Ring Ring, Ring Ring
As Buffy Summers entered her house in Sunnydale at 2:00am she thought Who could be calling at this time. The rest of Sunnydale would have been in bed for hours, but the Slayers day was just beginning.
"Hello" she said quietly into the receiver so she wouldn't wake her mother and sister.
"Hello, Buffy" Buffys heart skipped a beat. Angel she thought It can't be."Buffy, are you there?" the voice said again "It's Angel"
"Oh, uh, Angel hi" she stuttered nervously. "Why are you calling at this,uh, fine hour?"
"Oh,uh" now he was stuttering" Buffy" he sighed "Your in danger. Again."
Great she thought that's just what I wanted to hear from my ex boyfriend at 2am. She didn't need to tell him all that he knew her to well.
All she said was "Again, huh?"-----
"So" Xander said "Dead Boy's back in town"
They were all sat round the table in the Magic Shop and everyone ignored Xander's remark and started asking Buffy questions. Willow clearly worried for her friend asked "Did he tell you what your in danger of? Or who?"
Buffy just laughed and said sarcastically "Well Angel hasn't always been the man of many words, but no he said it couldn't be discussed over the phone"
"Well, I like Angel," the ex demon girl Anya exclaimed. She was snuggling with Xander at the end of the table."He's big and muscley" She got this weird look on her face while she was thinking about him. Xander saw this and coughed nervously then nudged Anya in the ribs gently.
"Ow. What?" she said to Xander, clearly annoyed "You fantasize about other woman all the time"
Xander was astonished by her words "I do not" he picked up a bag of chips and began eating.
"Yes you do" Anya was getting mad "You always, always fantasize about Buffy." Xander started choking on his chips "And don't even get me started about Willow and Tara together" Xander was looking around at everyone with pleading eyes, he was begging someone to change the subject, but Buffy and Willow were getting more interested by every minute.
Giles finally stepped in "Could we please change the subject?" He looked more worried than usual. He was flipping through the pages of the big old book he held in his hand. "We do have a bigger problem at hand. Now Buffy, there is no prophecies of such that say anthing is due to happen to the Slayer at this time. But..." He paused for emphasis. "We have been wrong before. Now, Buffy are you sure Angel didn't give you any indication as to what we should expect. It would have been a big h-"
"Giles" she cut him off "It's not like I didn't try, but he wouldn't tell m..... DAWN! Put that down!"
"I wasn't doing anyhting" Dawn yelled back at her older sister "And can we please go? I'm so bored"
"Yeah can we?" Anya said to Xander.
Buffy was about to say something but Willow stepped in."Dawnie." Willow walked over to Dawn and put her arm round her shoulder. "Could you just wait a few more minutes?"
"OK." Dawn finally agreed and went back to exploring the shop.
"Thank you Dawn" Giles huffed "And may I remind you Anya that I am paying you to be here"
"Oh" Anya considered his remark. "Well, all I meant was that Buffy's always in danger. What's so different about this time? Even if she dies someone else is called. It's not that big a deal"
Everyone just looked at Anya bewildered. Xander finally spoke up, "Anya maybe we should just keep your sentences short and sweet. You know like, Buffy I'm worried about you and you won't die and also, this is the best one, No Xander doesn't fantasize about Buffy."
"OK." Buffy stepped in "You'll be pleased to know Anya. You can leave, I have to meet Angel in an hour." To Giles she said "I'll call you when I know something."
She walked out of the door and started walking down the street then turned back "Dawn" she shouted.
"How do youstake vampires and stop the world from ending every night but still forget to take your 'beloved' sister?" Dawn asked.
Buffy turned and glared at her. "Vampires aren't the only things I can stake" Point taken Dawn left without another word.
-----
Buffy was walking alone to the Bronze to go meet Angel, and she was very nervous. She'd tried on six different outfits before finally deciding on her gold halter and black trousers. Very casual yet not too much. She'd made a point of not wearing her cross necklace, just incase she burnt Angel when they hugged.
