Title: About Your Boyfriend...

Author: Jeanny

Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: Through Season 5, sorta

Distribution: I don't mind, just credit me and let me know where it's going.

Feedback: Please. jeannygrrl@hotmail.com

Summary: Season 1 Episode Angel in the Dawnverse.

Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all the characters that appear on the show are the exclusive property of Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Inc., UPN and any one else with a legal binding claim to the shows and/or characters. No copyright infringement is intended. This story is basically an alternative retelling of "Angel", written by David Greenwalt. A lot of the dialogue and plot are his, just twisted a bit - well, more than a bit, actually - by little ole me.

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FROM THE DIARY OF DAWN SUMMERS:

Buffy's diary is starting to read like a cheesy romance novel. Only way more lame.

I mean, what is it with this Angel guy? Some old man who keeps running off. Yeah, that's my dream guy. (Note the invisible sarcastic quote marks around that last sentence.) Janet said it's way Freudian. I'm not sure what that is, but Janet's probably right - she knows about this stuff. Her mom's getting her PhD in psych. Janet said Buffy's probably got some "abandonment issues" because of Dad. I think she's just looped.

I probably shouldn't be writing about this, but I don't care. If she knew I was sneaking in and reading her diary she'd probably go all Slayer on me, no matter what Mom says. But I'm being real careful. I'm pretty sure she won't have a clue.

I mean, why would she? She hardly writes about me at all.

It's all about stupid Angel...

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Buffy sighed again, and Willow responded in kind. It was her first night being able to hang with her friends in a couple of weeks, but she couldn't enjoy it. She couldn't seem to get her mind off of Angel, and talking to Willow about had somehow made it worse. Xander had joined them and was trying to infuse some cheer into the situation, but it just wasn't working.

"Alright, now I'm infecting those nearest and dear to me. I'm gonna call it a night," Buffy said, standing up from the table. Willow and Xander wore matching expressions of disappointment.

"Oh, don't go!" Willow protested.

"Uh, yeah! It's early! We could, um, dance!" Xander stammered, and she smiled at him wanly.

"Rain check. I think I'll give Dawn a nice surprise and free her from the clutches of her so-called evil demon babysitter early."

"Does she still think...?" Willow asked, a bit of sympathy for Dawn creeping into her voice.

"Yup," Buffy answered. "It's just her way overactive imagination. The woman seems pretty harmless to me. A little intense, but she doesn’t really set my Spidey sense a-tingling. Later, guys. Good night."

Buffy wandered out into the night, allowing her eyes the moment necessary to adjust from the dimly lit club to the almost unlit night. She paused, a twinge midway between her shoulder blades making her fleetingly certain that someone was watching her. Taking a look around and seeing nothing but the blackness of night, she continued home, wondering if having just talked about her Slayer sense made her believe she was experiencing something...but she couldn‘t shake the feeling. A short time later she was certain beyond a doubt that there was a vampire tailing her, though why they didn't just attack was a mystery. Finally she called out into the darkness, hoping her jaded tone would put the soon-to-be-dusty creep off-guard.

"It's late, I'm tired, and I don't wanna play games. Show yourself."

A vampire rushed out of the shadows, and she drew her stake. Buffy only got a brief impression of the unusually medieval appearance of the vampire before her arm was grabbed by another in a similar costume, and a third grabbed her other arm. In quick order she found herself trapped against a nearby fence.

"Okay, okay... Look, I really don't want to have to fight all three of you... unless I have to." Despite being outnumbered, she was the Slayer, and her skill and strength almost allowed her to get away. Almost, in this case, not being good enough, as she found herself pinned again and one them drew close. Buffy could see her death in his eyes, and cold fear flooded her heart. She silently said goodbye to her family...and the vampire's head jerked backwards.

"Good dogs don't..." she heard Angel's voice say, and she felt faint from surprise and relief as she saw him head-butt the vampire. "...bite!" he finished angrily. Encouraged, Buffy quickly threw herself back into the fray. She managed to free herself again, only to find herself being held by only one of the vampires while Angel battled the other two. She struggled angrily but couldn't seem to break the hold. Then she saw one of the vampires rip a bar off a nearby window and raise it towards Angel.

"Look out!" she cried, but Angel wasn't able to dodge the blow in time. Seeing her cryptic friend hurt helped her redouble her own efforts. Moments later she had helped him to his feet and they were tearing down the alley, the scary medieval hit team in close pursuit. Buffy huffed as she saw sanctuary dead ahead. She gestured towards it. Angel nodded understanding even before she spoke.

