By
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Disclaimer in index of story
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Chapter 1
May 2020
"No" she awakens with a scream
The bedroom door opens "Chance honey are you OK?" a
woman asks concerned as she enters the room
Chance sits ups up running her fingers through her hair
"I'm fine" she lies her heart pounding
"What was your dream about?"
"Betty I don't remember."
"What do you remember?" Betty asks
Chance shrugs avoiding her foster mother's gaze "Just
feelings."
"What kind?"
"Love. Hate. Fear. They were so intense."
"Go back to sleep." Betty says "I'll see you in
the morning" she walks out of the bedroom
Chance sighs "I wish I could sleep" she throws off
the covers going to the closet she pulls out a pair of black leather pants and
a pair black Dr Martens. She locks the bedroom door then goes to the window
pushing it open she climbs out on the roof jumping down. "Freedom"
she sighs heading in the direction of the nearest club. "Have some fun
then maybe I'll be able to sleep." A few minutes later she enters the club
filled with loud music and lots of people.
* ~ * ~ * ~
The tall, dark, and handsome man stands in the balcony watching
the people below him dancing and laughing. Part of him wanting to run, part of
him wanting to stay.
"Thinkin' 'bout her again Angel?" a voice says
Angel shrugs "I think about her every day Spike."
"Angelus she's been dead for 18 years. She wouldn't want
you to be still mourning her after all this time." Spike leans against the
railing looking down at the humans "Why the hell did you buy this
place?"
"Its a good investment and it helps keep people
safe."
"Who would have thought the three of us would be
protecting humans" Spike chuckles
"Speaking of the three of us, where's Dru?"
"Back at the house. She's been acting even crazier lately.
Keeps muttering something about Daddy finding his heart."
Angel groans "That usually means she's going to bring me a
heart."
"True but this time its different."
Angel sighs turning his attention to the floor. His eyes
scanning the crowds he starts in surprise
Spike sees his grandsire's actions "What is it?" he
follows Angel's gaze to a tall girl with brown/blond hair wearing leather pants
and a T-shirt "A Slayer?" he asks
Angel shakes his head "No not a Slayer. There's something
familiar about her." he muses his eyes on the teen
Spike rolls his eyes "I'm headin' back. Need to make sure
Dru didn't stake the new fledgling again."
Angel nods his attention focused on the girl below.
* ~ * ~ *
Chance walks through the crowd aware of someone watching her
above. Not finding the relaxation she needs Chance heads out of the club. As
she's walking out the door she bumps into someone. "Sorry" she
mutters looking up to see a dark haired man. She tilts her head thoughtfully as
she senses something familiar about him
"You feel it too" he says softly
Chance lifts her brow a small smile appearing "How would
you know what I feel?"
"I just do"
"Very cryptic of you" she says moving away
Angel starts at the words he shakes his head to see the girl
walking away "Hey what's your name?" he calls
The girl turns "Name's Chance" she says walking away
Curiously Angel follows her careful to stay far enough back
that she can't see him. 'What is it about her? Why does she seem so familiar?'
Chance walks down the street aware that the man is behind her
yet for some unknown reason instead of being scared she feels protected. 'Man
I'm losing it.' she thinks. Suddenly tired she heads in the direction of the
house.
Angel keeps an eye on the girl as she walks, after 15 mins he
notices she's slowing down. 'Must live here' he watches as she cuts across the
lawn to a large tree and nimbly climbs up to an open window. Once assured she's
inside Angel walks away puzzled by his reaction to her.
Chance climbs through the window knowing the man from earlier
is there watching her, keeping an eye on her. She closes the window and blinds
stripping down to her T-shirt and panties she crawls back into bed she drifts
off to sleep.
* ~ * ~ * ~
//Angel finds himself watching his Beloved walks towards him
"Buffy" he breathes. "I've missed you."
The small blond woman smiles sadly "I know my Angel."
she wraps her arms around his waist "I miss you too"
Angel hugs her tight "I'm sorry" he whispers
Buffy looks at him "You have nothing to be sorry about my
Angel." she smiles touching his cheek "Take this chance"
Angel frowns at the term "I don't understand"
"You'll understand when the time is right."//
Angel sits up in bed "What the...??" he runs his
hands over his face looking around the darkened bedroom. He throws off the
covers standing he walks out of the bedroom to the kitchen. Opening the fridge
he takes out a container of blood drinking straight from the container.