But will we hug, she wondered, was it right to hug your ex when you've not seen him in over a year. Would they be allowed to shake hands? Would they be able to talk about anything else apart from this mysterious danger that was lurking in the shadows?
Everything was just so complicated. The last time Angel was here she had been dating Riley. Even though she had had all these feelings then she couldn't have possibly done anything about them. And now she could.
Maybe I should have brought....., her thoughts were interrupted. She felt the weird prickling at the back of her neck whenever she was around vamps. Buffy turned and looked around for something hidden in the shadows. She finally decided there was nothing there and put the feeling down to nerves.
Spike watched Buffy from behind a parked car. She was looking around for something in his direction.
God, she's beautiful, he thought. She especially looked good tonight in her gold halter-top. Out of the six outfits he'd watched her try on from outside her bedroom window he decided that was the best.
He watched Buffy carry on towards the Bronze. He hoped she would be alone for a while so he might not look so obvious when he offered to buy her a drink.
Buffy walked into the Bronze and looked around for Angel. She thought he'd already be here. After the little fashion show she'd had in her bedroom she was now late. She found an empty table and was about to walk over to it when the crowds parted. She caught her breath when she saw him. He looked even more gorgeous than what she remembered. Their eyes met for a brief moment and he waved and gestured towards the empty chair next to him.
She walked over to him and felt her face going redder with every step.Angel watched as Buffy walked towards him. She looked happy to see him under the circumstances.
"Hi," he said as she approached the table and sat down in the seat opposite from him. She wouldn't look at him.
"Hi," she looked as flustered and uncomfortable as he felt at that moment.
"Hi" He repeated again, unsure of what else to say.
"Oh, Bloody Hell!!" Spike said as he realized who the guy with Buffy was. Angel, he thought.
He hated Angel more than anyone. It wasn't the poofy hair cut or the tired 'I'm all tortured act' that he hated the most. It was the fact that every woman that had ever loved Angel had took them away.
First it was Drusilla, Spikes sire. They had been together for over a hundred years. But, as soon as Angel had turned back to his old evil self three years back well, Drusilla had fallen straight back into his arms of her ex. Spike had gotten her back, but it hadn't been the same.
And now Buffy. He'd really thought he'd had a chance with her now 'Captain Cardboard' was out of the picture, but no. Now the bloody famous 'Vamp With Soul' was back to ruin Spike's very long already ruined life.
"God, I hate him" Spike said with utter disgust.
"So," Buffy said to Angel nervously "um, how've you been?"
"Good, I've been good, but Buffy-" Angel replied and was cut off by Buffy.
"I know. We need to talk about one of these 'oh so many' life or death situations I'm in" she looked depressed as she sat waiting for Angel to explain.
"Well" he started "This is hard to understand, but someone is using magic to go back in time and kill you before you were the Slayer. So that means the last six years while you've been the Slayer would have never happened"
"God, no one's ever gone to that much trouble over me before" she laughed nervously "Who has gone to this much trouble?"
"William Kingston," he answered her question shortly.
"Your gonna need to give me a bit more Angel, cos I'm kinda drawing a blank here" Angel could see how angry she was getting so he carried on quickly.
"Kingston is an ex member of the Watcher's Council. He was kicked out for killing other members." He paused to watch her expression, but she wasn't listening, she was staring at someone over her shoulder.
Angel turned and saw who she was staring at. It was Spike.
"You hate who?" Spike jumped at the sound of Willow's voice.
Spike ignored the question and asked "What is he doing here?" He then saw Buffy staring at him and he smiled. Surprisingly enough, she smiled back.
"He came to help Buffy" Willow told Spike."She's in some sort of danger and....."
"What!?" Spike jumped in, "Buffy's in danger? Come on!" he took Willow by the arm and led her towards Buffy and Angels table.
Buffy watched Spike drag Willow over to where she sat. She was suddenly pleased to see Spike and started fiddling with her hair to make sure she looked OK. He came and stood next to Buffy and all she could do was stare at him. God, she thought, What's wrong with me?
"What do you want Spike?" Angel asked angrily. Then more nicely he added "Hi Willow."
