The Beginning
Prologue:
June 3, 2000
I dont know what Im going to do. I feel like Im alone. Angel has left me alone, on my request. If you think about it, Im older than he is. Creepy.
Im still a bit angry at Giles for sending Angelus back and not letting me know. But I understand why they did that. They wanted a Slayer to deal with it, not some emotional teenager. But sometimes, I feel as if I dont feel enough. I just dont know what they want from me any more. Isnt enough that I was in hell for 300 years? Isnt it enough that Ive sacrificed just about EVERYTHING? Nope. Wonder if a Slayers ever retired
I had a creepy dream the other night. Angel was in it, as always, but he wasnt himself. Angelus and him were returned to one body and Angelus went whacko on me again. I killed him. I killed them both. Again. I also heard laughing in the background, familiar laughing. But I dont really want to think about it; now all it is, is something more to tell Giles.
Speaking of, Im supposed to meet Spike and Dru in about ten minutes. More later.
Buffy closed her diary and slipped it between her mattress before gathering her things and then dashed out the door. She ran down the block, ignoring the threatening overcast that hung above her, and came to a halt at the Sunnydale Central Cemetery, the place where she was supposed to meet Spike and Dru.
"Guys?" she called out softly. Footsteps crunched behind her and Buffy whirled around, grabbing for a stake.
"Take it easy," her attacker chided. "Im not a vampire."
"Not anymore," Buffy replied. "Why are you here Angel?"
"Dru said something bout official Slayerette slash vampire business and that I had to help you on patrol," Angel explained.
"Oh." The two stared at each other for a moment, then Buffy moved to his side. "Lets do a quickie, I mean, a quick sweep of this cemetery then hit the park."
"Sounds great," Angel replied. Neither commented at Buffys small slip of the tongue and they both walked through the cemetery. Although neither could shake the feeling that someone was watching them.
*****
"If I ever get near Buffy Summers again I will rip her limb from limb!" Mya had sworn. He couldnt let that happen. No, that was his job. Watch over the Slayer and make sure she didnt kill the real one. That and drag her back where she belonged.
"Damned head-strong females," the dark figure cursed again under his breath as he watched the petite blonde Slayer and her darker shadow walk into the cemetery. "I hate it on Earth."
Chapter 1:
"So, patrol is done, now what?" Buffy asked as she stepped out onto Main Street with Angel following close behind.
"Well, its not too late, I guess you could drop by the library and fill Giles in on tonight," Angel replied.
"Nothing happened though. Vamps, killed them, thats it wait, alone?" A pair of green eyes widened and Angel looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Buffy, you have walked around here alone, at night, before. Besides, I need to be up early in the morning."
"Oh yeah, job and stuff. Okay then, I guess Ill see you around," Buffy said. Angel nodded.
"Yeah," he agreed. They continued in silence when Buffy huffed out a breath.
"Okay, this is getting way too tense," she growled.
"What is?" Angel asked.
"This! Us " Angel stopped dead in his tracks.
"There is no us Buffy, like you said, too much has happened, so therell probably will be ever again." The expressionless look that Buffy had mastered and that Angel hated so much settled onto her face.
"Youre right. Later Angel," Buffy said then started off towards the school, leaving Angel in the dark.
*****
"Let me get this straight, you knew I was coming back?" Angelus demanded. Giles nodded his head and took a sip of his tea. "Since when?"
"About three weeks before you left," the British man replied. Angelus let out a few curses and Giles raised an eyebrow.
"Why the hell didnt you tell me?" Angelus asked.
"I wasnt allowed to," Giles said simply then winced as a loud frustrated growl was emitted from the tall vampire.
"What about Buffy?" he asked.
"What about her?" Giles replied. "Youll need her help in catching Mya."
"I just wanted to come here, get that damned bitch who has ruined my unlife and career more than once, and drag her by the hair back to hell. We cant get Buffy involved."