Returning the container he walks over to his desk and opens a drawer to find a
picture of a blond teen staring up at him. "Buffy" he whispers
picking up the picture he traces the features absently. "God I miss you
baby" he whispers
* ~ * ~ * ~
The next night Chance finds herself at the neighborhood
playground. Going over to the swings set she sits. She slowly swings as she
stares up at the stars her mind running over the events of the past night.
"Its a beautiful night" a voice says
Chance turns around startled to find the man from the night
before "Yes it is" she smiles at the man
"I didn't get the opportunity to introduce myself last
night... my names Angel. Mind if I...?" he asks gesturing to the swing
beside her
"Go ahead." Chance shrugs
Angel sits down "You know its dangerous to be out this
late at night"
"Yeah well daylight is equally dangerous"
Angel chuckles
"So Angel what are you doing out?" Chance asks
"Just out walking and I saw you sitting here, thought I'd
stop by and say hi"
"I'm glad you did. I could use the company."
"Having a bad day?" Angel asks
Chance sighs "Try bad life"
"I can understand that." Angel says
"Most people think I'm too negative when I say that. But
life isn't all positive."
"I knew someone who was like that. She used to get mad at
me for brooding." he says sadly
"Your girlfriend?"
"For a while."
"So what do you do?" Chance asks
"Run the club"
"Why?"
"Just needed something to do."
"Do you like running the club?"
Angel's silent for a moment then answers "Yeah I do."
The two talk for a while longer then reluctantly Chance says
"I better get home. Got school in the morning" she stands
Angel stands also "I'll walk you home"
Chance smiles "Thanks" the two head in the direction
of her house.
"Well here we are." Angel says as they reach the
house
"Thanks for the company and walking me home" Chance
says smiling at the dark haired man
"Not a problem." Angel says
"See you around"
"Yeah" Angel calls 'something tells me we'll see each
other around'
___________
Chapter 2
A week later Chance and Angel are walking down the street
talking. Angel frowns looking around sensing vampires nearby "Chance"
he says
Hearing the worried tone Chance turns to her friend
"What?" she asks
"Stay near me"
Chance watches as a couple men walk towards them.
"Angel?"
Angel growls low as the two men walk closer "I told you to
leave town" he snaps
Chance frowns feeling the intense anger coming from Angel. She
watches silently as Angel talks to the two men.
"Angelus we don't take orders from you" one growls
Chance watches quizzically as the two men disappear in a flurry
of dust. "So I take it there is more about you than I know" she
states her voice calm as she looks at Angel thoughtfully
Angel looks at his new friend slightly ashamed "Uh
yeah"
"So you going to tell me or am I going to have to
wonder?"
"Those two were vampires"
"OK" she nods
"I'm one too" he admits
"I knew you were different" she says
"You aren't scared of me?" Angel asks surprised
Chance looks at him "No. Why should I be?"
Angel shakes his head "You are one odd girl"
"Hey that's probably why we're friends. So Angel how old
are you really?"
"About two hundred seventy-six." he admits
"From those two's reaction I take it your well known"
Angel shrugs "I better explain about vampires"
"Go ahead" Chance says
"Lets find somewhere to sit down"
Chance nods following her friend to the park. As they reach the
park they sit at the picnic table
Angel looks at his hands then at Chance "I'm sorry for not
telling you. Its been a while since a human has known what I am."
"Its cool."
Angel smiles then begins to explain what he is.
Chance listens as Angel tells her about vampires with interest.
After half an hour Chance looks at Angel thoughtfully "So your different
from the others because of a soul?"
Angel nods "I have a soul. The demon is still apart of me.
My soul just balances out my demon. Angelus appears every once in a while.
Mostly when I get really angry."
"What happens when Angelus appears?" Chance asks
"Now he just gets into some trouble. He stopped killing
after... Buffy died."
"Your girlfriend?"
Angel nods "She died in an accident 17 almost 18 years
ago. Angelus loved her as much as I did. When she died for some reason we kind
of merged. He's not as dangerous as he was 20 years ago."