"Hi" Willow replied shyly.
"Buffy are you in danger?" Spike asked he sounded really worried.
"Aren't I always these days Spike?" she answered. Why aren't they arguing? Angel asked himself.
"Oh, cos if you are I can help you, you know Fight that evil!" he was enthusiastic about helping Buffy that Angel had to laugh "What are you laughing at Droopy?"
"Nothing, nothing" Angel insisted. He then told Spike and Willow about William Kingston's plan.
"Well maybe I could help?" Willow said "You know there may be a spell of some sort. I'll go to the Magic Shop now." Buffy looked at her friend and silently thanked her for leaving her and Angel alone. She then cast a worried glance toward Spike who was glaring at Angel. Willow saw this and said "Hey, uh Spike do you think you could walk me to the Magic shop, I mean if someone's after Buffy they may be after me too?"
Spike looked at Willows sweet face, then at Angel's brooding one and then he looked at Buffy. She gave him the sweetest smile and he instantly said yes. What I wouldn't do for that girl?, he thought as he walked out of the Bronze with Willow by his side.
Willow looked over at Spike. They were walking down one of the dark alleys that surrounded the Bronze. "Thank you," she said to Spike. Before he turned she saw him give a slight smile.
"What did you say Red?" She knew that he knew exactly what she said but she repeated herself anyway.
"I said" she repeated "Thank you. I know you don't hear it from us that often, so, thank you"
"Oh come on Red" Spike was trying to hide his embarrassment but it wasn't working." I was gonna walk this way anyway"
" I didn't mean thank you because of this" she said " it's for other stuff as well, I mean you're always helping us when you don't have to."
"The only reason I help you is because Giles pays me," he answered back bitterly, but Willow knew Giles had stopped paying him a long time ago.
"Yeah Spike," Willow said. "Whatever."
"Maybe we should have gone with Willow and Spike?" Angel said to Buffy, but she didn't hear a word. She was too busy thinking about Spike. Why is he always so helpful? she thought. She couldn't deny that she had feelings for him, the only thing that had put her off was that he was evil, or at least he used to be. But, Buffy thought, is it possible to get your soul back once it's lost. Or does it always remain a forgotten soul?
"Buffy?" Angel said. She jumped from her seat nearly knocking over their drinks.
"What?" she asked Angel as she sat back down opposite him.
"I said," he repeated himself, "maybe we should have gone With willow and Spike you know, go help?"
"Oh , yeah" Buffy replied. They left the Bronze and headed toward the Magic Shop. "How did you know I was in danger?" Buffy asked.
"My friend had a vision" Angel replied. That's what he said last time, Buffy thought to herself.
"Was this the same friend as last time?" she asked him.
"No" he said. His face clouded over as he thought about what Buffy had said. "This time it was Cordy."
Since when has it been 'Cordy' and not Cordelia, Buffy thought, but instead of saying this out loud she asked a different question.
"So, how is Cordelia?" she made appoint of saying Cordelia and not 'Cordy'. "Still as shallow as ever?"Angel just laughed and said "No Buffy, you'd be surprised. She's really grown up. She's a whole new woman. Very dependable."
"Well I'm sorry" Buffy said "But I find that hard to believe"
-----
"It could never happen with Buffy. You do know that don't you?" Willow said to Spike. They were nearly at the Magic Shop.
"What? Why do you think I want som-" He looked at Willow and stopped. "Well why couldn't it?"
"Because, if you ever got that chip out of your head you'd kill us all in an instant. You know that and she know's that," Willow answered. But as soon as she saw the pained look on Spike's face she wished she'd not said anything.
"But" Spike said " Truth is, I don't wanna kill you Red or any of ya friends. The only one I really wanted to kill was 'Captain Cardboard' but now he's gone so, no I don't wanna kill you."
Willow stopped and looked deeply into Spike's eyes. She was searching for something but not quite sure of what. Then she found it. "Well, I wonder…." She said then she turned and walked into the Magic Shop.
