen standing in front of him, their guns pointed at him.

"I SAID DROP THE WEAPON." The policeman said again. Spike threw the gun at them and held his hands up.

He was royally screwed now. The gun was one of Larry’s and had undoubtedly been used in other crimes. They would arrest him for position of a gun without a licence and they would test the gun, find out about the other crimes and either arrest him for them or make him rat on Larry, neither option was appealing. They would see he had fired the gun from the powder marks on his hands and his fingerprints were all over it.

He was as good as dead.

Angelus still wasn’t as carefree as he had been before but he was getting back to his old self again. They were packing for Colorado, ready to drive down the next day.

Buffy helped him pack up everything he had and move the furniture into a u-haul truck. She didn’t have as much stuff to pack and no furniture so she would pack her things tomorrow morning.

Angelus felt strange. The nightmare of Spike returning kept haunting him and he couldn’t believe something else wouldn’t happen before they left.

He was also excited. He was an inch away from a new life and leaving this one behind and he was both scared and thrilled.

His house had been sold and they were ready to leave tomorrow afternoon. In his head he knew Spike was behind bars but in his heart he felt this couldn’t last. Something had to go wrong.

Buffy came over to him during one of his ‘wipeout’ moments (as she had named them) when he seemed to be oblivious to the outside world.

"What’s wrong?" she asked.

Angelus explained his feelings to her.

Buffy understood how he felt, sometimes she also expected to turn around and see him standing behind her with a gun. But she could more easily dismiss these thoughts; she hadn’t been brought up in this life.

Buffy knew there was nothing she could do to reassure him but she could distract him. She began kissing him all over his face while she undid his shirt, then she trailed light kissed over his bare chest as she undid his belt. Angelus tried to undress Buffy but she slapped his hands away. She knelt in front of him slowly undid his zip, talking his member out. She looked up at him, a devilish look in her eye as she took him in her mouth.

Angleus groaned and grabbed onto the nearest box to keep himself upright. Buffy began bobbing her head in him, using her tongue to tease the glands. She brought one hand up to caress his balls whoth the other reached behing his and caressed his butt.

She could tell he was close so she began moving her head faster and lightly scratching his sack with her nails. That sent him over the edge and he emptied his seed into her heart shaped mouth. Buffy swallowed it and licked him clean before she stood up and cuddled him.

Angelus wasn’t done though. He picked her up and placed her on the sofa while he knelt in front of her. He undid her jeans and pulled them down off her hips and over the shapely legs along with her panties.

Then he pilled her forward until she was perched on the edge of the sofa and forced her knees apart. He inhaled her musky aroma before beginning to trace feather light kisses up her thighs. Once he was finished with one thigh he moved on to the other. Buffy moaned in frustration. Angelus loved teasing her like this. He slowly made his way up the other thigh, towards her wet centre. He could carry on teasing her but he decided not to today. He gently swirled his tongue around her clit a few times before nibbling on it. Buffy began to loose it as he did that; he knew exactly how to drive her wild.

Angelus slowed his pace slightly, denying Buffy her release for now and began nibbling on her outer lips, down one side, up the other. By the time he reached her sensitive bud again she was frantic and he granted her a release. He took the bud into his mouth and began sucking on it, drawing it out from beneath its hood, then licking it with the rough side of his tongue. Buffy came almost instantly, calling his name.

Angelus crawled up her body, hard now and ready for more. The wolfish look in Buffy’s eye told him she was ready too. He lay her down length ways on the sofa and got in between her legs, placing himself at her entrance. He looked down at her before he thrust in. she looked so beautiful in a slightly defiled way. It pleased him that he was the one who had defiled her.

He thrust into her and she rose up off the cushions to meet his every thrust. Leaning on one hand Angleus pushed her blouse up and pulled her bra down, revealing her breasts. He took one into his mouth and began teasing it while his hand pleased the other.