"So in a way its kinda like having a twin"
"In a way."
"Hey at least that way you know your never alone" she
grins
Angel chuckles "I guess so"
* ~ * ~ * ~
Finally, June rolls around meaning summer vacation. Chance
enters the club with a slight bounce in her step as she heads up the stairs to
the office. She opens the door to find Angel sitting at his desk reading
"Hey" she greets happily
Angel looks up and smiles at his friend "You look
happy"
"Oh yeah" she grins sitting on the edge of his desk
"I passed all my classes this year." she hands him a piece of paper
"What's this?"
"Report card"
Angel scans the paper "Congratulations," he grins
"you did good"
"Yep" she grins "then again I owe you
bigtime"
"For what?" Angel asks
"Making me study. Most people I know don't care whether or
not I get the work done"
"Oh come on they must care"
Chance shakes her head "I'm a foster kid... that means you
won't amount to anything no matter how hard you try."
"You never told me what happened to your parents"
Angel says
"No one knows" Chance shrugs "someone brought me
to the hospital when I was a few months old and then disappeared. No one knows
who my parents are. I don't really care."
"Why not?"
"Whoever was taking care of me didn't do a very good job.
They told me that I was close to dying. One of the nurses named me Chance
because as they saw it I was getting another chance"
"You never wonder about your parents?"
"There is only one thing I wonder about them"
"What?"
Chance smirks "Whether they had a painful, torturous
deaths." she stands going over to the couch flopping on her back "So
gonna be my shrink now?" she laughs
Angel shakes his head "No way." he laughs "So
how was your last day of school?"
"Long."
"You had a half day." Angel points out
"I know the days seem longer as it gets closer to the end
of the school year. Now I have two and a half months of doing nothing but
sleeping and hanging out."
"I thought you said your foster mother's boyfriend wants
you to get a job?" Angel says
"Please like I'd listen to him. He's an idiot. He thinks
that I'm going to obey him just because he wants me too. He needs to learn a very
important lesson about me... no one tells me what to do."
"Well if you get bored you can always hangout around
here"
"Yeah well you'll be sick of me by the end of summer"
"No I won't." Angel laughs "I like the
company"
"Good cause I like this couch" she says
* ~ * ~ * ~
A week later Angel is working at the bar when the door opens
"Hey Chance" he greets
"Whatcha doin'?" she asks sitting on a stool
"Inventory. What are you doing?"
"Nothing much" Chance shrugs "thinking about
running away from home and joining the circus"
Angel smiles at her teasing tone "Why are you thinking
about that?"
"Because I realized something really depressing this
morning"
"What?"
"You know how sometimes painted walls have like little
bumps?" at Angel's nod she continues "I realized this morning as I
was staring at my wall that one of the bumps looks like Abraham Lincoln"
she drops her head on her arms "my life has become so boring that I even
cleaned my bedroom"
Angel smiles "Oh come on its not that boring."
"Oh that's not all"
"What else?"
"Betty's sister is coming to town for a few days with her
kids. I swear being around those little brats makes me want to strangle
someone."
"Oh come on there has to be something you like."
"OK you are being positive... what's going on?"
"Hey I'm not always negative" Angel protests
"No but your not always telling me to look at things
positively"
"Good point." Angel agrees
"For some reasons things get even more depressing as I get
closer to my birthday."
"When is your birthday?"
"I'll tell if you tell" she challenges
"Which one? Born human or vampire?"
"Both"
"All right but you first"
"My birthday is on Monday. I'll be 17"
"What's the big deal about your birthday?"
"Bad things happen around my birthday. There are times of
the year that I despise and my birthday is one. OK spill when's yours?"
"I don't exactly remember when I was born either time but
I died in Spring sometime. I think I was born in the fall"
"How old were you when you died?"
"26"
"So technically your like 300"
Angel shrugs "Yeah I guess"
Sensing his need to get off the topic Chance says "Need
help"
"Sure" Angel replies and the two go to work
* ~ * ~ * ~
Monday afternoon Chance knocks on the door to Angel's apartment
"Its open Chance" he calls
"Hey" she greets entering the apartment to find Angel
sitting in his leather chair
"Hey what are you doing out? I thought you said you hate
being out on your birthday" Angel looks up with a faint smile
Chance scrunches up her nose flopping on the couch
"Roger's over. Which means if I stayed around I'd be listening to those
two either arguing or screwing." she sits up "Whatcha reading?"
