Timeline

Chapter 37

Willow rang Faith on her mobile and asked where they were. They had all taken refuge in a motel on the outskirts of the city. Giles sped to the location.
Spike sat quietly, looking out of the window, watching as the city blinked past him.
Angel held Buffy close to him, never taking his eyes from hers. They now had a bond that neither of them could of imagined. Darla had tried to bond with Angel in this way when she had sired him, but ultimately , it hadn't worked. She had never loved him. He knew that now. He could feel all of Buffy's emotions, could sense her soul within himself, he could almost hear her thoughts. If he could feel this, what was she feeling and was it scaring her?They were oblivious to everyone else.

"Have you rang Dawn yet?" Giles said for the third time.
"I'd give it up mate" Spike said " Not like they can 'ear ya. Doubt they can 'ear anything. Give me the phone, I'll tell Niblet" Spike took the phone and dialled the number.
"Spike could you not tell Dawn of Buffy's situation, leave that to her "
"Sure "
Spike hit the call button
"Dawn?"
"Do you know what time it is here? Any idea how worried I've been? Have you any idea how many times I have been up with my bloody nephew?"
"Ello Bit"
"Don't hello bit me! Is everyone okay? Is anyone unno? God sake Spike say something!"
"I would if you gave me a chance!"
"Is Buffy all right?"
"Yeah"
"Yes to what?"
"All o' the above"
"When will you be coming here?"
"Soon, we have alot to sort out, but I'd say by the end o' the week"
A high pitched squeal almost deafened him. He held the phone out in front of him til it died away
"You finished deafenin' me"
"Sorry, I'm just psyched you lot made it through. You did didn't you? You not all grrr and evil are you?"
Spike glanced at Buffy and his heart sank a little
"No, we're all fine and bleedin' dandy"
" I can't wait to see you "
Spike heard Layton start crying in the background
"You best go see to forehead junior Bit"
"It's okay Xanders got him, he likes it when Xander flashes him the eye socket, major ewww for me though"
Spike sniggered " Nice image there , ta for that"
Angel pulled his attention from Buffy when his hearing caught the sound of his son over the telephone.Without warning he snatched the phone from Spike.
"Oi!"
"Dawn?"
"Angel!"
"Is he okay, whys he crying?"
"Layton's fine , he's grouchy, it's time for his bottle and nap, that's all"
"Are you alright?"
"Hey I'm cool, are you guys okay?"
Angels gaze fell on Buffy
"Yeah, we're all fine now"
" I am so excited , I really missed you all, is Buffy there?"
Angel nudged Buffy and handed her the phone
"Dawnie, hi! I'm erm..... fine"
She looked at Angel
"Layton okay?"
"He's fine except for the feeding .. god he packs it away and talk about grumpy if he doesn't get it right away."
Buffy laughed , tears threatened to fall.
" I can't wait to see you guys" Buffy said , her voice ful of emotion.
Dawn fought back the tears " I can't either "
"I best go Dawnie, I'll call you once we know when we will be leaving here"
"Okay Buffy , I love you"
"Love you too Dawnie, give my love to Xan"
"Will do , Bye"
Buffy hung up and dropped the phone into her lap. Tears streamed down her face.
Angel took her hand in his and gave it a slight squeeze.