"You cant get Buffy involved in what?" Both males turned with wide eyes to see the Slayer standing there. Her eyes traveled over Angelus, not meeting his eyes then settled on her watcher. "Howd you get here and still have time to change so quickly?"
She thinks Im soul-boy, this could be good, Angelus thought.
"I ran," he said, trying to fill his voice with guilt and worry that was non-existent in his body or mind. She frowned and finally looked at his face.
"You ran across town to your house changed into why are you wearing leather?"
Dammit, Angelus thought.
"I felt like it," he lied. Buffys eyes narrowed.
"Angelus. So, you came crawling back to the Hellmouth. Why?" An amused smile played on Giless lips and he took another sip of his tea.
"Howd you know?" Angelus asked.
"Angel doesnt own any leather. Says it reminds him of you. Pity, you both look pretty good in it." A smirk played on her lips at a thought she had then dissipated. "What are you doing here, and what arent you trying to get me involved in?"
"How was patrol?" Giles asked, cutting in.
"Fine. The world is lacking five less vamps. Whyd you let Dru send Angel to patrol with me? I told you not to do that," Buffy demanded.
"We were in a pinch, Buffy. Spike, Dru, Willow, and Oz are all out searching for what we dont want to get you involved in," Giles explained.
"And that would be what, exactly?" Buffy prodded. She stared at both her watcher and former lover and leaned against the check-out counter.
"Mya," Angelus spit out.
"Shes dead," Buffy stated. "Next problem."
"In hell, Buffy, not dead. You of all people ought to know that by now," Angelus replied. "She escaped."
"How?"
"Im not sure. But shes here, in Sunnydale, and after your blood." Buffy was silent for a moment then started to laugh.
"God mother fucking damnit," she said before hopping up to sit on the counter. "This is just great. That annoying little wannabe Slayer just keeps coming after me. Shes like the Energizer Bunny."
"Buffy," Giles started. "Its simple. You keep busy while the rest of us finds her and Angelus can take her back with her."
"And thats what am I supposed to do? Hide and cower from a pathetic excuse of a female?" Buffy demanded.
"Thats the plan," Angelus told her.
"No! I will not sit by while my friends do my job," Buffy growled. "Shes a vampire and shes about to get nice and personal with Mr. Pointy."
*****
Angel pulled his keys out of his jeans pocket and reached to put the key into the lock when a noise caused him to turn around. His eyes scanned the surrounding area and he listened closely to the night air for some clue as to what it was. Behind him, a shadow moved along the wall with silence and agility that only a Slayer could possess. Angel caught a glimpse of it only briefly when he felt a sharp blow to his head. Stunned, Angel fell unconscious to the ground. A rock dropped next to him and Mya stepped out into the moonlight, a crazy smirk on her face.
"Buffys little playmate, check," she giggled to herself while folding a note underneath the rock she had knocked Angel out with, then hoisted his body over her shoulder and walked into the trees.
Chapter 2:
Buffy walked into the library and plopped down next to Willow. It was the next day and she was so tired she could barely keep from yawning. Angelus was staying with them again, still sleeping on her floor because it was only three in the afternoon.
"Bugger!" a British voice yelled and the sound of a phone being slammed into the hook echoed throughout the library. Giles stalked out of his office.
"Having problems Giles?" Buffy asked. Giles looked at her and his expression softened.
"Angel was supposed to come to the library to help with some texts that I received the other day. Unfortunately, as the time is and all, he seems to be stuck at work. I was simply trying to get a hold of him, but all I keep getting is the answering machine," he replied. Buffy frowned.
"Angel works at home. Independent businessman or something like that," she told him. Giles paused and looked at her.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Well, I dont think that Angel would lie to me, so yeah, Im sure," Buffy replied. Giles frowned again. "If you want, I can go over there and check up on him."
"Yes, that would be greatly appreciated," Giles responded. Buffy looked at Willow.
