Parental Issues
by Starla
E-MAIL: fuzzylittlepackrat@hotmail.com
RATING: PG
DISCLAIMER: Joss Whedon, all those other people.
AUTHOR’S NOTES: This is a response to challenge number 10.
Feedback: If it’s really worthy...

Buffy’s dad being in trouble and asking for Angel’s help... Then, when he finds little about Angel he tells him that Buffy did think and talk about him during the summer after the Master killed her...Must have: Hank saying that Buffy would wake up screaming Angel’s name... Joyce bashing... Mention of purple nail polish... Where Mr. Gordo came from... Buffy constantly wearing the later jacket and the cross...

SUMMARY: Hank Summers asks Angel for help, and consequently finds more about his daughter...

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Hank studied the door of the office carefully. The glass window was clean and shiny, and black lettering clearly spelled out the name of the business : Angel Investigations.

Slowly, he pushed the door open, unsure of what to expect. He'd never been to a Private Investigator before.

Behind a desk sat a pretty young brunette who looked vaguely familiar. He thought for a moment, attempting to place the face, but had no luck.

She stood, a nice, friendly smile beaming across her face. "Welcome to Angel Investigations. How can I help you?"

Hank held up a business card. "A Detective gave me this...She said you dealt with the...Unusual. Supernatural."

"Best in the Business." Cordelia grinned, holding out a hand. "My name is Cordelia Chase."

Hank shook her hand firmly. "Hank Summers."

"If you'll just take a seat in there-" She indicated Angel's office. "We'll be right with you."

Hank nodded and wandered through to the other room, sitting down in one of the chairs.

He gazed around the room, taking it in.

A mahogany desk took up a large portion of the room, and a bookshelf housed several ancient looking books. A fichus sat in one corner, next to a filing cabinet.

He let his eyes drift to the desktop, where a pile of papers were spread across the shiny surface.

Bills, post-its, letters...none of which caught his eye.

It was the unfinished sketch which captured his attention.

An unfinished sketch that bore a remarkable resemblance to his daughter, right down to the freckle on her ear and the cross that hung from her neck.

His Buffy. Rendered so beautifully in charcoals.

Suddenly, he knew where he recognized Cordelia from.

She was one of Buffy's friends. He had met her in Sunnydale the summer that Buffy disappeared. Had she drawn this stunning picture?

He didn't have time to wonder, as Cordelia swept into the room that very second, followed by two men.

"Mr. Summers, This is Angel and Wesley, my colleagues." She announced, sitting down next to him.

"Hello Mr. Summers." Angel said quietly. "What may we do for you?"

Angel was well aware that Hank was Buffy's father.

But what difference did it make? He was a client in need of help.

Hank smiled at Angel, indicating for him to hold on a moment. "Cordelia, I'm guessing you don't remember me but we met a little over a year ago? I'm-"

"Buffy's Dad!" Cordelia exclaimed, remembering. "Oh, I'm so sorry Mr. Summers, but I've seen so many new faces recently..."

She turned to Angel and Wesley. "Guys, this is Buffy's dad!"

Angel's face remained stoic. "Well aware of that Cordelia."

"You- You both know Buffy too?" Hank asked.

They nodded, but didn't elaborate.

"They both lived in Sunnydale too." Cordelia said after a pause.

"So what brings you here?" Angel asked Hank, lacing his fingers.

"Wait- Angel?" Hank asked. "Joyce mentioned you."

Angel winced. "Nothing Bad, I hope." He said softly, knowing the whole time that Joyce would have been insulting him left, right and centre.

Hank smiled. "Well, actually, yeah, but I wouldn't believe a word of it." Hank confided. "Joyce can be a bit dense sometimes."

Angel let out an unnecessary breath. Relief swamped over him. If Hank needed his help, he would have to trust him.

"Good to Hear." Angel said, then waited for Hank to start his story.

"About a week ago I was attacked- by someone calling themselves the Gonogash Warrior."

Angel leaned back. "Cordy get the Urstlimite Chronicles from downstairs, would you?"

"He knocked me up pretty good, too." Hank continued. "I was in hospital for two days. Anyway, since then, I've had the strangest feeling I'm being watched."

Angel nodded. "The Gonogash is an assassin for the dark forces. There's normally a few of them assigned to a victim at a time."

"But...why would someone come after me? I'm not involved in this sort of stuff at all. Until a few days ago, I didn't believe in magic at all."

Angel looked down at his desk. "It might be connected to people you know." He said quietly, then bit his lip. "To Buffy."

"Why Buffy?" Hank asked.

Angel stared at him for a moment. "I have to get her permission to tell you the story." Angel said, picking up the phone. "Can you just hold on a sec?"

He dialed Buffy's number slowly, dreading hearing the tantalizingly soft voice of his love.

"Hello?" She picked up the phone, and he could hear a smile in her voice.

Someone spoke in the background, and he heard her muffle the phone. "Riley, quit that! I'm trying to answer the phone!"

"But you're just so soft and touchable." He heard a male voice say, and anger and jealousy boiled up inside of him bringing the demon to just under the surface. He could feel it scratching inside his skin, begging to be set free. But he knew that Hank was watching him intently, so he controlled it with great difficulty.

"Hello?" She said into the phone again.

"Hello, Buffy." He said quietly, not meeting Hank's eyes. "It's me...Angel."

There was silence on the other end for a moment.

"Why are you calling me?" She said finally, and he heard her breath hitch.

In sadness? Or Anger?

"Your father is here." He replied. "He was attacked by a Gonogash assassin."

"A Gonogash? One of those uber-slimy guys with the green teeth?"

"Yeah." He paused. " think he needs to be told why he's on a gonogash hitlist Buffy."

"That's not really your decision to make, is it?" Buffy said, anger seeping into her voice. "Of Course, you always did like to make my decisions for me."

