Title: Fears Realized
By TrinityLast
E-mail: trinitylast@wambtac.com 
Disclaimer: I swear I've said this before. I had nothing to do with it. I accept no blame. Ain't my fault. I'm just having some fun with the mess Joss made, and then I'll give it back.
Distribution: If you've got my other stuff, you can have this.
Rating: NC-17 *big smile*
Spoilers: All of season six of BTVS...some of season three of ATS, but not that much, really...
Feedback: As long as it isn't flames...that's like holy water on Angel's chest...Angel's bare chest...mmmm...is it hot in here?

Note: Response to Cat's challenge, which will be shown at the end. OH! And as far as I'm concerned, just because Drusilla found Spike, doesn't mean she turned him. Angel's his Sire for this. Take that, Joss!


* * * * * * * * * * * *
Part one:

"Why are we going to LA again?"

Buffy sighed and threw the shoe she'd finally found at Spike. He packed it next to the other one. "Because they need me. There's some kind of prophecy about the Slayer killing this demon, and since Angel's tried to do it three times and it keeps coming back..."

"Ok, so send Faith. She's just *itching* for some action. I don't wanna see my poofter of a Sire."

"Especially now that you both have souls. That would mean the whole bonding thing, right? Because you have something in common."

Spike growled. "HEY! I resent that! I do not now, nor will I ever, have something in common with that ponce."

Buffy looked at him in disbelief and pointed at her bite scar, marking her as Angel's. "Excuse me? How many times did we sleep together?"

Spike shrugged. "Besides you. You don't count." He smirked. "And we didn't really do a lot of *sleeping*."

"Whatever. It has to be me, but don't worry, Faith's coming. She *wants* to see Angel again." Pounding music came through the wall and Buffy rolled her eyes. "Go make sure Dawn's ready, ok?"

"Sure thing." He grinned at her and headed back into the hallway. "Hey, niblet! You set?"

Buffy shook her head and went back to packing.

**

Gunn looked up when the door opened and grinned. He threw his magazine at Wesley and motioned towards the blonde girl coming into the lobby. "See that? That's my next great heartbreak."

Wesley's eyes widened when he saw Buffy, but before he could say anything, Gunn was out of his seat. The former watcher nudged Cordelia so she'd look up. When she saw the Slayer she had to stifle a giggle. They both kept their mouths shut as Gunn approached her.

"Welcome to Angel Investigations. Why don't you have a seat?" He put his hand on the small of her back led her to the couch. Buffy looked at him kind of funny, but let him.

**

In his office, Angel felt Buffy entering the building. He took a deep, unnecessary breath to calm down, and walked out into the lobby.

**

"So, what's your name, and what can we do to help you? Something big and nasty scarin' ya? We got it covered."

Angel stared at Gunn, who was sitting on the edge of the couch. Only one thought went through his mind.

[He's hitting on *Buffy*!]

Just then Buffy looked up and smiled sweetly at Angel. She moved her left eye lid in a motion that barely resembled a wink, but he caught it and grinned. He leaned back on the counter and smiled back at her.

Then Buffy turned back to Gunn and started to cry. [Always could get the tears when I wanted them.] "Y-yes. It was horrible! He keeps hanging around my little sister! And...and he says he won't go away!!"

Gunn sat down on the couch next to Buffy and started rubbing her back in slow, soothing motions. "Hey. It's gonna be ok. Do you know his name?"

Buffy nodded. "W-william."

"William. Anything else?"

"Yes." Buffy stopped crying and smiled. "He's parking the car, but I think he's stalling on coming in because he's avoiding his Sire."

Gunn stared for a minute, then turned to face Angel who was looking at Buffy in disbelief.

"You brought *Spike*? Buffy, why-?"

Gunn shot up from his seat and stared down at the blonde girl. "*You're Buffy?*" Behind the counter, Wesley and Cordelia were laughing so hard they were clutching their sides, and Cordy had fallen into a chair. Gunn glared at them. "You knew!" They nodded and kept laughing. Gunn sat back down in a huff, but couldn't help but stare at Buffy for another minute.

She was tiny! How the hell could this be the Slayer?

Buffy giggled. Turning to Angel she stood up. "I brought Spike because he's on our side now. He was, even before he got the soul. Took care of Dawn the summer I was...gone." She shrugged again. "And don't ask him how he got his soul. You'll just get an hour of him cursing out some demon."

Angel nodded and smiled at her. "You look great."

She beamed. "Why thank you!"

Wesley, who'd finally calmed down, nodded at his former charge. She smiled impishly back. Cordelia was still giggling.

The door opened again and Spike came in carrying both Buffy and Dawn's bags. Dawn was right behind him with Willow, chattering away. Xander brought up the rear, holding Willow's bag and his own, and glaring at Spike.