Back at the motel, Faith had managed to secure ten rooms. It seemed that the apocalypse had scared off a lot of their clients. Faith had taken one room . Groo , Spike and Gunn were given another room and one for the more severely injured people. Faith had set one room for the Watchers and one for Willow and Kennedy. Angel and Buffy had a room to themselves.The rest of the rooms were for the potentials.
It didn't take long before they were settled and all asking about food.
Angel had taken Spike and had ordered a mountain of food from a local pizza parlour. The owner had thought all of his birthdays had come at once. His business had suffered because of the 'weird goings on'
Not really wanting to hold a conversation , both vampires smiled and headed out of the parlour and didn't look back. Their next stop was a butchers for their blood, 'pigs blood for three to take away'
By the time they arrived back at the motel, everyone had gathered in the largest room. The pile of pizza's were placed on the table and Angel finally sat down on the bed. Buffy instinctively picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite.
Spike slapped it out of her hand " Bloody hell slayer!"
"What I'm hungry" her vampire mask in place to emphasise the fact
Everyone stopped and stared
"It's got soddin' garlic on it! Won't kill you but it'll give you a bleedin' heartburn you won't forget in a hurry!"
Spike glared at Angel "Good job I'm 'ere innit you wanker"
Angel's jaw tensed "Thankyou Spike" he spat
Buffy laughed
Spike rolled his eyes towards Angel and gave him a hand job gesture. Buffy tried to hold in her laughter.
Angel rose from his spot on the bed and prepared blood for the three of them.
Buffy sat and watched Spike and Angel vamp out before drinking their mugs of warm blood. She stared at her mug and grimmaced.
"Buffy?" Angel said softly
"It's gross"
"It's not that bad " Spike added
"I keep thinking ...... "
"What about babe"
"Is it pig?"
"Yeah" Spike said
Angel let Spike take this one, he knew what was coming
" I can't, pigs are cute and and they're their my favourite animal. I can't . I just keep seeing Mr Gordo, I can't"
"Eat that pizza then.... see how far that bloody gets you slayer, won't think about a soddin pig after that !"
Angel smirked
A few of the potentials laughed behind them, shutting up as soon as they saw the glare in Buffy's eyes.
"Hmmmm okay" She gave in " Does it taste like bacon?"
That was it , everyone laughed , including Angel and Spike.
Buffy held her nose and took a sip. Her game face appeared and she drank down the crimson fluid in one go.
"Guess it isn't that bad after all " Buffy looked down at the linolium.
Angel took the mug from her and planted a kiss on her lips " It will get easier"
She rolled her eyes " Yeah , sure, eternity with you two , drinking pigs blood , can see my thighs now"
"Nothing wrong with your thighs slayer , few good ...... " Spike was cut off by Angels fist " Ow!"
"You two are unbelievable"
Spike rubbed his jaw, Angel shook his hand, both pulling ouchy faces.
"Behold the Order of Aurelius" Giles said "The earth is doomed"
"Hey!" All three vampires said in unison.


The journey back to Ireland was uncomfortable and long. First a flight from L.A to London Heathrow. They had timed it just right and they landed at night. The group stayed over night in a hotel . The following night they caught a flight to an airport not far from Galway. The flight landed in the early hours of the morning , with three hours til sunrise.
The front door opened and they all walked through. Angel , Spike and Buffy were at the rear of the group.
Angel and Spike walked in without a problem, Buffy on the other hand hit a barrier.
"That's just bloody great!"
"Slayers locked out of her own house , now that's worth seein'"
"Spike!"
Angel bit his tongue, he wanted to laugh but knew it would cost him
"Invite me in Angel"
He couldn't resist it and leant against the door jamb, his arms crossed over his chest
"Angel" she pouted
"Is it just me Peaches , or is that scarier than her bumpies?"
" Sunrise is soon Angel , lemme in"
"Angel looked at Spike " What do you think?"
"Don't be a soddin git 'n' let the poor girl in"
Buffy narrowed her eyes
"Okay ... Come in"
Buffy stepped over the threshold and slapped both vampires
"Dawn!!"
A weary Dawn came down the stairs and ran into Buffy's arms.
Angel watched and then looked at Spike "Here we go , lets hope the stakes are hidden"

"Buffy?"
Buffy closed her eyes and waited
Silence
"Spike?"
"Weren't me Bit" He said backing away and put his hands up in mock surrender
Dawn turned to Angel, her arms crossed and her foot tapping the floor impatiently " I want answers"