"That's not fair, Buffy." He said, and once again felt the demon pushing at it's barriers.

She let out a deep breath. "I know...I'm sorry. Look, can you wait for me to get there? I'll be an hour and a half, at the most."

Angel winced. "You're coming here?"

"Don't you think he should hear this from me?"

"Well...yeah...but..."

"I promise not to stake you." She said, sounding amused. "God, you sound like you're scared of me or something."

Angel closed his eyes. "I'll see you when you get here."

This visit was gonna be his undoing, he was sure of it.

*

Hank sat back in his chair, watching the man before him intently.

He hadn't known what to expect from the man named Angel; Sure, Joyce had spoken of him several times, but Buffy had never mentioned him directly.

Well...except in her sleep.

Hank remembered the summer that Buffy had come to visit him, remembered her withdrawn attitude, her icy behaviour.

She'd woken up in the middle of the night, sobbing uncontrollably, whispering Angel's name over and over.

"So...You and Buffy were close." Hank spoke, and Angel lifted his head, his face unreadable.

"You could say that..." He said slowly, not sure where Hank was going with this.

"What happened between you two?" Hank asked. When Angel didn't answer, he elaborated. "Why did you break up?"

"Oh." Angel said, and then paused. "Uh, Joyce had a word to me."

"And you listened to the meddlesome cow?"

"Some of the things she said made sense." Angel defended himself halfheartedly.

"And what did Buffy say to this?"

Angel looked down. "She doesn't know what triggered my attack of the nobility."

"So she just thinks you rejected her?"

Angel's eyes flashed. "Buffy knows I love her."

"Then why would you break up with her?"

"There was no future with her for me." Angel said softly. "I can't give her everything I want her to have."

"What about what she wants her to have?"

Angel didn't reply at first. When he did, confusion and doubt swirled in his eyes.

"You don't know all the details." He told Hank.

"I know that she loves you."

"How?" Angel shot back, shaking his head. "You weren't there." His eyes narrowed. "You were never there."

Hank winced. "Touche."

Angel closed his eyes. "I'm sorry. This is just a...touchy subject."

"Do you remember when Buffy came to visit me one summer?"

Angel nodded.

"She was so distant that summer. I...I have to admit, I was a little afraid of her."

"Afraid?"

"I guess that's the wrong word to use. I just didn't know how to act around her anymore. I didn't know her anymore." He shook his head. "A few months is a long time in the life of a teenager."

Angel nodded in understanding. When he'd gone back to Sunnydale at Thanksgiving, Buffy had a whole new life. New friends, new interests, new everything. And he had missed it all.

"That summer she was here...She was jumpy. Edgy. Always looking over her shoulder, always jumping at shadows. She was having nightmares again....."

*

Hank stood in the doorway of his daughter's bedroom, watching her writhe and tremble on her bed. Every few moments, a cry would escape her lips.

She clutched at the sheet, her face sweating, her eyes squeezed shut. She tossed her head to the side, throwing a punch into the empty air.

"No..." She cried. "No..." Tears started streaming down her face, but she didn't stir. "Help me, Angel....Angel...."

Something passed over her face, and she calmed.

For the moment.

But he knew she would have another episode before the night was through.

*

Angel sat quietly as Hank spoke, his mind stuck on the image of Buffy, lying face down in the pond.

He swallowed, his mouth going dry as he remembered her lifeless body, her blonde hair fanned out around her.

Buffy wasn't the only one who had nightmares about that night.

He was suddenly angry at himself for not being there when she needed him.

Like he wasn't there now.

< She has Riley now. > He reminded himself. < She doesn't need you. >

He wondered if she called Riley's name when she had nightmares now. He wondered if Riley calmed her tears and soothed her fears when she was scared.

The thought teared at his heart.

The thought of his girl being comforted by another man.

He shivered, tormented by thoughts of ripping the young man to shreds.

Angelus was raging inside of him, infuriated by Angel's passive acceptance.

< Kill the son of a bitch!!!! He's messing with whats yours. Can't you just picture him touching her, kissing her? Sliding his tongue over that delicate skin--- >

"Stop!" Angel cried out loud, raising a hand to his forehead.

Hank paused, gazing at him quizzically.

Angel realized he'd spoken aloud. "Uh...Never mind."

Hank stared at him for a beat before speaking again.

"You gave my daughter a jacket, didn't you?" Hank asked.

Angel raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"

"Just a hunch."

*

Buffy descended the stairs, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder as she walked.

Alice, Hank's girlfriend. looked up from the paper she was reading.

"Good Morning, Buffy." She said brightly.

Buffy's eyes narrowed and she stared at Alice coldly. "Hey."

Alice eyed the leather jacket Buffy was wearing. It feel almost to her knees and the sleeves were rolled up. She was literally swimming in it.

"Where did you get that jacket?" Alice asked, cocking her head to the side thoughtfully.

Buffy stiffened. "Why do you care?"

She saw the hurt pass across Alice's face and softened. "A friend."

"You wear it a lot...every day, I've noticed."

Buffy shrugged. "It makes me feel safe." She paused. "It smells like him."

"Like who?"

Immediately, Buffy's face became a mask. "Nobody."

*

"I don't think I saw her without that jacket for more than five minutes that summer." Hank said thoughtfully. "I think she missed you terribly."

Angel looked down. "She wouldn't have admitted to that when she first came back." He told Hank quietly. "She was...She had some issues. She wasn't very nice to us."

"Us?"

"Me, Will, Xander. Cordelia, though that wasn't unusual."

"How? What did she do?"

"Just snide little comments. Excessive independence."

"Not to mention *that* dance with Xander." Cordelia said, appearing in the doorway.

"What?" Hank asked, confused.