Spike dumped his bags at Buffy's feet and mock bowed, removing an invisible cap from his head. "Your bags, Madam."

Buffy giggled. "Thank you, kind sir." She smiled innocently. "They go upstairs. Quick, boy!"

Spike growled and lunged at her, tickling her sides. Buffy squealed.

"St-stop! Spike!" She pushed against his chest and he let go. Bowing again, he grabbed the bags and ran up the stairs, depositing them on the top step before coming back down.

"How's that?"

"Perfect." Buffy turned to face the AI group again, only to be met with another look of shock from Angel and a glare from Cordelia. This time she ignored it. That was *not* something she wanted to get into right now.

Xander smirked at Angel for a minute before speaking up. "So, deadboy, what's this demon you can't kill?"

Angel snapped out of his daze and turned to Xander, frowning. "It's not that I can't kill it. It's more that it won't stay dead."

Spike shrugged and lit a cigarette. "Same thing, isn't it?"

"No, it's not, and there's no smoking in here."

Spike glared at Cordelia for a second then went outside with his smoke. Dawn shot a glance at Buffy who nodded, and then ran after him.

Once again, Angel stared at his love in disbelief. "You let her hang out with him?"

Buffy sent him an odd look. "Didn't you hear me? He takes care of her. He helped me fight Glory, and he watched over her the whole summer I was gone. I trust him, Angel. Let it go."

He stared at her for another second before nodding. If he couldn't trust Buffy's instincts, he couldn't trust anything. That much he'd learned long ago.

Thankfully, Wesley had found the description of the demon.

"It's a Tiiberus demon. Usually they are killed using a blessed sword, but..."

"But I've done it three times, and it just keeps coming back." Angel exchanged a glance with Buffy who nodded.

"So, Slayer firepower it is."

Cordelia frowned for a minute, then raised her hand. "Umm...where's Faith?"

Spike caught the question as he came back in and grinned. "She was right behind us. Got herself a nice new motorcycle." He glanced at Buffy who was glaring. "Check that, the Sister Slayers are sharing it, but Buffy lost the bet last night and took a whole minute to stake the vamp, so Faith got to ride it in today." Dawn, who was still at his side, giggled.

"Is it my fault the vamps are carrying knives now? I didn't count on that." Buffy grumbled under her breath.

Spike snickered. "Hey, ducks, it's nothin' to be worried about. You'll win the ride home. I've no doubt." He grinned at her and she smiled back.

Angel watched the by-play for a minute then cleared his throat. "Ok, why don't I show you all to your rooms? We can go after this guy in the morning. He likes to hide in the sewers."

Buffy nodded and headed up the stairs, Spike on her heels. Angel glared after them for a minute and Cordy rolled her eyes.

"Oh, would you relax, Angel? It's not like they're sleeping together."

Dawn nodded. "Yeah, 'cause that was last year. Now they're just friends."

Angel's eyes widened in shock and Cordelia, after taking one look at her boss, bounded up the stairs after the Slayer. Angel wouldn't be moving for a while.



* * * * * * * * * * * *
Part Two:

Angel knocked on Buffy's door the next morning.

"Come in."

He smiled as he came in. "You know, you shouldn't be just saying that. What if I was a dangerous vampire?"

Buffy frowned at him. "You are, Angel."

"What?"

"Angel, before we do this, I think you should know something." She sat down on the bed and looked up at him. "I never really loved you. You know that, right?"

He stood there in shock. "What?"

"It was...it was this big mistake, Angel. I wanted to...to break the council. After Merek, and then the move...you were the ultimate rule breaker. A Slayer with a Vampire. But I never loved you. When you came back, I took care of you because I felt guilty for what I did to you. But what I said before...it was never real."

Angel stood there for a minute then turned on his heel and walked out. He went downstairs and stared at the sunlight flowing into the lobby. After only a moment's hesitation, he walked right into it.

After what he'd just heard, the burning sensation was almost pleasant.

**

Angel sat up in bed, gasping for unneeded air. Looking around his bedroom, he realized it had only been a dream.

There was a pounding on his door, and he could make out Cordelia's voice through the wood.

"Angel! You better be up! This is the third time I've called you! The extended Scooby gang is all ready to kick some demon butt, and you're the only one who knows where it is! ANGEL! GET OUT OF BED!"

He closed his eyes in relief and stood up, pulling on his pants.

[Only a dream.] Then he frowned, remembering what Dawn had said the night before. [Ok, most of it was a dream, anyway.]

**

"Great, sewers. I love sewers." Buffy made a face of distaste and swung her sword again, cutting down some cobwebs. Faith laughed.

"Come on, B. You're lovin' it. Dark set. Action on the horizon. This is what you live for."