Giles was rearranging the herbs and spices behind the counter while Tara was looking through some of the books.
Willow walked in and said to Tara "Hi sweetie," then to Giles "Hi, I have news about Buffy."
"Hey Red" Spike said as he walked into the shop "You wonder what?"
Willow ignored him and explained Buffy situation to Giles. As soon as she was finished Giles dived for his books and started frantically searching through the pages.
"Hello 'Sabrina'" Spike waved his hands frantically in front of willows face "You wonder what?"
"What's he talking about Willow?" Tara asked shyly.
It's just when I looked into his eyes I thought I saw……..never mind" Willow cut her answer short.
"What do you bloody mean 'never mind'" Spike exploded "We were talking about…. Well that doesn't matter, but you looked at me all weird and said 'I wonder', now what the bloody hell did you wonder?"
"Spike now's not the time." Willow returned to the book she was reading. Spike flopped down on the couch. They all sat there in silence for a while until Xander and Anya walked in.
"Hey" Xander said "Where's the Buffster and dead boy?
Just as he said that Buffy and Angel walked in. "We're here." He walked past Xander and headed towards Giles. Then he turned and said "Don't call me Dead boy" Buffy came in and sat down next to Spike.
Angel stood and watched them curiously while he looked through the books on Giles shelves.
Buffy looked worried so Spike asked "Ya alright pet?"
Buffy just smiled and said nicely, "I'll be fine." Everyone looked at her funny. She then realized what she'd done. Maybe that was a little too nice, Buffy thought. So she added "And I'm not your Pet. William"
"Hey," he nudged her playfully in the ribs "It's not William OK? It's Spike."
"William, I'm the Slayer if I say it's William, it's William"
Angel thought to himself, My God she's flirting with him. Why isn't she doing that with me? Then another thought hit him , Oh My God I'm jealous of Spike.
"Hey Red" Spike called "You gonna tell me what you were on about earlier?"
"Will you shut up if I tell you?" Willow asked.
"I might," he replied. He smiled at her trying to convince her to tell him.
"OK," she agreed. "Outside." He followed her out the door and into the street.
"So what did you wonder?" Spike asked Willow.
Willow was looking straight into Spikes eyes. Spike watched as suddenly Willow appeared very different.
"Don't you hear it?" she asked him saying every word as if she was singing a song.
"Hear what?" his voice rose as he became more irritated with her.
She put her ear to his chest "Lub dub, lub dub. Don't you hear it William?"
"No!" he screamed at her "And how many more times. It's Spike."
"But no. William, the stars told me. You must hear it. Lub dub, lub dub, lub dub" Willow was still talking in her sing song voice.
"Willow!" Spike sounded worried "Willow? What's wrong? You're starting to act like Drusilla
"William," Willow continued, "You must hear it. It's your heart William, it's beating. Lud dub, lub dub, lub du…"
"Newsflash for you 'Sabrina'" Spike cut in "I'm a big, bad vamp. I don't have a heart" He started walking back into the shop "I'm bloody sick o' this."
"What was that all about?" Buffy asked Spike. She'd been watching them through the window and had seen Spike get so mad at Willow.
"She went all Drusilla on me. I'm telling you 'teen witch' is seriously weird," Spike answered Buffy's question. Before he sat down Spike went and messed up Angel's 'poofy' hair.
"Spike you…" Angel got up out of his chair.
"What? Come on you 'Dark Avenger' you!" Spike taunted.
"Boys" Buffy stepped between the two of them and held up her hands "Play nice." She turned to Spike, "What do you mean she went all Drusilla on you?"
"Exactly what I said. She started saying she could hear my heart beating. She said that the stars had told her," Spike told Buffy. They both flopped down on the couch again, getting a little too comfortable with each other.
"Well she looks fine now," said Xander as Willow walked back into the shop looking normal.
"Are you Ok?" Anya asked Willow. She looked at Xander for approval on her newfound 'short n sweet' sentences. Xander just smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Yeah" Willow answered, "Why wouldn't I be?"
Giles answered, "Spike said you turned, um, weird on him while you were outside."