"I don't think Hank needs to hear about that, Cordy." Angel said, glaring at her.

"Why not?" Cordy asked. When Angel didn't reply, she smiled. "Anyway, we were at the Bronze- the local club?- and Cibo Matto- who were *the* band of the hour- were playing. Anyway, she danced with Xander."

"What's so bad about that?" Hank asked.

"You didn't see the dance." Angel muttered.

"She was in this *tiny* little dress- I'm guessing she wore a trenchcoat over it cos there was no way her Mom would have let her out in that- and when I say dance, I'm talking close quarters. Foreplay to the extreme."

Hank had gone white. "But I thought she was with you!" He said, pointing at Angel.

Angel shook his head. "We weren't officially together then." He said.

"She was trying to make Angel jealous." Cordelia told Hank, perching on the edge of Angel's desk.

"I'm guessing it worked." Hank said, amusement tinting his voice as he watched the muscle in Angel's jaw twitch.

"I was ready to maim him." Angel admitted. "Xander and I don't get on that well."

"You mean cos whenever it came to you Xander was an arrogant, self-serving jerk?" Cordelia filed her nails.

"It mighta had something to do with that. yeah." Angel said dryly.

Angel remembered clearly watching Buffy dance with Xaxnder. He'd been forced to watch that dance over and over in hell; only, in hell, Buffy didn't walk away.

He remembered watching her whisper in Xander's ear, watched her run her small, soft hands down Xander's chest.

He surpressed a snarl and shook his head.

He had to let go of her.

Or it would drive him insane.

*

Buffy stared at the phone for a moment , laying her hand on the plastic.

She could almost feel Angel through the wires.

Just the sound of his voice....

She closed her eyes, pushing away her thoughts.

Naked Thoughts.

She opened her eyes when Willow walked into the room, and turned to face her and Riley.

"Who was that?" Riley asked, leaning back on his elbows.

She looked down at her hands. "An old friend."

"Really? Which old friend?" Willow asked, smiling brightly.

"Angel." Buffy replied, watching as Willow winced.

"Who's Angel?" Riley asked, looking back and forth between the two girls.

"Like I said, an old friend. He's sorta in my line of work."

"A Demon Hunter?"

Buffy bit her lip. "Sort of...I guess..."

"Cool."

"What did he want?" Willow asked, gazing at Buffy in concern.

"I have to go to LA." Buffy replied, crossing to her closet and pulling down a bag.

"But...We have classes!" Willow exclaimed.

"Yeah, but I've also got a father who has demon assassins after him."

"I'll come with you." Riley announced.

Buffy froze. < That ain't a good idea. >

"Riley it's ok, I think maybe I-"

"Nonsense. If your father has assassins after him, you're gonna need some pretty good back-up."

"Angel is pretty strong..." Willow said. "With the killing and the thwarting..."

"Willow's right." Buffy told him. "If Angel wanted to he could kick *my* arse."

"But this isn't just about physical strength, Buffy. You're gonna drop a very big bomb on your father. I wanna be there for emotional support."

"But I don't ne-"

"Hush. It's all set. Besides, you're gonna need a ride."

Buffy sighed.

Fabulous. A road trip with Riley.

What fun.

*

Buffy was at the end of her rope when Riley pulled up in front of Angel Investigations.

He had a cd player in his car.

He'd sung along with Country Music the entire way there.

Now she knew what hell was like.

She glanced sideways at him, standing next to her in front of Angel's door. She took a breath and pushed it open, stepping through.

Cordelia looked up from her desk.

"Well if it isn't our my favourite little felon." She said cheerily, before her eyes fell on Riley. "What did you bring him for?"

"I didn't bring him, he came." She hissed.

"Nice to know how you feel!" Riley said, straightening.

Buffy ignored him, sensing Angel downstairs.

She started towards the elevator, considering knocking Riley out and leaving him passed out on the floor to deal with later. It was a nice thought, but it wouldn't be right. Damn rule about slayers not harming humans.

"You're just gonna go down there? You're not gonna let him know you're here?" Riley asked, trailing behind her.

"Angel will already know I'm here." She said, pausing. "You should stay here, though. Actually, better yet, why don't you go organize beds for the night." She grabbed Cordy's arm. "C'mon, Cor." She pulled her into the elevator and slid the door shut. "Bye Riley."

They left him standing there, mouth open in protest.

*

"What's up? I thought you were like 'oh-so-in-love' with that guy." Cordy asked, crossing her arms and looking at Buffy quizzically.

"Oh, no. You might have noticed, he's not Angel." Buffy said matter-of-factly.

Cordelia snickered. "Where did you find him, anyway?"

"Where do I get all the relationships I don't really wanna be in? Willow, of course."

Cordelia patted her on the arm. "Which explains why she made out that you guys were practically engaged."

Buffy gave her a funny look. "You spoke to Willow?"

"I needed help with a vanquishing spell. She didn't tell you?"

"No." She sighed. "They pretty much avoid anything that's gonna remind me of Angel."

"What do they do, lock you in a box?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "May as well. It gets annoying."

Cordelia nodded sympathetically. "So...why don't you just break up with Riley?"

"He's a nice guy. A little dull, but he treats me well." She sighed. "And...ok...this is gonna sound stupid, but...as long as I'm with him, they're not hassling me to find somebody."

Cordelia frowned. "That's not a reason to be in a relationship, Buffy."

Buffy gazed at her feet. "I know."

*

Angel's head snapped up as he felt Buffy enter the building.

"She's here..." He whispered, more to himself than Hank.

Hank looked up from his hands just in time to see the elevator open.

Buffy stepped out, locking eyes with Angel for a moment before turning to Hank.

"Hi, Dad." She said softly, stepping toward him and mechanically kissing him on the cheek and hugging him.