Buffy shook her head. "Yeah...but I really hate sewers." She turned to Angel who'd been very quiet the entire time. "A nice cave would have been too much trouble? I *like* caves."

Angel sent her a strange look and then pointed with his chin up ahead of them. "He's up there a ways, just around the third bend."

Buffy rolled her eyes and nodded. "All work and no play. Since when are you so stuffy?"

"Since you started sleeping with my *Childe*!"

Faith sucked in a breath and turned to Buffy, pointing down the tunnel. "I'll be up there if you need me." She jogged off.

Buffy bit her lip and turned to Angel. "How did you find out?"

"A little birdie told me."

"Dawn." Buffy closed her eyes and let out a long breath. "Look, I was crazy. After I...I was in Heaven. Did you know that?" She looked up at Angel and nodded at the look of sudden pain on his face. "That's right. Heaven. Bliss. And I was brought *back*. I felt...wrong. Everything was hard. Cold. Sharp. And I didn't feel anything." She shrugged.

"Nothing at all. Not pain, not anger, not sadness. Nothing. Spike...made me feel. If for just those few hours, I felt something. It wasn't pleasant. It wasn't happiness. But I felt something. And...I just...I wanted to feel."

"Buffy..."

"No." She held up her hand. "Let me finish. You wanted to know." Taking a deep breath, she looked up and met his eyes. "It hurt. A lot. He hurt me. And I liked it. I got off on it. It wasn't nice, and it wasn't something I'm proud of...but if I had to do it again, I would. Because it got me where I am now. And if there's one thing I can be sure of, it's that *he* won't leave me. No matter what. We're close now. Friends. And I know he won't leave me. You left. My dad left. Even Giles left. He came back, but he did leave. Spike won't. He'll be there until I die, again, and then he'll stay and take care of my family. I can depend on him." She smiled sadly. "He's the only one I can be sure of. And I wouldn't trade him away for anything. He's a friend. I need those, you know?" She shrugged again. "I don't have so many who'll stick around that I can afford to throw one away."

Angel stared at her for a minute, trying to blink away the pain she was radiating, but Faith's shout cut him off.

"I think this is it, guys!"

The two exchanged a quick glance and then headed for the sound.

**

"Hold still! This is deep." Cordelia glared at Angel and continued to clean the gash on his chest. "You wanna tell me how it keeps getting you in the same place every time?"

Angel shrugged and then winced as she applied antiseptic. "I don't know. I keep thinking I can avoid those claws, but I never do."

Buffy shook her head. "That thing was strong. And I don't get it." She turned to Wesley. "I'm a Slayer. Faith's a Slayer. Why didn't it stay dead?"

The watcher shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps there's a specific way of killing this demon, besides the sword." He glanced around, taking in the expectant looks, and sighed. "Right. I'll start looking." Turning around, he went into his office and shut the door.

"Well, I think this is ridiculous. I mean, it's just a demon! We should be able to kill it, right?" Faith bounced down from the counter and crossed her arms. Gunn nodded.

"Right. Just get a bunch of weapons together and cut it into little pieces. That really ought to do it."

Cordelia grinned at Xander as she capped a bottle. "Ahh, that sounds familiar. Where's a rocket launcher when you need one?" Xander grinned back.

Buffy shook her head. "No, won't work. He has some kind of magic working through him. It just stops him from dying." She turned to Willow who looked at her, panicked.

"No! No, nononononononono! No! Buffy, you know..."

"We agreed that you could if someone kept an eye on you, remember? And you're the only one here who can tell. Giles could do it, but we specifically left him in Sunnydale in case something happens. I don't want you to work a spell. Just come with us next time and see if you can feel anything. Ok?"

Willow bit her lip, but nodded.

Spike smiled at the redhead. "You just got to get back up there, Red. Can't let something like this stop ya."

She made a face at the blond vamp. "You mean something like trying to end the world?"

Spike shrugged. "Angel did it. Is he stopping?"

"No. And neither should you."

Spike looked at his Sire in annoyance. "Please don't finish my sentences."

Angel just rolled his eyes.

"So, we go back tomorrow, right?" Buffy looked around at the nodding heads. "Ok, good. We'll look for something more on the demon today." She turned her back on Angel and let out a breath as she headed for Wesley's office.

Seeing the vampire without his shirt was testing her resolve. How would she make it through this without telling him she knew about his soul being permanent?

**

Angel, meanwhile was staring at Buffy's back. Used to be, when she saw him without his shirt on, her heartbeat went up, and her arousal was so strong he could smell it across the room.

Now, nothing. She didn't care. She didn't want him.

[No point in telling her then, is there?]

He sighed and headed for his room. After that nightmare last night, and the talk in the sewers this morning, he needed a shower and a nap.