"Want to come with? Itll give us a chance to chat and stuff," Buffy said. "Theres something I think you should know."
"Buffy, I he you you know what to discuss and what not to," Giles warned. Buffy replied with a sly smile.
"Willow is very smart, Giles. I cant help it if she picks up on certain things," she said. "Cmon Wills, Ill give you all the dirt." She grabbed the red-heads hand and the two dashed out of the library. Giless shoulders sagged as he glared at the door after them.
"Bugger," he muttered before retreating to his office.
*****
"Are you serious?" Willow demanded. The two girls were making their way from the school to Angels house. Buffy nodded.
"Do you think I would lie about something like this?" she asked. "Angelus is back and hes sleeping on my floor." Buffy rolled her eyes.
"Do are " Willow paused.
"Spit it out girl, stop leaving me in suspense," Buffy protested.
"Are you happy to have him back?" Buffy frowned. That very question had plagued her throughout the night and into the day.
"I dont know," she replied truthfully. "I mean, I sort of am, cos nobody really understands me the same as he does, but kinda not, because all it does is make me more confused about my feelings for Angel."
"Which are?" Willow prodded.
"I honestly dont know Will. I mean, I still get that hearts all fluttery, stomach all in knots feeling when Im around him," Buffy told her. They crossed the street and an unsettling feeling crept upon Buffy as they grew closer and closer to Angels house. In fact, she could almost see it. *Boy, that went by quickly,* she thought to herself. *It is still across town from yup. Halfway is the school, and then on the other side is the Bronze and the cemetery where Angel and I patrolled last night.*
"But ?" Willows question pulled the Slayer out of her reverie and she shook her head gently to fill back in what they were talking about.
"But, I think maybe too much has happened and single is the way they intended me," Buffy muttered.
"Buffy, dont think like that," Willow chided. "You just need time."
"Time for what, Willow? Time to heal, time to meet someone new? Ive had 300 years to sort out my feelings for Angel," Buffy almost yelled. "Tell me this: why is it I went to hell thinking and dreaming of nothing but Angel, then I get back and can barely feel comfortable around him?"
"Maybe its because of your relationship with his evil twin," Willow gently suggested. "Maybe you feel bad because you let yourself become involved with what caused Angel so much pain, or maybe its because you cheated on him." Buffy paused as they moved across the street to Angels walkway.
"I never thought of it like that," she whispered. "Same body "
"Not even same body," Willow said. "Just a clone."
"Why didnt I realize this sooner?" Buffy asked, herself more than her friend.
"I dont know," Willow said. "Maybe you just needed time to clear your head."
"Maybe there are too many maybes in the world," Buffy retorted with a raised eyebrow and a small smile. "Maybe I should talk to Angel." The red-head nodded and the two made their way to Angels door in silence. Willow reached out and rang the doorbell. Nothing happened. She rang it again.
"Maybe hes in the shower," Willow suggested. Buffy frowned then nodded, as her eyes picked up on something near her feet. A white envelope underneath a large rock.
"Whats this?" she asked as she bent down to retrieve it. On the front, Buffy, was written in short curvy strokes.
"This isnt Angels handwriting." Willow said nothing as Buffy pulled the note from its casing.
Buffy,
Or, as some may call you, Slayer. Neither names you are fit to have, and yet you do. You have everything. A perfect Watcher, perfect friends, perfect lover. Well, not anymore. And slowly, but surely, they will dwindle to nothing. I have Angel and I will give him back, unharmed, under one condition: the Council gives me back my powers and fires you, the mistake. I will go to the library to retrieve your answer. Kill me then and youll never find Angel in time to save him.
Insincerely,
Mya
"Why that little bitch!" Buffy growled. Willow snatched away the letter and re-read it.
"We need to get back to the library, and fast," she said. Buffy bit back any sarcastic remarks and nodded, then led the way as the two started to run as fast as they could to the library.
More to Come ..