She turned to Angel again, just taking him in for a moment. He still looked so good...

She smiled. "How's it going, cryptic?"

He shrugged. "Same as usual, sunshine."

She felt herself melt at the pet name, and grinned.

He suddenly seemed to realize what he'd called her, and ducked his head, looking intently at the floor.

He looked so cute at that moment...

She propelled herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.

After a moments hesitation, his arms slipped around her, returning the hug.

"It's so good to see you..." She whispered into his neck.

He closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of her skin against his.

"You too."

*

Slowly, Buffy released Angel, keeping a hold of his hand for a moment before she let him go completely.

A silence fell over the room, and Buffy wasn't quite sure what to say.

Luckily, Cordelia, who had never been at a loss for words in her life, spoke first.

"Ok Buffy, shouldn't you be getting started on telling your father the whole "In every generation' yarn?"

Buffy nodded, ushering them all over to the kitchen. They sat down, Buffy across from her father, and Angel on the side.

Cordelia opened one of Angel's cupboards, taking down a bottle of Jack Daniel's and a glass. She set them down next to Hank, waving away the strange looks she received from Buffy and Angel.

"Hey, I *saw* your Mom after she found out. Man, that woman can drink."

"Alcoholics generally can." Hank agreed, attracting an angry glare from Buffy. "Sorry Honey." He apologized sheepishly. "Couldn't help myself."

Buffy sighed, but waved her hand. She couldn't be bothered denying her father the pleasure of taking jabs at her mother.

What her mom didn't know, couldn't hurt her.

"So why am I gonna need my buddy Jack?" Hank asked, leaning back in his chair, drumming his fingers on Angel's kitchen table.

Angel tried not to remember making love to Buffy on that table....and on that counter....and on the floor....

Buffy, however, was oblivious.

"Well......." She sighed, deciding to go for the direct approach. " Do you believe in vampires, Dad?"

Hank went to automatically answer 'no', but found himself considering the question carefully. He'd seen a demon with his own eyes only the day before, so why not vampires??

He pondered the question in silent conflict before answering in a quiet voice. "I don't *not* believe in vampires."

That was the best he could do, for that moment.

Buffy watched him. "I believe." She said softly. "For me...for my friends....vampires are a part of daily life."

Hank's eyes widened, and he glanced at Angel, and to Cordelia, who sat opposite Angel.

Cordelia screwed up her nose and nodded matter-of-factly.

Buffy bit her lip. "Dad, I went to High School on the Hellmouth."

Hank's mouth dropped open. "You're kidding me."

Buffy shook her head. "It opened in the school library. Big multi-headed demon, lots of slime...not fun."

"Buffy." Angel said gently. "You're skirting around the issue. Get to the point."

Buffy looked down. "I don't want to." She whimpered.

She locked eyes with Angel. "He's the only person who doesn't look at me as the big ol' freak, these days. I'm just Buffy to him , and I wanna keep it that way."

Angel reached over and laid his hand on top of Buffy's. "You've come this far."

Angel's touch seemed to comfort her and steel her resolve. She turned to her father, pulling an old book from her shoulder bag.

"The Codex...." Angel breathed, and Buffy nodded.

"Yep. After this, can we burn it?" She asked weakly.

Angel shook his head. "You have no idea what I went through to get that book."

"You should have left it in whatever hellspawn sty you found it in."

"Buffy?" Hank said, trying to guide his daughter back to her point.

"Right." She flipped the book open to a page towards the start, pushing it under his nose. "Read."

//In every generation, there is a chosen one.The One Girl in the world with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires, to stop the spread of darkness. She is the Slayer. //

"What are you saying?" Hank asked. "This Slayer...this Chosen One....That's you?"

"Pretty Much. Only there's two, cosIsortadied, but that's not important, cos Faith is a nutcase."

"You...died." Hank repeated.

"It was two minutes nearly three years ago. Drop it." Buffy advised.

Hank frowned. He didn't want to drop it. His daughter had been dead.

As in not of the living.

The look Angel gave him, though, told him not to broach the subject. Not right then, anyway.

So instead, he just nodded slowly. "And being the Slayer...what does it entail?"

"Staking, beheading. Trudging through sewers and hanging in graveyards. The stuff dreams are made of."

"And you....you fight demons." He looked at her. "How?"

Buffy shrugged. "I'm strong. I have a working knowledge of weapons ranging from ancient to state of the art, and I train...a lot." She sighed. "I'm good at what I do."

"The best." Angel agreed.

"Weapons?" Hank repeated. "You use weapons?????"

"Stakes, crossbows. Staffs. Knives. Once I got to use a rocket launcher. More recently tasers and guns, though I don't like them so much. Pretty much anything we can get our hands on."

"We?"

"My Watcher and I. Although....he's not my Watcher anymore. The Watcher's Council fired him cos he cared too much, but not long after that I quit cos they didn't want to save Angel." She shrugged. "It made me mad."

"You got Wesley fired, you know." Cordelia said.

"Good." Buffy said. An annoyed glare flickered onto Angel's face before she continued. "He was too good a guy to be working for those assholes. I mean, I know I seemed like I hated him, but he was sorta sweet. But I hated the Council, therefore I hated him. I heard that he was working with you now. Good."

"Excuse me, can we rewind a little here? Watchers???"

"Traditional mentors of the Slayers, but the Slayers have gotten a little more independent since women got the vote." Angel said softly.

"Ok. And that man I met before, used to be one."

All three nodded.

"But he was fired because Buffy quit."

"Well, I was his second rogue Slayer."

"Ok, and you quit because they wouldn't help save Angel."

Buffy nodded.

"And your other Watcher was fired because.....?"

"He cared too much. He ruined this little plan the council had to test me on my birthday."

"Ok." Hank nodded. "I think I've got the hang of this."