Not necessarily in that order.



* * * * * * * * * * * *
Part Three:

Angel sat up in bed and realized he was sweating. He'd had the same dream again, only this time, Buffy had ended with kissing Spike. They'd fallen on the bed and...

Angel shuddered and stood up. So much for a relaxing nap. He headed for his bathroom and turned on the shower, shucking his sweat pants. Stepping under the spray he let the water wash away the dream.

Or at least he tried to.

There was a knock at the bathroom door. Angel frowned and got out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist.

"Cordy, I'm trying to take a shower!"

"It's not Cordy."

Angel sucked in a breath. Buffy. He opened the door.

"Hey."

"Hey." She glanced behind him at the still-running water and sighed. She looked back at him. "I'll make this quick. I'm not going to stay to kill the demon." She held up a hand to stop him from talking. "I'm sorry, Angel, I just can't be around you. You're annoying. You look at me with that look of love in your eyes, and I want to heave. I don't know how I ever put up with it, but I can't anymore. I don't love you. I'm not sure I ever did." She looked at him and rolled her eyes at his hurt expression. "Right. You know what? I'm just gonna leave, ok?"

Angel stared after her for a minute. When he heard the door slam, he blinked.

And found himself staring at the tiled wall of the shower. The shower. Not his bedroom.

[It didn't happen]

He blinked a few times and looked around, then down at himself. Shutting the water off, he got out and crossed to the door. He opened it, almost expecting to see Buffy. She wasn't there.

He knocked on the wall separating her room from his. "Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"You still there?"

There was a moment of silence, then her voice came through with a questioning note in it. "Yeah...why?"

He smiled and leaned against the wall in relief. "Never mind."

"You sure?" She sounded worried.

Worry. He never thought he'd be happy to hear that in her voice. But worry indicated care.

"Yeah. I'm sure."

**

"Is Angel ok?"

Cordelia looked up and frowned at Buffy. "Why?"

The Slayer shrugged. "It's a feeling. We're...connected. He was sort of not ok when I got here. I didn't want to push...but this morning, when I got up, the feeling was five times stronger, and then he...well, he called through the wall to see if I was still there. And he didn't sound...stable."

Cordelia bit her lip. "He didn't mention Darla or Drusilla, did he? Because that would just be bad. The last time they were in town..."

Buffy shook her head. "No. And I don't mean he sounded obsessive or anything..." Buffy closed her eyes. "He sounded scared."

"Oh." Cordelia stared for a minute, then nodded. "Ok...well, we'll keep an eye on him."

Buffy nodded back. "Good." She turned and headed back upstairs when the other girl's voice called her back.

She stopped and turned around. "Yeah?"

"Xander. Is he...I mean, I heard he and Anya..."

The blond bit her lip and shook her head. "He left her at the altar. No one's seen her since, not really. She kind of took off."

Buffy watched Cordelia sigh...in relief?

"So, they're not married?"

Buffy gave her a strange look. "No..."

"Good. I mean, not *good*, but good as in.."

The Slayer's hand went up. "Cordy? Just talk to him, ok?"

She nodded. "Ok."

**

"Wesley, find anything?"

The watcher looked up and rubbed his eyes. "No, nothing specific. Supposedly, if a Slayer strikes the demon down with the blessed sword, it dies."

Angel frowned. "I don't understand. There were two slayers there. They both took it down at least once. Why is it still alive?"

Wesley shrugged and sighed tiredly. "I don't know, but I'll keep looking. Going back out after it seems foolish if we don't know how to kill it."

The vampire nodded. "Alright."

He turned and left the room. Wesley reached over and grabbed another book. He opened it and rubbed his eyes again, speaking to the empty room as he started to read.

"Going to be a long day."

**

Gunn finished polishing the sword that had yet to actually *kill* the demon and put it back into its case in the basement. Then he stared at it and made a face. "You couldn't just kill the guy?"

"Wow. Talk to the weapons a lot, do you?"

Gunn whipped around to find Faith leaning against the stairway railing, an amused look on her face. He grinned at her and shrugged.

"Never know. A pep talk with the thing might be what gets you out alive later. I take no chances."

Faith chuckled. "Ok. I can sort of see that." She gave him one last glance before turning and going back up. Gunn watched her go. When the door slammed shut he let out a breath.

"Wow. They really know how to make those Slayers, don't they?"

Just outside the door, Faith, with her Slayer hearing, smiled.



* * * * * * * * * * * *
Part Four:

"You busy?"

Buffy shook her head and motioned for Spike to sit down. She never looked up from her book, though. He sat and shook his head at her.

"Slayer?" He waved his hand in front of her face. She still didn't look up. Spike chuckled and grabbed the book.

"Hey!"