"That's my house. We'll be okay once we're inside!"

********

Dawn huddled near the stairs, keeping a watchful eye on the kitchen door. She was supposed to be in bed; had, in fact, been in bed a few minutes ago when the object of her scrutiny had been around to check. Her mother had had to work late at the gallery, and Buffy was out doing whatever it was that Buffy did...and she was stuck with Mrs. Hughes.

Seriously, Mrs. Hughes was large, clearing six feet easily and probably weighing a ton, or so Dawn thought. Plus she was a nasty, unhappy woman, whose chief virtue for Dawn's mother was availability, as there seemed to be no Mr. Hughes for whom she needed to be home. As far as Dawn was concerned, her chief virtue was predictability. The woman had a routine so tight she made prison guards seem disorganized. After a few too many of these nights, Dawn had the times down to the millisecond, but her heart still beat rapidly as she watched the woman resettle with a strange creaking sound and pick up her knitting again. If Mrs. Hughes caught her out of bed, there was no telling what she would do...

She was the babysitter from Hell. Quite possibly literally, in Dawn's estimation. Hence her observation post. She was waiting for the woman to make some kind of false move that would prove she was a demon, something Buffy needed to slay. So far neither her sister nor her mother had paid her protestations any mind, but Dawn knew there was something off about the woman. It was more than just her P.O.W. camp bed checks and humorless demeanor. She was scary as heck. Demon scary, and Dawn, as wigged as she was, was going to get proof. Then Buffy would slay her, and her mom would be real sorry for having left her alone with a demon, and for sure there would be guilt-gifts. Dawn nodded to herself. Guilt-gifts and lots of chocolate ice cream.

She hunkered down in her hiding spot, feeling the strain of waiting for Mrs. Hughes to slip. Sooner or later the creature was bound to show a tentacle or a second head or something, like the pictures in Giles' books that she wasn't ever supposed to read, that she had so far only been able to get brief glimpses at before someone, Giles or Buffy or Willow, would take them away. The glimpses were enough to create mental pictures vivid enough to make her stomach tighten. Her fingers traced the top of the Polaroid, its comforting bulkiness relaxing her slightly.

*C'mon,* she thought, shifting impatiently. *Do something scary already.*

The door slammed open with a bang that made Dawn jump. Her sister was framed in the doorway, and Dawn sagged, relieved that Buffy's entrance had been noisy enough to cover her fearful squeak. Buffy looked a bit disheveled, and she was yelling at someone Dawn couldn't see to hurry up and come in. A dark-haired man ran inside, and Dawn jumped again, silently this time, when Buffy slammed the door on the hand of...something.

"It's okay, they can't come in unless invited," the man said, and Dawn immediately knew who he had to be.

*So that's the oh-so-wonderful Angel,* she mentally sniffed. *He's not all that.*

"I know. Trust me, we've learned that particular lesson the hard way around here."

*Right, like you've never made a mistake!* Dawn responded in her mind, though she still winced. She and her mom had been really lucky Buffy was home the night she'd invited a vampire into the house. He'd brought a puppy to the door and claimed it was hurt, and she'd fallen for it in a moment. Her sister never let her forget that she'd almost gotten them all killed. Dawn silently stuck out her tongue at her from her hiding place.

The hand slipped out of the door and Buffy managed to close it, leaning against it with a loud exhalation of breath. There was still a clamor on the porch, but it only lasted a few moments before there was silence. Buffy looked at her companion and opened her mouth to say something else, but another voice interrupted, making them both jump and turn in fighting positions.

"Buffy?" Mrs. Hughes asked sharply, taking in both of their appearance with a judgmental sniff.

"Mrs. Hughes! Hi!" her sister said awkwardly, adding lamely, "I'm home." The sitter fixed her with a prudish stare, and the blonde blushed even deeper. "I...and my friend...ummm...Dawn asleep?"

"She was in bed promptly at nine as your mother instructed," the babysitter answered sternly.

"That's...great...you're just the best sitter ever, Mrs. Hughes...ummm...you can take off now, if you want. Cause, you know, here, now..."

"Very well," Mrs. Hughes sighed, not moving. Buffy stared at her blankly for a moment before starting.

"Oh! Money...the paying for...right...I have that..."

Dawn grinned as Buffy dug frantically through her purse. She knew her sister was desperate to get rid of the woman before their mother got home, in fear of what tales might get told. For the first time in her life, Dawn hoped that Mrs. Hughes would stay longer. This was gonna be good.