The three vampires adjourned to the kitchen, with Giles and Wesley.
Nobody spoke
Finally Angel swallowed slowly and grabbed the proverbial stake by the hand.
"I had to"
That was it , the big explainy? I had to ? phhhh yeah that did it buster , Dawn thought.
"Why? How? " Anger rose in the young girl, who was very much like a young Buffy.
"Liam , kind of a souled younger me, he drained her and left Buffy for dead, so I had to turn her or she died. I didn't want to , I had no choice"
Angel flinched as Dawns hand connected with his face.
Damn that stung!
"Fiesty lil bit aint she Peaches"
"Spike" Angel glared
Dawn stormed off " I should disinvite you from this house " she yelled at Angel as she stormed off upstairs.
Angel went to follow her , Buffy's hand caught his arm and she shook her head. "Be better to just leave her, she'll come round"
Angel smiled "You know her best"
Buffy nodded " Teenagers huh?"
"She kind of reminds me of someone" He smiled at her and winked
"Hey!"
"I have to agree with Angel " Giles spoke up.


"Has anyone noticed how well adjusted Buffy seems , actually all three of them are?" Kennedy stated
"I think it's great, least we're not living with three extremely hormonal and moody vampires. "
"Isn't a happy Angel , a dangerous one?"
"Nope, not anymore" Willow sat up and stretched "Big mojo and the happy clause was history"
"What do we all do now?" One of the potentials said
"Sleep " Willow replied.

The group retired to bed for the night. Xander caught Willow and beckoned her into his room, he watched the hall and shut the door quietly.

"Did you know this .... that ... deadboy had turned her?"
"Yes and um no ... kinda.. it was in a book that she would be .. but by Angelus who turned out to be Liam who is Angel but in the past"
" Ummmmkay from a person who is a bit in shock and someone who is used to your waffling , I still don't get you Will "
"Maybe it's best you don't and trust me, it won't be worth trying to, it's done Xander , Buffy is a vampire with a soul and ...... "
" Does she have the same curse that 'he' has?"
"No, neither of them do. I'm going to go to bed now, I haven't slept properly in months and jetlg big factor here.Night Xan"
She got to the door before he caught her arm and kissed her cheek.
"Night"
Willow got into her room and leant against the door. Tears fell as she realised that the Buffy she knew and loved and respected , was once again gone. This time for good.

"Angel? Do vampires suffer from jet lag?" A confused look on her face
"No. Go to sleep Buffy"
"Can I drown? How do you cope with hearing all of their heartbeats, all that blood flowing through their veins?"
A sigh ." You just block it out or focus on hearing the rest of the noises around you and no , you can't drown "
She thought about it "Cool"
"Are you hungry Buffy?"
"Kinda"
Angel rose out of the bed and put on his pyjama bottoms and left to go to the kitchen.

"Slayer hungry huh?"
"Yeah. She is driving me crazy with her questions"
Spike sniggered "You would think that being the slayer she would know the bleedin' basics"
"Like do we get jet lag or drown?"
Spike laughed again " You always do turn the batty ones"
Angel looked up at him , one brow raised.He took the blood out of the microwave and headed back up to his slayer.
"You need help with her , gimme a shout" Spike was still laughing.
No answer.

By the time he got back to bed , Buffy was asleep. He was so used to hearing her heart beating and her slow rhythmical breathing that it shook him.
Buffy was a vampire!
He had made her into the thing she was born to fight.
His sobs woke her.
"Don't cry for me, I'm right here, I'm fine and I don't blame you at all , it was my choice, I had to do it. If I'm honest , I'm glad it was you that sired me"
He turned his head slightly toward her " It shouldn't have come to that Buffy. We should have defeated the Senior Partners before they had a chance to do anything to you"
"We can sit here and say what if's and should haves til were blue in the face but it won't change a thing , this is our reality now Angel. I'm not going to be l'il miss broody about it, don't get me wrong I have my issues and I'm not at all stable in here" Buffy tapped her temple " But, I have you and our families safe, anything else we can deal with, together"
"Okay where's Buffy and what have you done with her" he gave her one of his half smiles, hiding his worries from her.He did feel a little better though. It appeared she was adjusting to being a vampire better than he could of hoped. Maybe being a slayer had broken her into it a bit after all.
"Now , didn't you go downstairs to get me a midnight snack?"
Angel handed her the mug of blood and got back into bed.Buffy held the mug in blood hands , enjoying the slight warmth take the chill from them. Her demon came to the front and she drank the blood down.
Angel watched and inwardly grimmaced, his demon loved to see it's mate in her glorious demon visage, but to Angel, it was a painful reminder of his failings. He still thought she was beautiful and she was still his Buffy , but , the fact was , he was going to have to come to terms with it as much as she had to.Like she had said though they would work through it together.He sighed.
"What's up?"
"Just taking a deep breath , unno, things were kinda tense for a long while back in L.A. I'm just releasing the inner tension"
He took the drained mug and put it on his night stand. He pulled the covers back over them and settled in with Buffy tight in his embrace.She rested her head in the crook of his neck.
"I know what you mean, I think we all feel the same way".
"Tomorrow..... " Angel drifted off to sleep.
"Yup tomorrow" Buffy finally succumbed to sleep.