"What were you talking about Spike?" Willow asked, she appeared to be her normal self again.
"You said…. but…. oh never mind." Spike just sat there looking very angry.
"Hey, um, guys," Tara said quietly. "I think I found something" Tara showed Willow and Giles the spell.
"Yes this should work" Giles said "Well, uh, Angel we need you for this"
"Why?" Angel asked, he got up from his chair and was trying to read the book from behind Willow and Tara.
"Well," Willow explained, "Someone who was there when the Slayer was called has to perform the ritual. Usually it would be the Watcher, but Giles wasn't Buffy's first watcher. You're the only other person apart from the Slayer who was there"
"We actually need everyone to perform the spell" Giles had drawn a triangle on the floor with some sort of Chinese symbol in the middle. He told Angel to stand in the middle. Then everyone else stood boy, girl around the triangle.
"Now Angel after you have read the spell you will disappear and confront a demon with this symbol," he pointed to the floor, "on his head. You need to kill it quickly. Ok let's get started."
They all stood around the triangle and held hands. Angel stood in the middle and began chanting something in Latin. As his voice rose getting louder and louder, electricity pulsated through the group.
Buffy, who was stood between Xander and Spike, felt the magic's surrounding her as if a blanket. All the world seemed to evaporate from around her, and all she heard, felt and saw was Angel's voice.
When Angel's voice stopped Buffy was jerked awake as though from a deep sleep. She opened her eyes and looked at the spot where Angel had just stood. He was now gone.
"Do ya think it worked?" asked Xander. He was too as was everyone else staring at the middle of the triangle.
"I sure hope so," Buffy answered. She went and sat upon the counter.
"All we can do now" Willow said "Is wait"
----
Angel was floating in blackness. He couldn't feel a thing. He could hear his own voice from somewhere off in the distance repeating the Latin words that Tara had given him.
Suddenly Angel fell to the floor. He looked around. He was in a long hallway, which was painted red and gold and had a red carpet. Swords, crossbows and axes were all hung along the walls.
While Angel was looking around he sensed something behind him. He stood extremely still waiting to make a move. Angel wasn't quick enough and something rushed him from the side. Angel grabbed hold of the thing easily and tossed it down the hall.
Now Angel had a good look at it it was a big, green, muscely demon. He had two green horns sticking out of its neck and a long spikey tail. Also a red triangle with the Chinese symbol in the middle of its head.
While the demon recovered, Angel laid eyes on a gold antique sword, which was hung above his head. He stood up and quickly grabbed it. Stood in a fighting stance he was now ready.
"This is taking longer than I thought," Willow said nervously. Everyone in the Magic Shop ignored her remark and sat there quietly waiting for Angel.
The demon charged at Angel, but he quickly moved out of the way and tried to trip the demon over, but he was too strong and instead he punched Angel in the face. The blow knocked him to the floor. Angel instantly came back at him and kicked him in the face, Angel then got ready to stab the demon, but he blocked his blow and pinned him against the wall.
Angel wasn't used to fighting someone this strong, while Angel was kicking and struggling to be free of the demons grasp the demon grabbed a sword nearly identical to Angels from the wall.He held the sword over Angel's heart ready to plunge. He saw the confused look on the demons face as he drew the sword into Angel's heart. Now the demon knew Angel wasn't human.
Angel suddenly felt his face coming over all bumpy. He suddenly felt stronger and managed to kick the demon to the floor. He drew his own sword and stabbed the demon through the strange marking on his head.
Angel felt the magical white light surrounding him, and then he vanished leaving the demons corpse alone.
"Angel" Buffy went over to Angel as he appeared on the Magic shops floor. Everyone crowded around him.
"Angel" Willow said "Angel can you hear me?"
"Yeah..." Angel managed to choke out. Buffy looked at Angel. He was more or less completely covered with blood. I'll bet he didn't do it, Buffy thought, God I'm gonna die now.
"Did you do it?" asked Xander. Even though he didn't sound worried you could tell he really was.