"Just a book on demons"
"Why?"
Angel shrugs "Gives me something to do"
"You don't seem the type to have hobbies"
"I'm not there are just things I do to pass the
time." he answers
Chance stands going over to the bookcase she scans the titles
finding a copy of 'Romeo and Juliet' she returns to the couch opening it she
finds a picture of Angel and some other people "Hey Angel who are these
people?" Chance asks holding up the picture
Angel looks up smiling sadly as he notices the picture
"That was taken at Buffy's prom, a couple days before I left town."
he moves over to the couch "The brunette is Cordelia she was one of my
closest friends when I moved to LA."
"What happened to her?"
"After Buffy died I left the country for a while, when I
was gone a group of demons killed her and Wesley."
"Wesley?"
"He was a Watcher then after he was fired he came to work
for me. The red head is Willow she was one of Buffy's bestfriends. Then there's
Xander" he says slightly annoyed
"I take it you and Xander didn't get along"
"No. He always called me Deadboy. The older guy is Giles.
He was kind of the patriarch of the group. The guy behind Willow is Oz."
"Seemed like all of you were close"
Angel shrugs "At times we were. Especially when Buffy and
Willow were in trouble. If I had my way we'd have left Xander to his own
devices but Buffy wouldn't let me. We seemed to always have to save him."
he shakes his head "That boy should have been dead the first time the
vampires hunted him"
"Take it the blond is Buffy"
"Yeah."
"You loved her a lot"
"She was the most important person in my life for a long
time... in some ways she still is. She's the reason I'm still alive. I promised
her before we broke up that no matter how bad things got I'd never give
up."
"What was she like?" Chance asks curiously
"Always getting into some sort of trouble... whether at
home or at school. But she usually got in trouble while trying to do something
good" he shakes his head "She was stubborn. When Angelus made his
little appearance the first time she got sick with the flu. Buffy hated hospitals
and kept patrolling when she was sick. Willow and the others found her out that
night and had to take her to the hospital. She wasn't too happy about that
neither was Angelus. When she was in the hospital a demon was on the loose in
the hospital going around killing children. Even though she was sick Buffy took
him on. Buffy and I always seemed to butt heads over her stubborness."
"And your own" Chance smirks
"OK I'm stubborn." he admits "I always relented
when she and I fought. I couldn't say no to her"
"And I bet she couldn't say no to you"
"She could and she did. It just never lasted very
long." The two friends spend the rest of the afternoon talking.
___________
Chapter 3
Angel stands on the balcony looking down on the groups below.
He notices Chance dancing with some guy. He grips the railing causing it to
bend slightly.
"She's captured Daddy's heart" a voice says happily
Angel looks over his shoulder to find Drusilla and Spike
standing there. Seeing the amused look on Spike's voice he growls
"What?"
"Dru's right Angelus. You've fallen for the chit"
Spike smirks
"Spike she's 17 and mortal. You know what happened the
last time"
"That's the past Angelus. The Slayer's gone. She'd want
you to be happy and Chance makes you happy." when he sees Angel is about
to object Spike continues "Don't tell me you don't have feelings for her
Angelus. I've seen how you look at her and she looks at you. You two are
practically inseperable. I haven't seen you this whipped since Summers was
around."
Drusilla speaks again her voice thoughtful "She's special
Angel. She isn't like the other people."
Angel looks back at Chance "I know she isn't. I've known
since I first saw her... there is something about her."
"She feels things" Dru says "things that aren't
her own. They confuse her. Hurt her." Dru looks at Angel her eyes pleading
"You have to help her to understand why she has them."
"Come on luv lets go. Peaches is in a brooding mood"
he leads Drusilla down the stairs and out the back door.
Angel heads back into his office his mind going over what Spike
and Drusilla had said. 'Am I falling for her?' he wonders rubbing his hand over
his face. He leans back in his chair staring at the ceiling
"Angel" a voice calls
Angel looks up to see one of his employees standing in the
doorway "Yes Becka?"