*

Hank blinked, milling through all the new information in his head.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.

"Where do you come into all of this?" He asked Angel, clasping his hands together in front of him.

Silence.

Finally, Cordelia nudged the bottle towards him. "This is where the whiskey comes in handy."

"Why?" Hank questioned.

"You might not like this...." Angel murmured.

"What's not to like??" Buffy asked. "Most people really *enjoy* the story." She looked at her hands. "What do you think they enjoy more, Angel? The part where you lose your soul? Or maybe it's where I send you to hell? Or, my personal favourite, where you leave me so that I can have the goddamn normal life I never wanted anyway!"

She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "Look, I'm sorry, ok? This story is just...."

"Painful." Angel finished for her.

She nodded.

"I think I've come in in the middle of this movie..." Hank murmured.

"You *really*, *really* have." Cordelia agreed.

Buffy and Angel gazed at each other in silent communication. After a few moments, Buffy gave a small nod and sat back.

It would be better for Angel to tell the story. He had a better handle on his emotions. She was likely to just burst into tears in the middle, unable to go on.

So for several moments, Angel just sat there, fiddling with his hands. Buffy noticed with a pang that he still wore his claddagh ring, heart facing inwards. He belonged to someone.

He belonged to her.

This thought brought a small smile to her face.

"I'm....I'm not exactly human." Angel said after a long moment.

Hank sat back. "Ok." He frowned. "What, exactly, are you then?"

"I'm a vampire," Angel said. " With a soul." He added quickly.

"A soul." Hank repeated. "Ok."

Buffy sighed. "I think he needs some back information."

They spent a few minutes explaining the process of becoming a vampire to her father. He nodded slowly as they spoke, so Buffy had to presume that at least some of the information was getting through to him, although his eyes had glazed over and Buffy got the distinct impression that he was about to faint.

"You okay, Dad?" She asked softly, reaching out a hand and settling it on his shoulder.

He nodded, swallowing.

Angel looked at him worriedly, but continued his life story.

Hank got greener with each word he spoke.

And finally, he passed out.

Buffy gave a tiny shriek and looked at Angel over her father's comatose body.

"Well, this is going well."

*

Hank leaned back against Angel's sofa, looking at his daughter and her ex calmly.

"So basically, you followed my daughter to Sunnydale." Hank said slowly.

They nodded in unison.

"You warned her about creepy things."

They nodded again.

"You fell in love."

Nod.

"She found out that you were a vampire, so you tried to stay away from one another."

Nod.

"It didn't work, you started dating."

Nod.

"You slept together on her seventeenth birthday."

Nod.

"Angel, you lost your soul and stalked her for months."

Nod.

"Until Finally, Buffy sent you to hell."

They glanced at each other, but nodded.

"With your soul intact."

"Yes." Angel said softly.

"And then what?" Hank asked quietly. He saw something in the vampire that sat across from him...a deep strength that had nothing to do with muscle.

To tell the truth, he liked him.

"I came back." Angel said simply.

"How?"

"We're not actually sure." Buffy said softly. "This evil thing took credit, but we never actually confirmed it. But that's what we think."

"Except..." Angel started, but trailed off.

"What?"

Angel sighed and reached into the neck of his shirt, pulling out a chain. Off it hung several dog tags, a celtic symbol, and a woman's ring. He pulled the chain over his head, holding the ring between his fingers.

Hank heard Buffy gasp.

"I found this in the exact spot that I landed a few days after I reached coherence." Angel murmured. "It's Buffy's."

"I was saying goodbye...." She whispered, and tears sprang to her eyes. "After you got back, I looked for the ring, but it was gone."

"I didn't think you wanted it anymore." Angel replied.

"I didn't think you wanted me to have it." She replied.

They gazed each other for a moment before Angel undid the clasp of the silver chain, slipping the ring off and handing it to her.

"You don't have to wear it the way we said." He murmured, not looking at her. "You don't have to wear it at all. I can see how it might make you uncomfortable."

Completely ignoring him, she slipped it on to her finger.

"So basically, *I* might have brought him back." She looked at Angel. "Y'know, I like the sound of that much better than 'evil spirit trying to destroy us'."

Angel nodded. "Me too."

"And then...well, things were tense for ages after that. Everyone was a little tense around Angel, and they were always power freaked about us being alone together." She wrinkled her nose. "God, like we'd sacrifice Angel's soul for a little physical satisfaction!"

"We came pretty close." Angel murmured.

"We weren't that bad, were we?" Cordelia asked.

"You weren't. The others, though. Xander and Giles, especially." Buffy sighed.

"Anyway, you were saying?" Hank said.

"Oh. We did what we could, you know?" Buffy said. "We talked, we trained. Faith caused a little trouble, but we got over it. Things were finally getting back to normal, and then Sir Noble here dropped this "I'm leaving you' bomb out of nowhere."

"Well, your mother is a terrifying woman." Hank murmured.

Buffy narrowed her eyes. "What?" She turned to Angel. "Did she have something to do with you leaving?"

Angel didn't meet her gaze. "Buffy...." He started. "She only told me what I already knew."

"She played on your guilt, didn't she?" Buffy fumed. "God, I don't believe her!"

"She was right." Angel said softly.

"I can't believe you listened to her!"

"Buffy, she gave voice to my thoughts, that's all."

"When." Buffy said. "When did she talk to you??"

He didn't reply.

"Everything was fine the morning I slept over, and then that night you were all wiggy. She came to you, didn't she. She came to you with a purpose in mind. This wasn't any spur of the moment, it sorta just came up thing."

"No. It wasn't." Angel agreed, glaring at Hank.

"I'm sorry." Hank said, sounding anything but. "Did I say too much?"