"Yeah, yeah I di…" Angel fainted and never finished his sentence. Willow knelt down next to Angel and put a pillow under his head.
"Is he alright?" asked Giles he came and stood next to Buffy. They were both watching Willow tend to Angel.
She never answered she just sat next to him and was murmuring something under her breath. Buffy thought she must be doing some sort of healing spell.
Everyone stood watching silently. Then suddenly Willow screamed, "Spike shut up I'm trying to concentrate on Angel!" Everyone just stood staring at her.
Giles spoke up "Willow, Spike didn't say anything" At that point Angel came too. He sat up and listened to Willow.
"Can't you hear it?" she asked.
"Hear what?" Anya asked her. She moved slightly further away from Willow and hid behind Xander.
"See" Spike said "This is what I was talking about. She's gone all Drusilla again"
"You have to hear it" Willow went on "Lub dub, lub dub" She moved closer to Spike and put her ear against his chest again.
"Willow, are you OK?" Buffy asked her friend. She took a step closer and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah," Angel stepped in "Maybe you should sit down?"
"You have to hear it!" Willow cried. "He's changed. How can you I prove it to you?" She looked around and picked up a wooden stake from the counter "I'll do this" she held the stake over Spike's heart, then pulled it back down "No this will kill you either way." She clapped eyes on a mirror and held it up to Spike face "See, see William your back it's really you"
Spike looked into the mirror and saw his own reflection "Oh, my god" Spike just stared into the mirror. He reached up a hand to touch his face.
"How did this happen?" Buffy sounded panicked as she looked into the mirror and saw Spikes reflection.
Angel walked up to Spike and felt his wrist for a pulse "He's human" then he turned to Willow "How?"
"When you became a vampire, Angel your soul was taken away, so was Spike's but, unlike yours his didn't go very far" she paused "There was always a bit of William inside him and until recently nothing could bring that out"
"What are you saying?" Angel asked "And how do you know this?"
"The Powers That Be have sent me as a messenger" Willow explained.
"The Powers That What?" Buffy asked.
"Angel knows," Willow said. "They use Cordelia all the time" Angel just looked at her and nodded.
"But why did this happen to me?" Spike asked extremely quietly. He was sat in a small huddle on the steps with his head in his hands.
"You," Willow said to Spike "Were so in love with Buffy that you were willing to change, you wanted to change. Your love for Buffy brought your soul back" Spike sat there quietly.
Buffy turned to Willow "He loves me?" then to Spike "You love me?"
"Oh thanks Willow. Just go tell her" Spike looked up and told Willow.
"I still don't understand" Angel said "Why him and not….well……and not me?"
"Angel you have a duty to this world which you can't fulfill as a human" Willow said "And, I also believe you've passed up the chance to be human once before"
Angel understood what she was saying even if none else did.
"You love me?" Buffy repeated as she sat down next to Spike "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you hate me," Spike said. Buffy took hold of his hand.
"Spike, I don't hate you," Buffy said. She looked deep into Spikes eyes and could see nothing but pain "What's wrong?" she asked.
"I, I…hurt" Spike said "All the things I've done I was so. …evil. I killed all those…." He burst into tears and Buffy took him in her arms.
"Spike," Willow said. "We're all here to help" Everyone nodded in agreement, including Angel.
"Especially me" Buffy said to him. She was trying to comfort him but she was afraid she wasn't helping.
"But why?" Spike asked "After all the things I've done to you, your friends and family. Why?"
Buffy didn't say anything she just sat with Spike silently listening to his heart beat thump, thump, thump but then it turned into a faint beep, beep, beep, beep………
……..beep, beep, beep.
Buffy hit the off button on her alarm clock. She woke up feeling strangely happy. God, she thought What was I dreaming about. Oh yeah Spike. She thought about it for a moment. Uh, Spike. Oh God NO!!!
"Why was I dreaming about Spike?" she asked the empty room "And, why did I like it?"
Buffy gasped, "I sure hope nobody heard that!!"But from his perch outside Buffy's bedroom window Spike had heard every word, and he couldn't be happier.
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