"I'm trying to talk to you here!"

She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. It's just, I never got to finish that book before Angel moved away, and I saw it downstairs, so..."

Spike raised his eyebrows and looked at the title. Then he smirked at her.

"Love, I know from personal experience that you don't need this book."

Buffy shrugged. "I like to finish what I start."

The vampire chuckled again. "Good thing Captain Cardboard isn't here. He'd freak to find you reading the Kama Sutra."

Buffy shrieked and hit him with a pillow. "God, are you trying to jinx us? Now that you've said it, I bet he shows up today, with his wife and his unit...all, 'must kill the demon'-y. And I'd have to protect you. And I don't know if I have enough energy right now to pretend I care!"

Spike gave a mock-wounded face and Buffy giggled. Then he got serious.

"You're tired?"

She shrugged. "I'm worried about Angel. You don't feel it? I thought vamps and their Sires..."

"I feel it. I was trying to ignore it. Here." He pulled her into his lap and kissed the top of her head. "Sleep. I bet you didn't at all last night." Buffy shook her head and he slid down on the seat to make her more comfortable. "Sleep, Slayer. We can't do a damn thing about the demon 'till Giles-junior finds the info, anyway."

"Ok."

Spike started rubbing small circles on her back until her breathing evened. When he was sure she was out, he let himself fall asleep.

And that was how Angel found them, three hours later.

**

The dark haired vampire stared at the two curled up in the chair for a few minutes, trying not to let the picture they made hurt him.

After about a quarter of an hour, he realized it was impossible. In fact, there was nothing that could hurt more.

Then he winced, thinking of his dreams. [Ok, almost nothing.]

Angel sighed and went back into the main lobby and told Dawn where her sister was. She'd been looking and hadn't found Buffy anywhere. Dawn nodded and smiled and went back upstairs to her own room to watch TV, completely oblivious to the pain she left behind.

Angel sank onto the couch and covered his face. He sat that way for almost an hour, trying to somehow stop the silent tears running down his cheeks, but he couldn't. After a while, he lay down and, staring at the ceiling, dozed off.

**

Buffy was startled awake by a shout. She looked down and realized she was wrapped up in Spike's arms.

She untangled herself and stood up. The shout came again and she followed it out into the main lobby where she saw Angel asleep on the couch.

Though she was willing to bet he wasn't getting any rest.

Her soul mate was tossing and turning and moaning. Buffy crept forward and reached out, about to wake him, when he cried out her name. She froze, thinking he was awake, but she saw that his eyes were still closed. Then he started talking and she leaned forward to hear.

"Stop saying that. Please, stop saying that. I love you. If you don't love me, Buffy, please, at least stop saying that. Please...Buffy stop. Please."

Buffy snatched her hand back as if it'd been bitten and stared. She felt the tears running down her face but ignored them, not really caring. She thought back on the horrible feelings she'd been getting from him over the last few days. Him calling through the wall to see if she was still there.

He thought she didn't love him anymore.

Barely managing to stifle a sob, Buffy Summers did the only thing she could think of.

She ran.

Angel was wakened by the sound of the front door slamming. He just caught sight of Buffy running before he realized she'd heard his dream.

Rolling over, the vampire got up and stared after his love's blond form, running from him.

Running from him into the *sun*, where he couldn't follow.

**

Four hours later Angel hadn't moved when Buffy came back, wiping tears off her face. She met his gaze and glanced at the trio in the corner researching, not even noticing that Cordelia was on Xander's lap. She motioned for Angel to follow her upstairs.

After closing the door to his room she sat down on his bed. Angel sat next to her but kept his face straight, staring at the wall.

"Angel."

He didn't move. This was another hallucination. It felt the same as the other one. She wasn't real. He couldn't let what she was going to say affect him.

She wasn't real.

"Angel." Buffy reached over and took his chin, forcing him to meet her gaze. The pain in his eyes made her flinch, but she didn't turn away.

"Why do you think I don't love you?"

"Please don't."

Buffy frowned. "What?"

"Please don't do this. I know I don't deserve her love, but please stop this. I'm begging you. I can't take it. Don't keep using her face, telling me she doesn't love me. Please. I'm not strong enough."

Buffy's eyes filled with tears but she refused to let them fall. "Angel, I do love you. I don't know what's going on, but you never doubt that, ok? I. Love. You. Only you. That's why Riley left. Did you know that?"

Angel shook his head but didn't break eye contact, afraid that this dream would end. It didn't hurt like the others, and if he could just stay here, maybe the others would stop.

"He knew. He knew I could never love him fully. That I'd never be *in love* with him. I didn't have it to give. So he left."

Angel hesitantly reached out and touched her face, tracing a shaky finger down her cheek. He spoke in a whisper out of fear. He didn't want to wake up.