"You wanted us to let you know if Chance left alone"
Angel stands "When did she leave?"
"A few minutes ago. Went out the back."
"Keep an eye on things. Call if you need me. I'll be back
in a few" he pulls on his jacket walking out of the office he heads down
the stairs and out the back door.
"If your looking for me I'm up here" Chance calls
Angel looks up to see Chance sitting on the fire escape
"What are you doing up there?" he asks climbing up he sits beside her
"I told you to let me know when your going outside."
"Sorry. I kinda needed to get out of there."
"Why?"
"Saw some old friends. Wasn't really in the mood to talk
with them"
"Who are they?"
"Just some people I used to hang with." she leans
forward her arms over the bars looking straight down "We didn't part on
good terms"
"What happened?"
"Things got out of hand. Some people got hurt. I was the
only one who got out before things got out of hand. Well actually it wasn't my
choice to leave my social worker found out I was ditching school so she moved
me here."
"So you came here and decided to start over" Angel
states
"Kinda. In a way I was looking for a break."
"What did you and your friends do?" Angel asks
"Pulled cons mostly. A couple of them ran numbers. I was
the strategist. I was the one who got them out of trouble if they got into it.
That time I wasn't there to get them out of it. They won't be too happy to find
out I'm around."
"Something happened" Angel muses
"Yeah one of the guys who died was the oldest of us. He
was my boyfriend. After he died his sister took over and she's a total bitch.
She and I were natural enemies so she wasn't to fond of me dating her
brother."
Angel puts his arm around her shoulders "Maybe it won't be
so bad"
Chance looks at him and smiles slightly "Somehow I don't
think it will be."
"You know I still haven't given you your birthday
present"
"You didn't have to get me a present." she protests
Angel shrugs "Hey you deserve one. Now lets go get that
present." he stands holding his hand out to her he pulls her to her feet.
Chance climbs down and the two head into the club going up the
stairs to Angel's office. Chance sits on the edge of Angel's desk as he opens a
drawer taking out a wrapped gift.
"Here you go" he hands it to her
Chance opens it to find a book Poe's short stories.
"Cool" she grins hugging him "Thanks"
After a moment of surprise Angel returns the hug "You're
welcome"
* ~ * ~ * ~
//"Hi my Angel" a laughing voice calls
Angel sees Buffy sitting on a headstone in a cemetary
"Buffy" he smiles walking over to her. "Why are you here?"
"She needs you Angel. She always has."
Angel frowns "Who?"
"Chance."
"I don't understand"
"You feel part of me inside her don't you?"
Angel nods "I don't know why but I do"
"When she was brought to the hospital her soul was weak.
They told me that she had something special and if she died so would her gift.
A gift that both of you need. They gave her part of my soul to strengthen her
own. But something happened"
"What?"
Buffy sighs "She feels what I felt when she dreams. It
wasn't supposed to happen that way. She was just supposed to get
stronger."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"You love her." Buffy states
Angel looks away
"Its OK. I knew it would happen one day. You need to tell
her Angel. She needs you and you need her."
"I don't know if I can."
"You're scared she doesn't love you. You don't have to
worry Angel she does. She might have a harder time admitting it because she
doesn't know what its like to love someone or to be loved."
"Buffy" he says uncertainly
"I've seen how you two are together. I've seen you smile
and laugh. I've seen her happy. Find a way to tell her how you feel. Something
tells me Angelus might be good at that." she grins standing on her tiptoes
she kisses his cheek "Be happy Angel. That's all I ever wanted"//
* ~ * ~ * ~
Chance enters Angel's apartment "Angel" she calls
The bathroom door opens and Angel sticks his head out "Out
in a minute."
Chance lays on the couch and stares up at the ceiling as she
thinks. 'Why am I feeling like this?' she wonders 'Its Angel my buddy.'
Angel walks out of the bathroom to find Chance laying on the
couch staring up at the ceiling. "Something on your mind?"
Chance sits up "A lot of things. You ready?"
"Just need to put on my shoes" he replies sitting
down he pulls on his shoes. "Now I'm ready"
Chance stands following Angel out the door. They walk across
the alley to the club. Entering they find the employees setting up for the
night. Chance lends them a hand setting up as Angel goes up to his office.