*

"I can't believe she would do that to me." Buffy whispered. "And then, after Parker, he had the nerve to sympathize about how all the men in my life leave me! God, the haggard cow."

"Buffy, she only wanted what was best for you." Angel said softly, for the tenth time.

She looked at him. "Isn't that really my decision?" She frowned. "And she got it all wrong, anyway. She wanted to make life better for me by taking away my soulmate. geez, that makes sense, dontcha think?"

Angel looked away. "It did at the time."

Buffy took his hand. "Angel....I once told you, that when I looked into the future, all I saw was you. All I wanted was you." She reminded him. "And then, all of a sudden, you were gone, and I was alone again. With no clue what to do with myself."

"See." Angel said softly. "And now...you do. You can imagine a future without me."

"I don't want a future without you."

"I know, Buffy. But you just needed some time...some space to look at all your options." Hank cut in, understanding what Angel was getting at.

"So you're against us too?" Buffy whirled on her father.

"No at all." He told her. "You're a couple very much in love. But you were developing a co-dependency, and this is never healthy."

"When did *you* go all Doctor Debbie on me?" Buffy asked her father. "God, you sound like Professor Walsh."

"Who sounds like Professor Walsh?" Riley's voice said from behind her. Wesley stood next to him, his eyes darting from Angel to Buffy to Riley.

He was anxiously awaiting his boss's reaction to the newcomer.

Riley took a step forward, shaking Hank's hand. "Hello Sir, My name is Riley Finn, your daughter's boyfriend."

There was a moment of tension before Hank spoke. "Her....boyfriend."

"That is correct, Sir." Riley confirmed.

Angel was still had not spoken. He raised his eyes to Buffy. She flinched at the angry hurt that swirled in their depths.

"How could you bring him here?" Angel whispered, then abruptly stood, crossing to the elevator. He entered, slamming the door.

"Angel, where are you going?" Cordelia asked him as the elevator began operating.

"Hunting." Angel replied as he disappeared from view.

"Angel...." Buffy said desperately, but he was already out of earshot. She stood, running up the stairs, hoping to catch him before he left.

"Where are you going? I just got here!" Riley cried, swiveling as she left the room.

"Hunting!" Buffy called, not looking back.

*

Buffy skidded to a stop when she reached his car, opening the door and tumbling into the passenger seat.

Angel sat in the drivers seat, his hands gripping the wheel. He looked up at her.

"Hi." She said softly, looking around her. "Nice car."

"Thanks." He replied.

"Angel..." She whispered, the word full of repressed passion and longing, filled with such sadness that Angel felt his heart break.

"Buffy, it's ok. I'm fine." He told her, looking away. "I told you to find someone new, to move on, you did. It's fine. I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me, Angel." She said gently, leaning back. "I've hurt you."

"Yeah." He admitted. He closed his eyes for several long moments. "I know that I couldn't expect you to stay mine forever, when I'm not around, but to bring him here, to my *home*....it feels a little like you are rubbing my nose in it."

"I didn't bring him, he came." Buffy said. "And I will."

"Huh?"

"Stay yours forever." She replied in a whisper.

They gazed at each other, Angel determining the truth in her statement. He out a hand, running it down her cheek.

"Likewise." He smiled sadly. "I miss you." His voice broke.

She leaned over, kissing his cheek, nuzzling her nose into his ear, running a hand across his broad shoulders. "I missed you."

He looked at her unhappily. "Missed." He repeated miserably.

"Well, I'm here in your car with you, and we're a hair away from making out, so it's a little hard to keep up the missage." She explained, laughing.

"Making out, huh?" Angel said, his lips twitching. "I'm up for that."

Buffy kissed him. "I bet you are." She giggled against his lips.

"We're supposed to be hunting." Angel reminded her halfheartedly.

"Don't ruin the moment, honey." She whined, trailing a hand over his shoulders and down his back while the other explored his back.

"I love you." He sighed.

They lost themselves in each others arms, but each was dreading going back inside, where they would be dragged back to the reality of their loneliness, their unhappiness. Angel would have to smile and bear it while Buffy returned to Riley's embrace, and Buffy would have to go back to the life and love she didn't really feel.

But for now, this was enough.

It had to be.

*

"My life sucks." Buffy mumbled as she and Angel trudged back to his apartment together. They'd gone hunting, and had killed the demons that had been stalking her father, but now they had to return to his apartment to face an even more terrifying foe

Separation.

Angel caught her arm, stilling her for a few moments. He turned her to face him, gazing at her with sad eyes. He lifted a hand, and it seemed to hover near her face for a minute, as if he was unsure whether it was safe to touch her that way.

Finally, he pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and then rested his hand on her cheek, moving his thumb back and forth slightly, rubbing softly at her tingling skin.

"Buffy, I...." He started, choking on his words. He closed his eyes, regaining his composure. WHen he opened them , he smiled sadly, tenderly. "I love you. Nothing can change that...."

"Not even death." Buffy finished unhappily, and then cracked a watery smile, trying to be strong for him. "Or overly traditional, teutonic Teacher's Assistants."

"That's the spirit." He whispered, though there was no jubilation in his voice.

"I love you." Buffy whispered, moving against him, burying her head in his chest. "I do."

Angel slid his arms around her waist, half supporting her, half hanging on for dear life. He squeezed his eyes shut, laying his cheek against her hair. "No matter where you are, who you are with, what you are doing....I'll be with you. And I'll always be here if you need me."

"I need you now." She whispered, sniffling. She pulled away, swallowing, looking at the ground and then up at him. "I'm sorry." And then, mocking herself. "I promised myself I wouldn't cry."

"Sometimes it's okay to cry." Angel murmured. "Sometimes we need to."

"One day...." She said, trailing off. "Can we cry together?"

"Isn't that what we are doing now?"