"Don't leave me again? Please. I can't do this without you. I've tried. I lose myself. I lose control. I can't do it. Please."

Buffy brought her own hand up and caught his, holding it to her. He felt her tears wet his fingers and frowned. Why would a dream be crying?

"Angel, when we figure out what's going on with you, and you're better, ask me again. I promise I'll say yes." She smiled and leaned forward, kissing his head. "You need sleep. You haven't been getting any rest at all." She gently pushed him back onto the bed even as he protested.

"No. If I go to sleep, I'll wake up, and this'll be over. I can't sleep."

"This isn't a dream, Angel. Now sleep."

She closed his eyes and leaned forward to kiss the soft lids. A small sigh escaped his mouth.

"Stay?"

Buffy smiled and smoothed a hand over his brow. "Always."

**

Buffy waited until Angel was asleep before going back to the lobby. Wesley met her about halfway down the stairs. He took in her worried look and nodded.

"So, I'm right."

The Slayer frowned. "Right?"

"I've found something." Turning, he went back to his office. Buffy followed him.

The Englishman sat down at his desk and handed her a book. "Is this the demon?"

She looked at the picture and nodded. "So? We already knew what the demon was."

Wesley shook his head. "Those markings on its hand. Were they the same on the demon you fought?"

Taking a closer look, Buffy nodded again. "Why? Does it make a difference?"

"Yes." He took the book back and handed her another one, reaching over to point to a specific paragraph. "This particular breed feeds off its victims. Off their worst fears, to be exact. It uses its claws to plant its blood in the host's system, creating a kind of link."

Buffy frowned at Wesley in confusion for a minute, her mind working it over. Suddenly her eyes cleared.

"Angel's chest."

"Yes. Normally, a human would die from the link after a few hours and the demon would look for another host, but with Angel the link lasted longer. He managed to fight it off the first few times, but since he kept getting clawed, and so kept getting poisoned..."

"It eventually got strong enough to feed off. Is this why I couldn't kill the demon?"

"Yes." Wesley took his glasses off and started to clean them. "If Angel hadn't been linked by then, you probably could have. But now that the demon is feeding, and off a vampire no less, he's almost impossible to kill. And the damage to Angel's psyche will eventually claim *his* life as well."

"Great." Buffy tossed the book on the desk and glared at it for a minute. Wesley continued to clean his glasses. Putting them back on he looked up to find the Slayer was now focused on *him*. He raised his eyebrows.

Buffy sighed and crossed her arms, looking at him pointedly. "Well, you said 'almost impossible.' Not 'impossible.' So, how do I kill it? And this better include a cure for Angel."

The watcher nodded. "Actually, *first* we cure Angel. Then simply cutting the demon's head off with the sword should suffice for the killing portion."

"Ok, so what's the cure?"

"Ahh. Yes." Wesley ran a hand through his hair and leaned back. "It seems the only way to cure this is for Angel to conquer his fear. Or, to no longer have any reason to fear it. Either will suffice, really. Once the fear is no longer...well, frightening, the link will be severed, and the demon will be unable to feed."

Buffy nodded. "Ok. I can do that. I think." She stood up and crossed the room, stopping in the doorway to look back. "Wes?"

He looked up. "Yes?"

"How do we know that Angel's soul is permanent?"

"Oh. It's part of his Shanshu. A reward, if you will, from the Powers That Be. They told us through a vision from Cordy."

Buffy nodded and smiled. "Wes?" Her voice had a teasing note this time.

He smiled back at her. "Yes?"

"Thank you." Her smiled turned slightly evil. "And don't knock on his door for the next few hours, ok?"

"Why not?"

"I'm going to cure him of his fear."



* * * * * * * * * * * *
Part Five:

Buffy paused outside Angel's door, listening. He was moaning in his sleep again.

[Probably dreaming.]

Buffy frowned. While she found it slightly flattering that Angel's worst fear was that she didn't love him, she was also kind of insulted. She'd really thought that how she felt about the vampire had always been so clear.

Buffy Loves Angel.

Even Riley had known that! So, why was Angel the only one out of the loop? Was he that insecure? Did he think she was *lying*? Or did he simply think she didn't know her own heart?

Buffy reached for the doorknob and brushed the thoughts away. She was about to put any and all doubts about her feelings to rest.

**

Angel woke from his nightmare in the middle of Buffy's speech. He opened his eyes to see what woke him and found a pair of blue eyes and a lot of blond hair hovering over him.

"Hi." She smiled. Angel smiled back and then gasped when she moved her hand and he realized that it was wrapped around his cock.

His suddenly very, *very* hard cock.

"So, you really think there's any chance at all that I don't love you?"

Angel winced. "Buffy..."

