Part 1

Four years earlier

“The winter here's cold, and bitter/it's chilled us to the bone/we haven't seen the sun for weeks/too long too far from home.”

“Buffy?” Angel asked as he climbed in her bedroom. “Buffy?” There was no response. He turned on the light, hesitantly. There was no one in the room, and many possessions of hers were gone. He noticed Mr. Gordo, sitting on the edge of her bed, holding down a note.

Dear Angel,

I have to leave Sunnydale. Something with big evil is going on, and Giles says we have to go. I’m not sure where, but there’s no time, according to him. I’ll come back as soon as I can. I left a note in the library for Xander, Will, and Oz. Protect them for me? I love you. Always.
Buffy

PS. Mr. Gordo needs protection too. Take him with you. <3, B

“I promise, Buffy, I’ll protect them,” he said to the empty room. A tear ran down his cheek, and he grabbed the stuffed pig and fled, with a simple sentence. “I love you.”
When he got home, he cried himself to sleep.
The next morning, Angel was awakened by a knock on his door. As he went to the door, carrying the stuffed Mr. Gordo, he wondered if it was Buffy. Four angry teenagers stood there, one in tears. He was shocked into silence. Cordelia had come too. He softly invited them in, and wondered why Cordelia was there.
“Buffy said that you could explain this to us.” Xander said angrily. “So, Dead Boy, explain away.” Angel’s grip on the pig showed his rage at Xander’s rudeness. Oz was reassuring Willow, seated on the couch. Cordelia perched on the arm of a chair daintily.
“And can you hurry? I don’t want to be late for class, but they dragged me down here.” Cordelia whined petulantly.
“I…I don’t know what happened. She left me a note that didn’t explain much either. I…I’m not sure what to tell you.” Angel’s heart went out to poor broken Willow. He knew that she and Buffy were best friends, because she and Xander weren’t as close anymore.
Frustrated, Xander ran out the door. Cordelia made a cross face, then went reluctantly to follow.
“I’m sorry, Willow. If you want, I’ll help you research for where they went. I have a feeling Xander’s not going to want to do that.”
She sniffled a thanks, and as the couple on the couch got up to leave, Oz said, “I’m taking her home. Giles left us notes, so we can be out of class for a day. I think she needs to be at home.”
“Good thinking.” Angel said. He turned his back to the door as they left, and threw the pig at the wall in rage. Then he snatched up a vase and threw that too. Then a clock. A pillow was ripped into shreds. Before long, Angel’s apartment was completely destroyed. He heard a slight noise behind him, and he whirled around quickly.
He growled, “What do you want?” His game face was now on, and he was furious. It was Willow, Oz-less at the moment.
He looked at her in disbelief as she falteringly asked, “Stay here for me?” His true face faded, but he was amazed that Willow had stayed. “I… I need you.” Shocked, he nodded. Then, with a sob, she fled from the apartment, leaving Angel to stare at the empty space she’d occupied barely a minute before.

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