Buffy ran her finders through his hair. Angelus began to speed up his thrusts as he felt himself nearing climax. Buffy beat him though and Angelus came as her muscles clamped down on his shaft.

He brushed a few stray strands of hair out of her face as looked lovingly down at her.

His troubles all but forgotten for now.

Chapter 26

Buffy awoke the next morning to see Giles bringing her a mug of coffee.

"Thanks." She mumbled sleepily.

Giles turned in the doorway and smiled uncomfortable.

Buffy sat up in bed and sipped the coffee.

Today was the day. She was leaving. It was Graduation day, she should be there but she and Angel had decided to leave as soon as possible. The faster they left LA, the less likelihood there was of trouble occurring. They would also have plenty of time to find an apartment and jobs before school started.

Buffy was excited to be leaving, to finally leave this mess behind. She was also sorry. She had some good friends here and she would miss then terribly.

Buffy finished her coffee and stood up. She dressed then got her cases out and began packing.

Giles appeared in her doorway.

"Um, Buffy. I was wondering if I could speak with you."

Buffy turned to the doorway, "Sure." She said taking a seat on the bed.

Giles sat down next to her looking uncomfortable. "I… I just wanted to wish you luck."

Buffy pulled him into an embrace. "I’ll miss you too."

Giles was uncomfortable with the hug at first but soon melted into it and found himself tearing up.

He pulled out of the hug. "It wont be the same around her without you." He said.

Buffy took his hand. "You’ve been like a father to me."

Giles looked into her eyes, touched by her words but unable to form his own. He didn’t need to though, his feelings were written all over his face.

Buffy hugged him again. "You have to come and see us." She said. "Maybe take the group on tour again."

Giles smiled. "Yes. I may just do that." He looked around at her clothes scatter about, waiting to be packed. "Do you need a hand?"

"Nah, I got it thanks."

"Well if you need anything, call me. And I’m not just talking about packing."

"I know."

Giles left her to finish packing.

Angelus arrived a hour later. Buffy had finished packing and Angelus took her cases down to the U-haul truck while Buffy said another teary good buy to Giles.

Next stop was a dinner near the school. The gang was waiting there for them.

Buffy was still over come with emotion and hugged them all one by one.

"I’ll miss you guys."

"We’ll miss you too Buff." Said Xander. "But we’re only a phone call away."

Buffy smiled. Her phone bill was going to be horrendous!

They sat and ordered lunch.

"So, you ready for graduation?" asked Buffy.

Willow gave a sigh. "I guess. I just wish they weren’t so long and boring."

Buffy smiled at her friends attempt to make it sound dull. "Sorry I cant be there."

Willow smiled. "It’s OK." Willow found her own tears forming now. "I cant believe this is it. Your really going."

Buffy hugged her. "But your going too. And We’ll still see each other sometimes."

Willow pulled back and smiled "That’s right, you have to give me your address so I can send your certificates there. You cant hide from me!" she said wagging a playful finger.

"I wouldn’t want to." Said Buffy truthfully.

Once lunch was over it was time to go their separate ways.

Buffy hugged everyone again, telling them she loved them and thanking them for looking out for her.

Buffy and Angelus finally left them to return to his car. Angleus checked the trailer was secured then climbed in. They waved to everyone as they drove off.

Angelus pulled Buffy over to him and drove with his arm around her shoulders.

"Do you wish we had gone?" he asked a teary Buffy.

"Miss Graduation you mean? No. I just miss them is all."

"But we have a new life ahead of us now. And we can still visit and call."

Buffy dried her tears with a tissue. "I know. I just… I miss them."

Angelus could feel the sting from his own tears as well but he blinked them back. "I know you do." He said kissing the top of her head. "I do too."

The drive ahead was a long one and Buffy was sure it would be tiring. But it was OK.

It seemed to both of them that as the days passed and the distance to LA got bigger, they both got happier. The more distance they put between themselves and LA, the safer they felt. And above all they were together. Alive, safe and together.

THE END