"No." She put her free hand over his mouth, and then slipped a finger in. He suckled it while she talked, never breaking eye contact. "I. Love. You. And I am going to prove it. We are not leaving this bed until you believe me. Until every fear that you could possibly have about the subject is gone. Is that clear?"

Angel kept staring into her eyes as she slipped another finger into his mouth. The love shining out of her blue orbs was daunting. A force not to be challenged.

And he had.

Angel nodded.

"Good." Buffy removed her fingers from his cool mouth and replaced it with her own, plunging her tongue in and sweeping it across his, staking her claim.

Her mouth on his woke him up fully, and Angel finally realized that she was really here. He immediately brought one hand up to tangle in her hair and press her mouth closer to his. Their tongues dueled for dominance. Buffy, having no real need to be in control, gave it over to him the minute she realized he was fighting for it.

Angel swept his tongue into her mouth and moaned. She was so warm, and so soft. [Perfection.] The word echoed in his head as he brought his other hand to the small of her back and flipped them, settling himself over her small form. She raised her knees up to cradle him, and he moaned when he felt her wetness soaking through her jeans and pressing into him.

Who knew sweatpants could be that tight?

Angel pulled back for a moment and looked down at his love, his hand cradling her head. He brought his other hand out from under her and traced her face.

Buffy closed her eyes when she felt Angel's cool finger on her heated skin. When it was level with her mouth she turned her head and captured it, suckling and running her tongue around it. Dimly, she heard Angel moan, but she didn't open her eyes.

What had started out as a mission to rid him of his fear was now a deep need at her center. The heat pooled between her legs and she felt his hard cock against her. She pressed up, arching her back and whimpering.

The minute he heard that sound, all reason left. The vampire's hands were at her jeans buttons and Buffy's were pulling at his soft cotton pants only a moment later.

He shucked her jeans off, taking her panties with them, and then sat up to shed his own pants as she ripped her top over her head. Angel sucked in a breath as her breasts bounced free and suddenly everything stood still.

Slowly she fell back onto the bed as he leaned over and took her left nipple into his mouth. Buffy gasped as his cool tongue swirled around it, teasing it, causing it to stand out almost painfully before he finally gave in to her whimpered begging and suckled. His hand came up to tease her other nipple, one finger just brushing it, then circling it, but never taking hold. Buffy moaned and slipped a hand between them, finding his cock. She stroked it slowly, savoring his length.

Angel groaned against her breast and bit down, taking hold of her other nipple and twisting.

"Angel!" Buffy wrapped her legs around his waist and started rocking against him, needing the friction. He let her for a minute, then moved a hand down to her hips and held her still. She moaned again and he slid his fingers down and into her, testing her readiness. Feeling how wet she was, he lifted his fingers and licked them clean, reveling in her taste. He wanted to taste her more, but that would come later.

Lifting his head, the vampire met the eyes of the slayer he loves. She smiled at him. "I love you."

He rested his forehead against hers and positioned himself at her dripping entrance, his arms bent at the elbows and resting on either side of her head. Her legs came up around him again and her feet met at the small of his back, hooking together.

Angel moaned and closed his eyes for a minute. When he opened them again, the love coming out of Buffy's eyes would have taken his breath away if he'd had any to give. He finally let himself smile.

"I love you." The whisper barely made it to her ears before he'd pushed into her. Buffy arched and cried out as she felt his cool length slide into her, stretching her. She'd almost forgotten this. How he stretched her, filling her almost to pain. How cold he was, soothing her heat.

Angel moaned. She felt so hot, so tight. So wet. Like home. [Like redemption.]

He held still for a moment, letting them both get used to the feeling, then started a slow, shallow rhythm. Buffy tightened her legs around him and moved back.

After only a few thrusts, Buffy raised her head and whispered into Angel's ear.

"Angel, my love...*fuck me*!"

He growled and changed to gameface. Pulling halfway out, he slammed back in and Buffy keened, clawing his back. Angel's eyes almost rolled back into head when he smelled the blood her nails brought. He did it again. And again.

Buffy realized that after four years forced separation, she was going to come, and soon. She arched her back and flipped her hair, moving her head to the side to bare his brand.

Still moving in her, Angel found his eyes drawn to her scar. *His* mark. It was still his mark. Spike may have fucked her, but she'd never let him drink. Angel dragged his focus away and met her gaze. Panting, she nodded, tilting her head again and moving her hands from his back to pull his head down.

He nuzzled her neck for a minute, inhaling her scent. This was the ultimate proof, and they both knew it. The Slayer was letting a vampire drink her blood. Nothing but the truest love could allow that.

He placed a soft kiss on her neck, and after hesitating only a second, gently slid his fangs into his brand.

Angel reveled the taste of the mouthful of blood he took only slightly less than what came next.