"Here!" Buffy cried triumphantly, brandishing some bills that had found there way up from the bottom of her purse. Dawn made a barely audible groan of disappointment. "Thank you, Mrs. Hughes, and good night. Have a wonderful evening."

"Buffy," Angel said softly. "What about-?" He gestured meaningfully with his head towards the front door, his eyebrows raised. Buffy stared at him blankly before her face fell.

"Oh. Right," Buffy said glumly. Dawn knew that she had realized that whatever vamps had chased her home were probably still in the vicinity. She grinned as Buffy sighed. "Mrs. Hughes, it might not be safe for you to walk home alone."

"Some suspicious people in the neighborhood," Angel added.

"Weird people," Buffy confirmed gratefully.

"I see," Mrs. Hughes said, looking Angel up and down. "Yes, I'd say there are a lot of suspicious things going on this evening."

"I'd be happy to walk her home," Angel said quietly. Buffy gave him a tormented look, and Dawn made a quiet gagging face. Her sister was such a dork. Buffy moved closer to Angel, their eyes speaking louder than Buffy's lame attempts at excuses why he couldn't leave.

"But what about the...studying! You were going to help me, ummm, study, the, the history..." Buffy was still stammering when the front door opened, startling them all. Joyce Summers walked in slowly, leaving the door open and frowning at the strange man who was standing next to her daughter. Sensing he was a bit too close to Buffy, Angel took a step back and away.

"Mrs. Summers," Mrs. Hughes said smugly. "It's good that you're home safe. Your daughter and her...friend-"

"History tutor!" Buffy interjected hastily.

"-said there were ruffians about," Mrs. Hughes finished with relish.

"I never said 'ruffians'!" Buffy protested. "I said...weird...people..." Joyce's eyes moved from Angel to Mrs. Hughes then back to Angel again. She seemed more than a little stunned.

"Ruffians...weird..." Joyce repeated, then her eyes widened in understanding. She shook her head at Buffy. "No, no I didn't see anyone...weird. O-or pale."

"Really?" Buffy asked sharply, moving to the door and looking out. The vampires that had chased them were nowhere in sight.

"I'll be leaving then. Dawn is in bed, as instructed."

"You are amazing, Mrs. Hughes. I can never get her to bed so early. But wait, don't you want-" Joyce was fumbling with her purse as Mrs. Hughes glided past, giving Buffy a knowing smirk as the girl scrambled out of her way.

"Buffy already paid me, Mrs. Summers. Good night." Buffy shut the door behind the woman, then blanched when she caught her mother's expression. She went to her mother's side.

"Mom, you look tired. Can I make you a cup of tea?" she asked solicitously.

"Actually, I am tired...I thought I'd look in on Dawn and then head straight to bed," she said, arching a meaningful eyebrow. Buffy caught the meaning immediately.

"Bed. Late. Yes. Bed, where I am going as soon as I say goodnight to Angel, because it is too late for tutoring."

"Yes. It is," Joyce said pointedly, giving Angel a speculative look. "It was nice meeting you, mister..."

"Call me Angel," the dark-haired man said with what he hoped was a responsible, adult smile.

"Angel," her mother repeated, still clearly suspicious. "It's always nice to meet one of Buffy's tutors...you're not one of her fellow students."

"Community college," Buffy said quickly before Angel could answer. "H-he gets credit. For the tutoring. History credit. Because he's tutoring..."

Dawn snickered. Her sister was digging herself in deeper. *More like he's tutoring her in French. And ewww at that mental image, self.*

"History. I got it, Buffy," Joyce said with some amusement. "I'm going to go check on Dawn. I expect you won't take long to say your goodbyes."

"No, no, it's late, too late for studying and I'm..." Buffy broke up her sentence with a yawn as Joyce moved to the stairwell. "hummm, tired." Dawn suddenly scrambled to her feet. She'd been so engrossed in watching her sister make up lies about Angel that she hadn't reacted to her mother's intentions. Now she dashed towards her bedroom, the camera flying out of her hand and hitting the ground in the hallway with a soft thud. Too soft for her mother to have heard, she thought as she turned to pick it up... "Did you hear that?" Buffy asked suddenly, and Dawn froze, cursing Slayer hearing. "A noise upstairs...Dawn?" she called.

"Buffy, your sister's asleep. Don't wake her," their mother admonished. Dawn dashed as quickly and quietly to her room as she could. She almost made it, but adrenaline made her misjudge her velocity and she hit the small table by her bed, making a noise loud enough that surely this time her mother had heard it as well. *Time to go to Plan B,* she thought, throwing the camera under her bed and moving back towards the door. Ruffling her hair to feign bed head, she appeared at the top of the stairs yawning.