"Let's do it again, sometime." She whispered. "Have your secretary call mine." She joked.

"Cordelia will be in touch." Angel replied, half smiling.

"Oh god, you actually have a secretary!" Buffy remembered. "She probably hinders more than helps, am I right?"

"Well, her filing system is...well, I'm not sure you can call it a system." He chuckled. "She's good to have around, though."

"I was so relieved when I found out she was here with you." Buffy said quietly, not looking at him. "I didn't want you to be alone. I thought....I was glad that there was someone around to keep an eye on you. And you on her."

"If the others had been going away to college, instead of staying in Sunnydale, I think I'd have gone insane with worry." Angel confessed.

"Angel, I....I just need to say it one more time. I love you."

"I love you."

They kissed softly, briefly, leaning their foreheads together after they puled apart, repeating the words in unison.

"I love you."

And then they pulled apart, putting several feet between them, drying their eyes, and walking into the building.

*

Hank and Riley sat across from each other awkwardly, both grateful for Cordelia's endless babbling. If they couldn't get a word in edgeways, it was ok not to speak.

Riley got the distinct impression that Hank not only didn't like him, but that he...pitied him in some way the he couldn't comprehend.

He shifted nervously in his chair, wishing that Buffy would return from the hunt and free him from the awkward conversation hell.

There was a lull in Cordelia's rambling monologue, and Hank seemed to feel obligated to fill the empty silence.

"Uh...So Riley, how long have you and Buffy been together??" He said hesitantly.

"A few months now." Riley said happily. "It's going wonderfully." He paused, thought about what he would say next. "Sir, I love your daughter. and I assure you, I have only the best intentions for her. We're still in a very early stage of our courtship, but if things go as well as they have been...well, we are in for a very long, happy future."

Cordelia couldn't help it., She let out a long burst of laughter that resonated through the apartment.

"What's so funny??" Buffy asked, walking down the stairs.

"Rebound Guy thinks you have a future together!" Cordelia gasped. "A happy, long one!"

"Rebound Guy??" Riley repeated, then swiveled towards Buffy. "What does she mean rebound guy??"

Buffy glanced at Angel, who stood next to her, and then back at Riley, unsure of what to say.

"Riley...You knew I'd been in a relationship recently..." She said hesitantly.

"Yeah. A doomed relationship. I thought you were over that." He said.

"I am! I'm over it completely...in an unresolved way." Buffy said.

"Do I know him?" Riley asked. "This guy you are still in love with? It's Xander, isn't it?"

This made Cordelia laugh even harder.

"God, why does everyone think I have a thing with Xander??" Buffy cried in frustration.

"It's not Xander." Riley said, his voice showing relief. "Do I know him? It's Giles, right??"

Cordelia nearly wet herself.

"That's just gross. I have enough problems thinking about him having sex as it is, the thought of him having sex with me is just....disturbing."

"Sex? Sex enters into the equation??" Riley cried. "No, forget it, I don't wanna know. Who are we talking about?"

Buffy looked at her feet, and then back at Riley. "It's Angel."

Riley's gaze immediately flew to the dark man standing behind Buffy. "And why was it doomed."

"Because...." Buffy trailed off, unable to decide how to continue.

Angel noticed her loss of words, and took the matter out of her hands.

Slowly, he shifted to game face.

Riley gasped, jumping out of his chair in shock. The chair clattered to the floor with a thud.

"So that's what a vampire looks like." Hank said casually, taking a sip of coffee.

"Y-You all knew?" Riley asked incredulously.

"He's not like other vamps, Riley." Buffy said. "He has a soul."

Riley stared at her blankly.

Buffy sighed, unwilling to go through the entire damn story for the second time that day. "Look, Riley, you can either except that he is good without question, or you can leave. I've had a long day."

He looked around the room for several moments, and then settled his gaze on Buffy. "If I go now, I won't come back."

"Y'know, Riley, I'm really past the point of caring. Go find a girlfriend who has no past and a blank future to look after you. A girl who has time to make sure her nail polish is just the right shade of purple to match her skirt. I don't have the time or the patience. Go." Buffy said, her eyes fiery, her hand thrust out in the direction of the door.

Riley stared at her for several seconds, and then slowly walked out of the apartment without saying a word.

Hank smiled, playing with his mug.

"I always knew I had a smart daughter."

*

September 1984

Hank smiled at his 3 year old daughter, her plaits bouncing wildly around her head as she giggled, clapping her tiny hands together gleefully.

"You're silly, Daddy." Buffy said, her eyes shining.

She was perched on his hip, and they wandered through a toy shop together, Hank occasionally picking up soft toys and putting on silly, false voices, making them move, dance for her amusement.

He spotted a pink pig sitting amongst a mass of farmyard animals, and immediately picked it up. His baby's green eyes widened almost impossibly, her little hands making grabs for the porker.

"You like him, huh???" Hank grinned, shaking it lightly. He made his voice low and grumpy. "Hello, Beffelina, I'm Piggy the Pigmo, at your service."

She laughed in delight. "Piggy. Oink!!" She said, her toddlers lips twisting and burbling through the words.

"That's right!" Hank said. "Oink. Who's Daddy's little genius???"

"Me!" She exclaimed.

Hank couldn't help but laugh as he pressed a kiss to his daughter's brow. "I love you, Buffy."

He carried her over to the counter, smiling at the woman behind the brightly spotted bench.

"What are you going to name him??" The redheaded woman asked Buffy, leaning down to look into her eyes.

Buffy squinted, thinking, pursing her lips together, and then let out a giggle of joy. "Mr Gordo!!!!"

Hank chuckled as he stared at his baby, puzzled by her, awed by her.

He brushed a strand of her fringe away. "You're a special one, Buff, that's for certain."