Buffy screamed his name as she came under the force of his bite.



* * * * * * * * * * * *
Part Six:

Cordelia stared at the ceiling. The others in the room were trying very hard to pretend that they hadn't heard anything when suddenly a very similar shout came from the basement. Only, this time it was Faith's voice, shouting Gunn's name.

At that every head in the room came up. Dawn started to giggle. Xander shot her a look and she shrugged. "Its just...maybe they should go after that demon now. Seems like a lucky day for slayers."

Cordelia rolled her eyes and Spike growled. While he'd known that he never really had her, hearing Buffy with his Sire wasn't really on his Top-Ten List of Things to Do Now That I've Got a Soul. He grabbed his cigarettes and mumbled something, heading outside. Dawn watched him go with a sad look on her face. The guy just couldn't catch a break.

Of course, for several centuries, he killed people for fun, and he was only helping them before because he had to, so maybe it wasn't that bad.

She shrugged to herself and headed up to Willow's room. She needed help on her homework for summer school. Math just wasn't her thing.

Wesley watched the younger girl go and shot a glance at Xander and Cordelia. "So, Buffy and Faith will go and kill the demon tonight. That really ought to take care of things here."

Cordelia frowned at him. "You act like we're leaving."

Wesley made a face at her and pointed up. "Angel is back with Buffy." He pointed at the basement door. "Gunn and Faith are apparently together." Then he pointed at her, where she was sitting on Xander's lap. "And you are back with Xander. Now, they can't leave the Hellmouth unprotected, and I really don't see three out of four members of this team settling for long distance relationships when such a simple answer is available. What did *you* think would happen?"

Cordelia made a face. "You know, I hate it when you do that."

Wesley frowned at her. "Do what?"

"Just...*that*. That...*thing* you do."

Xander started to say something and Cordelia slapped a hand over his mouth. "Xander LaVelle Harris, if you start singing, I swear to God...!"

Xander's mouth snapped shut just as renewed moans sounded from both above and below. Wesley glanced at the clock.

Six more hours until sunset. Plenty of time to run home and catch a nap.

And, apparently, pack.



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

END



Challenge:

Buffy and her gang go to help Angel with a case. While they're there, Angel starts having nightmares about his worst fear: Buffy telling him that he was a mistake and that she never really loved him. He tries to keep it hidden until the nightmares start happening while he's awake. He starts completely avoiding Buffy until she hears him crying in his sleep and she comes into his room to hear him pleading with her (in his sleep) to stop saying that she doesn't love him. She realizes what's happening and confronts him about it and since he thinks he's still dreaming, he confesses his undying love and asks her to never leave him again.

Must Haves:
-good plot-there has to be a real reason that Buffy and her gang are there
-a reason for Angel's nightmares
-Faith's come back and she and Buffy have become best friends
-Spike has a soul but since he regained it, he and Buffy have decided to keep their relationship completely platonic...and they're good friends now
-Dawn not being annoying
-Willow being better
-None of this St. Cordy crap and none of the so-called crush with Angel
-No Connor or Fred or Anya
-Giles has moved home
-Cordy and Xander get together
-Gunn and Faith get together
-Buffy acting like Angel doesn't affect her anymore and Angel believing it
-Spike and Angel finishing each other's sentences
-Fluffy ending
-Try to make it a series or a really long story

Try to have a lot of the following:
-Gunn not knowing who Buffy is and hitting on her in front of Angel
-Buffy doing the "sexy dance" with Spike in front of Angel (it's strictly platonic though)
-Cordy saying to Angel "It's not like Buffy and Spike are having sex." And Dawn saying "Cause that was last year."
-Angel doing the crazy sire thing on Spike when he realizes Buffy and him have slept together
-Spike and Angel sharing a funny moment and then being really embarrassed about it
-Spike saying "At least Captain Cardboard isn't here" and Buffy freaking out that he might have jinxed them
-Spike mentioning how girls always loved the way Angel used his tongue and Buffy smirking in recognition
-Buffy and Spike yelling at each other in French
-Buffy saving Angel
-Buffy getting in a really weird mood and telling Angel she loves him and before he can respond, she begins telling everyone she loves them
-Buffy and Cordy exchanging clothes
-Buffy, Faith and Gunn arguing about who has the best battle scars
-Wesley and Giles saying something at the same time
-Cordy wiping something off of Angel's face which pisses Buffy off
-Dawn jumping in front of Spike to stop an arrow
-Angel finding Buffy asleep in a chair with Spike
-Buffy calling Spike "Will" which pisses Angel off
-Spike and Buffy training together...beforehand, she takes off at least 3 crosses
-Buffy and Angel training together and Gunn asking if this is their idea of foreplay

 

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