"Mom? Is that you?" she called, rubbing her eyes with exaggerated sleepiness. "I heard all this noise downstairs. It woke me up. Did something happen?" Dawn covered her mouth with her hands to hide the smile on her face when she saw their mother give Buffy a withering glare.

"Everything's fine honey. We heard something crash upstairs, though. Are you alright?"

"I just hit the table. By my bed. With my hand. When I woke up. I'm fine," Dawn finished lamely. Fortunately her mother didn't seem to notice her nervousness, though Buffy's eyes narrowed knowingly.

"Well, let's get you tucked back in. And Buffy, you'll say goodnight to your friend," Joyce said with a pointed look at both her and Angel, still looking remarkably uncomfortable. Dawn gave her sister a triumphant smile as she allowed her mother to lead her back to her room. Her mother settled her back in, kissing her on the top of the head. Dawn smiled smugly.

“Good night, sweetheart,” Joyce said. “In the morning we’ll discuss your staying up past your bedtime to spy on Mrs. Hughes.” Dawn froze, her mouth an O of shock that made Joyce have to struggle not to smile. “I’m your mother, dear,” she said by way of explanation as she headed for the door. “Good night.”

"Night, Mom," Dawn called back weakly. She hunkered down under the covers, but was too wired to sleep. She was going to be punished and it was all Buffy’s fault, as usual. Her thoughts broke off as she heard Buffy's soft footsteps on the stairs...and then heard her voice talking...and a deeper voice answering. Dawn sat up straight in bed, happily scandalized.

"Buffy has a boy in her room," she said to herself, climbing back out of bed and reaching under it until she found her camera. She hesitated for a moment with it in her hand. Her mother was already angry at her for spying...but Buffy had a boy in her room! Surely her mother would want to know! Firmly decided that hers was a cause beyond reproach, Dawn crept down the hall as quietly as she could and stopped when she was close enough to listen, but far enough to remain undetected by Buffy‘s super senses.

She hoped.

"...does your family think of your career choice?" Dawn heard her sister ask.

"They're dead," was the flat reply. Her sister made a sympathetic cooing sound and Dawn made a face.

"Was it vampires?" Buffy asked.

"I-it was," was the stammered reply.

"I'm sorry. Angel," Buffy said softly, and Dawn mouthed her words in a mincing fashion, knowing if she said it aloud her sister would hear. It sounded to her like the two of them were standing very close together. Dawn made a face. *If it sounds like they're kissing, I'm going in,* she vowed.

"It was a long while ago," Angel was saying.

"So, this is a vengeance gig for you," Buffy prompted, and Dawn heard a long silence before Angel abruptly changed the subject.

"Y-you even look pretty when you go to sleep," he said, and Dawn almost gagged. *I'm so gonna hurl. This. Is the grossest. Thing. Ever,* she thought, then smiled, cradling the camera happily. *But the picture's gonna be way worth it.*

"Well, when I wake up it's an entirely different story," her sister said lightly, but Dawn could tell she was all fluttery. Her next words shocked Dawn so much she almost dropped the camera again. "Here. Sleep tight."

Dawn heard muffled sounds and creaks of floorboards, and wasn't sure what was happening. Was Buffy actually going to sleep with this guy? Their mother would ground her until after Dawn had her medical degree. Dawn resisted doing her happy dance, but it took every ounce of her control.

"Angel?" she heard Buffy ask, and started when she heard Angel's wordless sound of acknowledgement. It came from down low...he must be on the floor. Dawn sagged with relief, then felt a twinge of regret. This wouldn't make as good a picture, but she could still prove Buffy had a boy in her room, if not in her bed. "Do you snore?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know. It's been a long time since anybody's been in a position to let me know."

Dawn rolled her eyes again and waited. When it had been silent in the room for long enough, she pushed the door open as slowly as she could, holding her breath and ready on the panel. She could tell Buffy was sound asleep, and Angel was lying on her comforter, his face turned towards her and seeming somehow younger and more innocent in repose. Dawn paced back into the hallway. She knew that when the flash went off Buffy would be after her, and she'd need every bit of space she had. Then Buffy would catch her, and her mother would come out, and even if Angel managed to hide she'd have the evidence...Dawn grinned as she brought the Polaroid camera up and looked through the lens, focusing on Angel's face. She was about to snap the picture when his eyes flew open, making her gasp. He looked right at her and Dawn dropped the camera for the third time that night, backing into the hall too frightened to scream. Angel raised his head and stared at her. With his glowing golden eyes.

Vampire eyes.

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