*

Hank was pulled from his reverie as his daughter slid into the chair across from him, looking at him in concern.

"Are you okay, Dad? I know all this is a lot to take in..." She asked, for the fortieth time that day.

He smiled weakly, and nodded. "Just getting a little nostalgic." He told her, watching her thoughtfully. "It's still hard not to look at you and see you as a three year old."

Buffy looked at her hands. "Yeah, well. Sometimes..." She sighed. "I wish I was." She paused, and her expression was far away. "Everything is different now..."

Tentatively, Hank reached out and grasped her hand. "I'm sorry I haven't been there for you recently, Princess. I just..." He frowned slightly, looking for the words. "You're right. Everything is different now."

"Dad, I'm not going to excuse your absence, but I know I was never the easiest daughter to handle..." She laughed. "And boy, is that an understatement. I know. But...I remember when I was in Junior High, it was like....I was hyper aware. I felt things that I didn't think I should have, and sensed danger lurking everywhere...I didn't know what it was, and I only realized not long after I moved to Sunnydale that it was the Slayer in me emerging."

Hank leaned back in his chair, studying her. "What is it like??"

"Being the Slayer?" Buffy asked. She thought about it for a moment, and then grimaced slightly. "I don't know how to explain it...Sometimes, it's awful. It hurts so much that I think it' gonna kill me." She snorted. "Of course, it probably will end up killing me, so..." She winced. "It's lonely. There are other Slayers now, but...I'm *the* Slayer." She let her words linger for a moment before continuing.

"That's part of why I was so drawn to Angel in the first place. I could see the same loneliness in him." She paused and glanced at her father. "You know he's the only vampire with a soul in existence? As far as we know, anyway." She noticed the *look* that he was giving her, and smiled.

"I know. I'm getting off track. It's a lonely life. But other times... Slaying has given me a lot. Before...I was a bitch. An airhead. A dime a dozen, and I never even realized it. When I became the Slayer, I started taking less for granted...Of course, I was taking less, but..."

"I've been to Europe, did you know that?? Angel and Oz and I went on the Ghost Roads to fight evil. And...Sometimes when I've fought something, I get this buzz, you know? I know I've made a difference with my life, and that when I die, I won't have wasted my time here. And my friends... I never would have given them the time of day, but they're so precious...they've stuck by me. And then there's Angel...." Her face crumpled. "I miss him so much, Daddy."

Hank stood from his chair, wrapping his arms around his daughter and holding her close, whispering words of comfort to her.

She pulled away, her eyes watery. "I'm sorry, it's just...It hurts being without him, y'know? We where supposed to fight together, but it's so hard...to be together but not together."

"I can't give you any advice to make this easier, Buffy." Hank said, crouching next to her, tracing the line of her jaw. "I can tell you, however, that some things are worth fighting for."

He stood up as Angel and Cordelia entered the room, and joined them in preparing some tea.

Buffy stayed still in silent contemplation, her eyes drifting to Angel's broad, muscled back.

She remembered how his fingers had felt entwined with hers, his lips pressed against hers, his nose rubbing against her own.

She remembered how it felt to be with him. How...alive...it made her feel. She wanted to feel that way again.

< Some things are worth fighting for... >

*

Angel closed the door slowly, leaning his forehead against it for several lingering seconds. He could smell her scent, light and breezy, a sweet contrast to the heavy, indoor air. He could feel her energy, the essence of her spirit, her soul, draining away as she left the apartment building with her father.

The instant she was no longer in the building, he knew.

He let out a roar of anguish, spinning around and sweeping a fragile china vase off the shelf by his side. The sound of it shattering echoed throughout the apartment, and did nothing to calm him.

He stormed over to the refridgerator, opening it with more force than necessary, snatching a bag of blood.

He morphed into game face, the movement, normally graceful and smooth on his part, ragged and disjointed. His fangs tore through the plastic, and he guzzled the blood down, attempting to cool the rage that had swelled within him at once again being denied his mate.

He threw the empty bag to the floor, collapsing into one of the kitchen chairs, resting his head in his hands.

The smell of her was *still* all over the apartment. Her scent had soaked into the fabric of his sofa. He doubted that he'd ever get rid of it.

Not that he minded. He loved her smell.

But at the moment, it was hard to bear.

She'd been there, only minutes before. She'd put her hands on his shoulder, and had planted a soft kiss on his cheek, and whispered the word that he would forever hear repeated in his mind.

"Always...."

He swallowed with great difficulty, tears springing to life in his dark eyes. He wiped them away, and lifted his gaze, sweeping it over his apartment as a feeling washed over him....

She was back.

With this knowledge came the most incredible relief, but also a strange sort of...fear....

He didn't know if he could handle seeing her walk away again.

She appeared on the stairway, and then stood, just looking at him.

They stood that way for what seemed like hours before she suddenly ran towards him.

He was out of his seat and rushing to meet her in seconds.

They collided, but Buffy's momentum was stronger, and sent them sprawling to the ground, Buffy lying on top of Angel. They kissed with a passionate ferocity, hands roaming, legs twisting, entwining.

Buffy pulled away all too soon, lifting herself up and away from him, but keeping their legs twisted together.

She looked down at him. "Giles called me a few minutes ago."

Angel frowned, confused by her statement. "Ok, That's not what I was expecting to hear."

"Your soul is permanent." Buffy said, ignoring him.

"That isn't either." Angel said, but looked mighty pleased with it anyway. "I don't care how, or why, tell me later." He rolled them over so he loomed over her. "You see , there's this dream I've been having..."

"Oh, really." Buffy said with a smirk. "Why don't you tell me all about it?"

"Why don't I?" Angel replied, kissing her once again.

A couple was reunited. As were a father and daughter. And all was right in the world...

Okay...So maybe that's stretching it.

Things were good.

For now....

END

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