Angel was the first to wake . Buffy was still asleep in his arms , her head tucked under his chin. A smile touched his lips as he heard her demon growl in her sleep. It knew he was awake and was trying to rowse her from her slumber. Her legs stretched and she yawned. Angel drew her in closer .
"Morning "
Buffy kissed his chest " Is it time to get up already?"
"Well we're awake but we don't have to get up yet. Illyria has Layton"
Buffy smiled and kissed a path from his chest to his lips " I need to go and see him , I feel like it's been a lifetime . You coming?"
Like he needed to be asked twice.
They showered and went downstairs. Everyone as up and sat around having breakfast. Dawn was sat playing with Layton and Spike was laughing with Willow.
Angel looked at Buffy and raised his eyebrows." Breakfast?"
Buffy growled
"Take that as a yes then" He kissed her on her forehead and went into the kitchen.
Spike looked at Buffy. "Slayer"
"Morning Spike" there was a very cheerful tone to her voice.
Spike raised his brow , this was definitely not how he saw her reacting to her new life, he was expecting her to behave very much like the brooding other half.
"Good to see you smilin' pet"
She winked at him, earning yet another brow raising from him.Buffy laughed " Seems to me some people here that need to let go of their angst"
Dawn looked up and picked Layton up and handed him over to his Mum.
"Think he missed you "
"And I missed him , so much" she bent her head down to him and took a deep breath in, inhaling his scent. Buffy closed her eyes , the familiar scent calming her. Layton grabbed her hair and gurgled .
She was home.


Angel took his son and sat down with him. He was talking to him and telling him how Daddy had defeated a big dragon and how he had killed a sixty foot demon that had tried to decapitate him.
"That demon was no taller than ten foot , stop exaggerating" Buffy sat beside them.
Everyone was sat around in silence.
Spike sat on the edge of the couch next to Angel.
"So, any idea how long we'll have to stay 'ere for and what we'll do , a bloke like me can only stay coupped for so long , an' I reckon those slayerettes will go stir crazy with sod all to do"
"We can't do much til we get word that it's safe to go back, but there's demon activity here , just as much as there is anywhere else. That should keep the boredom at bay for some time" Angel looked up at Spike "You don't actually have to stay here of course "
" Like I'm goin' anywhere else, gotta stay an' annoy you aint I, no-one else has the stones for it"
Angel shook his head and continued paying his son attention.

The phone rang and Buffy answered it. It was a representative of Wolfram and Hart. Buffy's heart would have stopped and jumped into her throat if it beat.
"What do you want? Buffy asked , the rage she felt evident in her voice
"Rest assured you and your family are safe Ms Summers, we wish to meet up and discuss the future of the company with you"
And I want to know about that , why?"
"Because not only is it in your best interest but also in the companies best interest"
"Well excuse me if I take this opportunity to say that 1) it sounds like a threat and 2) as far as I'm concerned the company can rot in it's own hell"
" No threats intended , we are prepared to hand the company over to you and Angel, to do with as you see fit"
Buffy raised her eyebrows and was stunned.
"So how does this work?"
"We set up a meeting for you and Angel , decide from there"
"This conversation is over "
Buffy put the phone down and she returned to Angel
"What was that about?"